“I do not question that, brother, but… what a peculiar way to express it ! Forgive me but I cannot help wondering about those words you chose, because, you see… I believed – with my innocent heart – that you would not lie to me about anything. As I would never lie to you… about anything.”
His arms crossed on the table in front of him, Curufinwë stared at his brother rather sternly, and there was no trace of neither hesitation nor doubt in his eyes. No fear either. Barely a sparkle of disappointment which he’d rather have repressed.
“But that is not the question, is it? Not today at least…”
Although an ignorant eye could have believed him to be playing, Curufinwë didn’t enjoy it, this situation, and toying with his brother’s assertions wasn’t satisfying enough for him to keep on beating about the bush. With a sudden sharp sigh, he stood up, his fists firmly anchored on the table.
“What did my son tell you, Tyelkormo?” He was holding his breath, but still the words left his lips with a vibrant density. “I am pretty sure he talked to you, while he has been refusing to even look at me since that… insipid argument.”
The pang in his chest forced him to stand quiet for a moment, and when the Ñoldo spoke again, his voice was somewhat frailer.
“Tyelkormo, I must know what Tyelperinquar has in mind…”
❛ Spare me your mind games, Curufinwë. ❜ Tyelkormo had said it how he said it, and whilst he understood just as well to play with words now he cared not for it. What came into his eyes while he looked at his brother was sign of his swift mood. But that settled again, when he understood that Curufinwë sought not to keep at it.
And further Tyelkormo discerned that it was not his usual, for his brother was seldom brought to stop at the mere threshold of his temper. It was so, and yet they were among all of their siblings the two closest in brotherhood. He watched Curufinwë’s tense stature as he raised himself on the table. ❛ Perhaps he will not talk because you call it insipid.
❛ Your son spoke to me, but I don’t know his mind. For your sake, I’ll guess at it: if we went back to Himlad, he would not go. As I would not, you know. ❜ Might he still the pang at Curufinwë’s core this way– For, though he knew not if Tyelperinquar’s intention was ambition as well, as it was Tyelkormo’s own, he thought to let his brother hold his son shared their aspirations.
Finally, he cast back his gaze to meet Curufin’s, insight glinted from it. ❛ Leave Tyelperinquar to nurse his own pride, lord knows, you have also passed it father to son. ❜