#narvaeril

[annellspethraven]

Nature Abhors a Void

I created a Tumblr. Then deleted a Tumblr. Here we are again, obviously...so many of you cannot be found without a Tumblr. This is like an unknown and potentially venomous creature. I shall approach slowly and poke it with a stick, fleeing as soon as possible to the safe places called AO3, Discord, DeviantArt, Instagram, and even the swamp of Twitter. I'm That Special Child, co-author of That Special Fanfic. Dedicated encourager of the crafts of writing and art in general, I may come around begging you for your lovely art creations come Oxonmoot time or...who even knows what; I'm quirky and my eyes will light up at the word Thindren just as much as Shizun! If you know, you do not have to ask. But if you really need me, find me on Discord Narvaeril/AnnEllspethRaven#7864 because write write write I'm not on social media to the extent possible. Have a lovely lovely day, Daeron once of Doriath wishes it to be so.

[z-h-i-e]

4: Where do you find inspiration for new ideas?

Everywhere.

Generally, I do a lot of observing, and I tend to end up a party to interesting happenings and conversations.

Everything in life is fair game.

I’ll use dogs in stories as examples.

Greyboy, the wolf dog that followed Haldir around in several stories in Bunniverse (And in an RP followed Glorfindel) was based on my own doggo, Smudge, a black lab/sheltie mix with (wait for it) 25% wolf from his father’s side. Smudge lived to be 19; when he died in the midst of me editing a story his character was in, I felt it was proper to amend the story and have Erestor arrive back to mainland Valinor to find that Greyboy had passed away.

Trotter was the real life Dog Dog, the terrier Fingon took hunting with him. Though not posted yet, Dog Dog will make his exit in an upcoming chapter of Phoenix; Trotter passed away this past summer at age 10 three days after his birthday (Dog Dog will be at least 100 in the story).

Currently, Princess Paige is my floof, and I don’t have a name for her story character, but she will be Finrod’s emotional support doggo in a future story.

Vi, an active member of the fandom before her passing, used to have typos I found useful—Squysh was one of these, and ended up being the fluffy runaway dog belonging to Gil-galad in The Purple Plot Bunnies.

I wrote some outdoor hounds to protect Erestor’s gardens into a few of the Tol Eressea stories; they are a nod to Narvaeril’s plot hounds on her farm that keep control of the rats and raccoons.

The idea of ‘watch out you might end up in my story’ is 100% true with me.

When real life doesn’t work I turn to random generators. Those are what help me write things fast for pinch hits on swaps.

[tolkienrsb]

Hello, Tolkien fans!  Today in our Summer Showcase we have a lovely TRSB writer/artist…

The fabulous Narvaeril!

(aka - AnnEllspethRaven on DeviantArt, Narvaeril/AnnEllspethRaven#7864 on Discord, AnnEllspethRaven on Instagram)

My very first Tolkien books were the ones Aunt Dorothy gave me for holidays out of the bargain bin. I had no idea who he was or what they were but I liked the pictures. I think I was 11, I was given the Silmarillion, Pictures by JRR Tolkien and The Tolkien Companion (to the Silm, I guess, because I didn't have any of the other books, but that was Aunt Dorothy for you. She wore lime green polyester suits with pink plastic jewelry to Christmas dinner so, that happened? Anyway that was a long time ago and then in 2016 I found fanfic and it lit my brain on fire. I believed I had no talent for any kind of creative writing because I had no imagination, I guess I wasn't plugged into the right socket. I started writing in a vacuum but later I made a few acquaintances and corresponded a little more with SonaBeanSidhe ( til recently known as Spamberguesa) and  in August 2016 I started writing this little fic set in Ireland because I wanted impetus to learn Sindarin. She agreed to help me with some cowriting, and the little fic became the large fic.  When not writing fic... I rarely want to do anything but write but in theory...I garden, farm, farm, garden? Opine at length about growing, cooking and eating food? Attempt to be an adult? Not sure. I sing and play piano and recorder, like Baroque and Early Music mostly but there is my erratic alt-rock playlist, create digital art and not so digital art. I live with my husband, two Plott hounds, seven cats, dozens of peafowl and some chickens on about 10 acres. I can't really tell any more because that would mean I figured it out myself...interesting facts...I have had some unusual jobs and pursuits. "Soup cow," "incinerator day", "manspikes" and "toilet glowies" have all been completely normal words in my life.

