dear_mun | (no subject)

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I do not understand this desire you have, to cast me among the wolves. You know full well that I should fare poorly with them, much moreso than many - and especially if I am to be drawn from my home... before.

[Before she met Beren. Before she'd flown from her home and accomplished miracles just because she refused to let it happen any other way, refused to accept that it could not be done and then done it.]

I would not know how to kill others, or even how to make an attempt, and I am not sure I should wish to learn.

[Soft-voiced:]

My mother kept her protection long enough, after all, and there is such death already. Can not that be enough?

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They care little for our wishes, sadly. And where would your author send you, Tinuviel?

She has considered

thegames, and there are others she knows who would have me at

box_network. The plan was to send me to

exsilium, until it was announced that it was closing.

I don't know what the fascination is, but I would hope that it will pass.

I have heard of the Games and I pray that you are spared that place, at the least. As to that - I will hope for your escape, but they are persistent, you will find.

At least there I would have a chance to win and be spared what followed, no matter how small it was.

Maybe, but could you bear the necessary cost? It is one thing to fight in war, it is another to be forced to slay your friends and fellows.

[She draws herself up somewhat at that, eyes flashing bright and proud like stars. She is not well-versed in how to fight (or at all, in truth) but she is the daughter of a King and of one of the Maia and is not a doll to be fussed over by others, brushed and painted and put on some shelf.]

I have done neither, and had not planned to, but I am not made of glass. Flowers may blacken with frost at the coming of winter, and yet bloom again the next spring.

[ for his part, Maglor only looks calmly at her, his eyes old and sad ]

I did not say you were, Thingol's daughter. But equally so, you do not know how the taking of life will stain your soul. Am I not a Kinslayer? A life taken, even in such an arena where it may return, is still a life, and it will mark you. Only you may decide if the cost is worth it.

[His words and look make her falter, the calm certainty of them more effectively doing so than nearly anything else he might have done. She's proud enough to try to hide how uncertain she suddenly is, but she's not quite so righteously indignant.]

It may indeed, but when the only choices are to slay or be slain, would you have me stand still that they may kill me without even attempting to fight back?

That, I cannot answer. I would that you would never have to choose, but such is not for me to decide. The only advice I may offer, poor though it be, is to offer you this - could you live with your choices afterwards?

[ she can probably read his answer in his eyes - Maglor is done with killing ]

[She bites her lip, looking entirely uncertain now. She can indeed read his answer, which is intimidating. She has no wish to kill, but no more does she wish to die.]

If I could not, it would mean that either way I would be doomed, for if I did not kill then I would die, and if I did then I would be forced to do so.

[ well, Maglor is old, and really holds very little care for his life these days, so his choice is easy, where it may not be for others - he would sooner fall on his own sword ]

Yes. [ he sighs sadly ] All choices in such worlds are ill. I truly hope your path leads you elsewhere.

If not there, it seems likely that I shall be somewhere where I shall have no such choices, and death shall find me all the same.

[No, she is not happy.]

The mundanes can be often cruel. [ he nods - his just killed him, after all ] But they can be kind, also, if it suits them. Mayhap yours will let you free, or avoid such fates for you.

Perhaps. It does not seem likely, she's done similar things in the past.

My condolences, Lady.

Those won't change anything.

[She's a saucy little thing even in present circumstances.]

[ startled, he throws back his head and laughs ]

Oh, well said! Well, if we poor puppets can change nothing, we can live as best we can, I suppose. Pity the fools who look at Luthien Tinuviel and see no more than a pretty face.

[She gives in and smiles.]

There are a surprising number of those who would, sir, for all my attempts to correct them.

And is that not always our lot in life, in the lives of all things that have ever been created? To take that which we have been given and make of it the best we can?

Well, you must admit to being prettier than most about whom that is true, Tinuviel.

It is, and you speak wisdom. Alas, our mundanes are not so kind as Eru, nor as farseeing, I think.

I will acknowledge as much [she does own mirrors and is not stupid - and even if either of the former were true the endless songs of praise would be telling after a while] but that hardly means it's all there is to me. It's a pity that so many need the reminder that there is more.

They can be neither, for they are not as He. If they were, surely they'd have something better to occupy their days with.

[ he shrugs ] It is easy, alas, to see a pretty face and not look further. Did not my own brothers do the same? [ he apologises for Celegorm, really ]

Well said. I wish they would have even the smallest parts of His wisdom, that we might be spared their follies.

[She turns more steely-eyed once more at the reminder, pulling herself tall and proud.]

Yes. I'm pleased that you, at least, seem to know better than they.

And perhaps they do have the smallest part, as do we all. For is that which gives life to all not His gift?

[ wryly ] It is always the province of older brothers to know better. [ the stories he could tell you of growing up with them... ]

[ softer and sadder ] And I have lived to learn my lessons, where they have not.

True, and yet I so seldom see that grace in them.

Mmm, there is something that may be said for youth, but admittedly much to recommend experience.

But do not consider that too heavily - they lived long enough that if they did not learn, they were unlikely to.

[A smile.]

Then that grace was not part of the gift they received, and is something they must learn.

The young will be young and reckless, that is part of their nature. [ he shrugs sadly ] It is to be hoped that they grow to learn better. [ he learnt long ago not to dwell too long on might-have-beens, but it hurts, all the same, what they might have been if not for that accursed Oath ]

I hold hope that they can learn, but I will not trust overly to it.

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