Maitimo and Findekáno by oshun

Author's Notes

I want to thank Dawn Felagund, my principle muse for this story, for welcoming me into the world of Fëanor and his sons she created in her novel Another Man's Cage. My Fingon and Maedhros represent one possible way her younger incarnations might have evolved within a few years. Dawn's generosity also extended to Beta reading drafts of the story. Thank you, Dawn. Your corrections and suggestions have been invaluable.

IgnobleBard assumed the grubbier work of reading the earlier drafts. He saved me from producing what I feared, without his help, would be a woman's image of love between two men. Obviously, I accept responsibility for the failures of imagination and style that remain despite their liberal support.

Several months ago I had a discussion with Raihon relating to her story Beleg and Túrin. She expressed the opinion that they were perhaps Tolkien's most slashable couple. Immediately the thought popped into my head that, while I could see her reasoning, no other pairing had moved me or raised that question for me like the relationship of Fingon and Maedhros. The canon cite from the Silmarillion that first struck me (and the one most quoted) is:

"But when they were landed, Maedhros the eldest of his sons, and on a time the friend of Fingon ere Morgoth's lies came between, spoke to Fëanor, saying: 'Now what ships and rowers will you spare to return, and whom shall they bear hither first? Fingon the Valiant?'

"Then Fëanor laughed as one fey, and he cried: 'None and none! What I have left behind I count now no loss; needless baggage on the road it has proved. Let those that cursed my name, curse me still, and whine their way back to the cages of the Valar! Let the ships burn!' Then Maedhros alone stood aside..."

The drama of that moment riveted me to their story in a manner only to be equaled in the following cite:

"Long before, in the bliss of Valinor, before Melkor was unchained, or lies came between them, Fingon had been close in friendship with Maedhros; and though he knew not yet that Maedhros had not forgotten him at the burning of the ships, the thought of their ancient friendship stung his heart. Therefore he dared a deed which is justly renowned among the feats of the princes of the Noldor: alone, and without the counsel of any, he set forth in search of Maedhros..."

Of course the heroic feat that is spoken of here is the rescue of Maedhros from the cliffs of Thangorodrim where he had been chained after his capture by Morgoth. Maedhros's brothers are unable to even attempt this, yet Fingon does, alone, and succeeds. The result is the reuniting of the two friends and their healing of the rift between the houses of the Noldor. Maedhros renounces his claim to the High Kingship of the Noldor in favor of Fingolfin. At the death of Fingolfin, Fingon, as his oldest son and heir, assumes the Kingship. It is Fingon who leads the assault upon Morgoth known as the Nirnaeth Arnoediad or the Unnumbered Tears. Maedhros rushes to support him, but, separated by betrayal,  their armies never come together and Fingon is slain in that confrontation by the Balrog, Gothmog. Even those who know little of the story are aware of Maedhros's end.

As I conceptualized it, my story of Fingon and Maedhros fell into a pattern reminiscent of the idealized relationship between a young man and his more youthful lover in the tradition of Ancient Greece. In this story I present Maedhros as the mentor and teacher of the younger Fingon. Meanwhile, Fingon attracts his older half-cousin, not only by his beauty (which in his case, as a scion of the House of Finwë, must have been considerable), but by his valor, generosity and honesty. The relationship is marked on the one side by the talent, accomplishments, warmth, and beauty of Maedhros and, on the other side, in addition to the youthful transparency and attractiveness of Fingon, by virtues that the older of the two lovers would admire and seek to emulate as well.

The tragic backdrop to their story, of course, is that of the fall of the House of Fëanor and the Doom of the Noldor. A self-admitted coward, I chose to tell only the story of the first euphoric recognition of that love, set in the Time of the Trees in Valinor, and leave for another time its painful end.

Names

I have used the Quenya names for the characters and been attentive to how I imagine the various characters would refer to one another, including the use of nicknames. Since many of the names are known best by their Sindarin versions, I provide a short name reference list below:

Sindarin - Quenya (and/or nicknames)

Fingon - Findekáno, Káno
Maedhros - Maitimo, Nelyafinwë, Nelyo
Fëanor - Fëanáro
Finarfin - Arafinwë
Celegorm - Tyelkormo
Maglor - Macalaurë
Caranthir - Carnistir
Fingolfin - Nolofinwë
Curufin - Curufinwë/Curvo

Lastly, I quote the following dialogue between Maedhros and Maglor, which so poignantly reflects upon their respective names, from Dawn Felagund's story "Evidence Of."

"Macalaurë." Insistent now, demanding answers.

"Do not call me that." You will not let us call you Nelyo of the childhood lost or Maitimo of the beauty you no longer possess or even Nelyafinwë of the kingship you forsook, so Maedhros--that bitter name upon my tongue--do not call me that name I was given by my mother, that name I was called in love by my wife, the meaning of which is also lost.