author: azzy
warnings: incest, violence, character death, some serious AU.
rating: N17 / m+
summary: Elured and Elurin escaped from Menegroth, only to go to a future unknown.
beta: goodbye_sun
AN: The warnings and such go for the entire story, not nessesarily for each chapter. And so, here you go, the Silm project i was talking about. Taking jaiden_s up on her dare.. i would have called it 'forever not yours' but who am i to not take a dare, and so its 'wind chimes are gay' which is a great title imho. Thanks to chaotic_binky for help with the plot.
fandom: silm
pairring: Elured/Elurin, Elured/Elladan, Elurin/Elrond (maybe more will follow)
Will you live to see the dawn?
The enemy is now approaching
With blood lust in their eyes
Intense fear is overcoming
For now death - you will defy
As the battle raged all dead and wounded
Bodies, carnage all you see
The white hot blast - melting flesh
The screaming pain in agony
You stand alone
-Bolt Thrower
Part 1 - For you cannot change your destiny
”Hurry!” the female elf cried, stumbling and almost tripping in her dress as she fled through the trees in a hurry, carrying her precious cargo. The second female elf, deadly wounded, ran as fast as she could to keep up. As they came upon a creek, the first waded across, holding the elfling high so he would not be carried away by the stream. As the other came to the bank of the creek, she sank down to her knees, holding her side oozing with blood, wheezing in pain. ”Get up!” the first female elf yelled, but the injured elf just shook her head. ”I cannot,” she coughed, wiping blood from her lips. ”You must get them to safety.”
The first elf wanted to protest, but saw the graveness in the other elf's eyes. So she put down the elfling she had carried on the grass. ”Stay there little one,” she said, ”I shall get your brother.” She hoisted up her long skirt and made her way over the creek once more to pick up the other elfling from the dying elf.
”Run,” the dying elf whispered, her eyelids half closed.
The first elf nodded and quickly made her way over the stream once more. Placing the second elfling on the grass next to his twin. She looked over her shoulder, but saw no one. Hoisting both elflings to their feet, she took them by the hand, because as much as she wanted to, she could not carry them both for long. ”Come, we have to hurry,” she whispered urgently, pulling the elflings along.
She had not seen the wolf, but with sheer luck and with her life as the ultimate offer, she managed to push the twins down a slope out of view. The wolf, too engaged with his meal to be, forgot there had been more than one elf.
Elured and Elurin covered their ears as the female elf screamed in pain and horror. Not even removing their hands from their ears, or opening their eyes, as her screaming died down. It was sunrise before they would even move.
”Can we go home now?” Elured asked, looking at his brother with big, frightened eyes. Elurin shook his head, ”You know we can't.”
Elured started to cry pitifully. ”Come,” Elurin said softly, taking his twins hand in his.” The servant was taking us this way, maybe she knew someone on this path.”
Elured nodded and obediently followed his brother as he started to walk in the direction the female elf had been running.
~*~
Maedhros had learned that Dior's children did not count amongst the casualties. He was leaving that damned place empty handed, and with three of his beloved brothers dead. He had woven his hair with black in mourning, so had Maglor, Amrod and Amras, each of them lost in their own thoughts as they rode home with their dead brothers to give them a proper pyre. It had been Amrod who had seen the dead elven female by the creek. Maedrhos had gotten off his horse and walked over to the carcass. Turning her over, he looked into her milky white eyes and sighed. ”This one has been dead for more than fortnight”
”Does she not wear the robe of King Dior's servants?” Maglor asked.
”She does,” Maedhros admitted, turning he looked off into the trees. Noticing the footprints by the bank. ”Someone walked over here, and it was not this one.”
”Could it be the children's nannies?” Amras wondered.
”Could be,” Maglor agreed. ”After all we did not find their bodies amongst the dead.”
”The wee ones were still alive when they left Menegroth,” Maedhros mused. ”They must have smuggled them out through an entrance we knew nothing of.”
”They could have,” Amrod said darkly. ”The servants could have brought the kings crown for the king to be.”
”That makes sense, brother,” Amras chimed in.
Maedrhos still stared off into the trees. ”You ride on home with your precious cargo, and I shall seek the remains of the escape.”
”Brother,” Maglor said, ”We should mourn.”
”I am,” Maedhros barked, turning to his brothers. His eyes hard and uncompromising.
”Forgive me,” Maglor muttered, and hung his head. ”I did not mean to imply that...”
”I know, brother,” Maedhros said ”All is forgiven.”
”Will you pursue this?” Amrod asked, pointing off into the trees.
”I will,” Maedhros said, walking back to his brothers to claim the reigns of his horse. ”I shall return to you shortly, this I swear.”
”Brother?” Maglor asked in a mere whisper. ”Pray tell, what will you do should you find the princelings and their sister?”
”I do not know yet,” Maedhros admitted with a shrug. ”I will not harm them, this I know. They are but younglings, and I will show them mercy, I assure you, brother.”
”Will you bring them to Himring?” Amrod asked with a little smile.
”I do not know,” Maedhros said, turning he started to drag his horse by the reigns towards the creek where the dead elf was laying. ”Be safe,” he called, stepping out into the cold water.
”You as well,” Maglor called back, urging his horse to ride, taking them to Himring.
~*~
Maedhros came upon the remains of the second female elf, and searched for any sign of the princelings, but found none. When he came to the bottom of the slope, he realised that they had been laying there. The tall elf frowned, what suffering these wee elf's had witnessed in their short lives, and to his surprise he found he pitied them. And he suddenly had another reason besides the Silmaril to find these elflings. From the footprints it seemed that they no longer had any adults with them. The princess had been nothing but a babe, and he wished that whoever took care of her would have chosen a different route, for otherwise she too could have been slain by whatever wild animal they had encountered.
