#yes this is about finwe and miriel and indis

[curufiin]

I swear to god why do silm fans hate the book so much. Why do you choose to read the book and then just make shit up. Why are you even reading the silm if you just hate every single thing tolkien stated about the characters

[eri-pl]

Silm reread 5: Elves again (Thingol + other important ones)

So now it says Melian was most associated with Yavanna. Which one is it then?

Also the forest where they meet is Nan Elmoth, the same where later Eol lives. well, the place doesn't determine how well the relationship goes. remember this when picking a restaurant for a date. :D

Thingol was awesome before, but he gets the "extra tall + silver (glowing?) hair" description only after marrying Melian.

Geography… So Tuna is in Valinor but on the edge. I should probably remember this better.

Fëanor!!!

So, Fefe is better with words, more knowledgeable and more handy, but Finarfin is the prettiest! And the wisest. At least among the sons of Finwë.

Ambarussar are identical twins, same faces and temperaments. Also, they are even more associated with hunting than Celegorm, but he is a friend of Orome.

Unless it's Polish translation issue, Aredhel is canonically very pale-skinned. Not that I care about the canonicity here, but it's interesting because very few characters have clearly stated colors of anything. (Also I think dark-skinned fanart of her looks better because of the contrast). Oslo, canonically she is not romantically interested in any of the sons of Feanor (including Celegorm).

OK, so the Teleri reach Valinor proper… it makes sense that Alqualonde is on the continent, but I somehow managed to forget this. :|

Ingwë is the high king od all Elves. Hmmm. I don't think Feanor cares about this.

Darkness mentioned again!!! Fefe and sons wander to the edge of darkness (small d, but I'm not sure how consistent Jirt is), meaning the Western edge of the world, I think, because they are drawn to the Unknown. This is an important sentence!

Capital "U" Unknown — but not Darkness. And it is defined as outside, maybe Void, maybe the general direction of "out of Ea"? And I have thoughts. Oh, I do have thoughts.

Who was also drawn by the unknown empty far places in his youth? Yes, Melkor. (I wonder if he talked about it with some SoF in Valinor. Especially Maedhros. Yes, I love two part "polite maybe even friendly // torture" philosophical conversations it seems)

all of them share the "I wonder what's there" curiosity and go and wander in places (yes I cannot stop thinking about this siple proto-hobbit song)

at some point the neutral or even inviting "Unknown" becomes "Darkness" in their eyes. This is the (result of the?) fall.

(also, Men in the tale of Adanel or what her name was)

I feel like there's more to explore here, but not for now

Anyway, it is another place which may have impacted the notion of "darkness everlasting" in their minds.

Fefe's chapter.

The writing was invented in aman, and Rumil lived in Tirion (everyone important did I suppose).

Finwe and Miriel fell in love in Aman (not before) and were very happy and in love. After her death Finwe did mourn her a lot even in the published Silm.

Feanor is canonically tall!!! And pretty, light-eyed and raven-haired. He made a lot of glowy gems, silmarils were just the magnum opus.

OK, so Indis here isn't Ingwë's sister, just an unspecified close relative. from the order of those in the narrative, I suppose Feanor married Nerdanel before Finwë remarried. Before the remarriage and Melkor getting free, Feanor seems pretty stable mentally. but it is not clear, which of those two factors messed him up more.

Melkor is set free during the adolescence of Fingolfin and Finarfin, or at least before they are full adults, but after they're born.

Melkor is such a jerk. :/ I mean, sure he is but he's even more of a jerk instantly after his release than I remembered.

It's not like "the Valar set Melkor free to roam"! He was supervised and restricted to Valmar, but pretended to be good and behaved and the Noldor actually benefited from his advice (per the book!) so he was let to go whenever he wanted in all Aman. Because Manwë thoght that Melkor is fine now.

Tulkas is less nice than I remembered and does have anger issues indeed.

Melkor teaches the Noldor a lot of thigs they should not be taught. I wonder what were those.

Feanor never took advice from Melkor. …or from anyone else (except Nerdanel in their early marriage). so it's not as noble of him as it seems.

[silvantransthranduiltrash]

Okey same person who asked about thranduil baby daddy’s here.

By the way loved the explanation, makes sense. But I would love to hear more about Ingwe and his adopted relationship to thranduil.

Especially your opinion on how would have thranduil reacted seeing how ingwe turned out? in the sense that in valinor he was all “pease,art,music and the serving the valar”.

