FicWad

7. A TENUOUS HOLD


In the year 150, during the long siege of Angband Maglor perceived that things had settled down again in the north in an uneasy sort of peace, and he spoke to Maedhros about his feelings of restlessness and unease that he had left Daeron for too long without knowledge of his safety and whereabouts. The brothers stood together in a cold stone room of Maedhros's fortress. The sound of water could be heard dripping onto the floor somewhere nearby, no doubt coming from a fissure in the wall. Many cracks and fissures had appeared over the years when Morgoth had created many earthquakes and volcanoes to rock the land.

"Have you not forgotten him by now?" Maedhros asked his brother rudely. He was feeling edgy because he had been kept far too busy and had been going without sleep for many days as he planned and strategized with Fingon how best to hold Morgoth's armies for long at bay.

"No, I have not forgotten him!" Maglor shouted. "I am shocked and affronted by that question, Maedhros! How would you feel if you were in my place and Fingon in Daeron's, and you had not seen each other for more than one hundred years? Would your love diminish, or would you believe that because he is your one true soulmate your love could last conceivably forever without sight or knowledge of each other?"

Maedhros then looked chagrined as he gazed at his brother in shame. "I am sorry I spoke so cruelly", he said. "But at this moment I am worried about the enemy's plans. There has not been much news from our scouts lately, but I sense that something is afoot in the north, and Fingon has gone back to Hithlum and I worry for him as he travels on that journey. I advise you to wait a while, Maglor, and if nothing happens within the next few months, then you can go to Doriath".

It turned out that Maedhros was right to wait, as Morgoth became active once again and sent a host of Orcs to retrace the trails into the west of Beleriand that Fingolfin had used when he came from the Helcaraxë, in an attempt to attack and then try to occupy Hithlum. Fingon, however, had discovered the impending attack as he was returning to his home and with his own army he attacked Morgoth's forces with ferocious strength before they had reached his father's strongholds, and drove them westward to the sea, forcing them over the cliffs where they perished in the cold waters off Lammoth.

After that, Maedhros was shaken by the realization that Fingon could have been killed if the battle had turned against him, since there had been no time to summon other forces to his aid and he and his men had fought the Orcs alone. That realization caused Maedhros to summon Maglor and tell him to go to Doriath and seek out Daeron once again.

"You may go now while things are quiet here, or you may wait to be sure that our homes will be free from harm before you go, but I would advise you now to go and seek him out, if you truly believe that to be with him is indeed your destiny. I will tell you this, brother, that if I had lost Fingon in his latest battle, I know not how I would face the remaining years left to me, no matter how many or how few. Go, brother, stay long, and I hope to see you again in a few years' time".

Now, on his first visit back to Doriath after one hundred and five years, Maglor came into the forested realm as if it were a new discovery to him. He found the River Celon although the shape of the lands surrounding it had changed. There was much new growth of trees and the river had grown wider and deeper, and Maglor had trouble finding Beleg's cabin as it had become quite overgrown with vines and overshadowed by the ever taller trees of Doriath. If he had not been spotted by some of the wardens on the outskirts of the forest, he may not have found it for many weeks or months, if at all.

"Hail, stranger". Maglor heard the voice of the warden who had first spotted his arrival before he saw him, and this Elf dropped suddenly from a talan hidden among the lower branches of a tall white pine to land in front of Maglor on the path. "Where are you headed?" the Elf asked.

Maglor stared hard at the warrior standing before him. "Mablung?" he asked, pleased to see his old friend.

"Eru preserve us! You cannot be Maglor Finwion!" cried Mablung, peering hard at the tall, dark Elf with the severe countenance who stood before him. The two then broke into huge grins and embraced each other warmly.

"How long has it been since you were last here?" asked Mablung, tears of joy in his eyes.

"Too long", said Maglor. "Tell me of Daeron. How does he fare since my last visit?" Maglor was almost breathless with impatience to see his lover.

