Session 7-01: A Look Ahead

[MithLuin]

We will take a brief hiatus and return to Silm Film for Season 7 after a two month break. The next session is tentatively scheduled for Thursday September 21st, but an announcement will be made when we get closer.

Our first session will be focused on discussing the scope of Season 7, but also the shape of the future seasons in the First Age story of Middle-earth.

 

[MithLuin]

Season 7 will be focused on the story of Húrin - he will be our central character carrying us through the season.
We will begin in Episode 1 with the journey of young Húrin and Huor to Gondolin. We will tell the story of the Union of Maedhros. We will be introducing the Easterlings (as well as the story of what Sauron was up to in the East). And, of course, we will have the Fifth Battle: the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, the Battle of Unnumbered Tears. Episode 13 will likely end with the last stand of Húrin and Huor, Huor's death and Húrin's capture....but the exact end point is still To Be Determined (ie, the Hill of Slain should probably make an appearance in the finale).


So, our first question is...where do we go from there? What do the next few seasons look like? How should we break up the post-Nirnaeth stories in the Silmarillion? How many seasons should we take to reach the end of the War of Wrath? What should each season focus on? We will want to plan this out so we have a goal of what we are working towards. We originally set out a 5 season plan to bring us to the story of Beren and Lúthien. We eventually modified that plan so that their story became season 6 (by splitting seasons 4 and 5). But we have not yet given any serious discussion to what the next five seasons should look like, and it will be important to do that before moving on to Season 7.

Some storyarcs that will occur over these seasons:

• The story of Túrin Turambar (and the fall of Nargothrond)
• The story of Tuor (and the fall of Gondolin)
• The story of the death of Thingol, Dior taking the throne, and the various sacks of Doriath (dwarves and 2nd kinslaying)
• The story of the Havens of Sirion, and the voyages of Earendil (and the 3rd kinslaying)
• The War of Wrath (with one last kinslaying for good measure)

That is covered by four chapters in the published Silmarillion, but of course the published Silmarillion does not include the wanderings of Húrin or the voyages of Eärendil (because Tolkien never wrote that!) or a detailed account of the fall of Gondolin (because Tolkien did not rewrite the Lost Tales version)....so how brief or long would we like to linger over various parts of this story?

If Season 7 ends with the end of the Nirnaeth in FA 472...how shall we break up the story to reach the end of the first age circa FA 590? Here's a handy timeline compiled by clotho123 over at the Silmarillion Writers Guild: https://www.silmarillionwritersguild.org/node/4219 Note that these years may not all be compatible with our adaptation.

458 Morgoth attacks Brethil and is driven off with help from Doriath. Húrin and Huor visit Gondolin.​

460 Death of Barahir​

462 Morgoth attacks Hithlum and is driven off with help from Círdan​

463 Easterlings enter Beleriand​

464 Beren enters Doriath. Birth of Túrin​

465 Beren comes to Nargothrond. Death of Finrod.​

466 Beren and Lúthien take the Silmaril​

467 First deaths of Beren and Lúthien​

468 Maedhros begins to construct the Union against Morgoth​

469 Maedhros retakes Dorthonion. Beren and Lúthien return briefly to Doriath.​

470 Birth of Dior Eluchíl​

472 Nirnaeth Arnoediad. Death of Fingon. Capture of Húrin. Birth of Tuor. Morwen sends Túrin to Doriath.​

​

473 Birth of Nienor. Túrin reaches Doriath. Morgoth attacks and devastates the Havens of Círdan.​

484 Túrin leaves Doriath​

487 Beleg joins Túrin’s band​

488 Tuor captured by Easterlings​

489 Death of Beleg​

490 Túrin comes to Nargothrond​

491 Tuor escapes from the Easterlings​

494 Morwen and Nienor come to Doriath​

495 Fall of Nargothrond and deaths of Orodreth and Finduilas. Orcs attack Brethil. Tuor leaves Hithlum.​

496 Tuor comes to Gondolin. Morwen and Nienor leave Doriath. Túrin meets Nienor.​

498 Túrin and Nienor marry​

499 Deaths of Glaurung, Nienor and Túrin​

500 Morgoth releases Húrin​

501 Death of Morwen​

502 Marriage of Tuor and Idril. Húrin kills Mîm. Húrin comes to Doriath. * Grey Annals end here...timeline after this point is...flexible.​

