#i may just be shouting into the void (hi morgoth)

[theworldisquietheretooquiet]

An unhinged attempt to fit deaths in the Silm into the 15 Fears/Entities of The Magnus Archives

THE BURIED

Fingolfin

So in all honesty I struggled to put Fingolfin in one of the others, but he’s here because he was figuratively weighed down by the weight of the ruin of the Noldor… and Morgoth crushed him under his weight, which was “like a fallen hill.”

THE CORRUPTION

Aredhel

She dies to a poisoned wound inflicted by her husband, which is very symbolic of an entity associated with infection and unhealthy love.

THE DARK

Eluréd & Elurín

They are taken by monsters into a dark forest, and their death is a fate unknown in the dark… I’m not crying… MAG 173 vibes.

THE DESOLATION

Maedhros

This works so well and was what originally sparked (ha) this idea. Throwing yourself into a “gaping chasm filled with fire” is exactly what a victim of the Lightless Flame would do. This fear is the manifestation of pain, loss and unthinking/cruel destruction, especially of potential. Maedhros both experiences this and is the perpetrator of this on countless occasions. His death is the consequence of these actions – his last sensations are “pain unbearable”, “anguish”, and “despair”.

Also, the parallels to Agnes Montague! Both are angsty redheads who were held up as the hope of a people only to fail in that role completely and die a meaningless self-inflicted death…

(I promise the others won’t be as long oops)

Aegnor & Angrod

Really all deaths in the Dagor Bragollach fit here – dying in despair in dragon fire is very Desolation.

Aerin

Unlike the others I don’t believe she ever gave into utter despair, and her death by fire has some defiant rage in it. Yet her life was marked by pointless pain and her death by destruction; she burns herself alive to avoid the revenge of the Easterlings.

THE END

Maglor

He’s haunted by inevitable death throughout the narrative - the unstoppable end of all his brothers, cousins and Beleriand itself. Assuming he fades, he dies the closest to a mortal death from old age of any elf.

Morwen

She dies nearly as soon as Hurin finds her on the grave of her children, one of the last of the Beorians, a ‘dead’ people.

THE EYE

Húrin

As Thingol tells him “for he that seeth through Morgoth’s eyes, willing or unwilling, seeth all things crooked”. A figure that keeps constant watch and horrible knowledge that may destroy you are both of the Eye.

THE EXTINCTION

Turgon

The Fall of Gondolin represents that final extinction of all Noldor culture, power and craft in Beleriand – and it was brought down by a Noldo (Maeglin). Destruction by our own doing is very Extinction.

THE FLESH

Celebrimbor

(Yes I know he doesn’t technically die in the Silm sshhh) But being made into a human banner and paraded by the enemy is quintessentially Flesh fears of reshaping and mutilation.

Finduilas

She was “fastened to a tree with a spear”, which is the sort of physical mutilation this entity represents.

THE HUNT

Finrod

He killed a werewolf … with his hands and teeth. Yeah.

Celegorm

This boy is the biggest avatar of the Hunt. He literally canonically served the god of hunting. And his hunting after the silmaril led to the second kinslaying and his death.

Ambarussa

If we go with the idea their own followers turned on them and killed them at Sirion, it has the Hunt energy of predator becoming prey.

THE LONELY

Maeglin

Kind of leaning into popular fanon here (because it has been a while since I read tfog) but his betrayal of Gondolin links with his isolation as Eöl’s son, Sindarin and the way he was raised in Nan Elmoth. Plus his whole being a creep for Idril thing as a desire to not be alone.

THE SLAUGHTER

Dior

The sudden, awful violence of the second kinslaying basically.

Fingon

His death signifies to me the pure, horrifying, unmotivated violence of war which the Slaughter represents. They “beat him into the dust with their maces, and his banner, blue and silver, they trod into the mire of his blood.”

THE SPIRAL

Fëanor

There’s the lies spread by Morgoth, Feanor’s own deceit of Fingolfin at Losgar and his description as “fey”, all which lead to his death, and lies, false friendships, deceit and madness are all characteristics of the Spiral.

Thingol

He was mad to speak to the dwarves like that and not expect consequences lol. Also his obsession with the silmaril is a little like madness. And I guess you could say the dwarves ‘deceived’ him as they never intended to give him the Nauglamir.

THE STRANGER

Beleg

Case 1.0 of Túrin killing a love interest because of mistaken identity.

Nienor

Case 2.0 of Túrin ‘killing’ a love interest because of mistaken identity. Feat. Accidental incest. Also Nienor experiences the creeping sense of knowing something is not right but not how.

