#vingilótë

[beatles4ever65]

There's vague precedent for this, considering Elrond's mother is part bird courtesy of Ulmo and his father sails the heavens using Manwë's winds!

Just pop them into Elrond's arms and he'll yeet them onto Vingilótë discus-style!

“There are many magic rings in this world, Bilbo Baggins, and none of them should be used lightly.”

-Gandalf the Grey, wielder of Narya the Ring of Fire and also coincidentally maker of the best magic fireworks in the world

[lifeimitatesmeme]

introduce yourself using 4 starships:

and don't even try to tell me Vingilótë doesn't count

[pansen1802]

From bottom to top: Turin Turambar, Aredhel, Maeglin, Haleth, Gil-galid, Beren and Lúthien, Feanor and his seven sons, Elwing, Vingilótë, Ancalagon.

[anghraine]

Felt like another poll (a RL complication is happening while I'm grading, so I take my joys where I can find them):

*The choice of immortality vs mortality, that is: being counted with Men or Elves in terms of their fates wrt death. We know they delay choosing after Elrond's departure, though not why, but (despite the common assumption that both would choose immortality) we're told absolutely nothing about what they chose in the end, or even if they made the same choice.

*Undómiel is derived from the Quenya word undómë, which literally translates to "evening twilight." The other twilight (morning twilight) is tindómë in Quenya, suggesting that Arwen's name was patterned after that of Elros's daughter, dead for thousands of years by Arwen's birth. We know nothing else about Princess Tindómiel.

*There are two basic versions of the backstory for the Princes of Dol Amroth—one draft in which the first prince in their line was a cousin of Elendil who received his unique title from him, and a completely different draft in which the first prince was Galador, son of Imrazôr and the Elf Mithrellas, and brother to Gilmith. These backstories are usually conflated into one grand unified backstory in wikis etc, but as written seem to be two alternate versions Tolkien considered at different times, never meant to be reconciled (the Mithrellas version is the more popular because it accounts more easily for Legolas's response to Imrahil in LOTR, and comes from the same source as a whole ton of useful information about Imrahil's family, including the existence and name of Faramir and Éowyn's son).

*IIRC the only half-Elf fully identified with Elves is Lúthien, whom Tolkien describes in POME as the greatest of all Elves (in the context of Fëanor and Galadriel being the greatest of Valinorean Elves). LOTR in particular excludes Elrond and his sons from generalizations about Elves (and Tolkien emphatically stated that Arwen is a peredhel, not an Elf).

*Tolkien translated the names of Elrond's sons in his letters—both names indicate Elf+Man, but he specifically translated Elrohir as later Númenórean/Gondorian Sindarin for "Elf-knight," and Elladan as "Elf-Númenórean."

*Dior, son of Lúthien and Beren, is described in the Silm: "He appeared as the fairest of the children of the world, of threefold race: of the Edain, and of the Eldar, and of the Maiar of the Blessed Realm."

*The essay that suggests a Bëorian rather than Sindarin origin for Elwing's name was explicitly discarded as a failure by Tolkien, who ultimately reverted to his usual idea that Bëorian disappeared completely and Elwing's name is fully Sindarin, with Sindarin gwing (and Q. wingë) related to Quenya winta ("scatter, blow about"—certainly apropos for the fate of her family and herself).

[ro-sham-no]

RAHHHH VINGILÓTË MENTION!!! MY BELOVED FOAM-FLOWER!!!!

Art of Vingilótë: Eärendil's Ship by John Howe

her sails he wove of silver fair, of silver were her lanterns made, her prow was fashioned like a swan, and light upon her banners laid

- an excerpt from the first verse of the Song of Eärendil, by Bilbo Baggins

Every now and then I get asked about ships, and I usually avoid the question both because I think it's obvious what will win and because "ship wars" just aren't fun. But, fine. Just this once, in honor of Valentine's Day, ~let the ship wars rage~. Hopefully no one sails too far west and triggers the sinking of Númenor.

[runawaymun]

Idk is this is too late to ask but I was wondering about blind Earendil for disability pride month. He's half-mortal and wears a star for hours every night, so it makes sense that he'd lose his vision over time. Maybe he has a little seeing-eye bird (courtesy of Elwing).

[Image ID: A digital painting of Eärendil in the night sky, drawn from the chest up in profile. Eärendil is a blind, brown-skinned half-elf with golden, coily hair and gold freckles across the bridge of his nose. The Silmaril is a oval-shaped multi-colored jewel bound to his brow on a gold headband and lights the whole piece. He is wearing a gray fur mantle and a large owl rests on his shoulder as a companion and guide. /. END ID.)

