The last letter

@silmarillionepistolary Fingolfin to Fingon

My dear son,

Our warriors continue to die in a war that seems hopeless. I have to take one step that can change everything. Even if my chances are negligible, I feel I have to do it. If I achieve victory, then the elves and men can have a celebration. But just in case, I'm saying goodbye to you. Take care of Hithlum and Dor Lomin. Whatever my fate, do not believe the promises of the enemy and do not try to save me. Don't risk yourself unnecessarily and think about saving our fortresses and our people. I cannot say goodbye to your brother Turukano at this hour. If you see him again, give him the heart pendant that Anaire gave me as a gift. I leave the crown to you. Maybe you'll become a better king. I don't have to tell you to be brave, because I know you are already brave. In any case, I wish you strength during these difficult times.

Your father Nolofinwe Arakano

Fingolfin, absolutely

The last three I only found out about a few days ago sooooo...

Reblogs would be greatly appreciated!!

After watching the Lay of Leithian rock opera, I was inspired to make this poll:

Please reblog this poll for more answers!

Parting in the Dark (My fanfic)

@tolkienfamilyweek “Perhaps you’ll stay after all?” “My love, this question is useless. Forgive if you can.” They hugged in the darkness. They felt so strange without the light of the Trees. The stars looked at their farewell. Anaire felt that she lacked light, lacked strength. It seemed like there wasn't even enough air. And is it worth breathing?

How she hated her husband at that moment! His damned sense of duty, his willingness to go into the unknown, his determination to go to the end. And how she loved him! She loved, despite the fact that her life at those moments was flying somewhere under the feet of Morgoth, into the ominous darkness woven by Ungoliant… The city was bustling in preparations and was choking in women's tears. She tried her best not to cry.

“I’ll go with you.” “No, melda. From our first conversation, I felt: you are not ready. And I’ll feel best if you stay.” “Are we just going to break up like that?” “Understand, I’m not going for new lands. I'm going to war. I’m going at least so that the Enemy doesn’t come here. In the coming battles with Morgoth you are no warrior."

Well, it's her own fault. It was she who said at the first moment that she wanted to stay with her friend. She also said that the unknown scares her.

Anaire felt that Nolofinwe was right. When he trained with their children, she did not have the slightest interest in this activity. She understood that in war she would only be a burden.

She was upset that she could not persuade any of the children to stay. Most of all, of course, she begged Irisse to stay. But the daughter was even more determined than her brothers.

Thus hatred fought with love in Anaire’s heart. But she thought that it was impossible to send off her husband on a long journey with reproaches. Barely holding back a cry, she said: “Come back!”

She added in a half whisper:

“Come back alive. My candle will always burn for you."

“Keep hope alive. Even a single ray of light can destroy darkness,” Nolofinwe replied, breaking away from her embrace. Illuminated by the stars, he took his first steps into the surrounding darkness. And she was left in the darkness with a single ray of hope.

(Fanfic) After the threat

@tolkienfamilyweek The news spread quickly throughout Tirion. Anaire already had a rough idea of what happened in the palace of King Finwe. She was working in the garden with her youngest son when Findekano and Turukano arrived. Findekano was having a difficult conversation with his older cousin. Turukano gave details of the aborted Council, adding that Nolofinwe went to his younger brother.

“Almost killed”… It sounded wild in peaceful Aman. It’s like something from the old days, when the Quendi lived in distant Endor. Anaire could not find a place for herself.

The hour of the Mixing of Light had passed when she finally heard the creak of the gate. Nolofinwe has arrived. He was calm, as if nothing had happened, and smiled…

- Darling! - she literally hung on him, not wanting to let go. It didn't escape her gaze that his tunic was slit in the heart area.

“It’s okay, melda, don’t worry,” he took his wife in his arms. So they stood, enveloped in the soft silver light of Telperion. Blue flowers looked at them with their kind eyes.

Anaire felt that someone’s overly fiery, unkind gaze was watching them from behind the fence. The glance flashed and disappeared. Did her imagine it or not? It doesn't matter now. The only important thing is that she and her husband are together; this state is akin to flying. All fears disappeared for a while. She always felt this, being in the power of the strong hands of her husband.

Then she excitedly kissed the cut on his chest. At his younger brother’s house they had already smeared him with some medicine. The elf felt bitterness on her lips, not yet knowing that this was the taste of future changes.

“It’s okay,” Nolofinwe said, “I will do everything I can to protect you, the children, our people.”

This is where he let it slip. “I’ll do my best,” it turns out, even he is not completely confident. Only from such small details, random slips, did she guess the feelings he was hiding.

