"Art and War" by Independence1776

[independence1776]

B2MeM Challenge: Finwë never travels to Valinor, instead remaining in Cuiviénen with most of the Noldor. He marries both Míriel and Indis. Some years after the birth of their last child, Finwë is taken by the Dark Rider.
Format: Double drabble
Genre: Alternate universe
Rating: Teens
Warnings: Mature themes
Characters: Nerdanel, Fëanor
Pairings: Nerdanel/Fëanor, implied Finwë/Míriel/Indis
Creators' Notes (optional): This is not the story I meant to write when I left the prompt, but it works much better than my original version.
Summary: Nerdanel will not fight.


Art and War

Fëanor stared at her. Nerdanel sighed and turned to look at the running water of the creek. They sat in silence for a while, listening to the water, the bird song, the rustling leaves, and the noises of other animals in the woods. She finally said, “I cannot go with you. All of our sons are. Fingolfin and Lalwen are, as are most of our nephews and some of our nieces. You do not need an artist at your side when you are leading a war, Fëanor.”

He lifted up one of her hands and kissed it. “Do they really need you here?”

Nerdanel sighed. “People need art in times of trouble even more than they do in times of peace. And your mothers and siblings need assistants, if you want a place to return home to when you are victorious. Someone needs to farm and gather and weave and smith. We can't all fight.” She met his eyes. “Go avenge your father, Fëanor. We will ensure you have something else to fight for.” She leaned over and kissed him.

He shifted slightly and raised his hands to the string lacing the bodice of her dress up. “I already do."

Comments

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

I think Nerdanel a very wise woman.

[independence1776]

Me, too. She didn't have the epithet "the Wise" for nothing. :)

[starbrow.livejournal.com]

Love this, just exactly right - their characters come through so well, even though they have very different pasts than they do in canon.

[independence1776]

Thank you! I was a bit worried about that, due to the limited space I had to set up everything.

[silver-trails.livejournal.com]

I love this version of their separation. Makes a lot of sense.

[independence1776]

Thank you!

[heartofoshun.livejournal.com]

Well, that was unexpected! Everything would be different all along the line of events if one had Finwë/Míriel/Indis instead of Míriel dead and Fëanor overwhelmed by a sense of loss and resentment.

[independence1776]

Yes, things really would be! And different experiences would shape how Nerdanel reacted to things and and… This was an idea that could either be really short or really long, and you see which I picked.

[ladybrooke]

This is lovely, Indy. :D Even though it's so different from canon, their characters come through so much - and I love that Fëanor is still concerned with avenging his father (though fearful that this will end badly for these versions of them, in spite of the fact that they're all getting along.

[scarlet1061.livejournal.com]

I like this version for two reasons mostly. First, because you touched my sore point. That of Finwe's choice to involve the valar in elven private lives. The second, you left them in middle-earth.
Beautiful "what if".