Also do you think if given the chance to return to middle earth after going to valinor, the we’s would have returned? And would they have brought their children with them?

I love hearing questions, so dw!

So, first things first: little reminder that everything i have to say is about my au, and is not always canon compliment.

So Ingwe actually calls Thranduil his ada. If you ever hear him talking about his Ada he means thranduil. And everytime someone tries to interfere and say “don’t you mean ingen?” After they started living in valinor (ingen and Alehalen(ingwe’s mom) went with the vanyar) ingwe point blank tells them no, they aren’t his parents.

It’s actually a point of tension, bc valinor elves don’t really understand the concept of adoption, just like they don’t really deal with divorce/remarrying/everything that happened between miriel and finwe. So a lot of elves don’t actually acknowledge that Ingwe has disowned Ingen and Alehalen. Including his younger sister Indis, who was born in valinor (yes, in this au indis is his sister) and his wife, who keeps insisting that he should mend his relationship with them.

And thranduil just treats him like he came from his body. Which isn’t difficult bc Ingwe and Lasgen could be twins tbh. Lasgen and Ingwe are genuinly close, btw, and will call each other “twin”. Thranduil is, however, ready to throw down with Ingen and Alehalen the moment he catches even the faintes whif of them treating him like shit. It was a lot of comforting a crying elfling way back when. Tbh, because custody arrangements and such didn’t really exist then, Ingwe actually just generally spent a lot of time with thranduil and his family, especially as he became older.

This actually what kind of kickstarted the bad blood between the two families. I mean, when ingen ding-dong-ditched thranduil, they were annoyed but moved on oretty quick (especially when they don’t think that loosing Ingen was any real lose) but the way ingen proceeded to treat his kids, and the way in which thranduil “stole” his sone from him really sparked the fire between the two families. Which is why ingwe doesn’t understand how Finwe, who is a Miriel simp, could possibly cheat on her with Indis, of all elves.

It’s complicated. And the drama started long before the Miriel/Finwe/Indis debacle was even thought up, though most elves don’t realize it/forgot.

So, idk if you know this, but i joke on here that Ingwe “started a cult” to deal with his emotions/gain power. Except then he lost control of the cult. To his parents. And sister. And wife. And to an extent his son. Yeah Ingwe’s just having a bad time. He also is very scared that after the thousands of years since he’s seen thranduil that thranduil no longer thinks of him as his son.

Dw, the moment thranduil is in valinor (through whatever means that may be) he pretty much immediately tracks down his long lost son and demands he comes for a family diner all while hugging the stuffing out of him. Thranduil genuinly wouldn’t care how Ingwe turned out as long as he’s happy and not an ass. Sadly, it’s sad vanya elf hours and ingwe’s been lowkey miserable for millenia and this 👌 close to snapping.

The thing about cuivienen elves, is that in general, i think, they deserve to have their own classification bc, by virtue of being the ones who discovered everything/created society/etc. they all have their wires crossed. And it’s not that they dislike peace, but most of them feel a bit stiffled in valinor. Furthermore, i feel like they feel at least a little disassociation with other vanya/teleri/noldor born elves bc cuivienen elves didn’t actually grow up in that culture, and a lot of those distinctions between elven ethnicities happened after they were kids. They feel a little lost, a little out of place at times.

I actually hc that none of the we’s were actually planning to stay in valinor or lead their people but somehow ended up in that role anways and they’re kinda pissed about it. They just wanted to explore, ok, they did not know it meant signing up to be king.

I feel like all of them want to return to middle earth, if they get the chance, but they also don’t want to abandon their people/families, nd they feel it would be unfair to ask it of their families, when a lot of them are clearly happy in valinor.

In short, in my au, the -we’s feel more or less trapped in their role.

Especially when they have to constantly behave civil, when they’re all a little unhinged. Ingwe’s actually pretty bloodthirsty when it comes down to it. It’s something he shares with Lasgen, Willow (other older sister from another mother) and indis. This drive to be ruthless and almost cruel when dealing with any type of opposition is something they inherited from Ingen, though none (bar indis) likes to acknowledge that that is where they get it from.

Also, just a thought:

Thranduil: *steps foot in valinor*

Ingwe, finwe, elwe, and olwe: finally, an adultier adult.

Might have gotten a bit side tracked, but i hope this answered at least most of your questions.

