#The simarils

[aurorapillar]

You know we're told that Varda hallowed the Simarils so that they would burn anything evil who touched them, but honestly I'm very suspicious of it. Cause like, we're told they burned Morgoth, and we're told that they burned Maedhros and Maglor, and yet there's no mention of them burning Thingol. Which makes no sense. You cannot convince me that Thingol would not have been burned by it if it burns evil. Thingol who despite his claims of being king of all of Beleriand, hid away behind his wife's magic and did nothing to help the people outside of Doriath despite claiming dominion over them; who refused to let refugees pass through his realm which caused tons of them to die; who sent his daughters boyfriend on a suicidal quest to steal some stolen property (which he then refused to return to it's rightful owners when the quest miraculously succeeded, despite his wife telling him he should); who treated his daughter like property and locked her up to keep her from her human boyfriend; who refused to join in the nirnaeth arnoediad aside from sending like 2? elves because he was mad about something that 2 of the sons of feanor had done; who was very racist to the dwarves; ect..

Which leads me to believe that either

A) The whole thing about Simarils burning evil was made up propaganda to help show how evil the sons of Feanor were and justify people keeping their father's creations from them

B) The Simarills did burn evil and in fact burned Thingol, but it was hushed up because it would have called into question the claim he and his line insisted they had to the jewels and made him look really bad. And if that was the case, I would say they probably would have burned the Valar as well if they'd gotten their hands on them.

or C) It was less that the Simarills burned evil and more that they burned anyone Varda didn't want to have them.

[mediciunicorn]

Pure evil looks a lot like this.... seize the good horded by the enemy and heed not his terror or lies; beings far greater and mightier than he encompass the children of Iluvatar

"Morgoth" by Benef at deviantart.com

[soothingmoonlight]

It never occurred to me before that Maglor might have inherited his singing voice from his grandmother. However, as I was re-reading parts of Morgoth's Ring today this description of Miriel immediately made me think of Maglor.

"Soft and sweet was her voice, and she sang as she worked, like rippling water, in music without words." -Morgoth's Ring, The Later Quenta Silmarillion (II), Of Finwe and Miriel

I can easily see Maglor having soft and sweet voice and enjoying singing while he is doing his daily chores. But I think the similarities between grandmother and grandson do not here. It's quite possible that Maglor's melancholic nature/temperament could be another family trait that he got from Miriel, especially considering how each of their stories end. Miriel, after being reembodied, never goes back to the Noldor and Maglor, after casting the Simaril into the Sea, never comes back among the people of the Elves.

"Then the fëa of Miriel was released and came before Manwë and receivd his blessing; and she went then to Lorien and re-entered her body, and awoke again, as one that cometh out of a deep sleep; and she arose and her body was refreshed. But after she had stood in the twilight of Lorien a long while in thought, remebering her former life, and all the tiding that she had learned, her heart was still sad and she had no desire to return to her own people." -Morgoth's Ring, The Later Quenta Silmarillion (II), Of Finwe and Miriel

"And it is told of Maglor that he could not endure the pain with which the Silmaril tormented him; and he cast it at last into the Sea and thereafter he wandered ever upon the shores, singing in pain and regret beside the waves. For Maglor was mighty among the singers of old, named only after Daeron of Doriath; but he came never back among the people of the elves." - The Silmarillion, Of The Voyage of Eärendil

[symphonyofsilence]

At all times I'm thinking about the poetic grandiose, the wretched grace, the brutal beauty, the hard-won victory, and the sad magnificence with which Maedhros falls.

