that was winter, it's spring now

You should come. London. Let's do it up, Buck. Paint the town red.

Maybe his family was super affectionate when he was growing up, but once he had his last big growth spurt the hugs and cuddles suddenly stopped because he was A Man now. It leaves him wishing he could feel small and cherished and taken care of again, but because of his size he's always expected to be the caretaker. 😔

"What? It isn't just your words, is it? The promise of a thing hard to define and impossible to deliver...that is what you're suggesting I get, in exchange for surrendering an asset worth what that girl is worth?"

Elros and Elrond, aged 13: a moment of realisation — I will one day choose the kindred of men.

I did not wish to be the most exciting part of the greatest, most tragic of love songs in this land. Nor did I wish to be Dior and his sons, killed before I even knew there was a choice to be made. I did not wish for my choice to be a punishment for daring to throw myself from a window in despair. And most of all, Elrond—I feared the fate of Eärendil.

For I had always had a twin. Always, always beside me, I had my Elrond. Who was my playmate every day of my life, mine from womb to war, who joined in every game I ever played, argued against anything I ever said, squealed when I pinched him, with whom I halved every sweet I have ever received. Elrond, who would crawl into my bed at dawn because he swore his side of the room was too cold, Elrond, who would sit by my side as I looked out of the window and told him stories I made up just for him, Elrond, who had the audacity to be fast asleep as I did. That had been my life, all my life. And so, the story of Eärendil, the supposed reward for his deeds and the result of his choice of kindred, a choice he made for the person he loved most in the world, even the slightest possibility of such a fate struck only cold fear in my heart.

I could not bear to sail the skies alone, hingeing my hopes upon the breaking of the world. There is no eternity for me. Not without you. Not without my Elrond.

This was a lighting study of the adolescent twins from a couple of weeks back that characteristically got out of hand... Words from a longfic I’m currently cooking, featuring an extract from a letter written by a dying Elros to his brother, attempting to explain that he chose the kindred of Men not because he wished to be parted from his twin, but because he couldn’t bear the thought.

2026 COLOUR CHALLENGE: May

color: red | theme: parallels | challenges: try your hand at blending