"The chair", by Himring (non-challenge)

[hhimring]

Title : The chair
Author : Himring
Fandom : Unfinished Tales, Children of Hurin
Rating : PG
Characters : Sador Labadal
Disclaimer : Tolkien's scene. Himring just changed the point of view.
Spoilers : If the outcome of the Nirnaeth Arnoediad is a spoiler, yes, for that.
Summary: Sador Labadal, Turin's childhood friend with the crippled leg, on the chair he was set to carve for Hurin, with the knife Turin had given him. Double drabble.

I carved it well, with my new-gifted knife. The well-seasoned wood I was granted for the task responded like a dream. Each time the knife met wood and did what I wanted it to, my confidence rose. I might be self-maimed, but I was not wholly marred or useless. Eager to continue, I was no longer accused of wasting time. Such high hopes! I already saw him sitting in the finished chair, that winter, my lord, raising his cup on the dais—my own small contribution to the celebration of our great victory, even though I could no longer fight.

Such high hopes dashed.  There was no great victory, we know, even though there is no news. My lord has not returned. The chair remains unfinished, abandoned for less rewarding but more pressing labour, as hands are few. Now my lady depends on those like me, but I falter again.

My lord will not return. The chair will never be finished now. We are defeated and oppressed. No longer the time or place for such things, useless now, when other needs are more pressing! Yesterday, I told young Turin I would break it up for firewood.

Yet he said nay.

A/N: I do also have ideas for two recent prompts.

Comments

[shirebound]

*sniff* So heartbreaking (and hope-breaking) for him, and all of them.

[hhimring]

Yes, it is hope-breaking.
I love Turin for stopping Sador from chopping up the chair, that time, even though of course Hurin never did get to sit on it.

[liadt]

So sad.



(Not so sad yay for ideas!)

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

That is so sad - I can really feel how he feels when he wants to break it up for firewood.

[hhimring]

It is a terrible situation altogether, but I have always felt the bit about the chair was a really painful detail!

[hhimring]

Thank you!
I was hoping to manage to follow up one of those ideas today, but I think it may not happen until next weekend, now!

[periantari.livejournal.com]

What a poignant drabble- I really liked this line:
We are defeated and oppressed. No longer the time or place for such things, useless now, when other needs are more pressing! Good job!

[liadt]

Sometimes the Muse takes its time!

[hhimring]

Thank you very much, periantari!
I am glad you liked that bit!

[fredbassett]

That's so sad! The imagery of wanting to break up something you've made is very poignant.

[hhimring]

It is sad, isn't it?
Sador sounds a bit more philosophical about it in The Unfinished Tales, but I suspected that he was not letting on to Turin quite how he felt about it.