Comments

The Silmarillion Writers' Guild is more than just an archive--we are a community! If you enjoy a fanwork or enjoy a creator's work, please consider letting them know in a comment.

This is really interesting on so many levels. He might have been a safeguard for Feanor in a lot of ways if his father had respected his opinions more. It reminds of the reference to some Nerdanel and how some of her offspring might have been closer in spirit to her than others. The fandom points so often to Maglor! An artist! He must have been so sensitive! I guess they have not know as many as I have. I always saw him as being closer to Feanor--wrapped in his work. But I always think of Maedhros as the one who resembles his mother--the brains and the conscience. This story reinforces my opinion on that.

Thank you very much, Oshun! I'm glad it seems convincing to you. I do think that Maedhros, while certainly not above making terrible mistakes himself, seems much more prone to second thoughts than Feanor (who is obviously brilliant but almost incapable of revising his opinions, it seems).

I imagine both Maedhros and Maglor as resembling Nerdanel, but not necessarily in the same way. Nerdanel, after all, was an artist as well. And I do imagine Maglor as getting very wrapped up in his work, yes!

Man, it's been a while since I've had time to sit down and read, and I haven't kept up as much with Silmfic, either, but I'm glad I took the time to read this one.

This fic really highlights the essence of the tragedy of Maedhros; he had his own mind, his own thoughts, and eventually carved out some of his own paths, but he was always inexorably drawn back in to his father's will, and thus his doom.

I loved how you established the seeds of Curumo's desires that would eventually lead him down his path as Saruman, too. It's funny, I get this image of his voice being something like a slow working roofie; you know something is wrong, but you can't help but want to give in, so Maedhros' discomfort is portrayed perfectly.

Also, dat ending. I love the image of Oloron turning back into Gandalf and smoking pipeweed in Valanor after LotR just to contemplate on things. It seems so fitting, and just makes him all the more awesome.

Great to hear from you, Beorning! I hope life is treating you well.

I'm glad this worked for you! Yes, I was trying to set up a pattern for what happens later. At this stage in Valinor, it doesn't seem to do any harm yet that Maedhros has developed this habit of postponing his own needs and ideas for his father's sake, but already there are repercussions.

And I'm delighted that that you were able to pick up so well on what I was trying to do in the scene with Curumo! And also that the final scene with Olorin was convincing.

Great photo-and great chapter. I agree too that the Noldor were so inventive that they would have seen Middle Earth as a challenge. I love this idea that Curufin almost snatches the drawings and goes off muttering- you wrote Maedhros in a beautiful manner- very lightly almost inperceptibly leading people to where he wants them.

This is very lovely as a piece- that moment Fingon realises Maglor is singing softly under his breath is a complete moment for me-

 

'He looked up. When had Maglor started singing? Singing so quietly that Fingon had not even noticed, so focussed had he been on his letter, and nobody would have been able to hear even a couple of paces away? But even as Fingon looked up, Maglor fell silent and sang no more.'

 

I could see him looking up, see the stone of the room they are in, see Maglor turning his head slightly and stopping. I can see the window he was looking out of, away towards Himring.

 

And that later scene where he has realised what Maglor knew and did not speak until he was ready...perfect.

I am sure I have read these, or some of them before- but the last one made me so sad. I love horses and am glad he died knowing he had saved Whitemane- but he had survived so much and been such a good person in fact, his loyalty and dedication is a virtue. Maedhros' end is too tragic, and Celvandil's end sort of mirrors the ultimate futility of the Noldors' quest/flight from Valinor. You have such a deft touch with your characters - frugal and succinct but conveying such a depth and quality in them.

Celvandil's death saddened me as well, although I wrote it myself. I started these drabbles working out the background to a WIP (most of which isn't written yet) and the plot outline of that seemed to imply that Celvandil hadn't survived until the founding of Rivendell.

I'm glad you like Celvandil! If I manage to finish that other story, you will see a bit more of him and the period just after the founding of Himring.

I think this is my favourite- right up to the little twist that she is a woman - and I ,as I was supposed to I assume, had thought her a man. I enjoyed the metatext and shared writer's anxiety that no one will read it, who cares and why bother!! But you find your reader as Maedhros has found his is a wonderful idea.

 

But of course you draw him so delicately and beautifully as well- even if he seems to the porters at first a gangly shadow and the hair is not as bright as she expects - but Maedhros is just Maedhros. And Fingon is Fingon and the two are part of the whole. Gorgeously written as always.

I really liked this. You beautifully show that it's small and unexpected things that make Maedhros' recovery so hard; that something natural and harmless like fog can throw him off-balance. Good thing that Fingon is at hand (no pun intended) to help, and that Maedhros quickly sees the advantages of the unsettling phenomenon!