hadriel | [Video]

I would love to see your sword. The Jedi have their own weapons that are made partially from special crystals that resonate with the Force. I chose mine when I was still a Padawan.

[He ignites his lightsaber to show Curufin the blue glow.]

In battle, I pair its power with my Force abilities. All Jedis do. [And all Sith.] That's why we are so hard to defeat.

[He considers the questions, extinguishing his weapon's light.]

I don't really have people. I had my mother, but she's gone. [That thought is still almost impossible to swallow and he feels his rage rising in his chest.] I choose to rule. To lead, to guide, to protect. I will be Emperor of my galaxy one day.

My gift is in battle, iIn flying ships and in controlling others.

That could be arranged. [ He would be happy to show Anakin his sword. ] And I would like to see yours. It sounds like your craftsmen have a highly unusual technique for sword-smithing. So, you are saying you choose your swords because they resonate with the specific Force that is created by your own body?

[ His eyes widen with wonder and interest as Anakin's sword lights up. ] Hm! Nice resonance!

[ He nods. ] Yes, I can imagine that pairing makes you hard to defeat.

Your family is gone? You have my sympathy. It is a sad thing, to lose close relatives. Was she the only one you had?

If you are to rule, will you have to persuade the citizens of your galaxy to accept your leadership? Or have they already done so? [ Yes, he heard that phrase, controlling others. He won't preach at Anakin. He already knows that that does no good. ]

[ Since he has said he will, he unsheathes his sword in his turn, holds it up, and charges it up with his power. A white light glows along the edge, like a flicker of lightening along a cloud's edge. ] I can make it shine blue, but that usually happens when I'm in the middle of a strike. [ A flash of blue runs up the blade. ]

Not just by my body; by everyone and everything. The Force is vast and infinitely powerful. If someone can tap into it, they can do anything. There are even tales of a Force user overcoming death. [Anakin wishes to follow in that user's footsteps for Padmé's sake. He will not lose her.]

Impossible to defeat. [He grins, manic and with a flash of yellow-gold in his eyes.] In my case, that is. The other Jedi haven't really held up to their name.

[How does he know that? Oh right, he has hunted them down.]

She was taken from me by...animals. [He growls, voice rough with pain.] I slaughtered them.

[Not very Jedi.]

The Force is...technically...my father. She was all I had. [Except for his wife and their twins.]

Who needs persuasion when you are clearly the strongest? My Master and I have already paved our way to that throne. No one will dispute us.

[Us will soon for Just him - or so Anakin plans. He doesn't like the hold Palpatine has on him.]

Fine craftsmanship... [The praise is spoken in a soft voice of admiration.] Your sword radiates pure Light.

I suppose that must be so! I don't know if we can do absolutely anything, but surely the limits are not known. And if you have heard tales of death being overcome by the Force, I can definitely believe them. [ Because he has done it. He succeeded in re-embodying himself after his death. But he will not speak of that at this time.]

Impossible to defeat. Ah. [ No comment. He knows too well what happens to those who have such hubris. Curufin never believed himself invulnerable to defeat, but he certainly was arrogant, and he dared things that he should not have, and look how that turned out. ]

I am sorry for that, then. There really is no worse pain than the loss of a loved one. [ Soft voice. He means this. A person does not have to have a virtuous heart to be in real pain. ]

[ He just shakes his head a little, at Anakin's assertion that all it takes is strength. He's heard that before. ]

[ And as for the sword. . . ] Thank you. [ He is strangely touched. No one has ever told him that his power consists of pure LIght. He's always believed it was mainly made of Darkness, with a little extra glitz borrowed from natural sources such as the stars, to give it shine. ]

You have the Sight to see what a source of power consists of? That's impressive.

Speak for your race. The possibilities for a true Force user from my galaxy extend as far as their might. [He's a little power happy; it's all he can rely on when his fears close in around him. Of course the fears of others do not seem to matter. Not anymore.] I will figure it out. I will save those worthy of it.

[His eyes flash, gold, challenging.] Are you prepared to try me? [Arrogance is an easy mask for his madness; for his pain. Without it, he would be screaming or laughing. Perhaps both.]

