Rescued From Shadows

Chapter Five

Fingon was in a chair watching Maedhros breath deeply. His chest rising and falling slowly, his pale face empty of emotion. He ran a hand through his hair and leaned back. He was worn out but he had to focus on helping Maedhros, he could worry about himself later.

He lifted his head as he heard the door open and he stood when he saw his father enter with Maglor. His father looked over at Maedhros and gave a worried frown towards the red-haired elf. Yet, the look of Maglor's face was heartbreaking, he just looked at his brother with fear, concern, pain, and regret. Fingolfin put a hand on his shoulder and Maglor just shook his head and pulled away.

"I will try to talk to him," Fingon said walking over to them. "I can try to convince him to see you."

"No. When he's ready," Maglor said with a shake of his head.

Fingolfin nodded and said, "Fingon, you wanted to speak with me?"

"Right. I-" Yet he was cut off by Maedhros who started to scream and thrash about. Fingon hurried over to try to calm him down.

"Easy, it's okay," Fingon said. "Everything is okay."

~~~

"Come on. Wake up, little kinslayer," A cruel voice purred causing Maedhros's eyes to open. He froze once his eyes opened as standing before him was Mairon grinning like a snake.

"No...Fingon...he saved me," Maedhros whispered shaking his head.

"Oh? You have seemed to have forgotten I have many masks I can wear," Mairon said. His face faded away and in its place was Fingon. Maedhros shook his head closing his eyes causing the Maiar to laugh.

"Ah! You did forget but perhaps a different face would be better for today," Mairon said as he knelt down and when Maedhros opened his eyes again he felt the color drain from his face. Staring back at him was Maglor.

"No...he said I was safe...he was real. This is not real...it's not real," Maedhros said shutting his eyes again tightly. Repeating the words over and over again as if it would make it true. Yet, a kick to his stomach drove him back to his reality. Maedhros coughed and slowly looked up to see Maglor looking down at him with Marion's cruel smile.

"Perhaps it's not real but what is real then? Can you really say?" Mairon asked his voice a mockery to his brother's. Maedhros just bit his lip and turned his head away but his head was jerked back to face Marion's gaze.

"Come now...you know this is real. You can't escape me. Little kinslayer," Mairon said gripping his face tightly and wrapping his other hand around his neck squeezing tightly. Maedhros gasped and struggled, trying to get free so he could breathe. He felt a sharp pain in his neck as Mairon dug his nails in and a broken quiet scream came out.

"Now. Do you remember?" Mairon asked. "And I will need a vocal answer."

"Y-yes," Maedhros gasped out.

"That's good. Now that you remember and you are awake. We can continue from where we left off." Mairon said standing up and walking over picking a long pole and he twirled it around before grabbing the end and letting the metal heat up until it glowed red.

Marion smirked as he walked back over still wearing Maglor's face as he brought the pole up. Maedhros's struggles intensified until thud sound and everything became a white haze.

~~~

Maedhros blinked as he looked around seeing the bedroom. He moved his head to the other side and stiffened as he saw Fingon on the floor holding his jaw with his father and Maglor helping him up. Maedhros looked at his hands and then back at Fingon then right back to his hands.

"I am fine," Fingon said waving them off. He moved over to Maedhros and moved away as much as the blankets allowed. "Stay away." He said shakily.

"Nelyo. It's okay, it is me." Fingon said.

Maedhros shook his head and moved further back till the point he was where the bed met the wall. He shut his eyes tightly and wrapped his left arm around him. "Just stay away," He repeated.

"Nelyo. You are safe, no one is going to hurt you here." Fingolfin said gently as he stepped forward. Despite the problems he had with Feanor he will not place his frustrations with him on his sons. Besides, he knew Neylo since he was a young elf and as he grew up they always had a good relationship.

Maedhros opened an eye slightly and peeked through the hair that had fallen in front of his face. He bit his lip slightly as he looked at Fingolfin who was holding his hands up. Fingon was standing beside him with a very small red mark on his jaw and Maglor was standing close to the wall. He closed his eyes and shook his head staying where he was.

"Mayo?" Fingon called over to Maedhros who looked again. "Everything is fine. No one is going to hurt you."

Maedhros lightly bit his lip but still did not move at all. He looked from Fingon, Fingolfin, and then Maglor. Before trying to move back closer to the wall to no avail. Fingolfin took a breath and looked to Maglor and said, "Maglor. Take Fingon to get his bruised checked out. I will take care of this right now."

"Atar," Fingon interjected. "I am fine. I will take care of this,"

"Fingon. Please, let me deal with this for the time being," Fingolfin said.

"I-fine." Fingon said. He looked and he smiled at Maedhros and said, "Don't worry. I will be back soon."

He then left the room with Maglor and Fingon, both of them giving a worried look to the elf trying to curl into a ball on the bed. Once the door closed Fingolfin looked at Maedhros and gave him a smile and said, "It's okay Nelyo, it's okay...whatever it was it was just a bad dream. It was just a bad dream."

Maedhros looked at him and slowly inched forward relaxing his shoulders somewhat. Fingolfin nodded and moved closer just a bit more moving his hands in a downward motion trying to visually show Maedhros that everything is okay. After a few long moments passed Maedhros was back to a normal spot on the bed with his injured leg settled in a comfortable position. As well as his arm was relaxed against him and his body wasn't super tense.

"I-i hurt Finno?" Maedhros asked quietly looking down as if he was just caught doing something bad.

Fingolfin was quiet for just a moment and lied, "No. He just tripped."

"I didn't hurt him?" Maedhros then asked looking up slightly.

"No, and do not worry. He'll be back soon." Fingolfin reassured.

Maedhros gave a small bow of his head in acknowledgment as he settled back into the pillows. Fingolfin gave a little exhale before he turned and started to the door.

"No!" Maedhros yelped.

Fingolfin paused and turned to look at his nephew who was looking at him with wide eyes. "No...alone." Maedhros managed.

Fingolfin nodded and walked back over sitting down nearby. Maedhros relaxed back into the bed but didn't close his eyes. He just laid there staring at the ceiling his hand running up and down the blanket nervously.

Fingolfin looked at Maedhros with a frown. Yes, what they did was wrong but did that require for this to happen to Maedhros? His nephew who always helped rein in his brothers when he had to and did his very best to help his father stay calm. He did not deserve this. He truly did not.