#doriath summer fun | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

meadowlarkx · 1 month

Text

Some March fic recs!

For Tolkien Fanfic Reading Month! Limiting myself to stories I read in March (but posted anytime). (header by Anna Zakharova on Unsplash)

picnic by @swanmaids - A bored and reckless Aredhel goes to Vána's orchards seeking adventure and has an experience. This lush and sexy fic feels like a warm summer afternoon. I love how seductive and eerie Vána is here!

Kiss and Marry by @thecoolblackwaves - Have you ever looked at Celegorm and Curufin and thought, "They should be the stars of a romcom"? No? This fic is here to reveal that wonder to you.

弄假成真 by Divano_Messiah - Maglor has been telling people at school that he has a boyfriend. Maedhros is jealous until he learns who it is. (I admit I read this via google translate, you can too...)

Envy by @polutrope - In Tirion, Maglor and Elemmírë struggle to handle each other's reputations with equanimity. The people around them try to respond. This fic is so funny and sweet--I love this take on Elemmírë and Fëanor's guest appearance is hilariously him.

Youthful Regrets by kitkatkaylie - Turgon and Maglor fall in love in Valinor before Turgon's engagement to Elenwë. I really like the personality contrasts of this ship, with Turgon opening up to Maglor, and how this story sketches out their relationship through the whole arc of Silm to its bitter separation.

I risk my life to make my name by @maironsbigboobs - The brave knight Galadriel goes on a journey to meet the Green Woman Melian and her fate, ft. adventures along the way. I love how Tolkien is blended with Arthurian conventions here--it works so well and brings out the myth vibes of Silm that I love so much!

Strange Currencies chapter 12 by @jouissants - This is such a beautifully-crafted tale in every regard, but I want to especially mention this flashback chapter I read in March, covering Maedhros' and Maglor's voyage on the swan ships up to just before Fëanor's death. The horror of the Fëanorian Noldor arriving in the dark with their distrust, inflated ego, and total lack of knowledge of Middle-earth comes through here so, so vividly--this part can be read by itself, go check it out!!

Oubliette by Stramonium - Horrifying and so vividly written scene of Maedhros in Angband, isolation, and monstrosity. Poetic and awful, I can't do it justice in summarizing it.

arrangement for flute and harp by @jouissants - Maedhros is determined to work late, so Maglor and Fingon decide to entertain each other. The Himring atmosphere and incredible character dynamics make this also really sexy smut such a wonderful story.

whatever you would crave by @eight-pointed-star - Sooo sexy ficlet in which Fingon and Maedhros attend to Maglor's Needs. Short but immensely powerful.

scherzo for ink and parchment by @dovewifes - Charming and comedic missives exchanged between Maedhros and Maglor during the Long Peace, ft. romantic endearments and the invention of emojis. Maedhros' so-apparent love for Maglor is something I especially cherish about this fun fic.

Star-kissed by @aipilosse - Celeborn of Doriath rescues recently-of-Gondolin (and silver-haired!) Celebrimbor from a predicament in Nan Dungortheb. Incredibly clever, funny, and hot!

Purification by @zealouswerewolfcollector - Thingol is curious about Maedhros: throne sex ensues. A favorite ship of mine in a flavor I'd never considered. Incredibly intense and super well-written.

Comfort from a Heavy Hand by @undercat-overdog - After the Bragollach, Mablung tends to an injured Beleg, and they seek comfort together. The wreckage and destruction of the battle feels so vivid in this one, and the dynamic of Beleg/Mablung as past teacher and student (and current battle companions) is wonderful.

Thou knowest to-night, and wilt know to-morrow by @welcomingdisaster - A brilliant installment in an ongoing Children of Húrin AU series that has the most beautiful, unsettling, and dreamlike atmosphere. In this fic Maedhros teaches "Cáno" about pleasure in preparation for their marriage bed. Catnip to me personally!!

Proxy by @aipilosse - Celebrimbor comes to reproach Celegorm in Nargothrond after Finrod's departure. They fuck. Gender, tension, messy and complicated emotional dynamics all around. The dirty talk is so so good.

Star of the Nevrast Shore by joanofarcstan - Silmarillion filk of one of my favorite folk songs! What more is there to say!! A sweet tale of Gondolin told from Voronwë's point of view, recounting the love between him, Tuor (the star of the Nevrast shore), Idril, and Maeglin.

A Light Burns in the Forest by fictional_hr_department - Thranduil and Oropher escape Menegroth with child Elwing. The title and art by @lycheesodas give me chills and the atmosphere of the fic as they make their disorienting journey to Sirion really brings to life the terrible aftermath of the second kinslaying.

By Your Side by HiyoriTomioka - fem!Eärendil and Elwing support each other in this ficlet... such a good vision of this ship, and the way Eärendil thinks about Tuor and Idril here with longing uncertainty makes me think of a trans!Eärendil even though that is not explicit.

Something Sleepless in Mirkwood by @imakemywings - Thranduil sickens as the Greenwood does. Elrond tries to heal him, but can't understand at first what's happening. Brilliant and canon-compliant (To Me) wry, proud, and eerie woodland king Thranduil--go give this a read!

A boat, my boat, out upon the River by Tethys_resort - Sméagol is trying to craft his own boat to take fishing. His family keeps getting in the way. This sweet fic paints such an idyllic picture of proto-Hobbit life and made me really feel the tragedy of Gollum.

The Fortress by TheLegendCreator - Brief and haunting fic in which a Dwarf visits the ruins of Himring and they have a conversation. I love the view this offers of Maedhros and the fierce loyalty Himring and its folk had for him.

one whole with my other by @i-am-a-lonely-visitor - Indis' marriage to Finwë is transferred to bind her instead to reembodied Míriel. This turns out to be a good thing. An incredibly touching, beautifully wrought and worldbuilt story. I just love it so much.

The Number One Exercise for Relieving Work-Related Stress (Click to Find Out!) by @imakemywings - Date night in Mirkwood. Maglor (Noldorin princess, ex-kinslayer) adorns herself for the benefit of Thranduil (the Elvenqueen)--or that's her plan, anyway. This story is so sexy, so funny, and honestly so touching. I just adore this ship as a happy ending for Maglor and their relationship is gorgeously fleshed out here.

