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When the black-haired Elf entered the room, Elrond grabbed Elros to keep his brother from launching out. Elros didn’t struggle, but he was tense. He was angry, and thought he could take this kinslayer, but Elrond didn’t let him go. The soldier came closer to the closet they hid in, steps soft.
“I don’t think anyone’s here, Nelyo!” The Elf called, turning. Elrond caught sight of the eight-pointed star on his cape and shrunk back.
“Look carefully.” A second Elf stepped into the room, red hair falling down past his shoulders. He looked angry.
“Killing won’t bring them back.” The dark-haired Elf whispered.
“Search the room, Kano.” The second Elf ordered, his voice rasping harshly. “Just check.” He added. “It can do no harm.”
“Very well.” The first Elf sighed. The red-haired one left and the first Elf returned to hunting around the room. He approached the closet again. Elrond pressed back into the wall, arms locked around Elros’ chest as he tugged his brother back into the robes, hoping that they would hide them. The door opened. The soldier paused, then parted the robes. His silver eyes widened.
“Children?” He asked. Elros broke free of Elrond’s grip, launching himself at the soldier.
“Run, Elrond!” Elros hissed. Elrond didn’t move. The soldier grabbed Elros, holding him away so that Elros couldn’t attack him.
“Elrond?” The dark-haired Elf said, fixing his gaze on Elrond. “You’re Elwing’s children?”
“Kano, what are you doing?” The red-haired Elf was back. His eyes narrowed as he took in Elrond and Elros.
“Leave them.” The red-haired soldier ordered.
“They’ll die. Orcs will be here by nightfall.” The dark-haired one argued.
“We can’t—”
“They are Elwing’s children. She might exchange them for the Silmaril. Maedhros, please.” Elrond gasped at the name. He’d heard of Maedhros, the leader of the kinslayers. His mother had told him and Elros terrible stories about Maedhros.
“You take care of them, Maglor.” Maedhros said finally. “I will have nothing to do with them.” He turned and walked out. Maglor reached out for Elrond, who scampered backwards, staring at the Elf with wide eyes. Maglor wasn’t as scary as Maedhros, but he was still a kinslayer. His mother’s stories didn’t mention Maglor much, but that just meant he was as bad as the other Elves. Maglor grabbed him anyways, picking him and Elros up. Despite their struggles, Maglor carried them out and placed them in a wagon, tying their hands together and securing them to the floor.
“Don’t try to escape.” The kinslayer threatened. “There are Orcs everywhere. If we don’t find you, they will.”
“I’m not afraid of Orcs.” Elros snarled.
“Elros, be quiet!” Elrond hissed, positioning himself in front of his brother. Elros subsided, not wanting Elrond to get hurt.
“You should be afraid of Orcs.” Maglor said seriously. “They are cruel beings and will not spare you because of your youth.”
“We understand.” Elrond said, shifting to take Maglor’s gaze. When the kinslayer said nothing, Elrond started silently panicking. “We thank you for your kindness?” He offered, wondering if that was what Maglor wanted. Their nurse had always made Elrond and Elros be very polite.
“It is no kindness.” Maedhros’ voice said. The Elf must have been outside of the wagon, because Elrond couldn’t see him. “Come, brother. It is time to leave.” Maglor stood and left. Elros exhaled loudly.
“We’ve gotta escape, Elrond.” Elros whispered.
“I know. But they’re right. It wouldn’t be smart to do it now. Maybe if we’re really good, they’ll relax and we can slip out in a town or something.” Elrond whispered back. Elros frowned, and then nodded.
“That’s smart.”
“Mother will come for us anyways.” Elrond said. “Right?”
“Yeah…except, they want the Silmaril.” Elros said. “Mother likes that a lot.”
“She always spent more time with it than—” Elrond broke off quickly. It wasn’t good to insult his mother. He would be in trouble if anyone heard. “Not that it’s a bad thing. She’ll come.” Elrond said, trying to convince himself.