[imakemywings]

Well, now we need to know your ranking of Finwean asses. For science. Personally I think Feanor earns number one spot again both literally and figuratively.

Feanor. Yes, once again he takes the lead. He is described as sexiest Elf in canon so this feels fair. It is not something he gave any thought to until Nerdanel pointed it out. However, while he is pleased she thinks he's hot, he's less pleased when she tries to grab him in public. Yes, even when she's trying to be subtle.

Turgon

Lalwen

Aredhel

Fingon

Argon

Anaire. It's so perky.

Finrod

Galadriel

Fingolfin

Indis

Earwen

Elenwe

Miriel

Finarfin

Aegnor

Angrod

Findis

Amrod

Celeborn

Amras

Finwe

Celegorm

Maglor

Curufin

Caranthir

Nerdanel. She's not troubled about this but she is always trying to get the tailor to take Feanor's robes and pants in a size. It took him like thirty years to figure this out.

Maedhros. You will break your fucking hand if you slap his ass. Also you will take a metal prosthetic to the face.

[stilltrails]

I don’t believe that Feanor disliking Indis is a character flaw. And by extension her family. 

He sees Indis as the person who kept his mother from coming back. And realistically, she did. At least partly. Indis and Finwe’s union occurred knowing that such a union would prevent Miriel from returning to life. And keep in mind, her death is unnatural. There was a chance she could come back, she just needed time. 

He sees Indis as the thing that stood in front of having his mother resurrected. And in a sense, she absolutely is. What did his mother do to deserve that? Why couldn’t they wait for his mother to be resurrected? Why wasn’t Miriel enough? 

And not only that, he gets to see Indis have children, and be happy with them. He gets to see her as the accepted wife and mother his mother evidently never was, he gets to see her interacting with her children, knowing that could have been he and his mother had Indis and Finwe never married. 

Even as an adult, he comes from a society of people who don’t die. but he knows that his mother can return to him. It will just take time. And in a morbid twist of things, her only way of coming back is blocked by someone else. 

That’s justifiable dislike. 

can we talk about how he should hate Finwe just as much as he does Indis, yes. Can we talk about how this choice to keep Miriel in the Halls of Mandos wasn’t Indis’s alone, of course. 

But of all the conversations i’ve seen about Feanor and his relationship with Indis, I’ve seen him being called terrible for his reaction to her and her family, and that he should get over it. but realistically who would? His mother had a life saving solution and it was taken from him and her. 

I don’t think Indis is above criticism for her role in this. And I don’t think she gets enough criticism. Finwe bears an equally amount of responsibility too, but don’t we always talk about that. 

I’m more interested in Indis being portrayed as less of the lovestruck woman who unfortunately fell in love with a king, and more of the woman who made a decision to marry knowing it would condemn another woman to death. And I think, regardless of what is thought, there is some evil in that. And there is some reason for Feanor to hate her. 

[lamemaster]

My thoughts on Indis

"But Indis parted from me without death. I had not seen her when the Marrer smote me I was alone. She hath her children to comfort her, and her love, I deem is now most for Ingoldo. His father she may miss; but not the father of Feanaro!" (Morthog's Ring, 249)

This conversation happens between Finwe and Mandos. It is after Finwe is slain by Morgoth and he denies his right to rebirth in the favor of granting Miriel a chance to be reborn.

I have never despised Finwe more than when I first read it. His insensitivity to Indis just breaks my heart. He blames her for not abandoning her children to join him in exile to Formenos. He believes that she does not love Feanor's father which is a statement I find quite atrocious because Indis married Feanor's father. She married him when he had a son from another marriage. Not for once can I believe that Indis the one who loved him would leave him because of Feanor.

Can Finwe not be questioned about being partial to his children? Can he not be blamed for leaving his city and favoring one child over others?

A quote about Finwe's first meeting with Indis proves how wrong everything Finwe says in the first quote is.

"And when Finwe heard that song falling from above he looked up and saw Indis in the golden light, and he knew in that moment that she loved him and had long done so. Then his heart turned at last to her, and he believed that this chance, as it seemed, had been granted for the comfort of them both. 'Behold!' he said. 'There is indeed healing of grief in Aman!'" (Morgoth's Ring, 238)

This description of Indis makes me love her. She loved Finwe for so long. She did not expect his love in return but she still loved him and Finwe knew of this. He knew how selflessly Indis loved him. He proclaimed her to be his healing but he ended up hurting her in the worst way possible.

