Two Sides of the Same Coin, by Starlight (Éomer, Lothíriel)

[starli-ght.livejournal.com]

B2MeM Challenge: b10 Forth Eorlingas!; History Through Songs
Format: Drabble
Genre:
Rating: General
Warnings: None
Characters: Éomer, Lothíriel
Pairings:
Summary: Two people may climb the same mountain from different sides.

They argued behind closed doors, in Sindarin, so no one really understood what the problem was...

Éomer: ("You did what?")

Lothíriel: ("I taught them a lesson.") Pause. ("I'm teaching them to read.")

E: Tight voice. ("They don't need to read.")

L: ("But you read!")

E: Snapping. ("It is different, Lothíriel. Our people's tradition is different from yours.")

L: ("It being tradition does not mean it is the right way.")

E: ("And it being the Gondorian way does not make it right, either.")

L: Frustrated. ("Will you keep them ignorant for tradition's sake?")

E: ("Are you making them think they are?")



1. "The value of identity is of course that so often with it comes purpose." (Richard Grant)

2. “Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” (Andre Gide)

Comments

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

I liked this and can see it happening.

[ladyelleth.livejournal.com]

Very nice, and good approach to the whole orality-literacy debate. As much as I love reading, I think I'm on Éomer's side here.

[azalaisdep.livejournal.com]

That's a really interesting thought. Of course, the advantage of dual heritage would hopefully be that you could read and remember great swathes of epic poetry by heart... ;-)

[engarian.livejournal.com]

This is so plausible.

- Erulisse (one L)

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

Two strong personalities are going to butt heads now and then. Hopefully, they'll learn to compromise. I'd never thought of this being an issue, but it is logical when you think of it.

[blslarner.livejournal.com]

Oh, but I'd not thought of such an argument, but it does make sense that it could well have happened!

[aliana1.livejournal.com]

Really interesting--it never really occurred to me that they might have such an argument, but on reading this it makes sense. Good job capturing strong personalities and contrasting traditions.