The Huntress

Rated M (Note: there is a rated Teen version of this fic on fanfiction.net under the same title, my username AnnEllspethRaven, with the one 'bedroom scene' in the fic adjusted to a teen rating if there are those who do not wish to read adult content.)

Warnings: There are attempted sexual assaults and references to attempted assaults in the story. Mild violence. The story is about a huntress; someone who hunts animals for food.

About the fic: This story was a singular experience for me. I write long stories, but I have never had 50K worth of text flare into my head in a matter of hours, fully formed, and I knew from start to finish what was going to happen such that the next few days were just frenetic typing. There is inspiration, and then there is questioning if the aliens were downloading into my head that day. Joking. Maybe? When I first heard of fanfic I only had interest in stories about Thranduil and soon had seen many fics that wore a deep (and repetitive) rut as to what same few possibilities explained the absence of his wife. I really wanted to tell a completely different story. This was around the time I'd read Mary Aseltyne's "The King's Vineyard" and I also really enjoy fairy tales, Beauty and the Beast being a favorite. I didn't want this to be that fairy tale but wanted to use elements of it, such as a character similar to the antagonist Gaston or the idea that The Nobody from the village ends up marrying the local royalty. The other thing that seemed so strange about this, maybe this happens for other writers? I have written four reasonably developed stories that take place in Thranduil's Woodland Realm, two of which are really long...and for each one, the architecture and layout of Thranduil's Halls in my mind is completely different. Where the throne is, where their sleeping quarters are, where entrances and exits and stables are, the decor, all of it. The only one to resemble Peter Jackson's depiction somewhat is the longlonglong one.

Top creative tips/words of wisdom for fellow participants: I alternate between working for stretches without interruption and wanting to brainstorm to get past idea blocks. Pace yourself and once you are too tired, rest. Don't be like me and stare at the screen in a daze for two hours before admitting you should go to bed or nap. Mostly, have fun or what's the point?

[myslashyvalentine]

2020 My Slashy Valentine Reveal!

Congratulations to our new writers, Arvalier, Fernstrike and The_Plaid_Slytherin, who completed their first swap! Please check out their stories and welcome them to the group. Thanks to all our veteran writers who continue to participate and make this swap a vibrant part of the Tolkien community. The link to the full collection: 2020 My Slashy Valentine And now, for your reading enjoyment…My Slashy Valentine 2020: The Master List! Aglarien wrote Through the Rain for Mawgy Alexcat wrote In Uncertain and Dangerous Times for Elladansgirl Argleena wrote From Broken Endings to New Beginnings for Nuredhel Arvalier wrote Next Time I See You for laSamtyr Burning_Nightingale wrote The Raven's Flight for FadesintothewestDeathangelgw wrote Out of the Ocean for Lynndyre Elladansgirl wrote Snowy Memories for lgnoblebardElleth wrote The Wilderness You Find In Me for kimaracretak Erlkoenig wrote give me something that i can remember for Fernstrike Fadesintothewest wrote Legolas Discovered for ArvalierFernstrike wrote every dirge fades to silence for Swilmarillion Ignoblebard wrote They Also Serve for KeilissKalendeer wrote And in Spring be reborn for Rogercat Keiliss wrote The Offer for Burning_Nightingalekimaracretak wrote o sunlit white and blue for LadyLaranLadyLaran wrote The Evenstar's Wild Rose for IdleLeaves Lynndyre wrote Thought-ghosts and clear water for Alexcat Mangacrack wrote Death is the Wish of Some for Narya Mawgy wrote What Glorfindel Wants and Ever my Little Librarian for Zhie monkiainen wrote Just Walk Away for The_Plaid_Slytherin Narya wrote Waiting for the Thaw for Erlkoenig Nuinzilien wrote A Whole Half of One for Aglarien Nuredhel wrote Of what i never dared to hope for Argleena Phyncke wrote The Secret Ways of Gondolin for Tabru RaisingCaiin wrote i've been lost without a trace for Sleepless_Malice Raiyana wrote Catch me if you can (I'm waiting) for Nuinzilien Rogercat wrote The lover of the woods for Raiyana Samtyr wrote My Soul From Out The Shadow for mangacrack Senalishia wrote Picking Up the Pieces for Elleth   Sleepless_Malice wrote Love Me to the End for Kalendeer Swilmarillion wrote Then The Letting Go for DeathangelgwTabru wrote A Different Kind of War for Ysilme Talullah Red wrote To the North for Senalishia The_Plaid_Slytherin wrote At the End of the Road for monkiainen Ysilme wrote The Image in the Mirror for hauntedpoems Zhie wrote the Raising Cain In Valinor Once Again series for Raising Cain ————— We had two participants drop out this round, but we had Narvaeril and Zhie write A Pillow For My Pet for Phyncke and LadyBrooke wrote As the Water Shapes Us for Talullah. Our swap pinch hitters are heroes - thank you for making sure every participant has a story for Valentine's! Happy Valentine’s day, everyone!

