Excerpt: “What do you wish for, Maedhros?” he asked. Maedhros hated this game almost as much as Thingol enjoyed it. Their first time together in so many years, Maedhros would have hoped that Thingol would simply give him what he wanted—as he so often seemed to know without Maedhros having to voice it—but of course he had missed making Maedhros say it out loud.
The lord of Amon Ereb held still and silent while Maglor pushed in the needles. It was one of the few personal tasks with which Maedhros still trusted another, and Maglor suspected this was simply because he was incapable of doing it himself. The acupuncture was meant to stimulate blood flow, and lessen the stiffness and pain in Maedhros’ right shoulder.
Maglor couldn’t say if it did.
One needle he jabbed in particularly roughly and Maedhros twitched and flexed his shoulder, and so Maglor stuck the next one in still more aggressively.
“You are not doing it correctly,” said Maedhros, by which Maglor knew he meant that hurts.
“I follow the diagram,” said Maglor, savagely flicking one of the needles. Ideally, it would create a “localized sensation,” but it was not intended to escalate to true pain, if it was done properly.
“You don’t even look on it,” Maedhros snapped.
“How would you know on what I look? I stand behind you.” Maglor stabbed another needle into Maedhros’ shoulder, nearly scraping down to bone.
“It’s on the desk,” Maedhros snarled, gesturing across the room.
“I remember it,” said Maglor, flicking another needle so that Maedhros let out a sharp intake of breath. His restraint was enraging, and Maglor flicked another needle harder, and harder, and harder and when this did not force Maedhros to break composure and cry out, he thrust in another needle along his spine with such violence that Maedhros whipped around, grabbing for his wrist.
“Enough!”
For a moment they grappled and then Maedhros rose and threw his brother to the floor where Maglor hit the wood hard and lay still, breathing heavily through his nose.
“Have you something to say, Kanafinwë?” Maedhros asked.
The acid which bubbled up in Maglor’s throat choked him; the poison of it clogged up his veins, his lungs, his stomach; it spread out through his body and withered him from the inside: he trembled, and glared.
Maedhros would strangle him and demand his obedience even as he did it.
“Get out of my room,” said Maedhros. When Maglor did not move, he said again: “Get out,” and Maglor looked into a darker fire than ever he had seen in the eyes of their father, and rising to his feet, he took his bitter leave. On AO3 | On tumblr | On SWG
Hey, were you the one who posted how Maglor himself thought the oath and kinslayings were such evil acts? If so, how come there are those who still believe the second and third kinslaying is justified when Maglor himself thought it to be such an evil deed? I really need like a solid reasoning cause I was talking to someone who still believes the kinslayings were justified/needed and doesn't take my "murder is wrong" thing as a reason lol
I said:
That was indeed my post! If we’re thinking of the same one. I’ve definitely made a post like that.
I mean I don’t really know what to say besides “murder is wrong” lol If we can’t agree on that um. I don’t really know where we go.
The argument in favor of the kinslayings that I’ve seen usually boils down to property rights. Because the Silmarils are the rightful (and that’s honestly debatable) property of the Feanorians, anyone who keeps the Silmarils from them deserves what they get, basically.
Which is. Kind of bonkers as a moral philosophy, even if you DO buy that the Feanorians have an uncontested right to the Silmarils. #1: We’re punishing theft or conversion with DEATH now? That’s acceptable to us? #2: The harm the Feanorians caused went far beyond the individual who possessed the Silmaril (Dior in the Second Kinslaying and Elwing in the Third). Even if Dior had taken that Silmaril right out of Maedhros’ hand and spit in his eye on the way out it wouldn’t justify the wholesale slaughter of an entire kingdom. They literally murdered children over things. Items. Stuff. Magical cool stuff yeah–but they valued it over lives. Does anyone honestly think Tolkien would have written a story agreeing with that as a moral view?
“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” (Thorin’s final words,The Hobbit)
I don’t know how you look at Maedhros and Maglor–the ONLY two of SEVEN sons to survive through the Third Kinslaying–and think THEY think they did the right thing. Five of their brothers have now died in assaults on other Elves which they began. Maglor argues for breaking the oath there, he resists Maedhros’ drive to the Fourth Kinslaying (until he doesn’t), and at the end of it all, he throws his precious Silmaril into the sea. Maedhros kills himself over it. These are not the actions of people who feel GOOD about where their lives have gone and the actions they’ve taken. Tolkien is so blatantly obvious about the Feanorians being in the wrong it’s always a little wild to me that the KINSLAYINGS get defended.
