Work Text:
SCENE. Darkness has fallen and FINWË is dead. FËANÁRO and his SONS are preparing to leave the shores of Aman forever. They have come to NERDANEL’s house for one final confrontation.
SCENE. The entrance way of NERDANEL’s home. NERDANEL stands at the threshold, before FËANÁRO and their surrounding SONS.
NERDANEL: I beg you.
FËANÁRO: You are no begging woman.
NERDANEL: Please, Fëanáro. Grant me at least the twins.
If only for the love you once bore me.
FËANÁRO: For love?
NERDANEL: Leave me at least with the youngest.
With Ambarassa. At least Umbarto –
UMBARTO: Enough! Mother, enough!
FËANÁRO: You see, he speaks.
He will not thank you.
NERDANEL: What are thanks? I care
Not at all for such. I am his mother.
UMBARTO: You would be my jailer!
NERDANEL: And your father
Would be your doom. Yet I would see you live.
UMBARTO: What a life! I would sicken in your cage.
You want me safe? You want me yours.
NERDANEL: Not so!
You know not what awaits you outside of
These lands.
FËANÁRO: Your famous visions. Tell me, who
But yourself has seen such a fate? You name
Him fated, but I call him exalted.
You want no glory for him, only to
Cleave him to your breast. In this you are no
Different to Aulë whom you bow to.
NERDANEL: If you take my son you will break my heart.
FËANÁRO: You break your own. Now no faithful wife can
You call yourself.
NERDANEL: Go then! But know one thing –
None but your faithless wife sought to pull your
Youngest child from the flames.
FËANÁRO: We’ve heard enough.
UMBARTO: Come, father. It is past time we took our
Leave.
FËANÁRO and SONS begin to walk away from the house. Exit FËANÁRO and SONS. Exit NERDANEL, retreating back inside the house and closing the door behind her.