Cousin, Sister, Lover, Queen by broken_pencils - Lesbian Éowyn discovers desire... through Éomer's betrothed Lothíriel. Lothíriel is a stealth fav for me from the Éomer fics I used to read as a kid and I really enjoyed her here, and the lush atmosphere of this story.

His Return by @danmeiljie - Beautiful, tender scene of Maedhros and Maglor reuniting as per @tari-cua's art. Such lovely descriptions in this one and so cozy.

#did i try to put these in like silm plot chronological order? Just a little bit #tolkien fanfic reading month #silmarillion fic #my posts #I read chaotically and then sort of fell off the map as life became crazy. but i wanted to highlight these fics i enjoyed!!

41 notes · View notes

outofangband · 8 months

Note

🧶 for Aerin and Morwen for the prompts please?

Also, related to that if you have any hcs about Finrod’s clothing and how it changed after he met the Bëorians I would love to hear it <3

THANK YOU! I love them so much…

From this headcanon ask game here still accepting them

I will make a separate post for Finrod if that’s ok!

Morwen

-Morwen wears primarily solid colors, sometimes with subtle embroidery especially on the sleeves or hem. She is very precise and determined which gives her skill in embroidery.

-There are distinctions in common patterns and techniques in embroidery and other textile arts between Dorthonion and Hithlum. Wherever she can, Morwen rigidly maintains the styles and techniques she grew up with however this is not always possible because of differences in materials. (I think I have a separate post about this, link later)

-She has a very distinct appearance but I don’t think she particularly enjoys dressing up both because she doesn’t particularly enjoy most public events and because of the process itself.

-Post Nírnaeth her clothes become more and more patched and worn. She almost never has the material to make more. Pretty much all of Niënor’s clothing is either hers or Húrin’s.

-She gets new clothing in Doriath, of course. It’s the first time she’s worn easily comfortable clothing she doesn’t have to worry about wearing out or mending in years. I think she dislikes wearing these visible signs of what she’s accepted even if she’s grateful on a practical level. This goes into a lot of things that I’m at risk of rambling for paragraphs about so I will leave it here for now, but yeah, I think about that a lot. Morwen actually gives up so much going to Doriath even if she’s safer there. I’ll link another recent ramble so I can end here.

I had a semi recent post about textiles in Dorthonion here

Aerin

-Pre Nírnaeth a lot of her clothes are practical, for riding and working with horses. Simple dresses, leggings and boots mainly.

-. She enjoys wearing fancy dresses for masquerade type events and that sort of performative in a fun way dress.

-When she would take her horses out to graze, she would sometimes pick flowers for her hair.

-Her favorite colors are summer colors; sky blue, the yellow and greens of the grasses, the purple and whites of the wild flowers that grew among them. Blue dyes are rare, but she has owned a few things, mostly gifts, that were dyed this color, and they’re very important to her

Putting the rest under a cut for discussion of abuse and captivity

Post Nírnaeth she largely wears what she’s told to.. It’s not a battle she wants to fight, not after the first few times. It’s another aspect of her comfort and identity that is taken over. She’s not allowed to be with the horses under most circumstances so she wears indoor dresses and whatever Brodda thinks is fitting Sometimes when she makes her own clothing, as she was still tasked with when conditions were harsh, Aerin would embroider on the inner sleeves, where no one could see. It was something she would be punished for if they found out and sometimes the fear of this would be so great that she tears out the stitches.

#the silmarillion #the children of húrin #morwen #Aerin #musing and meta #cw abuse #not my most interesting Morwen thoughts :(#but I got a second prompt for her so #actually not my best work in general:(#houseless for exiles #occupation of hithlum

12 notes · View notes

animatorweirdo · 12 days

Text

Found Forgiveness

Luthien shows you the forest of Doriath. You are awed by the sights and the sheer beauty of the nature around you. Beneath the summer sun, you tell her about your experiences in the Sudden Flames and partially tell her the truth about your curse.

Warnings: mentions of the Sudden Flames, burning, toxic air, war, attack on the village, dead family members, incurable curse, a bit of angst, reader might have a bit of PTSD, being in pain, heat stroke, passing out, waking up, and reader having the chance to apologize to Melui.

Chapter 16

----------------------------------------------

The forest felt alive.

Luthien showed you many interesting spots in Doriath. Trees that seemed to grow around each other, colorful flowers even you had never seen before, rivers that flowed across the kingdom, and a meadow filled with butterflies of all colors.

You were amazed by the sights. The forest was magical. It was like walking through a Disney princess’s dream.

You felt like a little child and pestered the elven princess to show you more places and things she could do. She seemed more than happy to, even joining in little ideas and experiments you came up with and it was so much fun. When something would go wrong or not as planned, you two would laugh uncontrollably and then start with the next idea.

You were initially a bit shy and quiet around Luthien, but after spending hours in the forest together, laughing and doing silly things, you felt like you two had known each other for years. It was nearly odd how quickly you two clicked, but you were happy that Luthien was a laid-back and fun type of elf, unlike her parents.

You two were leisuring on a batch of grass beside a small stream that flowed beneath you, talking about your homes and things. A rabbit was lying comfortably on your lap after you managed to befriend it with Luthien’s help, enjoying the pets and soft strokes you couldn’t stop giving it. A few nightingales were flying around, sometimes landing on your shoulders and accepting the flower seeds from your hands before flying off again.

You couldn’t help but be awed by the animals. You never imagined there would be a day when you could interact with wild animals without them running away. You weren’t going to complain, though. It was like a child’s dream come true.

Luthien was giggling after you told her a funny story from your childhood.

“Hey, (Name). You are from the north, right? Do you know anything about Dagor Bragollach?” Luthien questioned.

"A what now?" you asked, slightly confused by the word while raking your fingers through the rabbit’s fur.

"The battle that occurred last winter, when Morgoth set everything ablaze?" Luthien looked at you curiously.

"Oh! The Sudden Flames! Yeah, I was there when it happened," you said. "It was one cold night when it happened, and everything began to go badly from there, but things are better now," you explained.

“Could you tell me more about it? My father doesn't allow a lot of news to get heard by me," Luthien questioned.

"Damn— Is he that protective of you?" you questioned with a teasing tone.

"I mean, I could tell you about it, but not a lot of good things happened back then. It is a bit of a heavy subject, and I do not want to ruin the mood,” you stated.