On the note of the Fourth Kinslaying, let’s not forget that: That after everything, after the War of Wrath is over and everyone is ready to go home and see their families and be at peace, a whole group of Elves get murdered by Maglor and Maedhros again over the Silmarils. A group–Eonwe’s guard–of people who had survived a war with MORGOTH die because Maedhros and Maglor weren’t willing to break their oath.
An oath which Tolkien casts as wicked from the very start–something that was always likely to bring them to evil acts.
“Then Feanor swore a terrible oath. His seven sons leapt straightway to his side and took the selfsame vow together, and red as blood shone their drawn swords…and many quailed to hear the dread words.” (“Of the Flight of the Noldor,”The Silmarillion)
Furthermore, as Dior points out in some versions outside Silm proper, at the time the Second Kinslaying is committed, Melkor still has two of the Silmarils. Even if Dior had handed over Luthien’s Silmaril–to the people who had kidnapped and attempted to forcibly marry and presumably rape his mom; and also tried to murder her and his father later on–the oath is still not fulfilled, because Melkor has two.
The fact that the Feanorians choose to pursue Luthien’s Silmaril with violence and bloodshed rather than make a go at the two that Melkor has has always revealed their hypocrisy to me. They chose Luthien’s Silmaril because they knew it would be easier to get than the ones that Melkor has. Easier to kill other Elves if they don’t give you what you want, than to attack or infiltrate Angband. Even now, when they know it’s possible–because Beren and Luthien did it, and they had FAR fewer resources at hand than the Feanorians (and for the record, Fingon also successfully infiltrated Angband; Gwindor and others have successfully escaped from Angband)–they choose to slay other Elves instead. Say again the Second Kinslaying was “necessary”?
This is how Tolkien describes the attack on the Havens:
“And so there came to pass the last and cruelest of the slayings of Elf by Elf; and that was the third of the great wrongs achieved by the accursed oath.
For the sons of Feanor that yet lived came down suddenly upon the exiles of Gondolin and the remnant of Doriath, and destroyed them.” (“Of the Voyage of Earendil,”The Silmarillion)
Does this description sound like people taking justified action? And let’s not forget, in this battle, the Feanorians’ own troops are so horrified by their actions that they turn against them.
“In that battle some of their [the Feanorians’] people stood aside, and some few rebelled and were slain upon the other part aiding Elwing against their own lords…Too late the ships of Cirdan and Gil-galad the High King came hasting to the aid of the Elves of Sirion; and Elwing was gone, and her sons.” (“Of the Voyage of Earendil,”The Silmarillion)
Members of the Feanorians’ own people find their actions so terrible they cannot simply join those who stand by and refuse to attack the Havens, but they actively join the fight on the side of the Havens. Moreover, the heroic Gil-galad arrives intending to stop the Feanorians and aid the Havens. Sure, he arrives too late–but his intent is made clear: the Feanorians are the villains here, who need to be stopped.
And I don’t think it is uncontested that the Silmarils belong to the Feanorians. For one, they were created entirely and only by Feanor; none of his sons had anything to do with it. And for two, the universe itself has deemed by the end that the Feanorians no longer have a property right in them, when the Silmarils burn the hands of Maedhros and Maglor because of all the evil they’ve committed. The jewels themselves will not be touched by these people who have done so much wrong. Eonwe tries to warn them about this before they even commit the Fourth Kinslaying.
“And they [Maedhros and Maglor] sent a message therefore to Eonwe, bidding him yield up those jewels…But Eonwe answered that the right to the work of their father, which the sons of Feanor had formerly possessed, had now perished, because of their many and merciless deeds, being blinded by their oath, andmost of all because of their slaying of Dior and the assault upon the Havens.” (“Of the Voyage of Earendil,” The Silmarillion [emphasis added])
Like…I don’t know how the book could be more clear that the Kinslayings were wrong and that Maedhros and Maglor were in the wrong.
I think fans are so invested in the Feanorians they’re willing to bend over backwards to find some view where they didn’t actually commit horrific war crimes and were in fact in the right. But that’s just not the story Tolkien wrote. Also, you can like them and still admit they did horrible things. You are allowed to like characters who are in the wrong!
"The fact that the Feanorians choose to pursue Luthien's Silmaril with violence and bloodshed rather than make a go at the two that Melkor has always revealed their hypocrisy to me."
YES!! YES TO THIS, I always wonder why they chose to do the easy way out and commit horrific acts instead of doing what Luthien did to retake the silmarils from Melkor again. Didn't Maedhros hear the deeds of Beren and Luthien? How come he didn't go like 'Maybe I should do that too instead of committing mass murder?' Like, many can boast about the might of the feanorians, but the fact that they committed the kinslayings when Doriath was vulnerable and the ruler was still young shows how much of a coward they are.
