#lay of earendil

[imakemywings]

In wrath the Feanorians that swore the unforgotten oath brought war into Avernien with burning and with broken troth; and Elwing from her fastness dim then cast her in the roaring seas, but like a bird was swiftly borne, uplifted o'er the roaring wave. Through hopeless night she came to him [Earendil] and flame was in the darkness lit, more bright than light of diamond the fire upon her carcanet. The Silmaril she bound on him...

-- Draft D of The Short Lay of Earendil by Bilbo Baggins (History of Middle-earth Vol. VI "The Treason of Isengard" ch. Bilbo's Song at Rivendell)

[velvet4510]

Please never forget the huge number of people who Lúthien Tinúviel saved.

Of course, her getting the Silmaril eventually allowed Elwing and Eärendil to bring salvation to all of Middle-earth years later; we all know that. But that’s not what I’m referring to.

Never think that Beren was the only person saved by Lúthien’s direct actions during her lifetime. An entire tower full of Sauron’s captives in Tol-in-Gaurhoth were saved and set free when she took control of the island.

She didn’t just grab her boyfriend and run. She tore open all of the dungeons and enabled dozens, if not hundreds, of people to escape with their lives. If it weren’t for her, all of those prisoners would’ve died in torment.

Lúthien is far more than a devoted girlfriend; she’s a true hero of Middle-earth who single-handedly saved at least a dozen lives!!!

[chaos-of-the-abyss]

luthien and elwing telling beren and earendil respectively that whatever danger they must undergo will be taken upon themselves also... luthien going with beren beyond the circles of the world, earendil staying with elwing within the bounds of arda... beren and luthien vanishing from anywhere and anyone in middle-earth, earendil's star shining in the night sky for everywhere and everyone in middle-earth as elwing soars up to greet him... beren and luthien's tale being told by aragorn, the light of earendil's star being gathered and given to frodo... the romance of it all...

[doot-boi]

"But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar"

I think it's no surprise to my followers who pay attention to my silm posting that I love Finrod Felagund's character, but this is the line that sticks with me heavily. Within the Quenta Silmarillion, it is told that all of those Ñoldor caught within the Doom of Mandos and of the Silmarils will "yearn for [their] bodies, and find little pity", which is often taken to mean that none of those who left Valinor would be granted the possibility of returning to physical form, to live in the bliss of Aman (though arguments can clearly be made that only those who participated in the kinslaying were under such a doom, but I choose to ignore that). That's what makes this line so much more impactful to me, along with a more important facet; it's placement in the chapter.

Just 2 pages earlier, at his death, Finrod says it will be long before he is seen again amongst his people, perhaps believing he will not be granted a bodily form until such a time as the rest of the Ñoldor would be. He dies in the darkness of his corrupted tower, and is mourned at length by Beren until Lúthien his love arrives and rouses him, and together their hope is kindled again as the sun rises (a very common theme in Tolkien's works). They honour and bury Finrod atop the island, a tomb to be unchanged until the War of Wrath caused upheaval in all of Beleriand

It's here that this line comes in. His tomb is inviolate until all the land is, but he himself walks with his father, the only of Finwë's sons to remain in Valinor, and that says so many things.

He is one of few, or perhaps the only, Ñoldorin exile to be gifted bodily rebirth. He surpassed the Doom of Mandos (see my 2nd link in paragraph 1)

His father welcomes him home and forgives his leaving

No matter the state of his grave, Felagund is himself unmarred

No timeline is given for Finrod's bodily resurrection, but I choose to believe it is before the end of the First Age (and the fandom wiki agrees, tolkien gateway being more vague), for no other reason than Eärendil. It is because of Finrod, his assistance of and sacrifice for Beren, that the man of Bëor lives long enough to be united with Lúthien in the Quest, and they, along with Huan, are able to retrieve the Silmaril that Eärendil brings to Aman. I consider that Finrod is likely unaware of the success of the Quest, given it seems the rest of Valinor was (or at least they waited for a plea from Middle-Earth before acting on anything). Imagine his wonder, his pride, and his joy, at seeing that not only was the quest successful, but here, 80 years after he died, he sees Beren and Lúthien's grandson-in-law bearing the jewel. I wonder what he would have said to Amarië his love, if he would have remarked in joyous tears that the horrors and the death that led him back into Aman were not faced in vain. I wonder if, taking up his weapon to participate in the War of Wrath, he either sat a moment in sorrow, or in hope, or in some other emotion, considering what lay ahead of him, and as he came home afterwards with many of his kinsfolk, what he felt as he came to the bliss that would last until the changing of the world.

