Work Text:
One of the conditions of his release from Mandos is for Maehdros to attend a support group chosen for him by Nienna's Maiar once a week. He'd expected that. Celegorm had similar restraints placed upon him only he had been signed up for anger management classes and had Caranthir as a buddy to go with him.
Maehdros was alone standing outside a building he really didn't want to go into. There was nothing wrong with his arm. He'd grown used to the way it ended sooner than the other one did thousands of years ago when he'd been alive the first time.
It had been somewhat of a shock to see it still like that when he had been reembodied but he hadn't been upset by it. Gaining back his other hand would have felt awkward. He would have had to retrain himself how to do all the basic things for a second time. It would be like the Valar had stripped him of everything he had overcome and all the things he hadn't.
Regaining the hand would have felt like leaving something important about himself behind.
Maehdros can do pretty much everything he wants one handed and everything he couldn't, he could care less about. He's lived longer with one hand than he has with two at this point.
So, he doesn't understand why the Ainur have demanded that he attend a support group for other physically disabled elves in order to be freed from Mandos. He hates the way it reminds him of the snooty elves who have never been anywhere other than Aman, never known strife or danger and think that they can judge others for being chained to the side of a mountain by the enemy.
Like all of that makes them inherently more moral when their morality has truly never actually been tried.
But Maedhros goes to the stupid support group because it's court ordered and not at all because there's a family that bring an elfling with one hand there to see he's not alone.
"I can't do this!" The elfling shouts in frustration, throwing the shoe to the floor. They look like they might burst into tears at any moment.
"You can. You just have to do this, then this and then that." Maedhros explains, showing how he ties the laces to his boots slower this time, so the elfling can see each step clearly.
"Wow! That's all easy!" The elfling exclaims beaming, itching to try out the technique for themselves.
Maedhros smiles and looks up at their parent's who's concern wrinkled brows smoothen just a little. Maybe this wasn't a punishment for him after all.