You said so many good takes that I really want to discuss, but I don't wanna annoy you with too many asks hahahaha
I said:
As someone fairly pointed out in the tags, an effort for Melkor’s total overthrow was made (I do think “defeat Melkor” and “regain the Silmarils” are two separate goals, although the former would definitely make the latter much easier), and the Nirnaeth ends in a very decisive and lasting defeat for Maedhros, which I’m sure put him off trying again.
Interestingly, Beren and Luthien were precisely what inspired Maedhros to try the Nirnaeth:
“In those days Maedhros son of Fëanor lifted up his heart, perceiving that Morgoth was not unassailable; for the deeds of Beren and Lúthien were sung in many songs throughout Beleriand…and he began those counsels for the raising of the fortunes of the Eldar that are called the Union of Maedhros.” ( “Of The Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad,”The Silmarillion)
However, what’s notable about all other successful efforts to get in and out of Angband is that they were all stealth missions to a degree. It was just a handful of people–or even a single person–not a whole armed assault. Why didn’t Maedhros ever try this? We can only speculate.
My personal take has been that he simply despaired after the Nirnaeth. He believed Melkor could not be overcome (indicated above he had already before the Nirnaeth begun to believe that it was not possible to successfully attack Melkor) and therefore there was no point in trying to obtain the two Silmarils that he had–better to go for the one where they might have success: the one held by other Elves, who can be defeated.
Particularly interesting is that where Maedhros originally took hope from the success of Beren and Luthien, he later apparently comes to see it as their holding something which belongs to him–which to me speaks to his no longer seeing the other two Silmarils as in play, and falling back on the one which is still obtainable.
Does that justify it? Of course not.
Furthermore, one would ask why this allegedly skilled diplomat was unable to come to any understanding with Dior and in this, I’m inclined to put the fault on Maedhros, who is older and frankly, after what his house has done to Dior’s house, the one who needs to be making concessions. After all, why was it so urgent? Why could the Feanorians not take time to try to convince Dior of their view? Elves are immortal, after all–it’s not like Maedhros had a ticking clock behind him, unless he believed (as I think he did) that Melkor’s victory over Middle-earth was assured, and wanted to get at least one Silmaril before the ultimate defeat of the free peoples of Middle-earth. But that’s just my opinion.
As I noted to a friend this morning, I have an unfortunate condition of being incapable of not sharing my opinion when it’s asked for, so don’t you worry about that XD If I need a break from answering asks, I’ll take it.
Anyway, this stuff is so interesting to think about! It’s not really a surprise why Maedhros has captured the fandom so well–there’s a lot going on there.
Anonymous said (pertinent to an earlier discussion):
Despite being at the forefront of the kinslayings, If I had to pick the "nicest feanorian", the character that comes to my mind isn't Maglor. I think that title should be given to two feanorians who deserve it best. One who actually regrets, who has been written and headcanon many times as someone who actually reaches out to apologize for his actions even though words can't undo many wrongs. One who has such good relations with the other houses, one who's probably the sanest among the brothers, and that's Maedhros.
The other is Celebrimbor, and I don't think I have to explain why. He's the bestest boy who doesn't give me a headache every time I read fics about him.
I want to know who you think should be given that title.
I said:
I would disagree, tbh. Truthfully I don’t think there’s much sense in arguing about who “the nicest one” was because none of them was nice enough to not do the things they did. Maedhros led three unprovoked mass slaughters and twisted Maglor’s arm into doing the last one, and there’s no evidence I recall that he ever apologized for anything, except maybe while trying to sweet-talk Dior or Elwing into handing over the Silmaril. As the leader of the Feanorians, Maedhros also bears some responsibility for the actions of his brothers while they were under his command–that is, for Celegorm’s men taking two children and dragging them out into the woods to abandon them–because he created an atmosphere where this behavior was permitted, or at least not prevented.
What the fandom sees as Maglor’s great redeeming act–raising his hostages–Maedhros took no part in that we’re told of by canon. He usually gets lumped into Kidnap Fam by default, but the actual text only describes Maglor as having a relationship with the twins.
Of course, given how little we’re told about their personalities, we can headcanon quite a lot–I just personally don’t see Maedhros as a particularly nice person. Practical, yes. Nice? Not so much.
Celebrimbor on the other hand…TT_TT The arc I love for Celebrimbor is of someone who tried so hard to rise above his family legacy, to do better, to BE better, and ended up causing MORE damage than anyone in his family had done. The worst thing for Celebrimbor I think wasn’t being tortured by Sauron–it was being in the Halls and seeing or hearing of Sauron’s conquest across Middle-earth unfolding, knowing that HE had enabled it.
