chiliadicorum:

The mystery of Elrond and Elros’ “captivity”. I put that in quotes only because I think it became less stringent in term as the years passed by. And this has absolutely nothing to do with Elwing, so no one needs to get their hackles up. Heck, it’s not even really about Maedhros and Maglor.

But I just love the depth of the mystery of the twins’ time with them. I’ve seen the raging debates, the calmer discussions and metas. It’s all very interesting and I can’t count the number of various fics I’ve read (or art I love) revolving around that time. I was reading another post a little bit ago (yes, containing the good/bad parent Elwing good/bad parents Maedhros&Maglor talk) and it just hit me how I really don’t care what the answer is. Not that I haven’t developed my own theories or hcs and stuff, but just that I’m okay with Tolkien never telling us.

Am I making any sense? I may be alone here, but I really love the gigantic question mark hanging over that section in the lore, that time in the Elves’ recorded history for what it suggests about their society. 

Because this was all written by their loremasters and those scholars not supplying an answer implies that all those Elves are wondering just like we are. Having the same debates and discussions just like we do, spilling theories and opinions based on hearsay or conjecture. There are hints and small details they may glean, logical speculations to the most outrageous and they’re never truly able to arrive at an answer. Elrond and Elros are the only two who know, and then only Elrond after Elros dies. Even long after into the Third Age people still look at Elrond and wonder.

I have no doubt Elrond maybe told those he was really close to what it was like growing up with the Feanorians. Who knows? Perhaps he wrote it down somewhere himself. But it’s such a “dark” mystery among Elven history and I love that it is. They were wondering when the twins were taken, wondering when they were returned, and were still wondering as the centuries went by as to just what in Arda happened during those years. And no definitive answers.

Every time I read a meta on my dash about their time living with Maedhros&Maglor, every discussion or debate, even the ones where there’s way too much hate being spewed (srsly, calm down, people), I LOVE it, even the ones I disagree with purely because it gets me wondering “who” is saying it. Who is having those “arguments” that I’m reading on my dash by you guys? Who wrote that meta or suggested that headcanon? Was it Gil-galad or Cirdan? A Sinda who had to go through both kinslayings? Or a Sinda from Ossiriand who had nothing to do with anyone? A Noldo who served under Fingon and maybe saw Maedhros and Maglor from afar several times? Or a Noldo who saw the Feanorians appear with their army? And Elf who saw Maedhros give up the crown and then later cut someone down?

By the time Elrond and Elros were taken, opinions had to be rampant about the Feanorians, dozens and dozens all based on different reasons, experiences and hearsay. Each meta, hc and discussion gets me wondering which Elves are doing that talking and why. It’s like each one of those posts gives an unnamed Elf a history of some sort, whether they hated the Feanorians 100%, hated the Feanorians but still respected them, supported them or understood them, pitied them or were loyal to them. And then why. Why was said Elf loyal to them? Or why did he hate them? Pity them? What happened or what did he hear for said Elf to form such a particular opinion?

That’s why I love that Tolkien left Elrond&Elros’ time with the Feanorians such a mystery beyond the barest suggestions. Those Elves much have been reacting to it the same way we are, Sindar and Noldor, probably a lot of Men and Dwarves too. And unless Elrond makes it public, no one will ever know.