Stories of Arda - Lord of the Rings Fan-Fiction Archive


	About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

Fiondil's Tapestry by Fiondil	10 Review(s)
Soledad	Reviewed Chapter: 56 on 7/16/2010
He tended to sing long weepy lays about loss and death and other dark matters. Well, that must be a rather monotonous passtime, even for him. Too bad that Dr. Freud is busy therapying his brothers in Mandos - he might be in need of some therapy, too... Author Reply: You're probably right about that, Soledad. Unfortunately Herr Doktor hasn't even been born yet, so there's no hope there. grin

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 56 on 3/25/2009
Glad Maglor had a few nice encounters like this with other people. He must have been very lonely during all these millennia, feeling an outlaw even with his own people and believing he could never return. It was sweet that the little girl kissed him :) Maybe your muse would one day agree to write a happy end for him? Author Reply: I am sure Maglor had some nice encounters to offset his loneliness from time to time, at least I would hope so. As for a happy ending... that´s up to the Muse and I wouldn´t hold my breath. lol

Cairistiona	Reviewed Chapter: 56 on 3/20/2009
So aching, this tale. And this time I guessed at the first it was Maglor... that song oddly suits him, and somehow that he's singing it gives it a loneliness that the actual words make all the more wrenching. "Busy going nowhere..." Yes, that's the heartbreak of Maglor. Another poignant ficlet. Thank you for writing it. Author Reply: Hi, Cairistiona. So you knew this was Maglor from the beginning, huh? grin I suspect most readers did as well. I'm glad you enjoyed this ficlet. Thank you for letting me know. I really appreciate it.

Sunny	Reviewed Chapter: 56 on 3/20/2009
It was just _wonderful_ to see the update on your Tapetstry series yesterday. But there was _no_ way I was going to be able to comment on it then – even though Maglor is a particular favorite of mine! I was _exhausted_!! And never mind the details - if I were to say more, I am sure I would burn out my computer! (and yours, too, if Murphy willed it so!) I suspect you had a bit of musical inspiration here. I like a lot of different kinds of music (from Bach via … lots of different stuff … to Crüxshadows), and one particular item I was listening to earlier this week, was _Vincent_ with Don McLean. I was suddenly struck with the thought that that song somehow describes Maglor very well. And it is a simply lovely song, too. Not that a simple song would do him justice, IMO. He _is_ one of the more complicated and contradictory - and more interesting – characters in the Silmarillion. It is tempting to write more about my opinions etc. about Maglor, but I suspect it might end up rather rant-like, and I wouldn’t want to inflict that on you – especially considering my current mood. So just accept my compliments on a quite charming storylet with one of my favorites. (…but do you think your muse might whisper in your ear more sweet inspirations about Maglor?) Author Reply: I'm glad yui enjoyed this little tale of Maglor, Sunny. The prompt word reminded me of the song from the movie and I decided to incorporate it into the story, adapting the lyrics to fit the Middle-earth mythos and, of course, it had to be about Maglor, the ultimate word in vagabondness. grin The subtitle, of course, is ironic since Maglor is anything but. I don't know if I will be writing more about him, though. That's really up to the Muse. I hope I do; Maglor is indeed one of the more interesting and fascinating characters in all of Tolkien's Legendarium.

Sitara	Reviewed Chapter: 56 on 3/20/2009
It seems that when I labeled my own mind as twisted, I was more right than I had intended to be. "smiling bitterly". What I wanted and failed to say is that, in my mind, a person bearing a burden such as Maglor's should focus on his problem, not in order to suffer more and more, but to actually find a solution for the said problem. At any rate, he needs to make a decision, sooner or later, I think. What I would wish for Maglor is not to have a moment of fleeting peace here and there, but to find and accept forgiveness, healing and true happiness. And , in order for this to happen, the way of Mandos' Halls beside the point for now, I don't really see another way but to face the problem. What Maglor is currently doing is to wallow in his anguish and that ultimately means to avoid facing his issues. Meaning, he's singing his laments, wandering sorrowfully, but for how long? An Age, two , three but for how many more? What I would want fo Maglor is to sit down and think: "Yes, I am a cursed Kinslayer, I took a stupid oath, I killed my kin more than once, and I did a lot of other awful things. Now what I'm going to do about it?" And I would like to hear another answer than "Singing and wandering near the shores." I want him to cease to look only back and to begin to look forward. This is what I wanted to say. In my opinion, sometimes one is tended to avoid facing its problems, and I'm not blaming anyone for doing this. Please, tell me it makes sense, at least a bit. As for being pleased because people were still holding Varda in reverence, I believe that now he may not think about the Valar the way he did when he left Aman or when he let himself convinced to attack the Valar's host, after the War of Wrath. Perhaps one of these days he would come to the conclusion that he may receive forgiveness?... Author Reply: Okay, that makes more sense. Thank you for clarifying your statement. I totally agree with you there. Maglor needs to own up to what he did and start making some effort towards reconciliation. I'm sure the Valar would be more than willing to forgive him but he has to first forgive himself and go from there. Hopefully, he will do just that. I'm sure he doesn't view the Valar quite the same way as he once did, but what I was trying to say was that he has not denied them or Eru. He may not like them, but he will not deny their existence (as some Mortals might have done). While he might not be for the Valar, he is definitely against Sauron, and that makes all the difference as to whether he is truly lost or just slightly misplaced (spiritually speaking). grin