“Yeah. Yeah.” Elros nodded sharply.
…
When they got the news that Elwing wasn’t coming, Elrond cried. Elros did too, even though he said he didn’t. Maglor had delivered it to them flatly, and he watched them with sadness that Elrond thought should be foreign to a kinslayer.
“Go away!” Elros yelled at him. “You took her away from us!” Elrond knew that much wasn’t true. Elwing had left them. Maglor left too, turning away and shutting the door quietly. He locked it as he had every night.
…
Elros tried to run. He was going to get help, he didn’t mean to leave Elrond, but he did. Maglor entered in the morning to Elrond alone.
“Where’s your brother?” Maglor asked. Elrond said nothing. He didn’t know.
“Where is your brother?” Maglor asked again, urgently. Elrond shrank back.
“I don’t know.” He whispered. “He was gone when I woke up.” Maglor ran out, leaving the door open. Elrond crept forwards and peeked down the hallway. For a moment, it was empty, and then a pair of guards ran through. They paid no attention to Elrond, so Elrond ventured a step out of the room. He’d never been told to stay, after all. The door had just always been locked. The next Elf to step around the corner wasn’t as absent-minded.
“Get back to your room, boy.” Maedhros snarled. “There’s an Orc pack about, and if you get eaten my brother will not be pleased.”
“Orcs?” Elrond whispered. Maedhros didn’t elaborate. He grabbed Elrond’s shoulder with his left hand and pushed Elrond back into the room.
“No, please.” Elrond pleaded. “Elros ran away! What if the Orcs—”
“Your brother—didn’t Maglor warn you about the Orcs?” Maedhros growled.
“I’m sorry.” Elrond whispered. “Please, just help him.” Maedhros snarled and slammed the door shut. The locks clicked. Elrond ran to the window to watch for anything that could tell him where Elros was.
It was raining hard by the time that Elrond’s door opened. Maedhros was standing there, scowling.
“Your brother wants you.” He said sharply. Elrond jumped up and followed the red-haired Elf down to the dining room. Elros was lying by the fire, shivering uncontrollably. Maglor was next to him, singing softly in words that echoed with quiet power.
“Maglor.” Maedhros said, and the song stopped.
“Nelyo.” Maglor looked up and smiled. “Elrond. Come here.” Elrond approached warily.
“Is he going to be okay?” Elrond asked, trying not to sound too scared.
“He will.” Maglor said. “He just fell into a river. He’s cold and wet, and he sprained his ankle. He’ll be fine in a month or so.”
“He’s lucky.” Maedhros growled. “He could have ended up much worse.”
“He won’t do it again.” Elrond said quickly. “We’ll be good.” Maedhros looked at him, the hazel eyes burning.
“If you knew half of what the Orcs would do to your brother, you wouldn’t be concerned about what I can do, Peredhel.” Maedhros rasped.
…
When the storms came, Elrond hid under his covers and tried not to cry. Elros wasn’t afraid of storms, but Elrond was. He could remember the night lightning had struck the castle, even though Elros had forgotten. A particularly bright flash lit up the room and Elrond cringed, pressing his hands to his slightly-pointed ears as thunder echoed. Not wanting Elros to see, Elrond got up and slipped through the door that Maglor had been leaving unlocked. Quietly, he padded towards Maglor’s room, cringing at every clap of thunder. The floor was cold, and Elrond hesitated before the large door to Maglor’s room, wondering if he should just go back in bed. But Maglor had said to come for anything. Elrond reached up and turned the handle, slipping through the door as soon as the crack was wide enough.
“What’re you doing up?” Someone rasped. Elrond gasped. Maedhros was sitting on the floor near the door, staring at him. The lightning flashed, illuminating his face for seconds.
“I-I was looking for Maglor.” Elrond stammered. “I didn’t know—” Was this Maedhros’ room? Had Elrond gotten them mixed up? “It won’t happen again.” Elrond breathed, taking a step back as Maedhros stood. Lightning cracked close by, and Elrond flinched. Maedhros froze, then took a step closer.
