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starspray · 1 year

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I'd love your director's cut on On Wings Of Storm- Esp Elwing's attack on Maedhros! She's so vibrant in your writing, and I love how you portray her desperation too XD

Ooh, my first TRSB fic! First of all, I'm so glad you liked it! Second of all, I had to go back and reread it because I couldn't remember anything about it except for the artwork and like, the logistics of slaying Ancalagon, rather than the scene itself. Good lord it's riddled with typoes I am so sorry I don't have any idea how those happened. I swear I usually proofread my work.

So fun fact: the art was not my first pick for that TRSB; I was in the car on the way to some family Memorial Day thing and the google form glitched and I had to fill it out twice. This art of Elwing was pretty far down the list because I loved it but I wasn't entirely confident I could write something 5000 words long about it.

Turns out I could write over 11k, and honestly if I were to write this fic now it would be a lot longer. As I was reading I kept finding places and characters that I would have loved to see more fleshed out, but when I was writing it, it was for the very first Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang before the "oh no my fic has grown wildly out of my control" culture was established, and I didn't want to end up with a monster fic (hilariously contrasted with '21 and '22 where both fics were around 20k, lol).

So I don't remember a whole lot of what I was thinking when I wrote this fic, but definitely a lot of it was me trying to figure out how Elwing would get to that scene in the art, standing on Vingilot in armor with a sword in her hand (God, it's such good art!). I don't usually write her as particularly war-like, and I guess she still isn't, here, but she also knows her way around a sword and she's not afraid to use it.

I'm also not sure that scene where she fights Maedhros is Maedhros, tbh; that might be Amrod or Amras (there's another version of Sirion I've written where it's one of them she encounters before reaching the cliff; I may have been thinking of that). But the Elwing of this fic is not an Elwing who is just going to run away and not put up any fight. She also uses the Silmaril to blind her attacker there which is fun because foreshadowing! The scene on the cliff is also one I had written before, so I was trying to make it different; Elwing's last words to Maedhros are a moment of foresight for her because I was really leaning into her as one of Melian's granddaughters which means she has powers. Also fire seems to be something of a motif, what with Doriath and Sirion burning and then the dragons with their fire--and ultimately the fire that consumed Maedhros himself, though Elwing does not witness that. The reader knows what happens.

Aiwendil gets a cameo because I am very attached to my headcanon of he and Elwing as BFFs.

Curumo also gets a cameo because I needed someone to make Elwing's armor, and I thought it would be neat to see Saruman long before he ever starts down the road to becoming Sharkey; ever since I've looked for opportunities to do that again, but I haven't found one yet. I feel like I probably tried to think of a way to work in Olorin, but that clearly didn't work out. Instead I put in the scene with Nienna, because I needed a starting point for Elwing to start processing her despair and anger and trauma, and that's Nienna's whole jam. The mirror is obviously a nod to Galadriel's later in LOTR, but Nienna has both more and a different kind of power so it doesn't function in exactly the same way.

And the refrain of "She jumped." was definitely purposeful. There's the first time where she jumps to what she believes will be her death, in anger and despair; there's the second time where she jumps into battle with still plenty of anger but not so much despair--and this time she can use that anger, because now she can fly at will--and the last time at the end she's happy, and jumping is just the first step to soaring.

#meme response #look i wrote a thing

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faeodum · 2 years

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alright thoughts about rings of power

costuming is very boring,,, bronwyn’s dress is textbook “go girl give us nothing!”, arondir’s breastplate would look cooler if it wasn’t gray, galadriel’s outfit are also very bland and the literal High King would look like any politician if he wasn’t wearing a golden leaves crown…. very meh throughout

to be fairrrrr elrond’s short hair have almost grown on me (the only one to have done so and only cuz it suits the actors face rather well) but i’m still mad about every single male elf having short hair like why are you so booooringggg they just look like men with pointy eats no elvish beauty to be seen

WHY DOES FINROD LOOK FIVE SECONDS AWAY FROM THROWING ME IN A LOCKER i see nothing of the “fairest prince of the elves” i am actually very upset about that

still very mad about the dwarrow calling mahal “aüle” but i’ve already said that lets not have a rant just know im livid

however was sososososo happy to FINALLY hear khuzdul in a tolkien universe project im rlly hoping to hear more or i’ll cry

disa’s wee little peach fuzz on her cheek just for the sake of being able to say “nono actually she does have a beard!” is actually worse that not giving her one imo,,, especially since every single other dwarrowdam seen in frame is bare faced like HQJSHAJ am i a clown to you?

MY LORD CELEBRIMBOR I AM SO SORRY I AM SO SORRY THAT THESE BITCHES WOULD DO THAT TO YOU

no rlly the actor looks nothing like/exudes none of the energy i imagined for celebrimbor im so sad i still had hope the acting would save it but :(

still in spite of peach fuzz, disa and durin my beloveds <333 pls show me the pebbles soon i want to love them so bad

assuming falling big tall man is indeed olorin… my man why are the fireflies dead !!!!!!! bugs are friends !!!!!!!!! see if they pass on messages next time damn,,

the world feels a bit ?? empty??? like sure we have big views of beautiful elven architecture but then you get a view inside and see …. barely anyone? idk it doesnt feel like the “coming home to middle earth” thing they promised (although unsurprisingly)

at least the cinematography is really pretty (that downward view of galadriel and elrond? beautiful)

suddenly too lazy to give more points so last thing is: i am very bothered by this new ““““elf racism””” thing especially after how some reacted to cast announcements … why are you making up elves being the victims

#yeah thats basically the gist of it #not surprised still disappointed #lotr #rings of power

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amethysttribble · 2 years

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At what point would Sauron have learned of the Istari’s arrival in Middle-Earth, and when/how would he have figured out who and what they are? What do you think Sauron was thinking/feeling when he did discover them?

Anon, I hope you’ll forgive me for thinking this reads like an exam question and finding that very funny, lol

If your looking for an exact answer on any of these questions, I’m not the one to ask! My knowledge of both the 2nd and 3rd age is atrociously spotty and I’ve not read the appendices in a HOT minute. Like… not since Middle School (the great lotr re-read has now reached book 2 of Return of the King). So nothing I have to say will be deeply rooted in canon and/or Tolkien scholarship!

That being said, I can give you vague feelings and headcanons.

I’m inclined to say Not Immediately? In fact, maybe not even before Saruman came back from losing the Blue Wizards in the East. But I imagine it was between 2500-3000 when the White Council was being set up and they (and Sauron) started making their louder moves just by virtue of spies and gossip.

Sauron always had spies, and I think a wizard council catches his Eye. First question: what the fuck’s a wizard? I think he easily dismisses magically-inclined Men, Elves, or Dwarves as the answer; so it’s decently easy to deduce they’re Maia. “Emissaries from the West” and all that. Which maia probably takes him longer to identify, but I think he gets there (at least in one key case).

As for what Sauron felt, I think by then he no longer considered himself a Maia. I think he thought he was greater than that, something closer to the power and importance of a Vala, and as such I think he was None Too Pleased to see his former compatriots here to take him down.

