A/N: Hi everyone! So much for having the next chapter up in a week or less, but here it is anyway. I hope you enjoy it and like where this story is going. I guess we will see what happens next.
Until next time please read, review, and enjoy! I'll try to have the next chapter up sooner rather than later.
Two years later, and the twins had fully settled into life at the keep. They had both grown about a head taller and were starting to become lanky and long-limbed. They were often tripping over their own feet, as they were growing so fast they didn't have any time to get used to it. Maeassil was constantly making new clothes for them as they kept outgrowing what they already had.
Other than that their lives were fairly routine. They awoke in the morning, ate breakfast, had their lesson with Parmatan, went and had lunch before practicing with the swordmaster Ranyaro watching and instructing, went and had a healing lesson with Múldir, and then had dinner with Maglor and Maedhros. That was one thing that had changed recently. Maglor decided one day to have the twins eat with him and Maedhros, something that was greeted with rather muted enthusiasm from the other parties involved. Suffice to say, the twins didn't want to in the beginning, but now they rather enjoyed it, especially if they could sneak a little extra spice onto Maglor's plate without him noticing. His reaction was always priceless when they did that.
If Maedhros noticed he never said anything, even though Elros swore that he saw Maedhros smile slightly during one such episode, proving he had to have some kind of a sense of humor.
That was another thing that hadn't changed either: the twin's love of pranks. They would prank anyone they could and were too smart to get caught. The only one they didn't prank was Maeassil, instinctively knowing not to cross her. They didn't prank Múldir either, sensing he had enough to deal with without them adding pranks to that list.
That was something they were still working on: Múldir's situation. They didn't know what was going on there and what was happening with him, and it was slightly frustrating. He was one of their closest friends, and to not know more about him was slightly upsetting. Especially when they could tell everyone in the keep knew and decided to stay silent about it. But as of that moment, they could do nothing to get anyone to say anything about it, and so all they could do was keep watching and listening and hoping someone would let something slip by accident.
Múldir was a friend, but not their only friend. Exploring the stables one day they had come across a white barn cat that had immediately taken a liking to them and promptly moved inside. They called her Alassindë, and she lived in their rooms. Maglor didn't seem to mind so long as the twins took care of her, and Maedhros didn't care.
One thing that had improved for the twins was their relationship with Maglor and Maedhros. Maedhros was still indifferent to them, and that nickname he had given them seemed to have stuck, but he still hadn't said anything about Elrond slipping into his room every night. That part of their long-term escape plan was going well, and they were steadily making progress towards being considered loyal to the Sons of Fëanor. It would make escape somewhat easier when it did happen.
As for Maglor, two years had allowed him to see that the twins were smarter and more mature than he had first believed and they deserved the respect of being treated accordingly. He now treated them like he would almost adult elves, as there was no innocence there for them to have. That had been taken the day Sirion was attacked, and it would never return.
That was never more clear when they had first tried to make friends in the keep with the other children there. None had wanted anything to do with them and avoided them. They didn't outwardly bully the twins, because after one of them did Maedhros had spoken with him and made it clear what would happen to him if he did it again, but they didn't want to be friends with them either. The twins, according to their parents, should be left alone and shouldn't be made friends with, and so their children didn't. Elrond and Elros didn't care; they had each other and oftentimes were reading books in the library or helping Múldir, so they weren't really missing out.
Their idea of play involved ships, sand, and the beach, three things that didn't exist in Himring.
Parmatan had warmed up to them as well, seeing how smart they were he left the library doors open so they could go in whenever they wanted. They had only been locked when the twins first arrived because Parmatan was worried they may damage the books there, but he needn't have worried. The twins loved reading and were careful with the books, and so Parmatan let them in to read whenever they wanted to. The twins had one day to themselves when they could do whatever they wanted, and they usually spent that day in the library reading or helping Múldir, who was impressed at how skilled they were becoming at healing. They were very good at it and remembered everything he taught them, no matter how obsolete and unusual it may seem.
But one day, two years into their stay in the keep, Maglor sent for them and they went to his office. When they arrived they sat in the chairs in front of his desk, waiting for him to speak. Eventually, he finished what he was doing and looked up, and smiled slightly, "Hello you two, how has your day been so far?"
Elrond shrugged, being his usual quiet self, while Elros said, "Well enough I suppose."
"Good," Maglor said, then after a moment's pause he continued, "I know you have one free day a week when you can do as you please, but I was wondering if you would be willing to spend half that day learning something new?"
The twins exchanged a glance before Elros asked, "What is it?"
"Horsemanship," Maglor said, "Learning how to ride, learning how to take care of horses in all aspects, and training them. You will be expected, one day, to know how to fight while mounted, but you can't do that if you don't know how to ride," he looked closely at the twins then, "What do you say? Are you willing to learn how to ride?"
The twins immediately nodded, eager to know how to ride and glad they were now big enough to do so. While Maedhros had started them young on fighting and the sword-master hadn't minded their age, the horse-master had been firm.
The twins had been too small when they first arrived to be able to do much with horses, and he had been worried they could get seriously hurt. In some ways, battle-trained horses were more dangerous than swords.
Seeing their excitement, Maglor smiled again and said, "Very well, report to the stables in the morning. Raumolíro will be waiting for you to show you what to do and give you a riding lesson," he speared them with a firm stare then, "This is a privilege right now. You cannot neglect one area of your education for this. If you do, you will be forbidden to ride until things improve. Understood?"
The twins nodded, and Maglor stared at them a moment longer before saying, "You can go now. I'm sure you're late for sword training with Ranyaro, and I know how he doesn't like being kept waiting. Run along now."
The twins immediately stood and left, shutting the door behind them and leaving Maglor alone. After a few moments, he nodded to himself and returned to his papers and letters. Perhaps this would help the twins make a few more friends in the keep and not spend so much time with each other. They needed friends, and it shouldn't be this hard to make them. They should be friends with those closer to their age, not just Múldir and a cat.
Perhaps this would help.
Early the next morning, before breakfast even, the twins were down at the stables. They had stopped by the day before and asked Raumolíro when he would like them there, and he had said at dawn to help with the morning feeding. They had agreed and been up an hour before it was even light to get ready, and now they were at the stables and ready for whatever Raumolíro had in store for them.
