Maglor Challenge

[tarion-anarore.livejournal.com]

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

A perfect quibble (??) - 500 words. And would you believe it was a coincidence?

Title: Why

Author: tarion_anarore

Rating: General

Warnings: None

 

“Why did you do nothing?”

 

Fingon’s voice remained calm, polite almost, but accusation lay strong in his eyes where it had not on his tonuge. I stiffened, narrowing my eyes and clenching my jaw before turning away from my cousin.

 

“You speak as though I had a choice.”  I said finally.

 

“For fear?” he continued without acknowledging my answer, a hint of scorn in his voice.

 

I whirled around to face my cousin once more, closing the distance between us until our noses nearly touched.

 

“Fear? Ha!” I all but spat. “Seeing as you felt none, Findekáno? Seeing as how you felt little of anything that day?”

 

Fingon’s eyes flashed in anger, but I pressed on.

 

“Why have you come? To continue this self-righteous little act of yours? So you could say ‘See how noble I am, to risk my life for a son of Feanor, the traitor.  See how I would sacrifice myself still, after Feanor and Feanor’s kin betrayed us.’ So that you would be called hero? So you could reveal our dishonor?” I knew I was being unfair, but Fingon’s words had provoked me into defense.

 

“What should I have done then? Sent one of my younger brother’s to find him for me? Gathered an army and stormed Angband? Snuck out alone in the dead of night? Tell me!” I couldn’t keep the sarcasm out of my voice.

 

“At least I didn’t sit in comfort while my brother hung in torment.”

 

I barely controlled the urge to slap my cousin across the face.

 

“And youknow what, exactly, about that?  You know what it’s like to watch your father die? You know what it’s like to wait with growing anxiety for your brother’s embassy to return? You know what it’s like to go from being second son to being king in the space of a day? To have to see to the needs of hundreds and yet be constrained by an oath of vengeance sworn in haste?”

 

I paused to catch my breath.

 

“Do you know what it’s like to bear the condemning stares of your people? To see your family fall apart? To wake up every morning knowing you must live another day and going to bed at night hoping you don’t imagine your brother’s screams? Do you know what it’s like to fail?”

 

Silence fell thickly between us, and I turned away so that I did not have to look at my cousin any longer.

 

After a long moment, I felt a hand on my shoulder.

 

“I’m sorry. It’s just…I thought…I didn’t think…” Fingon’s voice was soft, and I could hear the hurt in it, just as I could almost feel his eyes bore into my ankles.

“I forgive you,” I whispered, only half-heartedly paying attention to Fingon’s ineloquent apologies and unfinished justifications. My earlier anger had dissipated, leaving me unexpectedly relieved. Once again in control of my emotions, I looked at Fingon and said, “Do you forgive me?”

 

He nodded.

 

“I forgive you.”

 

“Thank you.”

Shoos away the nuzgul nelyo created.

Comments

[jilba.livejournal.com]

Gee, that's three responses now, each excellent.

This from Fingon's POV is most interesting too. Maglor's pain is clear, and Fingon's too. Odd, isn't it, Maglor acting as High King talking to one who will be High King.

[dawn_felagund]

Actually, this is the fourth!

nelyo did the first, then mirien. I was third, and then Tarion. Your question is quite popular, it seems!

Odd, isn't it, Maglor acting as High King talking to one who will be High King.

Yes, and at the line, "You know what it’s like to watch your father die?" I got a wee shiver, thinking, "One day, he will...."

[mirien.livejournal.com]

Yes, and at the line, "You know what it’s like to watch your father die?" I got a wee shiver, thinking, "One day, he will...."

So did I. This was so well done, and not easy to read in terms of the unfairness of Fingon's accusations, I was close to slapping him myself!

[jilba.livejournal.com]

Yes, I realised I'd miscounted later myself. It does appear as if I've let the plot bunnies loose!

Poor elves. All dying or watching others die violently. It must have been quite awful for people who don't die to watch and experience death.

[dawn_felagund]

A perfect quibble (??) - 500 words. And would you believe it was a coincidence?

Isn't a quibble also a wee argument? So it seems you have a bit of double meaning going on here! :D

Just so you know, there is an odd tag in the first line. I'm not sure if it obscured something essential to your quibble, so I thought I'd let you know :)

You know what it’s like to go from being second son to being king in the space of a day?

Yes, Maglor is the neglected King, isn't he? Maedhros' and Maglor's psychology at this point has always fascinated me: What it must have been like to both become King that day, when neither probably thought he ever would. Perhaps Maedhros...but I doubt Maglor ever entertained the idea.

going to bed at night hoping you don’t imagine your brother’s screams?

::softly weeps:: This is so sad and so true...what must he have thought/dreamt in that time?

This is lovely, Tarion! :)

::shoos the nuzgul back:: >:-D

[tarion-anarore.livejournal.com]

This is lovely, Tarion! :)

*blush* Thanks!