“You’re scared of the storm, penneth?” He asked. Elrond floundered for words, but couldn’t stop a gasp as thunder snarled through the sky again.
“Where is your brother?” Maedhros asked.
“He’s not scared. He’s sleeping.” Elrond said. “I didn’t want to bother him…I’m sorry for coming in, I thought Maglor would be here.”
“He was called away.” Maedhros said. “Orcs.” That wasn’t unusual, but usually Maedhros went with him. Maedhros must have seen Elrond’s confusion, because he snorted. “They don’t need me for every trip. Not much use now as it is.” He glanced out the window. Elrond took a hesitant step closer.
“What do you mean?” He asked.
“You don’t want to know.” Maedhros rasped. “What do you need to go back to bed?”
“I-I don’t—” Elrond started, but Maedhros shook his head.
“Tell me, Peredhel.”
“Maglor sang to us.” Elrond said.
“I can’t sing anymore.” Maedhros said.
“It’s fine.” Elrond said. Lightning hissed down nearby, probably striking the courtyard. Elrond yelped and flattened himself against the door.
“Easy, penneth.” Maedhros had his hand on Elrond’s shoulder, pulling him close. “The storm won’t hurt you.”
“Nurse said that it could.” Elrond argued, shaking a bit. “She said that we were lucky it didn’t, when it hit our room.”
“Ah, I see.” Maedhros replied. “Yes, we were lucky that it didn’t hurt you. But this castle is not like yours. The lightning will strike the towers, because they are so tall. It will not strike your room. And the thunder is loud, but it is just noise. But if you are brave, you can stay in here tonight. I will watch over you.”
“But then you won’t be able to sleep.” Elrond protested. Sleep was very important. He’d read it in his healing books.
“I wouldn’t sleep anyways, Elfling.” Maedhros snorted. “If I do, you will need to go back to your brother without waking me, or you might get hurt.”
“Why?” Elrond asked. Maedhros paused.
“I don’t always know where I am when I wake.” He said finally. “But you needn’t worry. I never sleep on nights like this.” Now that Elrond had Maedhros’ hand on his shoulder and was standing so close, Elrond could feel Maedhros flinching at the thunder like he had. He didn’t say anything, knowing that older Elves didn’t like having their fears pointed out by Elflings. Slowly, Elrond pressed himself against Maedhros’ side.
“Sometimes Maglor holds us.” He lied. No one had held him since he was a baby. Maedhros believed him though, and pulled Elrond into his lap as he sat on the floor. Elrond buried his face in Maedhros’ chest. Maedhros held him secure until he started to drift into sleep. The last thing Elrond heard was the broken murmured melody of the lullaby Maglor sang to them.
…
Elrond paced the room anxiously, peering out the window every couple seconds. Elros lounged on the couch nearby, laughing at him.
“Elrond, calm down. Maglor will be fine.” He said. Elrond bit his lip. He wasn’t just worried about Maglor. Maedhros’ horse had come back alone last night, and Maglor had immediately set out to find Maedhros. But Elros wasn’t worried about the red-haired Elf. Maedhros acted rough, angry around them and Elros hadn’t tried to break through it. Elrond had. Maedhros had taken good care of him, better than anyone other than Maglor ever had. Better still, Maedhros let Elrond snuggle with him.
“What if Maedhros is hurt?” Elrond asked. Elros sighed.
“He’ll be fine too. He’s gotten hurt lots of times, just look at him.”
“That’s not very nice.” Elrond snapped. Elros shrugged.
“I mean, it’s kind of obvious, Elrond.”
Elrond scowled, but returned to watching out the window without another word to his brother. He stiffened in excitement as he saw the horses approaching.
“They’re back!” He exclaimed, rushing out of the room. He made it down to the courtyard just as the riders entered. Maglor swung off his horse.