When they arrived Raumolíro was waiting for them with empty buckets set out in the main aisle of the stables. The stables were designed with several aisles branching off the main one to allow for more stalls arranged in clusters of six. Each stall had a tack trunk in front of it with a grooming kit and any ointments or liniments the horse might be taking for their joints or any illness in it.
When Raumolíro saw them he said, "Good, you're here. Let's get started. The horses are ready to eat," as a horse kicked its stall door and neighed loudly, demanding breakfast. Once the horse quieted Raumolíro continued, "The morning feeding is hay and grain, and any medications an individual horse may be taking. Each cluster of buckets is for each cluster of stalls that are surrounded by an aisle. Each stall is labeled one through six, and so are the buckets. Understand so far?" the twins nodded and he said, "Good, let's get started," turning to the buckets and showing the twins how to fill them from the large bin where the grain was kept. From there the buckets were taken to each cluster of stalls and passed out to the horses there. Most of them waited respectfully and patiently for their feed to be poured into the feed bucket in their stall, but a few did not. Maedhros' stallion tried to bite Raumolíro and another mare nearly kicked Elros before she was distracted by her neighbor biting her rump to protect the elfling, but other than that it was fairly simple.
The grain was followed by some hay, and soon all the horses were eating peacefully. Only then did Raumolíro say, "We'll let them eat while you get ready to ride. There are still a few things we need to do before you can ride today."
"Like what?" Elros asked as they followed Raumolíro to the tack room.
"For starters, we need to get your tack clean and ready, and check for damage," Raumolíro replied, opening the door to the tack room and entering, the twins following him. The tack room was filled with saddles, bridles, headstalls, martingales, and leg wraps for the horses so they wouldn't hurt their legs accidentally. The bridles hung neatly on one wall on individual hooks with the horse's name above, and the saddles were on two other walls, also with names above them. The last wall was for the headstalls and other bits of equipment.
Raumolíro led them first to the bridles, taking down two and saying, "These need to be cleaned at least once a month, if not sooner than that. You're cleaning them, but also looking for any signs of wear or damage. The same with the saddles. On another day I'll show you how to make repairs to the equipment, but for now, we'll just clean it."
Which is what they did. With Raumolíro watching and instructing the twins carefully cleaned the saddles and bridles they would be using that day, making sure they missed nothing. Once they were finished Raumolíro said, "Usually riders tack up their own horse alone, even Lords Maedhros and Maglor do this at times, but since you are a little too short to reach, I will help you until you are tall enough. The horses I have selected for you are steady, but they don't tolerate too many mistakes or a heavy hand. I want you to be aware of your horse, and what they prefer, and give them the respect of you paying attention to how they like to be ridden. When it comes to horses, almost always the rider will lose the argument."
The twins nodded and followed Raumolíro out of the tack room and to two stalls next to each other. Inside each stall were mares, a bay and a chestnut, with the chestnut having a stripe of white down her nose and a white sock on her hind leg. The bay had a small star on her forehead and a white front hoof. The two mares looked at the elves with interest, sniffing the twin's outstretched hands and nuzzling them, as Raumolíro said, "These are the ones that will be teaching you how to ride. I will teach you the basics, they will teach you how to be true horsemen. Are you ready?"
The twins exchanged a glance before nodding and saying, "Yes," at the same time. Raumolíro stared at them a moment before shaking his head and putting the headstalls he had brought from the tack room on both horses. He led them from their stalls to the grooming racks; cross-tying them and instructing the twins how to groom them and pick out their hooves. He also gave them a quick lesson on checking their hooves for signs of lameness or pain. Once the horses were groomed and ready Raumolíro tacked the horses up, showing the twins how to do the cinches so that they were comfortable and not pinching the skin. He showed them how to get the bridles on without fighting the horse over it, and soon the mares were ready.
The horse-master then led the horses out of the stables to a paddock set up behind the stables. The paddock was sand, soft sand to make any bad falls a bit easier, and the twins were surprised to see fallen logs and fences of different heights in the paddock as well. Raumolíro only said, "You'll learn how to jump your horse as well, but that won't be for a while yet. Today is about the basics."
The twins nodded, looking slightly relieved, and then Raumolíro was leading the horses to the mounting block: a piece of wood with three steps carved into it. The horses stood quietly as Raumolíro helped Elrond, and then Elros, mount. After adjusting their stirrups and telling them to keep their heels down and how to hold the reins he started leading the mares around the paddock. The twins listened carefully to everything he said and applied it; sitting up straight in the saddle and keeping their focus between their horse's ears.
As for Raumolíro, he was impressed with the twins and how closely they paid attention. They listened carefully to everything he told them, and even though this was their first time riding by themselves, they were natural horsemen and kept a sure seat. They were also gentle with their horse's mouths and didn't pull or yank, or cause the bit to hit their mouths in any way that was painful or uncomfortable.
After about half an hour Raumolíro let go of the reins, knowing the mares would follow him. As he did this he said, "We're going to try one more thing today: trotting. You won't have to post or anything, I just want you to sit firm and steady. The horses will keep following the fence so that you can focus on your balance and rhythm. Don't use your hands to keep your balance; that will cause the bit to hit their teeth and gums and they won't thank you for it. Are you ready?"
The twins looked slightly nervous, but finally, both nodded and Raumolíro said, "Alright, give them both a nudge forward by squeezing your legs. You can give them a gentle tap with your heels, but make sure it is nothing more than that. Whenever you are ready," stepping away and letting the twins make the next decision.
For a few moments, they did nothing, the mares continuing to walk until finally one twin, then the other, gently tapped their horse's sides with their heels, and they were trotting. The mares trotted easily, the twins sitting steady even though both mares had rather bumpy trots. The twins were able to sit trot for a good five minutes before Raumolíro called, "That's enough. Slow them and walk to me," as he was now in the center of the paddock.
The twins were able to slow the mares to a walk easily enough, pulling gently on the reins for a few seconds, and the horses instantly slowed to a walk. From there they turned them easily to Raumolíro, who said once they were in earshot, "Well done, both of you. I think you'll both do very well. For now, let's get these two untacked and cooled, and then you can go."
