winterborn

Author: Az (Azmodan76@yahoo.co.uk)

Homepage: http://www.nad-no-ennas.net

10 - AN: what to say? I tried to portrait the family some. And yes I promise I will have some actual smut soon, it just don’t fit in the plot right now, but it will come.. (she said ‘come’ – hur hur) – but I need one thing from you girls.. I am trying to make up my mind about something here, so I need to know... should Maglor get some bootay? – ahha – hugs az

Betaed by; Half elf lost, yes the crossbow sucks!

Rating: r

Disclaimer: none of these characters are mine, sad but true.

Summary: Amrod tries to befriend the prisoner.

Warnings: angsty issues for the weak of heart

Pairings: (over all) Amrod/Elured Maedhros/Fingon Maeglin/Maglor & Maeglin/Eöl implied

Chapter 10 -I am the Bullet in the Gun

(A month later…)

Amrod felt like he had studied till his head hurt, he had taken piles of books on the Grey Elf tongue with him to bed and read until the daylight broke. He was so determined to show Maedhros that he could do this; he would not take the honour he had shown him lightly. Besides he hoped he could buy some time from Caranthir and his interrogations. Last night he had heard screaming that echoed throughout the halls and corridors. They had even woken up Celebrimbor who had started crying, and moments later he had heard the light patter of his mother running barefoot down the hall.

Amrod had hurried to Caranthir first thing in the morning and tried to get some information on how the prisoner was. But his older brother was a mask of silence and he had given up. He would ask Amras later; Caranthir told Amras everything.

The young elf had gone to the kitchen and asked the servants if he could get some of the leftover food from the meal. They had allowed him to take it, not really caring if he fed the Lord’s huge dogs with it.

Now he was walking down the long stone spiral staircase to the dungeon carrying a tray with food and water. And the further he went the more he felt sorry for those poor sods who never saw the sun for as long as they were here. But this was nothing; what his big brother had to endure with the Dark Lord must have been a hundredfold compared to this measly dungeon. Amrod shook his head, pushed these disturbing thoughts aside, and walked down the narrow corridor. He nodded to the keeper and said, “Open the door for me please.”

The keeper just smiled and opened the prisoner’s door, shaking his head at the young prince. Caranthir had told him that the High King had allowed this, so he should just amuse the young princeling.

Amrod slowly walked inside and put the tray down on the stone floor “Eat,” he said in Sindarin, hoping that the other elf would. “it is from the dinner table,” he said softly and pushed the tray closer to the huddled form in the shadow.

Nothing happened. Amrod scooted closer to the prisoner, “It’s good,” he said with a smile, picking up a chicken wing, taking a little bite, but the shadowed elf did not even look up. Without thinking, Amrod reached out and lifted the prisoner’s head with a finger under his chin. “Look,” he whispered, taking a bite of the wing. The shadowed elf looked up at him with large frightened dark blue eyes and Amrod felt his heart fall. The prisoner was nothing but a youngster about his own age; what a cruel fate to sit here and rot. This was the first time he had seen his face, and as the young elf trembled under his finger, he decided to remove it. “I won’t hurt you” he said, “Here, eat,” he handed the chicken wing to the prisoner. And this time the youngster took it, taking a little bite while looking at the intruder in the rich robe.

Amrod felt a bit sad that the elf was so frightened of him, but what had he expected? He called out to the keeper if they could get a candle; the keeper came with a torch and fastened it on the side of the wall where there was a metal device made for this purpose. The door closed behind him with a metallic ‘Clang’ and Amrod was once more alone with the elf.

He handed the elf the rest of the tray, and the prisoner took the large cup with water and drank as his life depended on it. And then Amrod noticed, big red welts on his feet and hands which had been hidden by the shadow before. Now the angry red colour seemed to stand out. Amrod paled thinking back on the screams he had heard the night before.

“Wh-what is your name?” the prisoner asked with a hoarse voice.

By Eru! The voice was just as beautiful as the elf himself, Amrod thought with a light blush, scolding himself for even thinking it. “I am Amrod,” he said “what is yours?”

The prisoner just shook his head and the chains rattled slightly “It was kind of you to bring me food,” the youngster whispered.

“I figured you were hungry,” Amrod said with a warm smile. After the first setback, he had not even counted on hearing this beautiful young elf’s voice. Amrod blinked and realized he was staring, but the other was hauntingly perfect.

“I was,” the elf said, pushing some of his raven black hair behind his ear, “I take it you live here.”

“Yes,” said Amrod, suddenly feeling unnerved. He had never for a second thought about what hate this elf might bear for his brothers and kin. He did not want to lie, but neither did he want this beautiful elf to hate him for something he had no part in. And besides, the other elf did not know his brothers and parents as he did.

“You do not strike me as a cutthroat like the rest,” the prisoner said. Amrod must have looked mortified and the prisoner continued, “Did you not hear what they did to us? All of us, females and children as well. Bloodthirsty and cruel I tell you.”

“Not all of us...” Amrod started but the dark-haired prisoner cut him off.

“Now run and tell your king that, and tell him I won’t tell him anything even if I’m flogged; I won’t tell his spies, no matter how inviting, nice, and pretty as they are.”

“But...I am not...” Amrod whispered.

“Haste to your king and his cruel brothers, run and tell them all. I will not tell you anything!” the prisoner barked.

