Maedhros learned how to embroider after he lost his hand
I learned today that it is entirely possible to hand-sew using only your left hand!
Backstory: The right sleeve of my sweater was starting to unravel at the seam near the wrist. I was too lazy to take it off, and I wanted to fix it before it got worse, so I repaired it while still wearing it, using only my left hand. I'm right-handed.
So, as I was doing this, I naturally got an idea for a delightful new headcanon!
I tend to imagine Maitimo as a primarily academic nerd, but I think, growing up, his creative hobby was calligraphy. I think the beauty of his writing was unmatched in the House of Finwë, and even Fëanor, who invented the alphabet, was so pleased with Maitimo's writing that he would often have him write his official correspondences and whatever.
But after Maitimo lost his hand, that went out the window.
He learned how to write again, of course, but it was never quite the same. His left-handed calligraphy had a beauty in its wildness, but it was never nearly as perfect as his right-handed calligraphy.
I think his loved ones would have been grieved to see how frustrated he got trying to re-learn calligraphy and constantly comparing it to what it was before. Enter Aranya, my OC, Maitimo's primary healer. (If you're not familiar with her, this is a good introduction to her.) Aranya is an avid embroiderer. I like to headcanon that healers practice embroidery as a way to refine their stitching skills, and Aranya is always embroidering to keep her hands busy. So maybe one day, while she was watching Maitimo struggle with his calligraphy, she discovered like I did how it's possible to sew with one hand, so she decides to offer to teach Maitimo.
At first, he dismisses the idea and thinks it's impossible. But Aranya demonstrates how she can do the entire process of threading the needle, knotting the thread and sewing the stitches using only her left hand. Maitimo knows he'll suck at it, but it's not like he has much else to do, so he agrees.
It's a long road, and learning how to embroider is tough even when you have two hands. Maitimo almost gives up a few times during the beginning. But by the time he manages to embroider a very simple kitten, he has the satisfaction of having made something by himself. And there is no pre-Angband standard to compare his work to. He realizes he managed to learn a new skill even after his body was nearly destroyed.
Eventually he's embroidering cute woodland animals alongside Aranya, and it's something he can do to keep himself grounded. I also think while he was Lord of Himring, he took great pride in being able to mend his own clothes. There are a lot of things he needs people to help him with, but this is something he can do himself.
You can bet this is eventually going to make its way into Ill Chances and Strange Fates!
annaxmalina
2087
stormborns
tangentwithtanner
discoholicmusic