​

503 Death of Thingol. Birth of Eärendil. Birth of Elwing.​

504 Dior becomes king of Doriath​

506 Second Kinslaying and death of Dior​

509 Maeglin captured by Morgoth​

510 Fall of Gondolin and death of Turgon​

511 Survivors of Gondolin reach Sirion​

532 Birth of Elros and Elrond​

538 Third Kinslaying​

542 Eärendil reaches Valinor​

545 Host of Valinor lands​

587 Destruction of Angband. Maedhros and Maglor seize the Silmarils. Death of Maedhros.​

590 Morgoth thrust into the Void. End of the First Age.​

Everything in BOLD was already covered in Silm Film in Season 6. Items in ITALICS will likely be part of Season 7. And so...what will be in seasons 8, 9, 10, etc? Do we want to tell the story chronologically, or in pieces that makes sense together? Should we intertwine the stories of Túrin and Tuor, or tell them separately? Are we looking to have the War of Wrath happen in Season 12, or....? Decisions, decisions!

 

[Ange1e4e5]

We could throw Rian's death at the very end of Season 7 with having her come to the Hill of the Slain, finding Huor's head and dying there.

As for the order of events, I think that the Fall of Gondolin has to follow the Ruin of Doriath pt. 1 in some fashion since Turgon hears tidings of Thingol's death and starts locking more things in Gondolin down. On the other hand, we could try the chance sighting at the Pools of Ivrin as a perspective-flip narrative, where the first time we see it Túrin is heading towards Dor-Lómin, and the second time it opens the season where Tuor is coming from Dor-Lómin with Voronwe, but we flash back to Tuor's past.

 

[kanji_d]

I know there was some talk early on of possibly telling the contemporary stories of Túrin and Túor's wanderings in parallel, thus highlighting the one moment their paths actually cross. But I think it's best not to do this, for a couple reasons: firstly, Túrin's story is quite long, and needs a full season to cover it. Two half-seasons breaks it apart a bit oddly. Secondly, I think it's best to focus now on the genealogical links down to Eärendil. And since the Fall of Gondolin and the Ruin of Doriath are both much shorter in the published Silmarillion, we might actually be able to tell the two of them in one season. But I also think it's helpful to tell them separately.

I also want to suggest that a possible benefit to telling the Túrin story in parallel with the Túor story is that the Túrin story gets pretty depressing a lot of the time. Having another story to go between is a useful mitigator of that effect.

With regards to the order of things, it's worth remembering Tolkien's original conception of the wanderings of Eärendil in The Book of Lost Tales made a direct connection to the tale of the Nauglamír, saying it to be the first of seven parts of that tale. So that may be the story to tell last.

Finally, I don't think that the wanderings of Eärendil, however we invent them, should take more than a season (even that seems quite a bit). Likewise I don't think it makes sense to give the War of Wrath a whole season either, though I can see us giving it more weight than normal, perhaps a four-episode arc or so.

So, in total, I think the story would be best shaped roughly like this:

• Season 7: The lead-up to the Nirnaeth Arnoediad. Húrin’s season but with important updates in Gondolin!
• Season 8: The tale of Túrin.
• Season 9 (maybe 10?): The ruin of Doriath.
• Season 10(? Or 9?): The tale of Túor—Could be told in or across one or both of these seasons? Either way the two or three seasons here have to end with Eärendil and Elwing born and on or going to the coasts.
• Season 10 or 11: Eärendil’s story. Married to Elwing within the first few episodes, has great adventures, goes to meet with the Valar no later than Episode 9 (aha! Here's our Episode 8 turning point!), and the remainder of the season is the outplay and consequences of the War of Wrath. As Episode 13 would be a very momentous episode it would also be worth it to set out future plotlines: ergo, Elrond and Elros need to get some focus during the season, as do Galadriel and Celeborn, and the season should end, I think, on Gil-Galad's formal coronation as High King. Zoom out, Sauron tease, Begin SecondAgeFilm (doesn't quite have the same ring to it, does it?)

