Silmarillion fic -- Forsaken

[artaxastra]

A story of Maglor in the Third Age.

This takes place in 2174, after the fall of Moria and after Minas Ithil falls to the Nazgul, but before the Eothred comes south to Rohan.

Comments

[dbalthasar]

Oh, Maglor. And oh, Elleth, and all the tangles that are here. What makes an orc, indeed.

[artaxastra]

Lots and lots of people say, "Oh Maglor!" So many tangles. He's such a mess. But he's still here, which is saying something. And he's uniquely qualified to see to the heart of this riddle.

[dbalthasar]

I think the thing that appeals to me about your version is that Maglor is well aware of all the ways he's made things worse, all the horrors that came from the oath plus his personal failures, and yet, when it comes down to it, not only does he not really want to die, his death won't actually do anything, good or ill. Living... might?

[artaxastra]

I'm glad you like that. I think he is aware of all his failures and of the things he's done, but no, he won't die. Part of that, he would say, is cowardice. By his own oaths he is condemned to be thrown into the Void. And so it is better to live. But also he can't resist song. Art is what endures, a thing I think Tolkien would have approved of.

[paratti]

I loved it. It really rings true.

[artaxastra]

Thank you so much!

[smtfhw]

Really well written, and I know I'd like to read more if you have any in mind. Loved it!

[artaxastra]

Thank you! There may be another story with Maglor and Elleth.

[lferion]

Oh my goodness. This rings terrifyingly true, for both of them.

This is an entire planetoid of material for Celebrian's theological hammer.

Makes me wonder where Maglor was during the later events of the Third Age...

[artaxastra]

I'm glad it rings true. Maglor is hard! :)

It is an entire planetoid for Celebrian's theological hammer! Yes, what about the orcs? And what about what they become when Sauron isn't sitting on them? Clearly they have free will -- Shagrat and Gorbag discuss deserting. How does he control them other than have a Nazgul watch them? But the Nazgul aren't in the North for long centuries between Angmar and the end of the Third Age.

It makes me wonder too. I'm not sure what I think yet, though there may be a story there.

What did you think of Elleth?

[tricksterquinn]

I am very interested in that story!

[artaxastra]

There definitely might be more. Yes.

[marici]

I was reading an essay recently about how Orcs are descended from Men and Elves (and possibly Maiar), but obviously they wouldn't have souls, because Eru could not possibly be cruel enough to perpetuate the enslavement of a race of souled beings. I felt really old reading it because my expectation of God is so much less hopeful. I'm glad Maglor and the Grandmother could find a space to meet and be courteous to each other.

I laughed at Maglor wanting to learn the Orcs' songs, though I'm not sure whether she'll be in the mood to host him long enough to teach them all. I judge her absolutely right, too, that if she had not shown him the illusion of the ancient elf, he never would have seen the age and power that were not illusions. You make me wonder if there truly will be a later age here, an Age of the Orcs who have finally grown past the limits Morgoth and Sauron kept them to.

Thank you for this story.

[artaxastra]

I'm so glad you enjoyed the story