I recogniced I wrote nothing about Fall of Gondolin
Well then...
- It was said Gondolin will fail even before it was build
- Tuor came to Gondolin as Ulmo's messenger, saying "Hey, guys, the time came, we have to leave the city" ;o) But Turgon temporized.
- Fate reason of Gondolin was keep a safe place where "Hope" may be born (Earendil). Even Maeglin believed in it (well... he believed that HE is the hope ;o) ). No Fall of Gondolin -> No escape of Idril, Tuor and Earendil -> No Vingilótë -> No sail to Valinor -> No final destruction of Morgoth
- Aredhel was quite guarded in her speech about Gondolin for a long time (and even her son with special mind-reading skill didn't elicite a lot ;o) )
- Relationship between Maeglin and Eöl may be much worse than between Eöl and Aredhel. I see some Freudian topic here ;--) She was allowed to stay in Gondolin but he was not (in Eöl's eyes). She was free in her travels, except visit her cousins, even she could leave Elmoth, if under moon. If the son only figured out he want visit the Noldor, Eöl was angry and very cruel to him. Eöl was not a good father and if Maeglin was ever trapped, then between his two parents.
- Aredhel planted the seed of desire. She created secret fairytale for his son, something that musn't be said, something hidden, something to feel guilty for. Strories about forbidden lands.
- Eöl was jealous and pride in Gondolin. He was enchanted by beauty of the land as well, but it made things even worse. And he tryed to kill his own son.
- Aredhel was trying save the situation when Eöl came to Gondolin. Her son and then her husband.
- Maeglin had problem of Orestes. His father killed his mother and when trying to kill HIM. He was still quite young, maybe adolescent, who hate his father anyway... so he said nothing against. So he lost both his parents in the same day...
- Eöl cursed his son. This is not good. Fate proclamations have BIG power in Arda...
- Idril estranged absolutelly and it made it worse. She saw Maeglin was visiting border as well because she knew him the best, but she made only a tunel, she didn't try keep him in the city.
- But it was decision of Maeglin betray the Gondolin. Aredhel never wanted it. If she alive she would do everything against. And Eöl wanted only go back to his small forrest (and destroy Noldor eventually ;o) but not today) .
The special question are Eöl's weapons. In early work there is passage Eöl may be ensnared by Morgoth. Trapped for a while. Then it is said he was Dark elf (Moredhel) and he made two strange swords ;o) Those swords were affected by his mentality, almoust cursed. One of them became to Turin - the one he killed Beleg with, then Glaurung and then himselve. The second was stolen by Maeglin and perhaps became to scene where he was trying to kill Tuor.
Eöl worn poisoned javelin also. He killed Aredhel with it. This is unusual - only cause with poisoned weapon in demesne of elf i know.
If he was trapped by Morgoth (maybe he didn't remember), is it possible to behave betrayter of Goldolin even earlier he is born and via two swords from unknown material (who knows where the meteorit came from, hmmm?) keep two the biggest victories of Enemy in Firts age? (Fall of Gondolin, Children of Hurin)
In early work Meglin with Eöl and Aredhel with Idril are often only one figure. This is also very interresting. It connected it with Eowyn and Gríma Wormtongue and Witchking.
Poisoned, cursed moments near him. Unnatural relationships near Aredhel.