Thanks for stopping by! This story can be read alone, read as the first in my series The Line of Oropher or the last, or you can skip this story entirely and start the series at Struggles of a new King. It's up to you :) It follows mostly Elrond through his childhood into adulthood. You don't have to read the Silmarillion to understand it, I'm going to give a brief explanation at the beginning of each of what is going on. Again, no copyright infringement intended. I got all my elvish from my own limited knowledge or from arwen-undomiel. com . If you have questions or if I messed something up, let me know :) Please let me know what you think!
The remaining sons of Feanor attacked the Havens of Sirion in search of a silmaril that was in their mother, Elwing's, possession when Elrond and his twin Elros were very young. Their mother got away with the Silmaril and Maglor and Maedhros, the only surviving feanorians after the attack, found Elrond and Elros and took them, thus raising them.
FA 544
Elrond enjoyed his brother's company, but as of late he had been enjoying his solitude. He sat high in a tree with a book, his hair blow gently in front of his face. He swiped it away behind his ear subconsciously. Every few minutes he checked the ground for Maglor or any of his servants and saw none. This book was a book of history from Nargothrond that was left for Maglor by his brother Celegorm a long time ago, but Maglor hid it and Elrond never understood why. Elrond loved all literature, and it was rare that he got to read about history instead of hearing stories from Maglor of Maedhros or Maedhros' servant, Cedreth. So when he found the book in a pile meant for burning, he couldn't resist. Maedhros wasn't around, he was on his way back from some military responsibility and was due back any day.
He saw Elros and threw a stick down at him. He looked up, "how did you get so high?" he called.
"Practice!"
"Can I come up?" Elrond nodded and climbed down a few branches for his brother to meet him. He pressed himself against the tree so Elros could fit, and his brother heaved himself onto the branch. There was little room, so Elros was pressed against him and crushed him against the tree. "What are you reading so that you must hide?" he asked.
"A history book, that is all. But Maglor threw it in the kindling pile, so I wanted to read it."
Elros smirked, "I thought I was the rebellious one."
"I am not rebelling, I am merely curious," Elrond smirked back.
"Well let me know what it says, it will be nice to know something without having to ask."
Elrond saw Maglor approach in the corner of his eye and stuffed the book in his shirt.
"What are you two doing?" he called.
"Just enjoying the warm weather, Adar," Elros called, being the better liar of the two.
"Come on down, it is time for dinner and Maedhros is home."
They both climbed down and ran back to the house. Maedhros was outside and was speaking to Cedreth. Cedreth was around simply to do what Maedhros could not. He did his hair, fastened his cloak, tied his shoes and helped him with whatever he could not do with one hand. He hated the idea of needing Cedreth, but Maglor could not be with him all the time, and he would not ask any members of his team to help with something like braiding his hair. When Maedhros was home, however, Maglor did these things.
He turned and smiled gently, "you two have grown."
Elros launched himself into Maedhros' arms, and Maedhros lifted him and spun around. "Yes you have grown!" he laughed and turned to Elrond who hugged him gently. He turned and pulled a book from his bag and handed it to Elrond, and a small training bow to Elros. They both smiled and thanked him, and followed him inside.
Elrond and Elros were far closer to Maglor than to Maedhros, this they all knew. Maedhros was kind to them and cared for them, but he did not feel like a parent as Maglor did. He was simply not around as much and did not possess the fatherly love Maglor did. He was diplomatic and had little time for small boys. But they did not resent him for it, they simply respected it and enjoyed him when he was around.
Maglor turned in early after helping Maedhros, who sat in front of the fire and wrote a letter. Elrond walked in, and he put the quill down, moving the paper. "How is that book? I did not recall you owning that one."
"I do not, thank you for thinking of me. Where was it you went?" he asked.
"To meet with someone about a surprise," he winked.
Elrond was unsure as to whether he was serious or simply did not want to tell him, but smirked all the same. He was in a pleasant mood and was not as stressed as he usually was. "I am going to bed, do you need anything before I do?"
