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I was just going over one of my old fics here that focused on Fëanor (in preparation for a new, related fic) and saw this new story come up and had to read it right away. Fëanor and Finwë have been on my mind recently, especially after a recent tumblr post regarding Finwë's last stand and how his grandsons found him. When they were too late. 

I love the details of young Fëanaro. His father's lateness has allowed him to alter the plan and his attention to detail is admirable. How he knows the furniture isn't the right thing to send, how he strives to be a part of the host family, not a prince, while he is with them. This shows such an astute sensitivity and solicitude for others, something Finwë does not seemingly have. It makes me think of how loyal his followers are, years later. Not necessarily because of his skills or rank but perhaps because he sees them, knows them, relates to them, as individuals--their idiosyncrasies, cares, worries. You show us a side of Fëanor not often delineated--this side that cares for others and is in tune to what might hurt, embarass or cause them discomfort. You show us this in his care to pay the workers, recompense the inn.

At such a young age he is so self-possessed. And a minimalist as far as luggage goes! Practical--he has thought out the travel plan, the rivers, the time and amenities. Foreshadowing that detail oriented capacity he has as an adult. 

It is telling also that Finwë has issues communicating with him clearly or directly--he thinks of what he might say but does not say what he is thinking. 

The second part made me sad for Nolofinwë--he's reaching out to his father and it almost seems like his father sees him for the first time as the person he is--magnificent. But Fëanaro's barbed words about Nolo interfere with this moment and Nolo never gets to say what he wanted to say--once again trumped by his older brother. 

He has come just in time and it seems Fëanaro's wasn't going to wait for his father this time. The calling out of the old name stops Fëanaro in his tracks and it is a coming together that is impactful not only physically but emotionally too. His father chose him, followed through on that choice. It hasn't always been that way. 

Very powerful. 

This is such an amazing comment! Thank you! It's like reading what was going on in my brain as I pondered and wrote this. ^_^

>This shows such an astute sensitivity and solicitude for others

This has always been an important part of my Feanor. He doesn't like hierarchies. He doesn't like the idea that some are the servants of others because of the luck of birth into a noble family. He feels more comfortable with the "ordinary" people, people whose time and attention is mostly spent on the lore and craft he loves. He is not a politician--he has trouble understanding how politicians even think--whereas Finwe is definitely a politician. Finwe was thinking to impress this family kind enough to take in his son; he was imagining that the furniture would give them status and be an honor to receive. He didn't consider the fact that, in the North, homes are necessarily small and status is not conferred in the same way.

Whereas, in the Felakverse, by this point, Feanor has traveled there with Aule and he *knows* ... and as you note, he is astute enough, even as young as he is, to understand that his father's fancy furniture would have the opposite effect of putting his host family in an awkward position and setting him apart as different and "above" them (when really, he wants so badly to fit in ...)

> Nolo never gets to say what he wanted to say

Yes! I'm glad you noticed this. (I worried it might slip by, but I think it's telling that Nolo starts speaking, Finwe starts thinking of Feanor, and then literally gallops out the door while shouting instructions about how to serve the interests of the exiled half-brother ...)

Not your finest moment, Finwe.

> His father chose him, followed through on that choice. It hasn't always been that way.

YES. Exactly! :D

Thank you so much for reading (on the spot too!) and for such a thoughtful review.

A striking take on those two! 

It becomes even more explicit in the second part, with Finwe delayed by the Noldorin bureaucracy he himself founded, but already in the first part he seems to have hemmed himself in, in ways that make him both weaker than he was and also impact on his relationship with his son. The leader of the journey from Cuivienen who does not want to go too far from Tirion! But in the end he does depart Tirion, with his son, and it's a moving moment.

Feanor, on the other hand, the restless one, knows what people are like north of Formenos and, at least at this point of his life, still takes thought for their needs.

Poor Fingolfin, who has dutifully taken on board the importances of triplicate signatures and such, and then is never allowed to get beyond the preamble! I feel for him, even as I can see how it could make others impatient. (Feanor seems less malicious in his reaction than actually in pain!)

(The Noldorin ancestry of hobbit customs with regard to witnesses is a neat idea!)

Thank you as always for the kind and insightful review! :D

I just had those Hobbit customs on my brain, so when it came time to write also about bureaucracy and signatures, it seemed a natural connection to make. I almost never connect anything to Hobbits so ...

I'm glad you picked up on some of the ironies of Finwe's character. This always struck me: someone brave enough to lead his people across the Misty Mountains but content to live a cozy, risk-free life under the care of the Valar. (I realize my bias is showing here ... ;)

I have a student who talks like my Fingolfin. I'll be like, "What's the definition of theme?" and he'll raise his hand with the answer of something like, "The definition of theme is that theme is defining as in a story or a work of fiction or a novel or a story, theme is when in a story you have the main idea, and theme is when you take the main idea and you find, in the story, the message or lesson of the main idea in the story."