What an insult. What a mistake on the Valar’s part.

Also affecting what he felt, I’d wonder if he knew Curumo, Aiwendil, Olorin, and the Blue Wizards while still in Aule’s service. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say he probably knew Curumo, in which case… ‘Oh, so they’ve sent little brother, the inferior, the weak-willed.’

More anger, more indignation, more… pleasure? I don’t think Sauron ever admits in his heart of hearts he’s happy to see an old friend- and happy might not be the right word- but their prior relationship certainly comes up in their palantir discussions, I think. I believe Sauron’s pleased to talk to someone who still remembers him as beautiful and admirable, rather than just a fell dread.

But that’s about all I’ve got! I hope this answered your questions in a satisfying manner!

EDIT: OH, this ask got sent to a lot of people, now this makes sense :p

#ask #tribble post

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wonderwafles · 2 years

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Hello! I'm your gifter for the Gates of Summer exchange (Secret Lord of Gondolin?) and I was wondering if you had any specific headcanons on the Ainur? Especially re. characterizations and especially especially re. characterization/backstories of the named Maiar? I have some ideas already, but my headcanons are a little out there for some of them! Also, any other details you didn't put on the form but would really like/DNW?

Hello! Happy Gates of Summer! <3

I do have... a lot! I generally imagine the Ainur as being... somewhat human in thought and reasoning (if not in physical form!), but a little to the left. More utopian in their thinking, more divorced from the concerns of the body, closer to Eru, which is why I think their semi-feudal system of "vassalship" to the Valar tends to work as well as it does. Actually, there's this poem I read a long time ago about the feudal system written in around the tenth century or so (???) that sort of idealizes the feudal state, imagining the lord as a benevolent guide and teacher who maintains the land and the serfs as willing helpers who benefit from it. Now obviously that's bull, but I sometimes imagine the Ainur's system as being like... a version of that where all participants really *are* in it with good faith, where the Valar want to help and teach the Maiar rather than exploit their labor and the Maiar help the Valar in turn out of gratitude and free will, and all parties can withdraw freely from the relationship because they are largely independent of each other. Though in true Tolkien fashion, they are at their best when they work together. Like if you took the medieval feudal system of liege-lords and fealty (because Tolkien) and put some utopian communism on top of it.

Of course, the Ainur's work involves the proper functioning of dreams and the regulation of the wind and rain and things like that. I like the juxtaposition of the grand fantastical nature of the Ainur being on top of a relatively mundane social system. I headcanon that Elves and Men both learned about Kings for the first time from the Ainur... for better or worse. :P

I also like the "pagan gods" aspect of them, and I think they sometimes take a break from being angels to go have big rowdy feasts in Valmar and wander Middle-Earth (playfully, depending on if the Maia is Melkorish or not) tricking the inhabitants into becoming part of a fairy tale. :D

Now for character headcanons! I have a few; I think Ossë and Mairon are foils in the beginning, for one thing. I like to think of Mairon as refusing to join Melkor in the beginning because he is all about order and despised Melkor's chaos and disruption of the Music, while Ossë joined because he likes to have a good time and rebel. Then it turned out that Melkor didn't want chaos and freedom (which was already inherent in the Music), he wanted to dominate everything that wasn't his, which caused both Mairon and Ossë to reconsider their stances on serving him. (Another thing is that Ossë had Uinen, who didn't give up on him; Mairon had no one.)

Some others: Manwë is a hopeful universalist, and believes unto the last Ages that even the vile spirits of Melkor and Melkor himself will be healed and brought back into the Music. Upon Olorin's return after the War of the Ring he was celebrated wildly as a hero of the Maiar, which he bore politely even though it made him grumpy. Ulmo seems to like humans, which I like to think carries through to his Maiar, particularly during Numenor’s sea-faring height. I think there are more Maiar hanging out in Middle-Earth still than we might imagine, both those who loved it and wanted to stay and those who are just doing their day jobs.

Less of a heacanon per se, but to rec a fic instead: I love The Sky, the Sea, and the Birds Between, and its portrayal of Eönwë in particular is my favorite Eönwë ever. I don’t want to assign you reading if you don’t want to lol, so some highlights are Eönwë as a valiant himbo warrior who spent much of the First Age asking permission to go fight in Beleriand, makes up poetry for fun, and has no idea how to handle kissing people. He does sleep with Eärendil and Elwing both, but don’t worry, it’s all above-board. Plus, it’s one of my favorite Silmarillion fics.

Okay... I think that’s all I have for now! I don’t think I have any other DNW’s (I mentioned Valar-bashing, right?). Feel free to ask me anything else you’d like to know! Or just to talk about the Ainur, too :D

#me talking #lotr #asksolotl

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ainu-blog-official · 1 year

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On tobacco

This newfungled tobacco crop has me quite disappointed. It’s choking and smells rather like an actual fire than proper smoke-leaf. This is terrible. I must go find the halflings again.

Olorin

#halfling #olorin #hobbit #hobbits #the hobbit #gandalf #halfling leaf is so much better #new world crops my metaphorical bottom

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tanoraqui · 2 years

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Between Galadriel’s family, Elrond’s family (overlapping), family of all those who traveled with them, and people curious to see the Ringbearing hobbits, the welcoming party on Avalonnë’s docks was not party so much as grand fête. So she noticed Celebrimbor’s curious first look at her, curiouser even than might be deserved, but she was too busy flying into her mother’s arms and then her father’s, and then Celebrian, brothers, cousins, introducing Elrond to everyone he hadn’t met, introducing Mithrandir to everyone he hadn’t met—or rather, introducing them to him, and letting him introduce Bilbo and Frodo as proudly as a mother hen…

it wasn’t until several hours later, when they moved collectively into Gil-galad’s mansion overlooking Tol Eressëa, acquiring friends in addition to family and becoming a fête in truth, that she managed to seize a private moment with her young cousin. A competition of bards had erupted; she seized the moment of no one paying attention to her to pull Celebrimbor behind a potted plant.

She clasped him by the hand, because even with all the hubbub, it still felt like a gift to see so many lost friends alive and well. He met her smile with his own, glanced down at the ring on her finger and smiled a little wider, as though receiving an unexpected gift.

“There!” said Galadriel. “Celebrimbor, why do you keep acting surprised to see Nenya on my hand? And Vilya on Elrond’s and Narya on Mithrandir’s, don’t think I haven’t noticed that too! It’s as though every time you lose sight of them, you forget where they are.”

“Ah.” Celebrimbor winced like he’d been caught out at something. “That’s because every time I lose sight of them, I forget where they are.”

Elrond, observant in his own right, had also slipped away from the crowd with a drink in hand.

“I’m sorry?” he said, in the mild tone that indicated that he was preparing to be anything from paternally skeptical to calmly, diplomatically, cut-off-trade-for-six-hundred-years furious.

