"Children wake up," Maglor's voice shook the twins from their sleep and a set of identical gre eyes blinked up at him. His fingers fumbled with their bonds as he untied them. "Apologies," he said, as his finger nail dug into Elros' wrist. "I'm afraid that I'm a little tired."

He helped them stand and led them to the horses. Already the camp had been dismantled, Maglor had let the twins sleep as long as possible. He was surprised and worried that they had slept through the noise though.

Maedhros grabbed Elros and hefted him onto his horse. "Good morning," he said curtly.

"Morning," Elrond said quietly.

Maedhros nodded at him. "We should arrive at the fortress this afternoon," he said.

Maglor smiled, "Wonderful. What do you think boys?"

Neither answered; Elros was in his usual stupor and Elrond was leaning sleepily on Maglor's leg. With a sigh Maglor placed him on the horse and mounted. The procession left in silence.

Soon Amon Ereb rose into view. Both boys looked up at the cold grey walls with fearful eyes. The horses wove up the steep path to the front gate with practiced ease, but the boys cried in fear nonetheless. Maglor surveyed the fortress and reflected how difficult it would be for the boys to escape. He was secretly pleased.

When they dismounted Maedhros once again shoved Elros to Maglor. Both children looked up at him with expectant eyes, wondering what was going to happen now. He smiled at them, trying to calm them. As open with him as they had seemed the first few days, they had since closed up. Maglor suspected that it had to do with being tied up all the time.

He led the boys inside, and Elros looked up at him. "Maglor, do we have to ride anymore?"

"Not for a long while I imagine."

Both seemed cheered at his words, and more alive than they had in days. Elrond asked, "Must we be tied?"

Maglor thought for a moment. He and Maedhros had spent several hours on horseback talking as the boys dozed, and they had come to the agreement that they should be kept in one room for the time being. Like Ambarussa always did. They had recalled that there was an unused bedroom just around the corner from theirs, and so they had decided to give it to the twins. They had decided on rules for the boys, and lessons, and games. There was a schedule for what their days would look like, and where they were allowed to go.

They had, in fact, decided everything except what to do about keeping the twins tied up.

So Maglor made something up. "As long as the lock on your door works and I can find a key I see no reason to keep you bound."

"If the lock doesn't work?" Elrond asked. His eyes reflected his own trepidation.

"Then I shall have it fixed."

They hugged each other, then Maglor's legs, thanking him profusely. He showed them up the stairs to where the bedrooms belonging to the Feanorians were. He pointed to Maedhros' door, "My brother's room. I recommend you stay out." Directly across the hall he pointed to his own room and said, "That one is mine, just knock before you enter."

Of course Elros had to point at the door by Maedhros' room and ask, "Whose room is that?"

Maglor's chest clenched. They pain from losing his youngest brothers, which he had hidden, returned full force. He took several steadying breaths and leaned on the wall. "Do not go in there. It was my brothers'," his voice was tense, and too late he noticed that both twins flinched. He clumsily patted their heads in an attempt to soothe them. It wasn't your fault boys. Please, I am not angry with you.

Elrond asked, "The ones that died?"

Maglor nodded. Elrond hugged his legs in an attempt to comfort him; Elros uncomfortably patted his knee. "Thank you," he whispered. After several painful moments he took a deep breath. "Are you ready to see your room?" If his cheeriness seemed forced then neither boy commented.

They nodded eagerly. "It's just around the corner," he pointed and the three set off. Around the corner was the end of the hall, meaning the only way in or out of the twin's new room was to pass both Maglor and Maedhros' rooms. Maglor felt safer with that set up.

He stopped before they entered and fiddled with the lock. He scowled. "I think it is broken," he said.

Elros whined and his brother groaned.

"Forget the lock for now, let's see the inside."

Maglor let the boys in and surveyed the room as they entered. The bed would need new sheets, and he should probably open the window and let the room air. The furniture needed dusted, and the fireplace should be checked before they used it.

It was however, a nice room and the large bed meant the twins would hopefully not kick one another in their sleep. "What do you think?" When they both hesitated to answer he quickly said, "It shall be cleaned."

"We like it," Elros said.

Elrond nodded and trotted across the room to look out the window. "Does this open?" he asked. "It's stuffy."

"My sentiments exactly." Maglor joined him at the window and looked at the thing to see how it worked. It seemed much like the one in his room, and he pulled on the latch experimentally. It wiggled, but did not open. "I need a moment, then it will open." After several more moments of struggling with the latch he finally opened the window all the way and leaned out, happy to breathe the clear air. "The room will smell better in no time," he assured them. He turned to face them. The room was empty.

