The "Ask a Character a Question" Challenge

[dawn_felagund]

In answer to jilba's question for the "Ask a Character a Question" challenge, I wrote three drabbles. The drabbles are from Macalaurë's perspective and answer the following question, proposed by Jillian:

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

For those who do not know, drabbles are short pieces of fiction that are *exactly* one hundred words in length. They are my new hobby in an attempt to curb my loquacity rambling lengthiness in writing. Not that I am going to stop writing long stories--I don't think I can--but it is good to be able to change hats every now and again.

Title: Oaths Sworn
Author: dawn_felagund
Rating: General
Warnings: none


I.
The firelight touches my brother’s face as he speaks to us. The parchment in his fingers does not tremble. It would tremble in mine. “Moringotto will treat with us,” he says.

Our voices rise and collide in the silence. Our words tangle in senseless cacophony: argument and agreement, pale hands flashing like moths to the flame, but Maitimo says nothing. He nods, raises his palm to us.

Silence.

I watched my father flare into brilliance—a star in the night—and end as dust. The firelight blazes on Maitimo’s hair. I can believe that he will share the same fate.

II.
My brother assembles his guard. Tyelkormo and the twins want to ride with him; I see them arguing. I know by the ways their eyes flash and their faces twist that they are losing.

“If you fall, we would be closer to failure. The Oath would be broken.”

He strides to me, and I hold his sword for him while he mounts. We do not speak; words long since unnecessary between us. I hand him his blade, and his eyes meet mine.

“If I do not return, follow me not.”

I have no time for protest before he rides away.

III.
The slow fall of hoofbeats in the street startles me from the surface of restless sleep. It is morning, although morning brings only darkness here.

I push the drape aside and stare into the street. I see horses. The horses of Maitimo’s guard have returned to their homes, but their riders have not. Their legs are speckled by dark splatters.

Feeling not the cold floor on my bare feet, I throw open the door. Maitimo’s horse stares me in the eye, dragging behind him by brother’s trampled banner.

I sob into my hand. Two oaths I should not have sworn.
~oOo~


This is cross-posted to my personal journal as well. Apologies for any redundancy.

Comments are always appreciated. Also, nelyo's post brought up another good question: If Maglor had been placed in Fingon's position as Maedhros' rescuer, what would have he have done?

::opens nuzgûl hutch:: Feed, my pretties! >:-D

Comments

[mirien.livejournal.com]

*happy sigh* You know, already this group is indulging my favourite elf weakness. This subject matter works so well in drabbles, these are great...that last one, ai! I shivered at Maglor looking at Maedhros and being able to see him dying, that's something that my Maglor does too.

[dawn_felagund]

You know, already this group is indulging my favourite elf weakness.

Me too! :D arandil13 and I were joking once about starting a support group for hopelessly addicted Fëanatics but why, when it is such a lovely disease?

I shivered at Maglor looking at Maedhros and being able to see him dying, that's something that my Maglor does too.

Yes, I think that you and I see Maglor's reasons for not pursuing Maedhros very similarly.

I have always cringed at people who assume that it was cowardice or fear of not being able to pursue the Oath that caused the brothers to hang back. I can't see that...especially with Maglor. And since the "writers" of the Sil weren't there for that part, then I don't see how anyone can know for certainty.

I had thought about it for a long time, concerned because the events and my ideas of the characters didn't jive, and then thought that perhaps it was *Maedhros* who stopped their pursuit of him. A thought, apparently, that is not mine alone :)

these are great

Thank you! :D

[nelyo.livejournal.com]

Maitimo’s horse stares me in the eye, dragging behind him by brother’s trampled banner. I sob into my hand. Two oaths I should not have sworn.

*curls up in a furry ball, shivers, weeps quietly* LOVELY drabbles, Dawn! And a very original way to reply to the challenge :)

arandil13 and I were joking once about starting a support group for hopelessly addicted Fëanatics but why, when it is such a lovely disease?

Who said it is a disease? I remember long ago, in a email list where (of course teasing each other) both "factions" FA and TA addicts were in "war", one TA fan said to the FA fans:

-You are so tiring! You know, there is a life beyond First Age!

And he got this answer:

-Yep, we know. But the question is: Is there intelligent life?

The truth is outside :P

And, definitely, fëanorians were not cowards. Those who understand what is to keep your word, even if it pains you, will understand it :)

Btw, I always thought, too, that Maedhros restrained them before to head to that meeting.

[dawn_felagund]

*curls up in a furry ball, shivers, weeps quietly*

Oh, now I feel bad...tissue? :)

LOVELY drabbles, Dawn! And a very original way to reply to the challenge :)

Thank you! That's me, always the weird one :D

But the question is: Is there intelligent life?

Oh, this is *excellent!*

I got hooked on LotR with the movies, solidified the addiction with the books, but it was still nothing that stole my life like the Sil. And I do not mean that in a bad way :)

::trots over to the side of the First-Agers::

Btw, I always thought, too, that Maedhros restrained them before to head to that meeting.

That makes best sense to me. I cannot believe it otherwise. Or, maybe, I do not *want* to believe it otherwise.
Dawn Felagund, who *hearts* her delusions...kind of like someone else we know ::coughcough Feanor! coughcough::

[mirien.livejournal.com]

arandil13 and I were joking once about starting a support group for hopelessly addicted Fëanatics but why, when it is such a lovely disease?

Fëanatics??? *keels over laughing* Oh, I LOVE that!

Cowardice? The Fëanorians? With all due respect for those people who think that, even if you don't like them, I don't see how you can have read the book and think that. They are many things, but never cowards. That said, I have to say I can take or leave the younger five most of the time, it's the older two I love and of course Findekáno whom I tend to think of in the same breath.

[dawn_felagund]

The Fëanorians? With all due respect for those people who think that, even if you don't like them, I don't see how you can have read the book and think that.

The whole reason I started the monster story Another Man's Cage is because I got so pissed off at the constant portrayals of abusive husband/father Feanor that I sought to write an answer to them. And the sons as heartless, evil monsters. I saw a filk once that said Maedhros was *the* villain of The Sil.

Okay, so did I hallucinate Morgoth then?

Of course, most of these people I found at Pit of Voles. (fanfiction.net to the Muggle world.) Since meeting Sil people who have actually read *and* pondered the meaning behind the book, I find few who lump the Feanorians under the heading of "evil." I am grateful for this; I was beginning to doubt my grasp on morality!

Oh, wait, I still doubt that, but it's a different issue entirely! :D

[arandil13.livejournal.com]

It is a wonderful disease. They are all so hot droolworthy compelling in their tragicness.