winterborn

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

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

7 - AN: I wrecked my brain trying to figure out how you’d make tooth prosthesis in ME. Don’t kill me, I stated that it was made off cow’s bones, because I figured that the men had cows, and to make it out f another dead persons teeth would just be too fucking morbid. – on the issue on the prisoner from Menegroth and the refusal of speaking Sindarin, its actually very much canon.

Betaed by; Half elf lost; my personal saviour

Rating: r

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

Summary: Amrod asks his king for a favour. And Maglor finally have a present for his brother.

Warnings: angsty issues for the weak of heart

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


chapter 8 - I am the voice inside your head

Silence had once more claimed the household of Himring, Amrod watched Amras spend more time with Caranthir, and he felt left over. He did not know how to compose songs like Maglor and he knew nothing of war like Caranthir and Maedhros. He was only good at being Nerdanel’s little baby, and with the arrival of Celebrimbor that had changed as well.

His thoughts had circled in on the prisoner in the dungeon, he had thought of this for a while. Still, when he was on his way to approach Maedhros, he felt sweat spring forth in his palms as he knocked on his brother’s door to his office, his brother, the High King of the Noldo.

Maedhros looked up as the door opened, and saw his baby brother, looking terribly dishevelled “Pitya? What is amiss?”

Amrod moved through the office and sat down in a large leather chair. He looked at his brother, wrung his hands nervously and looked as if he would jump up at the smallest sound. “I wanted to ask you something” he finally admitted.

“Ask away.” Maedhros said and leaned against the heavy oak desk in the middle of the floor “I am listening.”

“The pri-prisoner” Amrod whispered “Did Caranthir...uhm…Interrogate him yet?”

Maedhros shook his head. “Nay, he needs someone who speaks the Sindarin tongue.”

“Why?” Amrod said, leaning forward, looking intensely at his elder brother.

“Because King Thingol once swore that he would never again speak the language of the Noldor.”

Amrod blinked, confused “But Quenya is the language of the Valar, is it not? Were they not enraged?”

Maedhros slowly shook his head “Nay little one, they were not. For Thingol had his reasons,” he took a deep breath, “He refused to ever utter a word, or let any of his subjects do it either, because it is the language of the kin slayers, yes Pitya, we are the ones that did him wrong in his own court.”

“Oh” Amrod said, feeling terrible stupid.

“So...this prisoner, this young one would never in his life have heard anything other than Sindarin spoken.” Maedhros said smiling. “Why did you want to know?”

“I just wondered if...I could help in any way.” he looked at his brother and offered a weak smile “Amras has his friends, and mother has the baby, and...”

“I understand.” Maedhros said “And you feel left out?”

“No, I...” Amrod said before he slowly nodded “...Yes.”

“That settles it then, you are to be my chief grey–elf prisoner caretaker, little one.”

“But I cannot speak Sindarin” Amrod said.

“I think we have books on the matter in the library.” Maedhros said with an encouraging smile and walking over to lay his hand on his little brother’s shoulder “And you like to read, right?”

Amrod nodded “Thank you” about to stand once more, but felt the hand on his shoulder hold him down. Maedhros set down resting on his heels, looking Amrod into his eyes “But I better not find out that you do not bring me every piece of information he gives.” the red-haired elf said softly, “Befriend him all you want, but he is still our prisoner, and perhaps the only link to where that damned gem is hidden.” Upon seeing Amrod paling, Maedhros added, “You do not wish for your brothers and father to have died in vain, so you can have a friend, do you?”

“N-no” Amrod said strangely weak. “I will not let you down.”

“Good, little brother.” Maedhros said with a sad smile. There was nothing he wanted more than to give this prisoner up and let his brother befriend the scared youth, but he couldn’t. All of Beleriand knew this elf was here. And they all waited for Maedhros’ next move. And as much as it saddened the king’s heart, they all expected him to be cruel. “Now run along.”

Amrod nodded and rose as Maedhros rose to his feet once more. Watching as his baby brother fled his office.