No matter his feelings on the Wars, what his experiences are and what he goes through after his resurrection, we know this:

Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees of Eldamar

[tarninausta]

I like the way the stories of Beren and Luthien and of Earendil and Elwing mirror each other in a way. They're two kinds of happy endings, two stories of hope on the opposite ends of a spectrum.

Beren and Luthien are a small spark of hope, a promise that however dark the times, you can find personal happiness and love your life.

Earendil and Elwing are telling you that your sacrifice matters and that the world will be better for the hard choices you made. It's more bittersweet but still soothing in a way, like Frodo's story.

Speaking of Frodo, I think this is similar to the different endings that Frodo and Sam get. Sam's ending, while not without melancholy, is largely peaceful and quiet and symbolises new life. Frodo's ending is the sacrifice made for that life. And while it's a tragic story, some of its sadness is redemmed by knowing that the world is better for Frodo's choices.

[fistfuloflightning]

Watching Master and Commander (2003) for the first time, I realized a few things:

Max Pirkis as Blakeney is just the cutest, hands down

Gorgeous gorgeous music (and finally realized where one classical piece I remember from my childhood came from)

My love for Lee Ingleby has extended to this film as well (such a far cry from Ever After or Harry Potter!!)

Hollom deserved so many hugs poor bby

This is excellent visuals for trying to envision how ships are run, for my writing reference folder

I never knew I needed Billy Boyd viciously wielding a cutlass, but now I do

I really really want to see the USS Constitution again—that was a phenomenal experience that this movie dragged out of my childhood memories

Russell Crowe with long blonde hair unnerved me at first, but I’ve come to appreciate it (esp loose like in the deception scenes 😏)

I should not have watched this before bed bc now I’m stuffed up from crying and I’ve been googling the Napoleonic War and Age of Sail/Discovery blogs for the past 20-30 minutes. I am… unwell

I might (re)watch Horatio Hornblower again but I’m not sure I’m emotionally up to it yet

[finnritter]

Gondolin writing prompts:

Hey there,

Idk if anyone is even going to see this but I'm bored and need a little creative kick to practise my writing, so if you want to pls send me some silmarillion short fic prompts.

I will love you forever if it is anything Turgon and/or Gondolin related but other silm stuff is also okay, if I like it I'll write it

[eldal0te]

He plans on building himself a cabin in the woods, away from civilization and regaining the contact with others slowly. 

If it were his decision, Maedhros would probably go on and start appearing publicly again, but it might be kinder on other people not to. He’s relearning self-control and respecting boundaries, he’s not going to leap into politics immediately. (He will get into politics again soon, that much he is sure of, just not perhaps this soon.)

The cabin in the woods sound more appalling every time he thinks about it. Too far away from people, how is he meant to re-accustom others to his presence when there are no others around?

He mentions so much to Caranthir the next time he ends up laying on his brother’s couch, smoking some suspicious leaves Amrod apparently dropped of a few weeks earlier and Moryo just laughs. 

„We have a house on Tol Eressea. My wife hates the island, but the taxes for selling property there are horrendous.”

„You’re offering I could stay there?”

„Transferring property to family is free. Promise to reimburse us sensibly once you are able and it’s yours.”

„Your wife won’t mind?”

„She’s been offering the house to every reasonable relative, you’re the first who even considers it. Trust me, she’ll be delighted”

„You know, you were always my favorite brother”

(In a hindsight, he should have probably asked why does his sister in law hate this house so much.)

The first time he saw her, Maedhros was convinced he had seen a ghost.

(She lives on this island, it’s the newest, biggest market they just opened. Why should she not be there?)

(If only he haven’t seen her on bloody a marketplace before.)

The second time it happens, Elwing sees him too and freezes. He considers approaching and apologizing, but Fingon keeps giving him the talks about giving people space, so instead he just nods and gets out of there.

(He considers mentioning that meeting to Fingon, but decides against it. They are only starting to be at ease with one another again and that would worry him too much.)

They keep running at one-another and he knows she’s uncomfortable. He is too. For a brief moment, he plans on giving up this doubtful pleasure (really, new market or not, why are there so many people there, all buying spices?) and going back to shopping on a smaller, local market but then she deliberately snatches the last pink melon from the stand after seeing him reach for it and that really pisses him off. 