"He is well", replied Mablung. "Very well. He rarely ventures outside of the court these days, however. He has been occupying himself mostly with his songwriting and singing. I must tell you, Maglor that he has composed some of the best music that I have heard during this past century. You must ask him to sing and play his new music for you".

Maglor was almost overcome with longing to see his lover once again, and clutched at his sword-hilt with white knuckles while shifting his weight from foot to foot as they talked. "Please, Mablung, would you do an old friend a great service and go to fetch him here? If it is all right with you, I shall await him in Beleg's cabin. And how is Beleg? Is he within?" Maglor spoke rapidly in his anxiety.

"I shall be pleased to fetch Daeron for you", replied Mablung. "And Beleg is well. He is here. He has not been traveling abroad as much these days as he used to, and he may be at home as we speak. Come. Let us go to the cabin and see". Then Mablung led an anxious Maglor back towards Beleg's house.

Beleg was indeed home, and he welcomed Maglor inside where the two friends talked and reminisced while Mablung went to seek out Daeron. When the warden reached Thingol's halls, Mablung found Daeron in the company of Luthien. They were seated in the great hall, Daeron with a harp upon his lap, and Luthien was listening intently to a sweet song that he was singing and playing for her. Both he and she appeared to be enraptured with each other, and Mablung felt a measure of sorrow for Maglor as he believed Daeron had put that old relationship with the Noldo behind him and had embarked on a new one with Luthien. Daeron had spent many hours in Mablung's company, lamenting the perceived loss of Maglor. He had been heartbroken for years and Mablung had soothed him back to a normal emotional state, and Luthien had certainly helped him also, giving him her friendship when he needed it most. Mablung took a deep breath, approached the two and cleared his throat.

"Excuse me", he said quietly. Daeron and Luthien both turned their heads toward him. Luthien's expression was one of affectionate amusement, but Daeron looked almost dazed by her beauty. "My lady Luthien, it is a pleasure to see you on such a lovely day", said Mablung. "Please excuse my interruption of your meeting. But friend Daeron, may I please speak with you for a moment?" Daeron's expression changed to one of curiosity and he put down his harp, stood up and then reached down to pick up Luthien's hand and place a kiss upon it, and then he walked swiftly toward Mablung.

"What is it, my friend?" he asked, his eyes wide with curiosity and his eyebrows raised in anticipation.

"Are you able to come with me now to Beleg's cabin?" asked Mablung softly but with an urgent tone in his voice. "I will explain to you on the way why I ask this of you now".

The tone of Mablung's voice, which was one of rather breathless urgency, made Daeron's stomach lurch. A feeling of dread had arisen in his gut. "What is it? Is it something terrible?" he asked. "Why do you speak with such urgency?"

"No, it is good news I bring, not bad, I promise you", Mablung replied. "Please come, Daeron. Come. Be quick. I shall tell you what it is when we are out of earshot of the king's halls. We shall go to the stables for horses, and then we shall ride fast to the cabin".

After the two had saddled up, Mablung suggested that they ride along for a couple of kilometers and then dismount so that Mablung could explain before they reached their destination why he had rushed Daeron away from Luthien. After galloping through the thick forest on dark paths, and when they had stopped and were standing on the roadway, Mablung took Daeron's hands in his. "I have news for you", he said, while Daeron's eyes grew wide with trepidation. "I have news of an old friend".

This meant only one thing to Daeron. "Is it Maglor?" he asked, his throat becoming dry and his voice faltering. "Is he - is he harmed? Is he alive?"

Mablung laughed and enveloped Daeron in a hug. "Oh, Daeron, do not look so worried!" He laughed, and then released him. "He is here", he said.

Daeron, startled, took a step back and his knees grew weak, almost making him stumble as he clutched at his horse's dangling reins. "Here?" he asked in wonder.

"Yes. He waits for you in Beleg's cabin", said Mablung. "Do you not wish to see him?"

