Elrond folded his hands across his chest and shook his head. "No."

"Elrond," Maglor lectured, "do as you're told."

He shook his head. It was his first real act of defiance, unless one counted the escape attempts, which were orchestrated by Elros.

"Elrond," Maglor said irritably. "It is just food, eat it." The children had been at Amon Ereb for four days now, and knew that there were rules to be followed.

Elros had gulped his own serving of peas as quickly as he could, trying to ignore the flavor. Maglor and Maedhros were well accustomed to eating foul foods and had hardly noticed the burnt taste when they had had their shares. Elrond, however, was determined not to eat his. The Feanorians had been raised under the rule that children should clean their plates; when they were older they could make their own decisions, but little ones ate what was given to them. Feanor had also said that none could leave the table until everyone was finished which usually caused even the most picky eater to finish so his brothers would not gripe (Curufin held the record of keeping the family at the table for six hours, he had had to stay all night alone because Feanor had finally taken pity on his other sons and released them).

They had only recently enforced such rules, today in fact, and Elrond was not pleased. The Peredhel twins, Maglor decided, had not had such rules, and had likely been allowed to eat what they wanted. He was beginning to wish they had enforced this much earlier. Maedhros was thoroughly sick of this meal, and had begun to gripe to Maglor about how spoiled the children were. He would never admit to finding Elrond's pout to be adorable, and he ignored Maglor's reminders that he had been the one to spend an afternoon hunting used toys for the boys to play with.

"Elrond please," Maglor said, "I know it has an awful taste, but it is good for you."

Elrond shook his head stubbornly. "I won't eat it. You can't make me and we will have to sit here forever!"

Maedhros clenched his fist and Maglor carefully laid a hand on his shoulder. "I could make you if I wanted," Maedhros warned.

"Please just eat them," Elros begged. Maedhros' threats had unnerved him. "They are not bad. Please!"

Elrond shook his head again.

"Now Elrond," Maglor said sternly. "I am growing tired of this."

Elros, who liked to limit his contact with their captors, was wriggling nervously and watching the door. Maglor hated to think how much pain they must both be in, because their blisters were not yet healed and they had been sitting far longer than usual already.

Maedhros murmured to his brother in Quenya, "May I make a deal with them?" Maglor nodded so he said to Elrond, "Remember the book you brought from Sirion that I took?" Elrond nodded. "If you eat your peas now and I do not have to ask again Maglor will read to you from it tonight, would you like that?"

Elrond chewed his lip thoughtfully. He shook his head. "I won't eat them for anything!"

Elros groaned. "Please!" he begged.

"No!" Elrond shouted.

"Why not?" Maglor shouted back, not meaning to raise his voice.

Elrond pulled his knees to his chest, and Maedhros realized he was fighting tears. "Child? Are you alright? What is causing this?"

Elrond wouldn't answer, but hung his head.

Maglor spoke, sounding as upset as he felt about shouting, "Elrond, please, tell us. I know something is bothering you, and if it is important to you then it is important to us."

Elrond said, "It's burnt."

"I know, it's not a nice flavor, but it will not kill you to eat it," Maglor urged gently.

"Fire does kill," Elrond argued. "It took Elanor."

Maedhors raised an eyebrow. "Elanor?" Maglor had tried and failed to keep him from asking, suspecting who Elanor most likely was.

"Our nurse," Elros replied quietly. "She died chasing Elrond." Sometimes Maglor cursed the innocent truthfulness of children.

"I didn't mean for anything to happen!" Elrond wailed.

"We understand," Maglor said.

"I was scared and it happened so fast-"

"Of course, I believe you. You would never have allowed that." Maglor was close to giving up, Elrond was still distraught and he wondered if there was anything he could do for such a scarred child.

Maedhros sat frozen, as if it was only just becoming apparent all the damage his question had caused.

Elrond shook in his chair, eyeing the door as if he planned to run.

Maglor acted quickly. "Take Elros," he said to Maedhros.

"Where?"

"Anywhere! I need to see to Elrond."

Elros protested as he was lifted from his chair by Maedhros and carried from the room. Maglor watched for a moment and winced at the loud noises the boy was making. Maedhros understands children, even if he pretends otherwise. Maedhros can handle him. Elrond needs me now.

He turned to speak with the young Peredhel, only to see him disappearing out the other door. "Elrond come back," he called.

Elrond kept running and Maglor gave chase. The boy darted down the hall, weaving from one side to the other as if he didn't have the energy to focus on staying straight. Maglor dug his finger nails into his palms and hoped that he wouldn't run into anything.

He quickly caught up with the much smaller elf and lifted him off the ground. Elrond was sobbing uncontrollably even as Maglor rocked him and held tightly to him. "Calm down," he whispered. "I am right here, calm down. Shhhhh."

A few minutes later, Elrond hiccupped and coughed as the crying finally subsided. Maglor held him as he walked through the halls to the library, hoping that the familiarity of the books would soothe the child. They sat by the window, and Elrond stared outside, still in Maglor's lap, as his back was rubbed.

