A masterpiece of short writing.

I read this out loud, and it was incredible; the lines just fall like stones. Harsh, chilling, perfectly done. It's really striking to see a version of this scene with a real structure, imposed on a situation that doesn't have one. And the concept makes it completely different from anything else on the subject. As usual, you amaze me.

WOW
I really shouldn't spoil it by saying more...we ought to talk...you seem to understand insanity...*brief ray of hope*
Maglor is my Friend, Maedhros is my Passion...
but why the closseness to Patripassion? hm

As always, you weave imagery into your stories beautifully. The story was so Tolkien and at the same time, so Biblical, that by the end of the story, I'd been forced to acknowledge that I'll probably now always view Maedhros as some sort of Christ!

If this is blasphemy (although I think not!), it certainly is beautiful and evocative blasphemy.

I've read a few of you Sil pieces, and I have to say that your writing is beautiful. The depth of the wording you use is amazing, you truly bring your characters to life. Kudos

I had bits of this stuck in my head for two days after, much to the annoyance of my real world aquaintances. Very powerfull and haunting. I'm not sure if anyone has done Maedhros' mental state on Thangorodrim as well as this in my humble oppinion.

Great imagery all around! I've long thought about three tests for Maedhros. Kudos to Maedhros. I want my father dead. And he is. Maedhros can deal with the rest once he's saved.

Poor Maedhros!*sob*

I wanted to review this properly, but I find myself speechless once again. How do you do it? Tell such a dramatic (and depressing) tale, even with such a short length? It really packed a punch.

Beautiful ficbit (strange juxtaposition there!) , Deborah, simply beautiful.

*goes off to cry for Maedhros* ;)

Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.

It's going to be hard for me to come up with something to say that the other reviewers haven't already said better. Suffice it to say, then, that I'm always intrigued by the way you manage to interweave Judeo-Christian imagery and symbolism into Tolkien's tales (and often in the most surprising of ways). No other writer has quite your touch!

Striking imagery! Hard reading, but worth it. There is a drifting that invites the story to be many things, as other more biblically savvy reviewers have observed, yet for me spoke simply of the drifting of mind that must happen under such extreme suffering. (And thanks for the footnote - the "heresies" are such an interesting aspect of the history of Christianity.)

This is chillingly, beautifully, marvellously wrought. The parallels to the Creation story in Genesis are very cannily placed, and have the same impressive, ritualistic feel to them, raising similar goosebumps.

I don't believe I've ever seen a blasphemy warning on a tale before... (grin) But from a theological standpoint, I think this is all handled with an immense amount of angsty compassion and much respect. I see no blasphemy here!!

Just an exquisite, painful tale. I think this one will stay with me for a long time.

I love the way your fics never fail to cast new light on an oft-told story. The allegory between Maedhros and Christ fits beautifully, and if extended to include the later deeds of Maedhros and his brothers in Feanor's name, it's impossible not to think of all the violence that has been done 'in the name' of Christ or his father.

This is brilliant. Blasphemous? I'm not sure. Heretical perhaps, but what is heresy?
Anway, rich imagery and numerology, both biblical and Tolkienian; it's all here, Genesis 1 and the Passion of Christ, Time and Eternity intermingling, the substitutional sacrifice. As I said before, this leads me to think of Maedhros as a negative image of Christ, but by merging him and his father you also create a strong Promethean connection.
But I have a feeling that saying to much about it could take it apart, so I'll leave it at this. But you did it again!

I liked this on so many levels. Very interesting, unique and Tolkienesque to interpret Maedhros' suffering as a penance.
"I want my death to be the last to fall upon my father's nameless grave." Very sharp line, as if by his suffering he can undo the 'original sin' of the oath, that has spawned all the violence that came after it. This is a complex piece that will bear many readings, and will give new insights with each one.

Whew - intriguing notion, and sharp imagery. I visualize several different artists' versions of the Passion in the line "His arm is twisted, his leg is bent."

One small critique on format - I wasn't clear on why particular lines were italicized? I couldn't tell what the principle was underlying the decision to italicize or not.