Elrond and then Elros nodded and guided their horses to follow Raumolíro, which they did. The horse-master had to help them dismount and put their stirrups up, and while he was doing that the twins petted their horse's noses, thanking them for the ride that day. Raumolíro had the twins lead the horses back into the stables and showed them how to untack the mares and brush them out again. As he did this he said, "If they had worked up a sweat and their heart rates and breathing were faster they would need to be walked and cooled before they could eat or drink, otherwise they would colic. But they didn't work too hard today, so they can go back in their stalls," handing each twin the rope tied to the mare's headstalls.
He watched as the twins looked at the ropes, then him, then the horse, before slowly leading them to their stalls. Raumolíro went to the tack room then, putting the equipment away quickly before coming out again and seeing the mares were back in their stalls, headstalls off, and the twins were waiting with apples they must have pilfered from the kitchen when Maeassil wasn't looking. When he saw those Raumolíro smiled and said, "You can give them those if you like. You should always reward your horse for their work, whether by a kind word or a treat, to let them know you appreciate them and are grateful for keeping you safe that day."
The twins nodded slowly before holding out the apples, which each horse quickly took and ate, leaving apple juice all over the twin's hands. Once they were finished Raumolíro said, "That's enough for today. Come again next week and we will do a bit more, alright?"
Neither twin looked like they wanted to leave, but at that moment there was a call from the keep, sounding a lot like Maeassil, and the twins reluctantly said good-bye to the horses and Raumolíro before leaving. He watched them leave and head across the yard to the castle, watching as they spoke to Maeassil a moment before heading inside, and it was only then that he turned away to start grooming the horses for the next patrol leaving the keep that day.
Teaching those two would be very interesting, and he had a feeling they were fast learners, just like everyone had said when he had asked.
The twins were indeed fast learners when it came to horses and riding, their weekly lessons becoming twice a week as the weeks went by and Raumolíro saw how much they enjoyed it. He could only guess it was because they could forget about much of their problems and enjoy themselves.
Like Múldir, it was sometimes very clear they didn't really want to be there, but Raumolíro started noticing that their demeanors were starting to change. Like they were starting to enjoy living there now that they could do something they wanted to that let them feel free and unburdened for a few hours every few days. Their riding had progressed well and they were now trotting like experienced riders, leading Raumolíro to believe they were almost ready to learn how to canter, then gallop, then jump. From there there would be no stopping the twins when it came to horses and riding, as they were also learning how to take care of and heal horses from both Raumolíro and Múldir, who was an accomplished horseman himself.
But right now it wasn't time for a riding lesson. Right now it was time for Ranyaro to teach the twins the basics of one more weapon, aside from swords and long knives. Both twins were naturally adept with a blade, even though Ranyaro thought Elrond would likely be the better swordsman one day, but today wasn't about swords. Today it was time to learn something that many elves considered to be second nature.
Archery.
Elrond and Elros immediately saw the bows and arrows, and the targets set up a distance away, after their lesson with Parmatan and knew this wasn't going to be easy for them. While riding and sparring were causing them to gain some muscle tone and become stronger, both doubted they would have the strength to pull a bowstring as far back as they needed to hit the target, let alone hit the center, knowing Ranyaro wouldn't allow for anything else.
He didn't tolerate what he considered stupid mistakes, and missing the center of a target was definitely stupid to him. When he saw them he only said, "Grab a bow and assume a stance. Show me what I need to fix."
They did as he instructed, each taking a bow and standing how they thought they should, holding the bow in their left hand out in front of them and straight, one foot in front of the other like they had seen the archers back in Sirion when they had been practicing and competing for fun.
But the stakes were much higher here, and that became even more clear when Ranyaro gave Elros a gentle slap on the back of the head and said, "Adjust your feet; you're not getting ready to start a dance. They should be evenly spaced and supporting your weight equally. Do it again."
Elros tried again, and Ranyaro seemed pleased as he moved on to Elrond. Elrond's stance was better, but Ranyaro frowned when he saw the placement of Elrond's left hand: it looked as though he was holding the reins of a horse; the thumb straight up and the pinky curled back. Elrond, a quick study, realized his mistake instantly and adjusted his fingers, saving himself a slap from the cranky swordmaster as well.
Ranyaro, after giving him a quick stink-eye, said, "Now take the string and pull back as far as you can. Pretend you have an arrow and aim at the target," ignoring the young elves that had gathered and were watching nearby. These elves were a few years older than the twins and often caused them trouble. The leader, Costaro, was bitter that Maglor and Maedhros had returned from Sirion with the twins but without his father and brother, and he blamed the twins for that.
The twins drew back on the strings as best they could, pulling back farther than they expected, even though their arms started to tremble with the effort. Ranyaro quickly looked over them before saying, "Okay, you can relax," watching as the twins eased up on the strings before continuing, "We are going to use arrows now, and extra points to you if you hit the center. When using arrows you usually have a thick sleeve and a leather vambrace on your arm to protect it from the arrow and string. You're too small for a vambrace, so I had the blacksmith make these for you," handing each twin a strip of thick leather with ties on one side that fit perfectly on their left arms. Ranyaro showed them how to tie them on, saying, "It is your responsibility to remember these every day and keep them oiled so they don't crack. See the blacksmith afterward and he will show you how to do it," he stepped back then and surveyed his work, then nodded and said, "Grab an arrow. Let's see if you can hit anything."
The twin nodded and picked up their bows and an arrow, and Costaro saw his chance as a warrior, Nwalyar, left the armory near the targets. Nwalyar was renowned for his short temper and almost uncontrollable rage, making it impossible to predict what his next action would be.
Costaro quietly stood up, signaling his group to stay there and stay quiet, which they did as he circled behind the twins and came to stand near Elrond. Elrond was focused on the target as he waited for Ranyaro to check him, certain he would hit the target in the center and therefore didn't notice Costaro behind him until Costaro bumped him, hard. Elrond, unused to the bow and his fingers not being very strong, fell slightly to one side and attempted to correct his stance and hold onto the arrow. But unfortunately, he couldn't do two things at once at the moment and fell, the arrow flying through the air and hitting the wall right in front of Nwalyar, where it stayed. Nwalyar immediately looked around, seeing the twins and how one was without an arrow, as Elrond had gained his feet, but Nwalyar didn't see that. He only saw how the young elfling had tried to shoot him and it made his blood boil. He practically ran to Elrond, grabbed his arm tightly, and slapped him so hard across the cheek something broke.
