Fanfic / Lessons from the Mountain

"You have much to expunge, eldest son of Fëanor. I will leave you your pain until you no longer have need of it. But you will answer for your deeds – all of them. Your wisdom failed in the end."

Lessons From The Mountain is a The Silmarillion fanfic by MithLuin. The War of Wrath is over, and Maedhros has killed himself. Still his trials are far from over. Now he must face judgement, but also the possibility of earning his and his family’s redemption.

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Tropes:

• Abusive Parents: Feanor is a terrible father. He talks to his sons with condescension and contempt and treats them as tools.
• Armor-Piercing Question:
  • Varda delivers a devastating question during Maedhros' judgement which causes him to reexamine his actions during the first Kinslaying:
    "You did not need the Valar to teach you that it was wrong to kill the Teleri and take their ships," Estë said sorrowfully. "You did know better, but in your reckless fear…"
    "We were not afraid!" he insisted.
    "Why your haste?" asked Varda, and then he knew, knew beyond any doubt, that she was right. A sickening feeling took his stomach, and he was glad he had not eaten in years.
  • Yavanna also joins the action:
    Maedhros: It was then that I … that I missed Valinor as it was, before the Darkening of the Trees. I knew this new light was yours, but you did not hoard it…
    Yavanna: Should Light be hoarded?
• Armor-Piercing Response:
  • Maedhros gets one of these when he points out Morgoth is also an Ainur:
    "Respect for the Powers was never Fëanáro’s strength," the Voice murmured.
    "How could it be, when you claim brotherhood with our Enemy?" he retorted.
    One can only be betrayed by an ally," came the quick reply. "And the betrayal of a brother cuts deepest."
    Maedhros had no answer for that, so instead he looked at his hands.
• Batman Gambit: Maedhros restrained his brothers from moving against Luthien's family by suggesting Celegorm he might talk Luthien into marriage after Beren's death. It never occurred to him Luthien would accept the Gift of Men.
• Break Them by Talking: Maedhros falls on his knees when Manwe and Varda point out that he did exactly what Morgoth wanted him to.
  Manwe: Stand. It grieves me that you did not make use of the reprieve I granted you. Even after you saw so clearly what fate awaited you. There are indeed many chances in the world, but we had hoped you would have turned away from the path you chose.
  Varda: You fought so valiantly to avoid becoming Morgoth’s thrall. But did you not see that only a thrall of Morgoth would have kept your blasphemous Oath?
  Manwe: Neither we, nor Taniquetil, nor Ilúvatar ever accepted your Oath. The only Vala who would keep such blasphemy… is your Enemy. In the end, you chose the fate you feared in your captivity. In keeping your Oath, you became the thrall of Morgoth that led each of your brothers to death and torment, and robbed us all of the Light of the Silmarils.
• Calling the Old Man Out: Maedhros finally becomes fed up with his father's barbs.
  Feanor: Your disapproval has been clear from the first. And yet you return, knowing that I alone of all elves here cannot abandon you. Your mother, your brothers, they have left you one by one. I remain, and so you cling to me. That is what those mortal elflings are to you – not sons, but security.
  Maedhros: How dare you? I come because I love you. Have you forgotten your life so completely? You loved us once. You loved each of us... and our Mother. I came to you because she asked it of me. She knew she would never see you again, and so she asked me to look after you when she was reborn. She did not abandon any of us, least of all me. The Maiar here are right – the one thing you cannot teach an elf is that which he already knows, or thinks he does. You cannot love with just a fëa, Father. That is why everyone else is re-embodied. They miss...being able to love someone. Hunger? Thirst? Cold? It is not those hroafelmë that wear on the spirit!
• Family of Choice: Averted with Feanor, who only cares about blood relations. He considers Celebrimbor his grandson, even though he repudiated his family, but he refuses to recognize Maglor’s adoptive sons as heirs.
• Fate Worse than Death: During his captivity, Maedhros begged for death because he was terrified of being turned into a thrall of Morgoth. Namo reassures him that Morgoth couldn't break his spirit without breaking his mind in the process, rendering him useless.
• Get Out!: Feanor's reaction when Maedhros informs him that his Oath was worthless.
• Hell Is That Noise: Morgoth's laughter, as far as Maedhros is concerned.
  Maedhros: I proudly told him that he may kill me or torture me, but that would never be. He laughed. I think that was the most awful sound I have ever heard, and I have heard many things that no one should hear.
• I Gave My Word: Deconstructed. It’s made clear that Maedhros should have gone back on his Oath rather than cling to it.
• In Mysterious Ways: During his trial, Maedhros asks Manwe why he wasn’t granted the quick death he pleaded for back when he was being tortured by Morgoth. Manwe replies he intended to release Maedhros from his torment as soon as possible.
  Maedhros: I have always wondered... Why you granted his request instantly, Manwe-to-whom-all-birds-are-dear, while you had studiously ignored mine for years.
  Manwe: You have just answered your own question. In all those years, you begged only for death. But when the time was right, I sent you freedom. If I seemed to be silent, it was because you insisted on asking for too mean a boon.
  Maedhros: You—you did not abandon the Noldor? Not even the sons of Feanor? I thought your silence was—
  Vaire: Little did you know of the Valar when you left Valinor. Seldom have you perceived our actions, and little do you understand our thoughts.
• It's All About Me: Feanor. When Maedhros tells his wife was given the option to remarry after re-embodiment, his reaction is: "How can the Valar do this to me?". When Maedhros talks about his dealings with humans, he remarks "So I WAS right about them ousting us".
• Reformed, but Rejected: Nimloth isn't happy to see Maedhros, even though he is dead and remorseful.
• Screw Destiny: Subverted. You can't achieve something impossible by merely declaring you will do it, no matter how badass you may be.
• Together in Death: Defied. Maedhros would want to face his judgement with his brother Maglor, but he is told that everyone faces judgement alone, even if they die together.
• Underestimating Badassery: Maedhros admits he underestimated Morgoth because an elf-maiden slipped past his defenses. It never occurred to him that Luthien achieved her deed through sheer cleverness and resourcefulness.
• Will Not Tell a Lie: Invoked when Maedhros reasons Manwe would not lie to him or anybody because then nobody would trust him.