THE VAST

Eöl

He gets yeeted to death. Simon Fairchild is jealous.

Elenwë

Dying an ‘insignificant’ death in the unfathomably deep and barren void of the Helcaraxë is very indicative of the Vast.

THE WEB

Túrin

He is the poster child for being trapped in a machination, and not knowing it, Morgoth makes his will not his own with the curse. With his many names he tries to escape the web Glaurung and Morgoth cast over him, but to the end he only furthers his own doom – “master of doom by doom mastered”. (Even his sword was working against him RIP.)

[faustandfurious]

Can you make a top 10 badass moments in the legendarium?

It's hard to pick only ten, some of you may disagree with the exact order of these, and I may have forgotten something, but here are the ten moments that gave me the sense of being witness to something truly epic:

1. Fingolfin challenges Morgoth to single combat

Why it is badass: Fingolfin is so incredibly angry because of the losses his people have suffered, that he gets on his horse and rides all the way to Angband to make Morgoth himself, an actual Vala, pay for his crimes.

"... all that beheld his onset fled in amaze, thinking that Oromë himself was come: for a great madness of rage was upon him, so that his eyes shone like the eyes of the Valar."

2. Húrin in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad

Why it is badass: Húrin, a mortal man, after having fought a long battle and seen his brother and all his friends slain, takes down seventy enemies with his axe and no backup, while shouting his defiance at Morgoth's armies.

"Aurë entuluva!"

3. Lúthien steals the Silmaril

Why it is badass: Lúthien, with a little help from Huan and Beren, takes down Sauron and sends him crawling back to his master, then makes Carcharoth, the greatest werewolf ever, fall asleep with a few words, then proceeds to make everyone in Angband, including Morgoth himself, fall into a slumber deep enough for Beren to take a Silmaril.

"... her voice came dropping down like rain into pools, profound and dark. She cast her cloak before his eyes, and set upon him a dream, dark as the Outer Void where once he walked alone."

4. Éowyn kills the Witch-king of Angmar

Why it is badass: Éowyn rides into battle to die, comes out of it as the person who killed Saurons undead second-in-command.

"But no living man am I! You look upon a woman. Éowyn I am, Éomund's daughter. You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him."

5. Turgon arrives at the Nirnaeth

Why it is badass: Alright, this one is highly subjective, but there is something about the way Tolkien writes about it that sends shivers down my spine every time I read it. The description is so vivid, so evocative, so wondrously hopeful, despite everything that happens afterwards.

"But now a cry went up, passing on the wind from the south from vale to vale, and Elves and Men lifted their voices in wonder and joy. For unsummoned and unlooked for Turgon had opened the leaguer of Gondolin, and was come with an army ten thousand strong, with bright mail and long swords and spears like a forest."

6. Eärendil slays Ancalagon the Black

Why it is badass: Eärendil comes down from the sky in his flying ship to kill a dragon that is large enough to destroy a mountain.

"Before the rising sun Eärendil slew Ancalagon the black, the mightiest of the dragon-host, and cast him from the sky; and he fell upon the towers of Thangorodrim, and they were broken in his ruin."

7. The Last Alliance

Why it is badass: Elendil and Gil-galad working together to gather a massive army to make Sauron himself pee his pants tremble with fear.

"Against Aeglos the spear of Gil-galad none could stand; and the sword of Elendil filled Orcs and Men with fear, for it shone with the light of the sun and of the moon, and it was named Narsil."

8. Gandalf faces Durin's Bane

Why it is badass: This is one of the moments in LotR where we see Gandalf's true nature shine through the shabby exterior, when he is finally faced with an enemy on his own level and therefore is allowed to use the power he normally has to keep hidden.

"'You cannot pass,' he said. The orcs stood still and a dead silence fell. 'I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pass.'"

9. Fëanor's doom

Why it is badass: Mandos, or someone who looks like him, has just told Fëanor that his whole family is doomed. Fëanor's response? "Sugar, we're going down singing."

"Therefore I say that we will go on, and this doom I add: the deeds that we shall do shall be the matter of song until the last days of Arda."

10. Fëanor shuts his door in Morgoth's face

Why it is badass: Fëanor has the nerve to not only reject Morgoth's offer of friendship, but to do it in the most insulting way possible, through use of the informal "thee" and by literally slamming the door in his face.