I haven't drawn adult Eärendil yet, so this was super fun to do. I always headcannoned that he took a lot after Idril's side of the family. I absolutely love this whole idea. It's so cool!!! It makes total sense that he'd start to lose his vision over time. I kind of imagine that Vingilótë's trajectory is pretty fixed, but that doesn't mean that it wouldn't be helpful to have a (or a couple) seeing eye bird hanging around to help.

An owl just seems to fit his vibe (plus, you know, they see super well and have that 360 degree vision). In a lot of cultures across the world they're not only seen as a sign of wisdom, but of protection from evil too. Seems fitting for a seeing-eye bird.

Anyway I'm super in love with this idea and I'm adopting it into my headcannons, thank you. I'm always on the lookout for good Eärendil headcannons!!

[vaile-elenya]

Elrond Week Day 1: Childhood and Peace

A little late to the party, but hey, at least it's something! I also completely forgot that yesterday's prompt was childhood and peace... so here's childhood and not so much peace for you 🙈

Summary: Elrond spends some time thinking about his complicated family background.

Elrond strolled through the lower parts of Mithlond as the evening settled in. The cool sea breeze rustled his hair, and the lights from the city danced on the harbor's surface, surrounding him with serenity.

He passed a group of elves gathered around a flickering lantern. Among them, a young elf-boy stood beside his mother, eyes wide with curiosity.

“What is that, amya?” the boy asked, pointing to a bright star above.

“That, vinimo, is the star of Eärendil,” she said with a gentle smile. “Do you remember herald Elrond? The one who used to gather you all around the fire and tell stories when you were little?”

The boy nodded eagerly.

“Well,” she continued, touching his nose, “Herald Elrond is Eärendil’s son. So that star,” she paused, pointing at the sky, “is his atya sailing across the night.”

Elrond stood silently, listening. He could almost see the boy’s eyes widen with wonder at the idea that someone's father could become a star in the night sky. Warmth filled his heart, yet it was mixed with a sudden longing for his own father.

And with that—for his atya.

He had never called Eärendil atya. To him, that title belonged to Maglor. Despite the blood on Maglor’s hands and his tragic past, it was Maglor who had raised him, sung him lullabies, and told him stories by the fire. Guilt gnawed at Elrond’s heart. He felt he should honor Eärendil with that title, but he could not take it from his foster father.

Was it wrong to feel such a bond with Maglor?

Was it wrong?

Elrond sighed deeply, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders. He did not know. Memories of his foster father flooded his mind: the hikes they went on together, the first time he saw swans gliding gracefully on a shimmering lake, and the joy in Maglor’s eyes as he watched Elrond’s amazement. He recalled his songs, the finest minstrel there was, whose melodies could weave magic and sorrow in equal measure. Maglor had cared for him. The oath might have tainted his soul, but it had not tainted his love.

“Amya, I think you are making fun of me!” the small voice exclaimed after a moment. The little boy had tried very hard to imagine a grown adult climbing into the night sky and shrinking to fit into that tiny silver-gleaming dot, but the impossibility of it all was too great for his little mind.

Elrond’s thoughts snapped back to the present. He looked at the boy and his mother from afar, a gentle smile forming on his lips. He looked up at the star, listening for more.

The elf-boy’s mother laughed, her voice melodic.

“No, onya,” she said with amusement. “Eärendil did not shrink. He sails in his beautiful ship with a glowing jewel on his brow,” she explained, watching her son gaze up in wonder. “The Valar placed him there.”

“But why did they do that?” the boy asked in one breath.

Elrond approached the little family, bowed to the mother, and lifted the boy, sitting him on his forearm.

“Eärendil sailed to Valinor to ask for help when we were in great need,” Elrond explained warmly. The boy studied his face intently. “It was not permitted, not normally, but the Valar saw that he acted out of selflessness,” he flicked the boy's nose to make him look back up at the sky. “So they spared him punishment and instead made him sail across the sky every night in his beautiful ship, Vingilótë.”

The boy was silent for a moment.

“Does he ever come to visit?” the little elf asked, trying to understand.

Elrond's fleeting smile returned, but his heart swelled with sorrow. “No,” he admitted softly. “He doesn’t.”

“Do you miss him?” the boy asked then, his eyes searching Elrond's face.