As with the rest, we don’t get much on Celebrimbor’s personality so there’s a lot of room for interpretation, but I’m always attached to the idea that he was suspicious of Annatar–but he remembered what his father and his uncles’ suspicions had driven them to, and decided to believe he had an excess of suspicion from the Feanorian side, and ignored it. And then :’).
Celebrimbor’s story is also a tragedy, but for different reasons, and it always gets me.
God, the disaster that is Nirnaeth Arnoediad must've brought Maedhros and his brother's reputation down the drain, Maedhros especially. The alliance was named after him and that must've brought so much shit to his name. Like, I wonder how he lived after that battle? Was he able to sleep every night knowing he failed spectacularly? Did he always dream of what could have been? Because every time I think of that fifth battle, I think to myself, how did Maedhros bear that failure with grace, when I myself felt that shame when they fell back. What do you think?
I said:
The Nirnaeth feels like a turning point, for the Noldor in Middle-earth. A number of things went wrong, among them that Tolkien tells us Maedhros revealed his strength too soon to Melkor. There were so many moments it seemed like they could pull this off, or at least cause some real damage to Melkor, but there were just so many things that worked against them, not least of all the betrayals Melkor sowed among the Noldor’s allies and the fact that the Feanorians had alienated major Elvish allies in Middle-earth (Doriath, Nargothrond) which could have made a real difference in the fight.
Part of being a leader is living with the choices you make. Honestly, a critical part of being a leader is being able to accept your mistakes and bad judgement calls without letting it ruin your ability to make decisions going forward. The problem is, it feels like Maedhros was already growing desperate. It seems he had already begun to lose faith that Melkor could be defeated, for the Nirnaeth chapter opens on how Maedhros’ heart was uplifted to hear of Beren and Luthien’s success in assaulting Angband, seeing that Melkor was not, in fact, unassailable (ergo, prior to B&L, Maedhros had believed or begun to believe Melkor was untouchable). Fingolfin, beloved high king of the Noldor who led them through hundreds of years of the long peace after fencing Melkor into Angband, met his glorious and messy end less than twenty years earlier. Fingon is a fetus of a king by Elf standards. The Feanorians have now turned two of the largest Elven kingdoms in Middle-earth against them, one of which was founded and ruled by their own damn cousin. The Feanorians are still bound to their oath. All of this leads to Maedhros showing his hand to Melkor too soon, and the whole thing has an air of desperation around it. Not very auspicious for them.
Personally, I view the Nirnaeth as THE major turning point for Maedhros as an individual. I talked here about his strategy and how it changes after the Nirnaeth, but I think his defeat here is what makes him completely and genuinely lose hope that Melkor can ever be defeated at all. I think Maedhros needed the Nirnaeth to prove something to himself, and it does the opposite of that. They lose a lot and get virtually nothing in return. The name itself tells you what a devastating defeat it was (“Unnumbered Tears”).
And I do not think he bore it with grace.
It’s after the Nirnaeth we see Maedhros become increasingly willing to enact violence against other Elves, and to do virtually anything to get his hands on Luthien’s Silmaril, because I think he does not consider the other two obtainable. Maedhros, in my mind, is simply trying to get his hands on one piece of their goal before Melkor conquers Middle-earth (which, to Maedhros, I think is inevitable). Maedhros has neither amdir nor estel, and he sinks lower and lower into a moral nadir flailing around in the general direction of his goals, because if you have no hope of a future, who cares about fucking the present?
However, regarding the Nirnaeth and its impact on Maedhros’ reputation: Don’t worry! I’m sure by the end of the First Age, the Nirnaeth isn’t the first thing that comes to mind regarding Maedhros’ impact on Beleriand 🙃
“Why don’t you go ahead and cut it, Nelyafinwë?” Grandfather gestured to the little almond cake he had set on the kitchen island. He had brought it back from Valmar, which made it a relative treat; it was unlike the many other sweets they often had at beck and call. Father rarely had cause to be up in Valmar unless he was lecturing, and he did not usually bring the children along when he did, nor was he one for showering them with gifts unnecessarily.
Maedhros took the knife, with Maglor watching intently (as much as he could when he could barely see the surface of the counter from his height), and cut the cake less 50/50 and more 75/25. He set the knife down and looked satisfied.
“Why have you chosen to cut it this way?” Finwë asked patiently.
Anticipating this question, Maedhros clasped his hands behind his back and answered smartly, “I am bigger than Kanafinwë. I should have a bigger piece. I have made them proportional.” The small smile on his face was nothing if not smug.