And it wasn't Nwalyar's hand.
Elrond fell to the ground, Costaro sliding into the background to watch the drama as Elros and Ranyaro turned at the exact same moment. Elros immediately dropped his bow and raced to his brother, while Ranyaro raced to Nwalyar and kept him from kicking Elrond, which was what he was going to do next, regardless that Elrond was a child.
"Stop, Nwalyar!" Ranyaro said loudly, trying to snap him out of his rage, "He has done nothing to you!"
"Yes, he has," Nwalyar snarled, "He tried to shoot me, and he needs to be disciplined for that!"
"Then that is my task!" Ranyaro said, trying to force Nwalyar away from the elflings without having to hit Nwalyar. If he did that Nwalyar wouldn't calm down for hours.
It looked like he would have to, but at that moment a voice called, "What is going on here?" and everyone froze and turned to the voice. It wasn't Maglor or even Maedhros, but it might as well have been. It was Oldhinor, Maedhros' closest friend and the warden responsible for the warriors of Himring. He was the highest-ranking elf there next to Maglor and Maedhros, and none dared cross him.
Right now he was surveying all those before him, his classic Noldor eyes blue and piercing as he took in everyone there, seeing the twins on the ground and Ranyaro trying to keep Nwalyar away from them, Costaro lurking in the background. He only asked again, more quietly now, "What is going on here?"
Nwalyar, after yanking away from Ranyaro, said, "That half-breed tried to shoot me. I was just disciplining him."
Oldhinor nodded slowly and turned to Ranyaro, "Did you see any of this, Ranyaro?"
Ranyaro had to shake his head, "I was helping Elros with his fingers and giving him a tip on how to aim. My back was turned."
"I saw him, captain," Costaro said suddenly, making Oldhinor turn to him slowly, "He deliberately aimed for Nwalyar. He wanted to hit him."
Elros, who had been sitting on the ground next to his brother trying to comfort him, looked up then and said, "That's a lie! Elrond wouldn't do that!"
"Then he can speak for himself," Nwalyar growled, "He can't always rely on you to speak for him."
"No, he can't," Elros said, and Elrond raised his head, showing those gathered there his face for the first time. It was already turning black and blue on one side, one eye swollen shut, and there was blood coming from his cheek, nose, mouth, and lips. It was clear he had bitten his tongue, and the hit from Nwalyar had broken his cheek and likely his nose and split his lip. His jaw could be broken as well.
Everyone stared in shock a moment, except for Costaro and Nwalyar, who couldn't have cared less. Finally, Oldhinor said, "So you both claim Elrond deliberately tried to shoot you," motioning at Nwalyar. They both nodded and Oldhinor asked, "Do you want to know what I saw?" they exchanged a glance but weren't given a chance to answer as Oldhinor continued, "I saw another young elf, who should have known better but was too bitter and hateful to do so, push one of those young elves so hard he fell, throwing off his arrow and causing him to shoot wild," Costaro instantly paled, and Oldhinor finished, "I saw him cause that young elfling to be badly injured, through no fault of his own, and then turn around and blame the elfling for everything," he speared Nwalyar with a glare then, "That is what I saw. Do you dare contradict me?"
Costaro quickly shook his head, and so did Nwalyar. Denying anything at this point was useless, especially if Oldhinor had been watching the entire time. Maedhros, and Maglor, would believe him over them every time. Oldhinor glared at them a moment longer before saying, "Ranyaro, take the twins to the healing wing. They are excused from sparring until Elrond is healed. I will take these two to Maedhros so that he can deal with them. The twins are under his protection, something that should not be forgotten," that last bit for the small crowd that had gathered while all of this was going on.
No one dared speak against Oldhinor, and after a few moments he beckoned Costaro and Nwalyar to follow him, which they did. As they left Ranyaro went and picked Elrond up, holding him carefully and trying not to hurt him more, before heading for the healing wing. Elros was hot on his heels and stayed close the entire time. When they arrived at the healing wing Múldir was nowhere in sight, but then Ranyaro called out, "Healer! Where are you?"
After a few seconds, Múldir appeared from the garden, and when he saw Ranyaro holding Elrond he asked, "What happened?" as he came over.
"Nwalyar," was all Ranyaro said as if that explained everything, which it did. Half the wounds Múldir tended seemed to be related to Nwalyar in some way.
Múldir said nothing about that, only saying, "Put him on one of the beds. I need to see what I'm treating."
Ranyaro nodded and lay Elrond down, revealing the wounds to his face. Múldir stilled a moment, unable to believe what he was seeing, before springing into action. With Elros holding his brother's hand and Ranyaro hovering nearby, Múldir started tending Elrond. He carefully stitched his split lip, checked his tongue to see that the bleeding had stopped, and then carefully manipulated his jaw. After a few seconds, he said, "Smallest of mercies, his jaw isn't broken. Speaking and eating will still hurt for a long while though," missing the relieved look on Ranyaro's face. As hard as he was on the twins, he had grown rather fond of them over the years and was glad to know Elrond was doing better than he expected.
Elrond's cheekbone was broken, but Múldir was able to set it, tying it in place with several sturdy bandages. He also checked Elrond's swollen eye for damage and was relieved there was none from what he could see. He applied some cream once he was finished to ease the swelling and bruising, before saying, "That's all I can do for now. The rest is up to time," turning to Ranyaro and seeing that Maglor and Maedhros had joined them without him noticing.
Elrond, throughout all of this, had lain still and quiet. It was clear he was in shock, and so Múldir said, "I want him to stay overnight to make sure he can eat and his jaw isn't too badly damaged."
Maglor nodded, "I will have Maeassil make him something he doesn't have to chew," while Maedhros said, "Oldhinor is waiting in my study with Costaro and Nwalyar. I needed to see for myself how bad it was," using that excuse to see how the twins were and so that no one could accuse him of caring about them.
