faderift | (Deserves it! I daresay he does.)

WHO: Maedhros & Semi-Open
WHAT: The grumpy Forgemaster is suddenly missing - or, at least, rarely seen. If you do spy him, you are in for a mild surprise.
WHEN: During the second part of the illness plot.
WHERE: Kirkwall - in/near his room or out in the gardens.
NOTES: He's blue - and not just emotionally.

I.

All of his work stopped holding sway over him the moment he looked down and saw that his hands were a pale shade of blue. Maedhros knew, from his conversation with Beleth, that he was likely ill. Quite ill, in fact. Yet, until this moment, it hadn't seemed to matter. Fear made his chest clench and he dropped his tools without any regard to where they fell. In the next moment, he had left the Forge, cloaking himself as best as he was able.

He needed to find his family. He needed to...

Not be seen. Eru knew his vanity was nearly nonexistent after the variety of tortures Morgoth had exhibited on his body, but he was blue. As such, he kept to the shadows and cursed each inch of his incredible height. Oh and every strand of his copper hair that had escaped his hood.

His hands shook as he opened doors, searching silently for familiar faces.

Eventually, his will-power would fade and he would bar himself in his room. Even there, he kept himself cloaked. On his door, there was a simple note:

Unwell. Stay away.

II.

Occasionally, he had no choice but to take in some fresh air. Elves were not meant to be cramped indoors and he had never imprisoned himself so. Despite his size, he found a way to slip through a window and into a garden nearby. There, he would sit and let the wind soothe him as much as it could.

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He motions with his head at the door, immediately regretting the motion.

"Elros - ?" he calls, voice less than steady, "You better stay in bed. We don't need you getting worse."

Shakily, he embraces Maglor to his chest, forcing himself to breathe deeply. His ribs ache under the strain.

"I'll be alright, Kano. Just - Never felt like this before."

"No, I can handle it." Until he gets worse too, naturally!

Maglor snuggles close and rubs his brother's back to try and help soothe and encourage easier breathing.

"...Let's get you back to bed."

Elros lifts his head and reaches to drag Maedhros and Maglor back to bed, sleepily pushing healing at them.

He nods, swallowing roughly. Carefully - with Maglor's aid - he rises and makes his way back to the bed.

"Are you cold?" he frowns worriedly at his brother, lowering himself onto the bed without much coaxing. Elros will soon have the combined warmth of his foster-fathers nestled around him.

Maglor helps his brother to bed and tucks him in before letting Elros tug him in on the other side. He snuggles against their fosterling again before huffing fondly at the energy he feels from him.

"Elros...Save your strength." He blinks at his brother at the worried frown. "...No more than usual," he quietly admits.

"Worried about you." Elros grumbles in return, but stops - he's too tired to push too far.

He sags against the bed, gritting his teeth against how his body wants to shiver and shake. Stubbornly, he shifts the blankets so that they completely cover Maglor too.

"We can withstand it." he mutters, stroking back Elros's hair before he touches his brother's cheek, "Stay close. We will be warmer that way."

Maglor rests his forehead against the back of Elros' head and makes himself comfortable under the blankets his brother tosses over them all.

"Focus on healing yourself, we will follow."

He smiles softly and nuzzles his brother's hand. "Not going anywhere, Nelyo."

"Am pretty sure that's not how it works."

Elros grunts, but his eyes flutter shut under the attention.

"Must you continuously argue?" Maedhros murmurs and reaches for one of Elros's hands, squeezing it under the blankets. He then uses his free hand to check Maglor's temperature, stroking over his forehead.

"Rest, Kano. Your skin is too hot."

"Why should he stop now?" He retorts lightly, squeezing his fosterling fondly before humming softly.

"You should too, Nelyo."

"Wouldn't be me if I didn't."

Elros tangles his fingers with them both and sighs softly.

"I wish I could fix you."

"...I suppose I am fond of you." Maedhros watches them protectively even as he feels a wave of dizziness, "Shhh you are helping."

By being close.

Almost reluctantly, he closes his eyes, just resting and letting himself start to drift. Because both Elros and Nelyo want him to.

"You help more than you know, yonya." By being close and loving them despite everything. And smacking them upside the head when they need it.

"Elrond would be able to do more."

Elros snuggles and sighs softly as he shuts his eyes.

Maedhros senses Maglor's fear instinctively, stroking over his brother's hair. One, two, three, stay with him. Stay with them, Kano. Stay grounded.

"Elrond isn't our Elros." he rests his cheek on a pillow, letting his aching body relax.

Maedhros doesn't have to say anything for Maglor to hear the will tugging at him to stay along with the gentle touch to his hair. He sighs and opens his eyes to smile tiredly at his brother.

"You both are dear to us, Elros. Precious and different. Your love means everything. Rest now, we will be here when you wake."

"You had better." He grumbles and grips both sets of hands tightly before letting his eyes drift shut.

He is pleased - and not for the first time - that he has two hands. One hand stays with his brother, resting against his hair, and the other grasps Elros's hand.

"Don't worry." he smiles and watches their fosterling fondly. Then his eyes close too, his expression, for once, serene.

(Deserves it! I daresay he does.)

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