"No—please do tell me," Luthien said, leaning against the palm of her hand and staring at you with intrigue.

"Okay... Well, like I told you. It started on one cold winter night," You started as you recalled the night it happened. “I couldn't sleep, so I decided to watch the stars, but then I saw something glowing behind the mountains,” you said, remembering the glow you saw behind the mountains.

"It was so bright that it nearly lit the night sky, and then the earth shook violently, waking up my roommate and everyone else in the village,” you described while Luthien listened attentively.

"We then saw the fire that burned the land across us. Our village was located behind the mountains of Himring, so the fire did not reach us, but we saw how the fire continued spreading, and everything burned especially Maglor’s Gap,” you explained. Luthien nodded thoughtfully.

"No one couldn't sleep well that night and the air had become so toxic with ash that we had to wear rags around our faces. The fire was also so intense that the snow melted and it was warm for a whole week before it became cold again,” you added.

"Then.. I met with an old friend, and bad things started to happen..." you hesitated to tell more, remembering the night when the orcs attacked your village.

“Orcs attacked our village, and then…” Your mind flashed to the memories where you turned into the beast and ended up getting separated. Your mind fell quiet at the awful memories when you were imprisoned in Maglor’s old fortress, and everything that followed.

"Let's just leave it there. I do not prefer to talk about the things that followed…” you stated.

"I can understand that. It must have been scary to survive something like that,” Luthien said sympathetically.

"Oh, it was terrifying. We barely made it out with our lives," you said. "We then settled in our new home and that was that," you added.

"Morgoth is not someone to screw around with since he was capable of causing destruction like that,” you remarked.

Luthien was quiet for a moment, seemingly lost in thought before looking at you.

"(Name), there's something I've been meaning to ask," she said.

"Well, what is it?" you looked back at her curiously.

"I think my curiosity was peaked when we first met and when my mother asked to talk with you in private,” she explained.

"But the thing is that I sense something within you," she looked at you closely. Your face paled, but you kept yourself composed.

"Like what?" you tried to play ignorant.

"Something... dark, evil maybe. I can't sense it fully, but I know it's hiding there," she described.

"So, what is it that you and my mother do not want to tell me?" she asked as she leaned closer to you.

You hesitated, contemplating if you should tell her about the curse, as you did with her mother. Then, you remembered what her mother was, and released a sigh.

"Well... you are a half Maia so you would have probably sensed it sooner or later," you stated then looked at her in the eye.

"Luthien, I've not been completely honest with you because I did not want to worry you..." you started. "But the thing you are sensing within me… it's a type of illness," you revealed.

"You're ill?" Luthien looked at you with a mix of confusion and worry.

"Yeah, but it's not a deathly type of illness. It’s more like parasitic," you explained. "A magical kind," you added.

"I had an incident when I was young. I lost my birth family and then I was cursed with this illness,” you explained.

"(Name), why didn't you tell me earlier? We could help you find a cure for this illness. Perhaps this is why my mother's girdle allowed you to pass," Luthien questioned.

“It’s not that simple…” you shook your head.

"This illness cannot be cured by medical means. It's a type of illness where trying to remove it could potentially kill me," you explained.

"But there is a medicine that could make it fall asleep or seal it away for a time, that way I have lived as normally as possible,” you said.

“I told your mother about it since she sensed it the first time she saw me, and since I no longer have my previous medicine, she agreed to help me find a replacement. I asked her to keep it private, so that’s why she didn’t tell you,” you explained.

“Oh…” Luthien stared at the grass for a moment. She looked slightly sad, and you desperately wanted to comfort her.

"Are you certain there isn't a way to cure your illness completely?" Luthien asked.

“Unfortunately, no…” you replied.

“But, I’ve gotten used to living with this illness. I even managed to live past my twenties. It is a feat because not many children who contract this illness live very long,” you said.

“So, you do not have to feel sad for me or anything,” you added.

“But if that’s true… then… I don’t know,” Luthien said. “Now, I just feel sad that you have been forced to live with this kind of illness and there’s no way to cure it,”

“Well, some things can’t be controlled, and you just have to find a way to live with it,” you stated.

Suddenly, you felt incredibly warm, and a sharp pain shot through the back of your head. A groan escaped your lips as you leaned down, holding your head in pain. The rabbit hopped away and the nightingales tweeted worriedly.

"(Name) is everything alright?" Luthien asked as everything in your vision became ten times brighter, nearly blinding you.

Your head felt like it was going to fall off, and then you remembered that you had not taken any water in the past few hours.

"It seems I have forgotten something very important..." you uttered as your mind disappeared into oblivion. You blacked out and dropped against the grass like a log.

The last thing you heard was Luthien’s panicked voice, the birds flocking around and the stream before your eyes darkened.

When your consciousness finally returned, you felt yourself lying on something soft. The cool temperature of the room warded off the overwhelming heat from your body and helped your mind return to normal levels.

You then heard talking and saw Nelle talking with Luthien, who seemed slightly frantic while explaining what happened. There was a white-haired elf with them and your mind refused to recognize him. You decided to groan and get up, catching their attention.

"(Name) you are awake, “ Nelle approached you and then pushed a glass of water into your hands. “Drink this water. You passed out from severe overheating beneath the sun" Nelle said and you didn’t put any protest, drinking the cold water in one gulp.

The water quickly helped your mind clear up and ward off the rest of the heat from your body. Cold glass of water was perhaps one of the only cold things you enjoyed.

"I have never seen someone overheat that quickly, and I have a feeling it has something to do with your illness. Why did you not tell me that you're vulnerable to the sun?" Nelle asked in a demanding tone.

You looked down embarrassed.

"I.. forgot," you replied.

Nelle sighed in frustration, shaking her head like you did the stupidest thing in the world, which in this case, you probably did.

"I seriously wonder how you managed to survive this long under those conditions," she stated.

"What can I say, trouble and sickness love finding me," you stated, then Luthien approached you.

“(Name), how are you feeling? “ she asked.

“I’m feeling much better. I’m sorry for startling you like that,” you rubbed the back of your head where you still felt the aching pain.

“That’s good. After you suddenly fell and wouldn’t respond, I carried you to Nelle as quickly as possible,” she said.

