Excerpt: A Greater Fire

“I have no plan,” she admitted at last, a heavy breath later. “I know what I must do, but I cannot fathom how it can be done.”

“What do you mean to do then, mother?”

“Have you abandon the quest – all of you, at whatever cost there is to pay for your lives. I will not see the people I love die for three pieces of rock and a quest of vengeance that cannot be achieved.”

“But we must do it. We have sworn by Manwe, Varda, even Taniquetil and The One. How shall we renounce the Oath without becoming oathbreakers and cursed with the Everlasting Dark? Now at least we are only threatened with treason – you are the best proof of it, treason of kin unto kin. You seek to undermine father's quest, our quest for what is right and just.”

“Just? You have not buried the Teleri, Carnistir. The justice you speak of is crooked, and therefore no longer just. What have the Teleri done that led to Finwe's death? What have the Teleri done that led to the theft of your oh-so-precious stones? What have they done to deserve death? Umbarto sought to abandon the quest, and he, too, found death. What is just in that, Carnistir?”

“That he who would betray us was punished for it. If you do this, and this I say as your son and with all the love I bear you, but also with the gift of foresight that you gave me,” he said with conviction, but looked away and out over the water, “you will find death as well, and that alone is enough for me to understand that the quest is just, if those that would stand against it should be punished for it.”

“I have sworn no oath, and therefore I cannot become entangled in your fate and your predictions, Carnistir. I followed you out of love, and love is what shall at last overcome.”

“Then you think father's quest is not born of love? Long and hard shall be the road, but fair the end shall be. Are these waters not fair under the starlight, as father promised? His words are coming true already!”

“Yet they remain waters and do not make his promises any truer.”

“They make them as true as they can be!”

“You make his promises true because you cannot abide to see them broken! Tell me what you see!” She pointed to the water, speckled with starlight like a mirror that was held up to the night sky.

“I see what he promised, and if you are so blind, mother, I cannot help you. What do you see, then?”

“I see waters, and only that. This is not Cuivienén, Carnistir. This is not what he promised!”

“It is the best he can do now, and it is better than to stand abandoned and cursed and exiled as you would have us stand! Reject your claim, mother, and come with me! I will bring you to father, and he will welcome you, after a while.”

She turned from him. “If that is all I can expect of you, then I will not follow but must stay alone and try from here to do what I can.”

“You cannot stay without the encampment. There are wolves in this land, and other creatures that bear no names.” He sounded concerned now. “Come into the camp, at least, where you will be safe. I will bring a disguise for you so that people will not recognize you, but do not go near father. He has become fell, and his eyes will tear through whatever masquerade we can conceive.”

“I have no intention to let him find me, lest he stops my efforts.”

“Mother, please...”

“No, Carnistir.”

“Mother, if you were to join us... there would be little we could not do!

“I would be no help, Carnistir, nor aid willingly in achieving your quest. There is no use in meaning to convince me.”