Trumpets of Prophecy, by Kaylee Arafinwiel

[kayleearafinwiel]

B2MeM Prompt, Card and Number: N44, Adjectival ABC, Snippets of Verse, Weapons and Warfare, The First Age,
Format: ficlet
Genre: family
Rating: PG
Warnings:
Characters: Oropher, Celeborn, Finrod, Vehiron (OC - Oropher's brother) mention of Celepharn (OC - Oropher and Vehiron's father) and of Galadriel 
Pairings: Celeborn/Galadriel (mentioned)
Creator’s Notes (optional): This story is set in mine and Emma's "The Iathrim Chronicles", the tale of the Sindar and their lords and kings through Doriath, Greenwood and Mirkwood. Knowledge of the series shouldn't be necessary to understand the story, but I welcome any and all questions :)
Summary: In the training salle of Menegroth, in Doriath, Vehiron, youngest great-grandson of the Lord Steward Elmo (brother of Elu Thingol) observes his brother's sparring lesson, and makes a surprising acquaintance.

The crack of staffs striking each other alerted young Vehiron Celepharnion to the fact that the training salle was not empty. The elfling entered, brushing his long, dark hair back out of his face, and looked toward the occupied list.

Swish. Crack. One quarterstaff’s strike was intercepted by the other. Vehiron watched the two warriors, one grown, one nearly so, as they seemed to be following the steps of an intricate dance, whirling and dodging, striking and blocking. His older brother, Oropher, was being taught the art of the staff by their father’s cousin Lord Celeborn, he knew, but he had thought the lesson would be over by now.

Vehiron circled round the outside of the list soundlessly, his emerald eyes fixed on Oropher.

His brother’s eyes were narrowed in concentration, and Oropher was doing his best to get inside Celeborn’s defenses. He seemed obsessed with trying to best their kinsman, but Celeborn was stronger and older - older than even Celepharn by several years - and wasn’t showing his pupil any quarter.

As Vehiron tried to find the best angle to watch from, he accidentally backed into a golden-haired, blue-eyed ellon.

“Sorry!” he gasped, whirling around. “I didn’t know anyone else was here.”

The ellon laughed softly, straightening Vehiron’s deep blue and silver tunic for him. He smoothed down his own spring green tunic, which was embroidered with yellow flowers around the collar and hem. “Be at ease, youngling. ‘Tis I who should have moved for you. Your brother, I assume?” He nodded toward the list.

“Yes, sir,” Vehiron replied. “And Cousin Celeborn. He’s Ada’s cousin really. Lord Celepharn,” he hastily added.

“Ah, then we two are kinsmen as well,” the ellon replied. “For Celeborn and Celepharn are grandsons of the King’s youngest brother, but I am the grandson of his middle brother Aran Olwe.” He led Vehiron to one of the benches at the side of the room, where they could speak more comfortably. “I came with my sister, Artanis - who Celeborn has named ‘Galadriel’, I believe - to speak with our uncle, Aran Elu.”

“Oh,” Vehiron said slowly, processing all this. “Oh! That means you’re Prince Finrod! I’m Vehiron.”

The ellon nodded, his smile warming Vehiron. “It is a great pleasure to meet you, Vehiron son of Celepharn.”

“You, too,” the elfling said shyly.

The two settled back to watch the match together: as Finrod’s eyes rested on the two ellyn, dark-haired and silvered, tresses flying, he felt a frisson of awe, like a trumpet of prophecy. One day, he knew, these two would fight in truth, not face to face, but back to back - fighting for their very lives, as brothers-in-arms guarding each other’s lives. The son of Celepharn would one day be numbered among the great - here, he foresaw, was one who could, nay, would, wear a crown.

Comments

[erulissedances]

I like this look at the early life of Finrod and Celeborn. I could visualize the action very well.

- Erulisse (one L)

[kayleearafinwiel]

thank you, nettenya! :)

of course it was just as much about Vehiron (who's mine and Emma's OC) and Oropher (who is of course Tolkien's; Thranduil's father) but I'm definitely glad you liked Finrod and Celeborn. Maybe I'll do more with them some other time :)