The Plot Thickens

You must remember that this is a love story of strange circumstances. Elven love is nothing like human love, which is one of the reasons that there are so few marriages between the races. Of course, there are special cases and some that have never been recorded. However, in this story, there is a distinct human quality.

It would seem that Maeglin was satisfied that Castiel would never reveal their bond to anyone. Being mind blind prevents other elves from seeing any marriage bond in the eyes of the afflicted elf. Maeglin must have been very sure of his power over Castiel to merely say that he wanted it secret and know that she would obey.

Certainly he knew her more then she ever let on in the journal she kept. It is extremely unlikely that he would have bonded with just any elleth, and certainly he would not have risked rejection unless he was sure she would return his advances. So the blunder, if we may call it that, was made here.

If Castiel had been a stronger willed elleth and perhaps if she had loved Maeglin a little less she would have demanded that their marriage be made public. But she did not. In a letter to his companion Ecthelion, Glorfindel writes,

Dear Ecthelion,

How goes the forging of those new swords? By the gods, I have never seen such beauty in blade in all my life. I stopped by Maeglin's forge to see them, and I must admit that you have out done yourself yet again. Have you noticed anything different about the dark elf lately? He seems preoccupied by something and there's a queer light in his eyes.

When I mentioned it to him he nearly exploded with anger, there is something about him that I do not like. Of course, we are talking about a Dark Elf and so I shouldn't be surprised. My wife would like you and yours to come for dinner a week from today.

G

This is interestingly the only mention of a change in Maeglin's behavior and demeanor. It would seem that Eol's son was able to conceal his marriage from everyone else after the initial slip. But, what was unavoidable was the drawing power of a marriage bond; even those who fight against it find themselves returning to their mates; willingly or not.

Today we passed each other in the street. I don't know what he was doing in the common square today but he was there. Neither of us spoke, but as our hands reached out and brushed lightly together. It is pitiful, I know, to long so for one who does not care for me, but I cannot help myself. I know he felt it too because I heard his breath catch in his throat. If he could only…but I will not torment myself.

Like Fëanor and Nerdanel before them, Castiel and Maeglin could not be fully without the other. Having once created the bond the couple enjoys the intimacy of knowing the other's thoughts, joys and sadness. This is reflected in a letter from Celeborn to his father soon after his marriage to Galadriel. It is uncharacteristically light hearted and symbolic of a newly married ellon.

My Dear Atar,

I have never been happier then I am with Galadriel. You could not have prepared me for the bliss of marriage Atar. Every delight and concern is shared between us. Her laughter comes to me even if we are apart. How I love her.

Celeborn

In cases like Castiel and Maeglin's such continual communication must have been trying at the best. No doubt little slips were made where they reacted to the other's experiences. Normally this would be looked on with a kind of teasing sympathy but since everyone was unaware of their bond, it was a mystery. In Castiel's case it was considered with an amount of pity, as her family thought she was ill somehow.

Maeglin was a mystery plain and simple and only Turgon questioned him. It would appear that Maeglin, with his usual ease, deceived his uncle into thinking it was just remembered grief from his childhood. It would be supposed that they would be discovered, sooner, rather then later. But this does not seem to be the case with Maeglin and Castiel.

He never told me that he loved or cared for me. Maeglin whispered no soft words or gave caresses. His was only fire that engulfed my whole spirit. But he is the master of concealment. His eyes are black and emotionless whenever anyone mentions Tuor or when he is with Idril's husband. My love's pain is so great.

The next we learn in this tale was from a bill of employment listing all the elves in the household of Maeglin, Prince of Gondolin. Near the beginning of the list is the name Castiel. We know this is the same elleth who was his wife because her next entry she writes of it.

I am to go into service in Maeglin's home. King Turgon told us that his nephew was looking for maids to serve in the house. I am afraid that the King is deceived in thinking that Maeglin will take a wife. I know that is his hop, but of course, that is impossible now. I know that the chances of Maeglin ever calming me as his wife are very small indeed and so I do not allow myself the hope. I was unashamed to bear the pure black banner of his house…our house.

It is uncertain whether or not Maeglin asked for Castiel by name, but it might have been a good guess. Castiel was in the service of Maeglin for three years, during which nothing seems to have happened between them. Certainly, a few meetings were to happen. The rigid text states,

It is sure that the maiden Castiel was brought into the service of the Dark Elf for the very reason that they were bonded in marriage. Such a bond is so universally strong that they would have been in great danger of fading if they denied themselves the closeness that such a bond requires.

I disagree with this for the simple fact that they rarely met. Castiel, a maid who was very open and honest about every encounter they shared, makes no mention of any special union during this time. It would seem that the few encounters that they had occurred during times of festivals and parties when mingling of all levels would have been relatively common.

Castiel would then be known by wearing the black garments of those in the House of Maeglin. This uniform would have been stark and ugly next to the greens and blues of Ecthelion and the golden red of Glorfindel. But she obviously bore it proudly. There is one tiny occurrence that took place a year after Castiel had been living and working in the household of Maeglin.

I was tendering the lilies in the garden pond today when he entered it. We were quite alone in the house, but formality was normal between us. To my surprise he stayed and watched me work. His shadow played over me and he kept his silence. I became nervous in his presence for we almost never spoke. My pruning blade slipped and cut deep into my palm.

Deep, red blood welled in the wound and I cupped my hand around it to hide it from him. But before I could he had seen it and his hands closed over mine. A corner of his handkerchief served to bind it and his touch was gentle if strangely remote.

"You should be more careful." He said.

"I am sorry." I whispered.

"Don't be Castiel; just be more careful next time." He said and held my hand for a long moment without looking at me. He then strode away quickly.

In a later recording of this same meeting she mentions that he asked her about her comfort in the house. Showing amazing boldness she confides that she is happy wherever he is. All Maeglin replied was that if she was so content then she should remain in his home as long as she wished.

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I lay my pen down for the night; my time is consumed with this task. I also spent the entire morning writing a hideously long to Dínendal about the Havens. After having recounted every single thing I could possibly think of I am quite sick of the Havens.

But I received a box of letters and books from Lothlorien that no doubt contain further information. I have in my hands a journal of Lord Celeborn's and the happenings of Lothlorien for the last two thousand years!

HB

The Last Temptation of HomerI never give up on any of the stories I begin. However, some are put on hold if I don't feel inspired. I don't want one part of the story to be gold and the other to be a piece of crap. Please continue to send me your thoughts.

Dumbledore's itch: What a horrible name you have! I know that my story is gold so you should keep reviewing it! I would use a different screen name if I was you.