Blood of Innocents
By Glorfindel's Girl
Day Three: Eluréd and Elurín
Cold. It was so cold. But Eluréd could not allow himself to think of his own discomfort, not with his brother walking beside him shivering, his lips tinged with blue. He had wanted to build a fire, but having neither flint nor iron, there was naught he could do. Instead, they had been forced to spend the night curled against each other, Eluréd trying as best he could to cover Elurín's body with his own.
Eluréd looked up, silently noting the fact that the sky had cleared while they slept. The snow had settled into a fine powder, which clung to their feet and legs as they walked. There was simply no escaping it, no way to be free of it. The stinging pain and numbness had become an almost comforting companion for Dior's eldest son, drowning out all else, even the sharp pangs of hunger. Beside him, Elurín stumbled over some hidden stone, nearly falling. Eluréd caught his brother by the arm before he could fall, and helped him re-gain his balance.
"Eluréd, can we rest for a little while? I'm so hungry," Elurín murmured, resting his weight against his brother's shoulder as they walked.
"Just a little further, then we can stop and eat something," Eluréd replied, putting his arm around his brother's shoulders. He was growing weaker, Eluréd realized, noting the heaviness of his younger brother's steps.
Eluréd slowed for a minute, reaching up and unfastening his cloak. The air was bitterly cold against his arms, but he tried to ignore it. He draped it about Elurín's shoulders, fastening it tightly. It was far too large for him, but it did not matter. At least it would keep him a little warmer. Elurín looked up at his brother with wide eyes.
"Are you not cold?" he asked, wrapping his brother's cloak tightly around his small body. Eluréd just smiled and shook his head.
"No, I'm fine," he said. "Come on. We have to keep moving."
Slowly, they plodded along, Eluréd remaining ever cheerful, ever encouraging his younger brother. The sun was well into the western sky when he paused suddenly.
"Elurín! Do you hear that?" he whispered. Somewhere nearby, water was flowing. He snatched his brother's hand in his own, and ran toward the sound, nearly dragging Elurín behind him. Stumbling, gasping for breath, the burst into a clearing. A deep, swiftly moving brook lined by large, flat rocks flowed through it. And there, growing beside the brook…
"Oh, thank you, thank you," Eluréd whispered, collapsing upon his knees as Elurín ran to the frost-kissed wild berry bushes which blossomed next to the brook. Snow soaked through his pant legs, but he cared little. Food. They had food. Slowly he stood, and followed Elurín's steps to the bushes.
Though there was more than enough for them both, Eluréd held back, waiting for his younger brother to satisfy his hunger first, before he, himself fell upon the wild berry bushes. The berries were cold, but still sweet and juicy. By the time they finished, both boys' mouths and hands were stained purple-red.
While Elurín was still picking berries from the bushes, Eluréd eyed the brook, amazed that it was not frozen over. The water would be unbearably cold; they could not risk crossing it. Something about the huge rocks around the brook caught his eye, something not quite right. He laughed aloud, realizing what it was. There was no snow on the rocks. He ran to one of the huge flat rocks and lay his hands upon it. It was warm. The sun had warmed the rocks and melted the snow.
"Elurín!" he cried, motioning to his brother, "Come!" He climbed up atop the rock and lay down, arms outstretched, basking in the warmth upon his back, and the sunlight upon his face. He shivered slightly as Elurín climbed up beside him, and lay down. He had not realized just how cold he was.
"We will stay here as long as we may," Eluréd said, turning his head so he could see his brother. Elurín's eyes were closed, but he nodded, sunlight playing across the lines of his face. "We have food, water…and a warm place."
They laid there, utterly exhausted, though full and as content as they could be. The sun set, and they curled up together, spreading the two cloaks over their bodies like blankets. The babbling brook and wind in the trees quickly lulled Elurín into a deep slumber. Eluréd remained awake a while longer, staring up at the starry sky trough the treetops, and wondering how long they could delay the inevitable. The last sound he heard before drifting into sleep was that of a nightingale, crying its song out into the darkness. And for some reason, it comforted him. He fell asleep feeling safe, loved, as content as a babe in its mother's arms. The night wore on, and the nightingale continued its solemn lullaby.
