#earwen: 'all right i guess my most belligerent in-laws are definitely going to fight to the death'

[ceescedasticity]

perspectives on the first kinslaying, xxiii

(you might want to check out the other parts first)

(and/or read what’s on AO3)

Telperin Glavarion:

Grandmother and Grandfather had recovered just enough that Aunt Eärwen was explaining the developments since Uncle Elulindo died, and then Uncle Volue died.

If he'd lasted ten more minutes Grandfather could at least have told us what his preferred general strategy was.

I know that's a terrible thing to say. But it was… I have to make a joke or I'll scream.

Just — the timing.

With all the storm shutters closed we didn't see Aunt Bellewen arrive on the King's Wharf. But we heard her, when she started yelling for Fëanáro to come back and face her.

I didn't know what to do. Aunt Eärwen tried to reach her by ósanwë, I think, then ran up to the third floor and opened one of the windows there and yelled for Bellewen to stop being a fool. Bellewen ignored her.

She might have listened to Grandfather, but he… couldn't.

Duinipen Elulindion:

I didn't find Mom in time. Obviously.

If I'd gone back to the mansions when I probably should have, I might have beaten her there. I would have wanted to go out and help her, which wouldn't have made any difference, but Aunt Eärwen might have convinced me to try to get her to stop and come back. That might have made a difference? I think it would have made a difference.

Bellewen:

After we all came back, I had to have a — difficult conversation with my children, and admit I had not believed I would defeat Curufinwë Fëanáro in combat. I had a chance, it was possible, but I knew probably I would die. Probably I would die even if I succeeded in killing him, his followers wouldn't let that stand.

So, yes: I abandoned everyone for a long shot attempt to take down the one responsible for my grief.

I'm not ashamed of that, and I don't regret it, but I'm sorry for the pain it caused.

But to the point.

I didn't want to fight my way down the quay or have to deal with all Fëanáro's escorts first, so I had to get him to agree to fight me. I had a plan for that: I shouted that I challenged him in the name of all mothers, for his mother had died and fled to Mandos because she was afraid to see the monster he would become.

(That was the point at which Eärwen stopped trying to get me to come inside and closed the shutters again, I believe.)

It worked like a charm; he made this noise which I understand some people found frightening but which I would describe as embarrassing, and started back up the quay, shoving his own people out of the way. At least one went into the harbor. I don't know whether they drowned.