“I am no spy,” Amrod said “I am only your caretaker.” he whispered, feeling most of all like he had just been slapped. This divine being hated him with all his heart, and for some reason this saddened him beyond anything else. He would have to keep his identity a secret otherwise he would never be able to speak with this elf again. “I am Varlin” he lied.

“Greetings Varlin” the prisoner said, not even moving a muscle.

“And what may I call you?”

“You may call me Idun,” the prisoner said.

Amrod smiled and slowly rose to his feet “I shall see you tomorrow Idun,” he said softly “and I shall see if I can arrange for some warmer clothes and a bath for you.”

The prisoner smiled a genuine smile up at him, “You are most kind,” he said.

Amrod felt like his knees would give in - this smile. Never had he seen anything this magnificent. And right there and then he decided he wanted to see that smile more, much, much more. “Until tomorrow,” he said and smiled back, hoping to the Valar that the heat in his cheeks did not show.

_____________________________________

Amrod made his way up from the dungeon and gave back the tray to the servants before he walked to the large hall. Seeing his mother sit in front of the fire sewing a cape, he walked over behind her and rested his head on her shoulder “Is that for Celebrimbor when he grows into it?” he whispered.

“Yes” Nerdanel said, resting her handiwork in her lap and reaching up caressing her youngest son’s cheek “Where have you been? You smell like mold.”

“The dungeon. Maedhros let me attend to the prisoner,” he said smiling into his mother’s palm.

“And is he the reason for your smile?” Nerdanel asked.

Amrod stiffened. He hated when his mother could see through him. “I am just glad I get to help. They all have their duties and now I have mine as well.”

“Don’t forget your tutoring,” Nerdanel said, chiding her son slightly.

“But Amras doesn’t have to go,” Amrod replied in childish defence.

“No, Caranthir asked for your brother to use his time learning the way of the sword instead.”

Amrod moved away from his mother’s shoulder with a sigh, and went to sit at her feet instead. He felt the fire warm his back.

Maglor and Maedhros made their way to their mother and brother and without a word they sat down next to Amrod. Maglor leaned his head on his little brother’s shoulder. “Maglor?” Amrod said softly “would you sing us a song?”

“About what Pitya?” Maglor asked.

“Would you sing the song you always sang when it was harvest time, before we came here. Before...” he took a deep breath and stayed silent.

“Yes I can sing that song,” Maglor said with a smile “I had forgotten that until you reminded me.”

Amrod looked up and saw Nerdanel run her fingers through Maedhros’s hair, untangling it, and Maedhros rested his head on their mother’s thigh, closing his eyes in reverie, smiling as Maglor began to sing the happy harvest song of their childhood in Aman. Amrod would not have been surprised to see their father come in the hall, black from sod and smelling like brimstone.

Do you know the man who danced with me?
Yellow leather pants he wore
But my husband he wore green

Do you know the man who followed me home?
Black leather boots he wore
But my husband he wore brown

Do you know the child in my lap?
Maja on the mountain, that is her name
But my husband’s girl is Stina

Do you know the one who brought me such joy?
Now he is old, now he is grey
But my husband lives on.

As Maglor stopped and looked up at Amras who stood in the doorway looking at them, he was carrying Celebrimbor who was sleeping “I remember that tune,” Amras said and looked fondly down at the sleeping toddler “you managed to sing him to sleep brother” he said with a smile.

“Good” Maglor smiled back and moved slightly as Nerdanel got up from her chair to carry the baby to bed.

Amrod looked at Maedhros, who sat up in the rocking chair their mother had occupied, and Maglor leaned against his leg, pulling Amrod with him and Amras came to sit next to the fire as well. No the prisoner Idun did not know his family, not like he did, they were all just trying to get their family together again, after so many of their loved ones had perished. Worst of all, they had lost their father, he who had been their beacon for so long.

Caranthir made his way to the hall as well, having heard his brother’s song. He too came to sit at the fire. “Sing that again, please brother” he said.

And Maglor did. Smiling as he stopped, “I am a far better singer than ruler,” he mused, looking at his brothers who usually bickered and fought amongst themselves sitting here leaning up against each other with smiles on their faces.

“Speaking of kings,” Caranthir said, “Brother, when can we interrogate the prisoner thoroughly?”

Maedhros opened his eyes and frowned, “You will kill that child,” he said softly.

“Brother, I implore you. We must know if he is who we think he is. I beg you to remember your oath,” Caranthir said.

“You are cruel!” Amrod suddenly snarled, “you find pleasure in his pain, do you not? I saw what you did to him, so do not call upon any oath. You are nothing but a butcher” he cried.

“Silence Pitya!” Maedhros barked and then he looked at Caranthir, “a week, give the prisoner a week, and let us try Amrod’s approach.”

“You say I am cruel,” Caranthir hissed at Amrod, “but yet I am not the one claiming to be his ally.” With that the dark-haired elf rose to his feet, “A week,” he said with a curse under his breath, “a week Pitya.”

Maglor suddenly saw someone in the shadows, and recognized him right away, “Maeglin, come sit with us,” he called, and the dark elf stepped into the light and walked slowly over to them. His pitch black hair braided into a single plait that snaked down his back gave him an adult air as he walked to the others.

“I didn’t want to intrude,” he said softly, smiling at Maglor.

“Oh, you do not intrude,” replied Maglor and yelped as Maedhros pinched him.

Amrod rested against Maedhros’s leg, closing his eyes and listening to his brothers’ playful bantering. A week. All he had was a week.

-tbc-