Descendents of Finwë Part 3: Maglor
Oct. 14th, 2005 03:48 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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silwritersguildIt's Maglor's turn today. I was shocked at how little the Silm has to say about him.
Maglor
Potted History
*Also known as Kanafinwë (Káno) and Makalaurë (HoME Vol.12)
*The second greatest singer of the Elves of old
*Was married but his wife stayed in Valinor (HoME Vol.12) ETA It isn't in HoME 12! (Thanks Rhapsody11)
*His heart was sick and weary of the burden of the oath after the Third Kinslaying
*Wanted to submit to the judgement of the Valar rather than take the Silmarils from Eönwë after the War of Wrath
Alqualondë
But Uinen wept for the mariners of the Teleri; and the sea rose in wrath against the slayers, so that many of the ships were wrecked and those in them drowned. Of the enslaving at Alqualondë more is told in that lament which is named Noldolantë, the Fall of the Noldor, that Maglor made ere he was lost.
Feast of Reuniting
Thither came many of the chieftains and people of Fingolfin and Finrod; and of the sons of Fëanor Maedhros and Maglor, with warriors of the eastern March
The Singer
But the Sindar had the fairer voices and were more skilled in music, save only Maglor son of Fëanor
Maglor's Gap
Between the arms of Gelion was the ward of Maglor, and here in one place the hills failed altogether
Battle of Sudden Flame
Maglor joined Maedhros upon Himring
Nirnaeth Arnoediad
The sons of Bór were Borlad, Borlach, and Borthand; and they followed Maedhros and Maglor, and cheated the hope of Morgoth, and were faithful.
Maglor slew Uldor the accursed, the leader in treason
Third Kinslaying
Maedhros and Maglor won the day, though they alone remained thereafter of the sons of Fëanor, for both Amrod and Amras were slain. Too late the ships of Círdan and Gil-galad the High King came hasting to the aid of the Elves of Sirion; and Elwing was gone, and her sons. Then such few of that people as did not perish in the assault joined themselves to Gil-galad, and went with him to Balar; and they told that Elros and Elrond were taken captive, but Elwing with the Silmaril upon her breast had cast herself into the sea.
Thus Maedhros and Maglor gained not the jewel; but it was not lost.
Maglor took pity upon Elros and Elrond, and he cherished them, and love grew after between them, as little might be thought; but Maglor's heart was sick and weary with the burden of the dreadful oath.
Silmaril in the Sky
And Maglor answered: 'If it be truly the Silmaril which we saw cast into the sea that rises again by the power of the Valar, then let us be glad; for its glory is seen now by many, and is yet secure from all evil.'
Regaining the Silmarils
Then Eönwë as herald of the Elder King summoned the Elves of Beleriand to depart from Middle-earth. But Maedhros and Maglor would not hearken, and they prepared, though now with weariness and loathing, to attempt in despair the fulfilment of their oath; for they would have given battle for the Silmarils, were they withheld, even against the victorious host of Valinor, even though they stood alone against all the world. And they sent a message therefore to Eönwë, bidding him yield up now those jewels which of old Fëanor their father made and Morgoth stole from him.
But Eönwë answered that the right to the work of their father, which the sons of Fëanor formerly possessed, had now perished, because of their many and merciless deeds, being blinded by their oath, and most of all because of their slaying of Dior and the assault upon the Havens. The light of the Silmarils should go now into the West, whence it came in the beginning; and to Valinor must Maedhros and Maglor return, and there abide the judgement of the Valar, by whose decree alone would Eönwë yield the jewels from his charge. Then Maglor desired indeed to submit, for his heart was sorrowful, and he said: The oath says not that we may not bide our time, and it may be that in Valinor all shall be forgiven and forgot, and we shall come into our own in peace.
But Maedhros answered that if they returned to Aman but the favour of the Valar were withheld from them, then their oath would still remain, but its fulfilment be beyond all hope; and he said: 'Who can tell to what dreadful doom we shall come, if we disobey the Powers in their own land, or purpose ever to bring war again into their holy realm?'
Yet Maglor still held back, saying: 'If Manwë and Varda themselves deny the fulfilment of an oath to which we named them in witness, is it not made void?'
And Maedhros answered: 'But how shall our voices reach to Ilúvatar beyond the Circles of the World? And by Ilúvatar we swore in our madness, and called the Everlasting Darkness upon us, if we kept not our word. Who shall release us?'
'If none can release us,' said Maglor, 'then indeed the Everlasting Darkness shall be our lot, whether we keep our oath or break it; but less evil shall we do in the breaking.'
