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moonlightswritingandstuff · 4 days

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hinanya, senyë i lóter lauyantë

Queen Indis has five children - Findiþ, Ñolofinwë, Lalwendë, Arafinwë, and Faniel. However, when having Faniel, she overestimates the amount of fëa to give for her fifth child. After all, she gives the same amount to every, and she only planned for three children. In lieu of the tragedy, King Finwë marries Míriel Þerindë, second queen of the Noldor. She bears two children, and all of Finwë's children grow to love Míriel as a mother. All except one. Ñolofinwë cannot accept his mother's passing.

trigger warnings: none

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When King Finwë's first son is born, all rejoice. He names him Ñolofinwë, and Queen Indis names him Arakáno. His sister, Calwanoþþë Findiþ, is hesitant, but soon she welcomes her younger brother. Little Prince Ñolofinwë is followed by Írimë Lalwendë, and then Arafinwë Ingoldo, but the queen finally passes from the stress of having her final child, Faniel Vaniþþë.

King Finwë weeps from her death, and poor Faniel is left with nursemaids only. However, the king finds a new object of his affections - Míriel Þerindë, whose tapestries are loved across Valinórë. Míriel is hesitant at first, but finds it within herself to love the king back. She is half-Teleri and half-Noldor, and although the Vanya think of it an insult, Lord Manwë, in infinite wisdom, grants the king another wife - and Indis is not eager to return.

And so Míriel Þerindë marries King Finwë, and becomes the Second Queen of the Noldor. Faniel is yet young, and takes to Míriel immediately, and so do the rest of King Finwë's children, eventually. Míriel grows to be great friends with Arafinwë and Írimë is only happy to sit next to her new stepmother, who is as brilliantly brutal as she. Calwanoþþë does not immediately take to Míriel, but she does accept her after Míriel makes it clear she does not want to replace Indis, and that she respects Calwanoþþë's want to be called Findiþ, her amileþþë, instead. Írimë, wanting to copy her elder sister, uses her amileþþë of Lalwendë, too.

But Ñolofinwë does not like Míriel. She is half-Teleri, one half too much, and she changes the palace too much for Ñolofinwë to stand. He does not prefer to be called Arakáno like his sister prefers Findiþ, but he does not like Míriel. Ñolofinwë does not have a craft, which sends whispers among the nobles, and he is all too bitter of his sibling's acceptance of Míriel. He believes himself the only true child of Queen Indis. As thus, he begins to reject the shift of the s to the þ.

And it becomes worse when Míriel has a son, Curufinwë Fëanáro, who is too hotheaded for his own good. Míriel adores her son, and gives him much of her fëa, but not too much. Queen Indis is a cautionary tale for all, and Míriel does not want more strife to decorate her fragile family.

Little Curufinwë, who rapidly decides he prefers his amileþþë of Fëanáro more, and none can disagree. His craft appears almost immediately, and his half-siblings dote on him, all except Ñolofinwë. Where his siblings call Fëanáro brother, he stretches distance by calling him half-brother. Fëanáro has no time for his brother who does not care, and prefers his other siblings, causing their distance to grow even wider.

But Prince Fëanáro is not immune to the whispers of the court, as Moringotto is now free from his chains. Ñolofinwë grows bitter as Fëanáro is considered by some to be the true first child of King Finwë. Ñolofinwë would do better - Fëanáro knows this - but Fëanáro is as himself as always, and tells all that he would prefer his eldest sibling, Calwanoþþë Findiþ, to be the heir, for she is the first child of King Finwë.

Most people accept this. The whispers grow quiet.

In the meantime, Ñolofinwë meets Lady Anairë, who is the classic Noldor beauty. Findiþ finds herself mooning over the minstrel Elemmírë but cannot bring herself to speak. Ñolofinwë and Anairë have one child, Findekáno, who will be followed by more.

Fëanáro finds his craft, and, as all are surprised by, manages to find another craft. He is the only to have two, linguistics and smithing, but the nobles take it as assurance that Fëanáro is the Noldoran prince they all wanted. He finds two masters, Rumil of Tirion and Mahtan Aulendur, and begins sending letters to Rumil as he works in the forges with Mahtan.

