There was precious little dignity in death and Fingon supposed that he was grateful that the body had not been much abused. Not crushed, like his grandfather’s, or broken as he was told his father’s had been.
One cut to the throat, beneath the steel gorget. The dagger was still in Maedhros’ hand. He had promised they would not take him again and it was small surprise he’d kept his word. Fingon smiled a little at that, because it was better than the alternative. He kissed the corpse on its cold lips and closed the sightless eyes.
His own eyes were not dry, but Ýreth was good enough not to mention it. “What now, my king?” she said quietly. She bore no banner; they had crept back to the battlefield as stealthily as Fingon had once stolen his way into Angband.
It was an easier loss to bear than his father, than his sister and little brother – Fingon was used to losing now. “Nargothrond. let us see if Orodreth remembers where his loyalties lie. Our strength is spent and now we must preserve what we may.”
No one smirked. Said, ‘I won’t tell Turgon that you said that,’ or, ‘There are still ways that we might win – I have another plan.’
‘All your plans are awful,’ Fingon did not say in answer.
They left the field in silence.
“Do you repent?” Eönwë’s voice was the clamour of bright trumpets and his eyes were eagle-bright.
“Of
Alqualondë, yes,” Fingon said and met that burnished gaze. He had never flinched from anything in his life and would not start with an overgrown messenger pigeon. “That was ill done, and I will seek what redress I might with Olwë. As for the rest, I would do it all again, had I the chance. In fact, that is exactly what I intend to do.”
‘Don’t tell him that, you reckless fool,’ hissed a remembered voice. Fingon ignored it, as he had so often ignored it when it told him that in truth. As he swore he would again.
Fingon drew off his helm – another thing no one could badger him about – and said, “I will return to Valinor. I will storm the Halls of Mandos. Your assistance would be appreciated but is hardly necessary. You’d think you Ainur would have learnt by now that you can’t keep him from me.”
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