 

[Alcarohtar]

I reminder that we also need to do something with Galadriel and Celeborn. Do they go east? If so when? Or are they present at the sack of Menegroth by the dwarves? The kinslaying?

I think we need to bring in at least parts of the wanderings of Húrin. We need some way to close off the story of Brethil. It is weird that in the Silmarillion, Brethil seems to be the only place that is not destroyed. They saved their homeland from Glaurung, then is never heard of again. We need some closure. And by closure I mean a civil war that kills all of them 😛

Further I think we in this season need to establish some background for the pools of Iverin. So far we have removed the Mereth Aderthad / reunion party from Iverin, and also we have cut off the part of the house of Hador living on the south side of the Mountains. So now neither the Elves nor men have any special connection to that area. How can it be so special and almost sacred?

 

[kanji_d]

I think we need to bring in at least parts of the wanderings of Húrin. We need some way to close off the story of Brethil. It is weird that in the Silmarillion, Brethil seems to be the only place that is not destroyed. They saved their homeland from Glaurung, then is never heard of again. We need some closure. And by closure I mean a civil war that kills all of them 😛

I think with regards to the Wanderings of Húrin these are best as a one-episode prologue of sorts to the Ruin of Doriath, whenever that happens. To tack it onto the end of the Túrin season lessens the impact of the ending.

 

[Alcarohtar]

I think with regards to the Wanderings of Húrin these are best as a one-episode prologue of sorts to the Ruin of Doriath, whenever that happens. To tack it onto the end of the Túrin season lessens the impact of the ending.

Maybe the release of Húrin could be part of the ruin of Doriath episode? It is what sets it up. Idk, you loose the moment of them at the grave though...

Something to discuss at least🙂

 

[Odola]

We could throw Rian's death at the very end of Season 7 with having her come to the Hill of the Slain, finding Huor's head and dying there.

Remember that Tuor must be born before she dies there. So we must have her go to Annael's elves and stay there for some time while still pregnant and then leave for the Hill of the Slain after having given birth and having given up her son to the Grey elves. As this is an counterintuitive action it needs some time to explain.

 

[MithLuin]

I think we need to bring in at least parts of the wanderings of Húrin. We need some way to close off the story of Brethil. It is weird that in the Silmarillion, Brethil seems to be the only place that is not destroyed. They saved their homeland from Glaurung, then is never heard of again. We need some closure. And by closure I mean a civil war that kills all of them 😛

Ha! You certainly understand what story you are reading!

Further I think we in this season need to establish some background for the pools of Ivrin. So far we have removed the Mereth Aderthad / reunion party from Ivrin, and also we have cut off the part of the house of Hador living on the south side of the Mountains. So now neither the Elves nor men have any special connection to that area. How can it be so special and almost sacred?

Agreed! I think the perfect place to feature the pools of Ivrin in Season 7 will be in telling the (tragic) love story of Gwindor and Finduilas. We've introduced both characters, and they're both now living in Nargothrond, but...there is not yet any connection between them. As Finduilas is a more minor character, we don't necessarily want to make the audience learn a second name for her, so I would much prefer if they are shown to be AT the Pools of Ivrin, rather than have Gwindor call her Faelivrin and have to explain this place to the audience.

It is the 3rd source of the river Sirion, so with Rivil's well now being corrupted, the water flowing from the Pools of Ivrin is still clean, making that location more unique and special than it was before. We may find some way to call attention to that in this season.

Remember that Tuor must be born before she dies there. So we must have her go to Annael's elves and stay there for some time while still pregnant and then leave the Hill of the Slain after having given birth and having given up her son to the Grey elves. As this is an counterintuitive action it needs some time to explain.

Perhaps we can show the Hill of the Slain (to emphasize the impact of the battle) at the end of season 7, and then tell the story of Rían (ending in her death there) at the beginning of the Tuor season? Especially if we are telling the Tuor story later, it will be very important to step back in time and show the audience we have done so with a clear landmark/timestamp.

