Work Text:
Second Age
Ost-in-Edhil
Today was the longest night of the year, the winter solstice. Celebrations marked renewal, the new year and the return of light. This moment took on an even more spiritual dimension for Celebrimbor, especially since the envoy of the Valar arrived in his life, to make it brighter. It was also an opportunity for the blacksmith to finally give a gift to Annatar, the sharer of gifts. He'd never had the chance to offer something to his dear lover, always working to create the most beautiful wonders Middle Earth had seen since his grandfather's Silmarils. Giving Annatar a gift. Above all, he had to find a moment to forge new jewels, inconceivable to buy, and above all, not let Annatar know his plans. Especially as his lover had eyes everywhere, a control freak, the task was more arduous. The only time Celebrimbor could work on his secret project was in the early mornings, while Annatar was still asleep, or during his training sessions with the other blacksmiths in the guild.
Annatar sometimes slept until zenith, unusual for his nature, but he rested as his body gradually created new life. A new life that brought Celebrimbor great joy and warmed his heart. Him as a father. A true gift. Even if the shame of blasphemy still tugged at his stomach: bonding with a Maia, making love with a Maia, becoming a husband and eternally bound to a Maia. A little being who would inherit all the wonders of his family and the power of the Maia. Celebrimbor was already looking forward to holding him in his arms, this little being who would fill his heart with love.
He prepared a year in advance to create the right jewels to match Annatar's fiery temperament. The closer the fateful date approached, the more complicated it became to keep the secret. Celebrimbor managed this feat thanks to the other blacksmiths and to the various interventions of his unborn child, which reduced Annatar's vigilance over his actions, even if it also increased his irritability. The easiest thing to do had been to hide the design sketches for the future jewels, a total of five pieces. But the actual creation of the jewels was a completely different matter: Annatar spent his days and evenings exhaustion in the forge and workshop, unable to work the metal or prepare a metal alloy. There was no choice but to make as much progress as possible during his long periods of sleep, which sometimes lasted several days, and in those moments, Celebrimbor would kill himself perfecting jewelry to enhance Annatar, like the divinity he was. He even thought it might help to quell some of the rage, the fire contained within.
Despite all the difficulties, Fëanor's grandson succeeded in his plans and created earrings, cuffs, a metal hoop and a necklace, a complete set in gold, for his light and fire. Finished just one week before the fateful date. He was happy with this accomplishment, mixing the Noldor techniques with the new ones he'd learned from Annatar; surely these gifts would warm his heart and, above all, try to think of something other than the upheaval in his powers and so on.
Now came the last and most crucial step: packing all these jewels. A lovely carved wooden chest large enough to hold the jewels each in a green silk pouch to prevent the meshes of the necklace and ironwork from tangling and damaging each other. Celebrimbor searched long and hard in his workshop shelves or even silently in the bedroom for a worthy chest. At last, he found one: a magnificent chest of pink wood with ivory inlay, gold and carvings in the wood. The elf caressed every detail of the chest, the jewelry box of Lanyissë, his mother. A few of her memories were locked away in there, along with her jewels: necklaces, rings, bracelets and earrings. Tears welled up quickly as he thought of all the moments with Lanyissë, the few he could still remember. Her long red hair, her laughter and all those gold jewels, and the clinking every time she moved, love. A wave of warmth. He felt the same at Annatar's side, to be loved and, above all, to form his own family. His choice was made, Celebrimbor removed all the protective sleeves from the jewels and placed them all in the same place in a well-hidden drawer.
Finally, he placed all his gifts in the safe before heading back to the bedroom. Annatar was still sleeping peacefully in the soft silk blankets.
How beautiful he is, a raw beauty.
