#thank maedhros and maglor week for kicking my butt into doing another fic this weekend

[lordgrimwing]

Identity #02

[for Maedhros and Maglor week, hosted by @maedhrosmaglorweek]

Maedhros grabbed Maglor’s hand and pulled him up onto the weather-worn boulder. His brother scrambled for purchase on the mossy rock, and he kept his hold on his hand until he was securely settled next to him.

“Wow,” Maglor murmured, wide-eyed.

From atop their perch where the land began to rise steeply up the mountainside again, they could see over the tops of the tops of the trees and all the way across the glen they lived in with their parents and three younger brothers. Chickens, little more than specks from this distance, wandered across the cleared land, occasionally congregating in groups. The goats and sheep occasionally peaked out of the bordering thickets where they were grazing today. Further down the gently sloping glen, almost disappearing behind the trees, horses stood quietly in their large pasture, heads down and tails swishing away flies.

“I can see everything from here!”

Maedhros grinned at him. “Not quite everything.” He turned and pointed up the mountain to a distant stony promontory jutting into the sky. “Pa took me up there once. We really could see everything on this side of the mountain, even the town.”

“Wow,” Maglor repeated. He pushed loose hair out of his eyes. “Do you think he’ll take me up there if I ask?”

Since growing old enough to express an opinion on things, the second-born always wanted to do whatever Maedhros did. That became harder as the years passed and the family grew. Nerdenl began insisting that ‘Laurë’ come with her to learn about herbs, plants, and healing, and spend more time minding the younger children. 

One tear-filled afternoon a few months ago, Maglor confessed that he wasn’t a daughter or sister as everyone said. He begged them not to make him be a girl again. He was Maedhros’ brother, Nerdanel and Fëanor’s son, and he couldn’t pretend to be anything else anymore. The next day, Nerdanel told her two oldest that they were equally responsible for looking after their siblings. A few mornings later, when the sun just started to glimmer around the mountains and through the trees, they held a naming ceremony like they did for babies except this time Fëanor gave Maglor his new name and welcomed him as a son. Maedhros’ eyes were too wet to be sure, but he thought they all cried that morning.

He looked out over the valley again, away from the bright sky that was making his eyes burn. “Probably not ‘til you’re bigger,” He said, blinking away the afterimage of the promontory. “It was a tough climb.”

Maedhros knew he was tall for his age. He towered over all his cousins and could already see over his father’s head when he stood straight. It would probably be several years before Maglor could reach the handholds and ledges they used to scale the rocks. There was no way Pa would take him up there until he was absolutely sure he would succeed. It was a long way back down.

Maglor sighed, disappointed. “I can’t wait until I grow. Maybe I’ll be as tall as you one day!”

Maedhors snorted at the thought. “Maybe as tall as my shoulder.”

The younger boy contemplated this for a minute. “You’re right,” He said. “I don’t want to be as tall as you. I’d hit my head on everything.”

“That was one time!”

Maglor giggled. “Ma said Pa’ll have to make the doors bigger so you can fit inside by next summer if you keep growing.”

They sobered and silence fell around them.

“Thanks for bringing me up here,” Maglor whispered at length, eyes glued to the vastness before them.

Maedhros shrugged. “I think it’ll be fun to have someone to share it with.”

“Thank you, Mae,” He whispered again, even softer.

Maedhros cleared his throat. “We should probably get back before anyone notices we’re gone.” He slid easily down the boulder, dropping the last few inches into the dirt. He turned and reached up for his brother. “Slide down, Maglor. I’ll catch you.”

They walked down to the glen together.