 

[Ilana Mushin]

We also need to decide on how much child Turin we will see in S7. Do we show the pre-Nirnaeth scenes (death of Lalaith, Labadal and Turin, Turin being held up by Hurin before the battle) in S7 or do we show them in flashback in S8? If we tell the story of Turin in S8 we can still have the crossover of cousins in the Tuor story (as is in the Unfinished Tales version) and the viewers will know what has happened.

On the other hand I like the idea of doing at least some of Turin/Tuor in parallel, at least until Tuor is enslaved and Turin comes to Nargothrond. Both are being raised by Elves in this period (Turin in Doriath, Tuor by Annael). There’s a lot more action in the Turin story of course, so tracking Tuor doesn’t have to take up much screen time in S8, maybe ending with his escape from captivity partway through the season. We can then pick up Tuor’s story in S9 immediately by going back in time a bit and tracking him. The rest of the Turin story in S8 could be intercut with Galadriel/Celeborn going east, refugees from Nargothrond in Doriath after its destruction. We could also end S8 with Hurin and Morwen at the grave ‘she was not conquered’, folllowing the climax of the death of Glaurung.

The first third of S9 could focus on Tuor getting to Gondolin and giving his message (and some Wanderings of Hurin). The second third of S9 could focus on the death of Thingol, fall of Doriath, intercut with the happier story of Tuor and Idril’s relationship and the birth of Earendil. The third third of S9 could be the Fall of Gondolin.

S10 tracks the refugees from Doriath and Gondolin and the settlement at the mouths of Sirion, birth of Elrond and Elros, Earendil’s voyages and the third kinslaying. Perhaps leaving on a cliffhanger as to how the Valar will respond to Earendil’s message.

 

[Ilana Mushin]

I agree with those who think the War of Wrath won’t fill a whole season (even though it take about 50 years). We know so little of what actually happened. S11 could include the War of Wrath but also its aftermath, including the end of the Silmarils, and the choices the Elves now have to face about staying or going - and the promise of Numenor!

 

[kanji_d]

We also need to decide on how much child Turin we will see in S7. Do we show the pre-Nirnaeth scenes (death of Lalaith, Labadal and Turin, Turin being held up by Hurin before the battle) in S7 or do we show them in flashback in S8? If we tell the story of Turin in S8 we can still have the crossover of cousins in the Tuor story (as is in the Unfinished Tales version) and the viewers will know what has happened.

Maybe we could show some of them from Hurin's perspective in S7, then go back for just an episode at the beginning of S8? It alos allows us to use portions of that episode to tie up any loose ends after the Nirnaeth.

On the other hand I like the idea of doing at least some of Turin/Tuor in parallel, at least until Tuor is enslaved and Turin comes to Nargothrond. Both are being raised by Elves in this period (Turin in Doriath, Tuor by Annael). There’s a lot more action in the Turin story of course, so tracking Tuor doesn’t have to take up much screen time in S8, maybe ending with his escape from captivity partway through the season. We can then pick up Tuor’s story in S9 immediately by going back in time a bit and tracking him. The rest of the Turin story in S8 could be intercut with Galadriel/Celeborn going east, refugees from Nargothrond in Doriath after its destruction. We could also end S8 with Hurin and Morwen at the grave ‘she was not conquered’, folllowing the climax of the death of Glaurung.

The first third of S9 could focus on Tuor getting to Gondolin and giving his message (and some Wanderings of Hurin). The second third of S9 could focus on the death of Thingol, fall of Doriath, intercut with the happier story of Tuor and Idril’s relationship and the birth of Earendil. The third third of S9 could be the Fall of Gondolin.

I like this way of dividing the Tuor story! I don't think we need to divide S9 that strictly, but I think the broad strokes you've laid out are great.

S10 tracks the refugees from Doriath and Gondolin and the settlement at the mouths of Sirion, birth of Elrond and Elros, Earendil’s voyages and the third kinslaying. Perhaps leaving on a cliffhanger as to how the Valar will respond to Earendil’s message.