“Oh…” your face flushed at the thought of Luthien running through her home with you in her arms. “... sorry about that. Must have looked silly.”

You then looked at the white-haired elf and your mind finally recognized him.

"Melui…? " You questioned.

"Hello, (Name). It’s good to see you. You gave us quite the scare when Luthien ran into the halls with you in her arms," he said.

“Yeah, must have been quite the spectacle…” you replied then looked toward Nelle, slightly betrayed when you two agreed that you would prepare yourself before coming to see him.

"He insisted on seeing you when I told him you were here, then Luthien barged in with you in her arms," she explained.

"Right— How have you been doing? How's your... arm?" you turned toward Melui and glanced at the arm that was lying on an armrest.

"I am doing well. My arm has healed thanks to Nelle. I could already move my fingers," he said, stretching his moving fingers.

"That's great…" you said, nodding your head.

"Listen... about what happened," you started.

"I've already forgiven you. Nelle told me about your condition," Melui interjected.

"Yeah... but I want to say it. It's been bothering me, especially since I was the one who..." you hesitated, remembering Luthien was in the room. Melui seemed to catch on to your hesitation and allowed you to continue.

"I'm sorry," you said. "I should have... done better,"

Melui smiled softly. "I forgive you," he said.

"I'm more glad to see you alive and free," he said and you smiled, feeling like something heavy had finally been lifted from your shoulders.

You remembered something else, something also important.

"Ah fuck!" you said, startling the three elves.

"What's wrong? Is it your head again?" Nelle asked as they all looked at you.

"No! I've completely forgotten to send word home that I'm okay! Camilla is going to kill me," you explained. "Do you guys have paper and quill I can borrow?” you asked.

"I can fetch them for you. I can also handle sending it,” Melui stated

"Thank you, Melui. You are my saving grace," you said with your hands together, making him shake his head as he left the healer’s halls.

“Hey, keep drinking water. You need to keep yourself cool enough from the heat,” Nelle said as she gave you more water into the class from a jug

"Yeah, yeah yeah. You know, I think you and Camilla would get along. You two love ordering me around," you said as drank the second class. Nelle only rolled her eyes at you before going somewhere else.

You were left with Luthien.

“You, lady Nelle, and Melui seem like good friends,” Luthien said.

“Well, we actually met during Dagor Bragollach. I ended up being imprisoned in the same place as them when I tried to run away from orcs,” you explained.

“Then it must have been you, who helped them escape when they arrived in Doriath,” Luthien stated.

“I might have had a hand in that,” you replied.

“How did you do it? Lady Nelle told us that you all were imprisoned by one of Morgoth’s cruelest servants,” Luthien questioned.

“Well…” you trailed off as you remembered facing Langon in your bigger monstrous form and managed to bite his arm before he ran away.

“I had to do a few things to keep them distracted. It wasn’t much really, even though one of my decisions ended up causing Melui to lose his arm. I know I got his forgiveness, but I am still not proud of that one,” you explained.

“Well, Melui holds no grudge toward you and his arm is recovering. I think you can be proud that your actions ensured all of your escape,” Luthien smiled.

You smiled in return, feeling relieved and finally free from the guilt you felt. This day turned out to be a good one, minus the heat stroke.

Maglor sat quietly at his desk, swirling the quill in his hand and trying to push himself to do the work his brother had bestowed on him. However, his flow of work had been blocked by his worry for you and your well-being.

It has been a few days since your disappearance, and there were still no signs of you. He had told his patrols to keep out an eye for you, but so far nothing. Where could you be?

His ears perked when loud knocks coming from his door broke the silence.

“Come in,” he called out.

The door then opened and he half expected it to be his brother or one of his people, but to his surprise it was Camilla.

“My prince, can we talk?” Camilla said.

"Camilla, come in," Maglor said as he turned toward him in his seat. He then saw her walking in with a letter in hand.

"I got a letter from (Name) herself," Camilla said as she extended the letter to him.

"She's okay, but she has somehow gotten herself in Doriath," She said as he grabbed the letter and read through it.

Relief washed over him when he read through your handwriting, but then he grew more concerned when he read that you had sustained injuries and had to stay in Doriath for the time being.

He felt glad that you were safe and sound, but now he could not stop thinking about the possible injuries you suffered that you had to stay with Sindar, the elves who did not welcome him and his kin for what happened in the past.

"How did she get past Melian's girdle?" he questioned.

"Who knows? But at least we know she’s safe and not somewhere far,” Camilla replied.

“I’m going to send her the recipe for the medicine just in case. Come see me if you want to send her something so we can send both in one letter,” she turned toward the door. “I’m taking my leave now. I hope you feel much more at ease now that we heard something from her,” she said as she closed the door behind her, leaving Maglor alone with the letter and his thoughts.

Maglor read through the letter again. He felt comforted that you were safe, but couldn't stop thinking about what would happen if Thingol came to learn about your curse. The Sindar king was known to be rash in his decisions, but he always ensured the possible threats to his kingdom were eliminated.

#tolkien #silmarillion x reader #middle earth x reader #silm fic #middle earth #maglor #silmarillion fanfiction #silmarillion #maglor x reader #maglor x human reader #cursed reader #modern reader #the spring heart's bloom

1 note · View note

matrose · 1 year

Text

tagged by @benjicotblackwood thank youuu so much 🥰🐉🫶☀️

favorite time of the year : soo cliché but i love spring… i love watching the world wake up 🌷💐🌿 i also love fall 🍂 its on second place! i just love the temperate weather though i also really love winter and summer of course 😢

comfort food : soup is just always objectively correct 🥣 my moms/grandmas chicken soup…. i also really love carrots🥕 and joghurt (seperately!) and roasted chestnuts 🌰

favorite drinks : lemon tea!!!!!!!

do you collect anything ? : im a bit like a magpie… anything i find and like is going home with me…i have a herbivore (likely cow?) tooth that i unearthed by a lake and one that i strangely found at the beach & a bunch of buttons that ive found & big shells i found in the basement of our house that the former owner didnt take with her & 100 year old books my grandparents gave me & skulls of various animals that my uncle once collected & any trinkets of sentimental value… my room is really too full of things!!!!

current song on repeat : motorcycle emptiness by manic street preachers 🫣 heroes and villains by the beach boys comes at a close second

favorite fic : could not say as i dont read that many but probably smth from @lesbianhaleth 🫶 the day in sirion before the attack & the corpsereport of doriath come to mind… theyre sooo fun ❤️

favorite video game: i almost never play & just watch jasmin do it but one game i did/do play myself is lotro

im tagging @mirillel @lesbianhaleth @agardenintheshire @whipshaw @fluentisonus @kaleidemaran @galadrielspeaks and umm idk 🥺 anyone else who wants to do it

13 notes · View notes

starspray · 1 year

Note

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

3 notes · View notes

sniperct · 3 years

Text

I like thinking about the LOTR aspects of RWBY, like Salem/Sauron and Blake/Aragorn, but I was laying in bed and thinking ‘okay what about characters taken by the enemy?’

