A/N: Apologies for the delay getting this
chapter up. I'm having a crisis. Thanks to those who listened to me bellyache
about this chapter, they know who they are. Nance, you lovely
people, nance. ;)
Chapter 6: A change of scenery.
Elros stumbled along and tripped on a root. He fell face-forwards onto the ground, and remained there for a moment as if confused as to how he had managed to go from vertical to horizontal in the blink of an eye. A rough hand grabbed him by his collar and hauled him back onto his feet.
"Get up," said an irritated voice that went with the hand, which gave him a forceful shove in the direction they were travelling. "Keep up."
Elros rubbed his grazed wrists and bleated, "I'm trying!"
"Try harder."
"He is tired," said Elrond nervously but surprising himself with his boldness. "He is so much smaller than you, how can you expect him to keep up? If you are so concerned with him falling behind let him back on the horse."
"My horse needs rest from time to time,"-
-"Then get another horse." Elrond gulped apprehensively, thinking perhaps he had gone a little too far.
The adult stopped in his tracks and leaned threateningly down towards the elder peredhel. "When I want advice, half-breed, I will ask for it."
Elrond shrank back, looking at the ground, his cheeks burning. The adult stalked off, muttering something to himself about being forced to play nursemaid.
"When are we going to stop for a rest?" Elros grumbled as he wandered over to his brother, dragging his feet.
"Soon, I think." Elrond put his arm around Elros' shoulder, steering him, supporting him as best he could despite being exhausted himself. There had been no respite since they broke camp at sunrise and that had been nearly four hours ago. Truth be told, Elrond had no idea how long they would keep going.
He looked out across the unfolding landscape and a new weariness hit him. He could make out the mountains on the horizon, mocking him, reminding him of just how far they had to go. Well, at least the ground here was solid, the bog of Lisgardh had been a nightmare. Although they had only been travelling a relatively short time, Elrond was amazed at how much the landscape had changed. The plants different, the soil was different and the air, that was what had struck Elrond the most; the air smelled different. He took a deep breath and tried to remember the ozone that permeated the air around Sirion. Elrond had to keep reminding himself that it was only yesterday that he had been home, he could not believe how much he missed it already.
Suddenly Elros let out a curse in Westron, one of the few things that he had applied himself to learning and sat down, cross legged on the ground, a prize scowl on his face.
"That is it. I am not going any further. I have had enough."
"Elros," pleaded Elrond, "do not do this, please." He looked up nervously to see that their 'guardian' was coming towards them bearing an expression of displeasure to rival Elros'. "He is coming back. He is in a foul humour as it is, do not make things worse."
"What is it now?" The elf glared down at Elros, who replied slowly and exactly, enunciating every syllable.
"I-am-not-going-any-further."
"Oh really?"
Elrond tried to defuse the situation. "Please sir, he is just tired, give him a moment."
The soldier continued to address Elros, ignoring Elrond. "No one else is stopping. Do you wish to be left behind, alone, in the middle of no-where? Do you?"
"I would be rid of you," mumbled Elros insolently. He instantly regretted that little fit of pique when he felt rough fingers grab a fistful of his hair and yank upwards, sharply. Elros shrieked in pain and sprang to his feet, the desired effect of that harsh action. Elros' face crumpled along with his defiance as he stumbled along in an attempt to stop the intense pain in his scalp.
"There, you see? One foot in front of the other, not so difficult is it?" Elros squealed in reply, hot tears of pain and embarrassment rolling down his flushed cheeks.
Elrond was beside himself, yelling, waving his arms, desperate for this to end.
"You are hurting him! Stop it, stop!" His wish was finally granted and Elrond gasped, shocked at what he had just seen. Never, not once had they been physically chastised; the idea of his parents meting out such a severe punishment was unthinkable. He hugged Elros, who was shaking and whimpering. Elrond whispered to him, comforting him as best he could, trying and failing to keep his voice steady.
Both boys jumped at the sound of rapid hoof beats coming to a sudden stop and looked up to see Maglor unleashing a stream of angry Quenya from atop his horse.
"Equen tirte, ava lavte na telwa," Maglor yelled down at the elf, "lá palpate!" The chagrined soldier made to protest his innocence but Maglor cut him off, holding up his palm. The retainer fell silent immediately. It was obvious that Maglor was seething and would brook no argument.
Elros, wishing he had paid more attention in his Quenya lessons whispered to Elrond, asking him what Maglor was saying, while Maglor continued in his tirade.
"Orta
má tanna hína ata, ar
auciriuvan! Hanya?"
The soldier nodded glumly, while Elros nudged Elrond, who explained, "He is
just telling him off for hurting you," opting to spare Elros the details.
Maglor dismounted, his face still like thunder and
raised his voice to the rest of the elves that had gathered around to watch the
spectacle.
"That goes for the rest of you." He turned back to the object of his ire and hissed, "Heca!" The soldier bowed hurriedly and made off without another word. Maglor's voice then dropped right down as he spoke to Elros. "Did he hurt you badly?"