I agree with those who think the War of Wrath won’t fill a whole season (even though it take about 50 years). We know so little of what actually happened. S11 could include the War of Wrath but also its aftermath, including the end of the Silmarils, and the choices the Elves now have to face about staying or going - and the promise of Numenor!

To be honest I think most of the aftermath of the War of Wrath won't take more than two episodes. But with how you've outlined the point we reach at the end of S9 (which I like, for the most part) the material from the end of S9 to the end of the First Age is probably more than one season.

Partly that's why I propose we end S9 with the wedding of Elwing and Earendil, to get a little extra time spent in S9 and less we need to do in S10. The reason I say four episodes is about how far we can stretch the War of Wrath is that part of what makes the Dagor Bragollach and Nirnaeth Arnoediad interesting is the intrigue that goes into them. By the time we reach the War of Wrath there's not a lot changing politically. Nobody is changing sides during the war, the most political intrigue there is is the responses of the Eldar still in Valinor who refused to follow Feanor (a plot point we definitely will have to cover).

Also, I think it would be a little weird to end the War of Wrath more than a couple episodes before the end of the season. Sure, we've had a lot of action up to this point and proportionally to the whole story it might be an acceptable amount of denouement, but in terms of absolute time, it's a lot of downtime to get through. Maybe we should save the half-season of falling action to when we get to adapting Book VI of LOTR in twenty years 😛.

 

[Ilana Mushin]

Maybe we could show some of them from Hurin's perspective in S7, then go back for just an episode at the beginning of S8? It alos allows us to use portions of that episode to tie up any loose ends after the Nirnaeth.

Yes! I think it would be great for the viewers to see things from Hurin's perspective in S7,including his relationship with Turin (and of course the scenes with Morwen before the Nirnaeth). I was thinking the flashbacks could be done as Turin's reflections on his childhood while he is growing up in Doriath. They may help to convey the homesickness and missing his mother and (as yet unknown) sister. It will help set up the confrontation with Saeros as well.

 

[Ilana Mushin]

And we will need a storyline for the Feanorians to set up the two kinslayings. Not sure how that will span through these future seasons. I bet Marie has some ideas though! 😉

 

[kanji_d]

Both are being raised by Elves in this period (Turin in Doriath, Tuor by Annael)

Also, this has just reminded me that yes, we need to figure out what's happening with Annael now he's in his exile. I can't remember how far we thought out his story beyond this and how it gets him to fostering Tuor?

 

[Ange1e4e5]

And we will need a storyline for the Feanorians to set up the two kinslayings. Not sure how that will span through these future seasons. I bet Marie has some ideas though! 😉

I've had an idea for the Second Kinslaying (the one in Doriath). It's noted in the Silmarillion that Celegorm is the one who pressures the other into an assault on Doriath and it's his servants who take Dior's sons to starve in the forest. It wouldn't just be about the jewels for Celegorm but revenge on Beren (and by extension his line) for taking Lúthien and Huan away from him.

 

[Ilana Mushin]

It's noted in the Silmarillion that Celegorm is the one who pressures the other into an assault on Doriath and it's his servants who take Dior's sons to starve in the forest. It wouldn't just be about the jewels for Celegorm but revenge on Beren (and by extension his line) for taking Lúthien and Huan away from him.
[/QUOTE-

I can imagine that Celegorm (and Curufin) will be more in favour of attacking Doriath than attacking Angband even in S7, for these reasons.

 

[Ange1e4e5]

Where should Húrin's meeting with Morwen at Túrin's grave be? The published Silmarillion places it early in Chapter 22 the Ruin of Doriath but The Children of Húrin has it as an epilogue.

Also, what are we thinking on the Frame for the next few years? My thoughts have been centered around Season 7 featuring the Last Meeting of the White Council where Saruman is really starting to downturn (though not so far as to use the palantír) and lies to the White Council that he's "discovered" that the One Ring has passed all the way down to the sea before withdrawing to Isengard and setting a watch on the Shire. There's a few questions on my mind: Do Galadriel and Elrond take him at his word? How widely known is it that both of them have Rings, since nobody knows who has the third aside from Cirdan and Gandalf (hint, hint)?