“Interesting logic,” said Finwë, nodding. He looked to Maglor, who was scowling, screwing his round little face up in preparation to start bawling, something sure to ruin the morning of everyone within earshot—which was to say the entire house. “Kanafinwë, why don’t you choose your half first?”
Maglor, ecstatic at this unexpected change of fortune, promptly swiped the much larger piece of cake and danced out of Maedhros’ reach, stuffing a massive bite of it into his mouth at once. He grinned around his full cheeks at Maedhros, who had a moment of shock, which was quickly overcome with chagrin. Ruefully, he picked up his much smaller piece of cake.
“You didn’t say you were going to do it that way, Grandfather,” he said, his voice bordering on sullen.
“Would you have cut it differently if I had?” Finwë asked. “Closer to even, perhaps?” Maedhros’ expression descended into sulking as he realized he had played exactly into Finwë’s game. “Perhaps next time you will consider things from another perspective,” Finwë suggested. Then his expression grew more serious. “As your father’s heir, and a chief representative of this house and of the Noldor, you must act always with fairness and equanimity,” he said. “Even where you desire to obtain for yourself preferential treatment. Kanafinwë is your brother, and inclined, I imagine, to forgive you the occasional bout of selfishness. But others will be less so inclined.”
Maedhros frowned and nibbled at his piece of cake. Maglor, checking first to make sure Grandfather was watching him, broke off a miniscule piece of his own and held it up with crumby fingers.
“Do you want some of mine, Nelyo?” he asked, sweet as sugar, the darling model of a generous Noldorin prince. Maedhros sighed and shook his head.
“No,” he said in a long-suffering voice, “it’s yours.”
Maglor did not offer twice, but skipped out, trailing crumbs across the hallway floor and trying to hum with his mouth full, which did not much improve the situation. Grandfather squeezed Maedhros’ shoulder on their way out of the kitchen and Maedhros sighed again.
“It seems there are a great many lessons for a prince to learn,” he remarked to Grandfather, who smiled.
“Indeed there are,” he said. “But for one thing you should be grateful, Nelyafinwë.”
“What is that, Grandfather?”
“This lesson came with cake!” And Maedhros could not argue much with that.
Tumblr post here. Anonymous said: I am on the feanorians side of the silmaril debate and do see Dior and elwing as thieves. And I hope you dont see this as an attack i just want to explain my reasoning for the way i see it. But to me at least the stealing of the ships is an entirely seperate thing that happened, I know it happened because the silmarils got stolen in the first place. But it has nothing to do with the Dior and elwing part of the silmaril story. And thats why I dont bring up the stealing of the ships when talking about this
And I feel like Dior and elwing are thieves because they have the feanorians most treasured family heirloom and are refusing to give it back to them. And I think calling them thieves isnt exactly right because they didnt steal it from the feanorians and luthien and beren didnt either but it is wrong of them to not give it back. And the feanorians did first write letters asking to be given the silmaril back. The feanorians were wrong in kinslaying to try and get it back, but I do understand how they got to the conclusion to do so. They swore an oath to get it back and if they dont they will be in purgatory forever, so they really do have this need of getting it back even without considering the fact that its rightfully theirs to begin with.
As for for Dior and elwings part in this, I have more understanding for Dior than elwing. Dior is a new king and not well known to his people. And the silmaril to him represent a great deed done by his parents and their love for each other and I wouldnt be suprised if the silmaril was starting to become as important to Dior and his people as it was to the feanorians. So him not giving it away makes sense it has personal importance to him and giving it away could mark him as a weak king which is not something he needs. And it is also the fact that we dont know how much he knows about the feanorians oath and what it means he may know nothing at all about it.
Elwing on the other hand is completely different, I do not understand why she does the things she does at all. I will just be discussing the lead up to the kinslaying and not what happens during it, because I have read posts saying that her mental health may have crumbled during it and I do concede they have a point. But that doesnt explain any of the lead up to it. The feanorians ask for the silmaril and she tells them no and its like doesnt she realize that just like last time this can lead to a kinslaying, like does the thought even enter her mind and I dont understand how she could not see it as the likely outcome bu then she doesnt prepare for the eventuality at all. Its so puzzling to me, shes the leader and responible for the safety of everyone there but she doesnt seem to care about it. She doesnt even send her sons to cirdan were they would be safe from the feanorians. For elwing this has all happened before and she does nothing to change what will happen and it doesnt make sense.
So yea im on the feanorians side in this because the silmaril is rightfully theirs and while they did bad bad things to get them back i understand where they are coming from. Something i dont understand with elwing. I said:
Hey anon, I definitely don’t see this as an attack; I do appreciate your reasonable tone here.