There are a few that pop immediately to mind.

In general:

Orcs and goblins are descended from corrupted elves. (all of the ‘evil’ creatures of Morgoth and Sauron are in fact corrupted creatures twisted by the Dark Lords. Heck, Gollum is probably the baselines of what Sauron could make Hobbits into if he wanted. Makes you wonder what the Dark Lord based Dragons on! I might have a fic where I answered that question...)

But, remember what happens when Salem gets her hands on SEWs?

Specifically:

Hurin - Father of Turin and Nienor. Captured by Morgoth, he refused to reveal the location of the hidden city of Gondolin even under torture and so was cursed (or more specifically, his children were).

Chained to a chair high atop a mountain he was forced to watch the tragedies that would befall his children(there's literally an entire book about this). Morgoth twisted the visions so that he saw lies mixed with the truth.

'But upon all whom you love my thought shall weigh as a cloud of Doom, and it shall bring them down into darkness and despair. Wherever they go, evil shall arise. Whenever they speak, their words shall bring ill counsel. Whatsoever they do shall turn against them. They shall die without hope, cursing both life and death.'

After his children died, he was released and in his madness sowed the seeds that would destroy the people of Haleth as well as seal the eventual fall of Doriath (an underground elven city and home of Luthien and Very Important Place in the history of Middle-earth)

Who comes to mind in this one, to me, is Summer Rose.

Of the others, I’m not sure what if anything fits, though I’m sure I could potentially apply parts of these to Pyrrha if I tried.

Maedhros:

A son of Feanor, took a terrible oath to get back his father's jewels(the silmarils), did things both horrific and heroic and along with Maglor was one of the few actually regretful of his actions.

Captured by Morgoth and hung by his hand from that same mountain for about 30 years. Eventually freed by his cousin who had to cut his hand off to get him down. Eventually got ahold of a Silmaril but because of the actions he'd taken over the oath was burned by it's purity. Flung himself into a fiery chasm in despair.

Celebrian:

Daughter of Galadriel and mother of Arwen and the twins Elrohir and Elladan.

Captured and tormented by orcs and poisoned by a fell wound. Rescued by her sons and physically healed by Elrond, but unable to fully recover her mind or spirit. Sailed West within a year to the Undying Lands in the hopes it might help her recover. As we know from the Ringbearers, the nature of Valinor probably helped set her at ease, as they were specifically granted permission to journey there to ease their suffering.

Finduilas

Sister to Gil-Galad the last High King of the Noldor, and a niece of sorts to Galadriel (Her father's uncle was Galadriel's older brother)

Fell for the mortal Turin, mentioned above, who was oblivious to her feelings though they became friends. Her fortress city home was sacked by the dragon Glaurung. She was captured by orcs but Turin was enthralled by the dragon and so didn't notice, abandoning her (remember that curse?).

The orcs were waylaid by the Haladin, and so killed their captives (pretty much any woman they'd found in the city who hadn't escaped, see point #1 for their likely fate if this hadn’t happened). Finduilas was pinned to a tree with a spear and Turin regained his senses too late.

She was buried in a mound they called the "Mound of the Elf-maiden"

Fun fact! With the exception of an Aunt who we don't actually know the fate of, Galadriel was the only survivor of her family (including extended) except for those that stayed in the Undying Lands and did not sail to Middle-earth :D

When she sailed, she did get to see her daughter, parents, and some other family members who had remained, at least. But of her siblings she only has one left, and that was a sister who stayed in Valinor.

#rwby #lotr #speculation #kind of Stream of consciousnes'd this #lol

12 notes · View notes

riding-with-the-wild-hunt · 3 years

Text

Some Doriath Headcanons

Because it’s something I’m interested in, I’m planning on doing a series of headcanon posts talking about my thoughts on different cultures of Middle Earth and the some of the real-world inspiration for my versions of them. I decided to do Doriath first, since....erngh, I have no idea! It’s fun and I’m going to roll with it.

So let’s get on with the headcanons!

Ecosystem

So I imagine Doriath as a fairly temperate forest region

The marshes are extremely treacherous to people who aren’t familiar with them

It’s misty almost all the time. Like...eldritch mist.

Melian’s magic keeps the temperature solidly around 50 ℉, but in winter it can drop to the 30s and in summer it can rise into the low 80s

There are a lot of the common species of forest creatures--deer, squirrels, woodland birds, badgers, etc. but they don’t behave quite like typical animals should. Sometimes you think you catch a glimpse of a deer with too many eyes to be natural--and the eyes glow green in the dark. The birds are definitely talking to each other and watching you.

For my fellow Ghibli fans, it has some serious Princess Mononoke vibes. You just know that this forest is sentient and listening.

You can hear waterfalls pretty much everywhere

It’s a very mineral-rich kind of place with damp soil and a lot of water/shade-loving plants.

Rocks are typically igneous or metamorphic, sedimentary is less common. Most rocks have crystals in them.

So. Many. Mushrooms. So. Much. Fungi. A surprising amount of them glow or grow on the roofs of caves.

They have a rainy season where it pretty much pours ceaselessly for 3-4 months.

People

Skin tones typically fall into the light-to-medium brown range, but pale skin isn’t unheard of and there are some people with a dark blue-black shade.

Hair comes in any color except red, but dark brown, black, or silver are the most common. Any texture can appear.

Some of the Doriathrim have these distinctive violet-grey eyes, but shades of brown or amber occur the most.

They tend to be on the shorter side for elves--average height in Doriath is probably about 5′ 5′’

Most of them have really, really acute senses, even for elves.