"Do you need to talk about it?" Maglor asked.

"It won't help," Elrond said.

"It seemed to help you the other night."

"Elros said I shouldn't have done that."

Maglor snapped, losing all patience. "Well he isn't always right." He regretted his words as Elrond pulled away from him, still in his lap, but not as close as before. Seeing that he had a problem to fix Maglor said, "Neither is my brother, nor your or I. No one is always right."

Elrond looked up at him sadly, his eyes still brimming with tears. Maglor was grateful that none of his brothers had cried as much as these two, he could never have survived that. "Really?"

"No, of course not."

"We all do wrong things sometimes?"

An inspiration struck Maglor, as he remembered the original cause of Elrond's outburst. "Yes, everyone. Sometimes our innocent mistakes cause terrible things."

"Like Elanor dying?"

"Yes." Maglor allowed the boy to once again nest into his shirt. "But that wasn't your fault. It was mine and my brothers." Personally Maglor held Elwing at least a little responsible, but he had no intention of mentioning that to her children. "We attacked Sirion, it was our fault the stables and kennel caught fire. Why were you in the stables anyway?"

"Elanor found a soldier to help us, but then I saw the fire and wanted to help the dogs and their puppies. But when I got inside I got stuck on a rope and Elanor cut me free and I ran. The soldier had Elros and he grabbed me too but she never came out and we had to leave. He took us upstairs and locked us in the nursery then your brother came in and Nana fell and we ran and went looking for her."

Maglor rubbed Elrond's shoulders and rocked him, humming softly for a time before he spoke, "Never your fault, you just wanted to help the puppies."

"But now they are dead and Elanor too, and Nana is a bird."

Maglor had wondered if the boys knew about their mother's transformation. It appeared that they did.

"Why did Nana jump?" he asked.

Maglor's body froze, his heart plummeted and he thought he was going to be sick. No, no, no, no. Do not ask that!

"Maglor?" the child asked when he did not reply.

"I do not know," he said, feeling tears in his eyes. He was biting his lip so hard that he tasted blood.

"Oh." Elrond looked into his face and saw his tears. Maglor closed his eyes, unable to meet the gentle grey orbs. He felt a warm hand on his cheek. "I forgot about your brothers," Elrond said. "I'm sorry."

Maglor pulled him close and cried. Bless this child he thinks I mourn the Ambarussa. He does not suspect the truth; that it was I that pursued Elwing to her doom. I left my twins to do so and they are all gone. This is all my fault. He held Elrond close and wondered if he was farther dammed for loving these boys he had stolen. After all, they are not the twins I want.

In another part of Amon Ereb, Maedhros was hurrying up the steps with a protesting Elros in his arms. He carried the boy into the twin's room and dropped him on the bed, then sat next to him. "Elros," he began.

"Where's my brother? What's he going to do? Please forgive him! I promise he'll eat everything from now on!" Elros was obviously in terror, and Maedhros belatedly realized that this was the first time they had been separated while Elros was awake.

"He is fine I promise. He is not being punished, Maglor merely wants to speak with him alone."

Elros looked up at his captor. "I don't believe you! Elrond believes everything you say, but I don't. I want my brother now!" He punched Maedhros.

Maedhros would have easily stopped the blow if it hadn't startled him so much. The boys had not attempted to harm him because they were so afraid after the incident in the kitchen at Sirion. He had forgotten how much terror could make a child do.

"Stop." He grabbed Elros' wrist to prevent another blow, but the boy simply hit him with his other hand. Maedhros shoved the boy to the bed, pulling the blanket over him and pinning him. He was leaned forward so far that his nose nearly touched Elros'. "Stop this at once," he said firmly.

Elros spat on him.

Maedhros wiped his face and reminded himself that he could not hurt the boy. Just a child. Just a scared child. An elfling. Too young to understand.

Elros screamed, "Elrond."

"Stop this instant," Maedhros warned. "My brother has done nothing to either of you save care for you and help you. It is not Maglor who is a danger to you, he has sworn not to harm you." Elros was beginning to look terrified and his thrashing settled but Maedhros continued, "I made no such promise so do as you are told." Guilt clenched his stomach as soon as he finished speaking.

Elros became perfectly still so Maedhros sat up and allowed him to do the same. Tired and regretting what he had said Maedhros rubbed his temples.

"Are you going to hurt me?" Elros whispered.

Maedhros turned to look at the young boy, whose eyes held more terror than Maedhros had seen since Sirion. "No," he said. "But do not attempt to harm my brother or me again. I assure you that there will be consequences."

Elros watched him for a moment, the terror fading. "Really?" he asked. "Or do you just threaten us because you don't know what else to do?"

Maedhros jumped.

"Because I yell at Elrond and say things I don't mean sometimes. I said I didn't love him because he made me sad and I didn't know what else to say."