He heals from the grief of Miriel. Indis gives him the big family he dreamt of. She gives him the dream of Aman but he does not value it.

Finwe of all people was aware of the pain of losing a spouse yet, he gifts Indis with the same fate. He does it so heartlessly by blaming her for his decision.

Yes, she loved Finwe for a long time. She married a 'widowed' elf. She did not care about anything when it came to her love but I admire her more for standing by her children when their father abandoned them. She loves Finwe but does not do it blindly.

Maybe that is the reason that despite not holding the bright flame that burns in Feanor, Fingolfin managed to wound Morgoth seven times. Maybe that is the reason why even burning ships from the other shores did not stop him from crossing Helcaraxe or maybe it is the reason why Finarfin turns back, for the sake of his wife's people.

To me, Indis represents hope, determination, and most of all selflessness.

[adoseoftrees]

My terrible headcanon for Findis

She was born around YT 1180

Which means she was born after the judgement of Finwe’s divorce (1172) but before the 12 years passed for Finwe and Indis to be allowed to marry officially (1185)

It was more like an accidental pregnancy (fuck LaCE’s sex = marriage bullshit.) No one was prepared for it but it happened.

“So it was sort of Eru’s will?” A lot of people tried to interpret it this way for their own comfort

Finwe gave her that name to legitimize her birth. “yes this baby was born before we marry but she is definitely our child do not question her parentage”

Feanor definitely read it as “this child is the creation out of our great LOVE” instead and he hated it

Findis grew up with this half-brother that hated her & her mother. Her father appeared to love them but did not do anything effective to her brother’s attitude (the guilt over Miriel and breaking the 12 year promise)

People whispered all kinds of things about her existence and she hated it

She hated being viewed as the child that should not be born, or the child that was “right” to be born, or the child that was an unfortunate but blissed accident

She agreed with Feanor that marriage between Finwe and Indis was a Mistake

She believed she must defend her mother because no one else would in this house

She would like her mother to divorce. Feanor could have that irresponsible father. After all, Finwe chose his son over his wife and daughter all the time.

But Indis loved Finwe. Indis was content and believed everything worthwhile. At least that’s what her mother told her. (Findis was not dumb and could see it when people lied.)

She was distant to Finwe in adulthood. She loved her mother enough to hide her grudge and be polite.

In secret she did not associate herself with Finwe at all. She spent most of her time away from Tirion. (Aside from regular visits to see her mother.)

Determined to protect her younger siblings from the unfriendly half-brother and the unhelpful father. But her younger siblings loved her father and could not see how awful that man actually was

(She was as biased as Feanor. She totally got that Noldor pride to believe she was the only one that see right through Finwe)

Had this many insecurities related to Marriage. Marriage was overrated after all.

A fun aunt if you filtered out all her subtle badmouthing about your grandfather

When Feanor did that sword thing and Finwe left with Feanor she was like “I knew this would happen from the very beginning!!!”

Possibly enthusiastically tried to do match making for her mother

Did feel sad about Finwe’s death, and started to use the name he gave her again.

Not sad enough to follow Feanor like all her siblings did. (She did not believe any of Feanor’s words. That one would turn backstabbing traitor the moment when it felt slightly convenient.)

Tried really hard to convince her siblings to stay or at least stop and think a little bit. Which did not work.

Helped with ruling when everyone was away.

To a returned Finarfin: “I told you so.”

Immediately went back to Vanyar’s lands afterwards

Unapologetically angry at Feanor. But not his sons. “The poor children messed up by my crazy half-brother.”

Did not hate Feanor and did (begrudgingly) see him as brother. Still believed Finwe should be blamed for everything bad happened in this house.

Basically as angry as Feanor but the anger was directed to Finwe. They formed the tiny 2-elves team in Valinor with the slogan “seriously Finwe and Indis should never marry.” But they would constantly start infighting over who was responsible for the disaster

At parties people had to arrange their seats as far away from each other as possible

[death220467]

My thoughts and headcanons on elven prenatal development

I think we all know how conception works. What happens after that according to Tolkien is a year long pregnancy and then postnatal development happens (if you want to know more about it you can check it out). However this wonderful afternoon my brain decided to dwell on prenatal development.