“It’s just the Three!” Celebrimbor said hastily. “I…” He frowned, searching his memory, then tugged his hand away from Galadriel to pat at his clothing. “Here, I expect Grandma explains it better…”

He pulled a folded note from his breast pocket. He skimmed it as he opened it, nodded as though satisfied, and passed it to Galadriel.

Tyelpe, Galadriel read, and Elrond read over her arm, in a blocky handwriting she vaguely recognized:

Tyelpe,

Of the Three Elven-Rings: You gave Vilya to Gil-galad; it passed to Elrond when he fell. It is safe. You gave Narya to Círdan, who has given it to Olorin (one of Irmo's Maiar) when he arrived in Arda to help people stand against Sauron. It is safe. You gave Nenya to Galadriel, who wields it still. It is safe.

You somehow locked all knowledge of this, and most ability to retain knowledge of it, within the literal gems of the Silmarils, You also locked away, recursively, the knowledge of where you hid it. Even the Valar aren't sure how, and nor can they undo it, until the breaking of the jewels (which should release your memories anyway).

Your fond but exasperated grandmother, whom you should visit more often,

Nerdanel

“What,” Galadriel said flatly.

“Honestly, I suspect that even if I could remember what I did, I wouldn’t know what I did,” Celebrimbor admitted. “The going theory is that I attempted to lock them in my own memories of the Silmarils, unbreakable that they are, and by the power of the Silmarils it just…went all the way. And perhaps because of a resonance between myself and…whatever fragment of Fëanor resides in them.”

His greatest concern was reserved for his uncomfortable relations. Galadriel, in this moment, could relate. (Behind her, the rest clapped for a new singer.)

“But see,” Celebrimbor said brightly, “I can remember talking about talking about it! Mostly. It helps to be reminded—which I suppose may be happening more now, with you all returned.”

“Celebrimbor,” Elrond said, exasperation overriding anguish.

“Truly, you shouldn’t be concerned,” Celebrimbor insisted. “I can remember everything except who holds them—their crafting, their purpose and means of use…” His expression creased with guilt. “I would’ve locked away more of that, if I’d had time. It might have made your fight easier.”

“Absolutely not,” Galadriel snapped. “No one is asking you to have mutilated yourself further!” The Silmarils, why was it always the damn Silmarils! She hasn’t been back six hours and already they were—

“There you are!” Her warning that her eldest brother had given up his turn at singing was his elbow coming to rest on her shoulder, like she hasn’t been taller than him since the age of 80. “Are we all admiring Celebrimbor’s battle scars? I’m jealous, really.” Finrod abandoned her to swing around and wrap his arm around Celebrimbor’s shoulders instead. “If we get Maedhros back one day, and he’s still left-handed like he threatened, I’ll have to get shirts made to tell everyone that I, too, am part of the family Didn’t Tell That Bastard a Damn Thing Club.”

Galadriel didn’t snort at her brother’s humor, because that only encouraged him. But she accepted the implied chastisement.

“I’m sorry for snapping,” she told Celebrimbor. “I suppose I was surprised to find loss and old scars even here.” She had to laugh at that. “How much I, too, have forgotten!”

“It’s no trouble at all,” he assured her. “What’s done is done, and I don’t regret…” He grimaced. “I regret many things, obviously. But not this.”

“What more can any of us say,” Elrond murmured over his wine.

A particularly loud cheer went up from the merrymakers in the courtyard. Elrond looked over. “What is happening over there? Is it even a competition of song, or just of volume?”

“Oh, it’s a competition of novelty, really, and your Misters Baggins are winning handily,” Finrod said cheerfully. “By tomorrow, Shire Westron will be the new dialect of fashion throughout Tol Eressëa, and in Valmar three days later.”

Galadriel laughed again, freely. “Is that what you all do for fashion now, change dialects on a whim? Truly, nothing has changed at all!”

#the silmarillion #lotr #lord of the rings #celebrimbor #galadriel #elrond #finrod #eldar #ficlet #my fic #to be clear this little plotbunny is not in continuity with any of the other Silm fics I’m writing #I just think it’s a neat idea.#celebrimbor would've said 'i actually told him a lot of other things' but finrod has been lovingly bullying him out of it for millennia #the real implicit question of this fic is who once pissed elrond off so much that he cut off trade with them for 600 years; and how #(answer: possibly thranduil; definitely by saying something along the lines of 'the numenoreans deserved it')

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sunflowersupremes · 3 years

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Silmarillion AU where Finarfin managed to drag his nephews back to Tirion or so help me GOD. @outofangband requested this one and I went a little overboard.

He had been fully intending to drag them back one way or another before he left, and he had rooms already waiting for them. Reinforced, of course, so he could insist that it was technically a cell so no one would argue with him.

He also intended to get Galadriel back, but she’s fucking stubborn. He can threaten his nephews; he cannot in good conscience threaten his daughter, because he knows it wouldn’t actually work and she would just shrug and tell him to TRY.

The Valar’s agreement to let the Feanorians return was only given to him moments before Maglor and Maedhros attempted to retake the jewels. It was by sheer dumb luck that Finarfin ran into them - he was walking out of camp to find them as they were sneaking in. Realizing what they were planning he shouted at them and called them idiots. Maedhros just took it with a straight face. Maglor almost cried.

Neither of them knew what to do when Finarfin said the Valar had agreed to void the Oath - and that he was confident they actually could since Manwë and Varda had been named as witnesses. They hadn’t believed the Valar when the message came from them, but coming from their beloved uncle it becomes a lot more persuasive (also Elrond and Elros turn up and side with Finarfin, so then they don’t really have a choice)

Mae and Mags aren’t exactly fond of boats, but Finarfin drags them on board anyway because he is DONE with this entire fucking continent and his nephews’ bullshit. Nerdanel meets them at the docks in Tirion and shouts at them, then hugs all three of them. Yes, including Finarfin.

They’re totally ready to go on to Valmar for trial - they both keep offering suggestions of increasingly terrible things the Valar could and should sentence them to - so they don’t know what to do when instead they’re dragged back to the palace in Tirion. You see, the agreement was that Finarfin would take them to Tirion then return them to Valmar, but it never actually specified when he had to return them, so he just… kept them.

Thankfully Olwë really likes his son in law, so he grudgingly gets Ulmo on Finarfin’s side (Ulmo agrees that no time frame was ever specified, so the Valar can’t actually do anything. Mostly, Ulmo is tired of the Noldor’s bullshit and wants to be left alone. He figures that leaving the Feanorians alone in Tirion will cause the fewest problems)

Nerdanel gets Aulë on their side and well, is anyone going to argue with two of the most powerful Valar?

The Valar decide that this is fine, because they weren’t actually sure what they were going to do with the Feanorians - Tulkas wanted them, which was proof that Tulkas Should Not Have Them - and they’d debated making them serve Olwë but he wants nothing to do with them (they also debated making them serve Earendil, but they weren’t sure they wanted them around the Silmaril and… well… you see, Earendil is a bit weird and was strangely excited by that idea, because Eönwë had told him that the Feanorians were actually surprisingly good kidnap parents and he wanted to hear all about his sons, so the Valar agreed that wouldn’t actually be a punishment).