And I'll say, "Yep, theme is the author's message or lesson." :D

He's an emotionally frail kid clinging like mad to his identity as one of the intellectual giants of his class, and he seems to think that saying a lot of words sounds smart! And of course it ensures that everyone's attention is on him for a full thirty seconds to say a five-word definition! So my heart goes out to him (like it does to Fingolfin) but, man, is it hard to listen to!

Thanks again for reading and commenting! ^_^

Oh, Finwë. He doesn't seem to know how to communicate with either of his sons.  I guess at least Fëanor got his attention in the end, but at the expense of Fingolfin, who presumably never got to say whatever it was, since I can't imagine him committing it to a letter that his older brother would also read.

Actually, I wonder if it might have been better for his family and maybe for others too if your Finwë hadn't been king. He seems so out of touch with everyone... 

Yes, Finwe is really good at getting himself into messes! I've never seen him as a master of communication (or relating to the feelings of others ...) given his remarriage to Indis. I mean ... who does that?! Seeks special dispensation to remarry, consigning his late wife to eternal death, while her son is still small, so that he can have more sons?? (Answer: Finwe does that!) Anyway, I've tended to judge Finwe a little harshly and really have, in recent stories, tried to stand more in his shoes. His relatives and people certainly seemed to love him and so were able to accept his flaws. (I use the same logic to defend my perspective on Feanor! So many didn't follow him with such loyalty because he was an unmitigated jerk.)

I think by the time Feanor has been banished, there really is no easy way out for Finwe. Of course, that is largely of his own making ...

Thanks for reading and commenting! ^_^

 

Oh! Finwe is so out of touch with his sons and it seems the general population if his lack of understanding about how others live is anything to go by.

I guess this is what Kingship has done to him. Or maybe this is just who Finwe is. I wonder what sort of father he would have made had he not been King?

Oh! And poor Nolofinwe, completely heartbreaking to see him ignored and passed over for his older brother. I think Finwe's actions here were deplorable, and this coming from the Elf who desired a big happy family. 

Thank you for sharing. 

Thank *you* for commenting. ^_^

I think it is the kingship that "ruins" Finwe, although in my 'verse, he is always rather self-centered. But the kingship puts him in a position where he is responsible for the care of a people (and family) but simultaneously without the time needed to properly undertake that care. I don't think he doesn't go North because he doesn't care for the people there but because it is a long journey and (he reasons) it is hard to get away. Likewise, he creates this situation where, no matter his choice, he is hurting one of his sons. Presumably, he lets Feanor go so easily in the first half (even though he believes Feanor is too young) because it will ease the tension on Indis and Fingolfin, who was only a small child at the time. Then he chooses the opposite in the second half, and it is Fingolfin who is left to bear the brunt of making the other brother comfortable.

Thanks again for reading and commenting! :D

I've just contributed to the recent Slashy Santa exchange and the request I received was for a Feanaro/Nolofinwe story with Finwe being a not-good-enough father and Feanaro taking over, being very protective of his brother.  The recipient wanted something very AU and I delivered for her.

But around the time I received the request I got a notice from the SWG that one of my favorite authors (that's you, Dawn) had posted a story involving these three characters!  I had to wait to read it so it didn't influence me in any way, but I was on tenterhooks until now because I wanted to see how you dealt with them.

I like the way you've written Finwe so realistically, as an older man who has fallen into a pattern of treating people a certain way and seemingly unable to change although he really wants to!  And I love the bit about his socks - it's almost like he's on the verge of senility, poor man.

You've written a younger version of Feanaro here that I like a lot.  I am glad that he doesn't hate Nolofinwe, only thinks of him as 'annoying'.

And your version of Nolofinwe is interesting as well - the rather pedantic, on his way to a boring and stuffy later version of Nolofinwe.

To state the obvious I really enjoyed this story.  I do like the family dynamics as well as the Felakverse you've incorporated.  And the idea of using the six signatures from the Hobbits in LoTR is brilliant!

"Aulë had pondered him in one of those long moments typical of the Valar that felt like it occupied a year in the space of just a few seconds"

<3

"He blamed her people and his: hers for their insatiable need for ritual that included layer upon layer of readings and music and vows, readings and music and vows, readings and music and vows, before he placed his crown in her hands. "

Nice effect repeating the sentence, that really sounded interminable!

I wonder if Nolofinwë could actually say what he meant to say or if wasn't able to.

Was Fëanaro afraid Finwë would not come and changed his mind? He did look like it was a relief for him.