Celegorm, Curufin and the shift in gravity
Young Curvo clings to Tyelkormo, demanding permission to read his books, stay in his room, sleep in his bed, and sit beside him in the dining hall. No matter where Tyelkormo goes, Curvo follows.
Adult Celegorm hopes that withdrawn and not particularly open-hearted Curufin will linger after discussions of military campaigns, will want to join him on a hunt, will settle beside him by any fire and in any hall. Whenever Curufin makes a decision, Celegorm stands with him.
Young Curvo strives to be brave, swift, and graceful like Tyelkormo. He dreams that his older brother will praise the way he rides or shoots a bow. He is always glancing back, searching for the hunter’s quick eyes. He wants Tyelkormo to look at him, not just after him.
Adult Celegorm, every now and then, doubts his own eloquence, his arguments, his charisma, his ability to win over the nobles of Nargothrond. Out of the corner of his eye, he searches for Curufin — for the faint curve of his brother’s smile, for his approving glance. He wants Curufin to see him as an equal ally, one who complements him in every way.
Little Curvo quarrels with his peers, prepares to present his first serious project to their father, frets over how to approach the maiden he fancies, and in every situation asks himself: what would Tyelko do?
Adult Celegorm hears jests about the color of his hair and his parentage, faces the distrust of Finrod’s people, schemes to gain support in Nargothrond, and asks himself: what would Curufin do?
Little Curvo is jealous of Tyelkormo’s hunter friends, of their other brothers, of Irissë. He longs for Tyelko to stay near him, to choose him above everyone else.
Adult Celegorm is jealous of their followers, of their other brothers, of the memory of Curufin’s wife. He wants to be the only one Curufin trusts; he wants to be the first person Curufin thinks of no matter what happens; he wants Curufin to notice his absence, to keep him close.
Little Curvo is always climbing into Tyelkormo’s lap, hugging him after not-that-long absences, slipping into his bed and curling up against his chest, purring contentedly beneath his flustered kisses.
Adult Celegorm, with a hunter’s attentiveness, calculates when Curufin is in a good enough mood to tolerate a touch. He pats Curufin’s shoulder during hunts, brushes his wrist in passing, presses their foreheads together after yet another quarrel between Curufin and his son. And when Curufin pours the wine in the evening, they sit shoulder to shoulder, until Celegorm gradually slumps against his brother and curls up at his side like a hound.
Little Curvo is delighted when Tyelkormo gifts him his first grown-up bow, or an amulet.
Adult Celegorm suppresses a smile whenever Curufin fastens a bracelet around his wrist, weaves gemstones into his hair, or presents him with a circlet exceptionally lavish and suspiciously kingly.
Little Curvo shyly buries his face against his older brother’s chest and demands reassurance that Tyelkormo loves him more than anyone else in the world.
Adult Celegorm pretends to have fallen asleep by the fire, but betrays himself with a smile when Curufin leans down to stroke his hair. They both know this is what he has been waiting for.
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