Dior had worked in secrecy to create a gift which would please all of his family, from his wife to his children. Naught had he told of his plans, except for craftsmen he charged with creating what he had imagined. The family lived now in Doriath and in the underground palace of Menegroth, which was so very different from their previous home. They all so adored the clear streams, green meadows, and majestic trees from where they had come from. Wherever he could, he found what was similar in their new home. He had found what pleased them about the kingdom of his grandfather.
The Heir of Thingol led his family out into the woods, footfalls soft on the blanket of snow. He told them to close their eyes as he led them under trees to a clearing. Already, perhaps some of his present had been revealed for here the cries and calls of the birds increased to a symphony of birdsong.
"All right, everyone look!" he announced with a smile and a flourish ahead of them. Hanging from the branches of large, old trees, and standing atop wooden posts, were intricate birdhouses and feeders, already stocked with nuts and seeds for the birds to treat themselves to. There were many different types of birds all about: robins, blackbirds, starlings, thrushes. They sang their differing songs to one another and it echoed about the white clearing. Perhaps this could be something to spark their interest and their love for Doriath.
From under his flowing icy blue cloak he produced small pouches of some more gathered seeds and handed one each to Eluréd, Elurín, and Elwing.
"Happy Yule and winter solstice, my sweetest darlings," he said, pulling all of them into his sweeping arms and then straightening again and moving close to Nimloth for a short kiss. "And to you, my Queen."
[ wash ] sender helps wash dried blood off of receivers face. From brother dearest
Elurín sat in silence, eyes scrunched shut as his brother tried to scrub the dried blood off of him. Now and again the elfling would flinch, as a cut or bruise fell victim to the passing cloth but it was unavoidable. The two children were covered in gore, the blood of their parents mixing with their own and then that of the wolf that had tried to make a meal of them. There had been no time to clean as they ran and hid from the Fëanorian hunters that sought them.
Once Maedhros had inevitably discovered them, for two small boys could do little to prevent a trail (how could they know how to cover their tracks? They had been but treasured princes,) Eluréd had refused to let anyone touch Elurín. The boys had clung fiercely to one another and screamed until they had been left in peace with warm water and cloths to clean themselves up.
Food had been left too, but Elurín found he had little appetite and even less trust for the hands that had prepared it.
What do we do now? He reached out to his twin through their favoured connection, wide eyes seeking reassurance from his only living family member. Elwing had perished, he was sure... everyone had... save for the two of them, somehow... until this 'Maedhros' decided to slaughter them, too.
It was so hard to comprehend their new life. Deep down, he knew he ought not feel as comfortable with Maedhros as he did. The elf was their captor, was he not? Had it not been his own kindred that slaughtered their family? How could he have allowed himself to develop a bond with the Noldorin warrior? How had it been so easy for him to separate Maedhros from his brothers and see in him a caretaker, while Eluréd stayed true to the hatred Elurín knew he ought to share? For he understood his brother's feelings entirely, knew that were it not for the brothers of Maedhros that his family would be alive... and yet...
and yet
"Mm," he agreed, shaking the thoughts from his mind, for they were heavy and complicated and he wished only for the quiet comfort of his brothers company, and the sweet taste of berries. That was simpler, that was easier to handle. In time, as he grew, he would come to wrestle with those conflicting feelings and understand himself a little better but in that moment he was a traumatised child weaving a blanket of desperate disassociation about himself that he might survive the horrors of the world.
To survive, a child needed an adult to provide for them and protect them. He and Eluréd had lost theirs, and Maedhros had stepped up to fill the space. Easier, then, to accept that, than ponder the ifs and buts of it all.
His face dried of tears, he took Eluréd by the hand and hopped down from the stool. Reaching out to his twin and their shared connection, he spoke without moving his lips: you lead the way, should we take a basket?
Dubhe — Sender wraps a scarf around Receiver’s neck, adjusting it carefully. from big bro eluredlost
@eluredlost
Thin autumn air whistled in the trees above. Amme had wrapped Elwing tightly in her coats, but even that did not keep the chill out. She had wanted to go adventuring with her brothers; her dark fingerling curls clung to her face and half-pointed ears heedlessly.
And what an adventure Elwing was having! Her chubby hands balled around the flowers she had plucked— their mother liked flowers, didn’t she? So eager was little Elwing to bring some joy, to see the light in her family’s face. She loved them, so very much. The warmth of her father’s smile, the softness of her mother’s embrace, the laughter of her brothers. She could imagine nothing happier. It mattered not that Elwing was a princess, if you asked her— that was a silliness that got in the way, sometimes, of things she did wish to do. Playing in the woods was quite high on that list. Her dolls, her birds— Elwing had a great many passions. And she was a good runner, and quite good at games with Eluréd and Elurín.
But Elwing was small. Her legs were not so long and fast as her brothers’. Her scarf had gotten caught somewhere on branches. She thought she had perhaps lost her brothers for a moment— she had fallen behind! A little bubble of fear began to bloom in the girl. She swallowed hard, her rosy cheeks turning vivid as she panicked. “Eluréd!” she called. “Elurín!
Then her brother found her again. “Eluréd,” she said, throwing her little arms around him as he fixed her scarf. “You found me!”
A wave of relief washed over the little girl and she was once again happy. Eluréd was always going to be with her, she thought. It was very silly for her to fear that they would be parted.