Múldir nodded, while Elros said, speaking for the first time since he had come to the healing wing, "Elrond didn't mean to almost hit Nwalyar. We both know not to go anywhere near him," looking at Maglor as he said this.
"I know, young one," Maglor said gently, before saying quietly to his brother as Elros turned back to Elrond, "It may be time to reconsider Nwalyar's position here."
Maedhros nodded and left, while Maglor stayed a few moments longer until he also left to speak with Maeassil about food for Elrond. Ranyaro stayed until Múldir shooed him from the room, needing to get Elrond settled and knowing there was nothing Ranyaro could do for him at this point.
Elrond needed rest and food right now, and Ranyaro could do his worrying somewhere else. He was, right now, in the way and not very helpful. Ranyaro left, reluctantly, but decided he would visit the next day and see how the twins were doing.
When Maeassil stopped by later with porridge for Elrond, she opened the door to the sight of Elros curled up in a chair next to his brother's bed reading and holding his brother's hand, and Elrond asleep while Múldir put bandages away. Maeassil couldn't help but smile slightly at how close the healer and his students had become, and could only hope things may finally be turning around for the twins.
Perhaps they would be seen as one of the Fëanorians after standing up to Nwalyar in the way they had and showing how fearless they actually were.
One could only hope.
A few weeks after the incident with Nwalyar and Costaro, and things had settled back into their normal routine for the twins. Elrond's face had healed rather quickly, and the only thing left to heal was his cheekbone, but that was only because bones took a while to mend. His eye, thankfully, hadn't been permanently damaged, but that was because Múldir suspected Elros had helped his brother in more ways than just keeping him company and holding his hand.
He said nothing, yet, to anyone about his suspicions. He wanted to see how the twins used their abilities and if they were aware they were doing it. So far it didn't look like it, and he didn't want to ruin or destroy their talent by putting pressure on them to refine and use their ability whenever someones else wanted them to do it. He wanted it to come naturally to them, knowing that if it was forced they would have a harder time using it.
It should be their choice, especially considering how few they got to make on their own in the keep.
When they finally left the healing wing after staying there about a week, as Elros refused to leave Elrond there alone, the time that would have been spent with Ranyaro was spent doing something else: playing pranks. And this time, they had some help: the other children in the keep, who had been playing a prank and needed some help implementing it. The twins had stumbled upon the elflings when they had been released from the healing wing and were more than willing to help….
"What are you doing?" Elros asked as he and his brother crouched down with the other elflings behind some barrels near the armory.
"Shhhhh," one child said, while another whispered, "We are trying to prank Netiltamo, the blacksmith, but he is wise to us and never falls for it anymore. He is the only one we can successfully prank without getting in trouble," he frowned then, "Usually."
The twins looked at each other before Elros said, "Maybe we can help you with that."
The other elflings looked at them doubtfully before one said, "You think you can help us? Pull a prank?"
Elros nodded, while Elrond said softly, "Who do you think it was that put nettle powder in Maedhros' bathwater and covered Maglor's favorite practice sword with paintings of flowers?"
The other children stared at them in shock, with one asking, "That was you?" knowing Maedhros hadn't been able to stop itching for almost three days, while Maglor had only looked extremely embarrassed the entire time his sword was visible to the public.
Elros nodded proudly, while Elrond said, "The trick is not to be anywhere nearby when the reveal happens if you can help it so that you can laugh and not get in trouble, and so that no one can say it was you unless everyone else near you is already laughing, and then it doesn't matter."
"It looks like Maedhros caught you anyway," one elfling said, gesturing at Elrond's bruised and swollen face.
"This wasn't Maedhros," Elrond said as he moved forward to get a better look at the smithy, "This was Nwalyar."
The elflings stared at him, only now realizing why Nwalyar had been reassigned to the farthest guard post for the next few decades. He wasn't even allowed to run messages back to the keep, something Oldhinor had made sure of. He wouldn't take the risk of Nwalyar hurting the twins again if he was given the chance.
Costaro's punishment involved doing the chores nobody else wanted to do around the keep, and he would be doing them for the next few years, something his mother had agreed with wholeheartedly. She couldn't believe what her son had done and had needed to see Elrond for herself before she had agreed with Maedhros' punishment.
She wouldn't tolerate innocent elflings being hurt by anyone in her family, no matter what excuses her son gave, and none of them had been very good.
Elrond's voice interrupted their thoughts and they turned their attention back to him: "….needs to be good, but not something dangerous that could hurt Netiltamo. So flour over the door is out. Remember when Cardir back in Sirion accidentally spilled flour? The entire kitchen nearly burned down," turning to his brother as he said this.
Elros nodded, "And a bucket of water is just unoriginal," falling silent along with his brother and the other elflings as they thought about solutions to their dilemma.
Finally, Elrond said, "Perhaps we can try one of our more difficult pranks," the others turned to him, listening closely, "Perhaps we can give Netiltamo a new look for a few weeks or so."
Elros immediately grinned, "What color do you suggest?"
Elrond thought a moment before saying, "Green would be the quickest color to make, especially considering how bright we can make it."
Elros nodded, still grinning widely, while the other elflings needed a few moments to figure out what they were thinking of. Once they did they immediately agreed, although one elfling did have a concern, "How are we going to do this? Netiltamo rarely leaves the smithy."
"Rarely doesn't mean never," Elrond said, "He leaves for meals. And since I can't eat anything that requires chewing at the moment, Maeassil has been making my dinner first and letting me eat before starting on dinner for everyone else. This will not be difficult. It's not like anyone cares what we do anyways, especially after dinner."
"Okay, I believe that," one elfling said, "But you still need to make this dye."
Elros waved his hand, "A minor setback. We both know the recipe. And if we tell Múldir we are experimenting with a new remedy for burns or something he'll believe it. He usually turns a blind eye to our pranks anyways."
