Work Text:
It happened at dinner, Terri was sitting next to Tor and asked for the pitcher of water.
Water, nen she asked.
Both Tor and Slim reached for it and Terri was caught staring, drawn to the difference of their two hands.
She then took Tor's hand and Slim's and laid them on the table and placed her hand between them.
The difference was subtle but startling.
Tor sighed.
Slim wondered what his inaw saw, he was chewing a piece of bread.
Terri's old hand wrinkled, calloused with dark age spots.
Slim's hand young and calloused and firm, missing a finger from a bad rope.
Tor's hand young with skin as smooth and clear as a child's. An imperceptible glow deep within.
Terri slowly felt Tor's hand then slim's then her own.
What ya looking at inaw, slim asked.
Look at the differences in your hands. Terri stated
Slim looked closely, yep, Tor washes his hands and he trims his nails. He is a person that cares more than me about cleanliness. Next to Godliness I guess, and he's got all his fingers. And he wears a ring that he'd have to take off during calving season.
No, Nika, not that. Whispered the old woman.
She then looked up at Tor and then turned and found herself staring at Fin who returned her frank gaze.
She thought to herself. This is strange?
She looked around the table, noting that all had stopped eating and talking.
As she looked at them, it dawned on her all of them were young.
And there were no little children.
Tor thought to Fin, how can we explain this to her?
Fin answered there is no need. she notices we are different. And this is true.
Tor said, it saddens me
Yes, but your grief is for her condition that verie neither grieves for or fears.
And she does not envy what she does not know or in my estimation want. You remember her explanation of her situation and condition and connection by the lake.
Rejoice in this. And our friendship. She will not live long enough to perhaps understand all the differences between us. And it matters not. If she asks directly we shall try to explain. But
She is so connected to arda. Indeed she is different from the atani here that we know.
Fin smiled at Terri who smiled back and soon forgot Tor's hand.
But Tor caught himself looking at Terri's worn hand and felt sorrow. He looked up at doreth, who had one tear down her cheek. And he wondered if she wept for Terri or the eldar.