Arafinwë, on a trip to Alqualondë with his stepmother Míriel and sister Faniel, meets Eärwen, daughter of King Olwë. He finds himself in love immediately, and Eärwen likewise, and so Míriel convinces her husband that Arafinwë should be the official ambassador to King Olwë. Faniel misses her brother, but she has her other brothers and Findiþ besides.

Fëanáro meets Nerdanel Iþtarnië Mahtaniel while on a trip to find obscure dialects. He does not fall for her immediately, but Míriel sees the signs before anyone else.

And Findiþ, now by far of age, decides to leave to Valimar, to be ambassador to King Ingwë for there is no reason to have an heir. Although initially snubbed by King Finwë's marriage to Queen Míriel, he grows more fond of Míriel after hearing of Findiþ's love for her.

Faniel is lonely in the palace, though, with only Ñolofinwë for company. Míriel, however, sees this loneliness and manages to convince King Finwë that one more child will be fine, after all these years.

Míriel gives birth to a girl, Indilórë Tindallë, named by her father for her silver hair. Ñolofinwë grows ever bitter, but all of his siblings adore little Indilórë, as she has decided on in order to copy Findiþ and Fëanáro, even saying that she wants to be called Findilórë. No one follows this request, but she makes it anyway.

And in the summer, Arafinwë marries Eärwen. He is delighted to have his new baby sister, Indilórë, at his wedding, and his second nephew, Turuk��no, along with Findekáno. He invites Findiþ, and Elemmírë, but still Findiþ is too shy to say anything to Elemmírë.

Soon, only two years after the wedding, Eärwen bears Findaráto, followed very soon after by Angaráto. Eärwen is Teleri and unused to giving children two names, and Arafinwë is half-Vanya anyway.

Fëanáro, meanwhile, invents Tengwar, and King Finwë, delighted, makes it the official alphabet of the Noldor immediately. Míriel is likewise delighted, and so is Lalwendë, for with Tengwar, she has found her craft - calligraphy. Arafinwë, with ease, convinces King Olwë to make Tengwar the offical alphabet of the Teleri, and King Ingwë, in a diplomatic show of goodwill towards the Noldor, follows.

Ñolofinwë grows jealous, and, now an adult, Fëanáro wants to mend the rift between them, for Nerdanel, his betrothed, has become a major influence on him.

Ñolofinwë has a third child, Írissë Araquendë, born in time for Ñolofinwë to miss Fëanáro's wedding to Nerdanel. But Fëanáro and Nerdanel love children and have their first child Maitimo Airamíro an almost scandalous amount of time later. He is soon followed by Makalaurë Kánamíro, and Ñolofinwë believes Fëanáro to be ridiculing him with giving Makalaurë - both children prefer their amileþþer - the atareþþë of Kánamíro, with the part of kána, which he has given to many of his children.

King Finwë is delighted by his many grandchildren, and Míriel likewise. She loves all of her children, even Ñolofinwë. Princess Írissë grows to love her stepgrandmother, which only serves to fuel Ñolofinwë's dislike. King Finwë is further delighted by Arafinwë's third child, Artareþto.

Not to be outdone, Fëanáro and Nerdanel have their third child Tyelkormo Turkamíro, and then their fourth Carniþtir Moryomíro. Ñolofinwë has his last child, Arakáno. Anairë decides, after that, that she will stand to have no more children. Makalaurë, meanwhile, grows strong with a voice incomparable, and Fëanáro soon sends him to his aunt Findiþ in Valimar to learn under the study of the legendary minstrel Elemmírë. Upon first glance, Elemmírë becomes as taken with Findiþ as Findiþ had been with her, but a distance remained between them.

Then Curumíro is born, who becomes the only one of Fëanáro's children to prefer his atareþþë, and he soon becomes known to be only slightly less adept at smithing than his father. Tyelkormo soon becomes an adept hunter, and Lord Oromë takes an interest in him. Míriel loves all her grandchildren and adores that Tyelkormo's hair matches hers.

