marta-reblogs

[marta-reblogs]

[marta-reblogs]

— A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship. But it is not this day. An hour of woes and shattered shields, when the age of men comes crashing down, but it is not this day... this day we fight.

[marta-reblogs]

A few images from the last issue of my art blog newsletter - artists are credited in the alt text

[marta-reblogs]

What Is Needed for Good to Triumph in Arda — Reflections of Finrod Felagund

“We are not masters of this world, but its wanderers and its wardens. And if we are fated to fall, let our death be a light for those who follow.”

I speak as one who remembers the Blessed Realm, who once heard the Song of the Ainur echoing through the deep places of the world. I have witnessed the beginning of many fates, and walked paths that led into inevitable darkness. But I also know this: the Music of Ilúvatar still resounds in Arda — and therefore, even amidst shadow, the triumph of good remains possible.

Many ask the question: what is needed for good to prevail? What can one do when the enemy's strength grows, when hearts grow weary, when even the brightest among us begin to falter?

I will not offer an easy answer — but I will offer a true one.

1. Good triumphs where there is the will to sacrifice

There is no victory without sacrifice. Good does not conquer as Morgoth does — it gives of itself. I saw Beren, a mortal man, walk into Angband, knowing that his road would likely end in death. But he went — for love. And what seemed madness became part of the Song that outshone all the pride of Darkness.

And so I say: even the weak may bring victory, if they are willing to give all for the sake of the light. It is not only the one with the most swords who prevails — but the one whose heart stands firmer than fear.

2. Good demands wisdom and patience

We of the Noldor have erred often. Hot blood, impatience, the longing for justice — all too easily turn to wrath, and wrath to ruin. Goodness is not only the path of battle. It is the path of waiting, of listening, of understanding. At times, to save a soul, what is needed is not a sword, but a word. Not a shout, but silence. Not vengeance, but forgiveness.

If you wish to be a servant of good — learn to understand others, even your enemies, for in them too, once dwelt the light.

3. Good dwells in unity — not in isolation

Evil divides; good unites. Morgoth sowed discord in the hearts of the Eldar. Saruman, in the council of the wise. They knew: isolation makes us vulnerable. But when we are united — as we once stood united beneath the stars — nothing can wholly undo us.

The path of good is the path of friendship, trust, and alliance. It matters not if you are Elf or Man, Dwarf or Ent — if there is light within you, we are kin.

4. Good never forsakes hope

I know there are days when it seems the Darkness has won. When loved ones perish. When cities burn. When even the sun cannot drive away the gloom.

But it is in such days that we must kindle fire in our hearts. For hope is the oldest of the good gifts of Arda. It is not blind waiting for a miracle, but the faith that even from what is broken, light can yet grow.

I have seen hope in the eyes of mortals who possess no immortality, but whose spirits burn. I held the hand of a friend going to his death — and he sang as he walked. I believe in hope — for it is mightier than any ring of power.

5. Good is a choice we make every day

The victory of light is not an event — but a path. Not once and for all, but again and again. Each day, we stand before choices: to answer evil with evil, or to hold our peace. To remain silent or to speak the truth. To turn away, or to stand beside those in need.

As long as there is choice in the heart — there is hope in Arda.

I am Finrod, son of Finarfin, friend of the Edain, and singer of ancient truths. I am no saint. I have erred. I have paid the price. But if my experience holds any worth, let it serve as a reminder:

Good does not win on its own. It is brought into the world by those who believe in it more fiercely than they fear the dark.

And if you are reading these words — then you are one of them.

Let your hand be steady, and your heart be bright. Let each step you take be a step toward the light — even in the blackest night.

For even darkness is but a shadow — and the light is everlasting.

— Finrod Felagund King of Nargothrond Servant of the Light

[marta-reblogs]

Eowyn of Rohan

[marta-reblogs]

[marta-reblogs]

Someone on Amtrak’s social media team deserves a raise like N O W. 😂

[marta-reblogs]

[marta-reblogs]

Texts From Superheroes

Facebook | Threads | Patreon | Instagram

[marta-reblogs]

Avengers: Infinity War dir. Anthony Russo, Joe Russo | 2018

[marta-reblogs]

[marta-reblogs]

“The Fire in Beorn’s Hall”

Another of the seven new watercolours inspired by the four elements in The Hobbit I recently created for an upcoming book by Legendaria Ediciones.

[marta-reblogs]

Top 10 Biggest Ls of Sauron’s Career

10) his 2nd death, to a mostly-human Isildur, even though he has the ring. Since Gil-Galad and Elendil managed to weaken him and Isildur was on a revenge-high, this is maybe his least cringe death.

9) Failing to think of what the impact of his ring would be, namely how when he put it on to control the other ring-bearers, all the Elves who had their own rings of power just…immediately knew he was there and then just…took the rings off. Thus circumventing any possible control over them. Still kind of effective as it meant that they didn’t get to benefit from the use of the rings while he was in power, but still.

8) Eönwë captures him and Sauron makes the sexiest and most pathetic disguise he can muster so that he can sweet-talk his way out of this because he is a little bitch.

7) Decides way back in the years of the lamps that the Valar were not running the world at peak efficiency and organisation so he decided to split. And decided to join Melkor, the Vala of chaos and disharmony, who he thought would be able to run things much better. This was only the first of his many bad decisions.

6) Aragorn rolls up to Mordor and yells “hey Sauron! I’m a big important prophecy hero! You should fight me!” and Sauron goes “omg you’re so right” and does, thus failing to notice the two and a half Hobbits sneaking up his mountain.

5) Finrod Felagund tells Sauron that he and Beren are named Dungalef and Nereb. Which you might notice is roughly the names Felagund and Beren spelled backwards. Sauron buys this and does not question it ever.

4) While fleeing from Lúthien after she grants him mercy, he flies directly over Gondolin. The place that he and Morgoth have been searching for for ages. He does not notice it.

3) While getting bodied by a demigodess and her new talking dog friend, he has transformed himself into baby’s first deviantart furry oc, because said talking dog was prophesied to die facing the most powerful wolf, and Sauron thought that was him. He was wrong.

2) Gets bodied by aforementioned demigodess and her new talking dog friend.

1) Sitting in his temple in Atlantis Númenor, laughing maniacally, assured of his own victory, and not looking out the window behind him to see the massive wave that is approaching at mach fuck. Dies. Is never again able to have a body that men (specifically) find hot.

[marta-reblogs]

Shoutout to the uncomfortably long five seconds in Granada’s Crooked Man that Holmes just spends ogling Watson like He’s me and Watson is a toasty buttered veggie bacon bagel with strawberry milk and creamy tomato bisque on the side

Also maybe red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting for dessert

[marta-reblogs]

My latest cartoon for New Scientist.