Yet he yielded at last to the will of Maedhros, and they took counsel together how they should lay hands on the Silmarils. And they disguised themselves, and came in the night to the camp of Eönwë, and crept into the place where the Silmarils were guarded; and they slew the guards, and laid hands on the jewels. Then all the camp was raised against them, and they prepared to die, defending themselves until the last. But Eönwë would not permit the slaying of the sons of Fëanor; and departing unfought they fled far away. Each of them took to himself a Silmaril, for they said: 'Since one is lost to us, and but two remain, and we two alone of our brothers, so is it plain that fate would have us share the heirlooms of our father.'
Ouch!
And it is told of Maglor that he could not endure the pain with which the Silmaril tormented him; and he cast it at last into the Sea, and thereafter he wandered ever upon the shores, singing in pain and regret beside the waves. For Maglor was mighty among the singers of old, named only after Daeron of Doriath; but he came never back among the people of the Elves.
Maglor
Potted History
*Also known as Kanafinwë (Káno) and Makalaurë (HoME Vol.12)
*The second greatest singer of the Elves of old
*Was married but his wife stayed in Valinor (HoME Vol.12) ETA It isn't in HoME 12! (Thanks Rhapsody11)
*His heart was sick and weary of the burden of the oath after the Third Kinslaying
*Wanted to submit to the judgement of the Valar rather than take the Silmarils from Eönwë after the War of Wrath
Alqualondë
But Uinen wept for the mariners of the Teleri; and the sea rose in wrath against the slayers, so that many of the ships were wrecked and those in them drowned. Of the enslaving at Alqualondë more is told in that lament which is named Noldolantë, the Fall of the Noldor, that Maglor made ere he was lost.
Feast of Reuniting
Thither came many of the chieftains and people of Fingolfin and Finrod; and of the sons of Fëanor Maedhros and Maglor, with warriors of the eastern March
The Singer
But the Sindar had the fairer voices and were more skilled in music, save only Maglor son of Fëanor
Maglor's Gap
Between the arms of Gelion was the ward of Maglor, and here in one place the hills failed altogether
Battle of Sudden Flame
Maglor joined Maedhros upon Himring
Nirnaeth Arnoediad
The sons of Bór were Borlad, Borlach, and Borthand; and they followed Maedhros and Maglor, and cheated the hope of Morgoth, and were faithful.
Maglor slew Uldor the accursed, the leader in treason
Third Kinslaying
Maedhros and Maglor won the day, though they alone remained thereafter of the sons of Fëanor, for both Amrod and Amras were slain. Too late the ships of Círdan and Gil-galad the High King came hasting to the aid of the Elves of Sirion; and Elwing was gone, and her sons. Then such few of that people as did not perish in the assault joined themselves to Gil-galad, and went with him to Balar; and they told that Elros and Elrond were taken captive, but Elwing with the Silmaril upon her breast had cast herself into the sea.
Thus Maedhros and Maglor gained not the jewel; but it was not lost.
Maglor took pity upon Elros and Elrond, and he cherished them, and love grew after between them, as little might be thought; but Maglor's heart was sick and weary with the burden of the dreadful oath.
Silmaril in the Sky
And Maglor answered: 'If it be truly the Silmaril which we saw cast into the sea that rises again by the power of the Valar, then let us be glad; for its glory is seen now by many, and is yet secure from all evil.'
Regaining the Silmarils
Then Eönwë as herald of the Elder King summoned the Elves of Beleriand to depart from Middle-earth. But Maedhros and Maglor would not hearken, and they prepared, though now with weariness and loathing, to attempt in despair the fulfilment of their oath; for they would have given battle for the Silmarils, were they withheld, even against the victorious host of Valinor, even though they stood alone against all the world. And they sent a message therefore to Eönwë, bidding him yield up now those jewels which of old Fëanor their father made and Morgoth stole from him.
But Eönwë answered that the right to the work of their father, which the sons of Fëanor formerly possessed, had now perished, because of their many and merciless deeds, being blinded by their oath, and most of all because of their slaying of Dior and the assault upon the Havens. The light of the Silmarils should go now into the West, whence it came in the beginning; and to Valinor must Maedhros and Maglor return, and there abide the judgement of the Valar, by whose decree alone would Eönwë yield the jewels from his charge. Then Maglor desired indeed to submit, for his heart was sorrowful, and he said: The oath says not that we may not bide our time, and it may be that in Valinor all shall be forgiven and forgot, and we shall come into our own in peace.
But Maedhros answered that if they returned to Aman but the favour of the Valar were withheld from them, then their oath would still remain, but its fulfilment be beyond all hope; and he said: 'Who can tell to what dreadful doom we shall come, if we disobey the Powers in their own land, or purpose ever to bring war again into their holy realm?'