Nerdanel loves all her children, and even though Fëanáro, who has since learned caution from his father and the story of Queen Indis, disagrees, he also wants more. Their next children come together, and Fëanáro, convinced that they should be the last - seven is a good number, after all - names the two children Pityafinwë and Telufinwë. Nerdanel, in contrast, names the oldest Ambarto - despite searching for another, more fitting name, that he perhaps would have in another world, she cannot grasp it - and the youngest Ambaruþþa, after naming both Ambaruþþa by mistake.

And then Crown Princess Findiþ marries Elemmírë on a bright spring day, and all rejoice, none more than little Princess Indilórë, who finds herself besotted with weddings and wants to go to every one. In this, Indilórë finds herself a craft of flowers, her amileþþë proving true.

And Princess Indilórë attends another wedding soon after, when Turukáno marries Elenwë. Turukáno has a large wedding, and although he will not tell who it is, Curumíro begins courting someone. Curumíro is not subtle, though, and soon the name of his love is found - Málintë Vórëawendë Þindecaliel.

Arafinwë has his third child Ambaráto Aikanáro, and his last child, Artaniþ Nerwen, soon after, and she has beautiful, treelight coloured hair. When out with his brothers, Fëanáro laments his lack of a daughter, but Arafinwë laughs it off.

Artareþto then marries Eldalótë, and Fëanáro beings work on his greatest achievement - the Þilmarils. He requests a hair from little Artaniþ, and since she has no qualms about her uncle in this world, she gives one freely. It does not help very much, but Fëanáro gifts Artaniþ fine jewelry back anyway.

And so Fëanáro makes the Þilmarils. They are beautiful, but when Lady Varda hallows them, Fëanáro is angry. Nerdanel, however, has never grown apart from her husband, and tells Fëanáro exactly what the Þilmarils have made him. Fëanáro, mollified, discusses what to do with the Þilmarils, and Nerdanel and him come to an agreement - in order to reconcile Ñolofinwë with the rest of his siblings, and connect him and the rest of Finwë's children together, Fëanáro will give Ñolofinwë one of the Þilmarils. Although in another world Fëanáro may not have, in this world Fëanáro has six siblings and only one of them deny it, and five of the others want all to be united.

And so Fëanáro goes to Ñolofinwë's birthday that year, and gifts him a Þilmaril. The other goes the Queen Míriel - as Fëanáro will always be his mother's son first - and the last goes to Nerdanel Iþtarnië Mahtaniel, his dear wife. King Finwë laughs at his son not giving him a Þilmaril, but he cannot deny that the silver-gold light makes Queen Míriel look positively radiant.

Ñolofinwë is mollified by this gift. Of all his siblings, Fëanáro gave a third of his greatest work to Ñolofinwë, and that means something.

And then Turukáno and Elenwë have Itarillë, and Curumíro marries his sweetheart Málintë.

But Moringotto is still free and is not pleased by Fëanáro's choices. He breaks into Fëanáro's forge while he is working, killing a visiting Arafinwë and Faniel, and their father Finwë in the process, and steals Fëanáro as Telperion and Laurelindë have their light stolen by Ungoliant.

And then the Valar ask for the Þilmarils. Queen Míriel considers the offer and turns it down. Although Moringotto has no Þilmarils, Queen Míriel can sense her son's soul in her Þilmaril and refuses to give it up. She advises Ñolofinwë and Nerdanel to refuse also, and not even Ñolofinwë wants his half-brother's fëa to be shattered.

And so it comes that Queen Míriel herself decides to attack Angamando. She is furious, a kind of fury only ever shown by mothers. Moringotto has stolen her son and killed her son and her daughter and her husband, and Míriel used to be a swordswoman. She will not back down.

And the Valar do not want the Noldor to leave. But Míriel cannot be stopped, and she and Eärwen, boiling for revenge at the death of her husband, are able to convince King Olwë to grant them his ships. King Olwë fears the Valar but loves his family more, and some Teleri even join Eärwen and Míriel's hosts.

