Fatherhood
Tobi is a good boy
I do not own JRR Tolkien's work.
-Maedhros-
The small, slim and hopeful face looked up towards him.
Such naivety.
Maedhros clicked his tongue on the roof of his mouth, irritated. That was what his brother, Maglor had said about the young ellons now in their charge. The young ellon standing before Maedhros was thin as a rake, with long unkempt black hair and blue eyes.
Maedrhos tore off his piece of bread and handed it to the youth.
"Thank you," replied the ellon, politely. The ellon was always polite and courteous. Unlike his brother, who often acted rashly, the young ellon was often thoughtful and quiet. He bit hungrily into the bread, tearing it with his teeth. The ellon's brother was sitting farther apart, staring sullenly in the distance-Maglor had not given him any bread nor water as punishment.
They had camped in the high hills, where the edge of the forest lay. Long oak trees shaded them from the sun and kept them dry from any changes in what was, so far, pleasant weather.
"Here, kid," Maedrhos passed the rest of the bread to the youth. " You'll need it more than me."
Maglor had warned him not to get attached. His brother was not cruel, just cold and weary of the cost of their Oath. It was he who suggested taking the young ellons captive.
Maedhros disliked the idea, having been a captive himself. His time in Morgoth's prisons had apparently made him soft.
"Elrond," the ellon said, unprompted between bites of bread. His eyes ever so often flickered curiously on Maedhros's stump of a left arm. The youth politely tried to hide his curiosity by concentrating on keeping his gaze on what was left of the bread.
"Maedhros," the older elf responded, his thoughts still dwelling on the past.
After eating the bread and taking a sip from the wineskin, Elrond's dark, thoughtful eyes met his.
"What will happen to us?" he asked, his voice quiet.
Maedrhos looked down at the ellon. "I do not know," he responded. It was the truth at least.
The young ellon nodded, and looked out into the distance.
Damn, the elf thought, here he was, becoming attached to this young boy. He sighed.
The boy deserves a father, even though I do not deserve to be one, I shall try my best.
The pair stared out into the night sky-one for the stars, and the other at the far away half remembered image of the jewels his own father had made.