Im A Russingon Girlie At Heart And Will Never Miss An Opportunity To Read Into The Romanticism Of Maedhros

I’m a Russingon girlie at heart and will never miss an opportunity to read into the romanticism of Maedhros’ rescue from Thangorodrim: ancient friends/lovers coming back together, Fingon finding compassion despite betrayal, all that good tear-jerker stuff.

But what makes Fingon’s heroism massive to me has nothing to do with the personal and everything to do with the politics at Mithrim. The fact that had he not gone to Thangorodrim, the Noldor in Beleriand would find themselves at literal war against each other.

This little passage from the Silm really deserves a lot more attention:

No love was there in the hearts of those that followed Fingolfin for the House of Fëanor, for the agony of those that endured the crossing of the Ice had been great, and Fingolfin held the sons the accomplices of their father. Then there was peril of strife between the hosts

Years later, when Fingon decides to look for Maedhros, the conflict between the hosts comes back as a primary reason behind his decision:

Then Fingon the valiant, son of Fingolfin, resolved to heal the feud that divided the Noldor, before their Enemy should be ready for war

This makes me conclude that the three years between Fingolfin’s arrival at Mitrhim (FA 2) to Fingon’s rescue mission (FA 5) must have been a continuous civil crisis. The hosts are in close proximity, a single lake dividing them, Fingolfin on one side, Maglor on the other, and for three years they cannot find a compromise. This crisis must have gotten pretty bad for someone to decide that braving Thangorodrim might be worth it.

And to me, this is Fingon's greatest contribution he ever made, not his battles, not his chasing of dragons, but preventing civil war among his people.

Of all the children of Finwë he is justly most renowned...

Yes, indeed, he is. Because without Fingon’s deed, there would be no victories for the Noldor, no Long Peace, no meeting of the Edain and Eldar. They would have fought each other endlessly until one group obliterated the other, or alternatively, Morgoth used this division (as the book seems to imply) to destroy them all swiftly. 

Fingon effectively accomplishes what Fingolfin and Fëanor never managed: peace, at least for a good while. Maedhros of course contributes in return by giving up the crown. He meets Fingon halfway, and they stay true to this alliance until Fingon’s death. They cross an impossible bridge no matter how you read their relationship. 

I’ll never tire of it. Ever.

Sometime I come back into the silm fandom and drop some bullshit

how Fingon must have loved Maedhros to climb Thangorodrim alone to his rescue. how he must have hurt inside to remember Maedhros had left him on the ice, but come to rescue all the same.

how conflicted Fingon must have been when presented with the choice between ending the torture of his friend, his family, or maiming him in the name of freedom. It must have burnt to hear Maedhros beg for death.

I’m really struck by this bit from the Nirnaeth Arnoediad:

Now Morgoth, who knew much of what was done and designed by his enemies, chose his hour, and trusting in his treacherous servants to hold back Maedhros and prevent the union of his foes he sent a force seeming great (and yet but a part of all that he had made ready) towards Hithlum; and they were clad all in dun raiment and showed no naked steel, and thus were already far over the sands of Anfauglith before their approach was seen.

Then the hearts of the Noldor grew hot, and their captains wished to assail their foes upon the plain; but Húrin spoke against it, and bade them beware of the guile of Morgoth, whose strength was always greater than it seemed, and his purpose other than revealed. And though the signal of the approach of Maedhros came not, and the host grew impatient, Húrin urged them still to await it, and to let the Orcs break themselves in assault upon the hills.

Húrin in this scene is 31 years old. He’s already been leading his people for ten years, ever since his father died in one of the follow-up assaults to the Dagor Bragollach. And he’s more self-controlled and cannier than elven-lords who are centuries to millinnia old. Not only that, he has the self-confidence to argue this point with the High King of the Noldor and all of his commanders, repeatedly, and is convincing enough that they listen to him, up until the gruesome killing of Gelmir, and Gwindor’s attack. He’s doing what a good general should be doing in this situation: urging them to maintain their advantage of cover and the high ground, and not be baited.

(This is the thing that you’d want the leader/general of your army to be doing, but prudence, caution, and levelheadedness are not exactly Fingon’s hallmarks. I’m amusing myself by imaging a parting conversation between Turgon and Húrin when Húrin leaves Gondolin. “Take care of my brother,” Turgon says to the 17-year-old. “Don’t let him do do anything stupid.” “Do my best!” Húrin promises.)

But it doesn’t last, and Gwindor launches his attack, and Fingon leads them all out to follow him and rides straight to Angband, and Morgoth springs his trap. And it all ends with Húrin being captured and the tragedy of everything that Morgoth does to his family - Húrin, who knew better, and warned them all that Morgoth was playing them.

The Dispossessed shall they be for ever.

thuringwethil for @tolkienvillainsweek 🧛 🦇 i heard vampire ladies are very popular this year

always wanted to try animating this transformation thingy ( • ▽ • ;;)