[z-h-i-e]

Spring Into Arda Wrap-up

Spring Into Arda has come to a close for the year. Thanks to all those who participated!

Back to Middle-earth Month had 12 works posted to the collection on AO3. These can be found at https://archiveofourown.org/collections/B2MEM2021

Remember, you can add works to the collection late, so if you started something and haven't finished it yet, feel free to tuck it in when you finish.

Mini Spring Bang has 9 works posted to the AO3 collection. Under the cut, you'll find a list of all of the works posted for both parts of the spring event.

Look for more information in 2022 for B2MEM, when the theme will be... School Daze, a school-and-education-themed set of prompts and events. And of course, the Mini Spring Bang will be back for year two!

And if you can't wait that long... keep watching this space for info on a new autumn event, Scribbles & Drabbles, under the Fall for Tolkien banner! This artist-and-author event caters to those who write short works, from drabbles on up, and for artists who sometimes prefer to leave things up to the viewer's imagination.

And now, for some stories and art from the Spring. Enjoy!

Aurora Borealis by Tethys_resort

The Grinding Ice was miserable and dangerous. And beautiful. A story from the March across the Ice.

Blossoms of Gold by senalishia

Aredhel is reborn in Valinor. She no longer has anything to fear, but she feels like something is holding her back. She meets Erehwin, a cantankerous Sinda goldsmith who is helping Turgon to build a new city on the plains of Valinor. Can these two women help each other move past the pains of their previous lives and into a new future together?

Brothers in Arms by Zhie

Years of the Trees. At a Family Reunion party, Feanor's children take it upon themselves to set up a competition between him and his brother, Fingolfin. Finarfin tries to be helpful. Tries is the operative word. Happy ending fluff. Bunniverse compatible standalone story. Written for B2MEM 2021.

Building trust by Unlos

Aredhel/Original Elf Character

Downfall by lferion

Beleriand falls

The Eagle by hennethgalad

Olwë witnesses Estë soothing an injured eagle.

even so, i must admire your skill: you are so gracefully insane by 2Nienna2 & Dialux

In which Galadriel screams, Lalwen slays, Maglor shouts, and Celebrimbor survives. In that order.

Four Seasons in One Day by Himring

Although the Noldor have been in Middle-earth for a while, things are still very new to them: Aredhel, Amrod and Amras resuming old habits and exploring a new environment together.

Graven on Stone by hennethgalad

Daeron devises the Cirth.

Greetings, O Favored One by Aipilosse & AeonDelirium

Celebrimbor and the perils and blessings of the Holy Ones favor.

