thesilmarilliondrawn

[thesilmarilliondrawn]

Olwë's Rebuke

To cross the seas to Middle Earth, Fëanor needed a fleet of ships. It would require a lot of time and effort to construct such a large fleet, even though some Noldor were skilled in that work. That's why he decided to ask the Teleri, the friends of the Noldor, and try to persuade them to join in their cause and increase their power against Morgoth. He hurried to Alqualondë and spoke with the Teleri, just like he had spoken at Tirion.

But the Teleri and their leader Olwë, were unmoved. They were saddened by the decision of their old friends and kin, and would rather dissuade them than lend aid; they would lend them no ships, nor help in construction against the will of the Valar. And as for joining armies, the Teleri longed for no other home than the beaches of Eldamar, nor for any other ruler than Olwë. Olwë had never trusted Morgoth and trusted in Ulmo and the other Valar to counter his evils.

Fëanor, enraged, fearing more delays, spoke: "So you rescind your friendship then, in the hour of our need! You were happy to receive our aid when you came to our shores empty-handed!"

But Olwë replied: "We renounce no friendship. But it can be the task of a friend to rebuke foolishness... Our skill in building ships is not of the Noldor, but given by the Lords of the Sea. Our white ships are not given by you. They mean to us what your precious jewels mean to the Noldor. The work of our hearts, the likes of which we will never see again."

The Silmarillion, chapter IX, "Of the Flight of the Noldor".

[thesilmarilliondrawn]

Quite obsessed with your Silmarillion art series, the details in each art piece are absolutely incredible!! How far into the book do you imagine you will go?

Thank you! I honestly don't know. The fact that I've spent I think almost two years drawing and I'm still in the same chapter, that gives me pause. It's daunting, to think I'll ever get to Beren and Luthien at this pace. I'm looking to finish Fëanor's story, or get to Fingolfin's duel at least. Or go full circle to the Dagor Dagorath, where I started. Reading and researching the Silmarillion at this pace has given me a deeper understanding and appreciation of Tolkien's legendarium and writing. It's a passion project, really. A challenge project for myself, to improve my skills illustrating. But I do wonder if I'll ever stop if I'm no longer enjoying myself or feel like doing something else. Or I'll create another account, of course. I love that I've found such likeminded people here! Thanks for reaching out!

[thesilmarilliondrawn]

Alqualondë, the Haven of Swans, where the mansions and palaces were made of pearl, and the streets were lit by many lamps. This was the home of the Falmari, the Teleri who followed the Great Journey and reached Valinor. Their King was Olwë, and their ships were made in the shape of swans; with beaks of gold, and eyes of gold and jet. The gate of that harbor was an arch of living rock, carved by the sea, on the borders of Eldamar, to the north of the Calacirya. Where the light of the stars is bright and clear.

Alqualondë, the Haven of Swans, where the mansions and palaces were made of pearl, and the streets were lit by many lamps. This was the home of the Falmari, the Teleri who followed the Great Journey and reached Valinor. Their King was Olwë, and their ships were made in the shape of swans; with beaks of gold, and eyes of gold and jet. The gate of that harbor was an arch of living rock, carved by the sea, on the borders of Eldamar, to the north of the Calacirya. Where the light of the stars is bright and clear.

The Silmarillion, chapter V, "Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië" 

[thesilmarilliondrawn]

The Flight of the Noldor

Taking his force northward, a company split in two and lead by two different kings, Fëanor looks back and realizes they will never survive the wastes of Araman like this. He realizes he needs ships to cross the ocean to Middle Earth. He needs to go to Alqualondë, to visit the Teleri.

The Silmarillion, chapter IX "Of the Flight of the Noldor".

[thesilmarilliondrawn]

Fëanor's Response

"But Fëanor laughed, and spoke not to the herald, but to the Noldor, saying: ‘So! Then will this valiant people send forth the heir of their King alone into banishment with his sons only, and return to their bondage? But if any will come with me, I say to them: Is sorrow foreboded to you? But in Aman we have seen it. In Aman we have come through bliss to woe. The other now we will try: through sorrow to find joy; or freedom, at the least.’