Elros rubbed the back of his head and shrugged before answering, "Not too badly," the first two words coming out as a strangulated hiss before his vocal chords decided to do as they were told. Maglor turned next to Elrond.
"He never touched me." Elrond still had his arms encircling the younger boy protectively. Maglor walked towards them, telling them that they should keep moving but Elrond instinctively took a step backwards, pulling Elros with him.
Maglor stopped in his tracks and held out
his hand. "I do not expect you to trust
me but if you believe nothing else of me, believe that I will not harm you."
Elros stepped forward hesitantly and put this hand in Maglor's who led him to
his horse. He lifted the boy into the saddle and said, "This is Celebel, he
will save your legs."
Elros seemed a little unsteady and muttered nervously, "I do not know what I am
doing."
"Do not worry," Maglor assured him nodding towards Celebel as he tucked the stirrups away under the saddle flaps, "he does. Hold onto the pommel here, or grab a handful of mane." Elros, his scalp still throbbing from someone grabbing a handful of his mane, clamped his hands over the saddle pommel until his knuckles turned white.
Maglor laughed softly, Elros' frown giving away his concerns, "Do not worry, horses have tougher hides than peredhil." He then beckoned to Elrond who approached slowly, his body language screaming his unease. Maglor gave him a leg-up to behind Elros and his whole body tensed when he landed with a thump in the saddle. He was unused to riding, there not being much need for it in Sirion and the world certainly looked different from up on horseback.
"Relax," said Maglor, again being able to read his concern, "we will not let you fall, will we, Celebel?" He gave the animal an affectionate pat on the neck and led him off.
~*~
It was another two hours before they finally stopped to rest and even then
Elrond got the impression it would be a brief one. After being helped down from
the horse, Elrond was handed a water-skin. He passed it along to Elros who
eagerly gulped down several mouthfuls.
Elrond looked across to the forest to the East; The Taur im Duinath. It was tantalizingly close. He paced around a little, ostensibly to stretch his legs, also to take a look at what the rest of the party were up to. As far as Elrond could tell, they were not taking much notice of him or Elros. They seemed to trust in the fact that the boys would not attempt to run off. Elrond wondered if anyone would notice if he slunk off towards the woods. If he could just make it to the forest, he knew that there were Sindarin elves there. Surely they would help? If he could just find some of them, they could help him travel south through the forest where the Fëanorians would never find them. The he might be able to contact Gil-galad. Elrond's heart leapt at the thought, if he managed that perhaps he could see Ammë and Ada again…
Elrond was disturbed from his escape plans when he felt a tap on his leg. He looked down to see Elros holding the water-skin up to him. The notion of escape disappeared as quickly as it had formed. Elrond slowly and stiffly hunkered down beside his brother and took a swig from the skin. He shook his head as he swallowed, marvelling at his foolishness. Of course he could not sneak off without being seen; it was a featureless plain between here and the forest. Besides, his protesting thigh muscles were in no fit state to make a run for it after being in the saddle for so long and Elros- Elrond looked across to see that his eyelids were dropping again already. Even if Elrond could have made it, he knew Elros never would and he could not leave Elros behind. Elrond regarded his brother sadly and realized that all they could do was stick together and hope for a rescue, there was nothing he could do but protect Elros as best he could.
"What are you looking at?" mumbled Elros from behind a curtain of hair.
"You are nodding," replied Elrond as he tucked some dark locks behind Elros' ear.
"I am tired." Elros yawned and lay down, resting his head on Elrond's leg.
"I expect they will feed us in a minute, that will help." He looked up to see that the sun was still high in the sky, indicating a long day's travel still to come.
~*~
After the fifth day on the road Elrond began to wonder if his leg muscles would be permanently misshapen from the experience. He could not understand how the others could ride for hours and then walk perfectly normally. Every time he dismounted Elrond was so awkward, as his legs refused to move from that ridiculous inverted 'U' shape.
As for the mornings, they were the worst. Elrond had always liked mornings; the quiet, the way the *haar rose from the sea, the invigorating freshness in the air. He had grown to hate them over these past few days. Mornings now meant aches and pains; both from the exertions of the previous day and from sleeping on the ground. They meant cold, the likes of which Elrond had never imagined, and they meant being forced on to his feet before he had finished waking. He experienced a new found sympathy for Elros all those times he had made him get out of bed.
This particular morning, Elrond woke to find that Elros was not in the sleeping roll beside him. He stretched and rose slowly, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, wondering which joints would crack this time. He drew a cloak around himself and hobbled off in search of his brother. He found him near the centre of the camp, with Celebel. The horse's head was drooping down to the youngster's level while Elros stroked his velvety nose.
"Morning Elros." He nodded towards Celebel. "You have found a friend."
"Maglor was showing me how to tack-up."
"Was he indeed?" Elrond knew the disapproval was edging into his voice but Elros seemed not to notice.
"I am holding him until he gets back," added Elros, puffing his chest out.