Daeron was stunned and stood still for a few minutes. Then a look of distress crossed his face and he covered it with his hands and began to sob. "Where has he been?" he cried when he could speak. "Why has he waited so long to come?"

Mablung took him by the hand and led him to his horse. "Come", he said softly. "You can ask him that question yourself when you see him", and he helped Daeron to climb back up onto his mount.

The two Elves then galloped on toward the forest's edge. When they finally reached the cabin at daylight's end, Mablung said, "Please tell Beleg to come outside, and we will leave you and Maglor alone for the rest of the night. He and I can stay on my talan".

"I would advise you to stay here. It may be that I shall be coming right back out again", said Daeron, wiping tears away from his face as he stood before the steps to the front entrance of the house.

Mablung smiled at that statement. "We shall see", he said. "Go now, and reacquaint yourself with your Noldorin prince".

Daeron then slowly climbed the steps and knocked hesitantly on the front door. Presently, Beleg came out, grinned at Daeron and then joined Mablung on the path. Then Daeron stepped inside the cabin.

The sight that greeted him was the back of Maglor's head as he sat upon the sofa before the fire. The room was very warm as the fire was new and raging in the grate. There was light from a few candles that Beleg had lit throughout the room, but there were long shadows cast now in the early evening as the room had become dark, with very little remaining sunlight coming in through the windows. Daeron stood just inside the door and stared at the back of the once-familiar head. Maglor's hair was just the shade of black shot with red highlights that Daeron remembered, and used to stroke with his loving hands. It was plaited into one long braid that lay down his back. Daeron could not see how long his hair had grown, as the end of the braid was hidden between Maglor's back and the back of the sofa. Tears began to stream again down Daeron's face as he could not control his emotions and he took a few hesitant steps forward.

"Maglor?" he asked plaintively, his musical voice breaking upon the name. The Noldo stood up slowly and turned to look at Daeron. He was tall, very tall. Daeron had forgotten how tall he was. He looked well. He was very heavily muscled now, possessing a true soldier's body. Daeron could not see his face clearly through both his tears and the shadows, and over the distance between them. He raised trembling hands to his face and hastily tried to brush the tears away so that he could see Maglor better. Then the tall Noldo came from behind the sofa and moved swiftly toward him.

When Maglor came to a stop before him, Daeron looked up and stared long into his beloved face. It was as familiar to him as if the last time he had seen him had been yesterday, and yet seeing it anew like this after so many years, Daeron could appreciate the Noldo's beauty even more. His dark grey eyes flashed at Daeron with a look of intense affection and longing in them. His lips twitched as if he did not know what to say. His expression was one of profound loss and sorrow, but mixed with joy as well. He raised a hand and placed it tenderly against Daeron's cheek, and brushed away the wet drops that clung to the soft, smooth skin. Then he spoke in his familiar deep baritone voice, like dark velvet, Daeron thought.

"My beautiful Daeron", he whispered. "How I have longed to see your face again". Then he smiled joyfully. "Please do not tell me that you are angry with me and hate me for not keeping our last appointment".

Daeron's expression immediately changed to one of anger and he launched himself at Maglor's chest, peppering it with punches and then clutched at Maglor's heavy robes. "Yes, I am angry!" he screamed and cursed. "You know not what you did to me, you damned lying, treacherous villain! I knew not whether you were dead or maimed, nor the reason why you would let me wait in agony for a century wondering what had become of you!"

Maglor let Daeron rage on for several minutes before he clasped the Sinda's two arms in his strong hands and pulled him up against his chest. The minstrel's blows had not hurt Maglor in the least, as he had welcomed the onslaught, feeling that he deserved it for having betrayed his lover's trust. He clasped his hands around Daeron's slender back.

"Daeron", he whispered, his eyes veiled by his dark lashes as he gazed intently into the smaller Elf's reddened eyes. "I have never stopped loving you all these long years that I wanted to come yet could not, and I have hoped every day while I thought of you that you still loved me".