Míriel gives the crown to now Queen Findiþ and her consort Elemmírë, and the Noldoran family is split. Maitimo stays, as he wanted to assist Queen Findiþ, and Makalaurë goes, ever in search of another song. Tyelkormo goes, eager to find new flora and fauna. Carniþtir goes, thinking of change and economical success. Curumíro goes, and so does Málintë, wanting to find new minerals. The Ambaruþþar, as they are known by now, do not. And for the children of Ñolofinwë, Ñolofinwë himself stays, but Findekáno takes most of the host, along with Turukáno, who does not want to go but Elenwë is eager, and Írissë, so only Arakáno stayed. Of the children of Arafinwë, all of them went, for many desired their own realms. And the remaining daughters of Finwë, excluding Findiþ, Lalwendë and Indilórë, Lalwendë goes, for she is determined that even if Beleriand is to be grim, Lalwendë wants to fight, and Indilórë, named for hope, goes, as she wants to bring joy.

And so Míriel and Eärwen and most of the royal family of the Noldor leave on the swan ships, but not before Queen Indis leaves the halls of Mandos. She and Queen Míriel respect each other as fellow queens, and Indis speaks to her children. Although Indis herself stays, she gives her every blessing to Queen Míriel, which allows Ñolofinwë to try more to accept his stepmother, and the majority of the host of the Noldor leave to Valariandë, promising to return the swan ships so the entirety of willing Noldor can leave.

As for Valariandë, that’s a tale for another day.

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a-world-of-whimsy-5 · 2 months

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A new life

Day 2 prompts: Exploration

For: @silmarillionepistolary

Rating: General Audience

Character: Finarfin

Epistolary format: Journal entries and letter

Themes: Soft | Fluff | Exploration

Warnings: None

Wordcount: 2.1K words

Summary: Finarfin writes about his journey to Alqualondë, his first impressions of the city and the royal family.

A/n: OC name meanings

Lirulinwë, a Noldor Captain of Finwë's Household Guards - Lirulin: Lark | wë (suffix generally used for male names)

Eärerossë, wife of Olwë and Queen of Alqualondë - Eäre (a variation of Eär, Sea) | Rossë (foam)

This is also available on AO3

Ingoldo Arafinwë’s journal

51st day of Y.T. 1278— The journey to Alqualondë was not long, but others say that there were a great many things to see along the way. I have often traveled west with my father and mother and the others, to Ilmarin and Valimar and beyond, but never have I traveled east. My mother told me all that she knew of the city and the lords and ladies that dwelled within it. She assured me I would find no cause for disappointment, and I did not doubt her in this.

She came to Tirion’s square to bid me farewell, as did my father and sisters and full brother, and all the others. Of my half-brother Fëanáro, I saw little. He attended the feast my father held in honor of my new station as his ambassador in King Olwë’s court, albeit very briefly. He ate little, drank even less, and chiefly spoke with his own wife. Then he made his excuses and departed, but others from his family—my sister by marriage and my nephews, his sons—remained. I had held on to the hopes of some deeper understanding, of my half-brother and I meeting on middle ground, but as the years pass, that hope grows smaller and smaller, and I fear Fëanáro and I will only ever be brothers by blood, and not brothers by bond.

“Pray do not take Fëanáro’s indifference to heart,” my mother said in comfort. “He is an elf grown, and must choose his friends and acquaintances without interference from others. Set your eyes on your new task and your new life. Alqualondë will reward you in many ways; wait and see.”

“Write to us as often as you can, my son,” my father added, “and remember me to Olwë when you see him.”

“I will remember you to your dear friend,” I swore. “And I will write to you all, father. You have my word on this. Farewell!”

51st day of Y.T. 1278.— What a difference a day’s journey makes! Already, the great tower and white walls and sparkling sands of Tirion are behind us, and the Calacirya is on either side of us. A great river split the land between the mountain passes, and it flowed directly into the Bay of Eldamar. I will be remiss if I do not mention that the pass is more than what it appears to be. Jewels of all shapes and hues can be found jutting out of exposed rock, and they glitter like lamps of a thousand shades when light from the Trees falls upon them. We halted briefly to rest, and I took this opportunity to carve out as many slivers as I could find. I will send these to my mother and sisters. Irimë in particular loves such jewels, and they will, no doubt, adorn her chambers and her garments in one form or another.

