King of Nargothrond, Finrod Felagund

Or the unfortunate boy that earned himself a very stupid nickname with me during the process of this portrait... thing xD

I'm so sorry, he's actually pretty badass, but that didn't stop my sleep deprived mind

Heyy there!! Just a small thing I wanted to ask you: in that post about Finrod being a Teleri you wrote that he dragged basically a shit ton of gems across the Ice. I haven't read the Silm in a while, but I don't remember that detail. Is it said in HoME or something? I know I totally have read BUT I haven't mustered the courage yet. If it is could you let me know where exactly I could find it? Tysm in advance :))

So Finrod brought a bunch of White gems from Valinor, which he gifts to the dwarves who helped him build Nargathrond. They turn (some of) them into the Nauglamir and then gift them back, which is why it’s a huge symbol of friendship between the elves and the dwarves until it is very much not.

(This means I cheated in that post and double dipped on roasting Finrod over the same gems, once as cargo and once as a necklace)

I *think* it says in that section that he brought more treasure from Valinor than any other. It is one of those things where it’s not mentioned during the part pertaining to the crossing of the Helcaraxe, but because Finrod has all these rocks, and that’s how he got to Beleriand, people wonder… was he just pulling a sled full of sparkly things across the ice?

Personally, I like to imagine that was just the normal amount of bling Finrod wore on your average day and he didn’t think to take it off before the journey. 😂

In all seriousness I think it’s meant to be a sign that Finrod, despite reservations about leaving Valinor, genuinely was one of the only ones thinking about how they were going to build a life there once they arrived, as well as allowing him to show generosity. “Look at Finrod, he’s giving away priceless gems while the rest of his family fights over the Silmarils, and he gets a kingdom and a shiny necklace out of it! If the others were less obsessed with hoarding treasure maybe things would be going better for them, #moralofthehobbit”

Except it still leaves us with the image of him GETTING them there, and that does not leave us with the image of someone who doesn’t value gems, but rather the most extra being to ever walk middle earth.

Thranduil & Nimrodel

Thranduil approached the outskirts of Lothlórien by night. As he nears a particularly beautiful set of waterfalls flowing from a swift cliff into a winding stream, he spots a stunning silhouette with long golden hair facing the waters. This would be the first time he lays eyes upon Nimrodel and it will be this way that she would remain fixed into his mind for all time.

Thranduil knew this stream turns into a river that flowed east from the Misty Mountains to meet the Celebrant on the western boarders of Lothlórien. He wondered what a Silver Elf was doing this far from others alone. A quick glance around told him that this outsider called this place home. Thranduil knew that the Silven Elves were a scattered folk but Elves customarily live in communities. Golden hair was also rare among Elves. Most Elves were silver or dark haired. This Elves golden hair seemed to flow around her as if alive on its own accord. Her dress was long and white with silver details on the sleeves and up the shoulders that glowed in the moonlight, giving her a ghostly appearance. Thranduil wondered if this was a trick of some sort and signaled his guard to stand ready. 

Entranced by apparition, Thranduil asked the Great Northern Elk to cautiously approach the mysterious Elf surrounded by waterfalls. He scanned the area while the Elk drew closer to her. In the forest nearby he spotted a great white wolf and knew that his pack would be close by. Thranduil greeted the wolf and introduced himself, asking permission to approach the Elf. The wolf looked to the beautiful Elf and considered the request for quite some time, then looked back at the Elvenking, narrowed his glacier-like eyes in warning, but allowed him to approach. Thranduil dipped his head respectfully. 

The strange Elf heard him approach and turned. Fear filled her face. She turned and fled to a bend in the waters, just up the steam where she could cross and have any chance of escape. Thranduil dismounted the Elk and allowed her to put space between them. He removed his sword and placed it on the ground by her campfire pit. He then began to cautiously pursue her. He walked with his arms facing outward and his hands wide open to show her that he was not a threat. As Thranduil approached he was able to see her better. 