"Right," Elrond looked at the pair; horse and 'minder', hiding his amusement behind a feigned yawn. One of Celebel's back hooves was cocked, his ears were wilting to the sides and his eyelids were half-closed. He did not quite have the heart to tell Elros that the poor animal was fast asleep and that even if the sixteen hands-high cube of muscle had decided to run off, there would not be much that a seven year old peredhel could do about it.
"Elrond, look." Elros stretched upwards as far as he could and parted Celebel's forelock with his fingertips to reveal a diamond shaped white patch. "A silver star." Elrond nodded and smiled, indulging him. It was endearing to see Elros so taken with the beast. He found himself feeling conflicted towards Maglor all of a sudden. He was still angry at him for helping to get them into this predicament but at the same time he was grateful to him for giving Elros something to take his mind off it.
"What is there for breakfast?" asked Elrond as he searched for water to ease his dry throat.
"Lembas," moaned Elros.
"Oh," sighed Elrond, "just for a change." He thought back ruefully to the first time he had tried the way-bread on a short camping trip with Nárwen. He had felt so grown up when he had eaten it then. On this particular hike, the novelty wore off very quickly. Elrond nibbled at a wafer as he eyed Maedhros and Maglor's approach.
"Ah, you are wakened," Maglor called out to Elrond.
"Evidently," replied Elrond acerbically.
Maglor turned to the happier-looking Elros. "Did he behave himself?" he asked of his mount as he took the reins off Elros who nodded somewhat bashfully. Maglor spoke into the horse's ear and Celebel suddenly sprang into life with a soft whinny. "Good lad," whispered Maglor with a smile and a pat.
"Why are we leaving so late this morning?" asked Elrond.
"We waited for the scouts to report in," drawled Maedhros, "as always."
"Then why are they so late?"
"The terrain is rougher here," interjected Maglor before his brother could reply. "Nothing more."
Puzzled, Elrond pressed on, "But"- he paused looking around him, "The ground is flat here."
"It gets steeper."
"But"-
"Elrond," Maglor interrupted somewhat harshly, "whatever the reasons, it afforded you some extra time to sleep, so do not complain about it."
"I was not complaining," mumbled Elrond, folding his arms and drawing his cloak tighter around himself and began to walk away.
Maglor lifted Elros onto Celebel, while Maedhros looked on with a lazily amused expression.
"Elrond?" Maglor beckoned to the retreating child.
"I prefer to walk," replied Elrond.
"You will tire"-
"I will manage," he countered, not even turning around.
Maglor sighed, dropping his arm to his side. Elros watched out of the corner of his eye, swallowing nervously.
"Sir?"
Maglor looked up to Elros, aware that he was not disguising his irritation.
"What is it?" he made a conscious effort to seem more relaxed.
"He did not mean to anger you, sir. He is always asking questions."
"It is just his way?"
Elros nodded before continuing "He is always reading and…" He tailed off, fidgeting with Celebel's mane. He stiffened when Maglor mounted behind him.
"I am not angry, Elros," Maglor reassured him. At least, not with you or your brother, he added mentally to himself. "So do you like books?"
"No." Elros' reply was so emphatic it almost made Maglor feel stupid for asking.
"Then what do you like?"
Elros thought for a moment. "Not books. I like"- he corrected himself mid-sentence, "I liked playing with my soldiers."
"One the loremaster, one the warrior. You two could make a formidable team. Elros shrugged awkwardly and replied with a few embarrassed-sounding mumbles.
"Look in the saddlebag on your right," instructed Maglor after an awkward silence. He smiled at the delighted gasp that elicited from Elros when he saw what was inside.
"Roitar!" The child squealed. He frowned at the toy and then said, "His bow is different."
"I am afraid I broke the last one," Maglor explained. "I know it is not very good; I could paint it for you when we get back."
"Thank you," he replied bashfully. Elros beamed at the figurine, overjoyed that at least one token of his childhood had survived more or less intact.
"I take it that is the 'peace offering?'" asked Maedhros motioning towards the delicately carved bow being examined by Elros as though it were a great treasure. "Why wait so long to give it to him?" continued Maedhros in Quenya, confident that the child would not understand.
"This seemed like a good time. I did not want to seem"-
"Manipulative?"
"No," replied Maglor, "over familiar. I am not trying to bribe them."
"Then what are you doing?" asked Maedhros in another laconic interruption.
"I am trying to make this a little more bearable for them. What can be wrong with that?"
"Well, see that do not try to become familiar with them. They are prisoners, never forget that." Maedhros looked to the sad little figure of Elrond, shuffling along a few feet in front, "He is not likely to."
~*~
*Haar = Sea-mist. (Scots/English archaic)
Maglor's rant:
"Equen tirte, ava lavte na telwa. La palpate!"
"I said watch them, don't allow them to fall behind (Lit. 'fall last.' Dodgy translation, I know). Not beat them!"
"Orta má tanna hína ata, ar auciriuvan! Hanya?"
"Raise a hand to that child again and I will cut it off! Understand?"
"Heca!"
"Be gone!"
