Comments on Eminently Unsuitable

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<<‘Eminently unsuitable’, I hear him saying, joyously, as he  transforms  a denial of intent, a prissy expression of disapproval from inside out, until it becomes a paean of praise, a hymn of dedication and devotion.>>

Another lovely story! Exceptionally moving and well put together. I loved Maedhros (as I always do in your stories) and really appreciated your portrayal of Finrod as well. Thanks so much for sharing.



Umm.. You've laid your finger on a bit of a sore spot here. I would, of course, like Maglor's harp to be the one that Finrod later plays to Beor's people, but at least according to the published Silmarillion it can't be, because the harp that Finrod ends up playing belongs to Beor. I haven't checked whether there are any versions of the story in HoME where that isn't the case, but it seems a bit too much to hope for... Anyway, once I'd realized, I sort of discussed things with Maglor, and Maglor said: "I don't care, I'm giving him the harp anyway...", so that was that! (But I must admit I'm rather puzzled, too, why Fingon felt he needed to take a harp with him on the journey to Angband!)

I finally read this after wondering for by far too long about why exacly Noldorin princes seem to insist on hauling harps into danegrous or at least unexpected situations. Well, a portable one. That sort of explains it. Though sadly, my imagination deforms Maglor's probably beautiful Noldorin model into something like this horrible carton harp: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mPYUsEiAiXo/S-oHq_xW_QI/AAAAAAAAABg/I8o4JBdiHX0/s1600/harpkitcolor.jpg
I liked how it was from Finrod's POV ( his confusion was rather adorable really), and how you wove his own fall into it. Also Maedhros' tendency to make soothing noises when people are upset. Great characterizations. 
I had to laugh at "He thanked us both politely and dreamily went on fine-tuning the strings, endlessly looking for the absolutely perfect pitch, it seemed.  With an instrument such as the fiddle, this would surely have earned him a brutal assassination within the shortest period of time, but if you play the harp, you can get away with such things."because it's true. I always feel slightly guilty when tuning my instrument near innocent non-musician bystanders because they inadvertedly go wide eyed and "ooh! aaah!"when I'm actually making a horrible racket.