Elrond paused, looking at the sky, which seemed to flicker in response.

Did he miss Eärendil? He had never truly known him. Children bond with their parents from birth, and when that bond is unfulfilled, it leaves a lasting ache. Elrond knew that well, but his fëa had been bonded with Maglor for so long that the only part of him that missed Eärendil was the half-human heart of the six-year-old boy his atar abandoned.

“I do,” he said after a moment, setting the boy back on the ground. “But whenever I do, I can look at the sky and know that he is always there, watching.”

The boy's mother smiled at Elrond and bowed her head as the herald turned to leave. He continued his walk through the town, contemplating how it would feel to share that story with his own children one day.

translations: amya (Q) – mommy, vinimo (Q) – little one, atya (Q) – daddy, onya (Q) – my child, atar (Q) – father, fëa (Q) – soul, spirit

@elrondweek 🫶🏻

[sotwk]

Treat! :3

SotWK AU Headcanon:

Elvenqueen Maereth had two older twin brothers who fought and died in the First Age War of Wrath, possibly even on the same battlefields as her future husband, Thranduil.

Maereth's brothers, Surlírë (“Wind Song”) and Vëalírë (“Sea Song”), were the children of Laurinwen and her husband, Eärondir, the son and only child of Círdan and his wife Eäriel.

Their family had a relatively safe home on the Isle of Balar, and should have avoided participation from that great war. Maereth was even born during the war (highly unusual), in FA 553, 8 years after the Host of Valinor landed in Beleriand.

However, the twins Surlírë and Vëalírë had grown up with chips on their shoulders regarding their Fëanorian heritage, despite their mother having renounced her father, Maglor, for his crimes. In FA 570, they ran away to enlist in the Host of the West, feeling compelled to fight for the sake of their family's honor. They were only 50 years young, although they argued that they had "come of age".

Their father Eärondir went after them, but when he could not persuade them to return home, he joined them instead. They fought under the command of their kinsman Finarfin, and survived nearly until the end of the War... until the dragons were unleashed.

Eärondir, Surlírë, and Vëalírë all perished in fields of dragonfire, along with thousands of other valiant warriors. (Thranduil was very badly injured on those same fields, but survived.) When Eärendil finally arrived on Vingilótë to slay Ancalagon and bring an end to the war, Círdan received a small satisfaction of revenge for his son.

Eäriel was irreparably broken from the loss, and after the war she readily answered Eönwë's summons to sail for Valinor. Out of love for her father-in-law, Laurinwen stayed with Círdan and lingered in Mithlond for a few centuries longer, but the desire to reunite with her husband and sons prevailed and she eventually sailed across the sea as well.

Laurinwen entrusted her remaining two children, Maereth and Calinondo, to their grandfather, but eventually the siblings chose to join their mother's cousin, Celebrimbor, at his home in Harlindon and eventually Eregion.

(SUPER BELATED) HAPPY HALLOWEEN, @miss-gms-and-the-rotten-womb! THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! *This went into a pretty deep dive into the SotWK AU lore, but I thought and hope you might appreciate it. :)

[gwaedhannen]

Maedhros & Maglor Week day 6: Respite

WIP of something for @maedhrosmaglorweek that became too long to finish in one day. fem!Maglor/Elwing, Maedhros/Eärendil, background Elwing/Eärendil. Most of this is from the Maglor/Elwing section as that's what I have written so far.

Maglor waits upon the waves for her fall. The houseboat is a compromise, and a convenient method of rules-lawyering. It is not quite in Edhellond, whose lord has little patience for kinslayers but whose lady has a softness for her only remaining cousin on these shores, and not quite on the Outer Lands themselves, where the Doomed may not walk again. But Elwing has never been keen on following the rules of the world before; rules which say she should have died in the cold with her brothers, should have handed her father’s (her father’s) jewel to its rightful owners, should have died on the end of Maglor or her brothers’ blades, should have died in the surf, should have died on strange seas, should have died a mortal in the immortal land. And Maglor may have been a follower all her life, but the world no longer watches her deeds, no longer judges and pities. She may do as she will. Maglor watches the descent from on high, the Evening Star fissioning and a fragment tumbling down to Arda-that-is, resolving from firmamental myth into bone and feather and weight in her arms. Little else can survive the transition, but every time she bears a single strand of red-brown hair, safe in her beak. A promise, a reminder. Payment for catching her. Maglor takes the hair, presses it to her lips, weaves it into the braid with its companions. Elwing slides to the deck, bird into woman, the shift woven from her own dark hair materializing over pale skin. White stars are patterned upon, and a white tree embroidered over the breast. They make their exchanges. Elwing dances as her heart wills while the wind which boosts her leaps threatens to carry her away, and Maglor’s tempo keeps her grounded. Maglor sings laments for the long-shambling corpse of Númenor, and Elwing’s tears wash her scarred palms clean. Elwing offers news from the sky, of strange new continents beyond strange new seas, of mountains high and forests deep, of faces lifted skyward in hope. Maglor offers news from the land, of a distant valley and the young twins who fill it with song, of kingdoms finding their places in a quieter world, of those who still remember Menegroth and its many lanterns. She does not speak of Valinor. She does not speak of childhoods.