“I am summoned to the court of the Valar,” Nolofinwe said a few days later. Anaire's heart sank: what will happen now? That’s how she felt: the story of the failed Council would not end just like that. Almost all of Tirion was ready to testify in favor of Nolofinwe. He, however, did not want to escalate the conflict. He said that only those ordered to appear. Anaire wished to go with her husband. Indis joined them: she said that she had not seen Ingwe for a long time. “My dear ones, we will travel together, but I ask you not to attend the trial,” he said. She nevertheless begged permission to be at the trial - she wanted to support him at least morally, with her presence alone.

- Don't worry. They won't imprison me in Mandos forever. Even Melkor came out and is sowing confusion,” Nolofinwe grinned. …They rode with him together on a white horse. At the trial, Nolofinwe behaved with dignity and did not testify against his brother. And when he declared his readiness to forgive Feanaro, Telperion and Laurelin flashed with an unusual, unprecedentedly soft pearl light. It was as if the Trees rejoiced at his words and illuminated his hair so beautifully.

…When they were driving back, Nolofinwe was saddened - he did not want his brother to be convicted. And soon Finwe also left for his eldest son. Nolofinwe bore the brunt of responsibility for the Noldor. He was constantly busy, and his wife almost stopped seeing him, as well as her sons who helped him. Irisse missed hunting with her cousins. Nolofinwe refused security. He asked Anaire not to go alone outside the city. And she loved to walk by the sea so much! He tried to find time and give her such walks. But his wife saw how tired he was and said that she did not want to go to the sea. He felt that this was not so, and asked Arafinwe and his wife, who often walked along the shore, to take her with them sometimes. During this period, Anaire became close friends with Earwen. Everything should have ended not even in twelve years, but earlier. Nolofinwe was again summoned to Manwe. Was hoped that the conflict would be forgotten. But instead of ending the troubles, that dark day brought a huge tragedy.

Super!

Nolofinwe. The first seeing of Anairë

A Fingolfin for @nolofinweanweek

On the morning of the day he rode off to challenge Morgoth, in my mind.

My fic for @nolofinweanweek Day 7 The huge gates swing open and a shining army emerges from there. Revived Eldar, given new bodies. Each of them became much more powerful than before. Loyal Aule Maiar distribute swords to the warriors. The most majestic of the resurrected is ahead. His fana glows a bright blue, his eyes glowing as if he were one of the Valar. He takes the sword from Maya’s hands and kisses it. “Ringil,” exclaimed the reborn Elda. Indeed, the sword is exactly like the one with which he once went against Morgoth. King Nolofinwe leaves the Halls - and leads his silver army out of there. 299 warriors, including his son. He is the three hundredth.

Those times seem so far away… The Noldor leaving Aman, moving away from Alqualonde, set up camp.

Who took part in this? - asked the leader. Findekano and the vanguard fighters came forward. -Are you aware of your responsibility? They understood what they had to participate in. Nobody shied away. There were 299 of them.

I must punish you severely, but the situation is not the same. From now on, you answer only to me. Your lot in the coming war will be the most dangerous tasks,” Nolofinwe said, adding: “I will share the responsibility with you.” He could not forgive himself that, while helping others, he ended up behind the Findekano detachment - and did not prevent the tragedy. Since then, he has always strived to be ahead. In addition to that only retreat in Dagor Bragollach, where, on the contrary, he was one of the last to retreat. Those fighters were with him. Some did not reach Endore, several elves fell in Dagor Aglareb, but most died in the fiery hell of 455. The King met the latter - together with his son - already in Mandos, immediately after Nirnaeth Arnoediad. …Seeing the fall of Gondolin on the tapestry of Vaire, overcoming his pride, Fingolfin told Namo that he wanted to return to Middle-earth and fight. The answer was: “You may be reborn, but do not try to influence the history of Middle earth any more.” Then he rejected the peace and tranquility of Valinor. Remained with those who were severely condemned for Alqualonde.

Finally, the hour has come. Their valor, their experience, their strength were required when Morgoth returned from the Gates of Night, managing to gather a vast army of creatures from the Void. They must be the first to meet the enemy's onslaught. Let others prepare. Preserve what is possible to preserve from the Old World.

“It is not you, son of Finwe, who will be given the right of the final blow,” Namo told him, “but you will be the first to look into the eyes of the Enemy.” How long had he been waiting for this moment! 300 mighty Eldar - the most luminous host that ever existed - were preparing to meet the army of many thousands of Morgoth.

