- yep, it’s an Elf
- a lot of page time given to this character
- for a time was High King of his people
- the oldest of several brothers
- the next eldest brother had to take over leadership when said elf was unwillingly separated from his people
- very very tall (was known for it)
- very good-looking
- with a rare hair color btw
- attention is called in-text to the fey light of his eyes
- has a temper but can sometimes control it
- did have a scene where he naively believed in good intentions/did not see betrayal
- has an on-screen personality; it has flaws and nuances
- acknowledges his mistakes and repents
- throws shade, makes dismissive comments, he’s sassy
- Don’t need the Valar, thanks but no thanks
- left Valinor, lives rest of his life in Beleriand
- feared and hated by Morgoth
- fights against Morgoth’s armies sent personally to destroy him or his family
- Neither Morgoth nor any of the Dark Lord’s forces ever kill him
- allied with the dwarves of Nogrod and Belegost and fought a large battle against Morgoth together
- gifts were exchanged with the dwarves
- Also allied with other elves
- Finrod visits him
- maintains a rather large network of political allies
- including a deep personal friendship with another elven king
- Said king dies in that large battle, was too late to come to his friend’s rescue
- so instead he slaughters hundreds of orcs in revenge and then has to flee to safety
- Also allies with humans
- but doesn’t have as close a relationship with them as some other Noldor princes and their Edain
- one human male will go live with him and be treated with love and honor
- quasi-adopted mortal son
- makes a terrible Oath involving the recovery of a Silmaril
- eventually does gain possession of a Silmaril
- this leads to his death
- tragic
- his brother survives him and spends the rest of his life next to a seashore
I’m describing Elu Thingol, btw. Not Maedhros
Tag: maedhros
Here’s a major character from the Silmarillion- please guess who I’m describing:
- yep, it’s an Elf
- a lot of page time given to this character
- for a time was High King of his people
- the oldest of several brothers
- the next eldest brother had to take over leadership when said elf was unwillingly separated from his people
- very very tall (was known for it)
- very good-looking
- with a rare hair color btw
- attention is called in-text to the fey light of his eyes
- has a temper but can sometimes control it
- did have a scene where he naively believed in good intentions/did not see betrayal
- has an on-screen personality; it has flaws and nuances
- acknowledges his mistakes and repents
- throws shade, makes dismissive comments, he’s sassy
- Don’t need the Valar, thanks but no thanks
- left Valinor, lives rest of his life in Beleriand
- feared and hated by Morgoth
- fights against Morgoth’s armies sent personally to destroy him or his family
- Neither Morgoth nor any of the Dark Lord’s forces ever kill him
- allied with the dwarves of Nogrod and Belegost and fought a large battle against Morgoth together
- gifts were exchanged with the dwarves
- Also allied with other elves
- Finrod visits him
- maintains a rather large network of political allies
- including a deep personal friendship with another elven king
- Said king dies in that large battle, was too late to come to his friend’s rescue
- so instead he slaughters hundreds of orcs in revenge and then has to flee to safety
- Also allies with humans
- but doesn’t have as close a relationship with them as some other Noldor princes and their Edain
- one human male will go live with him and be treated with love and honor
- quasi-adopted mortal son
- makes a terrible Oath involving the recovery of a Silmaril
- eventually does gain possession of a Silmaril
- this leads to his death
- tragic
- his brother survives him and spends the rest of his life next to a seashore
I’m describing Elu Thingol, btw. Not Maedhros
It makes me really sad that the fandom made you dislike Maedhros. If it’s okay, I’d like to bring up a couple non-Thingol aspects to his character: presumably seeing Morgoth in person, getting tortured, recovering from torture, having to deal with Feanor, dealing with his brothers, finding Finwe’s body, having to witness all the consequences of his actions play out, directly killing other elves, killing himself, giving up his crown. Those are some things that I think make his character Good.