So fine. They void the Oath. Keep your stupid nephews. We didn’t want them anyway.

I know the fandom kind of agrees that the Feanorians would be hated in Tirion, but what if they were welcome? Like, the elves that stayed behind must have had some major survivor’s guilt, so rather than seeing the Feanorians as dangerous murderers, they see them as more of ‘people we let down’ and ‘broken things to fix’

Also everyone likes Finarfin, and everyone feels bad that his entire family is dead or cursed, so if having pet Kinslayers makes him happy they’ll accept it.

Of course, it can’t all be happy, because the Valar are clear that they don’t want the Feanorians just out wandering around (and that was what Finarfin had expected, which is why their rooms were practically prison cells).

Maglor does all right, mostly because he has people to talk to (he quickly befriends everyone in the palace, from the advisors to random servants). He’s not doing great, but he’s doing just fine, all things considered.

But Maedhros… Maedhros does really badly in captivity.

He sits and stares at the wall, or paces, which they write off as just adjustment to his new home. Then he starts talking to dead people, which was pretty bad, but Finarfin is sure he can fix it given enough time. Then Maedhros starts talking to Sauron, and they realize that something in his brain thinks he’s back in Angband.

The only thing that keeps him sane is Maglor’s music, which would be fine, except Maglor can’t sing 24/7, so there’s nothing they can do for at least half of each day. Nerdanel sits with him, and that helps some, but he’s still only about half there.

And they’re desperate, but hey, Finarfin has this really weird friend, a Maia who serves Irmo, and… maybe Olorin can help?

Spoiler alert: Olorin can help, as it turns out, because he’s remarkably good at fixing problems.

He also takes lots of stories to Elrond once he travels to Middle Earth and takes the name Gandalf.

#outofangband #finarfin #arafinwe #arafinwë #silmarillion #maedhros #maglor #my post

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eldamaranquendi · 3 years

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Bregolas by peet

'The son of Boromir was Bregor, whose sons were Bregolas and Barahir ...' J.R.R. Tolkien: The Silmarillion: Chapter 17: Of the Coming of Men into the West

'In the time that followed Túrin grew high in favour with Orodreth, and well-nigh all hearts were turned to him in Nargothrond. For he was young, and only now reached his full manhood; and he was in truth the son of Morwen Eledhwen to look upon: dark-haired and pale-skinned, with grey eyes, and his face more beautiful than any other among mortal Men, in the Elder Days. His speech and bearing were that of the ancient kingdom of Doriath, and even among the Elves he might be taken for one from the great houses of the Noldor; therefore many called him Adanedhel, the Elf-Man.' JRR Tolkien: The Silmarillion: Chaper 21: Of Túrin Turambar

Cirdan, Lord of the Falathrimby peet

'Some [Ossë] persuaded to remain; and those were the Falathrim, the Elves of the Falas, who in after days had dwellings at the havens of Brithombar and Eglarest, the first mariners in Middle-earth and the first makers of ships. Círdan the Shipwright was their lord.'

JRR Tolkien: The Silmarillion: Chapter 5: Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië

Hurin of the Keys by peet

'Is there no deed to do?' she said. 'Who commands in this City?' 'I do not rightly know,' he answered. 'Such things are not my care. There is a marshal over the Riders of Rohan; and the Lord Húrin, I am told, commands the men of Gondor. But the Lord Faramir is by right the Steward of the City.'

JRR Tolkien: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King: Book VI, Chapter 5: The Steward and the King

Olorin by peet

'Wisest of the Maiar was Olórin. He too dwelt in Lórien, but his ways took him often to the house of Nienna, and of her he learned pity and patience. Of Melian much is told in the Quenta Silmarillion. But of Olórin that tale does not speak; for though he loved the Elves, he walked among them unseen, or in form as one of them, and they did not know whence came the fair visions or the promptings of wisdom that he put into their hearts. In later days he was the friend of all the Children of Ilúvatar, and took pity on their sorrows; and those who listened to him awoke from despair and put away the imaginations of darkness.' JRR Tolkien: The Silmarillion: VALAQUENTA: Account of the Valar and Maiar according to the lore of the Eldar

Nerdanel the Wise by peet

'While still in his early youth he wedded Nerdanel, the daughter of a great smith named Mahtan, among those of the Noldor most dear to Aulë; and of Mahtan he learned much of the making of things in metal and in stone. Nerdanel also was firm of will, but more patient than Fëanor, desiring to understand minds rather than to master them, and at first she restrained him when the fire of his heart grew too hot; but his later deeds grieved her, and they became estranged.'

JRR Tolkien: The Silmarillion: Chapter 6: Of Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor

Feanor's Betrayal at Losgar by peet

‘Then Fëanor laughed as one fey, and he cried: ‘None and none! What I have left behind I count now no loss; needless baggage on the road it has proved. Let those that cursed my name, curse me still, and whine their way back to the cages of the Valar! Let the ships burn!’ JRR Tolkien: The Silmarillion: Chapter 9: Of the Flight of the Noldor

Lord Denethor by peet

'Hail, Lord and Steward of Minas Tirith, Denethor son of Ecthelion! I am come with counsel and tidings in this dark hour.'Then the old man looked up. Pippin saw his carven face with its proud bones and skin like ivory, and the long curved nose between the dark deep eyes; and he was reminded not so much of Boromir as of Aragorn. 'Dark indeed is the hour,' said the old man, 'and at such times you are wont to come, Mithrandir. But though all the signs forebode that the doom of Gondor is drawing nigh, less now to me is that darkness than my own darkness.'

JRR Tolkien: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King: Book V, Chapter 1: Minas Tirith

Queen Beruthiel by peet

''Do not be afraid!' said Aragorn. There was a pause longer than usual, and Gandalf and Gimli were whispering together; the others were crowded behind, waiting anxiously. 'Do not be afraid! I have been with him on many a journey, if never on one so dark; and there are tales of Rivendell of greater deeds of his than any that I have seen. He will not go astray - if there is any path to find. He has led us in here against our fears, but he will lead us out again, at whatever cost to himself. He is surer of finding the way home in a blind night than the cats of Queen Berúthiel.'' JRR Tolkien: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: Book II, Chapter 4: A Journey in the Dark

Isildur Healed by peet

'But Isildur came at last hardly back to Rómenna and delivered the fruit to the hands of Amandil, ere his strength failed him. Then the fruit was planted in secret, and it was blessed by Amandil; and a shoot arose from it and sprouted in the spring. But when its first leaf opened then Isildur, who had lain long and come near to death, arose and was troubled no more by his wounds.' JRR Tolkien: The Silmarillion: AKALLEBÊTH: The Downfall of Númenór

#tolkien #jrrt #jrr tolkien #the silmarilion #silmarillion #The Lord of the Rings #lord of the rings #lotr #elves #bregolas #isildur #Turin Turambar #beruthiel #denethor #feanor #Nerdanel #Hurin from Keys #gandalf #olorin