This wave of love washed over Celebrimbor as he detailed the scene a little more like a painting. Annatar was sleeping naked, and the sheet revealed his bare torso with scars under each nipple. His gaze focused on his beloved's bouncing belly; there was no doubt he was carrying life, and their child was beginning to show. He was happy, nothing could disturb his happiness with his beloved Maia, a perfect life, filled with creation and love, the life he had long dreamed of, having lived most of his life in wars and the constant quest for power. The Eregion had become his haven of peace, and although Annatar took great pains to master it, he succeeded thanks to his patience and his equally stubborn character, a family trait.
Celebrimbor gently stroked Annatar's long blond hair, scattered on the pillowcase and all around him like light, like a halo. He sincerely hoped he'd be able to get out of bed long enough to get dressed and wear his new jewelry, to see just how much the elf had sublimated Maia's already perfect features. He sat down beside Annatar to continue his gentle caresses, gradually waking him up.
“Annatar, it's time to wake up - the solstice is today,” Celebrimbor murmured.
Annatar suddenly opened his eyes and grabbed Celebrimbor's hand with the same speed, touching it and pulling it away from his scalp. Surprised by the reflex, the elf smith gasped, unable to continue the conversation. In one swift movement, Maia rose to sit on the bed, still holding her lover's arm aloft.
“Why did you wake me up? Do you care so little for life Celebrimbor, son of Curufin?”
Waking up in a bad mood, from a bad day, again.
Maybe the presents will change his mind.
Celebrimbor huffed and puffed, adopting a false smile to face the tornado in his bed once again.
“I've got a present for you, dear Sharer of Gifts. It's my turn to give a present. “
“Do you think a gift will soothe my mind and body from being in this state because of you?” accused Annatar.
“If I remember correctly, it was your proposal to give me children to continue the Fëanor line. You can't fool me; I've known you long enough for twenty-five years.”
“And twenty years I've been in this state! Swelling more and more, losing my balance and feeling like a poor mortal as this monster sucks up all my powers and abilities!”
Celebrimbor left the box apparently on the bed, in full view of Annatar, and decided to calm him down. He placed both hands on his belly and began to caress it. What a pleasure to touch that belly, which was getting rounder by the day. Annatar moaned with contentment and the elf was really pleased, his plan was working perfectly. He kissed him passionately.
“The gift looks promising.”
“Open it.”
Defeated, Annatar took the chest and opened it. The gold cuff bracelets with chased flames were a nice surprise, as were the thick necklace that went all the way down to her navel, the round, thick earrings and, finally, the metal hair band. The metal hair band remained his favorite piece of jewelry, the medal in the center with the representation particularly obsessed him. How well chosen. You don't know how close you are to reality, Tyelpë. He tried to keep a straight face in the face of this mark of attention, but to no avail. He was smiling, and it was already hurting him deep in his soul to show a positive feeling. Annatar was changing and he hated it, stupid child growing in his belly, stupid Celebrimbor!
“No need to talk, I could see from your face that you liked it, Annatar. Why don't you put them on with a light outfit and walk with me for a while? “
“You want to show me off as your trophy, I'm not fooled,” Annatar replied wickedly.
“All I want is to be accompanied to the Solstice feast by the person who means the most to me, decked out in her finest finery.”
The Maia finally nodded and rose from his cosy nest with difficulty. Pleased, Celebrimbor helped him up to the dressing table and brought the chest to Annatar. Annatar set each jewel one by one. As for the outfit, he decided to be even more subversive than usual. He took the flowing white muslin pants from the armchair beside him and nothing else. His vulva showed through the fabric. His slightly round belly was enhanced by this outfit and even more by his new jewelry. He decided to go barefoot. Celebrimbor had had the right look, Annatar felt regal, important again, Maia again and above all carrying the future Noldor king helping him in his conquest of Middle Earth.
Celebrimbor, for his part, gazed at his lover with unfailing admiration. A divinity stood before him, again with all that mystical aura and warmth so comforting. Sublime. His gifts sublimated that round, life-bearing body. What a wonderful idea these gifts were. He took Annatar's arm before kissing his neck and facing the horde of elves at the winter solstice party.