A New Day by oshun

Notes

"A New Day" is a sequel to my earlier story, also posted here, called "Maitimo and Findekáno." It has appeared to me that in fanfiction Fingon is often written as a character who is secondary to Maedhros in a manner that is similar to the way in which Hephaestion is compared to Alexander or Patroclus to Achilles. Plutarch wrote that Alexander called Hephaestion "a fool and a madman for not knowing that without Alexander's favour he was nothing." The implication was that Alexander might have had more brilliant military commanders, but Hephaestion was first because he was closest to his heart. I tend to view Fingon as being even more of an equal--the closest thing that Maedhros had to an advisor and collaborator (even more so than Maglor), with the huge proviso that Fingon was not bound by the Oath.
 
In my variation on their world, neither Maedhros nor Fingon represents Achilles or Patroclus, but each is in their own right a bigger-than-life tragic hero. The relationship that I chose to write between Maedhros and Fingon is complex. Both are flawed and yet the personal bravery of these two men and their devotion to one another is mythic in proportion. I hope to show both are greater because of their relationship with one another. I have chosen to write the lifelong aspect of their connection to be a primary and memorable part of this tale. The poignancy of their story is that, while Maedhros is failed by his first hero (his father), Fingon, without Fëanor's arrogance and completely lacking any claim to perfection, never fails him. Of course, the doom of the Noldor both illuminates and darkens everything about their tale.

Canon comments: The times elapsed within this story have been greatly telescoped. I could not imagine how Maedhros might have hung from the cliffs of Thangorodrim for more than a couple of weeks. Neither could I conceive of Fingon dithering around until year 5 of the First Age before deciding to rescue him. The events of this story, beginning immediately after Fingon rescues Maedhros and ending with Maedhros abdicating the kingship of Noldor, take place in the course of less than a year.

Names:

Quenya - Sindarin

Findekáno/Káno - Fingon
Maitimo/Nelyafinwë/Nelyo/Russandol - Maedhros
Nolofinwë - Fingolfin
Turukáno - Turgon
Findaráto/Ingo - Finrod Felagund
Macalaurë - Maglor
Tyelkormo - Celegorm
Pityo/Pityafinwë - Amrod
Telvo/Telufinwë - Amras
Artanis - Galadriel
Irissë - Aredhel
Angaráto - Angrod
Aikanáro - Aegnor
Arafinwë - Finarfin

Chapter End Notes

Special thanks to Dawn Felagund for her Beta of every single chapter and to IgnobleBard for reading and commenting on each draft chapter (and endlessly discussing plot, characterization, and encouraging me). I think IgnobleBard knows these characters as well as I do now.

I also want to thank Claudio for hounding me about first lines of chapters and torturing me about geography. Thanks for extra help and unfailing generosity to Pandemonium and Moreth and all the folks at the Lizard Council.