Earthquake, by Kaylee Arafinwiel

[kayleelupin.livejournal.com]

B2MeM Prompt:Lost and found (Green)
Format: ficlet
Genre: drama
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: OC death, mild suggestive talk between a married couple
Characters: Oropher, Thranduil (mentioned), OCs
Pairings: Oropher/Felith (OC)
Creator’s Notes (optional): This story takes place at the time of the drowning of Numenor. Such a cataclysmic event must have had consequences even in Greenwood. Luthavar is Oropher's cousin and one of the members of his council. Serellon, also an advisor to Oropher, is a master stonemason and supervises Greenwood's quarry.
Summary: At the time of the sinking of Numenor, an earthquake strikes Greenwood the Great.

"Oropher?"

The King of Greenwood looked up from his work, smiling as his queen entered the study without his leave. Not, he reflected, that Felith needed it. They sought each other's company as often as possible, of course, and even more so now that their son was away with the Northern Patrol. A newly-minted Lieutenant, his was the burden of command - even if there were those older than he to see he did not fall into trouble he could not remove himself from easily.

"Meleth," Oropher whispered, grateful for the interruption, and it seemed only a moment before they were wrapped in each other's embrace. "Thank you, I am sorry I spent so long at this treaty, truly."

Felith's silvery laugh warmed his heart, and Oropher allowed her to lead him from the room, heading for their quarters. A break was certainly called for. Perhaps a very...special...break indeed. When he suggested as much to Felith, she merely smirked.

As they left the palace and walked into the garden, Oropher became acutely aware of a trembling under his feet. He had, in fact, been experiencing it for some time, both of them had, though it was only now becoming noticeable. Just as he thought that, the ground began rocking in earnest. He pulled Felith to him, grabbing the wall for support.

"Eru!" she gasped. "What is this?" He was forced to let go of the wall, and they were driven to their knees, holding each other for lack of anything else to grasp. The trees swayed as though a strong wind blew, and Elves were fleeing the palace, screaming, crying, begging the Belain's mercy. The guards and ladies ran to protect their King and Queen once they were spotted.

"Eru," Oropher echoed softly, staring out as the ground below them shuddered and went still, waves of destruction sweeping through the wood. "This is the finger of Eru," he said quietly. "He and no other, though I cannot see what has been done. You remember Sirion."

Felith pressed close to him, the memory overtaking her, and let out a stifled sob. "Our baby is out there...in this..."

Oropher could not let his own tears fall in front of their people, but he prayed fervently in silence. Eru, whatever Thou hast wrought, let my people be as safe as they may...and guard our son. Please. Please, not our only son, do not take him from us now. He hoped the One would hear him.


……………………………………………

He had only meant to pester Serellon, Lutha thought in a state of shock. He had always listened to Serellon's warnings about rockslides. Listened, but not taken to heart. Until now. Now, when everything changed. Something was wrong with the ground, and everything was beginning to tumble loose. Serellon was hurrying everyone out - the apprentices, the journeymen, the traders who had come from the Blue Mountains with an eye for Greenwood's stonecraft.

Dwarves.

Who would have thought it? Thranduil was away and those scattered populations who inhabited the Ered Luin had come to them to see what was to be had. They had been here some days, and were the scions of ruined Belegost, who had no quarrel with Thingol's kinfolk unlike their brothers of Nogrod.

Lutha had struck up a friendship with a young Dwarf, of a mere eighty winters, named Skathi. He seemed of similar temperament to him. But they had broken their conversation off when the shaking began.

"W-what is this?" Lutha gasped out, and Skathi gave him a strange look.

"Do ye not know earthquakes in these woods of yours, Master Elf?" he snapped, and a rumble behind them made his head snap up, eyes wide. "'Ware!" He shoved Lutha as hard as he could, sending the Elf flying forward, out of the way of the rock shelf that had broken away from the top of the quarry, and fallen.

Fallen right where he had been standing mere moments ago. Where Skathi...

"Skathi! Mellon! Skathi!"

But there was no answer.

Comments

[kayleelupin.livejournal.com]

I live only a short distance from a major fault, so yes, I've experienced many earthquakes during my life. Most of them haven't been anywhere as alarming as *this* must have been, and none of them have been on the order of, say, the Boxing Day earthquake/tsunami of 2004 (which is where I drew the inspiration for both this and "In An Hour Unlooked For" - there's videos of that on YouTube). That earthquake was a 9.1 magnitude.

The most violent one I've ever experienced personally was the Loma Prieta quake of October 1989, a 6.9 magnitude - and I actually slept through it. But then, I was four years old at the time. Luckily my city is pretty earthquake-proof and we weren't hit by the worst of it; we weren't at the epicenter, just close enough to feel it. Still, here in Northern California that's been our "big one" in living memory for nearly 30 years now. There's been bigger ones, I'm sure, but most earthquakes around here are barely noticeable. They're just things that happen. Nothing like this. *shivers*

[mithrial.livejournal.com]

Wow. I stayed in a (quite cheap) hotel near Venice Beach some years ago. I read the earthquake instructions - they consisted of running down the outside fire escape. As the hotel was probably 1960's and consisted of concrete floors I didn't feel too reassured. Fortunately the situation didn't arise.
I'm trying to remember the drowning of Numenor - I listened to some of the chapters regarding men on audio book whilst driving back from Lancaster the other week. I can't recall if it mentioned Sunami. I remember wondering if the faithful men's ships could have survived one. But I think Ulmo looked after them.

[kayleelupin.livejournal.com]

Tolkien didn't use the word 'tsunami', no. (I'd be surprised if he had; I think "tidal wave" was still the prevalent term at the time, though I could of course be wrong). What "The Silmarillion" had to say was this:

"...And last of all the mounting wave, green and cold and plumed with foam, climbing over the land, took to its bosom Tar-Míriel the Queen, fairer than silver or ivory or pearls. Too late she strove to ascend the steep ways of the Meneltarma to the holy place, for the waters overtook her, and her cry was lost in the roaring of the wind."

If that's not a tsunami, I don't know what is. *shivers*

Ulmo definitely looked after the ships that sailed out of the West; nine ships holding those of the Faithful who escaped, bearing amongst them seven Palantiri.

(He looked after Miriel, in a way, as well, if you take my "In An Hour Unlooked For" into account. Of course, she didn't fare as well as her cousins and their people... http://b2mem.livejournal.com/343434.html )

[mithrial.livejournal.com]

Sad but beautiful - I've just read "In An Hour Unlooked For" .
So from the Valar Ulmo's viewpoint he certainly saved her from the treachery of Ar-Pharazôn, with his Sunami.

[kayleelupin.livejournal.com]

Thank you! And yes, exactly, that was Ulmo's viewpoint.

[independence1776]

There's also a bit where the Silm says the sinking of Númenor reshaped the coastlines of Middle-earth with waves the size of mountains "for the seas invaded the lands." So, yes, tsunamis.