Maedhros closed the door behind him softly and gazed into the starry skies.
Oh, Maglor, if only we could share this night with our family.
Father, Mother, and our brothers, before we split apart.
Before we were exiled.
Before we took the oath.
Before we did deeds so foul that no Elf would ever be able to forgive us.
What more do we have in this world?
He sighed, and unbraided his hair slowly, shivering slightly in the autumn wind. Then he turned and closed the door behind him.
Hidden in the darkness once more.
Maglor rolled over in his bed, his head buried deep in his plump pillow, nearly asleep.
His ears caught a little sound, and he jolted back into waking.
I hope I imagined those footsteps.
Keeping his eyes closed, Maglor listened silently. Sure enough, he could hear the tiny flop of little elves' feet pit-patting closer and closer.
Ai Valar, those two won't leave me alone. I can't go anywhere by myself, I can't even get a night of rest without Elros and Elrond bothering me!
Despite these annoyed thoughts, a smile found its way upon his lips. His eyes opened to see two little elves standing before him, both clutching their fingers. Elros (Maglor could tell it was him; his hair was straighter and his eyes more narrow) stared at him, unblinking, but Elrond (hair fluffed in every direction like a hedgehog) leaped back, startled.
"It's all right, little one," Maglor said. "Now, I suppose you two want to speak to me about some urgent matter; last night and the night before I heard you come into my room, and return to your beds without awaking me. What is it?"
"We couldn't sleep," said Elrond.
"We had nightmares," added Elros.
"About what?" said Maglor out of curiosity. These days, the twins dreamt of green meadows and tall hills, flowering daisies and sunshine upon their heads. What could they possibly be dreaming of that had upset them so much as to enter Maglor and Maedhros's room?
"You and Maedhros," said Elros.
A nightmare? About us?
For three days?
Do they... fear us?
Maglor furrowed his eyebrows, suddenly worried.
"You dreamed of us? Is that not a good thing to dream of?"
"But Maglor, we dreamed that you left!" Elrond said suddenly, and promptly began crying into his nightshirt.
"Oh, Elrond," said Maglor. He kissed the top of the little elf's head, and caressed his soft, dark hair. "We won't leave you, don't worry."
Elros, the usually expressionlessly stoic, burst into tears as well. His face scrunched up in fear.
"You said – in my dream – that you didn't want us anymore," he bawled, and Maglor sighed.
"Here, little one." He made some space for them.
Elrond climbed into the bed, followed closely by his brother. Maglor lay his blankets over their small forms and embraced them tenderly.
"We'll never leave you," he murmured as their hiccups faded. "Of course we won't."
Maedhros, asleep in another bed, stirred and sat up.
"Little rascals," he said sleepily. "Come here."
With an agile leap, the twins landed on the other bed, and nuzzled Maedhros. Maglor watched affectionately as his brother ran his fingers through Elrond's hair.
They all settled in Maedhros's bed, which was a bit bigger than Maglor's. As the four gently drifted into the realm of dreams, Elrond put his small hand on top of Maglor's large one.
"I love you," he murmured drowsily.
Elros mumbled this into Maedhros's ear as well, and Maedhros smiled.
"What more do we have in this world"? Sweet Illuvatar, what was I thinking?
We have these two little ones to care for, of course.
"I love you, too."