Doriathrim can move their ears slightly and typically have more rounded, larger ear shapes.

They learned to use echolocation for navigating the darkness of the caves and are the only elves to do this. Later, this was adapted into a way of orientation called song-vision where people learned to “see” the woven patterns of different people and objects and so find their way around, but standard echolocation is the typical route for most elves if they can’t see for any reason.

Culture

Most popular arts are probably dancing, weaving, and sculpture

Dances are very intricate and involve a lot of symbolic hand gestures and accessories

Stonework is highly valued because, well, they live in caves and there’s a lot of rock

Food tends to be served cool or cold and is heavy on vegetables and fish

A lot of non-Doriath natives find the cuisine incredibly weird or even downright unappealing because so much of it is only indigenous to Doriath and you don’t encounter it outside.

Is Melian’s magic responsible for this? The Doriathrim aren't telling, if they know.

Music is a big deal (or course it is, they’re elves) and the most popular instruments are probably either woodwinds or the sitar family.

Clothing tends to be layered, colorful, and very ornate.

Ranged weapons (i.e. bows, darts, traps) are the most popular, but Marchwardens will use swords and other blades for close combat

Almost nothing actually gets into Doriath itself, so there isn’t much fighting

The Doriathrim are also big fans of martial arts, since they see it as the perfect mix of dance and fighting.

Real-World Inspiration

Clothing-wise, I take a LOT of inspiration from traditional Indian attire for normal/fancy wear, and I think of the Marchwardens/travelers in colder places as dressing similar to some Mongolians.

A place that I’ve been to that gives me serious Doriath vibes is Watkins Glen, which I believe is in Massachusetts or New York?? Maybe??

Elements of traditional Japanese culture are also sprinkled in occasionally!

Overall, I just think of Doriath as this hauntingly beautiful, eldritch place with a lot of glowing flora and colorful/many-eyed/many-legged fauna. Everyone outside is kind of terrified of it, but the Doriathrim have a ton of affection for their region.

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed or got some inspiration from my ramblings!! Remember, these are just my opinions and are in no way trying to crush yours or make themselves canon material.

#doriath #meta #headcanons #tolkien #middle earth #random rambles #the silmarillion #silm #tolkien meta #my writing #the hidden kingdom #eldritch doriath #tolkien thoughts #lands of middle earth #my meta #stuff i made #writing #long post

15 notes · View notes

galadhremmin · 3 years

Text

finrod is such an emotionally repressed conflicted yet well-intentioned and genuine character to me, just going by what I got from reading canon. he’s just a bit awful in a very specific way that isn’t evil... you can sense he probably has a lot of trouble with failing to adher to his own moral/ethical standards and i enjoy that a lot.

someone like maedhros or maglor by the time doriath comes around and those twins die just cannot avoid being aware of just how bad they actually are while he’s good enough of a person in general that he gets to mostly ignore it. Unrestrained summer fun for me as a fic writer.

#don't get why people just slap a happy go lucky personality on the character in fic but ej

16 notes · View notes

meadowlarkx · 4 months

Text

End of Year Fic Recs! 🔮

Tagged by @swanmaids! I like this format a lot, thank you 💕 There were so many amazing Silm fics this year that it's nearly impossible to pick out just a few, but I did my best.

Recommend up to 5 series or multi-chapter fics from 2023 that everyone should read (multi-year WIPs count, if the last update was in 2023).

Recommend up to 5 single chapter fics/one-shots (long or short) from 2023 that everyone should read.

Recommend up to 5 fics NOT from 2023 that everyone should read (oldies but goodies).

Recommend up to 5 of your own fics (completed or WIP) from 2023 that everyone should read.

Multi-chapter fics

Strange Currencies by @jouissants (in-progress, Maedhros/Maglor accidental LaCE marriage, M) - this fic is one of my absolute favorite things to come out of 2023, lavishly and heartbreakingly imagined post-canon reembodied/returned Exiles and brilliant maemags falling together in late Beleriand. invest now!!!

here we go again by @i-am-a-lonely-visitor (completed, Orodreth/Celebrimbor & Gil-galad Mamma Mia AU, T) - the most summer fun ever with one of my favorite Celebrimbors, delights me to think about and I think about it often!!

Such a Marriage by DifferentSong (in-progress, fem!Maedhros/Maglor set between Doriath and Sirion, M) - I feel personally blessed by the ability to list multiple maemags longfics on this list. This one is so tender, with incredible characterization for both these two and Tolkien Elves (old & young, sad & gay) in general; leader fem!Maedhros owns my heart.

What the Water Gave Me by @imakemywings (completed, Finduilas/Nienor canon divergence AU, M) - beautifully described and cozily, realistically lived-in development of a relationship between these two in a universe where Nienor survives her suicidal leap; this bandaged the wounds left by CoH for me!

In Twain by @jouissants (completed, gothic and gendery Maedhros/Elrond and Maedhros/Maglor, E) - cinematic reading experience and deliciously winding tale of Elrond's coming to better know Maedhros, Maglor, and himself; so many lines from this--and the ending--just grip me and won't let me go.

Single-chapter fics

Wondrously Wrought by @searchingforserendipity25 (Maedhros & Maglor in a universe where Noldor craft their children's personalities, G) - this beautifully written fic has me in a chokehold months & months later, I simply love it so much--the Fate of it all and the dynamic between them, and how thick the tension and emotion hangs even in these few moments.

and some of us returned by @i-am-a-lonely-visitor (Maedhros/Maglor, past Maglor/Glaurung assault at the fall of Maglor's Gap, M) - fulfilled my wildest dreams of Glaurung angst played straight, eerie and gorgeously written psychological horror told through Maedhros' eyes and his own possessive love for Maglor.

As You Wish by @imakemywings (Maglor/Thranduil battle couple devotion and hurt/comfort, T) - so many great single-chapters this year but this one is SO dear to me; I love eerie attack dog Maglor who simultaneously cares overmuch and I think this ship is so thematically chef's kiss as an alternate ending for him; wry Thranduil is fantastic here too.

one of your girls by @swanmaids (Celegorm/Oromë, Celegorm & Maglor; femininity and internalized homophobia in Valinor, E) - masterful weird mythical Ainur devotional customs surrounding Oromë and his hunt, and a really touching exploration of Celegorm's character in a time when he still has yet to choose his fate. Celegorm's tension with Maglor is great here too.

