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Disclaimer: I do not own anything but my own characters, everything belongs to Tolkien the genius.

Author's Note: I sincerely apologize for my lack of updating. Life, again, as usual is taking most of my time. I also seemed to get stuck with my muse on this chapter on more than one occasion. I hope to get more timely updates out soon.

Chapter Forty-Eight: Uinuial

"King Turgon said himself my sparing and sword fighting is better than it ever was," Huor commented as he kneeled next to Elrilya. "It truly was wonderful to see him with us at the training grounds today."

"That is good!" Elrilya smiled as she planted new seasonal flowers in the garden. "He needs to get out of his study more often."

"I myself have entreated him to go forth many times and until now it had not seemed to have worked," Húrin commented as he sat in the shade of the garden's trees.

"Turgon has agreed to more rides in the valley for enjoyment," Glorfindel added as he sharpened his sword. "Might as well have them before winter arrives."

Elrilya sighed, "I cannot believe that is has been nearly a full year past since you both came to us."

"It does not seem like it was all that long ago," Glorfindel agreed. "You have learned much and have grown before our very eyes. I swear, Huor, you have grown taller by at least a hand span since then!"

"I now am taller than Húrin," the teen chuckled much to the chagrin of his older brother. "As you can see, he does not like it much. If only Father could see it!"

The two elves did not miss Huor's face change for a moment after he spoke. The boy missed his kin who had been in the midst of battles and war when he and his brother were rescued. When they had first arrived it had been common to find one or both of them with saddened, thoughtful expressions looking out across the mountain borders. Over time Húrin and Huor came to forget and became lost in the passing of the seasons in Gondolin. Yet, recently those serious looks had returned.

Huor's downcast eyes glanced up under his light lashes to look at his brother who lounged nearby, his own face no longer mirthful. Elrilya's gentle hand touched Huor's shoulder as the young man looked into her blue eyes with confused and torn questions being asked through his own. Even being tall by elvish standards, Elrilya's eye level was nearly the same as Huor's. You are no longer the boy we took in a year ago...

"I miss them terribly," he said, choking a little on his words.

Taking him into her arms, Elrilya comforted Huor as he laid his head on her shoulder with a heavy sigh. He had too much pride to weep openly before them but they did not doubt now if he had in private. Glorfindel, with concern covering his face, came to them and placed his hand on Huor's back to let him know that they were there for him. Finally, Huor stepped back and they looked into the face of a soon-to-be-grown man but still with tenderness of his youth in his eyes.

"What is it that troubles you both?" Elrilya asked as she looked between the two of them.

"Huor and I have been talking of late about our kin," Húrin said as he stood from his chair. "We do not dislike the hospitality you and King Turgon have shown us during our short fostering. However, we feel it is our duty by our sworn oaths and blood ties to return to fight and live with them once more."

"I do not need remind you of Turgon's decree and law for those who have come here," Glorfindel mentioned.

"Yes, we understand," Huor said as he turned from Elrilya's comfort. "Húrin and I came through the fog and darkness to this fair city, though."

"We have already asked to speak with the King this evening about it," Húrin added.

A grimace passed over Glorfindel's features while he looked upon the young descendents of Hador. After a moment his face relaxed.

"If Turgon decides to give you his leave then we will not stay you but we shall be less fortunate without your presences in our lives on forward," Glorfindel said sadly.

"We will meet again, I am certain of that," Huor said with his smile that always warmed their hearts.

*
Glorfindel had remained outside of the throne room when Húrin and Huor had gone inside to speak with Turgon about their wishes. For a time he paced around the hallways but eventually returned to the doorway. To his surprise, he nearly ran into Huor on the way.

"Aiya, Huor! I did not expect you yet," Glorfindel said. "Have you finished with Turgon already?"

"Yes, we have," Huor nodded. "Although, King Turgon was hesitant at first, he has given us leave but he said he is going to think more of it tonight."

"I see," Glorfindel said and resented the selfish feelings of sorrow that hit him as he heard Huor's words. "Where is your brother?"

"Maeglin stayed him outside the room as we left," Huor said. "He had been with King Turgon when we arrived and he would not leave when we sought an audience. I do not know of what they speak now. I wanted to see to it that you heard the news."

"I appreciate it," Glorfindel said, a sad smile spreading over his lips. "Come, let us see what your brother is doing."

As they rounded a corner, Glorfindel could hear Maeglin speaking with Húrin. Huor could not discern what was said but Glorfindel could clearly hear their discussion.

/"... The King's grace is great indeed; but if our word is not enough, then we will swear oaths to you."/*

Both Maeglin and Húrin turned upon seeing Glorfindel suddenly come near them. It seemed they had been in a heated conversation but Húrin seemed to be faring well against the cool-tempered nephew of the king.

"What is this of oaths?" Glorfindel asked, Huor standing by his side obviously curious as to what had happened while he was away.

"Maeglin felt that our word was not enough for him to believe we would never speak of Gondolin if we were permitted to depart," Húrin said hotly. "He thinks we would betray those who have bestowed so much kindness and love on us. The King thinks our word is enough but it shall not hurt to give even more power to our word and reputation as sons of the house of Hador to give an oath."

Glorfindel eyed Maeglin and the dark-haired elf nodded but did not let his steely stare leave Húrin for one moment.

"Then so be it," he said. "Take your oaths now."

Maeglin threw open the throne room doors, causing Turgon to look up in surprise from his discussion with a councilor.

"What is this ruckus, Maeglin?"

"I believe the Brothers wish to say one more thing to you," Maeglin answered before stepping aside.