"Then hate overcame Fëanor's fear, and he cursed Melkor and bade him be gone, saying: 'Get thee gone from my gate, thou jail-crow of Mandos!' And he shut the doors of his house in the face of the mightiest of all the dwellers in Eä."

Honourable mentions:

Theoden rides out at Helm's Deep

The Rohirrim arrive at the Pelennor Fields

The Destruction of the Ring

The Union of Maedhros

Sam fights Shelob

[sweetteaanddragons]

Songs for Numenor

@feanorianweek

He probably could have escaped the men if he’d tried, but he hadn’t tried. Not really. Not from any suicidal impulses, but because he’d heard their talk as he hid among the sand dunes, just as he’d heard many men talk while he hid himself from view.

He had known things were going wrong in the kingdom that had once been Elros’s.

He had not known that this had included human sacrifice to Morgoth.

The Numenoreans seemed to think an elf would be just the thing to celebrate some big voyage that was soon to launch. 

Maglor thought he’d rather like to get face to face with whoever thought it was a good idea to try to bring Morgoth back.

The sea was dark and furious as they sailed with a cargo of captured Men. 

“The Valar are angry we’ve taken one of their firstborn,” one sailor muttered.

“They’re always angry,” another said angrily. “The seas ain’t that much worse than before. Now get to work before the cap’n hears you talkin’ like that!”

Maglor wondered which was right.

Or maybe the Valar were just angry that he was sailing west, even if his final destination wasn’t home.

The land of Numenor was beautiful, but the cities . . . 

The harbor was a crush of human misery as slaves were shuffled off of ships and into the waiting hands of cruel priests and auctioneers. The streets beyond were no better, cluttered with the poor, the desperate, and a few brave souls crying out that the end was near.

Maglor saw one of those clubbed and dragged off.

He was just dragged on, through cleaner streets, past temples that warped the very song of the world, past homes white as bleached bone, bereft of growing things, and surrounded by grand statues of the glorious dead, at least according to one of the guards.

The blood staining his lips was worth the answered question.

Not for him was any of that, though. For him was the capital, he was informed, where the high priest himself awaited.

The more he heard, the more Maglor looked forward to meeting this so-called high priest.

Once, Maglor had welcomed the sight of eagles.

Now great storm clouds of them gathered over the island, casting everything in dim, dangerous light. The whole land was heavy with anticipated wrath.

The song would reach a climax soon. Maglor was beginning to think he didn’t want to be on the island when it came.

He was exhausted, bloodied, and wary when he was at last dragged before the temple they’d told him of.

The very stones cried out with the weight of innocent blood.

Maglor knew that sound all too well.

And the high priest - 

The Numenoreans had called him Zigur, but Maglor doubted that was his name.

Because the being before him was not a Man. Not even an elf.

It was a Maia, and he could think of only one who could feel so dark and look so fair, though he’d never before seen him face to face.

“Sauron,” he said, and it was only a lifetime of performance that let it come out as a challenge, and not a horrified, enraged shout.

Sauron, who had left scars on Maedhros’s body and scars on his mind that left him wild eyed and desperate when he woke from dreams in the night. Sauron, who had wrought the chain that cost his brother his hand. Sauron, whose torments had helped pushed Maedhros over that edge.

Sauron, who had tormented Finrod in the dark. Sauron, who had picked off his cousin’s followers one by one. Sauron, who had seen Finrod horribly, messily dead.

Sauron, who had betrayed Celebrimbor. Sauron, who had tortured him beyond endurance. Sauron, who had held up his broken body like a banner.

Sauron, who now sought to turn Elros’s hope to evil end.

Sauron.

He couldn’t actually rip a Maia’s throat out with his teeth as Huan had. That didn’t stop him from wanting to.

“An elf,” Sauron said with a darkly delighted smile. “And one with the light of the Trees still lingering in your eyes, no matter how ragged the rest of you has become! What discarded relic might you be?”

No doubt he would recognize the name, but Maglor had no intention of giving it to him. There was only one thing he would give in answer: 

Maglor opened his mouth and sang with a fierceness he had not for an age of the world.

He did not make Finrod’s mistake. He did not try to sing of goodness and light. He knew too well that he had no defenses there.

He sang of wrath instead.

Sauron’s eyes widened and in the first moment, he actually took a step back.

The courtyard stirred.

Sauron stepped forward and sang back.

The wrath of the elves, shining armies charging forth and sweeping down rank after rank of the enemy’s corrupted creatures -

Those same armies, lying crushed and dead, their blood soaking into the desolate ground - 

Their songs shook the stone of the pavement before the temple. The altar began to crumble. The pillars trembled in their place.

