#at certain points they aren't sure if its the Oath or themselves that they are listening to

[and-the-times-we-had]

I feel like the fandom is sleeping on a potential horror reading of the Oath of Feanor as its own sort of powerful metaphysical being that the Feanorians accidentally created when they swore the oath. A being capable of sleeping and waking. A being capable of betrayal and torment. Like that's some good horror shit right there.

[tolkien-feels]

Looking at your Mae-Magst-Celegorm thingy and thinking how the attitude of "I'm the responsible one" of Mae and Teleko would crash and while not noticable in Valinor but after Maedhros' capture, then shift of the crown the gap got noticable (Celegorm could view it as someone taking away his birthright) , and then the whole Finrod-Luthien debacle happened and after that — Nirn...

Just pointing out that generals don't stay in charge after devastating losses, so even if Mae was the head of the house on paper the actual control and loyalty of the people may shift to someone else. Maglor wouldn't take it up, he's too loyal to Mae. Celegorm though? I picture him to want control and power. And it wasn't against his charge that people revolted against, but Mae's

Aaaaas usual, disclaimer that I Absolutely Suck At Politics, but: I do think Celegorm and Maedhros have a... complicated relationship in Beleriand.

We aren't told who didn't think Maedhros should've given up the crown, but I tend to headcanon Celegorm is included. I don't even think Celegorm is necessarily power-hungry at that point, it's more a matter of... "That was our father's birthright that was so important to him, and you gave it away, you had no right to do that" - imho Celegorm seems to be more loyal to Feanor than I feel most people give him credit for.

And it's not that Maedhros isn't loyal to Feanor, but I think whenever possible, Maedhros puts the Noldor above personal loyalties - even to his father - while Celegorm seems to take a very personal view of, well, everything ever.

I would almost characterize the conflict I'm picturing as Celegorm thinking Maedhros is being hypocritical - wanting to both give up on his birthrights (crown and Silmarils both) and control what their House can and can't do, and the longer this goes on, the less happy Celegorm is with the situation. Either take charge, or don't! You can't control the House but then not represent its pride and strength to outsiders!!

In other words, I'm pretty sure if Maedhros went "Actually, I'll storm Angband and die. Who is with me?" Celegorm would follow him in a heartbeat. But that's the thing - Celegorm would follow Maedhros to certain death, but not to what I think Celegorm sees as unearned peace, little more than shameful inaction.

Maedhros seems to be a very charismatic leader and very capable in battle, and he's Feanor's beloved heir, and so I think most Feanorians, even those who disagree with his calls, are willing to accept him as their leader. But for those who aren't? Celegorm might be the natural choice to follow, not just because he's first in line for leadership (if you ignore Maglor, who no sane person would think would ever challenge Maedhros), but also because Curufin openly supports Celegorm, and Curufin must be someone many Feanorians feel is another heir to Feanor.

And as Maedhros's losses begin to outnumber his wins, I do think the power shifts to Celegorm, and while I don't think he's like I Am The True Leader-ing, I don't think he would (as Maglor would) immediately shoot down anything resembling treason. He probably thinks he can handle it? It won't cause division, it's fine, he's got this. He's just doing what he swore to Feanor he would do, keeping the pride of their House alive, getting the Silmarils, taking down Morgoth, getting themselves lands to rule - and then Maedhros can go back and play nice with every elf lordling he meets if he really wants to. But Celegorm's loyalty to Feanor and his loyalty to the Oath are both greater than his loyalty to Maedhros, so he's okay with um, being very creative about what allegiance to Maedhros means.

People turning on each other - especially Noldor - is the pattern of the Silm, so I think even if we never get the details, we should probably assume that the further we get into the First Age, the more divided the Feanorians (the people, not the family) become.

.....but again. I suck at politics so I don't know if any of this holds up to scrutiny, and I have never carefully read the text checking if this theory works, it's just my gut feeling reaction to your ask.