Becoming (Maedhros & Maglor Week 2025) by 0ur_Ouroboros

To become someone else's

Day 4: Mereth Aderthad

Maglor is playing his harp with a smile while his voice forges the gold it’s known for. Tonight under the stars, the elven-folk dance by the lakeshore and the fires burn hot. Glimpsing what bright light in his spirit remains, Maedhros’ heart leaps with love for his brother.

But more than anything else he feels for Maglor now, it is gratitude – for Maglor’s music flows freely alongside ale that night, and no eyes see nor ears hear nor minds care when the scarred face leaves alongside the brave one, the one whose hair is braided with gold. The one for whom Maedhros would pay any tribute, any sacrifice. The one who could look upon the very fires of Angband and say: No, not him, not my kinsman. This one is mine, you cannot have him. Here am I – this I claim.

Maedhros does not think of Tirion much these days, those memories so distant they could in truth belong to another. But tonight he wonders what he must have done in that holy light to deserve the devotion of one so pure of heart as he who rests his head upon Maedhros' shoulder now.

But Fingon only looks at him and laughs, pressing a kiss to his lips before he says, “It is not what you have done, you fool. It is who you are.”