Subsequent seasons could focus on Aragorn's exploits in Rohan and Gondor, with Aragorn being a contrast to both Túrin and Tuor: like Túrin, he goes into the wild after being raised by Elves, but his home culture still welcomes him while with Tuor, he comes to a great city, earning himself favor with the ruler and an enemy of another, younger family member (Denethor for Aragorn, Maeglin for Tuor). Unlike Tuor, Aragorn has his own love outside the walls of the city and unlike Tuor who suffers a great loss when Gondolin is destroyed, Aragorn wins fame by raiding a city and killing a war-captain.

 

[MithLuin]

In a way, the Beren and Lúthien season is a turning point - from now on, the main stories will focus on a key mortal character, while the elven stories become side stories to the main action. (Yes, I am counting Eärendil, Elwing, and Dior as mortals here...)

The story of Húrin and Huor (yeah, okay, also the story of the Union of Maedhros and the death of Fingon the High King)
The story of Túrin - well sure, Gwindor, Finduilas, and Beleg die, and Nargothrond falls...but Túrin marries his sister and kills a dragon
The story of Tuor - welcome to Gondolin, the safest city in all of Beleriand! Or, well, it was...time for Turgon to die now, but let's focus on Tuor's escape.

The Doriath stuff is probably going to be told in bits and pieces interwoven with all of the other stories, or...not really sure.

I suspect we may have an Eärendil season, encompassing his journeys, the attack on the Havens (3rd kinslaying), and...maybe also the War of Wrath? Depends...

And of course we need to develop multiple season arcs for Galadriel and Sauron and fit them in here somewhere.

And we will need a storyline for the Feanorians to set up the two kinslayings. Not sure how that will span through these future seasons. I bet Marie has some ideas though! 😉

Why indeed I do! I have given quite a bit of thought to their changing dynamics in this time period. The Union of Maedhros is the high point for the Fëanoreans. They're united in common purpose (attack Angband), they have allies - the other Noldor, the Dwarves, and even Men from the East. The High King is literally best friends with the Lord of Himring. So...that leaves Doriath and Nargothrond out, but otherwise, things are looking good. The brothers all seem to be working together, and at the very least Maedhros' rule is holding.

Then, the Unnumbered Tears. Fingon the High King is dead. Maedhros is defeated. All six of the brothers survive the battle, but are wounded. Now there is a shift in the power dynamic. Curufin disliked Maedhros' leadership, but has been putting up with it because Maedhros succeeds where he fails. But now Maedhros has failed. Curufin sees this as an opportunity to direct the next actions of the Fëanoreans. They've been defeated in battle with Morgoth. But...the Oath no longer points only to Morgoth. There is a silmaril Right There in Doriath. And after the death of Thingol and the fall of the Girdle...what's stopping them from getting it back? Curufin convinces Celegorm to treat with Dior for the silmaril. Celegorm, inspired by his resentment towards Beren, is easily egged on. Maedhros...is no longer in a position to stop his brothers by simply ordering them around. If he disagrees, he is outvoted. Celegorm writes the letter, Dior refuses...leading to the 2nd kinslaying. All of the Fëanoreans participate. Those who are not oathbound have been denied entry to Doriath for centuries, even when fleeing as refugees...so there's plenty of underlying resentment to go around.

But Celegorm, Curufin, and Caranthir do not survive the battle in Doriath. And they do not recover the silmaril. The remaining three Fëanoreans are much more bitter and near despair than they have been. They are still Oath-bound, but they resent that more than ever. They know that the silmaril is in the Havens, but (shockingly) they decide to leave it alone...for a time. We will need to think carefully about what will set them off. It's probably not a mistake that the demand for the silmaril and subsequent attack happen while Eärendil is out at sea (granted, he's always out at sea, but...). And we know that their surviving people are not united with them when it comes to attacking the Havens. The 3rd kinslaying kills Amras and puts an end to 'the Fëanoreans'. At this point, it's Maedhros, Maglor, and some remnant of their former followers. As well as Elrond and Elros.