(Fingon was going to visit, and considering how one flavor he always adored was that of pink Vanyarin melons, Maedhros really doesn’t think he can be blamed for his later actions.)

A week later, he overhears her talking to a woman he can only assume to be Galadriel’s daughter about needing to buy cloves for Earendil’s favorite dish and promptly makes sure to purchase all the remaining ones.

It’s a war now and there’s no knowing who will break down first.

Afterwards, it would be foolish not to expect a retaliation, so the next time Fingon visits he makes sure to get to the market extra early. He reaches the melon-seller, just to be informed that all of the fruits have already been sold out.

A seagull laughs at him.

Better person would have given in. Luckily, he really doubts that Elwing sees him as a better person.

He persuades Caranthir to help him bribe the vendor into sending the next month’s delivery of cloves directly to his house.

(In a hindsight, the unfortunate chain of the house’s ownership is to be blamed on birds. They shit on the porch constantly. Elwing really does not control the local pigeons (but will not, under any condition, ask them to stop, not while he is holding the cloves hostage). It’s not her fault he moved into this neighborhood. They even exchange a couple of semi-polite letters on this matter.)

A couple of years latter, Elrond almost gets an aneurysm after coming across his mother and Maedhros shopping together and discussing which of the vendors has the best tomatoes. 

[havenotwillnotreadthebooks]

Ok but what about Elrohir and Elladan inheriting their grandmother Galadriel’s Black Cat Energy and their grandmother Elwing’s Horrible Goose Energy.

And in the midst of it all is Legolas, who somehow befriended both twins with his Golden Retriever Energy and Little Shit Small Bird Energy.

Because you know those little birds that are absolutely fearless unless they’re looking death in the eyes? Or those crows that pull on eagle tails for fun? Those are the vibes I get off of Legolas (besides the Golden Retriever Vibes).

Meanwhile, Elladan would do something Horrible (but harmless) and Elrohir would immediately gaslight anyone who tried to call him out for it into questioning their eyesight and subsequently taking a nap. Elrohir will screech as a battle tactic, and Elladan has an unsettling love for ripping off orc flesh with his nails.

And if you’re wondering, Arwen inherited Maglor’s Creepy Owl Stare and Earendil’s love of adventure. She also got Celeborn’s love for architecture. (She also got Maedhros’ earthshattering, political rivals shredding, diplomacy skills, but they won’t find out until her time as Queen, after she verbally strips a Man naked and lays him out for her court like a stuffed turkey).

[searchingforserendipity25]

celrond, 26? 😭🥺

Thanks so much for the ask @i-am-a-lonely-visitor! Here are some kisses on some scars <3

-

Celebrían found them very appealing, particularly when Elrond took the pestle in hand.

'Do not laugh,' she demanded, laughing herself, tapping him with her fan in that light, suggestive fashion that had been all the rage in the Eriador of her youth. 'It’s all in the grip, and how clear with intent your eyes go. Such beautiful hands you have, beloved.'  

Legs round and bare, she tilted on the edge of their rumpled bed, the better to watch him play apothecary for himself; and laughed, lower in her throat, when his ears warmed at the warmth of her admiration, and he proved very easy to distract from his tasks and trap back into bed.

Celebrían was generous of heart, and strange-minded at times. Elrond's hands were accounted good, life-saving, gracious and kind, and most days he did not disdain them at all; but they were not beautiful.

There were scars in them from old battles and skirmishes, accidental prickles when picking sea urchins from the sea pools of Sirion - nicks from weapons training and sparring, from long campaigns and hunting trips.

Tough calluses littered his palm, the likes of which no elven warrior or scribe, no lord or harpist showed; and in the cold the skin broke, red and angry, chafing at the winter, even as flowers bloomed through the frost when he walked his red and angry feet on it.  

The last time he had pressed his palm to his brother's, there had been fine lines already on Elros' hands.

Since then, none remained to share his insights with, no one who cared particularly for his advice on the brewing of Peredhel remedies. He brewed his own oils, in his stillroom in Lindon; in Imladris, he taught his children to work the copper cauldron and the ladle, the grinding stone and the glass vial.

Arwen liked dying best; Elladan enjoyed sparring with his mother, Elrohir played with poisons; and all of them carried little pots of balm in the pocket of their childish aprons, in case their fingers ached in the evenings after they played outside.