It's about the way Maedhros finally gives in and yields to what he's been fighting against since the first kinslaying, the way he still has his unyielding determination & great battle strategies but when once they were considered good qualities of him now they drive him and the Middle-earth he once fought so hard to protect to their demise, the way Celegorm was the driving force behind the second kinslaying but still as the overlord of the Fëanorians Maedhros was the one who had the final say and decided to go with it & the third kinslaying happened with the reluctant agreement of all of the four sons despite their best effort (and they who held the borders and protected the people of Middle-earth once now ravaged a refuge) but at the end, Maedhros-who once was a beacon of hope before Nirnaeth & would not slay his kin hoping that he would free the Simarils from Melkor's grasp- was the driving force behind the fourth Kinslaying out of desperation. It's about the way he who once led the free folk against Melkor wouldn't even fight in the War of Wrath anymore. It's about how he who once held the banner against Melkor and whom Melkor was weary of at the end helped Melkor in some ways. It's about how all throughout his spiral you can see his inner turmoil & noble nature still shining through as he searches for Elured & Elurin, tries to forswear the oath, tries to negotiate in peace, and at least agrees to take Elrond & Elros in and protect them, and eventually when the Silmarils burn his hands he can't live with himself anymore. The way he loses the one battle and war that he truly wanted to win and after that in a new war that he doesn't want, wins every battle that he doesn't want with every realm but cannot win the one thing he truly wants (and the thing he supposedly "wants" is the thing that ruined his family and his life. So the Sons of Feanor in the whole Arda must have been the only ones who truly didn't "want" the Silmarils) so he still loses the war. It's about the way Maedhros' final downfall comes with him "winning" his last fight. With him "winning" the thing he spent all of the story seeking and fighting for. It's about the way that thing truly wasn't a thing Maedhros himself ever sought or desired. It's about the way in which his story truly comes to an end. Just not the end anyone hoped for but the end that anyone could see coming. The way it was both preventable and inevitable. It's about the way in the end he essentially fills the role of Fëanor against whom he was a voice of reason (if still a loyal follower) at the beginning and despite how he tried to do things differently than his father, he eventually became Fëanor. He did, in the end, burn people's ships. He did burn his way back. He did ignore Eonwe and took up arms against the Valar and convinced Maglor to do so, too. The way Fëanor always haunts the narrative from the beginning but before Nirnaeth it's in a mute far away subtle way but after Nirnaeth it becomes completely obvious to the point that it's like Maedhros' story essentially ended with Nirnaeth & it's now Fëanor's story that continues through him. Maedhros after Nirnaeth is like a dead man haunting his own life trying to finish an unfinished business so he can finally die in peace. But at the same time, at that point, it all seems like a natural, fitting end to him. He was always meant to be a tragedy.

[fingonvaliant]

I read the silmarillion again (fully have lost track now on numbers) and I think it's really striking which scenes are dramatic and tear-jerking and why. In particular I love how each successive kinslaying gets smaller and more pathetic, but that's exactly why each successive one feels crueller and sadder.

The first kinslaying shows the Noldor at the zenith of their power and the nadir of their wisdom. Utter hubris, folly, defiance of the Valar. It is spectacular, it's very easy to see in your mind as it happens. There's a reason it's been painted so many times by the big-name Tolkien artists.

The second kinslaying by contrast is against a strong "foe," for a clear objective, but all the Feanorians really achieve from it is a bloody reversal of the victory of Beren and Luthien. There was never anything to gain from it.

And the third kinslaying. They knew how disastrous their oath was, three of their brothers were already dead, they have no personal grievance against Elwing, barely even heard of her. Some of the refugees at the havens had to have been their own people too.

The scale of the opponents and the motives also decrease poetically.

In the first kinslaying they fight the Teleri of Alqualonde for their ships, as prized to the Teleri as the Simarils were to Feanor. At the second, they go against Doriath, a renowned kingdom with strong defenders, for no less a prize than the Silmaril of Beren and Luthien. At the third, they massacre women and children over a rumor.

Personally I also imagine the size of the armies involved rapidly decreasing. Tens of thousands at Alqualonde, hundreds at Doriath, and in my mind, whenever I read it, I imagine only the four surviving Sons of Feanor and no other soldiers at the third kinslaying killing defenseless people.

Do you think Maedhros and Maglor were surprised when the Silmarils burned them?

