eachdraidh | {Video: Open to Both Courts}

{Aragorn's quarters are impressive, though they seem to be rarely used. The covers on the bed are neat and the pillows are without dent. His personal belongings are sparse - mostly consisting of that which he can carry on the run - however he has amassed a nice collection of books. They are tucked away neatly on a shelf with an admirable stack of notes - in an ornate hand - beside them.

The flickering light foretells that a fire has been lit in the fireplace, yet he is lighting another, smaller, flame in a pipe. Once the herbs begin to burn, he brings the pipe to his lips, inhaling slowly.}

There is unease in the Drabworld. Foreign magic molds the land to its will and we are inclined to feel helpless before its might. I do not blame you for keeping counsel with only those you know and trust.

{He breathes out, smoke rising in the air like a mist.}

Yet are we not brothers and sisters in this plight?

{Unity might be an impossible dream. Even so, he has not given up hope on it.}

The danger I incur for speaking plainly is upon my head. I do not fear pain or death. But I do fear watching each court fall into ruin save for those who survived in the Drabworld long before our arrival.

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[ Maglor is cold and distant,the proud prince of long ago, but the tone is almost gentle ]

You should not be calling a Kinslayer that.

The Unseelie Queen lost my heart when she twisted my bright brother down a road I hoped to spare him retreading. The Seelie Queen lost my heart when she ignored my pleas and warnings and let her Champion execute my brother so that he could fulfill our Oath and reclaim our father's Silmaril!

Edited 2014-12-24 12:00 (UTC)

I will use what title fits you best. {His heart grows cold and he puts out his pipe, no longer enjoying the calming effects of the herbs.} Maedhros has died?

[ a small sharp shake of his head and the twist of his lip is sardonic ]

I speak of Celegorm. [ He knows, people here hate him. But Maglor remembers bright and beautiful little Tyelko, who was so gentle with the wounded animals he brought home, he remembers his laughing fey brother, who shone so brilliantly when he met him again here, not yet terrible and cruel, and for that sin alone he would kill Morla happily ]

{The news brings relief. He has seen Celegorm as a danger since Thranduil told him of what he had done to Legolas. If the King had not extracted a promise that Aragorn would keep the secret, he would have gladly ridden out and confronted Celegorm.

But his feelings towards the Elf are bred of anger and the want - no, need - to protect those he holds dear. He had not known him as a brother and, because of that, he finds the strength to offer Maglor comfort.}

She should not have done something so cruel.

They should have left us be. [ So, so very bitter and angry, but his is not Feanor's fire or Celegorm's burning flame, but his mother's cold controlled fury ] But Morla saw how easily he needed affirmation, and twisted him to her will. And the Seelie? Twas their Champion who taunted us with our father's jewel, refusing all who asked her to return it. She mocked us Aragorn, saying that we should come and take it. What other choice did Celegorm and I have?

I begged the Seelie Queen. My kin begged. But she did nothing, and Celegorm... I know how mad he was. I know that many here hate him. But for me he put his neck beneath the Seelie Champion's blade, so that I would not have to kill again for our accursed Oath. Tell me how the Queen is fair. Tell me how she is kind. And I will laugh at those to say so.

{Fury - no matter how understandable - usually leads to bad decisions. Aragorn forces himself to focus solely on Maglor and to listen to the pain in his voice. He knows that underneath the callous words, this Elf is breaking.

But he won't let him be broken.}

A jewel cannot compare to you or your brothers. I would have advised you to let her words go unheeded. {Perhaps it's easy for him to say. He has never put any stock in inanimate objects.} He sought to be a good brother to you and, for that, I am grateful. However I caution you about listening to taunts. The royalty has played games before - I am not blind; I do not think they are innocent.

{Far from it.}

But just as I - for your sake and King Thranduil's sake - held in my anger towards your brother, I will hold in my anger for them too. If peace is possible, I seek it first. Then, if it fails, I will unsheathe my sword and ride into battle.

[ Breaking, broken - too late, Aragorn. Maglor broke a long, long time ago (when he swore the Oath, perhaps even so far back as that) Maglor's voice is cold, the haughty pride of one of the Princes of the Noldor (so very, very empty are his eyes, for what does he have left, excepting his pride?). ]

Oh, my brothers are worth a thousand of Father's Silmarils. But the Oath cares nothing for worth, and brings only torment for those who try to break it. We did try, you know. Back in our time. But it tortured us so... Celegorm acted because it would have driven us to worse if he had not. We could no more have ignored her than we could have ignored the sun rising. She had the Silmaril. She would not yield it. It was as simple as that.

There will be no peace between me and the Rulers here. Not til the world's end. I tolerate Morla for my mother's sake, because Maedhros wishes us not to cut ties yet. But no kindness will I hold for the Seelie Queen nor those she favors. Not now, and not ever.

The Queens know of the Oath and how to harness its power. {Which might be...promising, believe it or not. Aragorn paces away from the Locket and comes back in view with a sheet of parchment and a quill.} It is magic they often utilize. Those that give them oaths are expected to keep them. If they do, they are rewarded; if they do not, they are punished.

{Such as with the Silmarils. Seek them and there is relief; ignore them and there is nothing but pain and anguish.}

...I shall make myself worthy of a boon. One which will give me knowledge of such magic. {He knows better than to ask for one that will break the Oath. They won't agree to that.} Forgive me, Mellon, if the Seelie Queen should seem to favor me in my pursuit for your freedom.

[ A bitter smile ]

If they did not before, they do now. [ 'The Battle of the Silmaril', they are calling it even now ]

Do not put yourself in debt for me! [ sharp ]

The Silmarils are once again beyond my, our reach. If the magic of my friend and liegeman holds true despite his departure, they will never be seen in this world again. The Oath will hold forever, but at the least it should not trouble any here again.

Goheno nin, Maglor. {"Forgive me".} I do not wish to worsen your situation; I merely wish to help. We can assume the Oath will not become a problem again, but what if it does? Do not push away kind offers; do not think yourself unworthy.

Tolo ar nin. {"Come with me."} There is much we can discover together.

I have long been unworthy of every thing save curses. "To evil end will all things turn". So we were told, and so it has been, and so it will be. Let me go, Aragorn. Take your lady and be happy and forget the Feanorionnath. We bring only grief.

I find myself unable to throw curses or turn away from you. I shall be patient until you seek the company of friends.

Then would you doom yourself Elrondion? No escape have we found, and perhaps only The One Himself might release us.

Let me not bring grief to another

Many have said I am doomed. I myself believed it once, yet here I stand. The Oath does not apply to me and it cannot touch me. All I offer is my support.

Not like us. Never like us. [ Soft and pained and he shuts his eyes against it ]

Please. [ He is almost begging ]

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