He took a few deep breaths and pinched the bridge of his nose. "You had better come out from where ever you are hiding." No one answered and he started to leave and search for the twins. They cannot have gotten too far. I can find them quickly, hopefully before my brother does.

Maedhros meet him in the door way, a child thrown over each shoulder. "I caught them outside my room. I believe they were trying to leave." He dropped them onto the bed, not seeming to care that it had no sheets. A cloud of dust rose when they landed. "We shall have to lock them in."

"The lock is broken," Maglor replied.

Oh, not again! Maedhros sighed. "You know what that means children?"

"Please do not tie us up," Elrond whispered. "We are very sorry and we won't try to run again, I promise." He was looking at Maglor when he spoke, and Maglor wanted nothing more than to give the boy what he wanted.

Instead Maglor said, "I am afraid I cannot trust that. You shall remain tied tonight and I shall have the lock fixed tomorrow." He looked out the window he had opened at the setting sun. "I was going to bathe you tonight but that shall have to wait. Where are their things?" He asked Maedhros.

"They shall be brought up shortly."

Maglor knelt by the bed, the boys drew back. "There is not time to clean in here tonight. Would you rather sleep on the floor in here or in my bed; which would you like?"

They looked at one another and began to talk quietly.

"Strange options," Maedhros remarked in Quenya.

Maglor replied, also in the ancient language, "I can find old sheets to make a bed on the floor in here easier than I can have the mattress aired or exchanged for another."

"Have you smelled them? Do you want them in your clean bed?"

"Have you smelled me? I plan to sleep in my bed if they do not." Maglor decided not to remind Maedhros that he was just as dirty and smelly as the rest of them, if not more so. He sniffed. Definitely worse.

"Excuse me," Elros said. The taller elves both looks down at him. "We would like to stay in here."

Maglor nodded and went in search of older sheets and blankets to make a bed from. As he was leaving he had a thought, but quickly banished it. The lock on my door works, there would be no need to keep them bound. Perhaps it would be best for them to stay in here however.

By the time he returned with his arms full of blankets the boys bags had arrived, and Maedhros had opened the wardrobe. Upon finding it dust free he had told them to hang their clothes. Maglor made a bed for them under the window, where the air was freshest. The boys ran and jumped into the pile when he was finished, and cuddled together, pulling the blanket into a nest around themselves. Elrond was clutching the stuffed creature he had brought from Sirion.

"Are you forgetting something?" Maedhros asked when Maglor made to stand. He handed him the ropes they had been using on the boys.

Maglor turned to see two upset looking boys holding their arms out for him to bind. He thanked them and reminded that that this would be the last night. It took a moment, and a few giggles, for him to unbury their feet from the blankets. "Would you like to take off your shoes?" he asked. Neither seemed fond of the idea, which surprised him. He finished his knots and stood. "Good night then, I shall be in in the morning. Shall I shut the window? It may get cold."

They nodded and he did. "Shout if you need something, I will hear." He stopped in the door and turned to give them an apologetic look. "I was so happy to be back I forgot supper. Would you like something to eat?" They nodded. "Do you mind if I send a servant, I have something to attend to?"

"We just want food," Elros explained.

Maglor nodded. "If I forget in the future, remind me. Sleep well, I shall have something sent."

He left and returned to his own room, where he found a servant finishing cleaning. He greeted her cheerfully, as she was his usual chambermaid. "We brought two children back with us, they are in the last room on the hall, around the corner. Have someone take dinner to them."

She curtsied. "I shall take it myself Lord Maglor."

He nodded, then added, "I regret to say they had to be tied to stop them from fleeing. They may be untied to eat, but retie them when they finish. On no account are they to be untied and unsupervised."

"Of course my Lord." She left him, and he dropped into his bed with a weary groan.

He was about to fall asleep, shoes and all, when a knock on the door startled him. "Who is it?"

"Your brother."

"Come in," he sat up and began unlacing his boots, deciding that he should take advantage of being shaken awake.

Maedhros was carrying a tray of food, which he sat on the bedside table. "You sent food for the twins but none for yourself," he remarked.

"I had forgotten how hungry I was," Maglor replied, grabbing an apple and biting in happily. The juices dribbled down his chin, but he could not find the energy to care. "Do you need something?"

"Company," Maedhros admitted. He poured them both a glass of wine and leaned back against the headboard. Maglor took his glass and did the same. For a while they sat in silence, side by side, enjoying one another's company. They picked through the tray of food, which had been moved to sit on the bed between them. When they finished Maedhros thanked him and left, taking the tray with him.

Maglor fell asleep soon after, and dreamed of two red-haired twins.

Author's Note -

Not to be off topic but... I just watched the Doctor Who series premiere and Oh My Gosh!

Thank you for reading! Please review! Stay tuned for more ASASA (as soon as school allows)