I cry

Mood board for Fingolfin’s final charge.

Anaire and Nolofinwe

The books don't say much about Anayre. I decided to think about how she met Fingolfin. I have this romantic story. I'm late for day 1 but still want to take part in @nolofinweanweek. That day, Anaire, as often happened, descended from Tuna and walked to the sea. It looked calm. She decided to take a swim. The elf knew how and loved to swim, but this time she did not calculate her strength. Perhaps Osse was making a bad joke. Anaire felt that she was not swimming, but was floundering helplessly in the water. Some force inexorably pulled her to the bottom. In those good times, the elves were far from thinking about death. She didn’t want to be the first to die from an absurd accident. She desperately fought for life and clumsily grabbed onto the water. But instead of air, she inhaled only salt water. Her eyes darkened and she thought that this was the end. Suddenly Anaire felt the touch of someone's warm and strong hands. Then she did not yet know that these hands could be very gentle and kind, but she wanted to relax and trust. She stopped fighting the sea and lost consciousness. And when she woke up, the first thing she saw were the elf’s eyes. They were gray-blue eyes, worried and sad. The elf whispered with relief: “She is alive,” and joy flashed in his eyes. Anaire had a strange feeling. She even wanted to drown again in order to be in the warm hands of this elf. Before the darkening of Valinor, nothing bad happened to anyone. If someone was on the verge of trouble, unexpected salvation always came. Perhaps this was the help of the Valar or Eru. Therefore, an unexpected savior came to her. It was Nolofinwe. That day he was upset by a heated argument at the king’s council. Then he went for a walk to the sea and there he saw his future wife. It turned out that this was fate.

For nolofinweanweek

I am from Russia. Sorry for my English. I fan Tolkien and The Silmarillion. I want share my thoughts about the last seconds of Fingolfin. Sorry, I use translator.

@nolofinweanweek Day 4 Dagor Bragollach

He uses his privilege as a dead. He follows what is happening in Arda, looking at the tapestries of Vaire, communicates with his loved ones and with his warriors, for whom fate has also prepared these Halls. But his fea was never completely healed. The last seconds of his life were too brutal. When Fingolfin Finvion is alone with himself, the memory returns again to those moments: an incredible force pressed him to the burning ground, from which he - even then - desperately tried to rise once more.

It would seem, what can he think about when wild pain tears apart the hroa, and the monstrous black leg is heavy like a mountain? About oneself? But no, this is not the time for such thoughts, this is not the time to feel sorry for himself. He need to continue the fight. Grip his sword hilt tighter. Find in self or from somewhere unknown the strength for one more strike. …The golden locks of Indis, with which he played as a child… The silky hair of Anaire… The gray-blue courageous eyes of his father… The last look of Arafinwe before their parting in the darkness (how are they left there?)… Perky voices of children… Arakano Jr. and Irisse are no longer in Middle-earth, but the two sons still have to continue their common cause. And so - for their sake, for the sake of the living - and the fallen! Elves and Men, those who fought side by side with him in large-scale battles and in small skirmishes. For the sake of those whose bodies, along with the herbs of Ard-Galen, turned into the ashes of Anfauglith…

Find the strength for the final blow! Unprecedented pain overwhelms the mind, the wounded body weakens… He want to die quickly in order to get rid of the torment. The enemy already received seven wounds - in memory of the Dagor Bragolls. Perhaps enough has been done?

There had already been such moments in his life: both in the Ice and in battles, when it seemed that life was leaving. But in the last seconds, a light shone from somewhere. Distant starlight through sticky fogs. The bright light of the sun that greeted his army in Middle-earth. Lights of fragile flowers blooming underfoot. Maybe all this is a reflection of that very Light, in the rays of which he was born and raised, loved and raised children, and took responsibility for the people. Light of the Two Great Trees. The light of that life that was taken from them all by the Enemy.

In the end, leading his troops, defending Hithlum, taking part in the Siege of Angband, he thought not only about revenge for his father, for his son, for his comrades. And about the life that should come after victory.

This life should be no worse than the one that was in Aman, in the light of the Trees. For her sake, for this life, great sacrifices were made. And even if this battle is hopeless, the more wounds are inflicted on the Enemy, the sooner it will come, this life. With this thought strength came, and the blade entered Morgoth's black foot.

The fallen Vala broke Fingolfin's body, and through the pain, the Light appeared to elf… The last light before the Halls. And - vision or not? - the flapping of the wings of a huge Eagle. As a triumph of his life’s work, as a symbol of moral victory.