IC Inbox [Central Library]

[huntingorcs]

Hi you've reached Elladan... or maybe I'm Elrohir! Maybe you can leave a message and find out~

 

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[castintoflames]

He hears of him and his brother from Maglor and, of course, it makes perfect sense that they exist. Elrond had lived and triumphed in ways Maedhros could only dream about and that is how it should be. He is oddly proud of the children he sees - for he spies them both before he approaches - and it takes much of his control to remind himself that they are not his grandchildren. Just as Elrond is not his son.

It is that control he exerts over himself that makes him seem dark and imposing when he walks to Elladan - or is this Elrohir? It will not take him long to know the differences. He is well-versed in twins.

"Hail, son of Elrond." he means to sound bolder - less afraid he will damage this child needlessly - but the words are too soft and he curls his only hand into a fist, "I knew your father well for a time."

[huntingorcs]

The problem with coming straight from a hunt means that Elladan is dressed for it - weather stained leathers over armor, blades blessed with as much light as the elves of the Third Age know how to make to fend off wights.

And this means when the tall imposing elf walks over, Elladan feels small and a little grimy, because there really is only one person that this could be!

He blinks up at Maedhros and reminds himself to shut his mouth, poking down the bond with his twin with something best described as EEEEEEE

"Hi?" He manages. WHAT DOES ONE SAY TO A LEGEND GIVEN LIFE?

[castintoflames]

Meanwhile Maedhros thinks the child is one of the best sights he has ever seen. He can clearly see Elrond and Elros in his features and memories of twins giggling fill his mind. Sometimes said twins have dark hair and other times their hair almost resembles his own.

He grabs onto his cloak to keep his trembling fingers steady.

"I am Maedhros." he finds it impossible to keep his expression completely stern, "You needn't fear me."

[huntingorcs]

Elladan smiles up at him, suddenly shy.

"I know who you are. Father speaks of you fondly. Elladan, at your service."

[castintoflames]

Color touches his cheeks and his lips twitch.

"He is kind to do so. We gave him very little reason to feel...fond." he lifts a hand, thinks better of it, and lowers it again, "You share his coloring and his handsome features."

[huntingorcs]

"Father disagrees, and Erestor and even Glorfindel say that too." Elladan shoot him a sly grin.

"Thank you, the ellith and the Dunedain ladies tell me so too."

[castintoflames]

"Their hearts are great to look upon us with any fondness." Maedhros states plainly, softening only when he sees that sly grin.

Ah, so this one might be more like Elros, which suits him fine. He had bonded more with that twin.

"Do they? And what do you say in return?"

[huntingorcs]

"Father is the best." Elladan says proudly and grins at him rakishly.

"Before or after I kiss them?"

Only kisses though! He knows to behave.

[castintoflames]

"We thought so." think so, rather, but he has no right to be in the child's present or future.

Maglor, however, is a different story.

"Brat." he passes his judgment dryly, "You should not lead them on."

[huntingorcs]

"I only kiss!" He protests with a laugh.

"I know how to behave. Mostly."

[castintoflames]

See this expression? This is the expression of someone who has seen a lot of brothers come of age, do stupid things and been there to clean up the mess.

"Well since you bring it up." he decides on a punishment. Leaning forward, he kisses Elladan's forehead with scarred lips, jerking back as his distaste for touch overcomes his mischievous spirit.

It is always a struggle - for, yes, Maedhros too is a brat.

[huntingorcs]

Uh oh. Mistake, Maedhros!

Elladan squawks, startled, and then breaks into a huge grin, lunging forwards to hug him.

"Hello grandfather, I am so pleased to meet you!"

[castintoflames]

The squawk is nearly worth the fright! But the embrace leaves him speechless and awkward, hiding his right hand behind his back. Or...the right stump, rather. The left arm rises and clutches at the air as if he has forgotten how this works!

And...grandfather.

Grandfather.

He sucks in a sharp breath. "You did not pay attention to your lessons."

[huntingorcs]

Elladan snuggles and grins up at him.

"I know them perfectly well - Erestor was most thorough. I am lucky enough to have three grandfathers."

[castintoflames]

"F-Four." he chokes, blushing as he realizes he has just agreed to be a grandfather. It is such a lovely word.

"Elladan..." his hand is gentle as he, at last, touches his grandson's cheek, "Eärendil and..." his brow furrows, "Celeborn? are your grandfathers. We...loved...love...your father and your uncle, but it isn't right. We have done nothing to deserve it; nothing to earn it."

Further gifts make him feel choked.

[huntingorcs]

Elladan's smile lights up the room at the acceptance.

"You don't deserve love." He says practically. "You just accept it. That's what Father and Mother used to say. You're family, after all!"

[castintoflames]

That makes for a difficult argument. Maedhros clearly wrestles with himself, searching for a response.

"I...cannot say it will do you any good." and that pains him. He bows his head and tries to pry himself free of Elladan's embrace.

"I'm not meant to...to have the honor."

[huntingorcs]

He hopes so, considering who taught it to him!

"I don't care." Elladan says practically, and stubbornly doesn't let go. "It isn't about honor, anyway! You're family. That's that."

"Besides! Erestor is always saying I have too much mischief in my disposition to be good." He adds slyly.

[castintoflames]

"You say that now..." Maedhros doesn't want to hurt Elladan in the least, so his struggling comes to an end, but he remains tense, "Are we to forget everything I have done? I could make you a list."

He sighs. "But you are good. Much better than an old, mad, scarred Elf like me."

[huntingorcs]

"You were the one who said I had four grandfathers." Elladan points out.

"And I'm not saying to forget - Erestor would have my hide! But I'm saying you're family. Family is family. That's all."

[castintoflames]

So he had. "Technically." Maedhros speaks stiffly even as his left hand touches Elladan's hair. Hopefully light enough for the Elf to not tell.

"It has never been that simple." but he remembers thinking that way. Once.

[huntingorcs]

Elladan nudges into the hand like a cat.

"It is." He insists. "I know you've done terrible things, Grandfather. But you're still family."

[castintoflames]

Shameless! Maedhros feels his cheeks heat, his fingers twitching.

"You deserve better family, then. You are descended from a star." his voice is quieter, fatigued, "I am a monster."

[huntingorcs]

The most shameless!

"You don't deserve family. You get born with them!" Elladan grins up at him, and then leans against him.

"You aren't. You did terrible things, but you're sorry about them, and I'm pretty sure monsters aren't ever sorry." There's something dark and almost vicious in that last statement, but mostly he just sounds a little sad.

[castintoflames]

And adorable. Unfortunately. Now he is imagining Elladan as a babe. Even the mighty Maedhros Fëanorian is not ready for such a precious blessing!

"Silly child, you were not born related to me." perhaps distantly - very distantly, "I am glad of it. My relatives never fare well."

Justifications. His brow furrows and he tips Elladan's head back with a gentle touch.

"My feelings do not erase what was done. Being sorry does not entitle me to forgiveness." he notices the shift and purses his lips, "What monsters do you know?"

They will perish, obviously. How dare they threaten his baby?