A Face like Flawed Porcelain, by Himring (Challenge - New You)
Title : A Face like Flawed Porcelain
Author : Himring
Fandom/Source : Silmarillion
Rating : PG13
Characters : Maedhros, Elrond
Disclaimer : Tolkien says Maedhros's body recovered in time from his torment by Morgoth, although the shadow of his pain remained in his heart. The question of scars is purely a fandom discussion, but I think the drabble can be understood without having come across it before.
Warnings : aftermath of torture
Summary: Maedhros looks in a mirror the first time after his rescue from Thangorodrim. Much later, after his death and re-embodiment, he meets Elrond again in Valinor and Elrond has a professional conversation with him.
Maedhros looked in the mirror. The face that gazed back out seemed only half familiar. A new face matching new circumstances-he was disconcerted to feel a pang of regret, nevertheless…
‘No scars,’ said Elrond, touching Maedhros’s cheek.
‘None,’ agreed Maedhros.
‘When I studied the healing arts, later, I wondered why yours had been so slow to heal-was it the way they were inflicted? Or perhaps you and your body did not wish to forget, entirely?’
‘A bit of both. And I was never very far from Angband. Do you remember how palpable Morgoth’s power became, by the end?’
A/N: It's a theme in my story 'verse that Maedhros's scarring is painfully visible or not actually that disfiguring, depending on who is looking at him and with what kinds of expectation. (Men and dwarves tend not to be impressed, because they don't assume elvish healing powers.) In fandom, some assume really heavy scarring and some none at all. The "flawed porcelain" is a self-quote, alluding to my ficlet "The Knot".
During the time when Elrond was with Maedhros and Maglor, I assume the power of Morgoth was very strong in Beleriand so that both Elrond and Maedhros could sense it.