The others finally all nodded before they all left; the elflings to stake out the smithy and keep an eye on Netiltamo while Elrond and Elros went to the healing wing. Once they arrived it was made even easier to make the dye as Múldir wasn't there. It was only the work of half an hour to make the dye, but now it was time for the hard part. As Elros kept an eye on the dye and the door in case Múldir appeared, Elrond went and had dinner with Maeassil before returning to the healing wing and collecting his brother and the dye. They then went back outside and joined the other elflings waiting for Netiltamo to finish his work for the day and go to dinner. After almost half an hour he finally tamped down his fires and headed to the keep for dinner, allowing the twins to take the opportunity. They ducked inside and headed straight for Netiltamo's living quarters behind the forge. Outside the other elflings watched, ready to sound the alarm if the blacksmith appeared.
There was no need; the twins were in and out quickly, and on an unspoken signal they all went to their homes, eager to see what would happen in the morning.
Morning came quickly, and it was relatively quiet until it was suddenly punctuated by the sound of cursing and swearing. The twins, eating breakfast with Múldir, were thankfully turned away from the dining hall entrance when Netiltamo stormed in, looking incredibly angry, but also slightly ridiculous. Múldir had to do a double-take when he saw Netiltamo, and he immediately gave the twins points for originality.
This was definitely one of their better pranks.
Netiltamo's hair was now incredibly bright green, and it was a perfect compliment to his very red face. One could even see the vein popping out of his forehead. The twins were too busy carefully eating to look up, not wanting to give themselves away, but finally they couldn't resist. They both turned to survey their handiwork and started chuckling along with everyone else, even though a few there were actually laughing aloud. They hadn't seen anything so ridiculous and funny in quite a while.
At that moment Maedhros walked in and the laughter quieted, and when Netiltamo saw him he immediately said, "My lord, those two hellions you insist are your wards need a lesson in respect and manners. Look at what they did!" gesturing at his hair.
Maedhros needed a moment to get past the shock of seeing an elf with bright green hair, but finally recovered enough to ask, "Did you see them do this?"
"Well….no, but I know it was them," Netiltamo said, almost unable to believe that Maedhros might not take his side, "There was no one else it could be!"
"But without witnesses to corroborate, there is not much I can do," Maedhros said smoothly before turning to the twins and asking, "What were you doing after dinner last night?"
Múldir replied for them, "They were helping me come up with a new remedy for burns. We worked on it for several hours before the twins went to bed," taking their side as they knew he would.
Múldir seemed to enjoy a good prank as much as they did.
Netiltamo's eyes widened when he saw that the twins would have an alibi, and they were in distinct danger of coming out altogether when Maedhros said, "I believe that settles that. Netiltamo, I suggest you visit one of the weavers and see if they know any tricks for removing that dye."
Netiltamo stared at him in surprise for a few moments before whirling on his heel and storming out. Once he was gone everyone in the dining hall immediately started laughing again; Elrond convinced he saw Maedhros smile slightly as he turned and left before Múldir caught his attention by saying, "That was, by far, your best prank yet. You have my permission to use the healing wing whenever you need it, especially if it results in something like that again."
The twins both nodded and grinned at that before Elros said quietly, "Maybe next time we'll use purple instead of green. It's a bit more permanent."
Múldir raised an eyebrow at that before asking, "Visiting the weavers is useless, isn't it?"
The twins nodded again, with Elrond saying, "The dye will not wash out or be removed. It must wear off, which will take a few weeks, if not longer."
Múldir smiled again as he turned back to his meal, "I am so glad I didn't miss this. You two are geniuses."
The twins also smiled before turning back to their breakfast, and afterward when they told the other elflings they all had a good laugh over it before the twins had to leave for their lesson with Parmatan. After they had left the other elflings had watched Netiltamo for many hours as he slowly accepted that his hair would be bright green for quite a while. It was amazing to see, and the elflings found themselves rethinking their opinions of Elrond and Elros.
Anyone who could think of a prank that good and that quickly couldn't be that bad, could they?
That prank had been several weeks ago, and Netiltamo's hair was still tinged green. But the twins were now friends with the other children in the keep, and they all delighted in playing pranks and playing with each other now.
But they still had their lessons with Parmatan and Ranyaro every day, and their lesson with Raumolíro every few days, that they couldn't avoid. And one day Maglor decided to sit in on their lesson with Parmatan to see how much progress they were making in their education.
That day's topic was the coming of the Noldor to Arda, and they were only about halfway through when Elrond cocked his head and asked, "One thing I don't understand, Parmatan, is why? Why come to Arda? It couldn't have just been for jewels, right? Why come here?"
Parmatan didn't answer, letting Maglor reply, which he did: "Many of us were restless in Aman, Elrond, and wanted to see what Arda was like and explore it."
Elrond frowned, not believing him for an instant, "Our old tutor, Ingolmo, said the Noldor came because Fëanor was too proud and stupid to just accept the loss of the Silmarils and that he cursed his entire line that day by refusing to accept the loss. And so, there were three Kinslayings for those jewels: one at Alqualondë, one at Doriath, and the last at Sirion. And the Silmarils were never retrieved, proving the line of Fëanor wasn't meant to have them because of all the blood Fëanor's sons had shed that wasn't theirs for them."
Parmatan had literally never seen Maglor rendered speechless in such a way, but it was an interesting sight to see. The dark-haired elf literally didn't know what to say to that, while Elrond was still patiently waiting for a response.
Finally, when it looked like Maglor actually wasn't going to answer, he said, "Your old tutor certainly didn't mince words, Elrond, I'll give him that. In many ways he was right; my father was too proud to just accept the loss and wanted them back no matter what the cost. But there was another reason," the twins looked at him with interest now, and even Parmatan was listening, "My father poured all his skill and power into creating those jewels, and even more skill to imbue them with the light of the Two Trees. They were his pride and joy, even if they caused him much strife. Morgoth coveted those jewels as well, and while my father was living in exile with my grandfather, Finwë, Morgoth came while Fëanor was away and killed Finwë. And when my father returned and saw what Morgoth had done, the desire for revenge was stirred in his heart and wouldn't rest or die. He wanted revenge for the death of his father, and wouldn't settle for anything else. That is why many of us came to Arda, even though it cost too many lives in the end."
His words finished, Maglor looked between the twins and waited for them to come to their own conclusions. After a few minutes, Elros said quietly, "Ingolmo also said revenge is a foolish notion; like a bucket with a fist-sized hole in it. Taking revenge is like putting your thumb into the hole: it doesn't stop or even slow the leak, and can make it leak even faster until there is nothing left."
