Title: Rules Worth Breaking
Fandom: Silmarillion
Challenge: Wonder
Other prompt: From Runa: Rules that were broken, but totally worth it
And
the angry pessimistic one has feelings for the happy sunshine one
Rating: G
Length: 500
Content notes: N/A
Author notes: Thanks go to Zhie, Morgynleri & Runa for encouragement & sanity-checking.
I have used the Sindarin names primarily. Nelyo is Maedhros, Finno is Fingon.
Summary: In a shade of Arda a little off-set from that of canon, Celegorm and Aredhel wonder about certain Laws and Customs.


Celegorm was in an unusually thoughtful mood when Aredhel met him at the park gate and they began walking. The silence between them was comfortable: he would speak when he was ready, and if that wasn't today, it would be tomorrow, or some other time. But she didn't think it would take that long. And indeed it did not. They were hardly under the first trees when he began.

"That argument you were having with Turgon -- I've been thinking about that. About rules, laws, and whether they should always be followed, and how."

Aredhel nodded. "Turgon was saying rules should always be followed, fully and exactly. I still think he's wrong."

"Yes, it matters what the circumstances are. What kind of a rule it is -- is it a serious rule or a silly rule? That is, is there a reason for it, that makes sense, and still applies under the current circumstances, or is it obsolete, arbitrary, or simply nonsensical? Is it a rule or a law or a custom?

"Because if it is something like 'Laws and Customs of the Eldar, where the Valar, who, by the way are not our parents, or our Lords in the sense of managing how we get along with each other, -- though dont tell the Vanyar I said that -- lay down the 'law' about how we should arrange our most intimate relationships. Which don't map at all to what they do, and don't cover way too many possibilities that we know do happen.

"I mean, imagine it, Aredhel, if Haru Finwe had had to pick between Amma Miriel and Nana Indis! Or Indis between Finwe and Miriel! My dad is bad enough with two moms, imagine if he'd only had one -- or really, neither, because Amma almost wasn't able to come back from Lorien as it was, and everyone knows how well Nana and Haru both didn't cope with that! She'd have had to stay there -- or worse -- without both Granpa & Nana. I really don't know where we would be if the three of them hadn't stood their ground and stuck together. It hardly bears thinking about."

Aredhel nodded, letting Celegorm's silver hair curl around her fingers as it spilled over her legs. He had his head in her lap, where they lounged in their favorite grove of dense trees. "Yes," she said, thoughtfully. "That's very true. Without Amma Miriel and Nana Indis, our whole family would be different.

"And it's worse than that: strictly speaking, that 'law' would mean Finno and Nelyo oughtn't be together, and would frown on you & me and the person we both know is out there somewhere, we just haven't found them yet. Aunt Findis and Auntie Elemmirë. Finrod and Amarie and that fellow of theirs - Edrahil. All kinds of people would be unhappy, even if most Elves do fit the general shape of the thing. Definitely rules to be broken when needful. And what is more important than love, in whatever shape it takes, however it manifests?"