Comments on The Mole

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Oohhh, this is hauntingly beautiful, both the text and art. Maeglin's disorientation is painful and touching. He sees the moon doubled as brilliant gems, and he can't quite understand why! So there was some amnesia included? How touching that the lights of the city still mean a safe haven to him. The art about Maeglin the mole is really cute, and makes me think of the Wind in the Willows book. Actually, now I remember that a chapter from the book, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, is another Pink Floyd theme.

Thank you for your lovely comment! Yes, I think anyone would willingly forget their experience with Morgoth, so perhaps Morgoth didn't have to do much to ensure Maeglin wouldn't ruin his plans. (But I like to think in an AU he did remember in time and warn the people of Gondolin — although we might need a fairly strong AU to get Turgon to actually listen and leave!) 

And after Angband, even if he's not consciously remembering the experience, Gondolin was a very welcome sight, although with his amnesia he might have thought it was just the idea of a good meal and his comfy warm bed. 

(Oh yes! Id forgotten about that rather surreal chapter in Wind in the Willows where Mole and Ratty have a totally different encounter with a demi-god and end up finding the lost baby otter snuggled up with Pan! I think Pink Floyd probably got the name of their album from the book. It also would not be out of place in BoLT; Tinfang Warble comes to mind. Or Ecthelion, in that AU where Turgon listens, piping the people of Gondolin as they depart via the gates of the city one early dawn.)

How very touching!

Confused pale Mole Maeglin gazing up at those ominous moon eyes up there in the dark, and then overcome by memory loss and seeking out that haunting gleam of Gondolin below.

Poor Maeglin. He was so unfairly judged, and he certainly didn't intend to be a mole for Morgoth. I wonder how much of the "hatred in his heart" as told in the histories was coloured by his later actions and not taking into account what Morgoth might have instilled in him. 

Thanks for your comment!

Such a great prompt, and I really like what you've done with it! It works so well, having the drabble and the art to complement each other. I will never not feel sorry for poor Maeglin, and I love how sensitive this all is.