#of the valar

[foedhrass]

„In Lórien are [Irmo’s] gardens in the land of the Valar, and they are the fairest of all places in the world, filled with many spirits.”

J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion

Cosplay: Foedhrass, photo: Little_Solnyshka.

[ylieke]

[sailon-ishmael]

Has this been done already

[shurikthereject]

I read Not The Same Hobbit by withatwistedlyre on ao3 and couldn't stop thinking about ranger Bilbo i had to draw him. I was heavily inspired by Aragorns outfit and hair while designing him and I'm honestly loving how Bilbo looks in the ultra-non-hobbitish clothes. While reading the fic, I started to imagine what Yavanna would look like and decided to give it a go. Her hair is supposed to be a willow tree but leaves are very hard to draw so its not obvious lol. I love the idea of The Valar being absolutely huge so Bilbo here is experiencing a "a giant woman!" moment.

Let me know if you guys would prefer to see more sketches (which are more frequent) or more finished works! It really helps me out with organizing!!

[silmalope]

Some Valar designs (+ Uinen!)

[quinthejester]

Aulë, Mairon and Curumo

because i wanted to draw a 'family' portrait of them :)

[corsairspade]

there are many reasons I like the "Erestor son of Caranthir" headcanon but secretly the main one is that I'm imagining all of the remaining noldo auditors sighing of relief when Caranthir dies and they don't have to try play 4d chess with multiverse time travel trying to catch this guy doing tax evasion. life is good for exilic auditors now.

and then suddenly Elrond and Elros turn up again! even better! oh who's this, Elrond? your good friend Erestor? he's helping you with your taxes? oh how swe- what is this Elrond. What is this. your paperwork for your taxes you say. not a declaration of war? because it looks like a declaration of war on the exilic auditors, Elrond.

and then all the auditors are so busy doing "extreme tax auditing™" for the first time since the second Kinslaying that they don't tell anyone they're pretty sure there's another scion of the house of Fëanor running around.

[anattmar]

little doodle of Yavanna

[velvet4510]

Here’s the thing.

Many Bagginshield shippers, especially in fics, focus on how Bilbo never got over Thorin, to the point where some describe Bilbo’s entire life as sad and empty and unfulfilled because of that loss.

Don’t get me wrong: I do agree that he suffered terrible loss and undeserved torment by the Ring. And the fact that he never married probably did have some connection to the memory of Thorin.

But, y’all, don’t forget or ignore the fact that, in Tolkien’s text, Bilbo does move on from grief and live the rest of his life well.

He does not become bitter from his pain. He retains his kind heart.

He is generous with his wealth, helping in every way he can the very community that ostracizes him.

He sees in Frodo a kindred spirit and takes it upon himself to be the parental figure that Frodo so badly needs as an orphan.

He and Frodo develop an uncle-nephew (really more like father-son) relationship built on trust, keeping no secrets from each other, to the level where he tells Frodo the truth about his encounter with Gollum. (And probably the truth about his feelings for Thorin, too.)

He and Frodo have so much fun, going for walks every day, studying the Elvish languages, and throwing big birthday parties to show the community a good time. It’s plain to see that caring for Frodo filled that massive void inside Bilbo, finally giving him someone to love and devote himself to looking after, after his first chance at that (albeit the first being a different kind of love) was taken from him.

He does not see himself as superior to the lower class despite his riches, and always treats the Gamgees with the utmost respect.

He teaches Sam to read and write.

He tells his story to the younger hobbits, inspiring more of them to want to learn more about the outside world and not be so sheltered and ignorant…an effort which ultimately saves Middle-earth because the Travelers learn from him to be curious and interested in the lands outside the Shire, and he inspires them daily, as they constantly say to themselves “if Bilbo could go there and back again despite great danger, so can we.”

He even learns to love having a tarnished reputation, ultimately taking advantage of being “mad” to play a fun prank.