“Elrond, go back to your room!” Maglor ordered. Elros grabbed Elrond’s arm and pulled him away. Elrond kept staring at the limp, red-haired figure in Maglor’s arms until Elros dragged him out of sight.
Night came without any sign of Maedhros. Maglor came up, once, to tuck them in. He was rushed though, and Elrond knew something was wrong. Elros was snoring before five minutes had passed. Elrond waited until the moon had risen before sneaking out of bed. He crept down the stairs towards the healers’ room. The light was on, but Elrond didn’t hear any voices. He peeked around the door. No one was inside…except for Maedhros, sprawled out on the bed. Elrond quietly walked closer, Maedhros’ warnings to never approach him while asleep ringing Elrond’s ears. Maedhros frowned in his sleep, gasping. Elrond took an involuntary step closer.
“No.” Maedhros whispered. He cringed, curling in on himself. “No, please.” Elrond reached Maedhros’ side and looked down at him, worried. Maedhros was having a nightmare of some kind. Maglor had warned them never to touch Elves who were having nightmares, because they might lash out accidentally. Elrond didn’t know what to do for a moment, and then he remembered what Maglor did when Elrond or Elros had a nightmare. Quietly, Elrond started to sing. The lullaby worked, and Maedhros relaxed slightly, his clenched fist opening and his face losing all signs of pain. Elrond kept singing the unfamiliar words, not knowing what they meant but remembering them clearly from the many times Maglor had sung them. After a few minutes, Maedhros opened his eyes.
“Elrond.” He rasped. “You’re singing.”
“Was it bad?” Elrond asked, blushing.
“No. Was good.” Maedhros rasped. “And smart. But you shouldn’t have come.”
“You were hurt.” Elrond protested. “Maglor didn’t tell us if you were okay, and I—”
“Yes?” Maedhros prompted.
“I don’t want you to leave.” Elrond whispered. “Don’t leave me, Maedhros.”
“Ai, Elfling, I will be fine.” Maedhros said, and started to hold out his hand when the door opened.
“Elrond!” Maglor scolded. “What were you doing? You could have been—” He broke off with a wince, glancing at Maedhros. Elrond shrunk back.
“I’m sorry.” He said. “I know it was foolish.”
“It was reckless.” Maglor said sharply. Elrond winced. Maedhros grabbed Elrond’s sleeve and pulled him close sharply, sitting up and tugging Elrond into his chest.
“Don’t yell at him, Kano. He knows.” Maedhros said. “It’s my fault he was even here in the first place.”
“Nelyo—”
“And it’s my fault he would be in danger. Elrond was very careful when he came in, and he did everything right. Perhaps it would have been safer for him to have stayed away, but—” Maedhros broke off and looked down at Elrond, who had relaxed into the hold and leaned his head against Maedhros’ shoulder. Maglor was looking at them with surprise.
“I thought you didn’t care for them.” Maglor said softly.
“Of course not.” Maedhros growled. “I’m just too dangerous to be around them. But you left that one night, and—”
“The night of the storm?” Maglor asked. “You said I could leave.”
“Yes, that doesn’t matter anymore. It happened, and the Elfling got attached.” Maedhros said. His arm tightened around Elrond, his breathing shortened.
“I know you’ll think it best if I stay away from them, but I can be useful.” Maedhros said sharply. “I am not always dangerous. I can train them or watch them while you are away. I will stay away if it is a bad day, I sw—”
“Don’t!” Maglor interrupted. “I believe you, Nelyo.”
“You don’t trust me, though.” Maedhros said. Elrond looked up at him, worried.
“I do trust you. It's just…it’s hard, Nelyo.” Maglor said, voice breaking.
“I trust you.” Elrond said, feeling Maedhros’ hurt at the words.
“You shouldn’t.” Maedhros growled gently. “Silly Elfling.”
“I would not tell you to stay away from them, Maedhros. That has always been your own doing.” Maglor said. “Please, though, be careful.”
“I am always careful.” Maedhros said.