Just so you know, there is an odd tag in the first line.

Thanks, I see it now. Didn't notice last night. I think it's because I pasted from a Word document. It's not obscuring anything though. If I edit this, will my reviews go away? I don't want everyone's comments to disappear. :(

::shoos the nuzgul back:: >:-D

*puts on knee high metal boots and encourages nuzgul to head everyone else's direction by poking it with a stick*

[dawn_felagund]

If I edit this, will my reviews go away? I don't want everyone's comments to disappear. :(

No, I don't think so. I've edited chapters before to put in links to (previously nonexistent) later chapters and kept all of my comments.

*puts on knee high metal boots and encourages nuzgul to head everyone else's direction by poking it with a stick*

LOL! I don't think it will like that! :D

[tarion-anarore.livejournal.com]

No, I don't think so. I've edited chapters before to put in links to (previously nonexistent) later chapters and kept all of my comments.

Okay, good. I will go fix that.

LOL! I don't think it will like that! :D

Good! If it knows what's good for it, it will head away from me!! ;)

[tarion-anarore.livejournal.com]

Stupid me, I forgot to say some things in my other comment! *Smacks forehead*

Isn't a quibble also a wee argument? So it seems you have a bit of double meaning going on here! :D

Hey, I didn't even think of that! Maybe because it was late at night.

(I say "I'm going to bed now" and what happens?? Apparently that translates in Quenya to something like "let's sit down and talk for another hour". Ah well...)

[dawn_felagund]

(I say "I'm going to bed now" and what happens?? Apparently that translates in Quenya to something like "let's sit down and talk for another hour". Ah well...)

I'm going to need to try this sometime!

Oh, Maaaaiiiitimmmo!

[tarion-anarore.livejournal.com]

Haha!

Oh, Maaaaiiiitimmmo!

You know, I can just see Maitimo flinching at that sing-song voice and trying to pretend he didn't hear you everytime you say that!! lol :)

[dawn_felagund]

If the little bastard would listen for once....

::grumble grumble::

Actually, I haven't even *tried* writing today. Maybe I should.

Maitimo says, "Yeah, maybe you should, before you go blaming *me* again!"

:D

[tarion-anarore.livejournal.com]

If the little bastard would listen for once....

Haha!! You do know that you're talking about a Feanorian right??

And you should definitely try writing! :)

[arandil13.livejournal.com]

Oh No! Now you are writing things that make me cry!!!

I got chills while Maglor went on his tirade. I feel both of their torment. You've got great emotion in this!

[tarion-anarore.livejournal.com]

*Hands Arandil kleenex*

You've got great emotion in this!

Thanks :)

MAGLOR/FINGON

[digdigil.livejournal.com]

Yes, I absolutely agree with what Arandil and everyone else said. This was a very touching piece, and I got shivers, too. But I don't blame Fingon for anything he said in a very stressful, emotional moment. I'm all about how the passionate feelings we all have after a monumental event affect us, however briefly, in ways that we may regret and wish to rescind later. My motto is: "nothing is ever written in stone". (Does what I wrote make any sense? I know what I wanted to say, but not sure if it came out.)

Re: MAGLOR/FINGON

[tarion-anarore.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think I understand what you're saying. :) And I definitely don't hold Fingon's words against him, or Maglor's for that matter.

This was a very touching piece, and I got shivers, too.
I'm glad you think so. :) You guys are so great.

[heartofoshun.livejournal.com]

Beautiful! I adore it and it does not at all conflict with the line that I am taking in my story (which, of course, in my little mind makes it even better). I adore both Maglor and Fingon in your piece. Love Maglor's outburst. Understandable and deserved although I surely understand how upset Fingon must have been to have discovered that no had gone after Maedhros.

The whole point about being High King of the Noldor, is that while they were all born not expecting to ever be king (unless, of course, Feanor thought that perhaps Finwe might get bored some day) they all had very short terms of office by elven standards of time. High risk occupation in the First Age for sure.

Again so beautiful and the vast majority of accounts of this same scenario have set my teeth on edge (not that a lot of them have not been clever and well-written even when not at all to my taste) and yours does just the opposite. I have hopes for mine, but would be tickled pink if it can out half as well as this one here--I'm not counting on it.

[tarion-anarore.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! You've made me grin. :)

High risk occupation in the First Age for sure.

Methinks that should be a card in Dawn's boardgame. If you draw the 'High King' card, you have to go back to start. ;)

But seriously, it's really easy to overlook the implications of being High King in the First Age, especially the first few. And I should think that it was much more difficult during the dangerous times in Beleriand compared to the peace of Valinor. Certainly incredibly different.

yours does just the opposite. I have hopes for mine, but would be tickled pink if it can out half as well as this one here

*blush* I'm tickled pink at your kind words. :)