He searched for two days, following the princelings' trail. At times he was sure they had perished, but then he found their trail again, in his heart he was amazed by these little ones' survival instinct, not many tiny elflings could have survived what they had.
On the third day at daybreak, he finally caught sight of them, they were resting against a huge tree, sleeping against each other like were they still in their mothers womb. He carefully advanced on them until he stood right in front of them. There was no sight of the crown of Doriath, but the princelings were alive, surely hungry, thirsty and tired, but alive. Maedhros kneeled by their side and tenderly brushed some hair from Elurin's forehead. ”Awake,” he whispered.
Elurin opened his eyes and looked straight into the grey eyes of Maedhros. ”NO!” He cried, waking his twin, who sensed his panic.
”Hush,” Maedhros said with a smile ”I mean you no harm, my princelings.”
”Who are you?” Elured asked, feeling really courageous.
”I am Maedrhos,” He said, ”And you are Elurin and Elured, am I right?” The twins nodded. ”And this is Silvan.” He patted the horse's nose, ”He has water and food in the saddlebags if you should want some.”
Elurin nodded weakly.
”It is settled then,” Maedhros laughed, turning he reached for the bottom of the saddlebag and pulled it off, for he did not use a saddle and the saddlebag was not strapped to the horse. He pulled out bread and water for the princelings, who eagerly took it off him.
When the bread was eaten, and the water gone, Maedhros looked at the twins, ”You cannot return home, you know this, am I right?”
”We know this,” Elured said, holding his brothers hand tight, still not sure what to think of this huge red haired elf with the battle scarred face.
”You are not safe amongst your own kin at this time,” he admitted. ”I shall find somewhere safe for you to stay.”
”I want my Mother” Elured whined, not sure he liked the tone in the tall elf's voice, or the strange gleam in his eyes, as if he were really sad all the time.
”You can't little one, but I would make sure you are safe if you'd let me, and Silvan of course.” Maedhros held out his hand to the twins, ”I think there is a human village not far from here, I can take you there.”
Elurin took Maedhros' hand without thinking, and Elured followed, allowing the tall red haired elf to lift them up on the back of the giant white steed.
~*~
The twins sat obediently still on the back of Silvan, looking curiously at the humans that had gathered around them. Maedhros stood with the horse reigns and in hushed tones discussed something with a grimy man in a tongue that they did not understand. Finally Maedhros turned around and smiled at the twins. ”Listen carefully, this is Drake. He and his wife will take you in, feed you and take care of your needs for as long as you stay. Obey him like your father,” Maedhros smiled. ”Fret not,” he said, ”You will be safe here.”
Maedhros gently lifted the elflings off the horse and placed them on the ground. He kissed their heads and whispered ”May the Valar protect you,” and then he swung unto the back of his steed with a swift move.
Elured and Elurin stood there next to the man named Drake and watched as Maedhros rode off.
~*~
Two days later Maedhros arrived at Himring, both horse and rider exhausted. Maglor came to greet him, looking worried. ”Did you find the little ones?” He asked, watching as Maedhros tossed his boots across the hall and warmed his feet by the fire. ”No,” Maedhros sighed, closing his eyes in bliss. ”I found no trace of them, surely wild animals have taken them.”
Maglor raised a brow. ”Did you see evidence of a fight then?”
”No,” Maedhros said, ”The trail simply stopped.”
Maglor clearly didn't believe the story, but seemed like he accepted that Maedhros might have a reason to not tell him the truth. ”Very well then, it shall be known that the princes escaped Menegroth, only to perish in the woods.”
”Yes,” Maedhros yawned, feeling tired to the core.
~*~
On the third night, when Elured and Elurin had been tucked into their tiny bed they shared, they curled up and felt full, warm, and safe. Much like were they home, except they were not. Maedhros had been right when he had said that Drake and his woman were good people that would take care of them. Drake's wife, Rose had willingly just opened her home for the orphan elves without asking. And even if they could not speak with each other, the twins could see in their faces and smiles that they meant them no harm.
Someone else did, and they remained hidden behind some foliage, waiting. When the order finally came, they did not think twice, but rushed into the human village, searching for the descendants of Lúthien.
~*~
The twins woke to the sound of screaming. Suddenly arms picked them up, friendly arms, they could tell that Drake and his wife were both frightened, the slight tremble in their hushed voices gave them away.
”Do we have to run again?” Elured asked his brother.
”I think so, brother,” Elurin whispered.
All four stiffened as the door flung open, and a giant Orc stood in the doorway. He walked straight towards Drake, who drew his sword with his free hand, the other clutching on to Elurin. The woman, Rose, screamed, distracting Drake enough so the Orc had a clean hit with his morning star. It lifted Drake off his feet, crushing his skull in the process, and flinging both he and Elurin to the far corner of the cottage. Rose was defenceless, she tried to run, but she was not fast enough, and another Orc stood waiting for her in the doorway. Elured hit his head on the stone threshold as she fell over, having been gutted by a long dagger.
~*~
When Elured woke again, he was aware that he was being gently rocked back and forth, he felt no pain, so he deducted that the monsters had not want to hurt him. He stirred in the arms of the Orc who carried him. ”Elurin!” he cried. He was teary eyed with relief when he heard an answer, his twin was unharmed too.
”Why do I have to carry it?” The Orc who carried Elured complained, in black speech. ”They are to be taken to Lord Sauron, do not question his motives or orders, he is the right hand of our lord Melkor, so you will carry this elfling to his destination, unless you want me to kill you where you stand,” the Orc commander said.
The Orc carrying the elf just growled, but did not complaint again for the entire trip.