MithLuin said:
But what is less clear is how he finds out and what role 'rumors' play in all of this. Are there Sindar apologists for the weird silences and gaps in the Noldor story?
There has been talk of Galadriel sharing information with Celeborn that he then chooses not to share with Thingol. Why?
I’m very opposed to Celeborn concealing anything from Thingol. He wouldn’t be more loyal to somebody he just met over the King he has adored for millennia. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the story Tolkien wrote in the books, and no reason to change it. Galadriel should only tell Celeborn her mother died without saying how or why. Remember that revealing the Kinslaying means condemning Fingolfin and Fingon and Irimë, not just the Fëanorians, and possibly destroying the entire fragile alliance between Fingolfin and Thingol. Galadriel would not want to betray her King and her cousin for somebody she only just met. When Angrod bursts out the truth, he does so after Thingol already knows the Kinslaying happened, out of rash anger while being provoked and unjustly accused, not as a betrayal of Fingolfin.
This is the summary of what I propose. I think the first thing to figure out is when and where Morgoth’s spies learn the whole truth from the Noldor. Should they learn at the Mereth Aderthad, shortly before it, or shortly after it? The Mereth Aderthad is a convenient time to show them finding out (and I do want Sauron there), but it’s a weird time and place for Noldor to be whispering privately about the Kinslaying.
Episodes 1-2:
Nobody mentions the Kinslaying to the Sindar. Angrod tells Thingol only an extremely whitewashed story. Morgoth killed the Trees, and the Noldor want to avenge the Trees, defeat Morgoth, and help the Sindar. He avoids mentioning everything else, even Finwë’s murder.
Episode 5:
Mereth Aderthad. Celeborn and Galadriel have a heart-to-heart. Galadriel reveals that she has lost her mother. She does not reveal the Kinslaying, because she does not want to get Fingolfin and Fingon in trouble. Celeborn is sympathetic, and does not know that a Kinslaying happened.
The Sindar (again) ask for news from Olwë, Finwë, and the Valar. The Noldor give evasive answers or none at all. They can't make this sound very convincing.
Episode 6:
Sindar start questioning the gaps in the official Noldorin story. Nobody is likely to be an apologist for perceived lying, but at this point most Sindar are grateful to their saviors, naive to the possibility of Kinslaying, and willing to give allies the benefit of the doubt. Still, the gaps are curious and weird, so speculation begins.
Melian presses Galadriel about these gaps. Unable to get away with saying nothing, she admits that Morgoth murdered Finwë and stole Fëanor’s Silmarils. Out of pride, shame, and to protect Fingolfin and Fingon, she does not mention the Kinslaying. She point blank refuses to tell Melian what she knows.
Celeborn tells Thingol about Eärwen’s death. They both think she died in the Darkening of Valinor and assume Morgoth killed her somehow.
Morgoth (via Sauron) uses spies to start learning the truth by eavesdropping on the Noldor talking among themselves. The dopplegangers start spreading rumors among the Sindar, which include the truth but exaggerate it, making it even worse.
Episode 7:
Círdan brings the rumors to Thingol’s attention. Thingol confronts Angrod, who angrily tells the whole tale of the rebellion, the Kinslaying, the burning of the ships, and the Helkaraxë. Thingol makes his ban.
MithLuin said:
Who among the Noldor is responsible for letting the cat out of the bag? Who is responsible for perpetuating the lie of omission (ie, has *opportunities* to reveal the kinslaying, but...doesn't). Obviously, we want Galadriel to say *something* to both Melian and Celeborn (and Lúthien?), but while she reveals parts of the Darkening of Valinor, she's not the source for Thingol to learn of the Kinslaying. Is this an opportunity to differentiate Angrod and Aegnor? One of them is more bitter and anti-Fëanorean than the other, so....? Is Finrod at all involved in the cover-up? And how important are Sauron's rumors in getting the Sindar to question the Noldor in the first place? In other words...time to put forward ideas on how this plays out, adding details to 'rumors' of who said what.
Angrod reveals the truth, after everyone
including Galadriel has been concealing it. Celeborn and Lúthien should be just as ignorant as Thingol.
I guess it’s a chance to differentiate Angrod from Aegnor, in that Angrod speaks up first. He remembers being dumped on by Caranthir. Aegnor is a passionate person for certain, but perhaps less likely to hold a grudge, or more in control of his impulses. Possibly Aegnor is the sort of person who has a "worked up" mode and a "calm" mode.
About friendly Sindar, I don’t have a ton to say yet. Some people (Thingol) are inclined to sweeping racist judgments about entire cultures, while others are inclined to judge each Noldo as an individual person. Círdan and Lúthien may think that Finrod has made a terrible mistake by participating in rebellion against the Valar, but recognize that he didn’t participate in the Kinslaying.
Edited for spelling. And grammar too.