Eärendil’s giddy mirth is impressively contagious, and Maedhros almost without realizing it is cackling in laughter alongside him as Vingilótë climbs out of its dive, careening upwards back into the Heavens where the stars gleam with laughter of their own. The Mariner drags him down for a fierce kiss (how in the name of Ulmo’s sopping tits did a descendent of Turgon and Galdor Orchal end up so damned short?), and by the Flame Imperishable, Maedhros has never felt so alive.

[in-the-glow-of-a-silmaril]

Idril&Earendil mother-son flying expeditions on Vingilótë.

[airendis]

"...when all other lights go out."

I'll start from afar. The First Age. Days of Long Peace. Recently built Nargothrond. And the words: "I will also take an oath and must be free to fulfill it and go into darkness." Doesn't sound too optimistic, does it?

And in 200 years Humans will come. Unknowable. In fact they are not particularly needed by anyone. But for some reason appeared in Arda. For what? Only one noldo guessed. "This then, I propound, was the errand of Men, not the followers, but the heirs and fulfillers of all: to heal the Marring of Arda, already foreshadowed before their devising…" And in the text of Athrabeth before Bragollach a completely different theme sounds. The conversation is going on at dusk, the light of the hearth is fading, as if the darkness itself is coming. But the last words are "Whether you go may you find light. Await us there, my brother - and me." A completely different attitude. And this fading of daylight emphasizes it even more. Well, or so it just seems to me…🤔

The Battle of Sudden Flame. Fen of Serech. The oath. "Hello, Beren, son of Barahir…" And here probably many will disagree with me, but it seems to me that it was not the oath that was primary in making this decision, but the vision of Arda Remade several decades before. "… if any marriage can be between our kindred and thine, then it shall be for some high purpose of Doom."

Did he lose THAT fight? - yes. Did he lose the war? - no. And one day there came a day when the Vingilótë rose to the heavenly limits and shine over Arda.

Centuries go by. Kingdoms are being created and crumbling. The darkness recedes and thickens again. But the Star is still rising on the horizon. One day a simple little hobbit receives a crystal phial from the hands of the elven Lady. A vial with the light of Gil-Estel, the Star of Hope. "It will shine even brighter when night falls around you. Let it be a light for you in dark places when all the other lights go out."

[bookshelfdreams]

People you would like to get to know better - got tagged by @awordwasthebeginning for this and also @throwing-roses-into-the-abyss (iirc it was an embarrassingly long time ago9 Thank you <3

1. Three ships: Vingilótë, the ship of Eärendil; the legendary Toller Hund, captained by the even more legendary Klaus Störtebeker; and of course my eternally beloved girl the Revenge

2. First ever ship: Russingon <3 (sorry for stewaling your bit Pip, and then not even committing to it)

3. Last song: was listening to Vesna in the car earlier, but I don't remember the exact song

4. Last movie: Der goldene Handschuh. That's a thing that needed to exist, isn't it. Do not recommend, but also, I'm not sure what to think about it. The main problem is that I would prefer to not think about it at all.

5. Currently reading: Just finished rereading Rumo, which is one of my favourite books of all time <3

6. Currently watching: making my way through this yt channel. Short summary: disgruntled historian reacts to terrible documentaries about the middle ages.

7. Currently consuming: Yogi tea, and debating the merits of having dinner

8. Currently craving: Motivation

tagging - voluntary participation only, of course, if you don't want to do it, that's obviously fine, no pressure <3 @cakeeatingwingedcat @little-linda @justmori @swords-n-spindles @vislokawitch

[searchingforserendipity25]

"The timbers of Vingilótë are scarred by claws and dragonfire, but she sails on." for the first sentence ask game? :D

Thank you @thalion71! 💓

For the ask game - send me an ask with the first sentence of a fanfic and I’ll write the next five.

