Exploration of a Maglor AU - part 1
Been thinking about a fem!Maglor AU lately, because Nerdanel deserves more representation in her flame-consumed children. (And come on, the Feanorians deserve one sister, I don’t care that seven sons alliterate better.)
It could either make a huge difference to the story, or not make a difference at all.
About half the Elleth in the House of Finwe stayed, and half left Aman. Fem!Maglor would have no doubt left as well, though there would have been quite a bit of guilt about leaving - Nerdanel would likely have pleaded for Maglor to stay, rather than just the twins.
Maglor is, canonically, more similar to Nerdanel than he is to Feanor, in that he too desired to understand minds rather than to control them. Fem!Maglor would be even closer to Nerdanel and absorb more of her influence, being the only other girl in the crazy-cozy-nest of fiery-tempered Feanorian boys.
Her loyalty being torn between her parents might lead to her having slightly more reservations about Feanor's mission, though she chose to follow him. It might prevent an involvement in the first kinslaying - or at least, she would stand aside with Maedhros at the burning of the ships. She is no less furious and vengeful about the death of Finwe and the theft of her father's jewels. But she would be more inclined to listen to Olwe's words and persuasion, or at least understand enough from his POV to not want to, you know, start killing the innocent Telerin at Aqualonde - whom she has studied and befriended over past few centuries.
Or perhaps she does, inevitably, stain her hands red in the chaos of the first kinslaying. Terror-stricken Telerin picked up the fallen swords of the Noldor, desperate to protect themselves and theirs. They may not know how to use it, but hard steel cuts all the same. It's kill or be killed. Maglor is a warrior, or she would be, by the end of the first age. She is a survivor. The fighting instinct is in her blood, just as much as the mighty song of power and the song of healing is. She fights back. She kills.
This guilt gnaws at her. It has gone too far - the road beyond will be darker and become more twisted, she realised, as she stared at the remorseless faces of her father and brothers. They are drunk on righteous fury, but she is too clear-sighted, too much of Nerdanel for that.
She does not swear the Oath. Does not swear to forgo love, nor law. Does not swear to everlasting Darkness.
Fem!Maglor does not get cold looks of betrayal from her family as much as Canon!Maglor would have gotten.
Though elves would scoff at the gender discrimination of humans, there is still some gender expectations in elven society, (though much more flexible than in human society) - you cannot tell me that her 6 brothers, (and Feanor) would not be relieved that their only sister - calm, gentle Maglor, who’s always there with a sweet lullaby or a Song of great tales to excite them - is going to be free from this damning burden.
I think this would change a lot of things in the story. Maglor will be no less involved in the fierce defence of Beleriand, no less a warrior or pillar of her family, no less in the regards of her brothers. She would be even fiercer, more desperate in the war against Morgoth - it’s not just about getting back the Silmarils or face damnation - it’s that if she does not defeat Morgoth and get the Silmarils - her brothers will either face everlasting darkness, or stain their hands and souls dark beyond recognition in their attempt to regain the cursed gems.
It’s even harder to thread through dirt and blood and fire to get the Silmarils and walk out relatively clean than it is to claw and dig through the curse of Middle Earth, careless of how much grime and red they will come out stained with.
I think having a free-from-the-oath Feanorian that’s desperately involved in the events will give a very interesting journey through the first age. Hopefully, it’ll give a Maglor different ending than the grieving elf that does not believe himself deserving of forgiveness and redemption, condemning himself to instead forever wander the shores of Middle Earth.
Light and purity and honour have a place in Tolkien’s world. So I hope this AU might too.
Stayed tuned for more of my fem!Maglor ramblings - and I’ll love to hear your thoughts on it too!!
Part 2 Part 3 ( the main part)
