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Sad But True  by Ecthelion of the fountain 1 Review(s)
RhapsodyReviewed Chapter: 3 on 5/4/2007
Even though my interpretation of Maglor's character and actions is completely different from mine (but that makes reading Tolkien fan fic so much fun, to read the takes of others on it), I really like how you weave in the questions asked by Lúthien in the first chapter into this one as well. The dynamics between the brothers, their reasoning on why they did not act, but oh, what really took my breath away was reading this:

Under the first-rising young sun he stood in front of the camp of the House of Fëanor near the Lake of Mithrim, gazing at the banner of blue and silver flying afar in the golden sunlight, and suddenly realized that the most difficult part for him was not facing the rage of their father's half brother.

This is a stunning and evocative piece of narrative, besides the gems of (inner) dialogue. The way you pace the telling of the events during the first battles, the death of Fëanor, the oath taking again ect ect: it reads very natural. Personally I wonder what will happen, in your words and view, if Maedhros and Celegorm really have an argument. I'd probably buy first row tickets for that.

Author Reply: In this story I weakened Maglor, because it is Celegorm's POV. Somehow I got the feeling that Celegorm, Caranthir, and Curufin were never truly willing to listen to their elder brothers' commands, especially Maglor. But as Tolkien wrote in Narn i Hin Hurin, many a man of arms misreads patience and quiet. Maglor, in my mind, is actually a typical Noldo. Unbending, proud, although artistic, but no less strong-willed than his brothers. He did not choose to die but continue to stay as a singer, which fulfilled his father's words - 'and this doom I add: the deeds that we shall do shall be the matter of song until the last days of Arda.' Singers do not die; and singers do not allow themselves to die. Maglor, the last of the sons of Feanor, chose a path harder than death: to live; for he bore the responsibility of reflecting and recollecting. How many songs and lays in Middle-earth were probably from him? Do we really know?

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