Category: Tolkien-Universe
Rating: M
Couples: -
Warnings: AU, blood, mentions of torture, character death
Chapter: 40
Copyright: Characters & places © By Tolkien Estate, Plot & OC´s © by me
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He woke warm and soft. Yet still he felt raw, and cold. Whimpering softly, he moved closer to the warmth in front of him.
"Ara...?" Someone whispered, the warmth closing in. "Little brother?"
"Nolo..." He whimpered, hands twisting in fabric.
"Yes, yes, I am here." The older son of Finu whispered softly. "You're safe, you're safe."
He didn't want to open his eyes, didn't want to see. Not just yet...
"Ara?" Someone was behind him, two bodies safely surrounding him. Lalwen tucked herself close. "Ara...?"
He trembled against their older brother, shaking his head, only to have to stop when it made him nauseous. "I'm sorry." He clung, tucking his head against the other's chest. "I'm sorry." His soul felt raw, weak and fragile. It hurt.
"Sh..." The High King of the Beleriandic Noldor shushed him. "It's okay, it's okay, little brother." As he pulled him closer physically, Fingolfin carefully wrapped his mind around his, as if he were a small child too young and weak to self-shield. He hadn't felt this safe since he'd grown old enough that Fëanor had started to feel threatened by him as well.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry..."
"No, stop it, Finarfin." His two siblings squeezed him between them gently. "Nothing of that, not right now."
He whined at that, attempting to shake his head in denial. "I..."
"No." His older brother firmly stopped him. "It can all wait when you are not about to come apart at the seams. You're drained dry."
He wanted to, feeling worse than ever before, but he had to...
"Please dad." He jerked at the voice, vision going briefly black when he turned quickly to look at the source. "Just rest." His children... his children...
"And stay down." Fingolfin tightened his grip when Finarfin tried to sit up. "Little brother, rest first."
"I..." He had so much to do! To tell!
"No." Weight settled on his legs as his head was tucked back into his brother's neck. "Rest."
Tears shot into his eyes. He had to...! Trying to suppress his sobs, he hiccuped softly.
"It can all wait, little brother. Everything can wait." Lalwen whispered, petting his hair. "You're safe, it's all going to be okay."
Feeling weak, and overwhelmed, he sobbed in answer, burying his face in the soft fabric in front of him.
He had so much to say, so much to do, but the only thing that left his lips between sobs was a broken and small. "Stay?"
"Of course." Lips brushed his forehead. "Never again, Ara, we're not leaving you ever again."
In answer, he whined again, sobbing brokenly. Clinging to his older brother, he cried like he had wanted to do for centuries, but had never been able to. Buried under at least six members of his family, he wept.
After the flood of his tears had run out, he was exhausted.
"Can you drink something?" Someone asked softly. He tried to nod, but didn't know if he had enough strength to actually move his head.
"I'll help." He felt himself be rearranged into a vaguely seated position, resting against his brother's strong chest, head tucked in his throat. He trusted himself to the hands, taking slow and careful sips of water, and then the light broth they spooned into his mouth.
"Rest, little brother." They tucked him back into the bed, covering him with the warm blanket and wrapping themselves around him.
Between the warmth and sense of security, he felt for the first time like he could actually afford to do so.
Murmuring something even he didn't quite catch himself, he snuggled down and let his consciousness slip away.