He expected to be attacked; to be admonished and brought to a point much lower than the chasm in which he fell. There was no way for him to shield himself from the blows and he had no right to save himself some pain. Maedhros accepted that all of it had been earned long, long ago for Maglor. For him, it had been less than a day.

What have you endured outside of my sight; outside of my presence? We only had each other and then you had no one.

"No, I do not." he had no ground on which to argue and he would not. To do so would be disrespectful to his brother.

His eyes widened at the hands reaching for him and he hurried forward, catching them and pulling Maglor into his arms like he had done when they were children.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." the words were repeated softly against the dark hair he knew so well.