A Sense of History: Straight Road
The next in a series of articles about ships passing to and from the West, Simon uses "The Fall of Númenor" to attempt to arrive at Tolkien's reading of the exordium to "Beowulf."
Once, in the blissful years in Valinor, Celegorm and Curufin loved the same woman. On the eve of the Winter Festival, Curufin makes an exchange with Celegorm that leaves him with the woman who will become his wife, but Celegorm is left wanting. Many years later, on the long march to Middle-earth, Celegorm finally finds joy in his half of the bargain.
On his way to a tryst with his betrothed, Maglor discovers something unexpected about the relationship between Maedhros and their cousin Fingon. When Maedhros reveals his love for their cousin to Maglor, Maglor has to decide how he feels about this unconventional relationship, eventually realizing that the commonalities of love outweigh the differences. Maedhros/Fingon, Maglor/OFC.
Long ago in Aman, Finwë told his young grandsons the legends of Cuiviénen, hoping that the lessons learned by the Elves in Middle-earth would guide them morally. Many centuries later, in Middle-earth, the sons of Fëanor have lost sight of those lessons, but the rising of a new star suggests all hope is not lost.