In high summer he sang to the bees in their homes, led them singing when it was time to swarm, and picked the honey himself, to offer with slick fingers for Celebrían - tithe and right, to be given over to the lady of the valley.

-

Elrond remembered his mother rubbing honey on his father's hands. Earendil's hands had seemed immense to him, broad and strong and rope-burned, made harsh by salt. He was so careful when he held Elros and Elrond - 

He remembered; he was nearly certain he remembered it. The past was never as unclouded in his heart as the future.

-

Celebrían followed his movements from the sick bed for many unspeaking days.

The light of her eyes, so dimmed, was wary with terror when she lay watching him grind athelas and lavender and honeycomb - the strength of his arms turned into a threat for her to be wary of. Any strength, of any kind - any instrument might be turned into a source of violence.

She did not scream, awake or asleep; the fear was a long and horrible spell, an enduring half-dream from which his gentlest touch could not rouse her, only return her to a different form of torment. There was no safety for her, even in Imladris; no potion or cantrip to heal body or soul, and no comfort to be had. 

In Valinor, Celebrían made her own ointments.

For the tending of scars; to massage her gnarled aches, perfume her wrists and neck, the dip of her spine. Her eyes were clear, keen and keener than they had been, steadier in their vigilance. Elrond embraced this version of his lady no less tightly; he curled into her height, and laughed as he wept when she swept him off her feet.

As a patient in Lórien, and a student amidst the gardens where every dreamer walked at least once in their life, Celebrían had learned much from the Lords and Ladies of the West, and more still from elves ancient and young alive.

In his absence, she had wrought against her war-fans anew, bound them with lace and poison, ridden with Oromë's Hunters, danced among Vána's revels, wept with Nienna and spoken with her own voice the glory and grief of those that loved Midde-Earth and had lost it.

The lady of the valley, a lover of sweetness, kept her door ever-open to her kin and her husband's without differentiation - kept it open for him, when at last Elrond was gladly swept into the shelter of her love and rested there for a time, nursing new wounds and sharing his grief, weary through and through as he was. They tended to each other in the evenings, bandages and oils laid out on the same desk; Elrond wept a little more, the first time Celebrían touched him, and there was not a shadow of fear in her eyes, only the cold memory of it in his heart.

-

They grasped hands and wound their arms, walking in the twilight through the high trellises like a courting pair. Celebrían's little finger was a small stump, her braces cold against his arm; Elrond's bones, grown frail and strangely hollow after so long carrying Vilya, were nestled in hers with care as they walked up the hill to the painted walls of her house.

In the spring after Arwen was wed and lost, Celebrían taught Elrond how to work the herbs of her garden and gather them to her precise requirements, and how to work the tight aches working in the garden or standing too long left her with, even in the Blessed Land.

 The stars were the same all throughout Arda, but brighter in these skies; and some creeping ivies with potent smells and sweetly cooling leaves blossomed only at night, their petals gleaming with the very same silver of Celebrían's tresses.

Her scar-ridged palms chafed against Elrond's lips. They tasted of lavender and starlight when he pressed a glancing touch of his mouth to them, of nectars whose names he knew not yet and was only starting to learn now.

'Lovely beyond all other sights,' he said, coy and sly, when his lady pressed them against his cheeks to tilt him for a greater kiss; and Celebrían laughed merrily at his plight, because his skin ran warm with blood under her grasp, and his knees no less liable to bend like reeds when she pulled him back into her arms.

[swanmaids]

Ok, my bio has had “Elwing defense squad” in it for a while now and my Elwing nauglamir post has been getting a lot of notes so I think it’s time I actually make a proper post defending my fave. And what I want to say is that I firmly do not believe that any significant number of third kinslaying victims who reembodied in Valinor would blame her for kinslaying, nor that she is any kind of pariah in Valinor. This is because the decision to hold on to the Silmaril is one that is, by and large, supported by the Sirionites:

“The Elwing and the people of Sirion would not yield the jewel...least of all not while Earendil their Lord was on the sea, for it seemed to them that in the Silmaril lay the healing and the blessing that had come upon their houses and their ships”. (Silmarillion, Of Earendil and the War of Wrath pp. 296).

Here we can see that in one short paragraph, it is made clear multiple times directly and through pronouns that the decision to keep the Silmaril is the majority one. We can argue till the cows come home about whether it was the right decision, but it was not simply hers.

