AMC--Chapter Forty-Nine
This week's chapter continues from the PoV of Maitimo. Last week, when we left, Maitimo sought news of Annawende and was going to first visit Vorondil to see if he had word, then use the seeing-stone. This week's chapter picks up in Vorondil's cabin and details the outcome of this excursion
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Two thoughts: I wonder now that once Fëanor created the Silmarils, the Valar looked at Fëanor (and imho with greed) at his jewels Silmarils, that they knew Fëanor had become their equal since he did achieve a thing that they could not do.
My other thought is... is it a token of reaching adulthood that Nelyo questions his father, in thought, and knows to keep him to himself?
"Ah, well, I prefer to think of him as the gentlest of the brothers" (when I don't see much evidence for "gentle"; I don't think that a gentle person would be given the realm that Maglor was given...or just ask Uldor!)
Exactly! Finally someone who shares this opinion with me. Actually, my Maglor vignette series (I don't think it can be coherent enough for a massive epic) started with the moment Maglor slew Uldor brutally. Then I realised it would be smart to start at the beginning of Maglor's life LOL! Anyway, yes. I have written in one of my stories where Fëanor tells Maglor that people underestimate his gentleness since he has seen Maglor killing without remorse and appearing to be an exact copy of him...
But really, in terms of creative genius, Maglor takes most after his father than all of his brothers
I fully agree! It is the way of thinking that he shares with his father that all artists have.
The way that I see it is that--as some of the people who know him most intimately--they understood why he did what he did. And they understood how much he valued them and loved them. And that is why they were loyal.
Isn't this the pure and basic definition of loyalty?
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I have no canon to back this up, really, except my own blind instinct, but I think that maybe they were a little afraid by this? Their responses to Feanor's "misbehavior" have always been, imho, disproportionate to the crime. They gave Melkor three ages in Mandos for what he did (which was much worse than kinslaying or heresy) and gave Feanor eternity. When he threatened Fingolfin, they immediately interfered rather than passing the matter to Finwe, as father and king, as they should have done. It seems to me that they knew his power, and rather than encouraging it, they feared it and tried to check it, and so naturally, he rebelled and it went out of control. So his fate is a self-fulfilling prophecy, in that way.
Just an admittedly harebrained theory of mine. ;)
My other thought is... is it a token of reaching adulthood that Nelyo questions his father, in thought, and knows to keep him to himself?
I hadn't really thought of this, but yes, I suppose it is! Well, I've always thought of Nelyo as being very diplomatic and well-attuned to the emotional states of others, so I think he senses that to challenge Feanor in this way would not be worth what he would reap in return. He probably figures that he can gently put on the brakes as an ally better than if he was his father's enemy.
I love when a comment gets me thinking in a new way! Thanks! :^D
Exactly! Finally someone who shares this opinion with me.
To me, Maglor is gentle = fanon.
He participated in the kinslayings, he burned the ships, he killed Uldor, he survived the longest, and I don't think that he did that by being gentle or merciful to his adversaries.
He may be more rational and less impulsive than certain of his brothers, but I don't think that this makes him gentle. Also, I don't think the Gap would have been granted to a person who couldn't hold his own in battle.
(Btw, next AMC chapter shows some of Maglor's "battle" prowess! Hehe.)
Isn't this the pure and basic definition of loyalty?
I would say, yes, for virtuous loyalty. Blind loyalty might be a different matter altogether. (I don't count loyalty out of fear or coercion, since that doesn't seem true, heartfelt loyalty.)
I get annoyed by the authors and fics who portray the Feanorians as blindly loyal. As though the author can think of no way in which Feanor might have earned loyalty from his sons. Certainly, they were all too stupid to do otherwise. /sarcasm ;)
Ai, you are dangerous company, Rhapsody! Now you've got my mind whirling in fifteen different directions! :^D
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Well just look at how Eru made that parenting mistake with Melkor? I often wonder that if Eru would not have treated Melkor this arrogant when he tried to attempt to create something for himself (like all little children want to do, but usually start to paint the walls with something creative (read= material which cannot be removed ever)). And look at how the Valar treated Fëanor, for imho, going his own way and creating something that in some unwritten law he is forbidden to do?
It seems to me that they knew his power, and rather than encouraging it, they feared it and tried to check it, and so naturally, he rebelled and it went out of control. So his fate is a self-fulfilling prophecy, in that way.
Well do you see the parallel with Melkor? I always thought that was very striking.
I love when a comment gets me thinking in a new way! Thanks! :^D
You're welcome honey, besides being the master at placing rabid bunnies at someone's path, this is what I do as a beta.
He may be more rational and less impulsive than certain of his brothers, but I don't think that this makes him gentle. Also, I don't think the Gap would have been granted to a person who couldn't hold his own in battle.
pragmatic. That is why I love writing him. When Isil was campaigning to let me write a story that featured elves (trust me, for long I have been a loyal Dunedain ranger fangurl), I discovered Maglor and no other elf has replaced him so far. Although Celegorm is a good runner up ;)
(Btw, next AMC chapter shows some of Maglor's "battle" prowess! Hehe.)
Yay! And it isn't even my birthday yet ;)
I get annoyed by the authors and fics who portray the Feanorians as blindly loyal. As though the author can think of no way in which Feanor might have earned loyalty from his sons. Certainly, they were all too stupid to do otherwise. /sarcasm ;)
Well no, all knew all to well what they were doing. You cannot survive that long with this attitude after Fëanor passed. Because mostly, with blind loyalty, when the person gone that evokes such a strong feeling, the loyalty disappears rather quickly. What drove the Feanorians is a complete different kind of loyalty.
Ai, you are dangerous company, Rhapsody! Now you've got my mind whirling in fifteen different directions! :^D
Hmmm, 15 good ones I hope. I knew I should have put up a warning somewhere ;)
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