The story of the fostering of Elrond and Elros is the only bright point in the Fëanorean story post-Fifth Battle. They're in steep decline the entire time. Nothing good will come of anything they do. And yet...somehow...Elrond and Elros grow up better than most. How??? The silmaril of Doriath is safely in the sky, where they cannot hope to touch it. The only silmarils left are on Morgoth's head, and they can't hope to touch that, either, but at least they have clarity of enemies again, as they have not since Beren undertook the quest to claim a silmaril. A...lull. Despair, but the descent into darkness has plateaued.

The War of Wrath, the Host of the Valar....do any of the elves of Beleriand play any part in that? The Silmarillion strongly implies that the elves on the Isle of Balar sit this one out - Doom purposes means that they can't win this war. But...are they involved in any way? Surely they don't actually sit it out...right? Elrond, at least, seems to have a first person recollection of the armies in this war, suggesting that he's not entirely off stage...and so neither are Maglor and Maedhros, who at any rate are well-informed of where the silmarils are after Morgoth's defeat.

Thereupon Elrond paused a while and sighed. 'I remember well the splendour of their banners,' he said. 'It recalled to me the glory of the Elder Days and the hosts of Beleriand, so many great princes and captains were assembled. And yet not so many, nor so fair, as when Thangorodrim was broken, and the Elves deemed that evil was ended for ever, and it was not so.'

The Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring

...and then their final discussion, the last kinslaying, the theft of the silmarils, the death of Maedhros, and the loss of Maglor


So, some Season 7 stories can focus on:

• Maedhros coordinating with Fingon, the Dwarves, and the new Easterlings to form the Union that leads to the 5th Battle.
• Caranthir's relationship with the Easterlings, who quickly figure out that flattery will get them everywhere
• Retaking Dorthonion?
• Growing tension between Maedhros and Curufin, who has never liked that Maedhros recognized Fingolfin and now Fingon as High King, but who is himself disgraced after Nargothrond and the 4th Battle
• Amras has been very ambivalent about his brothers and the Oath since the shipburning; we know he fights in (and is wounded in) the 5th Battle. How does he get there? How is he persuaded to join the fight?

Túrin season stories

• Licking their wounds and recovering from the 5th battle. Where are they now? Amon Ereb? Their lands are overrun.
• Curufin consolidating leadership power in the vacuum left by Maedhros' failure

Fall of Gondolin

• Minimal Fëanorean presence in the Tuor part of the story!

Sack of Doriath

• Beren's fight with the dwarves happens in Fëanorean territory - surely they know about this?
• Lúthien having the silmaril is outside the Girdle, without the army of Doriath around her...why do they decide to leave her be?
• Emissary to Dior sent by Celegorm, not by Maedhros; refused
• Decision to attack Doriath - who is in favor and why?
• 2nd Kinslaying
• 'the servants of Celegorm' who leave the young boys to die - we'll need a story for them starting in Season 7!
• Maedhros searching for Eluréd and Elurín unsuccessfully in the aftermath of the battle

Eärendil season stories

• Attempting to abandon/ignore/repudiate the Oath
• Amras' final arc of bitterness and regret
• The decision to demand the silmaril from the Havens
• The decision to attack the Havens
• The loss of followers due to the above
• Death of Amras
• ...and then, a ray of light and hope - Maglor's decision to foster Elrond and Elros

War of Wrath

• What interactions do the Sons of Fëanor have with the refugee Elves and Men on the Isle of Balar?
• What is the consequence of Maglor raising Eärendil's sons?
• War of Wrath - what are all of our characters doing during this time?
• How do Maedhros and Maglor learn of the location of the silmarils in Eonwë's camp?
• End of the line for Fëanorean stories for everyone who is not Celebrimbor

 

[Ange1e4e5]

I've had this head-canon of mine that has Maglor finding the compiled Narn i Chîn Húrin after Dírhaval is killed in the Third Kinslaying and later entrusting the manuscript to Elrond before making his ill-fated Silmaril heist.