Dawn spoke with polutropos about her upcoming presentation for Mereth Aderthad, “'Kidnap Fam' and the Living Legendarium," including the appeal of kidnap fam, the appeal of Maglor's character, and how The Silmarillion as an incomplete, complex word makes it ripe for both fanworks and scholarship.

As one of the most beloved Silmarillion characters, Maglor is a bundle of contradictions undergirded by a complex textual history. Warrior, musician, wanderer, and survivor, Maglor brings to the fore key themes in Tolkien's early legendarium, such as the role of music, oaths, and exile.

Ficlets for the Jubilee Challenge instadrabbling. 

While practicing their jumps, Angaráto confesses to being distracted after a rather embarrassing quarrel in the marketplace. Artanis listens and offers her insight. 

Elrond hears a call in the waters of the Bruinen and follows it to the sea. There he finds someone whose memory he has long ago put behind him, but whom he knows at once — only Maglor does not know him. As he revisits his past with Maglor, both painful and fond, Elrond must also reckon with Maglor’s loss of memory. How do you forgive someone who does not remember what he has done?

At the gates of Edoras, Aragorn tells the guard that Narsil was forged by Telchar, the great dwarven smith of the First Age. How did this ancient heirloom come into the hands of Elendil, king of the Realms in Exile?

Written for the SWG challenge Kings & Queens (as well as Akallabeth in August), and part of my Weapons series, the rest of which is on AO3. 

Maglor's westward odyssey nearly fails when he is led astray by an enthralling light and song in the depths of the sea.

"They do not touch anymore, not even in violence. Maglor has no need of him. It is his foals, grazing upon his barren spirit, who have brought him back to life."

A messy entanglement, from four perspectives. 

It is the night of Tirion's masked ball. Fëanáro is after Artanis' hair, Artanis is after a distraction, Macalaurë is deploying all his wiles, and Findaráto is just trying to have a nice time.

Orodreth finds comfort and renewal in the arms of Adanedhel.

"Heat crawled over the side of Celegorm’s body where Finrod’s shoulder brushed it, but he smirked. He had no wish to wrest the crown of Nargothrond from his cousin, not yet. Finrod was a competent leader, and beloved. Better to leave the Kingdom in his hands — and for Celegorm to hold Finrod in his."

Eärendil returns to Sirion after his latest sea voyage, and Elwing's anxieties about her pregnancy are soothed in the loving arms of her husband.

“Fëanáro, please, listen to me. She does not wish to return, not ever."

Fëanor refuses to let hatred consume him at Finwë's news. Written for the challenge 'Dip the Ladle'. 

Young Daeron has many questions. This time, they lead Beleg to a vision of a dark future for the elves on the westward journey.

It's a ridiculous Yule for all. Maglor discovers much about his cousin Turgon after he is sent off to spend the evening with him, and Maedhros and Fingon receive a surprise visit from a well-pickled Finrod.

When Maedhros and Maglor attempt to steal the Silmarils after the War of Wrath, they are seized and taken as prisoners back to Valinor. As it turns out, a pardon has been negotiated on their behalf - but no one bothered to tell them this, or the unique conditions on which they have been released from their oath. They have simply been tied up and dumped in two different remote locations: Maglor outside a white tower near the borders of the Sundering Seas, and Maedhros on a dock at the rim of the world.

[Maedhros and Maglor are Eärendil and Elwing's war prizes and everyone has sex.]

At the End of the World, reconciliation and renewal.

A Fëanorian hunter is seriously injured near the Nolofinwëan camp at Lake Mithrim. Though Fingolfin scarcely knew Fëanor's youngest sons, he at once recognises and is drawn to his nephew, whose presence offers him a semblance of closure to the irreparable relationship with his dead half-brother. After taking on the role of Amrod's healer himself, he discovers that their wounds, and their need for each other, run far deeper than he thought.

Shortly after the unexpected release of Fëanor, Daeron — now loremaster of Alqualondë and chief minstrel of the Eldar — finally reaches out to Maglor. Maglor is perplexed about his motives, but agrees to meet.

Distrust and suspicion have been upsetting the peace of Rivendell since the arrival of an exceptionally talented minstrel who calls himself Lindir. Elrond seems oblivious to the problem, so Erestor takes it upon himself to confront his lord about it.