Time passed swiftly in Hithlum. Before Maglor and Maedhros realized, five years had gone by, and the children were nine. Gone were the curious little toddlers who spent their days shyly exploring the palace; now they boldly spoke to the servants like the entitled sons they were. Unfortunately, the attendants longed for the day when they could tell those halfbreeds where they really belonged. Meanwhile, Elros and Elrond enjoyed rubbing up to their father and bribing their uncle.

Spring came late in the boys' ninth year; when it did come, the days were grey and humid. Everything in nature seemed bored. Birds hardly chirped, squirrels stayed hidden, and the grass was a dull emerald green. On the palace grounds, no one could work, train or even take leisure outside, not while it constantly threaded to rain.

No one could have been more bored than Maedhros, who would rather stay in green open spaces than in his own room. On one of those perpetually grey mornings, the redhead knocked on his brother's door. "Kano? May I have a word?" His voice sounded weary and listless, despite it still being early.

"Sure. Just come in; the door's unlocked," Maglor droned.

Maedhros pushed the door open with what remained of his right arm. Inside, Maglor sat at his desk, absently copying something from a book to a parchment before him.

"Lessons?" Maedhros asked, leaning over his brother's shoulder.

"Yes. Mainly poetry. The Lay of Luthien, ironically enough for us," Maglor droned.

"The boys are in the washroom, if you must know. I can hear them making a literal storm down there," Maedhros commented.

"Oh, let them have some semblance of fun before their lessons. They have nothing else to do."

"I wanted to talk to you about that same nothing-to-do-ness," Maedhros walked over to the wall and leaned against it.

Maglor looked up at his brother. His brow suddenly furrowed. "Oh no you don't, Neylafinwë Maitimo, I know that look. You are not going sparring in the back meadow.
Fog's made it a marsh!"

"Oh yes I do. Last I checked, I am the eldest. You've kept me cooped up long enough," Maedhros growled.

"I know you haven't had good history with closed spaces, but just tolerate it until summer comes 'round," Maglor sighed.

"That's months away!" Maedhros slammed his fist on the table. "I've been hunting before, and this is my land. I'm not going to randomly drown or get lost, contrary to your overprotective belief!"

"You're my brother," Maglor tried to be calm, "and I know you won't get lost, but the boys have always liked following you outside. That I will not risk."

"Fine. I shall return by noon," Maedhros hissed adamantly.

"Oh brother!" Maglor groaned, turning back to his papers.

Maedhros purposefully swung by the washroom. It had somehow fallen eerily silent. "Boys!?" he shouted.

"Having breakfast!" Elrond's voice cried downstairs.

Maedhros nodded to himself and ascended to his room on the palace's final floor. In his room above his desk hung a beautiful gilt sword with a heavy pommel and slightly curved blade—an immaculate elven rapier.

"Thanks, Curvo," he sighed as he took down the blade.

He silently made his way back downstairs, hoping the twins wouldn't notice him pass by. As he approached the kitchen, he found them quietly eating with nothing to say to each other, which for Elros and Elrond was alarmingly rare.

Thanks to their partly elvish hearing, they caught Maedhros attempting to tiptoe away.

"Wherever you're going, we're going," Elros bolted out of his seat.

"You have lessons," Maedhros commanded.

Elrond looked up from his plate and noticed the sword on the redhead's belt. "Please! We won't touch the sword, I swear by Aulë!"

"We don't swear oaths in this house," Maedhros growled.

"Sorry," Elrond hung his head. "Can we still follow? Please?"

"No. You have a very interesting lesson on your favorite ranger."

"Turin!?" the boys jumped up.

"No," Maedhros chuckled. "Beren."

"Aw, no fair!" Elros wailed.

"Come on, again?" added Elrond with a groan.

"We wanna move on to Turin!"

"His sword was even more epic than yours!"

Maedhros went white. "You aren't—how do I say this? Turin is a bit too—complicated for your age."

"We read about Eol. He was complicated enough," Elros crossed his arms.

"And that Spirit of Fire guy was just mean," Elrond shrugged.

"I would have to agree on that," Maedhros scowled.

"Can we go with you—" Elrond begged again.

"We won't get in the way!" the older twin finished.

Maedhros winked and put a finger to his lips.

"ALRIGHT!"

The redhead shot them a death glare. "Quiet, runts!" he warned.

"Sorry," they peeped. Giggling softly, they followed after the massive elf.