[buffyfan145]

I think the scene where Glug the Orc tried to cut Galadriel's famous golden hair before Adar stopped him was interesting. On the surface, I assume the Uruk Father did it to stay on Gal's good side, and hopefully, gain her as an ally against Sauron. On a deeper note, I think him preventing anyone from cutting Gal's hair shows how even in his darkest form, Adar still retains some of his original elvish nature. All the elves frankly worshipped Gal's hair as a holy relic because it carried the Light of the Two Trees in its tresses. Feanor was so obsessed with its beauty (And probably Gal, herself) he demanded strands to create the Simarils. He even forcibly tried to cut some off before she stopped him (Definitely attempted SA undertones).

Despite his Uruk status, Adar probably still has an elvish awe over Gal's legendary hair and won't let it be desecrated. I also think how in history cutting a woman's hair was done as a punishment, especially in reaction to female agency and sexuality outside of patriarchal norms. It's possibly some dormant elvish chivalry in Adar wouldn't allow a female fron his former culture to undergo such humiliation. I just know if Sauron finds out Glug tried to cut the golden-silver hair he adores and compares to every other blonde she-elf (Poor Mirdania), he will personally cut on Glug's head and deliver it to his wife and child. Dark Simp would see it as a sacrilegious assault against his Lady of Light.

That's another thing I find fascinating about Adar too and even more excited for his and Galadriel's scenes next week. He has kept some of his elvish nature and customs with him after all these years. And interesting the show brought up again her hair twice in this episode. Plus, it made me think of how she will give Gimi some of her hair freely so many years later. And poor Glug if Sauron finds out about that. LOL

[legendaryevokercupcake]

Sauron and Morgoth: *Torture Maedhros for 30 years*

Maedhros: *Does not break, does not give them what they want*

Elrond: *Less than a second of puppy eyes* Please?

Maedhros: Fuck *Hands over Simarils* *Hands over all mortal possessions* *Hands over soul* *Hands over relatively ok childhood*

Morgoth: *Shocked pikachu face*

Sauron: WRITE THAT DOWN, WRITE THAT DOWN!

[demonscantgothere]

Adar may have been around all along:

I've seen this theory floating around on Reddit, so after the new set spoilers of seeing how Adar is definitely becoming a prominent character in The Rings of Power well past Season One, I'm getting a strong feeling he isn't an original character, and he just might tie into the lore at some point.

Before the Elves left to track down Morgoth, there is this scene:

These particular sword designs are very familiar. In fact . . .

Broken and older, but almost identical in design.

There are some theories he could be Maglor, the last surviving son of Fëanor, who did in fact have dark hair. There isn't much to support this theory except maybe three other things, though:

When Adar is first introduced, the camera focuses on his left hand, which is covered in a black spiked gauntlet. He wears this gauntlet throughout the whole season. It conceals his left hand entirely.

Now, Maglor's hand was burned from holding a Silmaril:

"And it is told of Maglor that he could not endure the pain with which the Silmaril tormented him; and he cast it at last into the Sea, and thereafter he wandered ever upon the shores, singing in pain and regret beside the waves. [ . . . ] but he came never back among the people of the Elves."

His hand was burned because of his part in the Kinslayings:

"And Varda hallowed the Simarils, so that thereafter no mortal flesh, nor hand unclean, nor anything of evil will might touch touch them, but it was scorched and withered;"

. . . Why is Adar so intent on hiding only one of his hands?

The only character who could confirm Adar as Maglor would likely be Elrond. After the Kinslaying at the Havens by the sons of Fëanor, Maglor fostered Elrond and his brother, Elros, and helped raise them. Therefore, Elrond would recognize Adar if, in fact, Adar is Maglor.

I've seen it pointed out that calling him "Adar," which means father in Sindarin, is also an interesting choice and could tie back into Elrond since he became a father to Elrond.

It'd be strange for Maglor to join with Orcs and follow Sauron after his regret with the Silmarils, but not completely unfounded. He is an Elf unaccounted for, who has committed a host of terrible deeds, including murder, so perhaps his regret and self-isolation poisoned him when he didn't return to the Elves.

Perhaps he sought something else out instead.