I won't feel that pain again. That's where the Force comes into the equation. [Losing his mother pushed him into the Darkness. All of his seemingly benign doubts about the Force - about his place in it - exploded into true danger for everyone.]

Yes. All Jedi... All Siths... can tell the difference. In truth, we all have Light and Dark in us. They are always battling one another for dominance. Our choices decide which triumphs.

If the Force is the same in all worlds, and we merely call it by different names, than indeed the possibilities are great. You would use it to save those you love or esteem?

[ He smiles a little, seeing those flashing gold eyes. ] Perhaps, sometime. But we have no reason to fight, at present. I will not declare another my enemy without reason. Of course, if you just want to spar, I'm up for it. [ Grin.]

Are you thinking that the Force might be used to bring back your beloved mother? [ And if that's what he's thinking, Curufin can hardly blame him. In fact, he wishes him luck. ]

[ He nods. ] Then there is less difference between our worlds than some might think. We Elves, and I think all in the world from which we come, recognize those polar opposites, the Light and the Dark, as components of ourselves. And we know that battle. [ Small sigh. ] And yes. Our choices.

What better use is there? I will use it to save them and bring peace to the galaxy. [His galaxy. He has already claimed it; now it only needs to be conquered. ~~Sorry, Palpatine, you have to die now.~~]

I can come up with a reason if you really need one. [Do they need to be enemies? Shame.] Yes. I would like to spar. [Without holding back. The light in his eyes is very close to manic.]

No. [His voice is hollow and his eyes darken.] She... I can't. No one can. But there is another I want to save. [Another one he needs to save.]

I'm not afraid of the Dark. Are you?

Edited 2017-03-07 11:30 (UTC)

[ A state of mind Curufin can identify with because he can so cleary remember it. Nargothrond first, HA HA! -- and then all of central Beleriand!!! ~~Finrod, you have to die. And you too, Thingol!~~ ]

Oh, you can? What would you suggest? [ And interesting idea, being enemies at first sight? Curufin's amused. ] But yes, we should meet to practice. [ He grins. He gets the message. Without holding back! ]

[ His face softens, hearing that hollow tone and seeing the golden eyes shadowing. ] I am sorry, then. It is a dreadful thing to lose the one who gave you life. But if there is another who could be saved. . . then I wish you the best of luck.

[ He smiles at the question. ] I don't imagine you are. Neither am I. I know the Dark too well.

Edited 2017-03-07 12:09 (UTC)

[Who needs peace and level-headed wisdom and guidance when you can have fiery desperation and manic episodes?]

Most of my reasons you wouldn't want to hear. [Like how he killed children.] We should. But first... Can your sword withstand a blow from a lightsaber? Or should I use a sword too?

[He gives a quick, jerky shrug.] It's over. I won't let it happen again.

[His gaze lifts and fixates on Curufin's face.] How well? Why did it call to you?

[ Indeed! ]

Not unless you wanted to tell them to me. [ Curufin is also guilty of children's deaths. ] That's a good question. I have never fought anyone who owns one. A Fëanorian blade may be able to withstand your weapon. It is hard to say how two weapons from different universes might compare. But if you wished to fight with a sword, do you own one? Or shall I forge one for you?

[ He gives a nod in acknowledgement of Anakin's grief. ]

[ He meets that gaze. ] It began to call to me when I and my father and brothers slew our own kin, in order to take control of their ships. Or perhaps it was even before that, when we swore an oath of vengeance against a renegade god who had stolen something from us. Eventually, I think the Dark got hold of me entirely. I was full of hate and wanted power at any cost. And then, in the end. . . I died, and found myself in the Void. That place is pure Darkness. I felt strangely at home.

I'd rather not. [It nauseates him to speak of it, though he still believes it had to be done.] I don't own a sword and I'd rather not ruin yours by testing its strength against my saber. Could you forge one for me? Do you need my measurements?

[He listens and envisions a place of utter Darkness. Yes, it would be peaceful. No one could attack or be attacked; no one would die.]

You killed your family? Why?

