rocky41_7 | Maeglin and Turgon

There seems to be an assumption among parts of the fandom that Turgon neglected or wasn’t interested in Maeglin and that always baffles me? First, I think Silm makes it very clear that Turgon loved his sister Aredhel and was devastated by her death--if anyone would understand Maeglin’s grief at her loss it would be Turgon--and so the assumption that he would discard or ignore her only child doesn’t make immediate sense.

But second, Maeglin is in a respected position as an adult! He sits on Turgon’s council and Turgon listens to him, even when Maeglin’s advice is calculated to bring about the end of Gondolin through its destruction by Melkor. This suggests that they did not have a cold or indifferent relationship and that it’s more likely Turgon took on or attempted to take a mentoring role with Maeglin, and that he trusted Maeglin and his opinion enough to follow his suggestions (again--even when Maeglin had deeply sinister motives).

“But Maeglin prospered and grew great among the Gondolindrim, praised by all, and high in the favor of Turgon...And he gathered about him all such as had the most bend to smithcraft and mining...” (“Of Maeglin”, The Silmarillion) (emphasis added)

Here we see that not only is Maeglin respected and appreciated (and I would anticipate, loved) by Turgon, but that he’s in fact rather popular in Gondolin. He may have had a rough start, but he clearly rights himself (up until the whole betraying them to Melkor thing) and establishes a solid reputation and a good life for himself there (setting aside his unrequited desire for Idril). He even had his own little group of smiths and miners who worked with and followed his teachings.

“Thus all seemed well with the fortunes of Maeglin, who had risen to be mighty among the princes of the Noldor, and greatest save one in the most renowned of their realms.” (“Of Maeglin”, The Silmarillion)

Near the end of the chapter is this, noting Maeglin (at this point in the story) among the great princes of the Noldor, which also suggests he was not considered an outsider, either among the Gondolindrim or in the family of Finwe.