Maglor smiled faintly, "Your old tutor certainly was very knowledgeable. I would have certainly like to meet him."
Elrond stiffened slightly, "He was in our house that day, and we saw him right before Maedhros found him. I heard them talking while we were running up the stairs. I didn't see him afterward."
Maglor froze slightly at that, again not sure what to say, and this time he was somewhat rescued by Parmatan, who unfortunately chose the worst possible response to say to Elrond: "I'm sure Ingolmo is fine. Lord Maedhros doesn't fight unarmed elves."
Elrond whipped his head around and snapped, "We saw the fighting! The majority of elves killed that day were unarmed! They even killed children! Don't tell us Maedhros doesn't kill the unarmed; that is the biggest lie you could tell yourself to help you sleep at night!"
Parmatan was literally frozen, eyes transfixed on Elrond's. Elrond's silver eyes flashed and roiled, and outside the sky had suddenly darkened and there was a roll of thunder heard. Maglor, suddenly aware, felt the power crackling in the room and coming from Elrond. Elros, he could sense, was also exuding power, but not to the same degree, likely because he wasn't as enraged as Elrond over Parmatan's words, but still angry enough.
Finally, after many long minutes of the tension and power building in the room to the point Maglor thought it would explode, Elrond finally relaxed and calmed, the power calming as well. But he still maintained eye contact with Parmatan, and said in a voice laden with power, "Don't ever tell us again that Maedhros doesn't kill the unarmed. We all know it to be a lie."
Parmatan slowly nodded, and Elrond finally broke off eye contact to return to the parchment in front of him, his brother doing the same. As they did this Parmatan slowly looked at Maglor, who only stared back in shocked surprise.
They hadn't known the twins were capable, at even such a young age and having them at the keep for so long, of harnessing that kind of power, and it was slightly terrifying. Especially when they realized the twins weren't even aware they had done it. Now there was even more reason to teach the twins the ways of power and controlling it before they unwittingly destroyed the keep by accident or in their rage.
Outside a storm raged, and with it came the metallic tang of the power that had brought it; an untamed force that would one day become one of the most powerful elves in Middle-Earth.
Of that, Maglor was certain.
A few weeks after the incident with Parmatan that led to an incredible and terrifying display of untrained power, and the twins were again helping Múldir in the healing wing. Maglor, after that incident, had immediately personally started teaching them about controlling their emotions and directing that power, and the twins weren't happy about it.
It was one more lesson in a day, and they couldn't play with their friends now. Word had somehow spread about their power, and now their friend's parents were forbidding their children from going anywhere near the twins. And so the twins were again on their own and would be for the rest of their time in Himring, with only a cat who couldn't have cared less about their power and a healer as their only friends.
Maglor, frankly, was surprised he hadn't noticed how powerful the twins and especially Elrond were, but after seeing them master the basics of restraint and control he realized that someone had already started teaching them, which explained why he hadn't noticed. The twins had always known they had that power, to some degree, and it had taken Elrond getting truly enraged to bring it forward into something they could see.
And it was terrifying to think about, which is why Maglor didn't try to think about it too much and instead focused on teaching the twins the next steps in harnessing and using that power to do everything from controlling the weather to renting earth in two, and they were already very good at it. In time they would be better than him at it.
But at that moment the twins weren't learning about that power and controlling it. They were helping Múldir as he tended the wounded members of a patrol that had been attacked by orcs, leaving two dead and at least ten others with varying degrees of injuries; scrapes and shallow cuts for some all the way up to being impaled by spears to limbs being almost completely severed. It would be a miracle if all the wounded survived, but Múldir had seen much worse and even those had completely recovered under his care.
No one would be dying or losing their limbs that day if he had any say in the matter.
As Múldir tended the wounded, the twins assisted. They got bandages ready and made healing creams and paste, cleaning and bandaging the less serious wounds so that Múldir could tend the more seriously wounded. He did so in the surgery, with Maeassil assisting, not wanting the twins to see how bad it could be just yet.
He didn't want to completely desensitize them to violence, or have them not care about others. He didn't want them to see healing as just a task and a patient as simply a patient. He wanted them to see the person behind the patient as well as their family and friends, and not lose their compassion for others.
A difficult thing to ask for in the home of Kinslayers, but Múldir hoped they could do it.
And so, as Múldir tended the more seriously wounded, the twins looked after those not as badly wounded, mixing sleeping draughts expertly to be able to stitch up wounds without hurting their patients and helping others get clean and comfortable in beds in the healing wing until Múldir said they could go.
To their credit, the elves of the patrol let them work, surprised at how skilled they were already and how well they worked together. They were so in sync with each other they didn't need to speak to each other as they worked. They worked well together as they stitched gashes and cuts, and cleaned scrapes and bruises. Múldir had taught them well, something the Fëanorians would never admit to anyone, especially to Múldir considering his status among them. It was easier to abuse him if they forgot how skilled he was, especially since Maedhros essentially said they could when he ignored how they treated the healer.
Finally, Múldir finished his last surgery and brought that elf into the main healing wing, settling him into a bed with Maeassil nearby to keep an eye on him while Múldir checked the rest of the wounded. He stopped at each bed, checking the work the twins had done and being overall pleased with them. They had done an excellent job and were extremely skillful.
Once Múldir was satisfied with how the wounded were doing he went and opened the doors of the healing wing so that their families could come in and see them. With the twins in the background preparing herbs and silently watching, elves went to their wounded family members and stayed with them. As this was happening the patrol captain came in, and when he saw Múldir cleaning up and putting unused bandages away, he rounded on the healer.
He truly despised Múldir, something that hadn't changed in years, but that was mostly because Halon didn't like anyone. He had been leading long-range patrols ever since the Kinslaying at Sirion, and had been avoiding the twins and the healer; not wanting to be reminded of what had almost been his if Elwing hadn't jumped from the cliffs.
Seeing Múldir, Halon immediately came up to him and started harassing him: "You took your time, healer. Why make everyone wait? People were nervous and panicked out there waiting for news. Don't you care?"