I had several questions and I have thought of acceptable answer for most of them. If one wish to debate with me on these questions they are welcomed to do so. If you have more questions I can think on, ask them. Now straight to the questions! (They are listed in the order I came to them)

Why was so important for Feanor that he didn’t share a mother with his half-siblings?

What’s the contribution of the father to the prenatal development? (This question applies to the not bearing the child parent but it’s quite long thing to write so many times, ergo father)

How is shaped child’s fëa?

How is shaped child’s hröa?

While Feanor seemed not fond of his half-siblings until Melkor came and certainly disliked Indis (or the idea of his father remariage?), Feanor did believe immediately that Fingolfin was planning to usurp him. But the focus of my thoughts is ‘half-siblings’. Why it is so important? Like, yeah I probably won’t warm quickly to a step-parent and half-siblings (who are so much younger than me, like Arafinwe is around Maedhros’ age), but for some reason my brain doesn’t think it’s only this. So this the place I thought ‘what if…’ and my homework was forgotten.

What if the mother/child-bearer and the father didn’t have equal contributions in the prenatal development?

Obviously the mother takes more ‘active role’. Children grow in their mothers’ bodies. What does the father do? Usually help the mother during the pregnancy however elves have (in my mind) placed greater importance on the child’s soul aka the fëa than the Men. So how does the father contribute in this? Does he just give genetic information? Or does he do more?

Personally I think that the shaping of the hröa can be done by both parents. In the beginning, when elves started giving birth no one knew much about it and looking at Feanor and his Fingolfin’s physical appearance, both resembling their shared father in hair color, I can say that the genetic info passed down very well. Feanor’s birth is a bit strange. Why did his mother die? There were Valar around. Yes, post birth illnesses exists, complicated births exists but is said that Feanor took much of the strength of her fëa when he was born. This leads me to the opinion that while elven child’s hröa is developed by their mother’s body, the child’s fëa must also be sustained by another during the prenatal development. And both parents have to sustain the fëa. Finwe was busy with setting down his people during Miriel’s pregnancy. He is not a bad guy, he just didn’t know that he had to help more because there was not much knowledge about pregnancy and he was also a king.

Now on shaping of the hröa. Why do some children look more like one parent or another? (Well, dna I guess but since I am thinking on non-human prenatal development why not? Why should I be ‘normal’? About it?) Elven children are said to have greater grasp on their bodies and Nerdanel called her son ‘well-shaped’ and she is a sculptress so here we go—

Eleven hröa is shaped. If it’s left just like that you get what the mother is imagining (if Eru thinks the genitals are ok ig?) but the hröa could be shaped. (All Nerdanel and Feanor’s sons are alike their parents but have lots of differences as well). So Nerdanel actually told Feanor that she is in fact shaping their children to look like them but also themselves and called her firstborn her greatest creation.

This is why the half in half-brother/sister is so important. After so many researches they find out that Feanor and his half-siblings are more like third cousins than siblings

[ellrond]

What do you think about elves only falling in love (being able to) once over their whole entire lives? I thought that was canon but now I’m like 🧍‍♀️ maybe not 😭

LaCE discourse ahead, proceed with caution!!!

Laws and Customs of the Eldar, an essay in Morgoth's Ring (the 12th book of The History of Middle Earth) gives us the most information about marriage between the Eldar (which does NOT include the Silvan*) and that information is lacking at best. All it tells us about elves falling in love is that they marry only once in their lives and that for the most part, marriage is entered out of love rather than duty. "It was the act of bodily union [sex] that achieved marriage" is what Tolkien tells us.

However, it's always important, even in fiction, to consider the source information comes from - it's talking about the laws and customs, rather than the inherent nature of the Eldar. Given Tolkien's Catholic background, it can solidly be interpreted that the Eldar believed sex was an act between two married people, and so if two unmarried people had sex, that meant they were married. Remember, laws and customs can be broken.

I bring sex into it because much of the passage about Eldar marriage alludes to it. Of course, that then raises the issue of marriage without sex not truly being marriage, but that's not the case at all. Then there's also the question of what do the Eldar define as sex? The conservative answer is pretty well known, but we here at ellrond.tumblr.gov know better than that.