Without fear or hesitation, Húrin and Huor stepped up to Turgon and kneeled before the throne. After they were motioned to rise, they looked Turgon in the eye as they laid down their troth.

"We, Húrin and Huor, sons of Galdor the son of Hador, pledge that we shall forever keep our silence about our fostering in Gondolin," Húrin began.

"All counsels we have held with you, King Turgon, we shall never tell to another," Huor added next. "Everything we have seen here will remain in memory. No stories or songs shall be told of our time here."

"For if our secrets were told, only evil will benefit from our trespasses," Húrin finished. "We make this oath to you, our King and fosterer."

Turgon came to them and held their hands in his as he smiled upon them.

"There was no need for such ceremony," he said. "This does, however, further show me of your strength and conviction. Your House was always friend to mine. I shall honor your request to leave my city."

*
Turgon could not forbade nor change his mind from his decision after Húrin and Huor pledged their lives and word to keeping Gondolin safe. The oath taken by the two young men had also crept deep into his heart. His love for the boys was bottomless, like that of the love between close kinsmen, and it had troubled the Elda king greatly to come to his verdict. Thus, he chose a day the young men would leave so that no one could forget it nor go back on his word.

The night before their departure, Húrin and Huor were invited to a last meal at the king's table inside the palace. Idril had come, as did Glorfindel and Elrilya. Maeglin did not show his face nor bid the Edain good fortune on their journey home. All were familiar with his dislike for Húrin and Huor so his absence was hardly marked. To force Maeglin to endure the meal out of a false sense of politeness would have been rude and left a stain on the last important night the young men would have in the elven city. Despite trying to be jovial, the impending exodus early the next morn had weighed heavily on the dinner companions.

The heaviness inside Glorfindel had grown since the first tidings of Turgon's news. He, too, had grown close to the young men and he felt like he had found a familial bond with them despite their time in Gondolin being short. Yet, out of an understanding due to his own experiences growing up, he knew that he had to let them go. The young men had grown and were no longer the youngsters they had been upon their arrival. With his efforts and skills Glorfindel had tutored them, growing closer with each passing day, and now he felt the pain of their departure unlike the worries he ever had before.

Elrilya's hand tightly clutching his let Glorfindel know that she similarly would miss Húrin and Huor. He did not need to see her thoughts to know how much it was affecting her. The fog of the last night hours before dawn had encroached far into the valley and tightly hugged the sleeping city. It was as if nature knew it was time for Húrin and Huor to return home and gave another veil to shield their return to the wilds of the outside world. The eagles had already come and were perched on the strong stonewalls of Gondolin awaiting the two young men, their dark shapes barely visible in the torchlight and haze were an ominous reminder of the mystery and unknown surrounding the fates of the two brothers' futures.

They stood side-by-side dressed in their elven tunics with swords and other travel items in packs. They did not know where the eagles might leave them and once they got their bearings, supplies would be needed on the undefined time they would journey. Tightly Elrilya held the two boys in farewell before Glorfindel himself was able to give his own embrace.

"I will miss you, ynd nin," he said.

The meanings of his words were not lost on the two brothers and sad smiles tugged at their faces.

"Thank you, for everything," Hurin said.

"As I told you once before," Huor said. "I am certain we shall meet again."

"So it shall be," Glorfindel said before they moved onward.

Idril's eyes betrayed her sadness despite her calm demeanor and she, too, held the two like the brothers they had become to her. Ecthelion had even come to pay his last respects to them and a professional exchange of words was all that needed to be said. Finally Turgon took them himself to the top of the wall where he said his own words in private. As soon as they had said their last words, the brothers took up their packs and, without looking back, let the eagles take them in their talons before flying high above the city into the darkness.

Quietly the procession returned to the palace where they silently comforted each other by simply being present. No words needed to be spoken, as everyone was well aware of how they all felt. Several of the kitchen staff came by as dawn broke and brought bread, jams, and mead for a light meal to break their fast. No one was hungry and the plates sat untouched on the nearby tables in the sitting room they occupied.

Glorfindel had nestled himself into Elrilya's hair as she laid her head on his shoulder but he moved away as a nearby door was opened noisily. The light footsteps meant the one approaching did not share in their grief. Looking up he saw Maeglin enter the room as if it were any other day and not one when good friends were seen off.

"Beautiful morning is it not?" he said with a touch of glee as he picked out a few items from the breakfast trays and plopped unceremoniously in an oversized cushion chair. "What is it with you? Gloom hovers in the room."

"You know well enough what happened this morning," Turgon said with a warning tone but it did not carry the weight it usually did and he sounded more tired and sorrowful than anything.

"Was that this morn?" Maeglin asked with mock sincerity, obviously untroubled. "I wondered why the city had a different air about it today."

"Have some compassion, cousin," Idril said, her voice weary and pained. "Do not think that this world is made to service your whims and joys. We all have our own lives to tend to with loves and grievances."

With a heavy step, Idril stood and left the room. A dreadful glare weighed on Maeglin as Elrilya passed him, following Idril out the door to see to her friend. None of it seemed to matter to him and he sighed before snacking on an apple he had taken.

"There is still much for you to learn, Maeglin," Turgon said as he also rose. "You are young but you should know how to school your speech by now."

The elven king left the room and Glorfindel soon followed, Ecthelion the only one remaining with the young prince.

Glossary
Uinuial: from the twilight
ynd nin (plural of iond): my sons

*Húrin's quote from /The Silmarillion/, "Of the Ruin of Beleriand", pg. 159