Bring Him Home

Chapter Eighteen

A few weeks later Maedhros was sitting in his room when he heard a knock on the door. He looked up and saw Maglor step in. He closed the door and walked over sitting down beside him. "Something wrong?" Maedhros asked. 

"You seem back like yourself," He said. 

"...and that's bad?" Maedhros asked. 

Maglor shook his head and said, "No. Not at all." 

Maedhros nodded and said, "You seem happy with Elrond and the family he started." 

Maglor nodded with a smile. "I am...but...I am tried." He said.

Maedhros watched him and frowned moving back over to him. "Kano?" He asked. Maglor just leaned against him and closed his eyes. 

"I want to go home," Maglor said. "I am tired...I miss being at home. I miss our brothers and Mamil." 

"Are you sure?" Maedhros asked. 

"Yes. I am tired, I mean I love that child but...I am ready." He said. 

Maedhros rubbed his shoulder and said, "Alright. We'll leave whenever you're ready." 

Maglor nodded and looked at his hands. "What is Elrond going to say?" He then asked. Maedhros paused and then said, "I do not know but don't worry. I think he'll be just fine." 

Maglor nodded and asked, "Are you sure?" 

"Postive," Maedhros said. Maglor again nodded and he settled back. Maedhros moved over allowing his brother some more room. Maedhros was quiet before he asked, "When do you want to leave?" 

"Soon," He said. "Maybe...in a week." 

"Alright. A week," Maedhros said. Maglor looked at his brother and smiled, "Thank you...Nelyo." 

"Anytime, Kano." His brother replied giving his shoulder a squeeze. The two brothers looked up as another knock sounded at the door. Fingon pocked his head in and said, "Oh. There you are, the twins are looking for you." 

"They are?" Maglor asked. 

"Yep," Fingon said. "They said they wanted to show you something," 

Maglor nodded and stood up and nodded at his brother before walking away. Fingon looked at Maedhros and asked, "Did I miss something?" 

"Yes. Maglor is ready to come home," Maedhros said. 

"Really? That's a good step," Fingon replied as he sat beside his friend. 

"Yeah," Maedhros replied. "We should be leaving in a week. So we should start getting ready, it may be a long ride back to the sea to get to Valinor." 

"Right," Fingon said.

The two were quiet for a moment before Fingon smiled and said, "I have to say, saying goodbye to King Estel, Arwen, and their son will be tough." 

Maedhros just nodded and stood up. "I want to take care of a few things before we start getting ready. I'll be back tomorrow," 

"Hmm? Where are you going?" Fingon asked. 

Maedhros paused and smiled slightly. "I want one last ride through middle-earth, after all, it was home for quite a while." 

"Want a riding buddy?" Fingon offered. 

"No. I would like to do this alone," Maedhros said. "Keep an eye on Maglor, make sure he'll be alright." 

"Of course, enjoy yourself," Fingon said. 

"I will," Maedhros said as he left the room and headed down the stairs. He got his horse out and rode off. 

~~~

Maedhros sighed as he dismounted and sat down on the high hilltop. Despite everything that happened to him the one thing that stuck with him was the feeling of being free when he rode out in the open. He stood up and looked into the distance where the Iron Hills should be beyond the horizon. 

"I'll leave it here," Maedhros said to himself. "All the pain that happened to us...to me...I will leave that here." 

He gave one last look at the horizon and slid down the hill and mounted his horse once again. He sat back and let his mind drift through everything that happened. The loss. The pain. The regret. The bitterness and even the joy that happened here. Maedhros drew in a breath and let it out, it was time to start a new story. Hopefully, one that did not have so much sorrow. He then turned the horse and began riding back to Gondor. The trip was quicker then he thought but he realized on thing on this ride. Maglor was not the only one going to be coming home. He was too. 

~~~

"Alright. The ship is all set," Fingon said as he walked back over with Maedhros to Maglor who sat with Elrond and his children. A week passed and when they headed to the Gray Havens. They did not travel alone. Elrond, Elladan, and Arwen insisted on coming with to say goodbye. Eldarion wanted to come but the trip was too long for him, so he stayed with his father. Yet, he said a long goodbye to the three elves. Giving each a big hug and a pastry he insisted on helping to make to give to them. 

"Right," Maglor said as he stood up with them. He turned to the three and swallowed some. "So. This is goodbye," 

Elrond nodded and hugged Maglor. "Not forever...at some point I will come there." He said quietly to him. Maglor hugged him tighter as he said this and put a hand on his head. 

When Maglor let go he looked at the twins who nearly tackled him in a hug. "It was great to see you, grandpa Mag-mag." They said. 

Maglor chuckled softly at the name and hugged the two close. Maglor was at a slight loss of how to say goodbye. So he just stayed quiet still being worn, tired and weak from the many years alone. Yet, he was thankful they clearly understood but they still hugged him goodbye and wished him well. 

After he finished with the twins and Arwen he turned to Elrond once again and gave him a tight hug. "Stay strong," Maglor said softly to Elrond. "and when you do come there. I will be waiting." 

Elrond nodded pressing his face into his father's chest. After a few long moments, he let go and let his brother lead him to the ship. As they walked off Fingon turned to the group and nodded at them. "Well. It was great meeting all of you," He said. 

"You too," Arwen said with a smile. 

Fingon nodded and chuckled. "I wish all of you well," He said. He looked at Arwen and smiled, "To you, I wish you much joy and luck."

She smiled and nodded. "Thank you," She said with a smile. She paused for a moment and reached into the folds of her sleeve and pulled a letter out. She handed it to him and asked, "Can you bring this to my mother...please?" 

"Of course," Fingon said. "I'd be more than honored to." 

He then said his goodbyes to them and joined Maglor in the ship and started to get ready to go. Lastly, Maedhros walked over to the group and looked at them. He smiled a bit and gave a bow to them. 

"Oh. No," Elladan said. "You are not getting out with just a bow." 

He then hugged him tightly with Elrohir. Maedhros tensed slightly and looked down at them shaking his head. He gave them a hug and then one to Arwen. Then he turned to Elrond and put his hand on his head. He then pulled him close in a tight hug. 

"Thank you, Uncle Nelyo...please, make sure he'll be okay," Elrond said. 

"Don't worry. He'll be fine and listen if you and your sons chose to stay here for longer. Do it, Maglor will be fine. You need to take care of yourselves." Maedhros said. 

Elrond nodded and looked up at his Uncle. "Thank you...I can not speak for my sons but after Eldarion becomes King of Gondor...I sail." He said. 

"Of course," Maedhros said. He gave Elrond one last tight hug before shoving the boat off and sailing off. The ship sailed and the turned and all waved to the group standing on the shore. After a final wave and look on middle-earth they turned to the horizon.