They had not been gone for ten minutes when Maglor descended, proudly waving their worksheets for the morning. "History time, boys! Boys? NEYLO!!!"

"Uh-oh, I think he noticed," Maedhros smirked as he and the boys crossed the back porch.

Thrilled at the prospect of actually breaking the rules, Elrond and Elros bolted ahead of Maedhros.

"Wait!" the seasoned warrior lunged at them like a wolf, grabbing Elros by the wrist first, then pouncing on Elrond.

"Don't try anything smart runts," he warned.

"Yes, Uncle Neylo," they looked down ashamed.

Maedhros smiled reassuringly. "I'm concerned. Not angry."

The children looked up again, smiles creeping back onto their faces.

"Meadow's not far. Just keep quiet and stay close."

Elros followed very closely, almost running into his uncle's legs at every step. Elrond, however, was interested in the occasional white butterfly that flitted through the mist like a tiny ghost.

"I wish Lucky wasn't back in our room," he sighed to himself.

"Sorry, runt," Maedhros said kindly. "Your rabbit would get lost around here."

"But he's wild!" Elrond wondered.

"Wild things get lost when they live away from home," the elf murmured.

The twins were unsure wether he meant himself, Lucky, or both.

A few steps later, Maedhros stopped. "This is it. Stick to that tree over there and don't move. I wouldn't want to hurt you with any sudden moves."

The twins trotted over to a small oak tree. In a few bounds, they had climbed up into a decent viewing spot.

Once Maedhros had made sure the young half-elves were out of harm's way, he took a deep breath and turned to face the West, as he always did when practicing.

Letting his mind, arm and blade be as one, Maedhros took the first lunge. With grace and ease he swerved the sword over and around his head one, two, three times. Taking advantage of his height, the warrior charged towards another nearby tree, hacking off a low branch without having to jump. Above him, the twins marveled at the finesse of his movements despite him being so huge. Having one hand only was an issue no longer, because Maedhros let both of his arms direct his weight at the enemies he imagined out of the spring fog. He slammed the blade into the heart of the tree, precisely yanking it out half a second later. Elros and Elrond kept their eyes fixed on their uncle, and were secretly glad he wasn't angry with them. As abruptly as the deadly dance had begun, Maedhros's practice ended. He sheathed his sword without help from his right arm, and bowed.

"What was that for?" Elros asked, confused that his proud uncle was bowing to the nothingness.

"That," Maedhros panted, "was for the elf who made me whole again."

"Who was he?" Elrond wondered.

"I'll tell you when I catch my breath," Maedhros wiped his brow.

Without being told, the children shimmied down the low tree.

"That was amazing!" Elros ran up to his uncle. "Teach me! Please?"

Maedhros smiled, but shook his head.

"We'll do anything you say, anything!" Elrond pleaded.

"No. I have my reasons," Maedhros murmured.

"Ask Ada, he'll say yes!" Elros insisted.

"I could ask 'im! He likes my polite face," smirked Elrond.

"NO! My decision is final and unmovable," the redhead growled.

The twins shuddered at Maedhros's sudden stern tone.

He glared at them and huffed, "I think it's high time you went back to your lessons. Your father might be worried."

Without another word, the children followed Maedhros back to the palace. As soon as they crossed the threshold, they ran up the stairs to Maglor's study where they took their schooling. Maedhros, however, went to find his brother.

Maglor was searching for the twins in the stables, Lucky sniffing around his heels. Instead of his owners, Lucky found Maedhros. He immediately bounded away and hid behind Maglor's legs, because he could smells the turmoil of emotions surrounding the redhead.

"Neylo! What happened?" Maglor wondered.

"They asked for training," his brother grunted.

"Something more than that."

"They watched my practice my blade work and they wanted training. That is all."

Maglor shook his head. "I would be alright with them learning. It's about time they did. But I sense something in you. Guilt?"

"I can't teach them. I don't want them turning out like me. Already they wonder where I got my experience. No one wants to tell a child 'Oh, I slaughtered your friends and possibly your family'." Maedhros trudged towards the wall and leaned against it in thought.

"True. . ." Maglor tapped his chin.

"Perhaps I can make it up to them," Maedhros let his eyes wander around the stalls. "But how?"

Lucky began to frisk around Maglor's feet again, nibbling at the straw by Rána's stall.

"Of course! What's a warrior who can't ride!?" Maedhros exclaimed. He scooped up Lucky in his hand. "You're a genius, rabbit."

A special thanks to v3Olympus for helping me get out of writer's block for the next two chapters.