If you’re interested in other more detailed explorations of Elwing and her motivations, definitely check out my Elwing meta tag, because others on on tumblr have done some great work there.
The point I think the other anon was making about the swan ships is that fans can be very quick to condemn Luthien and her descendants as “thieves” of the Silmarils, but say nothing about the Feanorians’ theft of the swan ships. No, the events aren’t related, but one is a much clearer-cut case of theft than the other, yet it’s the one that’s swept under the rug to attack those who stand in opposition to the sons of Feanor (SoF). But you’re right, it’s not relevant to discussing Dior and Elwing in relation to the SoF.
Luthien and Beren, at great personal risk, obtained a Silmaril from Morgoth. I think it’s relevant to note that at this point, the SoF appeared to have no problem with Luthien having possession of the Silmaril. In fact, Maedhros takes heart from their success and by it is inspired to begin his efforts which culminate in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad.
First, let’s recall Luthien’s history with the Feanorians at the point that she and Beren depart Doriath after Beren is restored to life:( Read more... )
Not sure if you found any of this convincing, but I hope it’s something to consider at least!
Anonymous said: After the juicy "Celebrimbor not talking to any of his family" take, you've hit us with another equally juicy (but probably controversial lol) take of Russingon which is something I've been riding for a while now, @spiritofwhitefire spoke nothing but facts. Still, on a serious note (no offense, I really love that ship so much) the constant characterization of Fingon as blindy forgiving, and always siding with Maedhros (or like being desperate to be with him) was probably what made me sour a bit on Russingon.
Fingon has other personalities and motivations besides being Maedhros' love interest or being his hype man but seriously, he's Fingolfin's son, and seeing how close and loyal Fingon was to Fingolfin, I am sure, he would be genuinely pissed at Maedhros. I can't imagine him instantly forgiving Mae or something, and even if he did, does his forgiveness mean something to Mae because, at the end of the day, Maedhros is still doggedly loyal to Feanor.
Anyway, this is just me being fixated on your tags, "not wanting maedhros to die a miserable death at morgoth's hands doesn't necessarily equate to total instant and complete forgiveness, "honestly a huge fan of their friendship never fully recovering..." please tell me more. I love your headcanons.
I said: I don’t mean to be in opposition to so many popular fandom takes 😅It’s not usually this bad…
Sure, maybe Fingon is a saint who harbors no resentment…but I’m not particularly interested in that take. #1, Fingon is presumably made a kinslayer in Alqualonde for the sake of the Feanorians, whom he believed were under unjust assault, but who were, in fact, the aggressors. #2, Although Maedhros does not partake in the burning of the ships at Losgar (something it’s implied Fingon learns eventually), neither did he make any effort to stop it, and that decision of the Feanorians’ helped condemn the rest of the Noldor host to the Helcaraxe, where, among other things, Fingon’s sister-in-law dies. I would say he certainly has grounds to be angry with Maedhros and furthermore, to distrust him going forward.
Not to say these specific things are entirely or even primarily Maedhros’ fault…but I think it would be very hard not to be angry with a cousin/close friend who had helped to put you in these positions, particularly depending on how Maedhros handles the situation after their reunion (i.e. whether he apologizes or doubles down or tries to pretend nothing is wrong).
Anonymous said: I'm glad they (or you did in the tags?) mentioned Maedhros because given Celebrimbors actions toward his uncle and father and later his actions at the fall of his city, I'm pretty sure Maedhros is the last person he would want to see or want for comfort (it seemed there was a general consensus that Celebrimbor would look for him of all people for comfort or something, which is weird for me because like @undercat-overdog said, most people don't rate their uncles as the most important people and he hasn't seen them for thousand years and when he did hear of them, it's the news of them committing the second and third kinslaying). I also subscribe to @aipilosse's headcanon about the feanorian brothers not being that close hence why Celebrimbor can easily ignore them because the relationship wasn't that deep to begin with. I fervently agree with you about Finrod most likely the family he would immediately live with after rebirth. Honestly, I headcanon him living with Finrod and Finarfin because I feel like that's the house where Celebrimbor would be able to heal (I subscribe to Finarfin being the best father and grandfather out of the three, sue me.). And even if Celebrimbor did start speaking with his father and uncles (and grandparents) the relationship wouldn't be the same anymore, like he's polite but there's no warmth or fluffiness or tearful reunion or something, it's not there anymore.
What do you think of him and Elwing bonding over the trauma of getting screwed over and losing their city and people to a bunch of assholes? I said: With FULL WARNING that everything following is pure headcanon, since we don't actually get anything in canon on how Celebrimbor feels about his family (except that eventually he found them so morally repugnant he no longer wanted to associate with them), I think we're a lot in agreement here, anon.
