THE VALIANT
an elven epic in three parts

Whether you are a fan of the Lord of the Rings movies, the show, the games, or a true loremaster of the books, I hope you enjoy this three-part tribute to my favorite moment, and elf, in all of Tolkien's Legendarium.

Those who read my longfics may recognize these chapters, though they have been heavily edited to ensure they are accessible to the most fans. I've always wanted to write about the Rescue of Maedhros, and felt that these three chapters, when edited and put back to back, would be the best I could hope for any time soon.

Year 5 of the First Age.

The royal elven houses of Fingolfin and Finarfin toiled long across the Grinding Ice to reach Middle Earth after the betrayal of Feanor and his seven sons. Stolen away in the night, the Feanorians took the only ships across the Narrow Sea from Valinor and burned them at Losgar. So great was the inferno that the younger houses saw the red on the horizon and knew they were betrayed.

Now at last they, too, have reached Middle Earth. Their host is smaller, as many died drowning, starving, or freezing to death on the forced march, Prince Turgon's wife Elenwe among them. Prince Argon and a handful of others died in their first week upon Middle Earth, ambushed by orcs.

The body count grows. The rift between the Sons of Feanor and the houses of Fingolfin and Finarfin is now insurmountable.

But it was not always so. And Fingon, eldest son of Fingolfin, knows it must shrink if the elves have any hope of defeating the Dark Lord Morgoth. So he sets out alone to bring home his once greatest friend, Maedhros, now King of the House of Feanor but captured by the Enemy.

The Rescue of Maedhros

"Long before, in the bliss of Valinor, before Melkor was unchained, or lies came between them, Fingon had been close in friendship with Maedhros; and though he knew not yet that Maedhros had not forgotten him at the burning of the ships [at Losgar], the thought of their ancient friendship stung his heart.

"Therefore he dared a deed which is justly renowned among the feats of the princes of the Noldor: alone, and without the counsel of any, he set forth in search of Maedhros; and aided by the very darkness that Morgoth had made he came unseen into the fastness of his foes."

- JRR Tolkien, Of the Return of the Noldor, The Silmarillion

I hope you enjoy this tribute to Fingon the Valiant.

"Of all the children of Finwë he is justly most renowned: for his valour was as a fire and yet as steadfast as the hills of stone; wise he was and skilled in voice and hand; truth and justice he loved and bore good will to all, both Elves and Men, hating Morgoth only; he sought not his own, neither power nor glory..."