Crossed Paths by Flora-lass  

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Fanwork Notes

For the Swinging 40s challenge prompt:

'This cruel age has deflected me, like a river from this course. Strayed from its familiar shores, my changeling life has flowed into a sister channel.' ~ Anna Akhmatova.

400 words, written using prompts from the August 2025 instadrabbling session.

Fanwork Information

Summary:

Tuor and Voronwë encounter Túrin at Ivrin. Hurt and not much comfort (but they try).

Major Characters: Tuor, Voronwë, Túrin

Major Relationships:

Genre: Alternate Universe, Fixed-Length Ficlet, Hurt/Comfort

Challenges: Swinging 40s

Rating: General

Warnings:

Chapters: 1 Word Count: 400
Posted on Updated on

This fanwork is complete.

Crossed Paths

Read Crossed Paths

Even as Voronwë showed Tuor the signs of the dragon's rampage, they heard cries of despair, and a Man all in black emerged from the trees. They saw years of woe etched on his face, as he gazed in dismay at the defilement of Ivrin. His footsteps slowed, and with a final cry he sank to the ground.

Tuor and Voronwë hastened to where he sat; the Man's hand went to his sword, but he accepted their assurances of goodwill. 

‘You are beyond weary, friend,’ said Voronwë, pushing his hair aside and looking at him intently. ‘And full of grief. If you would come with us, we will find a place where you may rest awhile. Winter is upon us, and it is cold for mortals to be alone.’

‘How long is it since you ate, or slept?’ asked Tuor, recognising one in a state far worse than his own.

The Man shook his head. ‘I know not,’ he muttered, ‘and it does not matter. All that matters is that I find them.‘ He scrambled to his feet, staring around in confusion. ‘I found healing here, once,’ he continued. ‘But my healer is dead, and many others besides. There is nothing here now that could bring me ease.’

‘Where are you bound?’ Tuor asked, offering a steadying hand. ‘Do you know the way?’

The Man recoiled. ‘Do not hinder me,’ he said. ‘For I am cursed, and would not taint you. I am going home, if my Doom allows - but I do not know if my home is still there…’ And without another word, he turned, and stumbled away.

After a moment's thought, Voronwë followed, and pressed upon him as much of their precious store of waybread as could be spared. The Man's face twisted, as if with a painful memory, and he seemed to blink back tears. He nodded his thanks, and departed.

Sadly, Voronwë made his way back to Tuor. ‘He bears a heavy burden,’ he said. ‘I wonder what can have befallen?'

‘I wish he had stayed longer,’ said Tuor. ‘My heart aches for him. He reminded me of someone, though I cannot remember who.’

‘That is strange,’ Voronwë answered, ‘for he somehow reminded me of you, for all he appears as one of the Noldor, at first glance. I pray I never see you so distressed. Come, let us seek shelter from this evil wind.’

Chapter End Notes

(Written using the prompt sets 'grief, footsteps, years, slow' and 'tears, home, still, allow'.)

Leave a Comment

Ooh! I've always wondered what might have happened if they did meet here. I imagine Túrin longed for companionship and yet he still has the heart to keep away for fear of inflicting his curse on them. Which somehow makes it even sadder. 

I really like this!

Very well told, and that is a compelling connection between that prompt and that episode at Eithel Ivrin.

I really like that they try to help; their kindness comes through so clearly.

But it also is convincing that what they can do for Turin at this point is limited.

I really appreciate your thoughtful comment. I couldn't help thinking of Túrin when I saw that prompt, although it's hard to put all my thoughts into words. I think Tuor and Túrin must sense that they have a connection, but with one blessed by Ulmo and the other cursed by Morgoth, they're just too far apart, and neither can change course. :(

Oh, wow, this reads as though it could absolutely be part of the canon — as much as I would want Túrin to change course and accept more than the most cursory help, this outcome is so much truer to his character and the narrative. It really does feel like it could be in the book! The line you had mentioned to me (I found healing here once but my healer is dead) is just GUTTING in context and even more so because he follows it with the (tragically wrong!!!) contention that there is nothing left at Ivrin to bring him ease even though Tuor and Voronwë are right there, trying their best to do just that! But it is so very Túrin to unfortunately recoil from a hand of help…

I just love how immediately caring and loving Tuor and Voronwë are for this absolute stranger in distress. The recognition that both Tuor and Voronwë have for him, not as himself but as someone they want to help, is so lovely (and an instance of them seeing not with their eyes but their hearts, perhaps? To circle back to The Little Prince?). It occurs to me that for all that Túrin is epically unlucky, he does actually have a knack for being found and offered care by MANY kind people who want to aid him, going back to Nellas and Beleg (the clearly painful memory of the waybread! 😭) and then Gwindor and later Brandir. It’s an interesting and very consistent thread of luck in an otherwise very cursed life and reflected super well here with this little encounter. I loved it and will think of this each time I read their near-miss in the actual text!

Oh, thank you so much for this lovely comment! Despite really wanting these characters to meet properly rather than just pass each other at a distance, I found I couldn't actually fix anything, sadly. :( 

I think Tuor and Túrin both instantly sense some sort of kinship, although they react very differently - and somehow I always imagine Voronwë as being very kind (I've even written him being kind to Maeglin, although I doubt he'd have remained so indefinitely!) A point in canon which particularly spoke to me, probably because of my visual impairment, is that Tuor and Voronwë hear Túrin before they see him - and he sounds so utterly grief-stricken that I think they'd have gone in search of him if he hadn't appeared (and they can still hear him when he's out of sight again, and he really preys on their minds afterwards). 

You're so right that Túrin meets so many people during his life who love him and/or want to help him. But I think it's part of Morgoth's curse that all these encounters will go terribly wrong, while constantly giving Túrin just enough hope to keep going - and thus to keep harming those who are dear to him. He breaks my heart!

I really appreciate you reading, and sharing such generous thoughts. :) Please feel free to respond/disagree, if you'd like to - discussing poor Túrin at length is fine with me!