Gondolin or Nargothrond?

[jammi567]

gondolin because that's where the savior of both elves and men came from, but also nargothrond because a) the coolest characters (finrod and turin) come from/go to there and b) the caves are so beautiful that tolkin himself couldn't find words to describe the place

[Belwen_of_nargothrond]

Nargothrond mostly definately.

[Belwen_of_nargothrond]

Actually now that I think about it, it would be a hard decision to make. I love Nargothrond, but I think a lot of Gondolin also. Turgon is like my 3rd favorite elf next to Gil-Galad and Finrod Felagund.

[Belwen_of_nargothrond]

Originally Posted by Last Child of Ungoliant

heresy! turgon rules and we all know it

Hey! Though Fingon was valiant, Turgon was a great and wonderful king. At least he made some attempt to get the curse lifted though he didn't succeed.

[The Dread Pirate Roberts]

Originally Posted by RÃ*an

I think Turgon hid from his troubles, and Fingon went and met them head on. One of my favorite parts in all of Tolkien is where Fingon faces almost certain death but goes off, alone, to rescue his good friend Maedhros anyway, because it's the right thing to do. And I just lost a lot of respect for Turgon after reading the Fall of Gondolin. He should have led his people, but didn't.

Perfect post.

Fingon never showed a moral failing. Turgon succumbed to pride.

Fingon and Finrod were as close to perfect as can be, unless I'm forgetting something.

[Finarfin-1]

Nargothrond,
Both Nargothrond and Gondolin succumbed for the exact same reasons, but Nargothrond has the excuse that Finrod was long gone and that Orodreth, as hard as he tried simply wasn't possessed of the kind of strength of will some of the other great Noldor demonstrated. First he loses control of Tol-Sirion, then he loses control of Nargothrond to Celegorm and Curufin's plotting, and finally he loses control to Turin's charisma and ability to sway the people to abandon stealth in favor of overt military action.

It can also be argued that Nargothrond didn't "earn" its fall in the way that Gondolin did. When Turgon sat and listened to Throndor's reports that everywhere the Noldor were hard-pressed and dying he chose to protect the secrecy of Gondolin over going to their aid. It's fitting that in the end his refusal to believe in Hurin and his isolationism allowed Maeglin's treachery to bring down his kingdom. Plus, Nargothrond didn't have the benefit of Ulmo sending Tuor to serve as a direct warning that doom approached. After his previous failures it's entirely possible that Orodreth might have learned enough from his mistakes that such a warning might not have fallen on deaf ears. If the bridge over the Narog had been demolished Glaurung would have been out of luck. The power of Ulmo was in the waters and the servants of Morgoth shunned the water during the 1st Age. It's not like Glaurung could have climbed down into the gorge, forded the river and climbed the sheer cliffs to invade that way.

Gondolin had multiple routes to destruction dogging it, Nargothrond had just the one. If you lay aside the birth of Earendil and simply consider which kingdom was of greater worth to the Noldor then Nargothrond wins hands down (In my opinion). There's even a direct quote that goes something like "Thus while Finrod was the youngest of the Lords of the Noldor, his realm was by far the largest and greatest." When you then take into account the strategic value of the Teiglin fords I feel it puts Nargothrond over the top.

Off-subject for a minute. From my lurking I think I've detected a sentiment that Finrod-fandom is somehow distasteful. That's too bad, as he is by far my favorite of the Noldor. I think it's incredible that his deeds were such that after his death he was released from the Curse and resurrected in Valinor.

[Varnafindë]

I have a soft spot for Gondolin - perhaps simply because I've read more about it than about Nargothrond, and feel that I know it better.
Fanfiction-wise, my character and online persona has her roots in Gondolin.

Originally Posted by Finarfin-1

Off-subject for a minute. From my lurking I think I've detected a sentiment that Finrod-fandom is somehow distasteful. That's too bad, as he is by far my favorite of the Noldor. I think it's incredible that his deeds were such that after his death he was released from the Curse and resurrected in Valinor.

I'm a big Finrod-fan - is there a thread about him already, or ought we to start a new one?
Mods, what say ye?

[Earniel]

Originally Posted by Finarfin-1

Off-subject for a minute. From my lurking I think I've detected a sentiment that Finrod-fandom is somehow distasteful. That's too bad, as he is by far my favorite of the Noldor. I think it's incredible that his deeds were such that after his death he was released from the Curse and resurrected in Valinor.

Distasteful? That would be a first to my knowledge. We all got our favourites, of course, but Finrod generally ranks high on the list. I remember quite a few Finrod-fangirls here.

Originally Posted by Varnafindë

I'm a big Finrod-fan - is there a thread about him already, or ought we to start a new one? Mods, what say ye?

You can do your own search, ya know. Anyway, I'm sure there are several Finrod-threads, but I don't see any recent ones about Finrod specifically, so feel free to start a new one. Or you can use one of the threads about Elven kings in general, if you prefer.

[Amael]

Gondolin by far, at least for my liking. Mountains surrounding, and so on. I wouldn't have made the mistake of allowing a mortal to come in. There would be 1 law: if some outsider comes in, never do they go back outside of Gondolin, ever! And I'd create a special place in the catacombs of Gondolin for anyone suspected of being possible traitors. I'd have been more paranoid, if I were the Queen of Gondolin. I'd know what the King is up to all of the time, and who he calls "friends". Then I'd add like 10 more gates and clone Glorfindel.

[Willow Oran]

*hides Glorfindel from Amael's cloning machine*

After much consideration I think I would choose not to save any of them as doing so would directly contradict the tragic themes of the story of Middle-Earth and as none of the people who would be saved would have been permanantly dead anyway and the cities would then survive within their perfect, elvish memories.

[Rían]

Originally Posted by The Dread Pirate Roberts

Perfect post.

Why, thank you!

[Varnafindë]

Originally Posted by Willow Oran

the cities would then survive within their perfect, elvish memories.

Andreth adaneth, the life and love of the Eldar dwells much in memory; and we (if not ye) would rather have a memory that is fair but unfinished than one that goes on to a grevious end...

Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth

[Beor]

I would have to save Nargothrond.

I like Gondolin better, but the Fall of Gondolin (in the Book of Lost Tales II) is amazing, and sometimes, a good last stand is warranted. Those dang balrogs! And Ecthilion and the fountain thing, with the balrog (Gothmog?). Quite an amazing fight. Oh, and not to forget about Glorfindel on the mountain. I tell ya, its too bad it had to fall, but hey, it sounds like it was one hell of a fight.

Nargothrond fell like a chump.

[Morwen]

Gondolin! I always thought it was so cool and mysterious

[The Mormegil]

Turgon, Turgon!! I still hear Hurin Screaming his name. Gondolin live on