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You know lost creatures.
The faded scent; the shallow print. Or perhaps not. Perhaps the loss is to be faced, to be met with bared teeth and panting breath. Kill or be killed. Die and let die.
That is Master: the death-rattle, the wet wound that will never stitch itself up again.
His face covered by his pain like stones under water; his hands at your feet. He works busily. You do not mind the pain, yours or his. If you had a voice that could reach him, you would only call for him to come back from the edge of the dark forest.
You are made for high places. Do not run to the shadows. Do not run to the fire. You are man, and man does not need to die alone.
Celegorm, you’re still bleeding.
And Huan’s why I’m still breathing. I’ll last a little longer—let me finish this.
God. The sharp-edged one is holding back tears. You can taste them, smell them. You wink at him with all the sympathy you have (a great deal), and Master wraps your feet in rags with all the sympathy he has (only for you).
Steady, boy. Steady.
Celegorm!
Jesus. I’m tired, Curufin. I’m—
Not too tired to run off to Maedhros!
Silence.
You breathe. You are sore from one end to the other. You have lost blood, lost life. You are content.
Or, you would be, but Master smells like fear again.
The door creaks open and it is not one of your pups. It is another. A man who knows the earth.
Gwindor asked me to come and see to your—
Well, we didn’t ask you, did we?
The door snaps shut.
What’s his name again? Miles?
Aye. Miles.
I’ll do it. Take your shirt off.
Master breathes through his nose. I can’t.
So the sharp-faced one comes to him, and mothers him, in the broken motions that belong to all motherless pups.
Later, when the shining, stinging thread has done its work, when Master smells only like sweat and soil and a very little pain, you roll your weary bones against his feet. Let him be raised over you. Let him bury you. Let him be sure of you.
You did not save him today,
The sharp-faced brother curled beside him will not save him tomorrow.
You know lost creatures, and you know this to be true.