In addition, the Sirionites are not the only people Elwing is connected with. When Earendil goes to make his plea, Elwing goes to seek the Teleri her kin, and they “befriended her” and “were filled with pity and wonder” at her stories of Beleriand (Silmarillion, Of Earendil and the War of Wrath, pp. 299). Furthermore, it’s because of her that they grant the use of their ships to the host of the Valar “they hearkened to Elwing, who was the daughter of Dior Eluchil and come of their own kindred” (Silmarillion, Of Earendil and the War of Wrath, pp. 301). (Incidentally, this is another reason I don’t think the Sirionites would hate her- it’s in a significant part thanks to her that the world was saved.)

Also, if Idril and Tuor reached Valinor, wouldn’t they want to see their daughter in law? Then there’s her dead and potentially returned kin- wouldn’t Finrod want to see and care for the last descendent of the House of Beor in Aman? If they come back, what about Turgon and Elenwe her grandparents in law, and Nimloth her mother? Yes, Elwing lives mostly alone, but it’s my conclusion that this is out of her own choice, because she is solitary by nature, and not because she is widely disliked.

[imakemywings]

Pressing on to the Children of Hurin novel, and highlighting some more favorite quotes:

"Ever in the forefront of that battle went Gwindor and the folk of Nargothrond, and even now they could not be restrained; and they burst through the outer gates and slew the guards within the very courts of Angband; and Morgoth trembled upon his deep throne, hearing them beat upon his doors." (The Battle of Unnumbered Tears)

FUCK YES. Gwindor sure does suffer for his impulsivity but before that he made Melkor quake in his fucking boots hearing the troops of Nargothrond at his door. I think it's key to Melkor's characterization to remember that he is, at heart, a massive fucking coward. Any time the odds are not firmly in his favor he gets flighty, as when he wants to refuse Fingolfin's challenge, and here, and in how he refuses to come forth from Angband but sends his troops out instead and directs them from his fortress only.

"In the morning came hope, for the horns of Turgon were heard, as he marched up with the main host of Gondolin; for Turgon had been stationed southward guarding the passes of Sirion, and he had restrained most of his folk from the rash onslaught."

Just interesting that the Gondolindrim alone are singled out as having been held back from Gwindor's early charge.

"Now the phalanx of the guard of the King broke through the ranks of the Orcs, and Turgon hewed his way to the side of his brother. And it is said that the meeting of Turgon with Hurin who stood beside Fingon was glad in the midst of the battle."

Everything's about to go to shit but at least Turgon and Hurin get to have a little reunion + the last moments Turgon will ever speak with Fingon :')

"'Not long now can Gondolin remain hidden, and being discovered it must fall,' said Turgon. 'Yet if it stands only a little while,' said Huor, 'then out of your house shall come the hope of Elves and Men. This I say to you, lord, with the eyes of death: though we part here for ever, and I shall not look on your white walls again, from you and from me a new star shall arise. Farewell!' Maeglin, Turgon's sister-son, who stood by, heard these words and did not forget them.

This whole exchange is sooo interesting..foresight moment for Huor? Maeglin guessing Huor refers to Turgon's grandchild (with the implication they will be half-Man)?

"Great was the triumph of Morgoth, though all the purposes of his malice were not yet accomplished. One thought troubled him deeply and marred his victory with unquiet: Turgon had escaped his net, of all his foes the one whom he had most desired to take or destroy."

Melkor's obsession with Turgon is always interesting and must be related to some foresight or foreboding on Melkor's part about Earendil and the role he'll play in Melkor's overthrow. It would seem odd to everyone else, I think, for Melkor's fixation to be not on Fingon, who was the high king going into the battle, but on his younger brother who no one's seen in years.

"For Turgon of the great House of Fingolfin was now by right King of all the Noldor; and Melkor feared and hated the House of Fingolfin, because they had scorned him in Valinor and had the friendship of Ulmo his foe; and because of the wounds that Fingolfin gave him in battle. And most of all Morgoth feared Turgon, for of old in Valinor his eye had lighted on him, and whenver he drew near a dark shadow had fallen on his spirit, foreboding that in some time that yet lay hidden in doom, from Turgon ruin should come to him."

What do we think Elf-friends, is the house of Fingolfin rejecting Melkor even in Valinor meant to stand in opposition to perhaps the house of Feanor's take? I do think it's interesting that nowhere in the Nirnaeth does Melkor seem especially interested in the Feanorians, except in how he can use them to effect his victory in this one battle.