[starlightweave]

Silmarien Telcontar-Telerin✨

The Hymn of the Glade, as it was sung in the 15th century DR in The Starlight Glade, a little pocket of Evermeet tucked away on the edge of Cormanthor in Deepingdale

Isilmë, Isilmë! Elven beauty most grave! Moonlight Lady of the Starlight Glade Telerin's far-flung daughter of Evermeet A most ancient glory she did seek, Among the hosts retaking Myth Drannor In vengeance for the Weeping War

Sorceress unbound, against daemonfae she razed And upon her brow, starlight blazed The mithril shimmered in Cormanthor Like moonlight on the western shore

Beren, Beren! Man most brave! Laughing Lord of the Starlight Glade House Telcontar of Deepingdale, Out of legend your line hails The living son of Nimruzir, Friend to Valantha Amakiir Her life saved by aid unlooked for In the final days of the Weeping War

Their ring of friendship endures the years, Mithril shimmers in moonlight so clear On the ranger's hand beneath the trees Like rippling waves of the Trackless Seas

Silmarien, Silmarien! Of two worlds you were made! Starlight Maiden of the Glade Heir to the line of Nimruzir Strong hearted, brave, and without fear Last lone daughter of House Telerin Lightning dances across your skin

the Hymn of the Glade inspired by The Passing of the Elves Image credit: Feanor & the Simarils

[eight-pointed-star]

idk yet what this is about but he sounds like he's talking about simarils

edit: omg the very next paragraph was this. literally

edit 2: i've listened to the statement and it IS silmarils

[aurorapillar]

I have no idea how I would make it happen, but I'm petty and dislike the Valar and so I would love to have a fic where in the time between the valar's forces leaving Valinor and arriving in Beleriand, the elves there manage to defeat Morgoth.

Like they arrive and are proclaiming they're there to help and someone is like "uh yeah, we got rid of him months ago. Thanks for finally getting off your butts though I guess."

[mediciunicorn]

When the bad guy has the most precious things in all the world, and you are going to take them back. Even if he is HUGE, and tries to incinerate you with ferocious flames. You are Beren, and you will face anything for the love of Luthien

[januarywren]

Thank you for one million views!

✨ ONE MILLION ✨

There's a million things swirling in my head right now but I'd just like to say how over the moon I am to have crossed over a MILLION hits on my fanfics on ao3! 

It's surreal, honestly, I wouldn't be here had it not been for my readers' constant love and support towards my fics. Even when I had my moments of self-doubt and couldn't update for months, it was your support that kept me going and got me to this milestone, and for that I am so utterly grateful. Your support means more to me than I can ever truly express - it feels like more than I deserve. 💌

There are so many incredible writers on Fanfiction.net (where I got my start!) and ao3 that are an inspiration to me - Perry_Downing, tm_writes, ReyloTrashCompactor (NextToSomething), crochetaway, SageMcMae, forthelongestday, EricaNoelle180, ohwise1ne, blueenvelopes935, SouthSideStory, corvusdraconis, Red_Lily_Wine (Lilia_ula), Avdal, Simaril, TearoomSaloon, HollyDB, Ever-so-reylo, FlamingMaple, Janina, BelleMorte180, avidvampirehunter, Elywyngirlie, Hormonal_Trashbag, and countless more. 

I was 15 when I started sharing my work on fanfiction.net, and I'm about to turn 25 (in just a couple of minutes...!). It feels like a character arc in itself haha; the journey from losing my mind over a hundred views to now over a million! Thank you all so much - I hope that you continue to enjoy my work in 2024 (and yes - Curious Girl will be updated!). 🥂💖

[sweetearthandnorthernsky]

Hate and mask for Morinel?

Mask: Does your OC wear a mask, literally or figuratively? What goes on beneath it? Is there anyone in their life who gets to see who they are under the mask?

Morinel’s most prominent mask started gaining usage after Everything with the War of Wrath.  The early days of Lindon were hard, and she can’t particularly blame the inhabitants of what used to be Sirion or Doriath etc. of being skeptical/distrusting towards Feanorians, but still, it’s difficult and she just wants to vibe in peace. So, she forgoes red tunics, and only wears gold on occasion, and dresses in blue & silver which are Gil-galad’s colors during Fancy Events.