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tolkien-feels · 2 years

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"I was hoping Eonwe or Olorin" Olorin took two ages and Eonwe left Morgoth's right hand man roam free cuz apparently it wasn't directly stated in his orders to get him so I wouldn't get your hopes up

Yes, and all the free peoples of Middle-earth put together could barely even touch Morgoth until help came from Valinor, while Sauron either wouldn't have been destroyed or would've been replaced by Saruman if Olorin wasn't doing his job. I wish Morgoth had never set foot in Arda and that he did is kind of on the Valar, but listen. I'd rather patiently wait for the Maiar to take their time doing what they have to do than take my chances and trying to be faster than them. I'm definitely keeping my hopes up!! Late hope is better than no hope!! (But can they came faster pretty please? 🥺)

#(if anyone is confused #nasa has named a star earendel #and we're taking bets on whether the ainur are coming to save us all #i'm betting on maiar but no valar)

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asgardian--angels · 7 years

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i’ve been seeing a lot of interesting silm/ainur meta floating around and idk what’s wrong with me i should be like, commenting/adding to them because it’s right up my alley and it’s basically exactly what i specialize in, and yet, i’m just too jaded or tired to do so?? my brain moves on so fast everything i see is just ‘been there done that, not going to start old conversations’ when i know i could actually have insightful debates with people on topics that interest me...

@ me why u like this

#aka also why i cant write stories very well... brain already on something else #no i dont think olorin is a maia of melkor or manwe #most evidence supports irmo #yes he's rather mercurial but that doesn't mean he isn't bound to one vala #maiar can move around and commune with many valar if they need chores done lmao and it's clear he was well thought of by them all #but biologically each maia has an element and a vala which shares that element and whom they followed as a servant into arda #they could never... how do i say... reach their full potential with a vala that isn't their right 'fit'#mairon moved from aule to melkor extremely easily because their elements overlap almost completely #the difference laid in how they used them #in that aule controlled fire and ore and rock and whatnot and that's that #while melkor used those elements - as well as others - for the greater purpose of upheaval and change #melkor was more like... erupting volcanoes and raising mountains and grinding glaciers... same but different #same elements but totally different motive behind them and thus maiar could align with him physically quite well from aule #if their mindset was there also #but back to olorin #he was in manwe's favor and had his support... but overall i think his abilities align most with irmo #vala of dreams and insight and solace and those were all things gandalf employed and had that vibe about him #plus i always loved the moth thing??? so irmo #and see here's the thing... he was the underdog. underestimated. from (in our terms) not a top-tier well known vala.#if he were manwe's maia he'd have had the expectation of greatness already upon him but instead manwe gave him a chance.#anyway that was one of the metas i saw... i just never have the energy to put this into proper words and start a debate..#the other was on the relationship between ainur and their fanar and ... it was alright and i appreciate the effort but #w/e lol i'll shut up since i havent put out anything of my own so of course someone else might as well #hopefully if i can write my fic some of that fana-relationship meta will make its way in there since it's fundamental to how they can beget #but anyway if anyone wants to strike up a convo please do.. it's easier when im getting asked

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ellrond · 5 years

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Of Celebrian

Having a lifetime love of Elrond means that, of course, I have a keen interest in the characters around him. Perhaps the easiest character to love, simply because of the lack of textual evidence of her and so as a reader your imagination can go wild, is Celebrian.

I have gathered all mentions of her in Tolkien’s works and they will all be undercut, with any additional information, in the hope that it will be a resource for all fans of Elrond, Celebrian, or any other character that she may have come into contact with. Please reblog if you have found it helpful, and let me know if you would like further posts like this for other characters.

This should be all you ever need to know about her all in one place!

If you have found any errors please message me. If there is any missing information please message me.

Lineage:

Celebrian is the daughter of Galadriel who is the daughter of Earwen and Finarfin (daugher of Olwe and son of Finwe), and of Celeborn the grandson of Elmo (brother to Thingol).

Through her parents she is of the Sindar, (1/2) the Noldor (1/8), the Vanyar (1/8) and the Teleri (1/4). Her extended family includes the kings of the above races. She is the great granddaughter of the first High King of the Noldor (Finwe) and the granddaughter of the remaining High King in Valinor (Finarfin). Thingol King of Doriath is her great-great uncle.

Name and appearance:

Her name means ‘Silver’ [Celeb] ‘Queen’ [Rian] in Sindarin.

No physical description of her is given. Her mother id described as taller than all other female elves in the Silmarillion, and in the Fellowship of the Ring her father is described as the same height.

In the Silmarillion Galadriel’s hair is described as having silver and gold tones almost like the Light of the Two Trees (leading to Feanor asking for strands of it) and in the Fellowship, Celeborn’s is described as silver.

The Unfinished Tales: The History of Galadriel and Celeborn

The earliest mention (in the timeline of Middle Earth) of Celebrian is found in The Unfinished Tales in the chapter called The History of Galadriel and Celeborn. In part of this telling, Amroth (later King of Lorien) is the son of Galadriel and Celeborn, however in every other telling (and even later in that chapter) he is written as the son of Amdir and is of no relation to the House of Thingol. It is also mentioned in this telling that Celeborn was actually a Telerian prince and Galadriel’s first cousin. However Christopher Tolkien points out that this contracdicts the telling of Celeborn found in the Silmarillion and the Lord of the Rings. This telling (where we find the rather comical Quenya name of Teleporno) is discounted by most because it is in direct contrast to the above publications. Christopher Tolkien points out in the text that JRR Tolkien revised this telling of Galadriel and Celeborn in the last months of his life.

In this text it states that Galadriel and Celeborn were pushed out of power in Eregion by Sauron (under the disguise of Annatar who was working closely with the powerful master smiths known as the Mirdain) between 1350-1400 Second age.

“Galadriel thereupon left Eregion and passed through Khazad-dum to Lorinand, taking with her Amroth and Celebrian; but Celeborn would not enter the mansions of the Dwarves and he remained behind in Eregion, disregarded by Celebrimbor. In Lorinand Galadriel took up rule and defence against Sauron.”

There’s a lot to unpack here, mostly regarding Celeborn. If we accept Celeborn as the kinsman of Thingol, the anti-dwarf sentiment has more context due to the role some dwarves from Nogrod played in the death of Thingol and the fall of Doriath. That’s a very long story that is described in the Silmarillion but you can get the gist of it on the Tolkien Gateway page of Doriath. Celeborn didn’t like dwarves (we see this very clearly in Fellowship as well) but Galadriel was a friend of those in Moria at this time.

The next we hear of Celebrian is in around 1800 Second Age by which time Sauron has control of Eriador save for the stronghold of Imladris on the western face of the Misty Mountains. This place was founded by Elrond, Gil Galad’s friend and herald. Gil Galad is cited in the Silmarillion as the last living son of the House of Finwe in Middle Earth being the son of Fingon, son of Fingolfin. Celeborn may have also played a role in the founding of Rivendell but, as with most things about Celeborn, it is never stated or implied, we can only infer from where he was at any given time what he actually did.