Also, cackling at the idea of Melkor not wanting to hang around Turgon because his vibes are just too bad. Melkor saying "that dude has rancid vibes" like agjkjkgb

Ruin is coming you big loser.

"But when they bade Turin turn and look back upon the house of his father, then the anguish of parting smote him like a sword, and he cried: 'Morwen, Morwen, when shall I see you again?' But Morwen standing on her threshold heard the echo of that cry in the wooded hills, and she clutched the post of the door so that her fingers were torn." (The Departure of Turin)

This is one of those Morwen quotes that just lives with me. She's often blunt and cold with her son Turin and does not seem possessed of much loving maternal energy, and she pretty abruptly sends him away once she decides it's the best thing to do, but watching Turin ride away she grips the door frame so hard she tears skin on her fingers. Clearly, this is not someone unaffected by having to say goodbye to her child, nor someone unafraid about what may be coming for them. It's such a subtle but deep indication of how much Morwen actually feels vs. how little she shows.

And of course everything about Thingol's fostering of Turin:

"...and Thingol received them kindly, and set Turin upon his knee in honour of Hurin, mightiest of Men, and of Beren his kinsman. And those that saw this marvelled, for it was a sign that Thingol took Turin as his foster-son; and that was not at that time done by kings, nor ever again by Elf-lord to a Man. Then Thingol said to him: 'Here, son of Hurin, shall your home be; and in all your life you shall be held as my son, Man though you be. Wisdom shall be given you beyond the measure of mortal Men, and the weapons of Elves shall be set in your hands. Perhaps the time may come when you shall regain the lands of your father in Hithlum; but dwell now here in love.'"

The only time a Man was ever fostered by a lord of the Elves! Dwell now hear in love! You shall be held as my son! I'm going insane.

"Now Thingol had in Menegroth deep armouries filled with great wealth of weapons...Yet Thingol handled the Helm of Hador as though his hoard were scanty, and he spoke courteous words, saying 'Proud were the head that bore this helm, which the sires of Hurin bore.'"

Morwen sends the Helm to Thingol in response to his lavish gifts to her and invitation to come and join Turin in Doriath, but Thingol turns it immediately over to Turin and tells him Morwen sent it to Turin as a gift of the family heirlooms.

Especially in comparison with Silm where characters often feel more like sketches than people, the characterizations in CoH are so rich and deep it feels so much like these are real people. It has been such an interesting read so far, eager to get to more.

[carlandrea]

When you mention the lay’s themes and doom, thinking about it is so wild. For as much as Berin and Luthien’s relationship involve liberation they’re still trapped in fate. There were so many independent foretellings related to them or their actions. Just some of the people having them were Melian, Thingol, Idril and Tuor. In some places free will was lessened or the available options were limited. From the silm after Beren thinks to remove the other Silmarils, Angrist snapped because the outcome of his actions would've gone against the Silmaril's fate. To the Lay, if taken more literally, a spell had fell on Luthien when first meeting Beren. The Silmaril being set in the Nauglamir may have allowed its safe handling and prevent backlash from the hollowing for Dior and Elwing. All these bits and pieces add up to allow Earendil in Vingilot.

the leithian literally makes me so insane because it's like. obviously thematically it's the escape from bondage. That's what leithian means! That's why the dungeons and the treehouse and then Luthien's eventual escape from the fate of the elves, from the chains tying her to Arda itself (elves are ghosts) and like.

but.

but there's Beren's immediate enchantment when he meets her, there's the language around Luthien being snared when he meets her eyes, there's beren immediately sinking to the ground catatonic when she leaves him after their first kiss because he's so immediately tied to her that there's nothing else and there's fate! and doom! and destiny!

And there is Eärendil, who was never going to be anything other than The Mariner, who's like. an offering. A sacrifice to the valar in penance to a doom set centuries before he was born—taking the silmaril and a swan ship home. Which he could only do because Beren and Luthien and the silmaril and

but ALSO is eärendil not also an escape from bondage? Eärendil, who breaks and ends the Doom of Mandos?

I don't have a conclusion to this. just like. Those two did something to the doom of the entire world. and it did something to them. and maybe broke them a little

[eri-pl]

Silm reread interlude: I read Lay of Leithian (1)

First: the title: a lot of times in the text something is freed and released and we get the text focusing on it, because of course that's why I gave it this title, look it's perfectly normal: of course Sauron's prisoners, but also Luthien from her imprisonment, Beren (and iirc others) many times from emotional paralysis + (in alternate text said clearly) the poor Silmaril from the crown of hatered and yet our Oath-bound blorbos are not maybe because their two brothers decided to be creeps.

