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29 - amputation — Description
Prompt 29, "amputation".
From J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Silmarillion', where Fingon rescues Maedhros from the cliff at Thangorodrim by severing his hand. As a weird side note, I was obsessed with Tolkein's Middle-Earth in high school & used to write my fencing bout notes in Tengwar (so that no one would advantage themselves on my observations😆). Those were the days! I was as obsessed with elves as once Mr. Sam Gamgee was.

"Thus Fingon found what he sought. For suddenly above him far and faint his song was taken up, and a voice answering called to him. Maedhros it was who sang amid his torment. But Fingon climbed to the foot of the precipice where his kinsman hung, and then could go no further; and he wept when he saw the cruel device of Morgoth. Maedhros therefore, being in anguish without hope, begged Fingon to shoot him with his bow; and Fingon strung an arrow, and bent his bow. And seeing no better hope he cried to Manwë, saying: 'Oh King to whom all birds are dear, speed now this feathered shaft, and recall some pity for the Noldor in their need!'

"His prayer was answered swiftly. For Manwë...had sent forth the race of Eagles, commanding them to dwelll in the crags of the North, and to keep watch upon Morgoth...And the Eagles brought news of much that had passed in those days to the sad ears of Manwë. Now even as Fingon bent his bow, there flew down from the high airs Thorondor, King of Eagles, mightiest of all birds that have ever been...and staying Fingon's hand he took him up, and bore him to the face of the rock where Maedhros hung. But Fingon could not release the hell-wrought bond upon his wrist, nor sever it, nor draw it from the stone. Again therefore in his pain Maedhros begged that he would slay him; but Fingon cut off his hand above the wrist, and Thorondor bore them back to Mithrim." (Tolkein, The Silmarillion, Ch. 13).