Blood of Innocents

By

Glorfindel's Girl

Day Two: Eluréd and Elurín

          Eluréd awoke, expecting to find himself in bed in the familiar surroundings of his chambers.  Instead, he was faced with a patchwork of grey winter sky seemingly held aloft by the skeletal treetops.  Slowly, he sat up, the dead brown leaves beneath him crunching at his slight movements.  He ached all over.  The memory of the day before came rushing back to him in a tumult.  Hearing his mother scream, being found behind the tapestry.  But after that…nothing.

          "Where am I," he murmured, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings.    He was cold, horribly cold.  He wrapped his light cloak tightly around his small body, but it provided little protection against the bitter northern winds.    There was a sudden moan behind him.  He turned around quickly, a binding pain shooting through his head.

          "Elurín!" 

          His younger brother lay curled upon the ground, bits of leaves caught in his dark hair.  An ugly bruise covered one cheek, and his lower lip was cut.  The only places on his face that did not have a translucent covering of dirt were where his tears had traced their way down his cheeks.  For one horrifying moment, Eluréd believed his brother dead.  Then he saw the slight rise and fall of his chest.

          "Elurín wake up!" he cried, throwing himself upon his younger brother. "Please!"

          The younger one gasped, shoved his brother off him with surprising strength, and pushed himself away from Eluréd's grasp.  He looked up at his brother with wide, frightened eyes. 

          "Eluréd!" he cried in recognition.  He crawled forward and collapsed into his brother's lap, weeping.  "It hurts," he managed between sobs.

          "I know, I know," he replied, caressing Elurín's hair.  "It is going to be all right."

          "I…I tried to run away…Elwing…she tried…she tried to take me with her.  But they…they caught me…and…Eluréd, I tried to fight…but they…they…" he broke off into choking sobs.  "I want Amil and Atar," he murmured into his elder brother's embrace.  "Where are they?"

          Eluréd felt his own tears stinging his eyes at the mention of their parents.  But Elurín did not know…he could not let him know.  Eluréd surveyed the situation with grave eyes.  It was winter, and they were ill-dressed for the coming weather.  He forced his tears back, knowing that there was little chance they would live.  But he had to hope.  Had to keep hope.

          "What did they mean, Eluréd?"

          "What?" he asked, looking down at his younger brother. 

          "When I asked them where Amil and Atar were, they told me not to worry, that we would be with them soon.  What did they mean, Eluréd?  Are Amil and Atar out here too?"

          "I do not know, Elurín," he replied softly.  "But we should go search for them.  If you are able to stand."

          Elurín nodded as he raised his head, wiping tears from his cheeks with the sleeve of his tunic.  Eluréd rose, then held his hand out to his younger brother.  Elurín accepted his brother's hand and pulled himself to his feet.  He leaned heavily against his brother's shoulder as Eluréd wrapped a gentle arm about his shoulders.

          "Come on.  If we keep moving, we will stay warm," Eluréd said, his cheerful tone completely masking the utter anguish he felt inside.  He guided his brother carefully as they walked away from the clearing.  He could see that Elurín was hurt worse than he showed.  He would not be able to travel far without rest.  But Eluréd could not bear the thought of remaining where they were.  They had to move on, he had to keep his mind occupied. 

          Something cold struck his arm.  He looked up and saw a few snow flurries beginning to fall from the grey sky. 

          "Eluréd?"

          Eluréd looked back down at his younger brother.  "Yes?"

          "I wish we were with Amil and Atar," he whispered, tears tracing down his cheeks once more.

          "Do not worry," Eluréd replied, forcing himself to smile.  "We will be soon."