Maedhros: (defiantly, though a bit weakly.) As I said they would! Prepare for a defeat, Morgoth.
Morgoth: Brave words, but it will not be so. I have offered them this: if they return to Valinor, forsaking this war, I shall hand you over to them... although I may not, even if they go. And if they stay...(he shrugs.)
Maedhros: (softly, and a bit fearfully.) What...what did they decide?
Morgoth: They will stay. (Maedhros closes his eyes then opens them again.) So you shall stay too. And you shall suffer for their choice!
Maedhros: (Panicking slightly) Could I...could I not at least
talk with them?
Morgoth: (contemptuous) Why? So you can plead for your life?
Maedhros: No! Just to talk with them, to...(he pauses, then whispers.) to say goodbye.
Morgoth: You may not see them. They have angered me, and you will pay the penalty of angering Morgoth. Now get out of my sight. I will deal with you later.
Maedhros: If I am to die, can it be at least by my own hand? Give me a dagger and you shall be rid of me forever. (Runs forward a few steps) I would not turn it on anyone save myself.
Morgoth: That would be too quick a death. Your doom shall come from me, and me only.
Maedhros: No! (one of the Guards runs forward and grabs Maedhros' wrist. However, Maedhros twists his arm free.) Morgoth! (Both Guards run forward, seize Maedhros' wrists, and drag him backwards out of the room.)
Morgoth: And a long doom shall it be. (He exists SR. The lighs to out so only shadows can be seen. The curtains should be drawn out about 6 feet, enough to cover what is behind it- the tower cliff of Thangorodrim, from which Maedhros is hung by a chain and steel band from his right wrist. Maedhros should stand on raised blocks with only 1 foot on it, so he appears to be hanging. Fingon enters the back of the theatre, with a sword at his side and a bow across his back. Lights come on.)
Fingon: It is incredible I should have gotten this close to Thangorodrim without notice. But there is no one about. (Walks a few steps forward.) And all along here is impenetrable cliff. I know not where Maedhros is, and I have been here long. I fear I must give up hope. (He sighs.) Maedhros, I cannot help you. I am sorry. (He pauses.) But this cliff, which only hears cries of pain and fear, shall now hear a song. 'Tis the least I can do, for in singing of the light, I hope to push the darkness back a little. (Fingon begins to sing, a song without words. He comes to the end of a phrase and begins another, but this time, Maedhros, from behind the curtain, joins in. His voice is strained and weak, but there. Fingon hears this and stops singing. After a few notes, and listens to the voice, which finishes the phrase and stops.) Maedhros? (calls.) Maedhros!
Maedhros: Fingon? Is that you?
Fingon: (runs forward about 2 steps.) Yes. I've come to help you, Maedhros. But where are you?
Maedhros: Up here. I heard you singing and knew that no one evil would sing such a song, so I joined in, hoping to be heard.
Fingon: What do you mean, up here? Which direction?
Maedhros: Come towards my voice. (Fingon walks a step the way he had come, then stops and walks towards the stage.)
Fingon: I still- (he stares as the curtain draws back revealing Maedhros. He has a scratch across his cheek and the arm held by the chain is bloody. His hand clenches the chain tightly.) Oh, Maedhros! (to himself.) The cruelty of Morgoth knows no bounds. (to Maedhros again.) I will climb up to you! (looks for a place to start climbing.)
Maedhros: You will--
Fingon: I can find nowhere to climb!
Maedhros: -not be able to. It is too steep.
Fingon: How can I help you, then?
Maedhros: You have your bow. Use it, and send my spirit to the silent halls of Mandos, where I may rest. I can bear this no more. I am weary of life on Middle-Earth.
Fingon: There is nothing else I can do?
Maedhros: Nothing. Use your bow, son of Fingolfin. Use it quickly, Fingon. (He closes his eyes.)
Fingon: Goodbye, Maedhros. (He takes his bow off his back and, stringing an imaginary arrow, draws the bow and aims at Maedhros. He mutters.) O King to whom all birds are dear, speed now this feathered shaft, and recall some pity for the Noldor in their need!
Manwë: (enters SR.) I hear your prayer, Fingon son of Fingolfin. Stay your arrow. I send you Thorondor, the king of eagles, to aid you. Your friend may yet be spared. (exits SR, and Thorondor enters SR. He circles once on stage and comes down to Fingon, who puts his bow back in its place. Fingon then mounts Thorondor's back and Thorondor goes over to where Maedhros hangs, supposedly higher on the cliff.)
Fingon: I may be able to help you yet, Maedhros. (Maedhros opens his eyes and gives a start as he sees Fingon on Thorondor.)
Maedhros: I think not, but then, perhaps... Ah! (He gives a shout as Fingon jerks the chain, shaking Maedhros, but the chain does not give.) What are you doing?
Fingon: (Gives another pull, earning a cry from Maedhros again.) Trying to pull this chain out of the cliff. But it does not give. (He blows on his hands.)
Maedhros: Of course it does not. Morgoth himself placed it there. I saw him do it.
Fingon: (inspects the links closely.) My sword could not cut this; they are too thick. And the band has no opening that I can see.
Maedhros: Then you cannot rescue me. I bid you to use your bow. There is no other way to help me.
Fingon: Wait...let me look at this... (he inspects the band again.)
Maedhros: (yells) Fingon! (Fingon stops and looks at him.) You can do nothing with that chain. Slay me with one of your arrows, or I shall take your sword and do it myself! (there is a silence.)
Fingon: I will not kill you, friend. There is yet more way. If the chain cannot be broken...(he pauses.) Let go of the chain, Maedhros. (Maedhros does so hesitantly.) Hold up your hand. (Maedhros complies. Fingon draws his sword. Maedhros shuts his eyes and grits his teeth. Fingon raises his sword. All lights go off.)
Maedhros: (screams)
Maglor: (only his voice is heard, the lights are still off.) Ah... Fingon, there you are. I was looking for you.
Fingon: I have Maedhros.
Maglor: What?
Fingon: I found him hung from a cliff by his wrist; an eagle carried me up to him; and now he is back with us.
Maglor: Where? I must see him now!
Fingon: He is unconscious and sorely wounded. I left him in my tent.
Maglor: I am going to him (footsteps.) Will he live?
Fingon: I think he will; the fire of life is strong within him and it burns brightly even now. (Lights come back on. Maedhros is standing in the center of the stage. One of his hands is not visible, though his arms are at his side.)
Maedhros: In gratitude for saving me from the trouble I had foolishly gotten myself into, I have passed the kingship of the Noldor from me to the House of Fingolfin; Fingon will rule them well. All I did for the Noldor was get many of them killed. (He draws his sword with his left hand; the sheath now hands at his right.) I am healed in my body, if not in my heart, and have learned to fight again; better than before. (He turns to face SL.) And I vow my sword shall ever be a thorn in your hands, Morgoth! A large and persistent thorn will you find it to be, too. (Turns back to the audience and sheaths his sword.) But for now, I am content to be alive and at home. (He turns to Maglor, who runs in SR. They embrace firmly and the lights dim out and come back on. Maedhros and Celegorm are walkin across stage, from SL. Maedhros is striding quickly aheard of Celegorm, who is angry. Once they reach CC, they stop.)