Sitara	Reviewed Chapter: 56 on 3/19/2009
While reading your story, I remembered an very old Indian movie, called "Awaara", which means exactly the name of the prompt, as far as I know. The leading character also was an apparently carefree vagabond, but, of course, like in this case, that was far from the truth. "sad smile". Maglor, then...I don't really think this would be the time to begin inquiring about Maglor and his fate, but I'll think only about some last lines from both LOTR and Silmarillion: "...In that time the last of the Noldor set sail from the Havens...Taking into account another paragraph from The Shaping of Middle-Earth: "...if they (the Elves) would not come tither and tarried in the world of Men, then they should slowly fade and fail". I hope I've correctly understand, with my poor English. Well, it seems to me that, unless he died, therefore returning to Aman via Mandos, Maglor must have set sail at some point, perhaps in the beginning of F.A. , perhaps later. I don't think he had much of a choice, eventually. Well, you're right, as most of the time. "grin" No one, even bearing the burden of such an oath and its consequences, could feel only the anguish caused by these actions. Albeit I don't particularily like this natural aspect of human/elvish soul, I'm going to make an exception, only for this Elf, and I'll be extremely happy for Maglor's little moment of peace. After all, he couldn't have played Noldolante all the time, I suppose. "attempting to smile" And I'm happy for that little girl, for she's proving that when all the Elves would be gone, Middle-Earth might be not a place left without any Light. Maglor is one of Tolkien's characters who truly and deeply impressed me. But, there is one whose tale moved me even more than his'. Maedhros. Very interesting choice for the prompt and loved the happier perspective which you gave to Maglor's heartbreaking story. By the way, why would a cursed Kinslayer care for the reverence given to one of the Valar, I wonder? "grin" Author Reply: No one, even bearing the burden of such an oath and its consequences, could feel only the anguish caused by these actions. Albeit I don't particularily like this natural aspect of human/elvish soul, I'm going to make an exception, only for this Elf, and I'll be extremely happy for Maglor's little moment of peace. I'm not entirely sure to which aspect of human/elvish soul you are referring. I get the impression (and I may be wrong) that you don't want Maglor to be happy even for a little bit. A rather confusing statement or maybe it's just that it's late and I'm tired. grin At any rate, I'm glad you enjoyed this little fic. And to answer your last question... why shouldn't Maglor still have reverence for the Valar? He may be damned (in his eyes) but that doesn't mean that he cannot acknowledge the Powers or Eru. And the fact that the little girl is named for Varda is I think a sign of hope for him that not all Men have turned to evil and worship Sauron.

6336	Reviewed Chapter: 56 on 3/19/2009
Poor Maglor, one does feel sorry for him at times. Of all the Brothers Feanor he was the most reasonable, if he could have reliquished his Oath, I think he would have. He was very kind to Elros and Elrond after all. Which raises a question, were Elros and Elrond named for where they were found and if they were, what were their names before that, Baby A and Baby B? Hope he makes it back to Valinor, eventually! More please, Lynda Author Reply: As far as I know, Lynda, the Eärendilionnath were named by their mother. I don't think that they were actual infants at the time Maglor and Maedhros took them, but they would have been old enough to know their names (or others who survived the massacre would have known them). I hope he makes it back to Valinor eventually too! He certainly deserves to find happiness that is more than fleeting as in this story.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 56 on 3/19/2009
He learned not to look back.... Love the song, but don't remember a musical comedy version of the story. Remember the Bing Crosby version somewhat, but don't remember singing in it.... Author Reply: No, he learned never to look back. Well, the Bing Crosby version is indeed the musical comedy version of it and there was singing in it (with Bing Crosby what else would you expect!). grin This particular song is the only one I actually remember from it myself and I always liked it. It sounds almost Hobbitish, doesn't it? grin

ellie	Reviewed Chapter: 56 on 3/19/2009
How whimsically sweet and sad. I like the kiss the little girl gave Maglor. Poor Maglor. Author Reply: Poor Maglor, indeed, Ellie. Yet, I'm sure that he knew other such sweet moments, like the kiss the little girl gives him here, and treasured them all, especially when things were darkest for him.

Parmalokwen	Reviewed Chapter: 56 on 3/19/2009
Yes. Maglor didn't leave Eldarin society to live a carefree existence-- he left because he felt himself unfit to be among his fellow Elves after being burned (in more than one way!) by the Silmaril, and perhaps to Maglor's way of thinking rejected by Light itself. But even as gloomy a character as Maglor must have a cheerful moment every now and then. Author Reply: Indeed, Parmalokwen. Even someone like Maglor deserves to have a cheerful moment now and then. His life is so tragic. I think you are correct that he felt himself unfit to be among his fellow Elves even if they (and the Valar) had forgiven him. Hopefully he won't have to wait until the Remaking before finding redemption.

Return to Chapter List