Then turning to the herald he cried: ‘Say this to Manwë Súlimo, High King of Arda: if Fëanor cannot overthrow Morgoth, at least he delays not to assail him, and sits not idle in grief. And it may be that Eru has set in me a fire greater than thou knowest. Such hurt at the least will I do to the Foe of the Valar that even the mighty in the Ring of Doom shall wonder to hear it. Yea, in the end they shall follow me. Farewell!”

The herald bowed deeply, as if having received his answer in full.

The Silmarillion, chapter IX, "On the Flight of the Noldor"

[thesilmarilliondrawn]

The Herald of Manwë

"But even as the trumpet sang and Fëanor issued from the gates of Tirion, a messenger came at last from Manwë, saying: 'Against the folly of Fëanor shall be set my counsel only. Go not forth! For the hour is evil, and your road leads to sorrow that ye do not foresee.

No aid will the Valar lend you in this quest; but neither will they hinder you; for this ye shall know: as ye came hither freely, freely shall ye depart. But thou Fëanor Finwë's son, by thine oath art exiled.'"

The Silmarillion, Chapter IX, "Of the Flight of the Noldor".

[thesilmarilliondrawn]

The Call to Adventure

Artanis Merwen, "noble man-maiden", was the only woman of the Noldor who had stood atop the hilltop of Túna among the warring men and battling princes, and yet she stood among them, bold and unafraid, ready to depart for Middle Earth.

(Anyone who says The Rings of Power somehow got Galadriel "wrong" need to read the Silmarillion)

I do imagine there is doubt in Galadriel's heart at this point, whether leaving for Middle Earth is the right thing to do. In particular because she would be going against her father Finarfin and her brothers Angrod and Aegnor. But she was stubborn and strong of will and eager to prove herself in Middle Earth.

And I think the events of the Kinslaying of Alqualondë would only solidify it and remove any doubts she had left.

The Silmarillion, chapter IX, "Of the Flight of the Noldor"

[thesilmarilliondrawn]

Amazing

Maedhros, in a scent of flowers at the Mereth Aderthad

[thesilmarilliondrawn]

Two Kings

Upon hearing Fëanor's terrible oath, Fingolfin and his son Turgon spoke fiercely against him, anger almost reaching the point upon which they drew their swords. But Finarfin spoke softly, as was his custom, and tried to calm the Noldor and have them reconsider that which cannot be undone. Galadriel, his daughter, heard Fëanor's words, but although they made no fancy oaths, her heart was with him, to travel and conquer the lands across the seas.

When Fëanor won the debate, he and his sons immediately urged for a swift departure, moving too hastily, fearing a cooling of hearts when the crowd had too much time to gather their thoughts.

This caused dissent among the Noldor. Although they had been convinced to leave, not all were yet willing to rally behind Fëanor as King. Most of the Noldor loved Fingolfin more.

At the behest of his son Fingon, Fingolfin followed Fëanor, remembering the words he had spoken before Mänwe's throne.

And so the Noldor split in two. One army followed Fëanor. The other Fingolfin.

A tenth of the people stayed behind.

The Silmarillion, chapter IX "Of the Flight of the Noldor".

[I imagine Fëanor did not like seeing the Noldor still choosing Fingolfin over him. This was the original pain between them that made Fëanor lash out, the action which caused his exile from Tirion. Fëanor is already in a bad state of mind after his father's death...

Somewhere Mandos is watching.]

[thesilmarilliondrawn]

I wasn't going to post this drawing. I didn't like it myself. I still don't. There are parts of it I do like, though. Ungoliant, obviously. The rest is a bit messy, but the intention is there. The story is there.

