#melian

[my-deer-legolas]

[mandhos]

[afanofmanyhats]

One of my favorite things about Tolkien's writing is that he has a very specific, recurring trope. For lack of a better term, I'm dubbing this the Tolkien Wife-Guy.

This is mainly obvious in the Silmarillion, but Tolkien loves to write couples where the man is a notable individual- nobility, commits a great deed, or both- but the wife is at least equally notable, if not more beloved or powerful. Manwe is the king of the Valar and Eru's main representative in Arda? Everyone loves Varda more, and Melkor fears her more than his own brother. Elu Thingol is the king of the Silvan Elves? His wife is Melian, whose Girdle is the magic that keeps Morgoth's forces at bay. Beren is a chief among the Edain, who befriends animals and survives one of the most nightmarish places in Beleriand? His wife is Luthien.

Even in Lord of the Rings we see this occur, though the couples are on more even footing. Tom Bombadil is... Tom Bombadil, but Goldberry is the River-daughter, and Tom adores her above everything else, and the hobbits are completely taken in with her when she's their host. Similarly, while Celeborn is a mighty lord among Elves, Galadriel is one of the only Noldor in Middle-earth who saw the Two Trees, and her hair inspired Feanor to make the Silmarils, not to mention her own accomplishments in the war against Morgoth. Aragorn is the king of Gondor and Arnor, but Arwen is the Evenstar of the Elves, the descendant of three(?) different royal Elven lines. And Faramir becomes the Steward of Gondor and is one of the noblest men alive, but Eowyn killed the Witch-king, so you know. She got the grander moment for the saga.

But with (most) of these couples, we never get the impression that the man views his wife as Less-Than, or as a junior partner. Thingol is the main exception to this in how he dismisses Melian's counsel, and that's made out to be his foolishness within the text. Otherwise, Manwe treats Varda as his co-ruler, Beren never tries to downplay Luthien's achievements, and I'm pretty sure most of Tom Bombadil's dialogue is about how gorgeous Goldberry is. It's really sweet.

All of these examples really testify to how much Tolkien loved his wife. People rightly point to Beren and Luthien as the prime example of that, but I think you can find it in these other couples too. Even though Edith is mainly known to history as Mrs. Tolkien, it's evident to me that Jirt saw her as a whole person worthy of admiration outside of being his wife.

[chechula]

Beren and Lúthien in Menegroth throne room....sketch that I made 3month ago, I like it but...I have no idea how to finish it x_x There is so much detail everywhere so I have no idea where to put a focus...Shall I make it in colors? Or black&whitte? Ink or pencil.....no idea x_x

[sempermoi]

A more eldritchy Melian, yknow what if she had like a second set of eyes that can bewitch people when she opens them up

[thesummerestsolstice]

I love how the entrance to Rivendell is shown in the Hobbit movies– the path is clearly enchanted; the geography is wonky, and the passage only shows up when Thorin & co really need to escape danger.

I feel like this is just how Rivendell works– there are no set pathways in and out of the valley, strange corridors and hidden passages to it just show up when and where they're needed. People who have been to Rivendell before can usually find their way back pretty easily, but even they usually can't explain exactly how they got there. Only the residents of Rivendell can reliably lead others to the valley– and Galadriel, because she's Galadriel. It usually takes Gandalf a while to find the path. He's convinced Elrond just like messing with him.

This is very much Elrond channeling his inner Melian. Doriath was extremely hard to get into, but in the normal fairy way where you just get lost in the woods endlessly if you're not welcome, and the forest parts for you if you are. Elrond saw that and decided to spice things up a little for his realm. You know, some impossible rock formations, a few very strange trees, landscaping that is vaguely beyond mortal comprehension, all that.

Rivendell's residents think it's great. Most outsiders think it's a little creepy.

[mfelewzi]

The family tree of Eldarion, son of Elessar/Aragorn and Arwen, Heir of all the Houses of Edain and Eldars, with Maia's Blood too!

[sakasakiii]

a while ago i was sent an ask from @waterjewelsspite (answered below) wherein i was asked about different elven fashions.... so from left to right: doriathrim fashion, teleri + nargothrond fashion, vanya fashion :DD these have been sitting in my drafts as uncoloured wips since early 2022 omg, but better late than never i suppose !!!

i didnt have a specific sketch page for the noldor that i did back then hahahaha so i came back to it recently and took it as a chance to do some assorted concept doodles with the kind of outfits i imagine them wearing in mundane situations? i dont quite know how to explain it but i hope my annotations can help show my thought process a bit!!

cant believe it took me this long to give like half the characters proper fullbody refs or designs (im looking at YOU beleg and mablung) but this has been super fun and really refreshing, so thank you again waterjewelsspite for the kind ask!!! sorry again it took. two and a half years. OMG. for me to get it done 😭😭😭 i hope this sufficed!!!

