Port of Dar

[Maedion]

Outside, came the approaching clash and clatter of steel-shod hooves on stone, torchlight spattered and swirled over the riders as the entered the inner ward, light glinting from rich robes, with mail beneath. The lead rider sprang from the saddle, black boots softly hitting the ground and cast back the deep cowl of his black hood, light showing a glitter of mithril silver eyes. As his cloak was flung back, the badge of Saerens house was shown clear and the guards at the doors saluted and raised their spears. His longs strides took him up shallow marble steps and with a brisk rap of gloved knuckles on wood, he opened the door and entered.
'' Suilannad, Lebennen, '' he said casually, with the ease of long acquaintance, saluting elven fashion . '' Atar told me to come and wait for him here, ''
His father, although, over seventy when he had met Saeren, he knew the Dark Prince was not his true sire, but he had come to call him that, over the years. He let his cloak fall, caught it, and tossed it over a chair back. '' Do you know what it is about? '' he raised his brows as he reached for the wine-jug.

[Lebennen]

" I believe he has gone to find your mother, '' Lebennen replied blandly, noting how the wine jug paused in Maedions hand.
Saeren had moulded this one, of course, he had been young, scarcely into adulthood, when Saeren elected to introduce himself to him, but always the son of Maglor, and Cerridwen had lived as a prince, and trained as a warrior. Admittedly, Lebennen knew jealousy, Maedion had all the proud arrogance of his fathers people. It was pleasant to startle him .

[Maedion]

" My mother? I thought they loathed one another, " Maedion picked up the goblet, looking at Lebennen over it. " Why now? After so long? " he took a sip of the fine old wine.

[Lebennen]

" You think he tells even me all his plans, Maedion? Love and hate are very akin they say, " He smiled coldly. " It should be an interesting family gathering, at any rate, " he turned to a map on the wall and inserted a coloured pin, " How did you leave Sudu Cull? "

[Maedion]

" As usual, squabbling, rich, getting fat on trade, Arysis and Lurmsakun are about to go to war, whoever wins, Sudu Cull will prosper, it always does " Maedion leaned against the table. " I heard of Khorsaj, I would liked to have taken part in that, '' his tone was regretful, he had been trained to be a superb warrior.
'' But this phalanx fighting... gives one no room to move, does it? " He shifted back restlessly.

[Lebennen]

'' Young one, '' Lebennen smiled, '' he knows men, I do, you do, it is all we have damn well been around. This is done for a reason, for the men, to form them into a unit, more - a brotherhood, and we fight with them to show we are part of it. They say the Khan of Isfahan is carried to view battles on a litter with silken curtains and slaves to wield his fan, pour him wine. We are not of that metal. Saeren is a warrior first and foremost. The men will love him for it, - yes, he knows men, after so long. And you will have your chance, one thing Harad is plentiful in, is wars. ''

[Saeren]

............. As silently and unobtrusively as he had departed, saeren returned, walking into the room as if he had never been away. he had bathed and changed, his severe black stark and unadorned. He flung himself onto the great chair, tilted it back and set his booted legs on the table.
'' A fruitful trip, '' was all he said. '' Maedion, I have brought your mother, and a guest, and we can probably expect more guests shortly. '' An elusive smile moved in his eyes.

[Maglor]

Maglor had felt the strange double hold on his mind, fade, he straightened, from where he was sitting. he still felt the gentler spell of Ceridwen, but as Saerens footsteps faded, he felt saerens mind grip snap away.
He rose , will and fury surging through him, tugging away from the womans more tranquilizing powers, and drew his sword and followed Saeren.
The door he came to was barred by two guards, and the clash of steel on steel echoed in the hall, he fought like concentrated fury, slaying them with almost brutal ease , and crashed into the room.
'' Where is my son? '' he demanded , his eyes flashing around. Saeren he saw, sat casually, with his legs up, another man, near him, but as his eyes fell on the third, he felt as if a knife slid into his heart. Tall, beautiful, with silver eyes, looking surprised in that way the Noldor could, haughty, lifted brows, he felt their connection like an instant flash of lightning between them. he lowered his bloody sword, for a moment, speechless.

[Maedion]

Maedion had drawn his two swords as soon as he heard the clash of arms outside, surprised at Saerens utter lack of reaction as the man burst in.
No... this was no man...he was Noldor, and a magnificent one, his hair a great mane of black which fell past his waist, his eyes burnished silver in a white face, tall , narrow through the hips, long legged, blazing with a kind of furious vitality bred of anger.
Maedion shot one look at Saeren, before he turned his own silver eyes to the intruder, who had left two guards dead outside the door yet elicited no response from Saeren. Their eyes met and held, the same colour, the words the Noldo spoke sank into his mind and he felt his breath hitch in his throat.
My.... father? he knew Saeren was not his father of course, although he had been one, and more. But now, without doubt, he saw himself reflected in this Noldo's eyes.
His sword point lowered to touch the ground.

[Saeren]

Under long lashes, Saerens golden eyes smiled, '' Maedion, I have the great honour to present Maglor Feanorion, the second son of the greatest of the Noldor, and your sire, '' he rose, in a lazily fluid movement and went to swing the door closed . Guards clattered toward the room, and he shook his head once, and briefly , gesturing for them to take the bodies away. '' Well, Makalaure, what do you think of your son? '' he murmured.

[Cerridwen]

Cerridwens long skirts hushed over blood, soaking into the silks, she slipped through the door before Saeren could close it, Maglor, too tall for her to see over his shoulder, stood as if struck into stone, all of them, save Saeren, in a frozen tableau. Her eyes rested on Maedion, and she saw the gloss over him, of his upbringing, not coarsened , for you could not coarsen a diamond, but a sleek, tough glaze both physical and spiritual.

[Maglor]

Maedion , to Maglor, looked like a prince, as he himself had looked long ago, in Valinor, when the seven sons of Feanor garnered attention wherever they went, self confidence flowed from him, even now, when it was clear he was shocked . But it was also completely clear who had raised him, who had moulded him, he had something of Saerens dark and indolent arrogance.
He took one step forward, his eyes gathering light like crystals set in flame as he looked at Saeren.
'' What have you done to him? '' he demanded in a whisper.

[Saeren]

Saeren met his look, gold eyes opaque, '' Perhaps you should find out Makalaure, '' he made a short, complex gesture with his fingers to Lebennen, a finger language he had developed thousands of years ago, which simply translated meant '' Out ''. His manner became as brisk and remote as a general to subalterns, as he strode toward the door, taking one of his sisters slender wrists and drawing her with them.
'' This is between them, '' he murmured, and shut the door softly on the father and son.

[Maedion]

Maedion looked faintly dazed, as he surveyed Maglor, '' You are truly my father? I thought... because she never said, my father was dead. Why did no-one ever tell me? '' He looked the Noldor from black head to booted feet, seeing the power there the passion, the sadness, the rage. '' I have heard of you, of course, Loed Saeren is a good teacher. ''

[Maglor]

That made pure rage leap into Maglors eyes, '' Oh , yes, a am very certain he is. '' his son did not know, he thought, or if he did, he was more cold-blooded and a better actor than Maglor dreamed. He caught his breath. '' I did not know. '' For a moment he struggled with himself. '' It was in Doriath, when we attacked it, to regain the Silmaril. Much evil was done that day. And there was ... there she was, furious, and beautiful, and desirable, and I was mad...but that is no excuse. ''