When he is no longer at rest in the Shire, he gifts Frodo all his property which will ensure Frodo is set for life, and through all his passive aggressive gifts to his relatives, he gives the Gaffer genuinely useful items that he knows will help him, including ointment for creaky joints.

He gets a peaceful retirement among his Elven friends, which he spends writing his memoir so that future generations will know all about his lost friends.

And ultimately, he embraces the special gift of an exception from the Valar and rare permission to set foot in the Blessed Realm for one last adventure, where he will continue to look after his beloved nephew.

And the fact is, he never would’ve gotten any of these things if he’d stayed in Erebor. He would never have developed that special bond with Frodo - he may never have even met him - and consequently, Frodo may never have met Sam.

Yes, a lot of his life was lonely and somber. But much more of it, even after experiencing such a tragedy, was full of love and joy and fun and excitement. He became an invaluable caretaker and mentor to the next generation of hobbits, got a taste of fatherhood, passed on his expertise and his story, and spent his last years surrounded by friends and family.

Bilbo Baggins may have lost the love of his life, but he did not give up on life itself, and he lived a full one. Don’t forget that.

[wisesnail]

And finally here I come with a Moringotto aka the guy who thought it was a good idea to work with a giant spider…🙈

Prints and other stuff on my RedBubble and Threadless

[mysticalcatpeanut]

Just wanted to point out, Arrax (Lucerys' dragon) is also son of Syrax (Rhaenyra's dragon)... so both mothers are mourning in this scene

[foedhrass]

"Irmo the younger is the master of visions and dreams. In Lórien are his gardens in the land of the Valar, and they are the fairest of all places in the world, filled with many spirits." The Silmarillion, "Valaquenta: Of the Valar"

With Silverlynxcosplay as Mandos.

[shrikeseams]

Now I love a counter-textual interpretation as much as the next bitch, but textually, when Feanor approached the Teleri during the flight,

He invited them to go with the Noldor, rather than just asked to borrow their boats (I had fully forgotten this and it's honestly so under-used): "He resolved now therefore to persuade the Teleri, ever friends to the Noldor, to join with them[...]"

The Valar's stated policy is given as an explicit reason the Teleri chose against the Noldor. I don't read it as that being the only reason, but unless you're going against the published text that is part of their decision: "But the Teleri were unmoved by aught that he could say. They were grieved indeed at the going of their kinsfolk and long friends, but would rather dissuade them than aid them; and no ship would they lend, nor help in the building, against the will of the Valar."

As stated in the quote above: the Teleri wouldn't even teach the Noldor to build boats. This is not just natural reluctance to give away prized possessions. This is actively gatekeeping essential knowledge for the Noldor to depart Aman in any degree of physical safety, specifically because of the Valar.

"And [Olwe] had never lent ear to Morgoth, nor welcomed him to his land, and he trusted still that Ulmo and the other great among the Valar would redress the hurts of Morgoth, and that the night would pass yet to a new dawn." I do wonder how long that confidence lasted. Did it survive the kinslaying? Did it survive centuries of the valar's idleness, with a slow but steady stream of reimbodied sindar reporting on Morgoth's efforts, wholly unchecked by the valar and only erratically checked by the Noldor and their allies? Did it survive the drowning of Numenor?

[fingolfinwiththesteelchair]

My favorite Morgoth moment is when the Great Enemy of Middle Earth got attacked by a big spider and shrieked so loudly all his balrogs heard from miles away and had to come rescue him. Damsel behavior

[arlenianchronicles]

My first submission for this year's @tolkienrsb (slide 32) in collab with @the-red-butterfly! Manwe takes a human form to visit the Edain; he befriends a blind elder from a village of the House of Beor, and slice-of-life shenanigans ensue XD

[nervmaup]

Melkor, Manwë, Mandos, Yavanna

I've heard that my Melkor looked pretty much like Janosik. Well, I can't agree but it's still a nice comlement