stormaktstiden | (no subject)

Oh it will be tedious alright - it isn't a punishment if there is not some element of drudgery, and writing letters to all the staff who helped clean, plus Maedhros will certainly be that.

"Even so - Maedhros keeps those cupboards locked for a reason, Elros. I am sure once he calms down he will appreciate the care you took, but next time, perhaps leave locked cupboards locked, hm?" Because he is sure there will be a next time. This is Elros and Elrond after all.

"Now. I believe you are both hungry hm? Call your brother, and tonight you will help me with dinner."

It looks like he wants to say something at Maglor's words regarding locked cupboards, and at the same time not say them... but then there is talk of dinner and Elros perceives that as the stern talk being on hold for now and nods, his features slowly turning into a small smile.

Cooking with Maglor is fun. And they're getting dinner. He storms off to get Elros, but not before giving Maglor a quick hug (still somewhat tentative, the motion slower than if he would hug his brother, a lingering need to clarify that the touch will be friendly before establishing it). But then he is gone, quick, eager feet that can be heard to be running down the corridor for a few moments before the sound ceases as Elros concentrates on moving silently, not wanting to make it known to the adult into what direction he is headed to get to the place where Elrond is still hiding. They need to keep their secret hide-outs secret, after all.]

The hug gets a startled blink, and a warm arm in return. Maglor is still surprised by the way the twins are slowly warming up to him, and in some tiny way it mends some of the cracks in his heart (It is wrong, he knows, to love them - he is their captor, the reason they have no other. What right has he to claim their love? But he cannot help loving them, either)

When the boys come back, the fire is lit and Maglor has braided his hair back and tied on an apron.

"So, there you are rapscallions. First priority in here as you know is cleanliness! Hands?"

Eh.

Cleanliness.

The boys give each other a look and then run off to wash their hands. When they return, two sets of cleanelfling hands will be held up for inspection. "What are we making?"

He inspects hands with all the gravitas of a captain in front of his troops and nods approvingly.

"Well, since it grows late and I think none of us feels like much washing tonight, I think we will keep it simple. There are still some of the greens left that you boys helped to gather the other day, so we will have sorel and chickpea and dandelion salad. Elros, do you remember where Cook stores the apple cider and honey? We will use it for a dressing. There are still some old apples left I think, that we can use for a pie - Elrond, can you pop down to the cellar and see? And in the meantime I will cut us some cold ham and set the kettle a-brewing. Some spiced mead tonight, I think, while the evenings are still chill.

Both boys give some kind of acknowledgement of the order, even though just barely, before running off to get the things. Unsurprisingly, Elros is back with the apple cider and honey much earlier than his brother.

He places them on a nearby table. "So we're having pie for dinner and you and Maedhros'll eat salad, right?" He's positive that that is not the plan, but you can try?

Maglor snorts in amusement from where he stands over the kettle, carefully measuring herbs into the mead.

"You will have to be more clever than that Elros, if you wish to escape your main meal."

He nods over to the table. "Since you are first, can you wash the greens for me, and then if Elrond is not back yet you may start to roll the pastry."

"I don't think that is possible." Sigh. Adults. ...Or at least he is pretty sure that this is an universal phenomenon. The sample mass is too small to draw proper conclusions. "Even if you said that we could only have cake, Maedhros would look at you and you'd still make us eat them." Or the other way around. It seems to be impossible to talk both of them into letting them skip their veggies, not quickly enough to stop the other intervening while the first is being convinced.

But he'll go and wash the salad. It's not even that bad. Just. Principle. And if you can have cake...

An amused chuckle. "And don't you forget it stripling. When you are older you may understand, I suppose. But since there are only the four of us tonight, I will let you have an extra slice, if you finish all the vegetables hm?"

"And an extra slice for Elrond, too! Because if only I get an extra slice then that means that each of us only gets half an extra slice and that'd not be a whole extra slice." Because then he'd obviously share with his brother.

But his words are oddly muted, and there is a pause only filled with the sound of water on leaves as he works and thinks. "Are parents like that, too?" He can't really remember, still having been too young to look out for things like interpersonal dynamics with his own parents before being separated from them, and he can't really observe other families either.

"But of course! Far be it from me to deprive either of you. But only if you both finish your vegetables."

There is a hitch in Maglor's breathing from where he stands watching the mead come to a slow boil, but his voice is as steady as ever when he answers.

"Yes, they do tend to be."

"But you aren't parents." The hitch is not completely lost on him, but this has bothered him for a while so he pushes on. "Why are you not parents?" Because surely either Maglor or Maedhros would have mentioned if they at any point had had kids of their own.

No beloved, please, wake up! Maglor slams the door shut on the memory hastily, but not before he snaps the handle of the ladle he is using.

"Ah." His voice is quiet and almost steady. "Your pardon, Elros, would you watch the mead and make sure it does not overboil. I needs must retrieve a new ladle, it seems."

Swift strides carry him outside, where he can toss the old ladle on the midden and spare a few scant moments to wrestle down his tears before he returns inside and fetches a new one.