“The army that was besieging Imladris was caught between Elrond [holding Imladris] and Gil Galad [an army coming from the west], and utterly destroyed. Eriador was cleared of the enemy, but lay largely in ruins. At this time the first Council was held, and it was there determined that an Elvish stronghold in the east of Eriador should be maintained at Imladris rather than in Eregion. At that time also Gil Galad gave Vilya, the Blue Ring [the Ring of Air] to Elrond, and appointed him to be his vice-regent in Eriador [...] In its concluding passage the narrative returns to Galadriel, telling that the sea-longing grew so strong in her that she determined to leave Lorinand and to dwell near the sea. She committed Lorinand to Amroth, and passing again through Moria with Celebrian she came to Imladris. There she found him, and there they dwelt together for a long time; and it was then that Elrond first saw Celebrian, and loved her, though he said nothing of it. It was while Galadriel was in Imladris that the Council referred to above was held. But some time later Galadriel and Celeborn together with Celebrian departed from Imladris and went to the little-inhabited lands between the mouth of Gwathlo and Ethir Anduin. There they dwelt in Belfalas at the place that was afterwards called Dol Amroth; there their son Amroth at times visited them, and their company was swelled by Nandorian elves from Lorinand. It was not until far on in the Third Age, when Amroth was lost and Lorinand was in peril that Galadriel returned there in the year 1981 Third Age.”

The History of Galadriel and Celeborn tells us that Celebrian and Elrond wedded at last in 109 Third Age.

It also dates the birth of Elladan and Elrohir of 130 Third Age, and of Arwen Undomiel in 241 Third Age.

The Elessar

The History of Galadriel and Celeborn in the Unfinished Tales also tells us of the Elessar and how it came to be in Arwen’s possession. Two tellings of the Elessar there are and described below.

The Elessar was first crafted in Gondolin by an elf smith named Enerdhil. He made a green jewel within which the light of the sun was captured when the sun was still young. It was set in the shape of an eagle with outstretched wings. He gave it to Idril the daughter of Turgon the king, and she wore it with delight. IT carried the power of healing and prosperity and she then gave it to Earendil the Mariner her son. He eventually left his home of Sirion and passed into the West. The full story of his life is told in the Silmarillion, and you can get an overview of it here. Earendil is the father of Elrond and Elros. When Olorin (Gandalf) came to Middle Earth in the Third Age, he brought it with him from the West. It is told that Yavanna gave it to him as a sign to those in Middle Earth that the Valar had not forsaken them. He took it to Galadriel who was in Thranduil’s kingdom of Mirkwood at that time and gave it to her for safekeeping. He told her:

“It is not for you to posses. You shall hand it on when the time comes. For before you grow weary, and at last forsake Middle Earth one shall come who is to receive it, and his name shall be that of the stone; Elessar he shall be called.”

And so in this telling it passed from Idril to Earendil to Gandalf, and in the Third Age to Galadriel and then to Aragorn who fulfilled the prophecy. In this telling it bypassed Celebrian.

The second telling agrees that the Elessar was first made by Enerdhil and ended up in Earendil’s possession and thus left Middle Earth. This one, however, states that a second one was created by Celebrimbor in Eregion before he made the Three Rings. Celebrimbor made it for Galadriel as Galadriel was distressed by the swift passing of life in Middle Earth and the decaying of living things so quickly and she wished to prolong life and help it thrive. She wanted a land of her own where life lasted longer and flourished. Celebrimbor told her:

“You know that I love you, though you turned to Celeborn of the trees and for that love I will do what I can, if haply by my art your grief can be lessened.”

Celebrimbor knew Enerdhil in the old days and knew of the Elessar, and so set about creating a gem to echo it. He too made a jewel of green and in it captured the light of the sun, so that it emitted light as if the sun was shining through the leaves of the trees. It was set again in the shape of an eagle with outstretched wings. It, like the first, had the power of healing and prolonging good life and Galadriel used it and “all things grew fair” about her. It was the greatest of Celebrimbor’s work, surpassed only by the Three Rings. When he gave to her Nenya one of the Three, Galadriel had no further need for the Elessar and she gave it to Celebrian at that time. This was after Celebrimbor had discovered that Sauron had forged the one ring in 1600 Second Age, and he had travelled to Lorinand [later know as Lothlorien] to seek her council. At this time we know Celebrian was with her, and so it was then that Galadriel was given Nenya and Celebrian was given the Elessar. Celebrian would have had it the first time she arrived in Rivendell.

In Fellowship we learn that Celebrian passed it onto Arwen at some point, but that it came back to Galadriel’s possession.

It is worth noting that in The History of Middle Earth we learn that it is customary for the family of the bride to give the groom a jewel prior to a wedding, and so the passing of it to Aragorn by Galadriel is not just fulfilling Gandalf’s prophecy but also a prophecy in itself of the marriage of Arwen and Aragorn. Galadriel gave it in Celebrian’s absence.

Lord of the Rings

Outside of the appendices Celebrian is rarely mentioned.

“Long had [Arwen] been in the land of her mother’s kin, in Lorien beyond the mountains.” - Many Meetings, Fellowship of the Ring

“Elladan and Elrohir were out upon errantry; for they rode often far afield with the Rangers of the North, never forgetting their mother’s torment in the den of the orcs.” - Many Meetings, Fellowship of the Ring

“Then [Galadriel] lifted from her lap a great stone of clear green, set in a silver brooch that was wrought in the likeness of an eagle with outspread wings; and as she held it up the gem flashed like the sun shining through the leaves of spring. ‘This stone I gave to Celebrian my daughter, and she to hers; and now it comes to you as a token of hope. In this hour take the name that was foretold for you, Elessar, the Elfstone of the House of Elendil!’” - Farewell to Lorien, Fellowship of the Ring

The appendices list Celebrian’s capture of orcs as 2509 Third Age at the Redhorn Pass on the southern side of Caradhras in the Misty Mountains (this is the pass that the Fellowship attempted to take to cross the mountains). She was journeying to visit her parents in Lorien who were at this time formally Lord and Lady of Lothlorien after the disappearance of Amroth. Her company was scattered and she was given a poisoned wound. In the orcs’ captivity she suffered ‘torment’ and was saved by her twin sons Elladan and Elrohir, and they brought her back to Imladris. There, Elrond healed her in body but she lost ‘all delight’ in Middle Earth and sailed West a year later in 2510 Third Age (cited in Lord of the Rings and Unfinished Tales).

The History of Middle Earth

In early notes by Tolkien the marriage of Elrond and Celebrian was 2500 Third Age by which time her mother is described as Galadriel of Lorien. Tolkien originally planned to have Celebrian travel to Lothlorien in 2600 Third Age when she was actually killed, a mere hundred years after her marriage to Elrond. This timeline was quickly altered and in all other publications the marriage takes place much earlier and Celebrian is not killed.