The personality part of this mask comes from her knowing that Feanorians have been known to have tempers/be stubborn etc etc, and out of spite, she forced herself to learn patience and how to be diplomatic. and occasionally being icy and reserved etc. These traits are very helpful when on the councils she gets put on in the future, but in the beginning she was not thinking that far ahead lol, she just wanted to prove people wrong. 

(Very Feanorian behavior, imo.)

Beneath the mask is a lot of cursing when things are going wrong, and she has to stay calm calm calm. Even if she’s getting frustrated and wants to snap at people.

I imagine that Elrond (and Elros while he's around) sees her most without the mask given *gestures vaguely* that whole situation in their youth. Celebrimbor is probably a close second, but once he heads out to Ost-in-Edhil they’re not seeing each other every day. Tyelpecal & Remlas have known her since she was born, although they’ve only seriously interacted with her when she was Grown.  It takes a very long time for others, Gil-galad & Cirdan & Nínael, it’s probably not till… like. 150 of the Second Age for her to feel she really trust them with her real self.

She also makes two friends when she's visiting Celebrimbor over the summers, and they all kind of just click, so Celebrian and Narmeleth never really saw the mask version of her.

Other than that, it's pretty slim as to who gets the real her. (Except for Sae + Idhrin eventually)

Hate: What does your OC hate? Why? How do they act towards the object of their hatred?

So, there are several answers to this, but the first and probably most obvious, is Sauron. 

All Elves hate him, true, but for her it feels really personal, even though she’s logically aware it’s not – Celebrimbor is hardly the first that Sauron betrayed, but then again, Celebrimbor is the last family (she thinks) she has on these shores. She wants to knock his lights out so bad, even at the risk of injuring herself in the process.

There’s also a period (~587 of the First Age til ~500 of Second Age) where she just. really fucking hates Maedhros&Maglor, and Maglor probably more than Maedhros. For what they did to Sirion, for what they did to the Guards of the Simarils. Absolutely not in any portion for just ditching her and Celebrimbor with 0 communication. .... They don't even learn Maedhros is dead probably for a decent amount of time after it happens.

Anyway, back on topic.

She does sort of get over it eventually, but it flares up again after Celebrimbor dies, and is like a low simmer until… she gets to Valinor probably?

(This second example is technically a misnomer, it’s more like grief + lack of closure + Morinel’s internal instinct to fight someone when she’s upset. However, if you asked her what it was, she would say that it’s hate because that’s what she thinks it is).

[mhevarujta]

There’s something about Morgoth and Sauron becoming what they were afraid of...

Despite his ages-long tantrum over not being able to create the world as he willed and of his fall to a nihilistic frenzy, Morgoth clung to the light and the power it entailed even as he tries to destroy everything. It is why he’s so drawn to the Simarills. Imagine how far his plan of destruction would have gone if, rather than being content with the corruption of the Two Trees, he had given the Silmarills to Ungoliant. Yet he doesn’t. He clings to them even as his hand burns and he is afraid of her. 

But at the same time he’s not that different from her. He is corrupting and consuming the world to the point that he feels a ‘hunger’ of his own that is never satisfied and the more he satisfies it, the more it corrupts him.

On the other hand, there is this passage about Sauron yelding because he is terrified of his self being pierced in his nakedness by Morgoth’s eyes. 

A piercing eyes that brings this very fear to others is exactly what he ends up becoming. 

[buffyfan145]

Remember how I once said that Galadriel's effervescent appearance in the Proposal Scene was Sauron's view of her? Basically, seeing her as Light Incarnate via his Maia eyesight? I think how Morfydd described him seeing Gal as this radient being he wants to possess, but knows he never truly can, fits into how enhanced her eyes, hair, and skin were in that mindscape. That's literally how Sauron sees her and to him she's even more beautiful than real life. I also think this adds to the theory that Celebrimbor's story about Morgoth being obsessed with the Simarils' light and almost getting redeemed by them was foreshadowing for Haladriel. It makes sense since Gal was Feanor's reluctant muse and he designed the jewels after her.

I totally agree, even more so with today's comments from the articles. 😀