The "Ask a Character" Challenge!

[dawn_felagund]

Uli (ford_of_bruinen) has given us our first challenge!

"Chose one question you want to ask a character from The Silmarillion.

Post the name of the character in the subject line and the question as the content of the email and submit it to the group.

All writers are challenged to write a response, taking on the character in question and answering it from their point-of-view.

The challenge is to write a character that you may not always chose by your own accord and to bring them to life through the answer they are giving."

As a bit of background, this started (as far as I know) as an LJ meme that juno_magic posted in her journal. It was adopted from there by numerous other Tolkien writers, including me.

For an idea of the craziness that can ensue, I invite you to check out The "Ask My Characters" Meme posted in my journal.

Non-list members (or list members who wish to do so) may also post their questions in this journal.

Have fun, everyone!

Comments

Maglor

[jilba.livejournal.com]

Why didn't you rescue Maedhros; why did the poor chap have to wait for cousin Fingon to go get him?

Re: Maglor

[nelyo.livejournal.com]

Since I am newby to these issues, I'm not sure if we are supposed to post here as a reply or what. Dawn, if I did wrong, feel free to delete this and I would post again (assuming I know how to do it, that is!).

Title: What I must to do
Rating: General
Warning: None

Maglor: Why didn't you rescue Maedhros; why did the poor chap have to wait for cousin Fingon to go get him?

Ai Valar!

He should have known this would come sooner or later. No one had dared to ask him such a question for all the years he had been wandering Beleriand, nor in Mithrim, nor in the northern hills of the March, nor in Ossiriand –nor Maedhros!-, but he had read the same question within the eyes of so many people, his own kin. Maglor looked sidelong at the standing and expecting children next to him, while he feigned to be busy bending the bow to replace the broken string.

The question had been launched with all the innocence and curiosity that only children posses. Yet, those qualities might be more cruel than the Dark One's poisoned darts. Maglor should have seen this coming, aye, for Elrond and Elros had started to learn of their history –Noldor's History, that was; hardly they would have appointed a sinda to tutor them, for there were none at hand to teach them-.

They have grown so much, the singer reflected, and so quickly. You fool! For how long did you pretend to deceive yourself, thinking that they would never known of your deeds... of your misdeeds?. Ai Valar! At least Maitimo is not here, he would have taken it badly. He secured the string to the carved yet supple wood and pulsed it, and the fair sound echoed through the air as if he had played his harp while tuning it. Then, slowly, he lifted his eyes to meet theirs. The question laid there, still, and it demanded an answer.

Because I did what I must to do, children, what they expected of me to do. I needed to stay in Mithrim, to take care of my people, and to refrain my brothers, in my elder brother and lord’s stead. What else was I to do? I saw the King, Finwë, my grandfather, forsaking his people and a part of his family to come to Formenos, all for the sake of my father’s love, the King’s favourite son. And after I see the new King, Fëanáro, my father, to forsake his people, his own family and blood too, and he did it twice, for he hastily charged forward to fight the enemy, drunk in his own folly and self-confidence. And within the day Maitimo, Fëanáro’s heir, my beloved brother, headed to that meeting with the enemy, all caution and wisdom left, and was lost too.

So, what was I to do? To rival my sire and grandsire’s deeds, forsaking my people, leaving them at the hands of my impetuous brothers, all for the love I kept for my elder brother? What would they have done, but to repeat our father’s mistakes? What would have happened when Nolofinwë and his host arrived, had I not withdrawn to the southern shores of Mithrim? I stayed, and refused to come to terms with Moringotto to save Maitimo, and did not leave the camp to rescue him. I know, thus I doomed my own brother and sentenced him to a terrible torment, aye, but I knew I did as he expected I would. Eru knows, I tried to stop him, to make him change his mind, but Maitimo, I am afraid, had inherited our father’s self-confidence too, and he paid dearly for it.

Besides, I could not yield to Moringotto, for I took the Oath, and renewed my vow at Fëanaro’s demand, before he passed away there at the Ered Wethrin. You might think I am a coward. Aye, I feared to face the Black Enemy, but how many things did I fear and faced them the same? How many of my deeds did I regret but repeated them nonetheless? I feared him, aye, but even knowing that I would have failed to rescue him, I would have gone to rescue him or, most likely, to perish with him, since I would never have gathered the required strength of mind to cut off his hand as Findekáno did.

Maglor raised to his feet and managed a sad, weary smile. “Because I did what I must to do, children” he said. “Come, let us see if the bow is properly repaired.” While Elrond and Elros ran before him to the archery grounds, the singer sighed.

But even knowing it, the pain and the guilt will never leave.

Re: Maglor

[jilba.livejournal.com]

Ah, thank you that reply. Of course he felt his first responsibility was to the rest of his brothers and people, not to reckless Maedhros.

I understand now, and that was a lovely idea, having the question come from Elrond and Elros.

Re: Maglor

[dawn_felagund]

Since I am newby to these issues, I'm not sure if we are supposed to post here as a reply or what. Dawn, if I did wrong, feel free to delete this and I would post again (assuming I know how to do it, that is!).

Nope, this is perfect!

He secured the string to the carved yet supple wood and pulsed it, and the fair sound echoed through the air as if he had played his harp while tuning it.

I *love* this detail. This is so like Maglor, to hear music in the simplest of moments. I got a wee shiver to consider it! ::sighs happily:: Did I mention how much I love this detail? :D

Maglor's answer makes perfect sense to me. It is keeping with Maglor being one of the more logical brothers in thinking through the consequences of things. Still, it must have been so hard to bear his own decision, I don't like to even consider it.

But I suppose I shall have to, when I consider my answer to the challenge tomorrow ;D

You bring up an interesting point too: What would Maglor have done in Fingon's place? Uh, oh, I sense another question coming on....

::runs...because it is late, and I am too tired to wrestle with nuzgul::

Re: Maglor

[nelyo.livejournal.com]

*blushes & thanks!*

I thought that this detail you loved so much would fit as a glove to the scene.

You bring up an interesting point too: What would Maglor have done in Fingon's place? Uh, oh, I sense another question coming on....

My oh my... :P