Múldir sighed and straightened from where he had been kneeling to look Halon in the eye: "I didn't have time to go out into the hallway between surgeries and let family in. I was trying to keep elves from journeying to the Halls of Mandos today."
"And who was tending the less seriously wounded while you were coming up with lame excuses?" Halon challenged, eyes narrowed and not impressed in the slightest.
Múldir's eyes narrowed as well, and there was a warning in his voice when next he spoke: "The twins are more than capable of tending less serious wounds. They did an excellent job."
Halon's eyes narrowed even more and then, faster than a striking snake, he lashed out and punched Múldir in the face. Múldir almost fell to his knees but was able to catch himself, and everyone in the healing wing stopped what they were doing to watch what happened next.
Halon leaned close to Múldir as he tried to recover from the blow and said quietly, "Don't ever tell me that two half-human mongrels are tending the wounded again. They don't deserve to be here, and you would do well to remember your place here. You are nothing here, and worthy of nothing," Múldir finally looked at him and Halon continued, "Remember your place, healer, and how you came to be here. It wouldn't be hard to make things even more difficult for you."
Múldir finally was able to speak, a hand on his face, and he said, "I know my place here, Halon, you and the others have seen to that. But I am conscious about why you think the twins shouldn't be here. Something about you and their mother?" Halon's eyes widened in surprise and Múldir continued, "Remember, they are Maedhros' wards; you wouldn't want to do anything to hurt them. Besides, they helped me because they were ready to, and I needed all the help I could get. For some reason, no one wants to help me in the healing wing and make it possible for me to tend patients more easily. Why is that, I wonder?" Halon's glare intensified, and Múldir finished with, "Remember your place, Halon, and remember where the twins and I fall in the grand scheme of things. They are protected by Maedhros, and I am protected by Maglor when it counts. Don't forget it."
Halon glared at Múldir a few seconds more before turning on his heel and storming out of the wing. All watched him, and once the doors shut they all returned to what they were doing, not minding the violence in the slightest. Maglor's protection meant very little in this regard, and they all knew it. Halon had only backed down because of Maedhros and didn't want to cross him.
Múldir walked over to the twins then, removing his hand from his face and revealing what would be a glorious black eye soon. He took some of the cream for bruises and applied it to his face, but once he was done Elrond asked, "What was that about, Múldir? We couldn't hear what started it all too well."
Múldir shook his head, "Halon was just worried about his patrol, and a little afraid. Sometimes people take out their fear like that, and I just wasn't quick enough today," not wanting to upset the twins with the truth.
Elrond frowned, not truly buying it, "But how come no one stood up for you? No one could be bothered to help you just now."
Múldir shrugged, silently wishing the twins weren't so observant all the time, "Sometimes more people in a conflict make it worse. They stayed out because they didn't want to start a bigger fight here. The wounded shouldn't be disturbed and need to rest," hoping the twins would believe that. He didn't want to explain to the twins that the reason no one interfered was that no one cared, not when they were still so young. Perhaps one day they would figure it out, but hopefully not today.
Elrond stared at him for a few moments before slowly nodding, but the second Múldir was called away to check on a patient he looked at his brother. Seeing the same expression in his brother's eyes, Elrond nodded slowly. He didn't believe Múldir either, and Elrond knew they really needed to try harder about getting more information about Múldir's past out of people.
This abuse shouldn't be allowed and needed to be stopped, soon, before Múldir was seriously hurt. He deserved better than that, and the twins were determined to help in whatever way they could.
What would they not do for a friend?
A few weeks after the incident with Halon and Múldir, the twins were again in the healing wing garden.
But not to collect herbs.
Today, like many days before, they were there for a lesson from the trees. A lesson in woodcraft and stealth, and who were better teachers than the trees? The twins were becoming adept at it, slowly becoming more and more silent as they practiced. In time it wouldn't matter where they were, they would move silently and without anyone noticing, no matter the location or people around them.
But for now, they were only practicing their stealth, the trees giving advice when they could. It was in moments like these when the Sinda heritage of the twins came forth, and the trees knew the Gray King's heirs walked amongst them. It was then that they were wood-elves, and listened closely to what the trees were telling them and became elves of the forest. It was then that they were not just elves, but spirits of the forest like their first foremother and the Queen of Doriath, Melian. It was then that they were more than half-elves, or even elves, even if they weren't aware of it.
Above them and watching them closely, Maedhros stood silently. He had taken to watching the twins more than he thought he ever would, and he didn't fully understand why. Maybe because they fascinated him, or maybe because they weren't afraid of him like everyone else?
Whatever the reason Maedhros didn't entirely know, but watching them as they played amongst the trees reminded him of another set of twins he had known, although those twins had had red hair like his own.
Is that why he cared a little about the twins? Because they reminded him of his brothers?
After a few minutes of trying to answer that question, Maedhros gave up. Perhaps the answer would come with time, perhaps not.
In the meantime, it was time for dinner.
The next time a twin was close to the balcony he stood on he called down, "Tittalundo! Time for dinner!"
The twin looked up and nodded, but that moment of distraction cost him as his brother snuck up behind him and tackled him. Maedhros turned away then so no one could see him smile. He remembered doing the exact same thing with his brothers when they were young, and it never failed to amuse him. That last thought made him pause. Was that why he found himself softening around the twins? Because they reminded him of what had been before the world turned dark and cold?
Even that nickname he had given the twins no longer had any bite to it, and they knew it. Now, it seemed to be a name they had all accepted. Granted, Maedhros still couldn't tell them apart completely and didn't really care enough to try, but the fact they didn't complain about the nickname said it didn't hurt them and they knew it wasn't said with any malice whatsoever now.
Valar, what had those elflings done to them?
Unable to answer that question, Maedhros headed to the private dining area to join his brother and the twins, trying to understand and find answers to all the questions swirling around in his head.
Failing at that night, they were questions he revisited often over the years as the twins grew and matured and the relationships between them became more amiable, and even loving on some occasions, even if neither side admitted about each other.
Some scars couldn't fully heal, and after what the twins saw in Sirion, they would never fully forgive the Fëanorians, even if their hatred of them had drastically diminished and would continue to do so in the years to come.