"No, thank you, Elrond. Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
Once Elrond woke, he went downstairs. It was a bright morning, and the air smelled of dew that clung to the trees from the previous night. Elros was already off with Maedhros, so Elrond sat at the breakfast table with Maglor. He was reading a scroll that looked very official, but he couldn't read it from across the table. Maglor smiled up at him and rolled the scroll.
"Good morning," he said with a smile and grabbed some toast.
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Of course you can."
"You have told me much of middle earth and Valinor, but not of you."
Maglor looked up, his eyes unreadable. "What of me?"
"What is, your family like?" he asked quietly.
Maglor's face softened, "My father is dead, he died many years ago. I was the second eldest of seven boys, Maedhros is eldest."
"Seven?" Elrond smiled.
"Yes. They are all dead now but Maedhros and I. All of my cousins and family are dead as well- save my nephew and one of my cousins."
"So we are not related?" he asked quietly.
Maglor sighed, "No. But I believe you suspected that."
Elrond nodded, "You will not tell me how this came to be?"
"It is not time. Soon." He said, his faced pained. "I love you, very, very much. Can you not take solace in that for a time?"
Elrond nodded, "I love you too."
He spent the day with Maglor, helping with chores and tending to the horses. Once he was finished he sat in the armchair by the fire and read the book Maedhros got him. A few hours later Maedhros entered, wiping his boots on the carpet. His wavy red hair covered his face and he wiped it away and pulled his cloak off. His hair was always a mess when he was home. He hated to ask Maglor for help, and Maglor sometimes tired of offering to tie it back or braid it for him. Their servant came and took his cloak, and he sat at the table with Maglor.
"Elros is out speaking with the Edain," Maedhros said. Elrond resisted rolling his eyes. Elros was fascinated by them, and always spent far too much time with them when they came to trade. Maedhros took a glass of orange juice from the servant and thanked her, and turned to Maglor. "Ma carina nás?" (is it done?)
"Na." (No.) He said quietly. Elrond hated when they spoke in quenya, but he was used to it.
"Selman mana. Lume mana?" (For what reason? How long?) Maedhros asked impatiently.
"A week or so," Maglor said and stood, a sadness in his eyes. "Maedhros- Van." (I won't do it.)
"We have to!" he shouted in return, and Maglor started up the stairs, "Á tulë sinomë!" (come here!) he roared, and Maglor slammed the door upstairs. Maedhros glanced at Elrond, and his face softened. He looked fearful, and his heartstrings pulled. "It is alright."
"Is everything ok?"
"Everything is fine. Work on your studies for a bit, then you may go to the healers." Elrond nodded, and Maedhros hurried up the stairs, two at a time. He knocked on Maglor's door and pushed it open before he could respond.
"That defeats the purpose of knocking."
Maedhros sat in his desk chair and stared at him, "why must you do this?"
Maglor raked his hand through his hair, "how can you feel nothing?" he asked in quenya, still worried the boys might hear them.
"I do not feel nothing. I care for them as well, but it is that care that has lead me to reason. We cannot keep them any longer. The oath stirs, as does a war. Can you bring yourself to drag them with us? They have much to do with their lives. I personally do not wish for them to see me in that manner."
Maglor sobbed, and immediately held them back. "What are we?"
Maedhros rose, and pulled him into his arms. "You have done well by them, and they have grown to be strong because of you. Now it will be tested, but they will be honorable and great one day."
"They will resent us, especially when they find out-"
"Of course they will. But as they grow wiser, and I believe with time they will forgive us."
Maglor nodded, and Maedhros wiped the tears from his cheeks. "Come. Let us go find Elros."
Maglor sighed, and followed Maedhros down stairs. Elrond looked up, alarmed. He could hear Maglor crying, and it scared him far worse than he led them to believe. He had never seen Maglor cry. He had seen Maedhros cry once before, after one of his nightmares, but never Maglor. Maedhros ignored him, and Maglor had little evidence of crying on his face, just reddened eyes. They went outside, and left Elrond alone to his thoughts and fears. With shaking hands, he continued his book.
