Silmarillion: Fanfic: Linpoliër (Polymath)

[lferion]

Title: Linpoliër (Polymath)
Fandom: Silmarillion
Challenge: Show Off
Other prompt: N/A
Rating: G
Length: 300
Content notes: N/A
Author notes: Thanks go to Zhie for encouragement & sanity-checking.
The title is intended to be Quenya for 'many-skilled'.
Summary: Findekáno muses on the concept of showing off

Is it showing off, to display skill one knows one is capable of? Or is it simply competence given a derogatory name? Is Laurë showing off when he plays difficult things in performance, scheduled or impromptu? When he is playing-practicing-composing those difficult things in the garden visible to the Great Square? (Sometimes it definitely is, but not always). Is it showing off when Tyelco presents the fruits of his hunt at the king's high table at feast? The cooks and bards say no to both. Is it showing off when Artanis argues and wins a public debate with the Master of Debate? When any apprentice produces a journey-work, or journeyman a master-work? A scholar defends their scholarship in public? All of these are most certainly showing, but rarely 'showing off'. (Is it really showing off when a child interrupts their relatives, asking, even demanding attention to something learned or done or made? Some obviously think so.)

I am not 'Laurë's equal in music, Ingoldo's in Song, Laurëfindel's in strength, Turno's in city planning, Tyelco's in the hunt, Irisse in archery, Artanis or Russo in anything, not even Ambarussa in audacity. That does not mean I am not skilled in many of those things.

Conversely, is it showing off because I am aware of onlookers? That people watch me because I am a prince, not because of what I am doing in particular, or even who I am beyond a prince, as a person? I do not understand the opprobrium -- or mockery or insult or whatever those who whisper to their friends or shout out or write satires are meaning to communicate. It does not make sense.

But whatever it is, I will not let it make me self-conscious, stop what I am doing or change where I am doing it.

Notes:
'Laurë is Makalaurë/Maglor
Tyelco is Tyelkormo/Celegorm
Artanis is Galadriel
Ingoldo is Findaráto/Finrod
Laurëfindel is Glorfindel
Turno is Turukáno/Turgon
Irissë is Aredhel
Russo is short for Russandol, Maedhros
Ambarussa is the shared name of Amrod and Amras

Comments

[pattrose]

I liked this very much.

[lferion]

Thank you!