Another passage dates their wedding as 2300 Third Age, during the Watchful Peace:

“Elrond, who had remained unwed through all his long years, now took to wife Celebrian, daughter of Galadriel and Celeborn of Lorien. His children were twin brethren, Elladan and Elrohir, and Arwen Undomiel, the fairest of all maidens of the Third Age, in whom the likeness of Luthien her foremother returned to Middle Earth. These children were three parts of Elven-race, but the doom spoken at their birth was that they should live even as the Elves so long as their father remained in Middle Earth, but if he departed they should have then the choice either to pass over the sea with him, or to become mortal, if they remained behind.”

Other mentions include Elrond saving Celebrian:

“Celebrian, wife of Elrond, journeys to Lorien to visit Galadriel her mother; but she is taken by orcs in the passes of the mountains. She is rescued by Elrond and his sons, but after fear and torment she is no longer willing to remain in Middle Earth, and she departs to the Grey Havens and sails over the Sea in 2509 Third Age.”

Of the twins:

“From that time forth, [Elladan and Elrohir] never cease from war with the orcs because of Celebrian.”

“Now the sons of Elrond did not hunt wild beasts, but they pursued the Orcs wherever they might find them, and this they did because of Celebrian their mother.”

Of Elrond sailing:

“For after the destruction of the Ruling Ring the Three Rings of the Eldar lost their virtue. Then Elrond prepared at last to depart from Middle Earth and follow Celebrian.”

“For when the Great Ring was unmade the Three Rings of the Elves failed also, and Elrond was weary of Middle Earth at last and departed seeking Celebrian.”

Letters

In Letter 345 dated 30 November 1972 to a ‘Mrs Thurston’, Tolkien confirms that Celebrian means ‘Silver Queen’.

Other major works

Celebrian is not mentioned in any of the other major or minor works, including The Hobbit or The Silmarillion.

Of the Fates of her family

Regarding the fates of her family, we know some answers and some we do not. Elrond and Galadriel sailed along with the other Ring-Bearers in 3021 Third Age and it was this that marked the end of the Third Age. Arwen we know chose mortality and lived out her days as Queen of Elves and Men, Queen of Gondor once the War of the Ring had been won. She had two daughters and one son, Eldarion (meaning Son of Elves) who became king after Arwen died. After the death of Aragorn, Arwen went to live out the last year of her life in Lothlorien.

There, we do not know if she saw her brothers and maternal grandfather, as their fates are unknown. After the War, Celeborn expanded territory into Mirkwood and established East Lorien, coming to an agreement with Thranduil, but he grew weary without Galadriel and he retired at last to Rivendell where his grandsons still dwelt. Celeborn did not take the White Ship with Galadriel and Elrond and in the Fellowship of the Ring but he did sail eventually with Cirdan on the last ship to Valinor, and they were the last of the high elves to sail in the Fourth Age. There is no mention of Elladan and Elrohir or their fates.

Given what is said about the fate of the children of Elrond and the choice they had to make, it may be that the twins chose mortality as they did not sail with the father or grandfather. However, their departure may have just been unremarked upon given their minor character status. Their fates remain open-ended.

#celebrian #elrond #galadriel #celeborn #lotr #unfinished tales #tolkien #ellie writes #THIS TOOK SOOOOOOOOOO LONG #PLEASE APPRECIATE IT #i mean no one asked for it BUT #it's here!#this should be all you need to know about celebrian #i know there are some stans out there #guess what i even kept fairly neutral about it #lol about the celeborn ambiguity tho #tolkien really didnt like that boi #lmfao same

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avantegarda · 5 years

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could i request something early in the guess whos coming to mordor verse? i was wondering how mag coming to rivendell first went down. did he decide to go on his own or did elrond find him outside rivendell?

Someone found him outside Rivendell, all right. But surprisingly enough, it wasn’t Elrond.

–

Ten miles south of Rivendell

Shortly before Gandalf pays an eventful visit to a colleague

The person sitting on the stump, wrapped in a tattered gray cloak and holding a tattered satchel, hardly cut an impressive figure. They could have been anyone, really; male or female, elf or human (though they were considerably too tall to be a hobbit or dwarf, and a bit too clean to be an orc). Gandalf, however, had a hunch, and so he took a cautious step forward and cleared his throat.

The figure jumped slightly and turned to face him, surprise and caution on his face. Gandalf took in his appearance: high cheekbones, curly dark hair, silvery eyes that looked as though they had seen entirely too much. And, revealed when he lifted a hand to push back his hood, one dark scar across his palm.

This was the one, all right.

“Maglor Feanorion. How nice to finally find you. It certainly was a difficult task.”

“Yes, well. That’s rather the point.” Maglor frowned at him, a hint of recognition in his eyes. “Now, wait a moment. I know you. Olorin, isn’t it? Or, no. What are they calling you these days?”

“Mithrandir will do.”

“Mithrandir, then. What exactly do you want from me?”

Gandalf smirked. “Would you believe me if I said I was looking for someone to share in an adventure I was arranging?”

“I would not. Doesn’t quite seem like my kind of thing, you know.”

“Well, you are not the first person I’ve heard that from. All right, then, perhaps not. The arranging is not exactly mine to do, this time. But perhaps you’ll believe me if I say that I think Elrond may be requiring your help soon.”

“Elrond?” Maglor shook his head. “I haven’t seen him in centuries. Why would he need me for anything? Why would anyone, for that matter?”

“Because I believe we may soon be facing extraordinary evil,” Gandalf said. “And when fighting against extraordinary evil, it does help to have an extraordinary person or two helping out.”

“Usually, you know,” Maglor said thoughtfully, “I’m the extraordinary evil people are fighting against.”

“Nonsense, no one with any sense could ever have called you extraordinarily evil. But that’s besides the point. Will you go to Imladris, and talk to Elrond?”

Maglor tilted his head to the side. “And what’s in it for me, Mithrandir? If I end three ages of well-deserved isolation to help you fight this extraordinary evil, what do I get?”

“Redemption,” said Gandalf. “Redemption in the eyes of your son, the free peoples of Middle-Earth, and quite possibly the Valar themselves. I think that might be worth something to you, is it not?”

“Hmm.” Maglor contemplated this for a moment, then decisively stood, slinging his satchel over his shoulder. “Call it redemption and a hot meal and I’ll consider it. I’m bloody starving out here.”