Maedhros looked at the boy who was seated next to him with amazement, wondering how such a small child could come to such a conclusion. "I don't know," he admitted, surprising himself as much as Elros. "Perhaps yes." These boys are so mature, to be honest it frightens me.

They both looked at one another and had the same thought; another conversation needed to start then, before it became anymore awkward and emotionally charged.

"You said that you were hurt when you were saved. What does that mean?" He pointed at Maedhros' stump where his right hand had once been. Is that really the only alternate conversation you could invent child? I would almost rather talk about my feelings. Almost.

Maedhros did not want to talk about or even remember his captivity, but Elros was talking to him and asking questions and part of him wanted the child to understand him. "I was captured by Morgoth and tortured," he explained. "When they were done they chained me to a cliff by my wrist. My cousin came to my rescue, but he had to cut my hand off because the chains would not brake."

"Oh," Elros said softly. "What is torture?"

Maedhros blinked, afraid of giving the wrong answer. "They hurt me for fun," he replied finally. "Like your blisters but much worse."

He frowned and his eyebrows scrunched together. "But the blisters were an accident and you said they hurt you for fun."

"Aye, my brother and I did not think that you would be hurt. We did not think at all really, we lusted for the Silmaril and mourned our brothers all at once."

Elros awkwardly patted his arm. "What is lust?"

Maedhros was stumped by the accursed child again, as his mind flew to a different kind of lust that children did not need to know about. "When you want something very, very much."

Elros frowned, thinking over what had been said and for several moments there was silence. He looked up at Maedhros questioningly, with a slight hint of a challenge. "I lust for a hug." He held out his arms hopefully.

Maedhros could not begin to reply, thinking of the ridiculousness of what Elros had said. Elros bounced and cleared his throat, still holding his arms out.

Unlike Maglor who mentally marked each 'first' with the children Maedhros did not even realize that this was the first time Elros had asked for such a thing and that it was obviously a major event. Instead he laughed and pulled the boy into his lap. "Elros," he said, "do not ever use that word again or I shall wash your mouth with soap, which would not be pleasant."

Elros looked up, startled. "You really mean that don't you?"

"Entirely."

Elros nodded. "I promise."

"Good." Maedhros stood and lifted the boy. "Shall we check in on our siblings?"

"No need."

The voice from the door surprised both Maedhors and Elros and for a long moment they stood and stared at Maglor. He was standing in the door frame holding Elrond and smiling. Maedhros nearly dropped his elfling. "How long have you been there?"

"Long enough," Maglor crossed the room with Elrond. He leaned to look at the child and said, "I don't want you to be saying such things either," he warned.

Elrond nodded, clearly tired and more at ease than he had been before. Maglor placed him on the bed and Maedhros did the same with Elros. He eyed the door, wondering if he could escape before being asked to help. Maglor predicted this and shoved him night-clothes for the boys. "Dress them," he said simply.

Maedhros sighed and tried to help, but both boys were able to change easily. In fact a majority of what he ended up doing was stopping Elrond from falling over from exhaustion.

Maglor knelt beside him and rubbed the cream into the boys' blisters, which he was pleased to see were healing well. Then he effortlessly lifted them both into bed and drew the covers over them to protect them from the drafts in the room.

Maglor bid them goodnight and Maedhros found himself doing the same. Then they left the room so the tired boys could sleep.

Maedhros headed for his own room and Maglor followed, seeming smug. "I lust for a hug," the younger quoted, smirking. "Wonderful job brother, I do not see how that could cause problems."

"Be quiet," Maedhros grumbled. He tried to enter his room without Maglor following, but despite his extra weight Maglor slipped in before the door closed.

"That was a lovely hug by the way," Maglor continued. "I might be jealous."

Maedhros ignored him and washed his face in the basin of water. When he turned back around Maglor was sitting on his bed, looking smug. It Maedhros' heart good to see him so happy, so he let him be for a moment as he removed his shoes.

"Do I not get a hug?" Maglor asked, predictably.

"No."

Maglor pretended to be upset. "I am wounded." He pouted and was silent for a few moments. Maedhros made the mistake of turning his back on his brother, only to be grabbed and pulled into a hug. "Be quiet," Maglor told him.

Maedhros sighed and accepted the embrace. Really, it wasn't that hard to appreciate.

Author's Note – I'm sorry. I really mean for this to be a completely serious story…

I hate when Maedhros is portrayed as a dark brooding person who hates the twins and is mean to them for no good reason. I think of him as someone who is hurting a lot and doesn't exactly remember what reality is. I think he's lost a lot (everything) and is afraid of having more to lose if he gets close to the twins.

Elanor is named for Sam's daughter (I was too lazy to invent my own name for her). It means Star Flower, which I think is beautiful. (Conversely Sam's daughter could be named for Elanor, since Sam knows Elrond! Ha ha not!)

Thanks for reading and reviewing! You are all amazing!

PS - Have you heard about the Tolkien and Lewis movie coming out next year? SO EXCITED!