in usual fashion, bonus feanorian shenanigans: caranthir's first business/publishing/entrepreneurship/girlboss venture

[nailsinmywall]

Family portraits: in tirion, himlath (ft. proud uncle celegorm and tiny celebrimbor), nan elmoth and doriath

[a-mountain-hobbit]

The Fall of Doriath musical stream

Do you especially enjoy the doom and despair parts of the Silmarillion? Then I have the musical for you! Pád Doriathu is about the end of said forest realm, and the downward spiral at the end of the first Age of Beleriand. It's by Falešné Společenstvo (a czech musical theatre group who has 6 full-length Silm musicals so far).

If you don't speak Czech, like many of us, all of the songs and the prologue have automatic english subtitles from the original script. With the dialogue, it's more context/vibes-based. But still very enjoyable, and the beautiful music of course transcends language barriers.

You can watch the musical here on yt, but if you would like to watch it in a group, the Last Homely Server is hosting 2 watchparties again. Hope to see you there!

Stream 1: 30th of November, 18:30 CET Stream 2: 1st of December, 10:00 CET

Cytube room: https://cytu.be/r/paddoriathu Password: silmaril

Maedhros in defiance and despair after the Sack of Doriath

[red-raven-reading]

[colleendoran]

LEGENDS OF THE QUENDI

Private commission, from The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Pen and ink, watercolor, 24 K gold.

Gandalf/Olorin, Cirdan, Celembribor, Gil Galad, Melian, Galadriel, Elrond, Arwen, The Elven Rings, The Elessar, and a symbolic Belt of Melian.

No, I'm not playing hooky on Good Omens, I get about 20 minutes a day to work on other stuff.

I was getting a half hour a day, but even that's too much at this point.

And yes, at roughly 25 minutes a day, a piece like this takes a really long time. Months.

I'm a big believer in making sure you pick at something else even while working on a big project, even if you only use that time for warm ups. Keeps you from crumbling under the weight of the main project.

[sihtryggr]

THE RINGS OF POWER + THE BEAUTY OF ELROND PEREDHEL.

THE SILMARILLION (+ descriptions of Elrond’s father and foremother) - J. R. R. TOLKEIN.

“Of surpassing beauty was Eärendil, for a light was in his face as the light of heaven, and he had the beauty and the wisdom of the Eldar and the strength and hardihood of the Men of old […]”

“Melian was a Maia, of the race of the Valar. She dwelt in the gardens of Lórien, and among all his people there were none more beautiful than Melian, nor more wise, nor more skilled in songs of enchantment.”

[chaos-of-the-abyss]

guys i love elu thingol a lot. i love the fact that he was good enough for a maia to fall in love with him, and that theirs is the first and only canon union of an ainu and one of the children. i love the fact that his people adored him so much that they refused paradise and the direct protection of literal demiurges because he wouldn't be there with them. i love that even though he's incredibly proud, ancient, experienced, and war-hardened, he actually tries to change his behavior and do better when he sees the error in his ways. i love that he is the first and only elf king in history to adopt a human as his own child

[azalearanger]

A Collection of Small Thoughts of Appreciation for the Silmarillion:

I love that Evening, the time of the half-shadow half-light, the time of the resting of the sun, was "the hour of greatest light and joy" and the most treasured time to the elves.

Fingon wept when he saw the state of Maedhros hanging from Thangorodrim. He wept for his friend.

Melian's words "a grief but lulled to sleep lies between the princes of the Noldor"; idk I just think 'grief' is the perfect word to use there, I can't explain it but that is just exactly what emanates from so much that happens in the silm

speaking of grief, the death of Fingolfin made me weep.

Beren's farewell poem on pg 178 (just go read it pls pls), like its just the definition of bittersweet, he loves Lúthien sm

I've said it once I'll say it again: Turgon opening the leaguer and coming to his brother's aid in the Nirnaeth ("Auta i lómë! The night is passing!" LIKE COME ON (with tears rolling down my face)

AND the last stand of Húrin at the Nirnaeth, ayo I think this will get its own post at some point, but BRO, Last Stand indeed, actually unbeatable

One of those passages you should read out loud just to hear it: Gwindor: " 'Awake, Túrin son of Húrin Thalion! On Ivrin's lake is endless laughter. She is fed from crystal fountains unfailing, and guarded from defilement by Ulmo, Lord of Waters, who wrought her beauty in ancient days.' Then Túrin knelt and drank from that water; and suddenly he cast himself down, and his tears were unloosed at last, and he was healed of his madness." << just a beautiful, beautiful passage. Literary art, full of light, paints a picture in my head, 100000/10. (also should prob be its own post at some point)

maybe more to come at some point who knows