________________________________

Maglor walked out from the smithy, carrying a bundle covered in cloth. He had examined the prostheses himself, and he had to admit, it was beautifully made. He was very excited to show them to Maedhros.

He walking through the castle and came upon the door to the high king’s study. “Brother?” he called, knocking the heavy wooden door. “I have something for you”

“Enter” Maedhros called and looked up from the map on the table. As the door swung open he smiled a toothless smile, seeing his brother there. “Maglor” he said happily “What brings you here?”

Maglor smiled, feeling warm that his brother was so happy to see him “I come from the blacksmith.” he said as he turned to close the door.

“Oh” Maedhros sighed, and suddenly self-conscious, removed the arm stump from on top of the map.

Maglor walked across the floor and dumped the bundle of cloth onto the map. They both cringed when it gave a metallic ‘clank’. “It’s finished.” he said with a small voice.

With a shaking hand, Maedhros peeled the cloth to see what was inside. There was a strange device with some white looking squares. It looked an awful lot like real teeth. Maglor picked it up and turned it over in his hands “Tusk?”

“No, bones from a cow.” Maglor said with a little blush, “But I’m sure it will work; you just need a little training in talking with it, the smith said.”

Maedhros looked at his brother, as if he were he searching for an answer or maybe a blessing. When Maglor nodded encouragingly, Maedhros slowly opened his mouth and put the device in.

The tension lay heavy in the room, and when Maedhros removed his hand he smiled a little, testing, smile at Maglor. “Amazing” breathed the bard. “You look like... my Maitimo.” he admitted “It’s magic.”

“Fttfreally” Maedhros said, involuntarily spitting on the map, not used to having something in his mouth. Maglor turned and walked over to the wall, taking down a mirror and carrying it over to Maedhros.

“Look” he said, holding up the mirror.

Maedhros closed his eyes, afraid of what he would see. He remembered running his hands over his head, feeling bald spots where they had pulled out his hair. And he remembered the scars on his face with his fingertips.

“Please, brother, open your eyes.” Maglor said softly.

And with a shuddering breath Maedhros opened his eyes, bracing himself for the worst. But looking back at himself in the mirror was... “Oh” he breathed, feeling tears sting as he studied his face, his large green eyes shimmering with tears, running his fingers over his face.

“You are my Maitimo.” Maglor whispered again smiling happily.

“I look just like...me” the elder elf whispered, “You are right, it is really magic.”

Maglor put down the mirror and picked up the half arm made of wood and metal. “Come, let me strap it on for you,” he said.

Maedhros held out his stump and looked down on what his brother was doing. The arm was made so that leather would cover the part that was in contact with his skin, keeping the metal skeleton from gnawing into the stump of flesh. At the end was a beautiful carved hand in light wood. After strapping the device on Maedhros’ arm, Maglor looked up at his brother, as he pulled down the sleeve so only the wooden hand showed. “There.”

Maedhros twisted and turned his arm looking at the hand. “It’s uncomfortable,” he whispered “and it looks like dead branch.” He looked at his brother with a sad look.

“No, you are just not used to it, Maitimo,” Maglor said with an affectionate, gentle caress to his brother’s cheek “You will learn to like it quicker than you think.”

“But...” Maedhros said, feeling his mood darken and looking at the wooden limb. “I cannot touch anyone with it.”

“No” Maglor whispered back “But you will learn to use it. You just need to get accustomed to it.”

“I don’t know Maglor,” Maedhros said and touched the wooden hand with his good one, “It looks frightening.”

“Its not frightening, don’t be silly,” Maglor said with a cheeky smile “We could have gotten you canines and a hook, then you would truly have been scary.”

Maedhros couldn’t help but chuckle “I suppose that would live up to how the elven lords see me in the first place.”

“Not true, you are our king; no one would dare say such a thing of you.” Maglor said hotly

“Don’t be so sure” Maedhros said softly, smiling at his brother. “You are the best brother anyone could want, Maglor.”

Maglor smiled sweetly and kissed his brother’s hand. “Everything will be fine.”

-tbc-