Later, during the waning of Laurelin and the mingling of the lights—We rested briefly again on the edge of the shore, this time to have a meal, and with Tol Eressëa within our sight. Even from afar, the lamps of Avallónë, Tathrobel and Cortirion could be seen with our eyes. All gold and silver, they glittered like stars in the heavens.

“Do many people still live there?” I asked.

“Aye, my lord,” replied Lirulinwë, a captain of Father’s household guards. He knelt beside the fire and roasted the fish we caught from the river. Another warrior was passing around cups of mulled wine. “Mariners, mostly. And nobles hailing from the city, whenever they are in need of respite.”

The captain was chosen to lead the warriors escorting me and the gifts I was tasked to carry to Alqualondë. I saw no need for so many lavish gifts or such precautions; Lord Melkor has been safely confined to Lumbi, and Alqualondë is a prosperous city. Nevertheless, my father, bless him, still insisted on it. It would not do, he said, for his ambassador and a prince of the Noldor to arrive in another king’s fair city with empty hands and without a proper escort. Olwë might think poorly of us for it. And I am not ashamed to say that I yielded to his entreaty. Father is troubled enough as it is; I have no desire to add to the many cares weighing down on his shoulders.

“What if I wish to go there?” I inquired after accepting my wine.

The captain made himself comfortable on the sand after passing plates of the cooked fish. “Simply ask the king, my lord; I am certain he will agree to arrange a ship to take you.”

A ship. One of the fabled swan ships, no less, with their white sails and their beaks of gold and eyes of gold and jet. Many songs have been sung of them, and now I get to see them and even sail in one of them.

“Perhaps I shall,” I returned, and we turned our attention to our supper.

It was a pleasant thing to sit and talk and laugh and break bread with the others. We listened to tales of those old enough to remember the Great Crossing, the many perils they faced leaving Cuiviénen. They regaled us with songs from that time, and then we all stopped, astonished, when singing sweeter than anything we had ever heard carried over the waves.

These were the voices of the Oarni and the Falmaríni, sea spirits that served Ossë and Uinen. Lirulinwë said these spirits are rarely seen in Alqualondë. The city and harbour are too loud, more often than not. They preferred the tranquility of Tol Eressëa instead.

The singing stopped, and the air felt strangely empty for it. “They will start up again, my lord,” Lirulinwë assured me. “Perhaps we should sing again. That might encourage them.”

I decided against my yearning to hear more. We could not tarry for much longer. The king awaited us.

Letter from Ingoldo Arafinwë to Queen Indis

52nd day of Y.T. 1278.—

“Beloved mother,—

“You will rejoice to learn that all is well with us. Our journey was a peaceful one, and we arrived just as Laurelin reached her greatest bloom. Even from outside the gates, Alqualondë is a vision to behold, and I will write to you and father on all that I see and find after I have met with the king. Pray give my love to the others.”

“Your loving son,

“Ingoldo.”

Ingoldo Arafinwë’s journal

52nd day of Y.T. 1278, during the waning of Laurelin — King Olwë greeted me with a hearty bellow upon my arrival.

“Son of Finwë!” He cried and embraced me. The gifts I brought with me were to be given later, when I was alone with the family. “Be welcome in my home!”

His home was a graceful and enchanting palace made out of white marble. Of pearls and jewels, there were aplenty. They adorned doorways and windows, columns and vaulted halls, lamps, and candlesticks. I have come to a city of great wealth, and it showed in the rich splendor I found in the palace.

King Olwë smiled warmly when I pressed a letter from my father into his hand. “I will read this later,” he said, and he passed the letter onto his steward. “Now come and meet the rest of my family.”

The king graciously led me into a vast receiving hall where his family and members of the court had gathered. He presented me to his queen, the lady Eärerossë, first.