Played by @disastrousexpense (Maedhros/Maglor, Maedhros/Fingon where Maglor seduces Maedhros through the guise of "teaching" him for Fingon's benefit, E) - one of my favorite Maglors this year, so theatrical and affected and alluring and (in this Valinor period) quite selfish, yet expressive and deeply, deeply feeling. a rollicking story that made me laugh and then made me cry!

Oldies but goodies

Elvish Letters by @ladygavroche (Caranthir & Finrod, Celebrimbor & Fëanor, Maedhros & brothers, epistolary humor, in progress, G) - this is a favorite of mine, along with the Caranthir fic earlier in the same series. Incredible and hilarious epistolary that just sings!!

The Silver Queen by @i-am-a-lonely-visitor (AU where Gil-Galad is Celebrían, trans!Celebrían/Elrond, completed, M) - such a lovingly written fic for a brilliant concept. Multiple scenes of Celebrían's arc in this had me weeping earlier this year.

The High King of the Noldor and His Faithful Hound by shatteredGlasses (Hrunting_License) (Celegorm/Maglor, assault and tensions during Maglor's kingship, completed, E) - During Maedhros' captivity, Celegorm thinks the worst of Maglor, and Maglor uses Celegorm for self-harm. Genuinely disturbing, excellent angst, and very formative for me!

Through the Smoke I See You by Dragonstorm (Maedhros & Maglor, Maglor's Gap and Dagor Bragollach, single-chapter, T) - one of my favorite explorations of Maglor's devotion and guilt towards Maedhros, and the immense risk of trying to hold the Gap! I love it so.

Thistle Whistling on the Wind-Blown Field by happythoughhuman, Torpi (Finrod & Edrahil, Finrod & Avari, culture, environment, storytelling, completed, M) - I've been meaning to revisit this strange gem of a TRSB fic for a while. One of the most vivid explorations of Melkor's impact on the environment in Middle-earth, of serious Elven cultural differences and the notion of Finrod as a kinslayer (while a very Finrod-loving story; he shines in this, making connections as is his wont). Also, won my heart for putting mangroves in Valinor.

My own fics

bite thy wings and let thee crawl (Melkor/Maglor, noncon macro/micro horror porn inspired by this art by @aquaregiaart and Lay of Leithian, E) - the Big Melkor fic, set during Maedhros' captivity. In my head this is my best work of 2023 and probably ever. Come closer... give him a click.... he can't hurt you....

Less Wise (sapphic Maglor/Thranduil, canon divergence, E) - pining with a happy ending in an AU where kinslayer fem!Maglor has come to serve Mirkwood's king fem!Thranduil. This was my attempt to write the sort of comforting and cathartic fic I so enjoy reading.

elvenkings (here on tumblr as well) (moments ft. Orodreth, Thranduil, Elwing, Elrond, G) - my drabbles fic for Sindar Week 2023 about the long-lasting echoes of Menegroth and Iathrim heritage. I'm really happy this brief story resonated!

pursuit (Tulkas/Nessa and Oromë/Nessa, genderfluid Nessa, M) - Nessa and Tulkas wed. Smut and mythical vibes ft. confident and changing Nessa, the dancer and the god of prey. I love that weird Ainur shit.

yes many and beautiful things (Maedhros/Maglor during the War of Wrath, M, now with art by @aquaregiaart!) - After their final argument about stealing the Silmarils, Maedhros and Maglor share themselves with each other wholeheartedly one last time before the end; sort of a "what if they loved each other and that was worse."

#2023 year in review #my posts #tagged in #tag meme #sticking to silm for this one #thanks for the chance to reflect on this year's stories!!#i think nearly everyone on tumblr has done this already but if i tagged you or you see this and want to do it pls feel free to & @ me!#i did not read many multichapters this year but those i did read were fire

17 notes · View notes

imakemywings · 1 year

Text

One Last Song

Fandom: The Silmarillion

Characters: Daeron, Luthien

Summary: As Luthien prepares to surrender to old age, she is visited by a long-lost friend.

AN: There is a PURPOSE behind the hokey nicknames I promise, it's in the AO3 AN. tl;dr: they're poking fun at Thingol and Melian.

AO3 | Pillowfort

___________________________________________________

The traveler coming up the dirt path moved with slow certainty, winding steadily towards the house. The day was breezy; overhead, a few thin clouds hurried by. The figure wore a simple green cloak with a pointed hood drawn up; the ankles were wrapped in linens beneath the worn hem of short trousers, the feet brown and bare. Fastred stood on the porch and watched the approach through the trees, across the clearing created around the house, surrounded on all sides by thick pine and its accompanying underbrush. The summer vibrance of the flowers had died down, trending towards the green and brown fall that would soon envelop the area. Perhaps so alone, so isolated, Fastred should have felt greater fear, but there was more curiosity than unease. They stood still and waited until the traveler stopped before the first step of the porch as though awaiting permission to move closer.

“Are you the child? Dior?” the wanderer asked in Sindarin, of which Fastred did not speak much. He was certainly one of the Eldar; he had that ageless, ethereal beauty about him, in spite of the eclectic dress of one long on the road. His eyes were green, oddly pale in his dark face, and his hair bound up in a wrap beneath the hood. There were thin little tattoos on his hands. “Is she here?” he pressed when Fastred shook their head. He spoke as one who is unaccustomed to doing so and worried he was doing it wrong, yet there was a melodic cadence to his voice somehow soothing.

Fastred did not know why they let let the stranger into the house. Perhaps it was a feeling.

The Elf stepped into the hall and drifted towards the entrance of the parlor, his delicate hands twisting anxiously at the strap of his bag about his chest, looking around as if he expected to find something lost there. From her bedside by the hearth (for she had grown too weak of late to mount the stairs, and so Fastred had moved the bed down to the parlor), Dior’s mother spoke, as if she and the wanderer had been playing some game which had just concluded.

“Dae-dae,” Lúthien exclaimed feebly. “You found me!” She spoke in Sindarin.

The one-time loremaster of the Kingdom of Doriath threw back his hood and crossed quickly to the bed to kneel beside it.