Also putting something as your title and than mentioning it in relation to many things is totally normal and not funny and not because I am doing it myself sometimes.

OK, anyway, let's start.

TWs…. hmm. Suicidality, a lot of Morgoth and he is evil but in a cool way, wonky metaphysics of the early Silm.

Canto 1

Thinglo has a silver crown. And his armors are scale mail.

Again, Luthien with Elrond's poetic coloring. But in alternate version she had gold hair and blue eyes, Earendil-style.

Canto 2

Morgoth is called king! And the text respects him way more than in the Silm. Sure, he's evil. But also "stronger than the stone the world is built of, than the fire that burns within it more fierce and dire" – come one tell me that does not sound cool. Also "thoughts profound were in his heart". huh? Unless "profound" means something like "gloomy" here, not like "deep and wise".

Also he's evil and terrible and his army stinks.

And he is often referred to as "King Morgoth". With capital "K". He would like that.

Gorlim is much more intentional in his betrayal. And talks with Morgoth himself, not with Sauron.

Another line about Morgoth: "that cruel heart wherein no truth had ever part". So the profound thoughts are profound but untrue I guess.

And it's so dark: "Thus Gorlim died a bitter death, and cursed himself with dying breath[...] and all good deeds were made in vain". Who wrote that, Daeron?

Also, the hidout of Beren and his father and their band is referred to as "secret tryst". Tolkien, as often, uses words as he pleases.

Beren curses the name of Morgoth, thrice. In this story, we will see a lot of people cursing various things and people.

The orcs want to steal the ring of Barahir, ie not report it to Morgoth, just keep it.

Beren is suicidal: "he longed for knofe, or shaft, or sword, to end his pain[...] Danger he sought and death pursued" — huh. Very un-Silm-like. In the Silm only tragic characters are like this.

He befriends animals, and stone spirits(!), I prefer this early version where we have lesser Maiar(?)/spirits/whatever.

Big Dipper as named Burnng Briar, but still it's basicall a "Morgoth, we'll get you" sign from Varda.

Canto 3

Melian didn't go to Beleriand on a mission or purpose: "She had wayward wandered on a time from gardens of the Gods".

Also, the text is written as if Valinor did make its inhabitants immortal: "where earth and sky together flow, and none shall die". I guess Ar-Pharazon read this version. ;) (minus the parts that make Sauron look stupid)

Melian and Thingol. For him the years of looking in her eyes seem like an hour, which makes sense.

Aaand we get first (unless I missed something) title reference! And it's the oddest one possible: "when Morgoth first, fleeing the Gods, their bondage burst, and on the mortal lands set feet".

Also, all Men are his thralls (sans Bere&co obviously), no mention of the Edain.

It seems like elves are not immortal??? "Thingol and deathless Melian" + some more lines like that. maybe it's about her not being possible to kill (dfw would disagree).

"Dairon the dark" so I guess Daeron has black hair. Or face. Or both. Again, he is mightier as a minstrel than Maglor (whose voice is like the sea, and the sea is not a tenor) but they have a third contestant, Tinfang, later deleted.

B&L meet, her magic dazes him and whatnot, I'm not a fan, anyway we get one of my favorite lines:

And now his heart was healed and slain with a new life and with new pain

This point-on describes one very particular emotional experience that does not have a name, but sometimes occur when an emotional (or spiritual) issue is resolved an a sudden and rather surprising moment of insight.

[That's one of the best feelings and I wish you all to have it often enough. <3 ]

…Let's end this on this good note and not on my feelings about the romance part of the canto.

[bretwalda-lamnguin]

i'm still turning over my reply to your reply to my post re: your finduilas ask (normal sentences) in my head but while that's marinating i am just dropping by to say that its really funny how i said i hadn't thought enough about here and then she refused to vacate my mind for a week straight after that. self fulfilling prophecy. if you have any spare finduilas thoughts (involving denethor or thorongil or both or neither im not picky) laying around i am all ears.

Hmm, more Finduilas thoughts…

She’s a Dúnedain woman, so she’s tall, though you wouldn’t know it standing next to Denethor or Thorongil, maybe about 5'10" to their 6’6”+.