Daeron whimpered and then reached up with a shaking hand to stroke Maglor's wide, unlined forehead. "Yes, you stupid Noldo. Yes, I do still love you", he said, his voice choked by sobs.

Maglor leaned down then and kissed Daeron passionately on the mouth, letting his senses be filled again with the familiar scent and feel of his beautiful Sindarin minstrel.

After the sensuous kiss had lasted several minutes and Maglor had become greatly aroused, he growled into Daeron's ear while nibbling it. "Come to bed with me now". His tone was urgent, desperate and needy.

"No", said Daeron.

"You have never said 'no' to me before", whispered Maglor into his ear, his breath like hot wisps of steam against Daeron's sensitive lobe, causing his own arousal to rage with desire. Maglor's hand slid swiftly down Daeron's stomach to lie against the hard bulge in his trousers and he rubbed this with needy exploring fingers. Daeron unsuccessfully tried to stifle a moan.

"N-n-nooo---Maglor----", he whispered.

"Come to bed", Maglor hissed while he fervently massaged the desirable appendage that he longed to possess with his mouth.

"You hurt me", whispered Daeron.

"I will make it better", Maglor replied as he licked the front of Daeron's neck, pausing over his larynx where he relished the vibrations coming from that most beautiful of voice-boxes. His one hand held Daeron to him by the small of his back, while the other began to undo the minstrel's clothing.

"Ai - no - Maglor - I am not ready", he cried.

Maglor dropped to his knees and swiftly untied the front of Daeron's trousers, then released his hard arousal. "You look ready to me", he said before he took the evidence into his greedy mouth.

Daeron gasped and supported himself by putting his hands on Maglor's shoulders. He shuddered violently under Maglor's ministrations and uttered a series of moans that he tried unsuccessfully to bite back. Then Maglor released him, grasped him around the knees and lifted him up, letting the top half of Daeron's body drape over his back. Carrying him into Beleg's bedroom, Maglor then ascended the steps to the bed and set him down upon it.

"Maglor, I told you no!" cried Daeron. Maglor sat beside him on the bed and began undoing all of the minstrel's clothing. "Stop!" cried Daeron, but he lay lax and allowed Maglor to pull off his tunic, shirt, boots, trousers and underwear. When he was completely naked and trembling atop the bed, Daeron said, "I am not going to make love to you, nor let you do the same to me".

Maglor let his lascivious gaze wander over all of Daeron's body. "Gods, I had forgotten how beautiful you are. My body burns as I yearn to master yours once again", he said. Then he stood and began to undress, removing his outer robe, revealing his splendid warrior's form in a plain but elegantly tailored shirt with red sash worn over tight black leggings and high leather boots. He removed the shirt and sash.

"I am not going to look at you", said Daeron, his chest heaving with desire. He watched closely as Maglor bent to undo his boots and kicked them off before he lowered his leggings and peeled them off over his feet. He stifled a gasp as he noted the changes in Maglor's physique. The Noldo was heavily muscled now, powerfully built, and had many battle scars not yet faded upon his otherwise smooth skin. Daeron reached out to touch them.

"You have suffered many wounds", he said in a sad voice.

Maglor sighed. "Now do you see why I could not come to you, even though I desired it more than anything in life? I needed to be there in Lothlann, helping to protect those lands and ultimately yours, from the assaults that Morgoth has been making on us. I have my own army to maintain. This was indeed the first opportunity for me to get away. But now we may have several more years of peace. I shall be able to stay with you a long time".

"Oh my love", Daeron sighed. "I am sorry to have doubted you". He put his arms around Maglor's chest and pulled himself up to press against him. "But it was agony to be separated from you for so long". He kissed the top of Maglor's shoulder.

"Let us enjoy all the time we have together", said Maglor gravely, "because once I go back, it may be many years again before I shall be able to return. But promise me that you will always wait for me". He turned to gaze into Daeron's eyes as he stroked the side of his face.

"I will always wait for you", sighed Daeron as he reached up to claim Maglor's lips in a passionate kiss.