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

[arandil13.livejournal.com]

First of all, where in Mandos is "Spirit of Fire?

Right here (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2501664/1/), as well as scattered randomly around my journal.

I get *skewered* if I'm a day late with a chapter […] So how do you get away with it?

You see, that’s what happens when you are a good writer. Me? I keep my writing sub-par so that nobody misses it when it doesn’t come. It is all part of my evil lazy plot.

…Maglor influencing Elrond's feelings on oaths…

Throwing in my unasked for two cents. I think Maglor definitely influenced Elrond on this matter, even if not in the way my drabble portrays. The influence is obvious when Elrond says that no oaths bind the Fellowship. They had sworn no oaths, so his statement is almost redundant, as if he wants to stress that point. Why, unless because of his own personal experience with oaths, or that of those around him.

As for the drabble, I still have it. I don’t think I posted it on PoV or HASA yet… but here it is in my LJ:

Ickle Maglor (http://www.livejournal.com/~arandil13/22366.html)

There are a bunch of drabbles and memes in that entry, but it is there! (One of the birthday ones).

[dawn_felagund]

You see, that’s what happens when you are a good writer. Me? I keep my writing sub-par so that nobody misses it when it doesn’t come. It is all part of my evil lazy plot.

Oh, don't give me that crap! :D If only all writers should be so "sub-par!"

Anyway, thanks for the link! I haven't been to PoV in a while, so we'll blame that.

I think Maglor definitely influenced Elrond on this matter

Me too. I have always wondered about how Elrond thought back on Maglor, in the Third Age. If I had the time (and blood!) that might be a nuzgul, but I am covered in them now, and I don't think this one can nudge its way in.

As for the drabble, I still have it. I don’t think I posted it on PoV or HASA yet… but here it is in my LJ

Yay! Thanks, it is one of my favorites :)

[jilba.livejournal.com]

In my M-E Elrond still loves Maglor. He also welcomes Maglor to Rivendell occasionally (under an assumed name) and Maglor fought in the Last Alliance by way of trying to make up for the Big!Opps of stealing the Silmarils off Eonwe at the end of the First Age.

[jilba.livejournal.com]

I found it, I found it!

Fancy Boromir meeting Maglor in the Wild? But probably not, not really. I wouldn't be surprised if he followed that company, And maybe guided Boromir's steps to Rivendell's hidden ways without Boromir's knowledge. The cute bit was Boromir's thought that Faramir should be there. A pity he wasn't.

Another Maglor bunny: I have always thought he was one of those sent from Rivendell when Glorfindel was, to look for Aragorn and the Hobbits. To Maglor, the Ringwraiths would have no more scary than a bunch of rowdy schoolboys. Further along those lines (watch the bunnies breed...)who would have Elrond have sent with the Fellowship from his household had not Merry and Pippin gone along? His sons? Great warriors? Or those born in Valinor like Glorfindel...and Maglor?

So, I'm getting far fetched here, and I'm going to go further. I don't believe Maglor could have missed the news his foster granddaughter was Queen of Gondor. Whether she knew him before then or not, I can see him visiting Gondor and singing for the Queen. Bunnies anyone?

[dawn_felagund]

Bunnies anyone?

Nooooo!!!!!!!!

I am covered in them already!

I like your AU world, though. I always prefer to think that Elrond had fond remembrance of his foster-father, despite Maglor's deeds at the end of of the First Age.

::shoos bunnies back in Jillian's direction::

[jilba.livejournal.com]

That's ok. Fang here, the giant plot bunny eating ferret will dispatch all bunnies promptly.

As for my AU world, well, whether it happened or not, I think you're right. Elrond would have had fond memories of his foster father. I mean, he looked after Elrond and Elros. Technically they were prisoners of war, or hostages and could have been treated as such. I like to think it shows the fact elves are basically good, that Maedhros and especially Maglor treated the boys so well.