"We are not parents because we have no wives, Elros." Almost, almost, he manages to say it without a tremor.

When Maglor returns, Elros stands by the mead, and he has stirred it a few times, but he's mostly watched the door, and his eyes continue to follow Maglor when he enters and fetches the ladle. He doesn't understand what all of this means, only that his question must have hurt Maglor much more than he would have thought.

He wants to ask why, but that'd hurt Maglor more and he doesn't want to hurt him (not anymore, there was a time when he would have continued much differently from here, would have turned to accusing questions - did you murder your wives, too - but that is long in the past). But he needs to do something and the easiest way to do that... there is a quick, almost cautious, questioning glance at the older male's face and then Elros very carefully wraps his arms around him. Sometimes people are so sad that the only right thing to do is to hold them, especially when you can't actually do anything about their sadness.

Maglor's breath hitches again and then his arms are suddenly fiercely around Elros in an almost desperate hug.

He holds him like that a heartbeat more then straightens with sad fond smile.

"Thank you Elros. Great indeed is your heart."

If I had sons of my own, they could not be more dear to me He does not say, for Maglor learnt long ago not to wish for the impossible

"I don't know about that, but I give the best hugs! Even Elrond says so!" And when his twin admits that Elros is better at something, he obviously has to be because he'd not say that otherwise.

Just that they love each other and are very close doesn't mean that some healthy sibling rivalry doesn't figure in.

The smile is tad watery, perhaps, but it is real enough.

"Ah, well, I suppose I would have to conduct a study to see if this were true, but that was indeed a very fine specimen of a hug Elros."

Recalling that they are, in fact, still cooking he reaches across to check the mead, and nods, lifting it off the fire.

"Who do you think I should ask to help me determine if your hugs are indeed the best ones, Elros?"

He gives Maglor a look. Do they really have to test this, and who would even... he's okay with hugging Elrond, of course! Who already gave his statement (once, and who knows if he'd do it again, so better not ask there). Maedhros is not an option, he's still... no, Elros can't really see anyone hugging him. That's like hugging a kind of scary pillar (yes, Maedhros is... he can be nice, and he can be fun, and Maglor can be scary too, but... there is still a difference). Then there's Maglor, but shouldn't he already know?

"But Elrond has hugged you before, right?" He's not entirely sure right now, but he's pretty sure he should have. And what other competition is there than that of his brother?

Amusement crinkles the corner of his eyes. "Well you see Elros, although tis true that your hug was a fine one indeed, it has been some time since Elrond hugged me, so perhaps my memory is inaccurate? Also, although it has been a very long time, Maedhros once gave very good hugs! As his younger brother, twould be unfair of me to deny him a chance to defend his title, no? Perhaps if we all snuck up on him and hugged him together, we might be able to judge fairly?

Edited (augh typos) 2014-06-03 02:33 (UTC)

"...You're lying." It's impossible that Maedhros could give good hugs. Not because he doesn't like him or anything, or because he's not nice when he's not scary, or even because he's strictly uncomfortable (his back is pretty comfortable to rest against when they're coming back from a hunt that he was allowed to go on, Elros has to admit) but... It's Maedhros.

No. "You're just saying that because he's your brother." Because obviously you'd say that about your brother, that they are the second-best (or the best if you don't care about the title).

An eyebrow goes up in amusement.

"I do not lie to you Elros, you know that." Not even when it hurts, not even about the cruel things. "Perhaps I am slightly biased, but there is, after all, only one way to find out."

A teasing smile. "Surely my bold one is brave enough?"

But how is he reply to that he doesn't really want to, but if Maglor thinks that he is brave then he should be brave! And it's not like their other not!parent will be angry... surely? "But what if he doesn't like it anymore? You said that he doesn't do them anymore, so what he just stopped liking hugs?"

Maglor smiles a little sadly and reaches out to ruffle Elros' hair.

"Tis true he has not hugged anyone in a long time. Yet, I cannot think how anyone could not like hugs. I fear perhaps he thinks he is unhaggable. I grieve that it has taken hugs from you to remind me that I have not hugged him either. Will you aid me, my bold one.

"...You think so?" He doesn't seem convinced, but at the same time quite worried. To forget that your brother needs hugs! And both Maglor and Maedhros are obviously hurting sometimes.

"I do." Maglor nods, and his smile is still sad, but so very grateful.

""We had forgotten a lot of things until you and Elrond opened your hearts to us."

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half_human - 2014-06-04 12:25 (UTC) - Expand

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bythewaves - 2014-06-05 05:41 (UTC) - Expand

FINGON Middle Earth Pre-Fingolfin's death	ELROS Middle Earth Childhood	AREDHEL Middle Earth Pre-forest
Fëanor Middle Earth ota	Ambarussa Middle Earth ota	Dís Middle Earth ota

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suddenly I need an icon of him from that pic where they are cooking

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... I went and looked this up I hope you're happy =p

=D always

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