Her singing voice isn’t the best, her illness has damaged her vocal cords, but she can play the harp and several other instruments while Denethor sings, usually in Sindarin or Andunaic.

Growing up she loved the tale of Earendil and Elwing, and it was from this (and her love of the sea) that she took the name Faramir, after one of Earendil’s companions.

She was physically attracted to Denethor, as much as a Dúnedan can be. He was tall, raven haired and beautiful. But they were drawn together far more by their strangeness however, a shared recognition that they are alike because of how unalike they were to all others.

Finduilas is very elvish, she looks west more towards Valinor than Denethor’s visions of Númenor, the sea offers escape rather than destruction. This is one barrier they can never quite cross.

She’s very good with people, PR, image and diplomacy. She’s not afraid to tell Denethor when he has screwed up and needs to have more tact.

She’s quite fond of Thorongil, and like Denethor sees how useful he could be for Gondor, but she always gets the feeling that he looks at her as if she was a ghost.

[polutrope]

Ya know, reading your wonderful fic Everlasting Darkness made me realize the Earendil x Maedhros ship kinda makes sense cause like in one version of Silmarillion, Maedhros did hang out with Earendil in Vingilot or something while sailing the skies, and then after went to the Valar to beg forgiveness so yeah.

Are you the same Anon who sent me an Ask about this fic a few weeks ago? Anyway, so glad you love the fic! It's one that's close to my heart despite (because of) its crackiness.

Now I hope you'll forgive me for diving into an analysis here because what?! Hahaha I never heard this idea of Maedhros spending time on Vingilot, but I suspect I know where it came from. I thought I'd share because I'm genuinely fascinated by how the "tales grow in the telling" in the fandom with respect to Tolkien's drafts. AND, I discovered to my surprise in revisiting this passage, this interpretation isn't exactly wrong.

Here's a passage from The Sketch of the Mythology, titled The 'Original' Silmarillion by Tolkien. It was a summary of his mythology written for a friend as background to his alliterative Lay of the Children of Hurin. It dates to 1926 and underwent various revisions between then and 1930. I've incorporated revisions in the excerpts below. The relevant quote isn't until the very end, but it's such an interesting passage so I couldn't resist quoting the context.

The Gods [Valar] [...] march through the lands summoning the remnant of the Gnomes [Noldor] and Ilkorins [Sindar] to join them. All do except the people of Maidros. Maidros prepares to perform his oath, though now at last weighed down by sorrow because of it. He sends to Fionwe [Eonwe] reminding him of the oath and begging for the Silmarils [etc., much as in the published Silm]. Maidros and Maglor submit. [...] On the last march Maglor says to Maidros that there are two sons of Feanor now left, and two Silmarils; one is his. He steals it, and flies, but it burns him ... [Maglor casts the Silmaril into a fiery pit.] One Silmaril is now in the sea [because Elwing cast it there], and one in the earth. Maglor sings now ever in sorrow by the sea. [There follows a long passage about the prophecy about the end of the world, including the line:] In those days the Silmarils shall be recovered from sea and earth and air, and Maidros shall break them[1] and Belaurin [Yavanna] with their fire rekindle the Two Trees [...] And thus is was that the Silmaril came into the air. The Gods adjudged the last Silmaril to Earendel -- 'until many things shall come to pass' -- because of the deeds of the sons of Feanor. Maidros is sent to Earendel and with the aid of the Silmaril Elwing is found and restored. Earendel's boat is drawn over Valinor to the Outer Seas [...] From sections 18-19, The Sketch of the Mythology, History of Middle-earth Vol. 4: The Shaping of Middle-earth

"Maidros is sent to Earendel" -- yep! That's there. And, to my surprise, this is after Earendel "sails by the aid of [seabirds'] wings even over the airs in search of Elwing, but is scorched by the Sun, and hunted by the Moon, and for a long while he wanders the sky as a fugitive star." (Section 17).

Fascinating! I can't say I think Tolkien intended in this sketch to suggest Maidros served some time as Earendel's crewman but I also can't say the text precludes that reading. Thank you, Anon, for bringing this little nugget to my attention. I wish I could say I was playing on it in Everlasting Darkness, but I was not.

[1] Maidros is replaced by Feanor in all subsequent versions of this prophecy. I do find Tolkien's first impulse to make it Maidros fascinating.

Btw if you're intrigued by the role of Maglor in this passage, a little plug for my Maglor Biography on SWG.