The one where Moryo shows me his jewels

[celegorm]

Moryo gave me a bag of jewels to give to Father, and we talked about that sketchy tunnel he likes so much. As long as he's careful, I guess I can't object.

Caranthir: *arrives home from work with a book in his hands, making
enough noise, just in case his brother is not alone. No sound comes
from his bedroom...* Tyelkormo?

Celegorm: *is sitting on the edge of his bed, removing his boots* In here,
Moryo. I just finished cleaning some quail for supper.



Caranthir: *mouth waters, enters the room* You've been out hunting
again? I've been out too yesterday, but mining.

Celegorm: Yes, with a half-elf, Elladan. He's the absolute spitting image of
Luthien, though with...uh...different parts, of course. It was fun. Quail is
on the menu, and some rabbit stew for tomorrow. *pats the side of the bed*
Have a seat and tell me about the mine.

Caranthir: *raises eyebrows* A half-elf who looks like Lúthien?
*thinks that he must read more about that* The menu sounds good,
unless you expect me to cook it alone. *grins and sits down, sets the
book aside* Káno came looking for me, and we went out with a guard. It
was fun just to run in the open, and then we found a mine with an
open space inside. We gathered many sapphires and a jewel I had never
seen before. *takes it out of his pocket* Look. It's purple, but if
you put it near a light you can see the red and the blue. See?

Celegorm: *takes it from him and inspects it* It's lovely, and thankfully,
appears to not be a Silmaril. *looks at Moryo, concerned* I'm not going to
lie...it worries me when you and Kana go down there. And, yes, I know that
you are both able to protect yourselves, but I still worry about you.
Nothing strange happened down there, did it? No wargs or dead bodies or
magical jewels?

Caranthir: No, not a silmaril, but a very curious jewel. I am still
wondering if I should give it to Father or keep it for myself. And no,
nothing happened in the mine. Nothing like the passage. I have been
thinking about that, almost went into it alone. With a lamp and my own
sword. It might be a dangerous thing... Look, this book mentions the
passage. It was bricked up decades ago

Celegorm: Keep it for yourself. Father will want to turn it into a gaudy
piece of jewelry. *glances down at the book* Tell me what else the book says
about the passage. What sort of passage is it and why did Turgon seal it up?

Caranthir: I might start working with a few of the gems myself. I
could find a place for that... *is not sure if Turko expects him to
move out at some moment* I don't think Turukáno knows about all the
closed passages. It seems this was an old mine, abandoned later.
Sealed, with or without magic. It doesn't say anything about that in
the book. About the warg, maybe it was just brought into the passage
the same we were brought to the city? I know I promised you not to go
alone, but can I just open it a bit and see if there are more wargs?

Celegorm: *frowns, his baby brother is so young!* I guess so, but please be
careful. If anything were to happen to you, I'd never forgive myself. *gives
him a spontaneous hug*

Caranthir: *is happy, for the hug and the approval* I will be careful,
I promise. I'm not planning to go into the passage, just open a small
hole in it and peer inside. Nothing will happen to me.

Celegorm: Okay. I trust you. I should probably go by and see Kana sometime
soon. Father, too. I've been spending too much time hunting with
half-elves...and handsome captains. *grins* It's easy to get distracted.

Caranthir: Thank you. *grins* They'll probably be happy to see you.
Oh, do you want to take the jewels to Father? I collected many
sapphires but I'm so busy with work that I haven't been able to go see
him yet.

Celegorm: Sure. Just put them somewhere in the den where I can see them
before I head out the door. Or leave me a note. Or something. You know how
forgetful I can be. How is work, by the way?

Caranthir: All right, thank you! *hopes his brother doesn't forget or
he'll have to go himself* Work is okay. The library has so many new
books, and copies are being made of others. I can't help much with
history outside Valinor, but I make sure they get that part right.
There was a Human, Grima, who told Turukano I was hiding in his city,
but now I don't have to work with him. I met another Human called
Yaban. He is what they call an Easterling. Nice guy.

Celegorm: *scowls* I don't think I like that Grima person. Humans seem sort
of shifty and untrustworthy to me. Sort of like short Sindas. I haven't been
to the library so far. Maybe I should pay it visit, especially if someone is
causing you trouble.

Caranthir: *laughs* Short Sindas? I'll remember that one! He is no
longer causing me trouble, but he saw you and me speaking that day. I
met another Human, a guard named Boromir. He said we are all known as
villians in his city... Gondor, I think.

Celegorm: I'll keep an eye on him, too...but he does have a point. Our
history does color everyone's impression of us and how we operate.

Caranthir: I know, but it's strange to be looked at with such
distrust. I almost stumbled on him, and he said I was too big to be so
careless. It's not my fault Humans are small. I think I don't like
Human guards and Grima. Are you expecting company for dinner? *is
rather hungry by now*

Celegorm: Not tonight. Just us, Little Brother. You can help me get the
birds into the oven.

Caranthir: *smiles brightly* That's good. I will help you with the
birds. Maybe you can teach me how to cook them?

Celegorm: Absolutely...as soon as I figure that out myself. There's a
cookbook on the counter. *grins* Come on.

Caranthir: Like old times! *grins and follows him*