Mission Vision -- very early in the morning of Imagination Day 6 [Video]

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Curufin falls out of his bunk, as usual when waking from a mission vision. CRASH! He hits the floor, his blankets entangled with his legs, his right shoulder striking the floor with a thud. Luckily Elves don't break bones easily, but his shoulder is going to hurt. He scrambles to the ICP. ]

Wouldn't you know it, I've just had another prophetic dream. [ He shakes his head and drags his hand through his disordered black hair. ]

Didn't like the looks of this one, either.

I was in a jungle, and it was pleasant enough. Sun shining down through the branches, forest sounds, nice. But suddenly the light intensified, and something seemed wrong with it. I ran to the next clearing and gazed up at the sky, and what I saw was ominous. The sky had turned a glaring dark red and was getting darker by the moment. And then everything grew still, as though the world had stopped. I did not have time to react to that, or wonder what it meant. Abruptly the ground shook under my feet, and the dust rose, and there was fire everywhere, and I heard screams, screams, and more screams. And then I woke up.

Damn if this doesn't seem to me like another candidate for an aborted mission! What the hell happens to the mission world? Is it self-destructing, or is it attacked by unknown forces? Or is this some simple natural disaster?

[ Still shaking his head. He grabs for his jacket and pulls it on. ]

Did anybody else have this dream? Or any variation of this dream?

Comments

[marriedanidiot]

Aye. [ She shudders, Feanaro's wife, who dreamt of her husband's death ]

Very much the same.

[so_dark_a_road]

[ He nods and gives her a loving look. He knows she had foreknowledge of her husband's death, since she has mentioned that to him in the past, and he imagines that makes having visions an emotionally precarious state for her. ]

That suggests to me that we'd better be on the alert, since three of the Elves have seen the same thing.

Otherwise, how are you doing?

[marriedanidiot]

Lord Glorfindel as well, then? [ She murmurs, and scrapes together a faint smile for him ] Yes, that would be wise.

Well enough, my dear, well enough. Are you happy, my Atarinke?

[so_dark_a_road]

Yes, that's what he says. [ He smiles back at her. ] Elvish visions -- I've never known one not to come true.

[ He doubts she's doing all that well, having lost her husband and two of her sons. These losses must echo the earlier loss of the same people. ]

I've been happier recently than I have been in a long time. Glorfindel. . . [ He hesitates to say directly that the Elf of Light is now his lover. But maybe she's heard the rumors. ]

[marriedanidiot]

Well, that's more your Arafinwean cousins thing than mine. [ She murmurs - Foresight has never run strongly in her family, fortunately. What little she had has always been directly linked to her family, and she's never been sure that it's been worth it. ]

What of Lord Glorfindel? [ She lifts an eyebrow at him. Anything you want to tell your mother, son? ]

[so_dark_a_road]

Yes, I suppose so. That branch of the family are strongly visionary, though I'd have to say so am I. [ Whether it's worth it or not, whoever has it is stuck with it! ]

Ah. . . [ Ooh, that raised eyebrow! If he ever wanted to know where Maglor inherited his wryest expression, he only had to look at his mother. ] We've become friends. Very close friends.

[ Funny how the topic has never really come up for outright discussion in this family. Nerdanel must know about Maedhros and Fingon, though. She's smart and observant, and Curufin doesn't believe that she'd look the other way and determinedly not know that male-male relationships are a possibility in any world. ]

[marriedanidiot]

Close friends the way your brother enjoys playing the harp with Findarato, or close friends the way your brother is with Findekano?

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Heh heh heh. ] More like close friends the way Maitimo and Findekáno are.

[marriedanidiot]

Hmm.

[ she smiles gently at him ]

As long as he makes you happy.

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Curufin is relieved that his mother is so accepting. Not all Elves are. ] Thank you, Mother, for understanding.

He does make me happy. But we can never know the future. A long time ago in another world, a wise friend of mine told me that love is not about the past or the future, but only about the present. I've long since resolved to be happy while I can, with whomever loves me and is loved by me, and be grateful for such love.

[marriedanidiot]

[ She raised Maedhros, did she not? ]

I only worry for you, Atarinke. [ She murmurs softly ] I do not wish for you to come to harm.

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Of course, Nerdanel raised her son Maedhros, so she of all people should know him well enough to know his preferences, and specifically, whom he loves. ]

I know, Mother. You wish the best for me. But don't worry in this instance. Glorfindel is a highly ethical person, and an affectionate and faithful friend. If anything goes wrong, it won't be because he meant me harm. It could only be because the universe is not predictable, and neither are human relationships. I think that loving requires the courage to take a chance.

[marriedanidiot]

As long as you are aware.

[ She says gravely ]

He is a kind and generous heart. But a broken bond is a terrible thing to endure.

[so_dark_a_road]

I am very much aware.

[ He smiles at her with all the kindness in his heart. ]

I know. I've had broken bonds in the past, and I've endured that experience. I'm trying to focus on the value of love, even if it isn't permanent. And on simply on remaining hopeful. I'm proud to be his lover, to be the receiver of love from that kind and generous heart.

[marriedanidiot]

I know. [ She kisses his cheek ]

I know. My Atarinke has grown up so well! But I worry.

[so_dark_a_road]

[ He kisses her cheek in return. ]

I'm happy that you're proud of me, of who I've become. You're the best mother I could ever imagine having, and I think you ought to take some of the credit for how I've grown up. And I know, you worry about me. No parent wants to see their child unhappy, not for any reason. [ Hug. ]

[marriedanidiot]

[ She hugs back, crushing him close ]

No. [ She agrees ]

You all grew up far too quickly for me.

Want to wrap this thread?

[so_dark_a_road]

[ So nice, to be able to hug his mother, and to be able to share hopes and fears. ]

We parents understand sorrow from our own experiences, and we know that our children will experience it too. But that doesn't mean we don't want them to be an exception to the rule! [ Stars of Varda! How true that was in the case of Curufin and Celebrimbor! But he could neither prevent his son from experiencing trouble and sorrow nor because of the Oath could he prevent himself from being one of the causes of grief. ]

I know. It would be a very different life, if children remained children as long as their parents needed them to be. [ Sweet smile, with just a little mischief in it. ] You'd still have seven little rascals running about the house, giving you completely unbelievable excuses for their pranks.

ya

[marriedanidiot]

Hm.

[ She smiles at him ]

There are definite advantages to you growing up, tis true.