-

Vingilótë had lingered as long overland as could be managed, with Manwë’s winds aiding her in combat against the great dragons. 

Yet in time the end even they grew insistent, tugging the sails westwards; wearily, the mariner brought the rigging and to bear, and sailed the light of hope away from the fields of victory, and those who most needed it in the aftermath. 

Eärendil was not gravely wounded, but still he wept to see his beloved land wrecked by war and vengeance, the waters fouled even unto the bays that opened to the sea.

The further they went from the shores of Beleriand, the clearer the skies were, Morgoth’s foul clouds turning to grey mists.

And then - Elwing was a white flash against the clear skies, crossing half the vast ocean to meet him as they tumbled into one another's arms, clinging tightly, scarred but fierce still, sailing on.

[eleneressea]

okay it has been a million years since I read/watched Stardust so I remember only ~vibes~ but:

everyone gets their genders switched for this au. this was initially because I wanted the Pleiades to remain the Seven Sisters and then thought "…but what if more ladies?" so.

the sky pirates are led by Eärendil (Eärendilmë?), because flying boat

Eärendil's husband Elwing is a bird sometimes and he comes to visit his pirate-wife regularly. Their twin daughters live on Vingilótë with Eärendil and are strictly forbidden from finding out if they can also transform into birds

said twin daughters love Maitindë and insist on playing dress-up with her, please mom can we raid your closet for pretty dresses, please?

oh and Findekánë can come too if she wants. but no peeking!

listen I'm a sucker for makeover sequences. can you tell I remember one thing about this story and it's the sky-pirate captain's wardrobe?

I have no idea how to approach the secretly-a-princess thing so I'm going to ignore it for now. someone with cleverer ideas can come up with something.

also Queen Finwen totally fucked a star and had a half-star baby that Mírion took back to the sky with him. then Finwen remarried and had more babies and one of them was Findekánë's mom Ñolofinwen.

oh no thought too much about the Pleiades and now I want a Stardust AU where Maedhros was one of the Pleiades but fell down to earth and got found by Fingon

[who-needs-words]

@tolkienofcolourweek | Day 3: Friendships | The crew of the Vingilótë | Headcannon

“...and they were three mariners who had sailed all the seas besides him [Eärendil]: Falathar, Erellont, and Aerandir were their names. And Eärendil said to them: 'Here none but myself shall set foot, lest you fall under the wrath of the Valar. But that peril I will take on myself alone, for the sake of the Two Kindreds.”

-The Silmarillion, J. R. R. Tolkien

The crew of the Vingilótë are:

Falathar, a young Noldor refuge from Nargothrond.

Erellont of the Avari, son of Nurwë their leader.

Aerandir of Doriath, daughter of Daeron the minstrel and kin to Thingol Elu.

[ID: a character edit for the crew of the Vingilótë from the Silmarillion. The background is a brown-scale image of a historical ship crashing into a wave. Over laid are 3 paint splash shaped images.

The first image in the upper left corner and shows a south Asian women in purple-blue and gold clothes with jewelry laying next to the ocean. Only her head and upper chest are visible. Next to the image is a light purple text box that reads “Falathar”.

The second image is middle on the right. It shows 3/4th of a black man’s face against a tan background. He is wearing a blue turban. Next to the image is a blue text box that reads “Erellont”.

The third image in the lower left corner and shows an Asian women in blue and green clothes again a wooden background. He is holding a metal pole. Her lower face and chest are visible. Next to the image is a teal text box that reads “Aerandir”. /End ID]

[cycas]

Hail Eärendil, Brightest of Stars!

I love you Bilbo, and I love your poem about Eärendil, but you are very much NOT a reliable primary source.

Let us be honest: you are not even a reliable source about your own meeting with Gollum.

It occurs to me that not only was Elrond present to hear Bilbo's poem, but Glorfindel was there too, so Elrond is listening to Bilbo rhyming about the father he last saw killing a dragon overhead at the breaking of Thangorodrim, in the ship that Bilbo describes, and Glorfindel is listening to Bilbo rhyming about the child that Glorfindel last saw when Eärendil was seven, shortly before Glorfindel died defending Eärendil (among others) .

I wish, I WISH I knew if Bilbo had managed to find a detailed description of Vingilótë somewhere, or if he completely made it up.