Maedhros gazed down at the bloody, mangled mess that was Fingon. He could not remember how long he had sat there, the shock at finding his cousin dead nearly stunning him.
'Nelyo,' Maglor said softly from behind him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Maedhros took in a shaky breath. 'Leave me brother.'
'Nelyo, please.' Maglor tried again.
'Leave!' Maglor growled. He watched as Maglor nodded and turned, walking away, tears in his own eyes. Another of our kin dead.
Turning back to Fingon, he swallowed. He was so scared to touch him, for fear of worsening his condition. So fragile.
'Finno,' he whispered as a tear slipped down his face. 'I should have protected you.'
He didn't deserve this. He didn't deserve this. He didn't deserve this.
It was all Maedhros could think.
'You said we were going to win,' you were always so hopeful. 'So I made this for you. With Curvo's help.'
He slowly drew out a gold chain from inside his tunic, with a delicate arrow hanging from it. He laughed grimly.
'I was going to give it to you after we- after the battle.' The battle that we were supposed to win.
'As a token of our friendship.' He uncurled the fingers of Fingon's left hand, the only part of him that looked like it wouldn't break, and pressed the chain into his palm, wrapping his own hand around his.
'You were so brave,' he whispered. 'I should have stayed. Me and all of my brothers.'
He smiled at some distant memory. 'I told you I would never let anything happen to you, and I've failed.'
'Why will you not answer me?' He said softly, rubbing his thumb over the bloody hand.
Fingon remained silent and unmoving.
'Fingon? Why will you not answer me?' He asked, sorrow overcoming all rational thoughts.
As if mad, a sudden rage took him. Rage at his father, at Morgoth, at orcs, at himself.
'Why will you not answer me!?' He screamed. Tears slipped out of his eyes and he sobbed, the pain overwhelming him.
'Why will you not answer me?'
He was blinded by his tears, and his hand strayed toward the knife at his side. He could hear someone in the distance calling his name.
Taking out the knife, he held it in his hand, thinking about how good it would feel to just end it. He pressed it against his stomach.
But then someone was grabbing at his arms. 'No, no! Russandol no!'
Maglor ripped the knife from his grasp and threw it behind him. 'No!' He was shaking him.
Maedhros grabbed his arm. 'Get away from me!' His grip was crushing.
'Nelyo?' Maglor whispered. Maedhros barred his teeth, looking angrily into Maglor's eyes. 'It's your little brother.'
Suddenly, he let go of him, dropping his eyes to the ground. 'How did this happen Kano?'
Maglor was crying too. Taking Maedhros' hand he kissed it, bringing it to his heart. Maedhros leaned forward, resting their foreheads together.