“Of course I—I would always—if I had thought you—” How unlike him to struggle so for words! In apparent anguish, he gripped the worn, veiny hand which Lúthien offered him with care, trembling to feel she who had once swung him about as if he were no weightier than a fawn in the spirited dances of the Iathrim so frail under his touch. “I am sorry I did not come sooner,” he said. With the distance he kept from society in those days, he was rarely informed of anything.

“Sit, sit,” she insisted. “Let me see you.” Hesitantly, still dusty with travel, Daeron shifted to perch on the edge of the bed. Lúthien had told tales of the legendary minstrel of her father Elu Thingol, whose song and hand spun harmonies so beautiful as to make Maiar weep; who had created an alphabet of nothing; who could recall anything you liked about Doriath’s history and culture off the top of his head, and make it into a rhyme to boot. Lúthien let out a rusty laugh, peering at him with rheumy eyes. Her hair had gone steely gray where it had once been jet-black, brittle where it had once been supple and soft. “Just as handsome as I remember!” She tweaked his ear. “But what happened to your braids, Daeron?”

“Tell me what I can do for you,” he pleaded, no hint of Lúthien’s mirth reaching his face. She gazed into those sage-green eyes—how well she recognized that furrow in his brow, that distressed downturn to his mouth! He had not changed a whit; she might have said goodbye to him only an hour ago, in a life that felt almost as if it had been lived by someone else. Was she not someone else then?

“Play something,” she said.

I cannot, he wanted to say. I do not play anymore. I have no songs for grief like this. How can you ask me to play at such a time? Even if all of those things were so—and they were not, he had always known how to weave a melody for sorrow and longing—he should have found a way, for Lúthien. He shed his pack onto the floor and withdrew from his cloak a set of pan pipes: The same set he had carried when Lúthien first remembered seeing him; the same set on which he had warbled before the dais of Thingol and Melian the Maia to win their approval and his place at Thingol’s side—the same set which, to the chagrin of the king and his guests, Daeron preferred above all gifts he was given either to honor his skill or to win favor with Thingol.

He put them to his mouth and began to play.

Daeron’s music, so surpassingly, achingly transcendent that it was said to be unbearable by mortal heart, said to carry in it an echo of the Ainulindale, brought tears to the eyes of Lúthien, and to those of her caretaker Fastred, though Lúthien’s fell in silence. Daeron did not hear the snuffling of the mortal behind him as he played; there was nothing in the room for him—indeed, nothing in all the world but Lúthien, now aged and wan and so soon to be beyond his world forever.

As the yearning, tearful notes of his music filled the room with marvelous pain, she thought of a time long passed when she had pressed herself to his side under the trees and begged him for a song for light gone dark and laughter dead and how in her grief he had piped a voice to her suffering in the wake of Beren’s departure, until even the birds of the forest fell silent to attend his lamenting.

When he stopped, he was weeping to heavily to carry on.

“Now, none of that!” Lúthien scolded, her voice paper-thin, as Daeron’s pipes came to rest in his lap. “There is nothing for to weep, Daeron.” It took so much effort to move her body these days, but she struggled against the pillows, to sit just a little more upright, that she might reach out and touch his cheek. Over by the front window, hasty movements as Fastred swiped at their eyes.

“You are dying,” Daeron said, his lovely voice breaking, now meeting her gaze with a fresh wave of tears.

“This was my choice,” she whispered, stroking his smooth, unblemished cheek. There was a tremor in her hand that would not stop; she had grown accustomed to it by then. “This is what I wanted.” A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “Soon, I will see Beren again.”

“There will be no beauty in the world again as you, once you are gone,” said Daeron. He took her hand from his cheek and pressed a kiss to her fingers, his lips wet with tears. The joints of her fingers and wrist were swollen and hot.

“But there will be you to sing of it,” she said, the corners of her mouth upturned. “So how fortunate is the rest of Middle-earth!” He did not reply, and then:

“How long ago was he lost?” Daeron asked.

“A few months,” said Lúthien.

“I’m sorry,” said Daeron, and he meant it.

“Do not be—already we had more time than I had once thought we would,” she said. “Have you seen our son, Dior? He was here…” Lúthien glanced about and Daeron hesitated, for as he understood, Dior remained in Doriath. It struck him she might suffer from the confusion of her advanced age and the knowledge pierced him like an arrowhead. “There is nothing I regret,” she said firmly. “But now, Daeron, speak not to me as some dying old woman. Am I not still your friend of old? Have you forgotten our adventures?” His lower lip trembled and Lúthien sighed and sobered, stroking his hand. “Oh, my Daeron,” she murmured, sinking deeper into the pillows. “Hush, now. It will not be goodbye forever. For a very long time, perhaps, but not forever.”

Daeron choked and bowed over her hand, but then steeled himself as much as he could and swallowed down his tears. He wiped his face dry on the back of his hand and raised his head. She was right—and he would not spend the last time he had with her blubbering like a fool over something he could not change. He would have as long as he like to weep about it afterwards.

“What can I do to please my princess?” he asked, as if they were still laying about his chambers on a lazy summer afternoon while Lúthien concocted a scheme for their amusement and he plucked at his lyre. “Tell me what to do, Lulu.”

Lúthien’s wrinkled face split into a smile and he fancied even then there was a familiar sparkle in those tired eyes.

“Play something for me, won’t you, minstrel mine?” she croaked. Daeron nodded, and took up his pipes again, and this time his notes danced with joy, and the memory of many happy years spent under tree in the land they had called home, behind Melian’s spells and under Thingol’s gentle hand, years rich in laughter and dancing and song, when their thoughts had freedom to be childish and carefree. Into his piping he sought to pour all of the love and joy and companionship which he had felt with Lúthien in those years, that he might with this song impart on her his gratitude that she had been a part of his life, that she might know how those memories with her shone in his mind. Perhaps, that she might remember him once she had departed to wherever Ephedrim went when they left Arda, and if he were lucky, think fondly of him still. Once more he filled the small and lovingly-tended home of Beren and Lúthien with his song, and it was the final occasion on which the music of Daeron of Doriath, mightiest musician of the Eldar, would be heard in Beleriand.

#daeron #luthien #the silmarillion #fanfiction #tolkien tag #rocky writes #daeron of doriath

33 notes · View notes