#Anonymous #maglor #gandalf #silmarillion #guess who's coming to mordor #spoopy700 #asks

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ainurmoodboards · 5 years

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Nienna

She Who Weeps

Nienna was a Vala associated with mourning and tears and was the sister of the Feanturi, Mandos and Lorien. She was one of only three female Valar among the eight most powerful, known as the Aratar. Nienna was also the only female Vala who was unmarried, similar to Ulmo who was the only unmarried male Vala; both, interestingly, have associations with water/liquid. During the Music of the Ainur her song quickly became one of deep sadness and thus the sound of mourning was woven into the world from the beginning. But it is important to note that she does not mourn for herself, but rather for the suffering of others, especially all those who were affected by Melkor’s rebellion. She is known for her wisdom, pity, patience, and hope, and the Maia Olorin (Gandalf/Mithrandir in Middle-earth) was her greatest student. Despite the time she spent mourning for the pains Melkor brought, her pity caused her to speak on his behalf when he served three ages of captivity. Like Manwe, Nienna was unable to understand that Melkor had become too evil to ever revert back to the side of Illuvatar. Nienna was also involved in the storyline of the Two Trees of Valinor. At the beginning of their creation, she watered the mound Ezellohar with her tears as Yavanna sang them into being. Later, she washed the filth of Ungoliant away with her tears and helped bring forth one last fruit and flower from the trees to become the Sun and Moon. Her association with healing is interesting because it suggests a connection with the Vala Este, the healer of hurts and weariness, who like Nienna is described as wearing grey clothing. She rarely comes to joyful Valimar, preferring instead to comfort and inspire those who are distraught.

Nienna was very different in Tolkien’s earlier drafts, being portrayed more as a grim death and darkness goddess. She was the sister of Manwe and Melkor (which hints at how powerful she truly is) and the wife of Mandos (called Vefantur) and was often known as Fui. She lived in a dark hall with a roof made of bat wings, and she judged the spirits of men while Mandos/Vefantur judged the elves. She was much less merciful and compassionate as her later version, and refused to let the spirits of Turin and Nienor into her halls. She also wasn’t involved in the Two Trees plotline in these stages. Fui-Nienna also had a number of names/titles that help emphasize how different she was in these early drafts from the Nienna that appears in the published Silmarillion. These include Queen of the Dark, Queen of Shadow, One Who Sighs, Winter One, and Mistress of Death.

While Nienna is much less dark in her final drafts, echoes of her earlier version can still be seen. She is now the sister of Mandos instead of his wife, and she lives near him and visits his halls often to comfort the distraught spirits that live there. Her halls, which are close to those of Mandos, are on the farthest western borders of the world and look out onto the Walls of Night. Her association with both death as well as hope and renewal can be seen in Gandalf, her greatest student, who dies while battling a Balrog, only to be brought back to life in a more powerful form.

Olorin/Mithrandir/Gandalf is the only Maia associated with Nienna in the published Silmarillion. At one point in writing the background stories of the Ithryn Luin (Blue Wizards), Tolkien was associating the Maia/Istar Pallando with Mandos and Nienna, implying some sort of association with death. He eventually changed this to make Pallando, like his friend and companion Alatar, a Maia of the Vala Orome, who was knowledgeable about the eastern lands of Middle-earth that the Blue Wizards would eventually be sent to.

Many people who read and/or study Tolkien’s writings note that many of his female characters (Varda, Melian, Galadriel) appear to draw their inspirations from the Virgin Mary in Tolkien’s Catholic faith. Varda is usually cited as the clearest example of this, but Nienna is another good candidate, essentially being Tolkien’s version of the Our Lady of Sorrows form of Mary.

#Nienna #Nienna Moodboard #Nienna Aesthetic #Valar #Ainur #Aratar #Fui #Fui-Nienna #Silmarillion #Book of Lost Tales #Vefantur #Olorin #Gandalf #Mithrandir #Tolkien #Tolkien Moodboard #Valar Moodboard

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roselightfairy · 5 years

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More sad ficbits! (yes I know there’s a proper term for this; I just like coming up with alternate ways of saying it.) Following a similar premise as the previous, so again, warning for major character death. Also some OC spotlighting, because sometimes these emotions are easier to write about from an outsider POV.

Prompt for Whumptober Day 6: Dragged Away. Legolas/Gimli, additional Eleniel, ~700 words. Fic below the cut.

Eleniel knows as soon as she opens the door that Gimli is gone.

It is not only the stillness of the body on the bed, but the . . . emptiness. There is no life in this room, no spirit. Nothing.

Her heart collides with the gasp that spikes into her throat. Nothing.

“Legolas?”

He sits huddled on the floor beside the bed, black hair pooling around him on the floor, one of Gimli’s lifeless hands clasped in one of his. He does not move.

“Legolas?”

Not even a flinch at the sound of her voice. Eleniel’s chest contracts in an icy fist. To lose such a dear friend as Gimli is wound enough; she could not bear it if – if –

“Legolas!” She claps a hand onto his shoulder and pulls with enough force to draw a longbow, as though she might draw his spirit back to her, even if it has already fled – but no. He does not react to her touch, but his body is rigid under her hand – and when she tugs at him, he does not move.

He is still here. One sob escapes her at that, one choked sound she cannot hold back, and she falls to her knees beside him. “Legolas,” she whispers. “I am so sorry.”

Still he says nothing, but this close, she can feel blood and spirit still pulsing through him. Still here, still here. It is a task beyond her to keep him thus, but she may be the only one who can manage it – and she will keep spirit in his body if it takes the last breath of her own.

…

Outside, songs of lament begin, but Legolas does not move or speak, or give any sign of joining in. So Eleniel stays with him.

Time fades to a blur around them; she knows not if minutes or hours or days have passed before at last the door opens and Mithrandir – Olorin – stands in the doorway.

He gives her the slightest of understanding nods, but speaks only to her friend. “Legolas.”

Legolas does not react.

“Legolas,” Olorin says again: still gentle, but firmer now, uncompromising. “We must prepare the body.”

No reaction – not even to the word body, which made Eleniel flinch despite herself. Olorin takes a deep breath, lets it out in a heavy sigh, and clamps a hand on Legolas’s shoulder.

He pulls with more strength than Eleniel let herself use, after the first shock – and at last, Legolas moves. First he flinches against the wizard’s touch; then, when it does not release him, he wrenches his whole body forward in an attempt to escape. It is horrible to watch – he bursts into a frenzy of motion, like some trapped beast: yanking and writhing, twisting this way and that, jerking his whole body as if to throw off the body of an attacker rather than the grip of a single hand. But the eeriness of it all is the silence with which he moves: not word nor grunt nor cry of rage escapes his throat – only tight, hissing breaths.

Eleniel rises tentatively, as though to catch his flailing arm – but she does not need to. In that moment, Legolas jerks his body too hard, and Gimli’s limp hand slides out of his own and drops back onto the bed with a soft and final thud.

Legolas freezes, rigid and solid, and stares at it. The room falls dead silent, but for the sharp rasp of his quickening breath.

And then he dissolves.

Eleniel catches him when he crumples, pulls his head against her shoulder and wraps her arms around his waist to keep him from sliding to the floor. His sobs are loud in the quiet room, loud and harsh and abandoned; his body quakes with them, and Eleniel blinks uselessly against floods of her own tears and holds him up.

Olorin catches her eye, over his head. Through the blur of tears, she can see him jerking his head to the side – towards the door. Take him out of here.

This time, when she guides him away, Legolas does not resist.

#my fic #minific #whumptober2019 #day 6: dragged away #angst #my ocs

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