Findegil wrote:
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I think we are not going to answer that question if we can in any event avoid it.
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I think this may be the best way to go, if possible.
I agree, though, that in either case Melian could still warn Beren and Luthien in Ossiriand before departing.
About Man of the Wold's points:
Note 1 - Agree with Findegil; "outlaw" is fine.
Note 2 - I'm still a bit torn about Mim's death. It is said in the extension of
GA that preceded "Wanderings" that "Hurin comes to Nargothrond and slays Mim the petty-dwarf". Of course that could simply be compression. I suppose I still lean toward the
Q30 version, though I can't say for sure that I won't change my mind.
Note 3 - The fate of the outlaws still strikes me as the most difficult point in the chapter, and I can think of nothing to add to what has already been said about it.
Note 4 - I'm not sure that Man of the Wold's suggestion "ruins the gesture" the way the
Q30 version does. But there is no source for it. Also, it appears to be completely unnecessary, as the outlaws would still have to be kept alive up to that point.
Note 5 - I don't think the healing by Melian can be justified in our text at all.
Note 6 - Nothing to add here.
Note 7 - I agree with Man of the Wold here; Thingol's desire for the gold seems fine to me.
Note 8 - Again agreement.
Note 9 - I think that, if all else fails, we can always fall back on the single sentence of
Q30 for the quarrel, so the story point definitely stands.
Note 10 - Certainly the Dwarves of Belegost play no part. As for Mim's death - I don't see it necessarily as unusable even as a disingenuous excuse.
Note 11 - I actually half agree with Man of the Wold here. I don't think that the power of the Girdle was necessarily absolute. Perhaps it
could have been overcome by treachery. But I think that in our version it must be the case that it
was not in fact overcome by treachery. The note that Findegil mentions makes that plain.
Note 12 - I think it's
possible for some of the Elves of Doriath to be treacherous. But, again, I don't think that it's useable in our version.
Note 13 - I agree with Findegil - we cannot use a version like that.
Notes 14, 15 and 16 - I addressed these points briefly above and can think of nothing to add. Is there still a disagreement between Findegil and Maedhros here?
Note 17 - Agree.