I'm not opposed to Celebrimbor having originally been close with his uncles--every family is different and sure, it could be that his paternal uncles took a particular interest in his life. I DO think he was very close with Celegorm, if only because Celegorm was such a presence in his life, particularly in Middle-earth. However, I don't personally see him as super close with his other uncles (However, Lady_Gavroche has an excellent fic about his relationship with Caranthir that's a lot of fun!) I don't think Maedhros and Maglor were very fond of children as younger adults (Maedhros makes something of an exception for his brothers; Maglor does not), so I don't envision them taking much of a role with Celebrimbor.
However, with or without the premise that he was originally close at all with Maedhros, I WILL stand by that I don't think he wants anything to do with Maedhros after his death.
Summary: All is not as it seems when Thranduil enters the ancestral Feanorian estate, but he fails to fully comprehend the scale and nature of the risk. If he's very lucky, one day he might even get to leave.
OR: Marrying into the House of Feanor comes with the skeletons in the closet.
Characters: Maedhros, Thingol (Minor appearances by Daeron, Melian, and Luthien)
Summary: Maedhros presents himself as a...diplomatic guest to Doriath, certain he can convince the king to do as Maedhros wishes him to if he only had the chance. It is possible Maedhros is less than prepared for Doriath than he expected.
Length: 18k
AN: A new year's gift for @jouissants! I hope the new year treats you and your family well! (´â–½`ʃ♡ƪ)
It had seemed like such a brilliant idea when he’d first had it. Maedhros should have been tipped off to the potentially subpar nature of the idea by the fact that it occurred between one and five in the morning, after a particularly strenuous week of dealing with his brothers’ appalling and sometimes shocking lack of diplomacy.
Response to this ask about Maedhros and the impact on him of the Nirnaeth.
The Nirnaeth feels like a turning point, for the Noldor in Middle-earth. A number of things went wrong, among them that Tolkien tells us Maedhros revealed his strength too soon to Melkor. There were so many moments it seemed like they could pull this off, or at least cause some real damage to Melkor, but there were just so many things that worked against them, not least of all the betrayals Melkor sowed among the Noldor’s allies and the fact that the Feanorians had alienated major Elvish allies in Middle-earth (Doriath, Nargothrond) which could have made a real difference in the fight.
Response to this ask addressing why this person views Luthien and her line as thieves of the Silmaril.
If you're interested in other more detailed explorations of Elwing and her motivations, definitely check out my Elwing meta tag, because others on on tumblr have done some great work there.
The point I think the other anon was making about the swan ships is that fans can be very quick to condemn Luthien and her descendants as "thieves" of the Silmarils, but say nothing about the Feanorians' theft of the swan ships. No, the events aren't related, but one is a much clearer-cut case of theft than the other, yet it's the one that's swept under the rug to attack those who stand in opposition to the sons of Feanor (SoF). But you're right, it's not relevant to discussing Dior and Elwing in relation to the SoF.
Luthien and Beren, at great personal risk, obtained a Silmaril from Morgoth. I think it's relevant to note that at this point, the SoF appeared to have no problem with Luthien having possession of the Silmaril. In fact, Maedhros takes heart from their success and by it is inspired to begin his efforts which culminate in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad.
First, let's recall Luthien's history with the Feanorians at the point that she and Beren depart Doriath after Beren is restored to life:
Answer to this ask about the portrayal of Earendil and Elwing as parents.
I was stunned to come into this fandom after finishing the book and find out that Elwing and Earendil are controversial characters. Headcanons and AUs all you want, but the book makes it very clear they are heroes and Tolkien portrays them as heroes (albeit tragic ones)--Earendil slaying Ancalagon and Elwing convincing the Teleri to aid the war effort is more proof of that.
The Feanorians are the closest thing we have to true protagonists in the book and they're fan favorites, so there's a tendency to see other characters (Turgon, Thingol, Dior, Elwing, etc.) through the lens of how well the Feanorians like them or get along with them. If a character has conflict with the Feanorians, they're likely to get the villain treatment in certain circles of the fandom no matter how reasonable their actions were.
Above the cut I'm just going to link here to my tag for Elwing metas from other people.
Excerpt: “Congratulations, darling,” she said, raising her glass to Maedhros’ success. “Clever as you are, these things do not always turn on what we think they ought. I am very proud of you.”
Summary: Elwing must pass through the abandoned forest of Doriath to reach her aunt’s house. As long as she stays on the path and keeps her magic jewel close, she should be safe…
De-anon of this kink meme prompt for a Little Red Riding Hood AU for any characters from Silm.