[ Curufin won't press him to speak of things he does not wish to. He understands well enough why a person would not want to talk of the worst acts of his life. ] Yes, I can forge you a sword. It would be better to have your measurements. If you don't know them, you can stop by my workshop and we'll take the measure in Elvish or English units. [ He has a measuring tape for each. ]

[ Yes, that would be a very good description of the Void! -- that's if you ignored the occasional evil spirit. But they weren't that common, so, yes, it was peaceful. ]

I am of the clan of the Noldor. The first of my kin whom I slew were Teleri, a clan of ship-builders. None of them were close kin, as these things are usually reckoned, but close enough for Elvish society to consider their murder a kinslaying. I thought of the Telerin Elves I knew as cousins, though with none of them did I share an ancestor closer than a great-great-grandparent. That would make the people I killed mostly fourth, fifth, and sixth cousins, I guess. No matter. I knew many of them personally, and some were my friends. [ Bitter memories. ] I killed them for their ships, so that I and my father and brothers and our followers could escape the land of the gods. And later, it got worse. I sent my own first cousin Finrod to his death, though I did not kill him myself. I and my brother Celegorm wanted Finrod's kingdom, and so we stole it from him. And the last of my kin whom I slew were the most distant, of the kindred of the Sindar, sundered from my ancestors' people long ages before. But all Elves consider themselves related, and so that, too, was a kinslaying. The people of the kingdom of Doriath possessed a powerful and holy jewel that my father had crafted along with two others, all of which were all stolen from us. That one jewel ended up in the hands of a ruler of that kingdom, and my brothers and I attacked it and killed everybody who couldn't escape, including Dior, the ruler. That was my last adventure. [ Wry. ]

[There is cowardice in not speaking of his actions, but his sanity is on a razor thin edge. Speaking of it might be enough to break him and he is certain Curufin doesn't want to see that side of him.]

Give me directions and I'll be there shortly. [He's actually excited to have a "normal" sword. Well, no not normal. The blade would be special and he grins at the thought of sparring.

His amusement fades at the explanation and he...understands the Fëanorians better than he should. As the Force's "Chosen One", he shouldn't be so...

So tainted. But he is and he cannot hold any of the atrocious acts against Curufin.]

I guess since you are being so honest... [And not to his benefit.] I will tell you one of my crimes.

[Private to Curufin.]

I slaughtered younglings - Padawans in training - so that they would not grow to oppose me and my new Empire. [He forces his voice to be emotionless - flat. They are just words. He will not think of the deed.]

Edited 2017-03-28 07:40 (UTC)

Do you know where Confusion's temple is, just past Spire Two? If you keep going in that direction, you will come to a forest of tall pine trees. My son Celebrimbor has a forge there, and he shares it with me. It's near the riverbank, just before you get to that forest. You'll see a couple of workshops, wooden shacks. One is the forge and the other is for carpentry and other crafts. I nailed signs over the doors so you can't miss it.

[ He grins, too. He is looking forward to making that sword, and to the sparring. ]

[ Private to Anakin.]

I see.

Then we have something in common.

[ They are both tainted. ]

Edited 2017-04-08 10:51 (UTC)

I know it. I shouldn't have much trouble finding it, then. [He is on his way, striding quickly through the streets. Much can be told from how he moves; Anakin is someone who is physically fit, though his robes hide much of his muscles. Each of his steps would have others of shorter or weaker statures running to keep up.]

Can I trust you won't attack me before the sword is made?

[Private to Curufin.]

Are you sorry?

[ Curufin nods. ] Then I'll expect you shortly.

Yes, you can trust me. [ Small laugh. ] Kinslayer I may be, but I'm not a jerk.

[Private to Anakin]

Yes, I am. In the beginning, I was mainly sorry because I got two of my brothers killed, as well as myself, in that last adventure. I wasn't sorry for the other deaths. Not even the children's. But. . . my own death woke me up, in a way that's hard to explain. In the end, I began to worry about all the people I killed or caused to die. They are a weight on my spirit, and they always will be.

Edited 2017-04-20 09:32 (UTC)

That's comforting! [He listens to Curufin's explanation as he walks to the Forge, understanding the Elf's pain and...not. He hasn't died yet, though a part of him feels like it will perish the moment Padmé dies. Part of the reason he cannot lose her is because of that piece of him. Without it, he might give up on his humanity entirely.

Once at the Forge, he lets himself inside and peers around - always wary.]

Curufin?

[ OOC: Moved left. ]

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