And frankly, while dealing with Fëanor and his brothers would garner sympathy from me, the towering hypocrisy of Maedhros, that he does repeatedly murder civilian populations and unlike Thingol isn’t overwhelming motivated out of a desire to safeguard his people- which is one of the many reasons I love Thingol… One of my favorite characters in the Silm is Maeglin- who also has the captured by Morgoth and tortured (though only caused the destruction of one elven city), had a troubled home-life (and if Fëanor was written in fandom more emotionally abusive whom his sons were constantly fearing to lose their father’s affection and thus the Oath motivated in part out of that fear- I’d be more receptive). I’m not saying Maedhros isn’t interesting as a character- just that I’ve seen enough of it, it no longer appeals to me- what little did the first year or two in this fandom, now it’s been over ten years I’m sick of him.
But if Maedhros wasn’t rescued and instead spent the majority of the Silm hanging from that cliff? [shrug] I’d be fine with that.
Here’s a major character from the Silmarillion- please guess who I’m describing:
- yep, it’s an Elf
- a lot of page time given to this character
- for a time was High King of his people
- the oldest of several brothers
- the next eldest brother had to take over leadership when said elf was unwillingly separated from his people
- very very tall (was known for it)
- very good-looking
- with a rare hair color btw
- attention is called in-text to the fey light of his eyes
- has a temper but can sometimes control it
- did have a scene where he naively believed in good intentions/did not see betrayal
- has an on-screen personality; it has flaws and nuances
- acknowledges his mistakes and repents
- throws shade, makes dismissive comments, he’s sassy
- Don’t need the Valar, thanks but no thanks
- left Valinor, lives rest of his life in Beleriand
- feared and hated by Morgoth
- fights against Morgoth’s armies sent personally to destroy him or his family
- Neither Morgoth nor any of the Dark Lord’s forces ever kill him
- allied with the dwarves of Nogrod and Belegost and fought a large battle against Morgoth together
- gifts were exchanged with the dwarves
- Also allied with other elves
- Finrod visits him
- maintains a rather large network of political allies
- including a deep personal friendship with another elven king
- Said king dies in that large battle, was too late to come to his friend’s rescue
- so instead he slaughters hundreds of orcs in revenge and then has to flee to safety
- Also allies with humans
- but doesn’t have as close a relationship with them as some other Noldor princes and their Edain
- one human male will go live with him and be treated with love and honor
- quasi-adopted mortal son
- makes a terrible Oath involving the recovery of a Silmaril
- eventually does gain possession of a Silmaril
- this leads to his death
- tragic
- his brother survives him and spends the rest of his life next to a seashore
I’m describing Elu Thingol, btw. Not Maedhros
In the camps of the Bór, in Ossiriand, after Sirion
Inspired by this bit of headcanon.
Warning, first Silm fic, OC narrator, implied canon scene from outsider perspective.
“The sons of Bór were Borlad, Borlach, and Borthand; and they followed Maedhros and Maglor, and cheated the hope of Morgoth, and were faithful.”
“the sons of Ulfang went over suddenly to Morgoth … They reaped not the reward that Morgoth promised them, for Maglor slew Uldor the accursed, the leader in treason, and the sons of Bór slew Ulfast and Ulwarth ere they themselves were slain”
“For the sons of Fëanor that yet lived came down suddenly upon the exiles of Gondolin and the remnant of Doriath, and destroyed them. In that battle some of their people stood aside, and some few rebelled and were slain upon the other part aiding Elwing against their own lords (for such was the sorrow and confusion in the hearts of the Eldar in those days); but Maedhros and Maglor won the day.”
Another day of aimless wandering. Another dismal night spent under canvas.
Every evening, once the tents were pitched and dinner eaten, Maglor would come and sing them a lullaby to make them sleep. To ensure they got enough rest, he said, for they were growing children. To keep them from waking the whole camp with their nightmares, said Elrond to Elros. To keep them from running, said Elros back.
They wished he wouldn’t but they knew what they were to him even if he liked to pretend otherwise.
“Call me Maglor,” he had told them, on the second day, once he had changed out of his bloody armour and the twins had stopped screaming and sobbing long enough that he could get a word in edgewise. “Or Father. And this is your Uncle Maedhros.” Uncle Maedhros, still dressed in gore-crusted mail, had snorted.
They did not call him Father because he was not their father and because Elrond thought it hurt him that they didn’t, just a little. Maglor they called Maglor and Maedhros they did not address at all, any more than he addressed them. He at least did not pretend and Elros said he liked him better for it. Elrond thought that monsters were monsters no matter the masks they wore.
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