Once upon a time, the woods of Doriath were safe for Elves. Behind the magic girdle of their serene and deathless queen, the Iathrim had delved wonders into the earth and penned music so fair it was said to be unbearable to mortal ears. They had faced the armies of Morgoth when first (it seemed to them) he arrived, mowing across the continent with death and torment in his wake to make secure his foul fortress in the Iron Mountains, but when they perceived that they could not best him, they retreated behind the arm of Melian the Maia and her Elven king, Elu Thingol. For many years they so lived, staving off the shadow of Morgoth and his minions as best they could, and there was great joy and life to be found in the knotted foliage of those woods.
But that all changed with the murder of Elwing’s great-grandfather, the Greymantle.
Maedhros did not yet have Grandfather’s skill for keeping his face neutral. He did have his own parents’ penchant for strong emotions and so the sense of annoyance which permeated his clipped pace down the palace hall was plainly apparent.
Today I want to talk about something that I think doesn’t get a lot of attention in the fandom, and that’s the role of the Silmaril in the success of Earendil’s journey, without which it’s strongly implied he and Elwing would not have succeeded in reaching Aman to get help for Middle-earth.
We know that Earendil purposed to reach Aman, despite being only half-Elven, and get help there for Middle-earth in the war with Melkor:
“....and he thought to find perhaps the last shore, and bring ere he died the message of Elves and Men to the Valar in the West, that should move their hearts to pity for the sorrows of Middle-earth.”
We know that he makes at least one journey to this effect, but is eventually turned back in failure:
“Eärendil found not Tuor nor Idril, nor came he ever on that journey to the shores of Valinor, defeated by shadows and enchantment, driven by repelling winds, untilin longing for Elwing he turned homeward...”
So we know that he’s on at least his second attempt during the Third Kinslaying when Elwing, after being transformed by Ulmo, flies out to Vingilot. At this point, Earendil sees there is no hope for Middle-earth without the intercession of the Valar, that all the peoples of Middle-earth will be brought under Melkor’s thrall without aid, and he makes the difficult decision to continue the search for Aman, rather than turning back home.
”Yet Eärendil saw now no hope left in the lands of Middle-earth, and he turned again in despair and came not home, but sought back once more to Valinor with Elwing at his side. He stood now most often at the prow of Vingilot, and the Silmaril was bound upon his brow; and ever its light grew greater as they drew into the West.”
The transfer of the Silmaril from Elwing to Earendil is so unremarkable it doesn’t even get its own sentence--we simply know that Elwing has it and then we see that Earendil has it, marking one of the only times the Silmaril is freely transferred from one person to another.
But it’s more than that:
“And the wise have said that it was by reason of the power of that holy jewel [the Silmaril] that they came in time to waters that no vessels save those of the Teleri had known; and they came to the Enchanted Isles and escaped their enchantment; and they came into the Shadowy Seas and passed their shadows; and they looked upon Tol Eressea the Lonely Isle, but tarried not, and at last they cast anchor in the Bay of Eldammar...”
This is critical: the text here heavily implies that but for the Silmaril, they would not have been able to reach Valinor. Note how this passage parallels the description of Earendil’s first attempt--there he was “defeated by shadows and enchantment” and “in longing for Elwing” turned home, but here, with the Silmaril, Earendil and Elwing pass safely through the Enchanted Isles, the Shadowy Seas, and the Lonely Isle, strongly suggesting that they overcome Earendil’s past defeats because they have the Silmaril. Neither of them is fully Elven, neither of them should be able to reach Aman at all. Even Turgon’s sailors were unable to do it, and none of them had a drop of mortal blood.
Earendil and Elwing’s goal has been to get help for Middle-earth in the war with Melkor. They see that Middle-earth cannot win without help and therefore it’s only a matter of time before Melkor wears the whole continent down. Middle-earth has put up a good fight, but they’ve only managed to slow the inevitable. Earendil and Elwing’s failure to obtain the intercession of the Valar and the aid of the Amanyar would have been devastating--perhaps fatal--for the survival of Middle-earth.
Ergo, if Maedhros and Maglor had successfully taken the Silmaril from Elwing, or if she had handed it over to them, it would likely have secured Melkor’s victory over Middle-earth by ensuring none of them were ever able to reach Aman, once again turning the Oath to Melkor’s aid. That Elwing delivered the Silmaril to Earendil and that they made the painful decision not to return home and seek out their captive sons, but instead to press on with the quest for Aman were absolutely critical to the survival of Middle-earth and all the people in it. If they had done differently, all Middle-earth might have perished for it.
* All quotes from the Of the Voyage of Earendil and the War of Wrath chapter of The Silmarillion.
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