Ungoliant vs the Balrogs

[thesilmarilliondrawn]

Wonderful

But Celegorn said: 'Know this: thy going is in vain; for could ye achieve this quest it would avail nothing. Neither thee nor this Man should we suffer to keep or to give a Silmaril of Fëanor. Against thee would come all the bretheren to slay thee rather. And should Thingol gain it, then we would burn Doriath or die in the attempt. For we have sworn our Oath.' - The War of the Jewels, "The Grey Annals"

Tolkien in Color: The House of Finwë (part 10/x) < part 9 ||

for @cnc-week

[thesilmarilliondrawn]

Fëanor was a master of words. That night, he held a speech to the Noldor they would always remember. Furious were his words full of anger and pride. He claimed the throne of the Noldor, after his father Finwë's death, and rejected the decrees of the Valar.

He spoke long and urged the Noldor to follow him to the lands of the east, repeating in his anger the lies of Morgoth.

"Say farewell to slavery! We shall go further than Oromë, hold out longer than Tulkas, we shall never cease our pursuit and hound Morgoth to the ends of the Earth! We shall reclaim the Silmarils and rule over the Light and Beauty of Arda. No other race shall supress us."

Then Fëanor swore his terrible oath. His seven sons stood by his side and swore the same oaths, and red like blood shone their blades in the light of the torches. They called upon Manwë to bear witness to their oaths, which they could never break, promising that with hate and vengeance to the end of the world, they would pursue any Vala, Demon zelf or unborn Man, any creature large or small, good or bad, to the end of time, who would take, hide or keep a Silmaril from them.

So spoke Maedhros, Maglor, Celegorm, Curufin, Cafanthir, Amrod and Amras, princes of the Noldor.

The Silmarillion, chapter IX "Of the Flight of the Noldor"

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Mother and son. Nerdanel, the estranged wife of Fëanor, begs her eldest son Maedhros not to go to Middle Earth after his father. The crowd is gathering on the square high above the hill in the city of Tirion, following Fëanor's calls. In the end, Maedhros was the first to take the Oath. Nerdanel never saw her seven sons again, who all perished overseas.

[thesilmarilliondrawn]

Maedhros, son to Fëanor and Nerdanel. Of all his sons, he bore the most resemblance to his mother, because of his red hair. He too inherited some of her temperament, for he was neither quick to anger or rash in his decisions.

Always eager to please his father, he joined Fëanor and his grandfather Finwë in exile in Formenos. He was one of the ones who found his grandfather's body after the Sack of Formenos.

I imagine him missing his mother immensely all those years at Formenos, and to be eager for the reconciliation of his family. Still, he was always loyal to his father's commands.

[thesilmarilliondrawn]

The Valar sat in darkness in some time, after Morgoth's escape, contemplating in their Circle of Doom. The Maia and Vanyar stood beside them and wept.

The Noldor, for the most part, returned to their darkened city of Tirion. Through the dark ravine of the Calacirya a dense mist drifted into the city from the sea. It obscured Tirions towers and the lamp of the Mindon shone palely through the dark.

Suddenly Féanor, breaking his banishment, appeared at the heart of the city. He urged all to come to the High King's Court at the top of the Túna.

A huge crowd soon gathered, and all the stairs and streets that lead to the square at the top of the hill were illuminated by the lights of many torches each one carried in their hand.

The Silmarillion, chapter IX, "Of the Flight of the Noldor".

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A young Finrod Felagund learning of the death of his grandfather

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A dark shadow fell over Beleriand, when Morgoth forged for himself a dark crown of iron and crowned himself King of the World. To mark this event, he set the three Silmarils within the crown.

Morgoth returned to the ruins of Angband, gathering all the servants he could find. Above its gates, he raised the Thangorodrim; three gigantic volcanoes that formed the centre of his new power, spewing dark clouds over the Iron Mountains. His legions of beasts and demons grew tenfold, and the race of Orcs, created long ago, multiplied within the bowels of the earth.

Yavanna's fears that the Silmarils would be devoured or lost did not come to pass; they remained in Morgoth's possession.

The Silmarillion, chapter IX: "Of the Flight of the Noldor".