B2MEM Fic: Nor by Jerusalem

[marta-bee.livejournal.com]

B2MeM Challenge: I-18 (Feanatics challenge: freedom fighters)
Format: prose short story (1,212 words)
Genre: drama, angst
Rating: Teen
Warnings: language
Characters: Maedhros, Caranthir
Pairings: n/a
Summary: "But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King." Caranthir and Maedhros, on the Oath.

Nor by Jerusalem

Comments

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

A great start to BTME!I'm still chewing my prompts over!

[huinare.livejournal.com]

I quite liked this. I was introduced to "The Ethics of Belief" fairly recently and I enjoyed the incorporation of its ideas here. Also, I am freakish in my disinclination to care much for the Feanorians, but you made them interesting to me (which doesn't happen often).

[engarian.livejournal.com]

Nice response to the prompt.

- Erulisse (one L)

[pandemonium-213.livejournal.com]

I loved this, Marta! Caranthir's voice/inner narrative is so clear and strong. Very nice work there. Much to chew over in the "deep thoughts" department. And even this "non-philosopher" understood it. ;^)

As an aside, I made a brief commentary on the Oath through a character (whom you know well), and it takes a more humanistic view, not surprisingly. I don't want to SSP in a response to your excellent story, so will send under separate cover.

Again, very well done.

[silver-trails.livejournal.com]

Perfect! Your Caranthir is perfect!

Very nice fic!

[foxrafer.livejournal.com]

I really liked this. I could feel the conflict in Caranthir very clearly, and his attempts at justifying or explaining away the oath were particularly good.

[dwimordene-2011.livejournal.com]

Mm, Kant... he is exactly who's needed to help pin someone to a troublesome and unwanted bout of conscience and doubt, isn't he?

It's interesting to see Caranthir, for once, as the perspective on the departure from Valinor. Nice to see him having, you know, SOCIAL feelings (he had friends!) and doubts about his role in all of this, and a recognition of the irony: that here they go to find freedom, which will be freedom from all the rest of society, thanks to this oath.

Well done!

[aliana1.livejournal.com]

I really liked your perspectives on oaths, here, as well as your imagery, especially of the water. (Also, can I say that that "bullshit!" near the beginning of the story took me by surprise and made me smile, but wasn't jarring, as I often find modern-ish profanities to be when uttered in an Arda-verse context)

[dreamflower]

As little as I know about the Feanorians in general, this was not only perfectly comprehensible, but moving as well, as Caranthir tries to make sense of the shambles his world has become. I can so understand that heartfelt "But I didn't *mean* it!", a cry still heard today all too often.

[ladyelleth.livejournal.com]

Aside from the strength of the writing and depth of the discussion I loved the imagery you used here. I'll definitely be coming back to this story. :)

[havamahal.livejournal.com]

Very interesting view on the Oath. So the Valar were meddling in this matter as well... *stops herself before beginning another anti-Valar rant* Uhm... sorry about that.

I have to wonder if Maedhros would even have the opportunity to claim his own land and form his own court, if Fëanor would survive that first battle. Caranthir could probaly have his mind, but I'm not sure what would happen with Maedhros' dreams. Good story. I enjoyed reading it.