Hope at 9.8 m/s^2 by Tethys_resort

Elwing jumped and flew away. Gil-galad and Cirdan hang on as Beleriand falls.

"I do my own stunts and my own saving" : a Finduilas as Gil-Galad Playlist by 2Nienna2

A playlist for Dialux’s fic “this most ancient of sufferings at last grows fruitful”.

Just Look at Me, I'm Limited by senalishia & tehhumi

Elrond has arrived in Valinor at long last; Maglor will follow soon. Elrond reaches out to the Sons of Feanor as to what reception he can expect, and finds that the Valar's judgement is stronger, and stranger, than he had believed.

Pies and Presents by StarSpray

One year Bilbo has a particularly special present for Frodo on their birthday.

Posters From The War by AwfulLoneliness & Narvaeril

Two posters to keep the morale up during the War against Morgoth, one from the beginning and one from the end

Rules of the Soul by starlightwalking

An examination of bonds, brotherhood, and betrothal through the stories of the first Kings of the Eldar and those they love.

Seas the Day by jamcake_muses & Zhie

Drinking with Gil-galad can be hazardous to health, as Ecthelion and Glorfindel discover. Sometimes, it's the Elf-lords who need rescuing.

A Star Shines On The Hour Of Our Meeting by Ysilme

Maglor wanders. Elrond dreams of Maglor and goes on a search.

Sundry prompts for B2MEM2021 by TheTremulousHand

These are some prompts filled for the Back to Middle Earth March 2021 Challenge. Be forewarned that I am extremely bad at prompts, and often end up writing something that only relates to the prompt if you turn around three times, stand on your head and squint. May have spanking in later chapters.

Take me home with you tonight by starlightwalking

Maeglin is captured by the Enemy and shipped off to Angband - only to be rescued by the unlikeliest of Atani, wielding the twin of his father's lightsaber.

this most ancient of sufferings at last grows fruitful by Dialux

In which Idril, Elwing and Finduilas plot to make a proper High King. It all goes awry, but when has Finduilas' life ever been straightforward?

[z-h-i-e]

B2MEM Week One Recap

Here is a list of links to the prompts, the mini bang sign-ups, and other related B2MEM info.  (A big thanks in advance to everyone who shares this with others - we haven't been able to thank everyone individually, but know that we really appreciate the help in boosting the B2MEM signal.  We're almost at 300 different people looking through prompts and events at the site, which is super awesome and could not have happened without all of you.  Thank you!)

March 1: https://spring-into-arda.weebly.com/b2mem2021-3.html

March 2: https://spring-into-arda.weebly.com/b2mem2021-17.html

March 3: https://spring-into-arda.weebly.com/b2mem2021-29.html

March 4: https://spring-into-arda.weebly.com/b2mem2021-40.html

March 5: https://spring-into-arda.weebly.com/b2mem2021-46.html

March 6: https://spring-into-arda.weebly.com/b2mem2021-57.html

March 7: https://spring-into-arda.weebly.com/b2mem2021-59.html

Extra Prompts from Linda Hoyland: https://lindahoyland.livejournal.com/1346147.html

Bingo Cards: https://spring-into-arda.weebly.com/2021-mystery-bingo.html

Spring Into Arda Mini Bang Sign-ups are open!: https://spring-into-arda.weebly.com/mini-spring-bang.html

Spring Into Arda Discord: https://discord.gg/QgmVews5DP

AO3 Collection: https://archiveofourown.org/collections/B2MEM2021/profile

Twitter Feed: https://twitter.com/b2_mem

Dreamwidth Support Group: https://b2memsupport.dreamwidth.org/

Thank yous go out to the rest of the Spring Into Arda Team (Kaylee, Erestor, Smaug, Narvaeril, Melpomaen) for their help with putting all of the prompts together, to Kaylee for keeping updates going on the SWG Discord, to Linda for coming up with extra prompts for this week, and especially to hhimring for keeping the Dreamwidth Support Group updates going daily, answering questions that come up, and shepherding people to the new site. Thank you, everyone!