This mysterious Elf stood by the water’s edge in the bend facing him, her hands placed protectively on her throat and heart. She was tall and lean with delicate bone structure. Her mannerisms were fluid and cautious, but watchful and aware. She glowed with lightly bronzed skin from extended time in the sun. Her hair was the color of spun sunlight. Her large deep-set eyes matched the color of the sky above with thick eyelashes and arching eyebrows giving her a childlike yet timelessly elegant appeal. Even wild and afraid, she had the look of one that should be rightfully queen of the forest lands- and the Woodland Realm. As Thranduil admired her, she began to slowly lower her hands.

It was then Thranduil saw the necklace. 

Around the neck of the beautiful Elf was a necklace laced with pure silver and dazzling white gems that sparkled with pure starlight. It was as if the entire night sky reflected from within the gems, playing in sync with the rotation of the world and the reflection of the moon and stars. 

When Thranduil gazed upon Nimrodel’s necklace, he thought of Thingol’s Nauglamir- a necklace made of Finrod’s surviving jewels and one of the silmarils. If the Elvenking had a weakness it was for treasure, especially for silver and white gems. Though his treasury was rich, Thanduil strived to build a kingdom as wealthy as the king’s of old. But it was not the necklace by itself that moved Thranduil so. It was the beauty and manner of the Elf before him, encapsulated within the gems, like the light of the Two Trees of Valinor radiating within the silmarils.

Thranduil became frozen within the vision before him. It seemed to him as if her beauty and all the good parts of the world and of her were reflected in her necklace. In her necklace there was no war- only peace and songs and great feasts that harm no being. The light radiating from her began to heal his heart and warm his soul. He saw what the world could be like, and would be like, if all evil were to be extinguished and all wounds were healed by the light of the stars dancing off her waters. The gems held the world’s potential which was one of the same as this Elf's very being. 

Thranduil thought of the hideous death of his father, King Oropher, and the poor souls lost to the Dead Marshes. He thought about how the effect of that one battle lingered throughout the ages, rippling outward through beings and lands. Thranduil longed deeply for the version of the world encapsulated within the gems, a world where nightmares such as the the Dead Marshes did not and could not exit. He saw within them a peace that he has not yet felt and desired it with all of his being.

The white gems spoke to him and told him to approach Nimrodel gently. And so he learned of her name and he did approach, and with great care.

Nimrodel looked at Thranduil with dread and awe as he approached. Nevertheless, the peaceful light flickered within her eyes and dowsed his soul like cool water over a burning wound. Thranduil was filled with an overwhelming urge to call her his own. He did not wish for her to be frightened or upset, instead wishing her all the happiness and joy that her purity demanded. Thranduil believed he (alone) could deliver that to her. To upset her would be to upset the natural order of the lands in which she belonged. No, he wished her to be surround by things she loves even if that meant remaining wild and be free forever. He did not wish for her to bear the burdens of the outside world as he did, and thought it may be best if her turned and let her enjoy the forest unburdened- yet he was drawn to her all the same and could not leave her once he had looked upon her. The world, as it were, was a dangerous place and Nimrodel would need someone as dangerous to protect her. 

And here it was. Thranduil fell entirely in love with Nimrodel. She would remain his greatest love until the end of his days.

With a flick of his fingers, Thranduil gave his guard leave. There was a clink of armer as they dispersed, making themselves busy far enough so they could not be seen or heard, but close enough to answer the King’s call. Thranduil saw the necessity of a guard set in contrast of Nimrodel’s nature and wished them not to be near her home. Thranduil looked upon Nimrodel and understood he would soon rely upon his forces more heavily than ever before to remake the world into one Nimrodel can live peacefully.

Thranduil walked close enough to touch Nimrodel so that they faced one another, reading each other, and simply being in the presence of one another. No words were needed in this moment. The Elvenking took the Silven Elf’s hand and there they stood together in Nimrodel’s homeland under the golden forest canopy with the sound of busy waters and nighttime insects filling the air, bathed in starlight and each other. The forest creatures quickly spread word of the union and the forest became busy with excitement. Curios beasts large and small put aside their differences to bear witness to the blooming love of Thranduil and Nimrodel.