I did not expect Eöl to show up so soon! What suspense... though I expect
Maedhros' patience is up to the task of handling him. Though, unlike in
the Silmarillion when Eöl meets
Curufin, Aredhel and Maeglin are present here, so that will probably make a difference with how Eöl behaves.
I expect all the
Elves have their own strong memory of where they were and what they were doing when the Sun rose for the first time. Unfortunately for some, the memory is not a pleasant one. Makes you think of the burden of immortality. Your memories are tied to changes in the world itself, and it is almost impossible to escape reminders of bad memories, especially as they pile up over the centuries. I suppose that's why in later
ages, Elves did not concern themselves with the ever-changing troubles of mortals as much, and remained wrapped up in their own worlds.
Interesting to speculate on the relationship that could form between Maeglin and
Celebrimbor or Curufin.
I wonder how Maeglin could have turned out differently if he lived outside
Gondolin and had some contact with his wider family. For an ambitious young
elf, the isolated Gondolin may not have been the best place to grow up, as there are definite limits to the role(s) you can fill in that society. If Maeglin had more opportunities to improve on and pursue his other talents, his outlook on life might change.
It seems that in the Silmarillion, Maeglin saw everything as a power play of some sort. He was far too interested in being '
the master'. Probably in no small part due to how Eöl acted and ran his household. If Maeglin and Aredhel escaped to live somewhere else in
Beleriand, he would see there were many different chieftains of a variety of people. In Gondolin, like in Nan Elmoth, there was only one. And, well, you know what eventually happened.
I do feel a bit sorry for Maeglin so far in this story. So many ideas and desires of his own, yet not really any chance to speak his mind or carry them out, due to external circumstances constantly limiting the choices he is able to make.