“Welcome to Alqualondë, Ingoldo Arafinwë, son of Finwë.” Her words were like warm honey. My mother once said the women of the Teleri could rival the spirits of the sea with the sweetness of their voice. She also warned me to take care where the queen was concerned. Eärerossë was unforgiving, she had said, to those who wounded her or the ones she loved. “We have all heard so much of you. If there is anything you need to increase your comfort, please do not hesitate to ask.”

I thanked her profusely, and the king motioned for the others to come forward. His sons were many, almost as many as the sons of Ingwë. Then came the lords and ladies of his court, and finally, after I was introduced to them, King Olwë raised a hand toward a lady hiding in the shadows, urging her to come forth.

“This, my lord and prince,” he said with pride, “is my only daughter, the princess Eärwen.”

“My lady.” I bowed as deeply and respectfully as I could.

“My lord,” she said, dipping in a curtsy in return. Her voice was unlike her mother’s; it reminded me of a clear stream. “My lord father has spoken to us a great deal about your sire and your kin. If you are not weary from your journey, I would like to show you something of our city.”

I lifted my gaze, and it was then that I truly saw her. Molten silver hair and eyes as blue as brilliant jewels greeted me first, followed by a smile that could have warmed even the coldest of hearts. For a single, breathtaking moment, I could not speak or even think. The gossips all said that the Swanmaiden of Alqualondë was a glorious vision made flesh, and for once, I was grateful that they were correct. Someone cleared their throat; it was the king, I think. Clarity came back to me in a rush, and then I recalled where I was, and who I was with. I remembered my courtesies and made haste to say, “My thanks, my lady.”

“Splendid, my lord. I will send word to the stables and ask them to ready our swiftest horses.”

Not long after, we rode out of the palace and into the city. Mountains lay to the north and west, and, much to my own surprise, there was more than one forest as well. Princess Eärwen told me they are all well stocked, and hunters never want for game. She invited me to join her and her brothers on their next hunt. I agreed, thinking it would be a most opportune time to learn of King Olwë’s children.

Another aspect of the city that caught my eye were the roofs and doors and shutters of all the manses. They were all deep blue. Even the many lamps of the city were inlaid with deep blue crystals. Pearls and jewels adorned the many walls and fountains and terraces we passed, and on closer inspection, I found that the path we were on comprised chiefly of blocks of white coral. Many of the city’s paths were made of white coral, as were parts of the walls that lined the canal that threaded its way through the city.

The princess was kind enough to lead me down to the Haven of Swans so I could take a closer look at their ships. There were the beaks of gold and the eyes of jet. There were the pristine white sails bearing the heraldry of the noble Houses of this city. King Olwë’s ship was kept apart from the others.

“That is the sigil of our House,” Princess Eärwen gestured to what was emblazoned on the main sail. “Waves with a crowned star high above them. Father thought it fitting, given the love the Teleri hold for the sea. There are many tales of the great ocean crossing. You will hear some of them later, at the feast.”

“I hear it is to be aboard your father’s ship?” The ship made especially for the king was larger than all of the others, but could it hold a great many people?

“Yes.” The princess dug her heels into her horse, urging it forward, and I did the same. We rode closer to the many piers that dotted the Haven, and I kept silent while she called out to the mariners she knew. “But only for our family and members of my father’s council. We will take the ship out into the water while we dine. There will be minstrels and mummers and even a fire dancer. If we are truly fortunate, the Oarni and Falmaríni might join us.”

“I hear you can speak their words, my lady.”

“I can, my lord. My brothers, too. My mother encouraged us to learn. Perhaps I could teach you, if you like. It is quite hard, almost as hard as Valarin, but the words are so beautiful to listen to.”

“I hope I will not disappoint you with my efforts, my lady.”

“I am certain you will not.”

We rode on, guiding our horses past the Haven and onto the beach. The sand was like gold. Even the palm trees were gilded. There were more jewels everywhere, even in the little rock pools elflings swam in. My heart felt lighter here and freer. Perhaps my mother was right. Alqualondë could indeed reward me in many ways, and I must be patient enough to see what they are.

#silmarillionepistolary #the silmarillion #the silm fanfiction #epistolary #finarfin #Olwë #Eärwen #Indis #finwë #silmarillion oc

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