The wrath of the dwarves, carving their way relentlessly, unstoppably, out of the battle once their king lay dead -

The dwarf cities sacked by the elves, and their dead lying crushed by a river - 

The gathered people - masters, slaves, worshippers, all - began to back away, and then to run. The air trembled with unchecked power.

Only one woman, with fine clothes and a weary face, steadied herself on a shaking pillar and remained.

The wrath of Men, fighting relentlessly on, grimly fighting despite knowing they might never live to see the end - 

Descendants of those men crying out in ecstasy as blood was poured out on Morgoth’s altar, faces twisted by the need for blood - 

The woman walked forward, a stone shaken loose from the temple gripped tightly in both hands

The wrath of the Valar. Pitiless and absolute. Inescapable. Wrath that already lay heavy on the sea, on the land, on the air.

Maglor threw the full weight of his Doom into his song and thrust it upon Sauron. This is what you’ve courted. This is what you’ve called down upon yourself. 

Sauron opened his mouth to answer.

The woman brought the stone crashing into his head.

A Maia could not be killed by such things, but his form was injured, and he stumbled.

At that moment, Maglor called out with all the terror, all the despair, all the desire to flee that had kept him wandering hopelessly on the water’s edge for an Age.

Sauron’s form flickered. Changed to something small, vicious, and winged.

And fled.

Their songs slowly faded from the air. The woman stared at him with wide eyes. “He’s gone. After all this time - Who are you?”

Maglor had no idea how widely his name was still known. “No one important,” he said quietly, his voice strained almost past his ability. “And yourself?”

“Someone of equally little importance.” Her mouth twisted bitterly as she walked closer. “I’m called Tar-Miriel.”

Maglor flinched. At the name, and at her eyes. They were Elros’s eyes, infinitely wearier than Maglor had ever seen them.

It was only then, in that quiet moment, that he realized the terrible clouds of Manwe’s eagles were gone.

Tar-Miriel followed his eyes upward and realized the same thing. A bit of hope brought warmth to her eyes. “Now that the accursed one is gone and my husband,” there her mouth twisted again, “has sailed away with the worst of them, perhaps the Valar have had mercy.”

She couldn’t feel what Maglor could.

“The Valar are gone,” he said hoarsely. “Entirely gone.” Never before had he felt such a complete absence of their power. “Something’s coming.” He turned to her. “We need - “ They needed to leave, but they were days from the coast. “There must be somewhere safe here. Safer than elsewhere at least.”

She didn’t doubt him. Hope fled quickly, and her eyes hardened with resolve. “The Meneltarma,” she said. “The Holy Mountain. No matter how angry they’ve become, they’ve never struck there.”

A sacred place. Maglor very much doubted he’d be welcome there.

But Miriel perhaps could find safety there. “Show me,” he ordered. He felt the world tremble around them. “Run.”

She fled towards the mountain, Maglor keeping pace behind.

They were at the base of the mountain when Maglor could no longer ignore the beautiful, terrible song of the world. It filled something in his soul in a way he’d never felt before even as it sent forth a tide of dread. He turned.

Water rose up in an impossible wall behind them, growing every moment.

Miriel turned and saw it too. The prayers she had been murmuring as they ran stuttered to a halt. “Climb,” she said, tugging at his arm, “climb, we’ll be safe at the top - “

Maglor gently pulled his arm away. “Not I,” he said. There was horror building in his veins, pounding against the facade of courage he was trying to keep up.

Even now, after everything, he didn’t want to die.

But if this mountain truly was holy, it wouldn’t bear his touch. He’d learned that long ago. He wouldn’t risk her chances by trying.

He could see stubbornness rising up in her, stubbornness he remembered all too well from the boys who had once looked up at him with those eyes.

“I am Maglor Feanorian,” he told her. “The mountain will not bear me.” 

Still she hesitated.

“Go!” he shouted with all the force of will he could, and even she could not withstand that.

She ran.

He heard his name in her prayers as she did.

He turned from her to the wave. Ever closer. It wouldn’t be long now.

Maglor raised his voice in wordless lament, but the roar of the wave drowned out all sound. Its power far eclipsed his own.

Climb, Miriel, climb. May you find mercy on your mountain.

He could see it clearly now. A great wave crashing down, higher than the sacred mountain, as black as the void he was sworn to. 

He was about to be fed to it whole.

He cried out louder, still unheard, and raised up his arms in - surrender? defiance? He hardly knew.

The wave crashed down.