(no subject)

[thewidewideworld]

{from here}

Sinric's room is simple and sparse. He hasn't had it long and had yet to make his mark on it in any way.

The cloak slips as he pushes open the door. Beneath he wears thin linen trousers and a sleeveless tunic. Neither hide the fact he has been recently beaten and used roughly. He tries to catch the cloak as it falls, gasping as he wrenches a wound.

Comments

[thewidewideworld]

"Forgive me, Elrond. I am..." He looks away, limping to set on the edge of the bed. Tears prick his eyes and he tries to push them back. "Thank you for helping me."

[starrydome]

"Don't apologise, " Elrond tells him softly.
"And of course I will help you."
Everyone is worthy of help abbd care.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric manages a weak, forced smile. "If only that were true."

He moves to stand. "I should bathe. Thank you for bring me here but I'm not sure that there's much you can do that hasn't already been done." At least by the medicine of his time and place which isn't much.

[starrydome]

"I am a healer," Elrond tells him. "If you let me look at you, I might be able to take so of the pain away. "

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric considers a moment before standing and shedding his cloak and clothes.

He shows himself - his slender body, soft breasts and diminutive genitalia without shame or concern. His body has never belonged to him so he has no right to hide it when ordered not to.

His upper arms, hips, throat and thighs are badly bruised where he has been held down by many hands. There are whip marks across his lower back and buttocks. And all other sign of repeated and violence sexual assault. What there is not, is any sign of defencive wounds; Sinric didn't fight his attackers.

[starrydome]

It saddens him.
The amount of pain and hurt, the kind of pain and hurt.
That Oriens have subjected to it the way he has.

But his eyes stay kind and his touch light as he guides him to sit down.

"I will fetch water," he says. "And then I shall see what I can do about the pain."

[thewidewideworld]

He sits with care, gingerly and wincing. "Your kindness is greatly appreciated. I can not repay this debt."

[starrydome]

Elrond looks at him, seriously.
His eyes are the color of storm clouds, ancient and lit from within.

"There is no debt," he tells him. "This is what I do."

And then he goes to fetch water and a cloth.

He returns and kneels down next to the bed.
"I will not tell anyone of this if you don't want me to. But there are is a place here where they can set almost anything wright. And there are healers here, doctors, who can also help soothe pain of the mind and spirit."

[thewidewideworld]

"There is nothing to tell." Sinric's eyes close against tears. "Those who did this had their right under law. And the hurt is not so great. I bruise easily so it looks worse than it is. I am just grateful for somewhere quiet to bide while it heals. It would do no good for my Emperor to know."

[starrydome]

"Then their laws are unjust,"Elrond says, calmly, as he carefully begins to wash the bruises and welts.

And then he lets his hand rest on a bruised wrist. And breathes. Slowly. One, two, three times.
And then he whispers something.

The light of the rlves is growing dimmer in the world. But there is still power left. And some of it might set to work here.

"If you are not a threat, no one should be able to hurt you without consequence."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric breathes deeply as a feeling of warmth spreads over him, washing away the feeling of bring held down, being pinned in place.

He shakes his head minutely. "I am the palace property to be used at the will of the Emperor and by extension, the co-Emperor. It would not do to cause strife between my lord and his son over so small a thing as me."

[starrydome]

Elrond carefully examines a bruise on Oriens' hip. Then he says, quietly, "I understand that the situation you live in is so. And I am not telling you to try and change something that you cannot change."

He looks up at him.

"But what I am telling you is that you are someone. You are not a thing. You are a person. With dreams and hopes." He smiles a little. "And songs."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric covers his face with his arm, revealing his painful youth. Elrond's words cut him to the core and he can't keep back his tears.

[starrydome]

Elrond touches his other hand. Gently.
"There is nothing wrong with feeling sorrow or fear or anger," he tells him.

"And there is nothing wrong with wanting to stay in a place that you know either."

He understands.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric nods and leans into the touch, grateful for the understanding.

"My master, I love him. And I will stay with him for the time he has left. Even if I must suffer his son's rage to be with him."

[starrydome]

Elrond carefully moves his fingers down Oriens' side, checking for hidden damages.

"Things are rarely as clearly set apart from one another as we would want them to be," he says quietly.

[thewidewideworld]

His hips are badly bruised and the muscles inflamed where he has been pushed and held. He hisses softly as Elrond's fingers skate the area.

[starrydome]

"Look into my eyes," Elrond says.
"And try to relax."

There is no judgement of any kind. Just a gaze holding him.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric looks up at him, his eyes thick with tears and looking very young. He breathes slowly, trying to steady himself.

[starrydome]

Elrond's hand does - something- as he speaks, words that are old even to him.

He holds Orien's gaze as his hands soothe, letting his own eyes be a pool in which all sorrows can be set adrift, all hurts washed clean.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric feels as if he could drown in those pools, feeling the weight and hurt flow from him. He grows heavy with sleep and for a moment fights it but Elrond's magic soothes him into quiet.

[starrydome]

And all the while, his fingers move carefully, gently, across Oreins' skin, learning of his injuries, soothing what he can.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric's eyes grow heavy, leaning into the touch. It is an odd and pleasing sensation to feel the pain wash away. He rests his hand on Erond's arm. "Your kindness, thank you."

[starrydome]

Elrond looks up at him.

It may seem like there is a faint shimmer surrounding him.

"I have seen so much pain," he says quietly. "When I can help, I do so."
He sounds tired.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric moves to cover Elrond's hand with his own. "I'm sorry to have added to your burden."

[starrydome]

"It matters not," Elrond says, giving him a small smile.
"As I said, I cannot walk past when I see someone hurting."

[thewidewideworld]

"I wish I had something to offer in return." But already he can feel himself falling asleep.

[starrydome]

"There is no need," Elrond assures him.

"Rest. Will you be safe here? Or should I stay?"

[thewidewideworld]

"I am safe here, but you are most welcome to stay if you wish."

[starrydome]

"I shall stay here while you sleep, then," Elrond decides.
That way he too can rest a little, letting his mind wander down the pathways of Elven dreams.

[thewidewideworld]

"Thank you." He moves back a little, making room for Elrond on the bed, should he want it.

[starrydome]

Elrond gets to his feet but doesn't seem to notice Oriens movement.
Instead, he settles down on a chair.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric's eyes grow heavy but he sings to himself, singing himself to sleep. An old, sweet lullaby that fades as falls into a healing sleep.