Originally written for whumptober 2021
Prompt No. 3 - Sticks and stone may break my bones..
Taunting | Insults | Who did this to you?
This takes place not long after Sirion.
It had been a fairly uneventfully day for the most part. The rain, which had been a drizzle earlier, had finally broken into a fierce, full fledged thunderstorm. Maglor was off wrangling his creatures, readying them for a dinner that Maedhros was disinclined to go to. It was the anniversary of the disastrous attack on Menegroth, one of many dark days on Maedhros' calendar. So here he was, avoiding people and prowling the halls like a storm cloud of his own.
He was passing the library when he heard a small noise.
Maedhros paused. He knew that the kitchens had been complaining about a rodent infestation in the grainery.
The little noise came again.
Having nothing better to do, Maedhros tracked it to behind some heavy curtains. After readying his long knife, Maedhros ripped the curtains away, ready to dispatch the unfortunate rodent.
It wasn't a rodent.
One of Maglor's wards- Maedhros didn't know which because he never bothered to learn their names- was curled up in the window seat, sobbing quietly. Upon closer inspect, Maedhros noticed that it had a gloriously black eye, it's lip was split in two places and bruises crept around it's jaw and cheeks. Maedhros hesitated, unsure of the right thing to do. He felt uncomfortable around the little creatures his brother had taken in. They were uncouth and unsettling; not fully elven, not fully Edain. At the same time, he couldn't find it in him to leave it to wallow in it's misery.
It looked up at him once before hiding it's face behind a curtain of hair. That was all it took to break Maedhros' resolve. Cursing his gullibility, Maedhros sheathed his hunting knife.
"Look at me Peredhel," Maedhros commanded. It quivered in fear but did as Maedhros commanded.
"Who did this to you?" Maedhros asked once it was looking at him.
"No one," it mumbled, eyes flicking to the floor. Maedhros firmly grasped the bruised chin and lifted until their eyes met again.
"No one?" Maedhros repeated skeptically. The little creature shrugged slightly.
"Peredhel-" it flinched at the title. Maedhros sighed.
"Which one are you?"
"Elrond," it whispered.
"Alright, Elrond, I'll give you another chance. Who did this to you?"
Elrond hesitated before giving in to the request.
"Baralin," Elrond sniffled.
Baralin was the only other young elf in the compound. He was nearly a century older than the twins, but Maglor had figured that they could still be friends. Apparently not.
"What did you do to provoke him?"
"I don't know!" Elrond wailed.
"You don't know?" Maedhros found that hard to believe. Elrond squirmed under the intense stare.
"He… he said Elros and me are half-bred Orcs; that we're too stupid and clumsy to be elves and that we're too ugly to be Edain. He said that Atya only took us in because he likes to collect broken and useless things like you. And then Elros started crying because he isn't useless and I felt bad, so…so… so I hit Baralin. And then he hit me back, but a lot harder," Elrond sobbed, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be bad. Please don't hit Elros. I'll be better, I promise."
"I'm not going to hit either of you," Maedhros grimaced. He couldn't believe that one of those in his garrison would stoop so low as to insult and attack a child. He looked down at the peredhel. Elrond looked even more pathetic with tears streaming down his bruised face. Maedhros was more than a bit saddened to see Elrond cower in fear of him.
"Promise?" Elrond asked, whipping his nose on his sleeve.
"I …. Yes, I promise."
No sooner had he finished saying this, then Elrond threw himself at the tall elf, clinging to his legs. The tall elf was uncertain how to react. This was the first time one of the twins had initiated touch with him. Maedhros awkwardly petted the dark hair.
"I told 'Ros you weren't bad," Elrond mumbled into the cloth of Maedhros' trousers.
Maedhros didn't know how to respond to that, so he simply grunted noncommittally. He couldn't bear to tell the young peredhel that he no longer saw himself as redeemable. He committed so many reprehensible acts and the blood of innocents drenched his soul. Elrond, however, wasn't finished.
"And one day, I'm gonna make you better!" he declared pulling away a bit.
Maedhros most certainly did not blink away tears at the earnest face. For this one moment, he could see what had possessed Maglor to keep this little creature and his twin. As though summoned by the very though of him, Maglor appeared in the door way. He was a bit disheveled and looked stressed.
"Russandol, I need your help. I can't find-"
Maglor broke off quite suddenly, a look of horror painted on his face as he caught sight of Elrond.
"What did you do?" Maglor's voice was hoarse.
"I didn't do anything," Maedhros glared at him, more than a little affronted that his brother would accuse him of assaulting a child.
"Then what happened?" Maglor demanded, not at all put off by Maedhros' stern tone.
Maedhros simply lifted Elrond by the scruff and shoved him into Maglor's arms.
"Fix him," Maedhros growled before stalking off.
"Where are you going?" Maglor called after him in bewilderment.
"Baralin and I need to have a talk!" Maedhros turned to grinned ferally at his brother before making his way to the stairs