Yet Maglor still held back, saying: 'If Manwë and Varda themselves deny the fulfilment of an oath to which we named them in witness, is it not made void?'
And Maedhros answered: 'But how shall our voices reach to Ilúvatar beyond the Circles of the World? And by Ilúvatar we swore in our madness, and called the Everlasting Darkness upon us, if we kept not our word. Who shall release us?'
'If none can release us,' said Maglor, 'then indeed the Everlasting Darkness shall be our lot, whether we keep our oath or break it; but less evil shall we do in the breaking.'
Yet he yielded at last to the will of Maedhros, and they took counsel together how they should lay hands on the Silmarils. And they disguised themselves, and came in the night to the camp of Eönwë, and crept into the place where the Silmarils were guarded; and they slew the guards, and laid hands on the jewels. Then all the camp was raised against them, and they prepared to die, defending themselves until the last. But Eönwë would not permit the slaying of the sons of Fëanor; and departing unfought they fled far away. Each of them took to himself a Silmaril, for they said: 'Since one is lost to us, and but two remain, and we two alone of our brothers, so is it plain that fate would have us share the heirlooms of our father.'
Ouch!
And it is told of Maglor that he could not endure the pain with which the Silmaril tormented him; and he cast it at last into the Sea, and thereafter he wandered ever upon the shores, singing in pain and regret beside the waves. For Maglor was mighty among the singers of old, named only after Daeron of Doriath; but he came never back among the people of the Elves.
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no subject
Date: 2005-10-14 03:32 pm (UTC)*Was married but his wife stayed in Valinor (HoME Vol.12)
HoME states that Curufin's wife remained in Valinor. POME states this: Others who were wedded were Maelor, Caranthir.
Tolkien does not state that Maglor was married on Valinor and that his wife lived there. It also doesn't say a thing about his wife not joining him in excile. Basically: he could have married anywhere.
I am also missing more material on his time when he held Maglor's Gap (maybe on purpose?) and other things as him going hunting, being ahead of a sortie of elves that kept Orcs at bay above Doriath.. I admit, loads of military geeky stuff ;)
no subject
Date: 2005-10-14 07:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-14 07:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-14 07:21 pm (UTC)*feels cheeky for asking, but desperately wants one*
no subject
Date: 2005-10-14 07:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-14 07:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-15 11:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-15 12:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-15 12:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-15 12:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-15 12:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-16 07:46 pm (UTC)Thanks for doing this, btw.
no subject
Date: 2005-10-15 08:04 pm (UTC)I think the hunting thing is when he and Maedhros go hunting with Finrod and Finrod wanders off and meets Men for the first time. I didn't include it in Maglor's section because it's pretty much incidental.
As for battle references, the Orcs get through Maglor's gap in the Glorious Battle, but oddly enough Maglor himself is not mentioned, similarly with Glaurung in the Battle of Sudden Flame - no direct mention of Maglor himself until the bit about him joining Maedhros on Himring. I hope the keeping the Orcs away from Doriath isn't fanon, because it sounds rather cool! HoME 11, maybe?
no subject
Date: 2005-10-15 08:36 pm (UTC)This is what I did found in my notes (military focussed)
Silm
Between the arms of Gelion was the ward of Maglor, and here in one place the hills failed altogether: there it was that the Orcs came into East Beleriand before the Third Battle. Therefore the Noldor held strength of cavalry in the plains at that place.
And this one (regarding Glauring toasting Maglor's lands):
Maedhros did deeds of surpassing valour, and the Orcs fled before his face; for since his torment upon Thangorodrim his spirit burned like a white fire within, and he was as one that returns from the dead. Thus the great fortress upon the Hill of Himring could not be taken, and many of the most valiant that remained, both of the people of Dorthonion and of the east marches, rallied there to Maedhros; and for a while he closed once more the Pass of Aglon, so that the Orcs could not enter Beleriand by that road. But they overwhelmed the riders of the people of Fëanor upon Lothlann, for Glaurung came thither, and passed through Maglor's Gap, and destroyed all the land between the arms of Gelion. And the Orcs took the fortress upon the west slopes of Mount Rerir, and ravaged all Thargelion, the land of Caranthir; and they defiled Lake Helevorn. Thence they passed over Gelion with fire and terror and came far into East Beleriand. Maglor joined Maedhros upon Himring; but Caranthir fled and joined the remnant of his people to the scattered folk of the hunters, Amrod and Amras, and they retreated and passed Ramdal in the south.
If Maglor wasn't on the Himring when Glaurung attacked... where would he have been then?
no subject
Date: 2005-10-15 11:50 pm (UTC)Maglor isn't mentioned as being among the riders on Lothlann, but I think it's a reasonable enough assumption that he was there!
The Doriath thing I really can't find.