This small passage's reliability is somewhat undermined by the existence of Finwe's second marriage. He entered into his marriage with Indis (mother of Fingolfin and Finarfin) out of love and desire to have more children. He deeply loved both of his wives (he stayed by Miriel's side while she walked the line between life and death, and then had thousands of happy years with Indis) which indicates that yes, the Eldar can be in love more than once. The counter-argument could be that Finwe was a special case because it was known that Miriel would never take physical form again, and the hostility that Feanor had for Indis and her children ultimately led to the darkening of Valinor, the Doom of Feanor, the kinslayings, the rebellions, and the War of Wrath (to name but a few events). Perhaps it was seeing the fallout of an elf remarrying that led to the Eldar saying that they could not marry more than once?

In Tolkien's world, love usually leads to marriage as far as we know because he was the product of his time and environment. Even in the early-mid 20th century, he was socially conservative and his portrayal of love and sex, and marriage reflects this. However, there is enough wiggle room within his texts for readers to interpret them liberally. Personally, I believe that the Eldar could fall in love more than once, that they could have sex without being married, that they could be married without having sex, and whatever else. To me, it seems reductive and almost lazy to say otherwise, it is refusing to acknowledge some complexities that the Eldar would be capable of, as seen in other aspects of their long lives.

TLDR: if you want elves to fall in love more than once, there's strong enough arguments to support that idea to be found within canon, go wild!!!!

If you'd like to read LaCE yourself, you can find it here! There's lots of cool info on marriage, on elf kids, death, those affected by the Doom, healers vs warriors etc!

*Silvan elves (like Tauriel, Arondir, and Haldir) aren't bound by these laws and customs.

[feanoryen]

Sorting the Finweans into Hogwarts houses

Finwe: Gryffindor - I know he’s the leader of the crafty elves but we don’t hear anything about his talents. He seems brave through, defending his son's work from Melkor.

Miriel: Ravenclaw - Extremely talented. I can’t see her anywhere else.

Indis: Ravenclaw - I’m going into headcanon territory here but I think being the leader of crafty elves and all, Finwe would be attracted to smart girls. Also, it seems she’s a lot like her youngest child, who is definitely a Ravenclaw.

Feanor: Ravenclaw - He’d be a hatstall but ultimately I see him in Ravenclaw because he’s a prodigy and incredibly creative. I also think he himself would want to be in Ravenclaw, taking after his mother and all. He’s not exactly wise, and I know it’s a trait Ravenclaw values but Gildroy Lockhart wasn’t exactly wise either.

Nerdanel: Ravenclaw - She’s creative and wise, a perfect fit for Ravenclaw. (BTW, she’s the only Finwean brother spouse I’m sorting because we know nothing about Anaire and Earwen’s personalities.)

Findis: Ravenclaw - She seems to take after her mother and not going to middle earth seems like the wise thing to do so Ravenclaw it is.

Fingolfin: Gryffindor - Can you see him anywhere else?

Irime: Gryffindor - She went with Fingolfin so she might be a bit like him in personality.

Finarfin: Ravenclaw - He’s wise. We get it.

Maedhros: Gryffindor - He just has the vibe.

Maglor: Hufflepuff - He writes songs so maybe he’d fit well in Ravenclaw due to his creativity but his actions land him in Hufflepuff. (Hint: he is loyal af.)

Celegorm: Gryffindor - He could fit well in Slytherin too, but he has Gryffindor energy.

Caranthir: Slytherin - Richest elf in the first age. I’d say he has to be clever and at least a little ambitious to live the way he does.

Curufin: Ravenclaw - He’s his father’s son after all.

Amrod & Amras: Gryffindor - Yes they’d definitely have the same house and yes I think it would be Gryffindor.

Fingon: Gryffindor - Can you see him anywhere else? Me neither.

Turgon: Ravenclaw - He seemed smart right until the end when he trusted his nephew.

Aredhel: Gryffindor - She’s a go big or go home kind of gal.

Argon: Gryffindor - He’s described as impetuous, which is a quality that screams Gryffindor.

Finrod: Ravenclaw - Half his personality is being the smart wise friend. Also, he seems to be his father’s mini me, even sharing the same mother name.

Angrod: Gryffindor - Don’t know much about him but he gives off Gryffindor energy. Also, the contrast with Caranthir.

Aegnor: Hufflepuff - He was the perfect dutiful boy and plus, he gives off massive golden retriever energy.

Galadriel: Slytherin - Yeah, she’s smart and wise so she would fit in Ravenclaw but she’s also very ambitious.

Celebrimbor: Gryffindor - I know he’s supposed to be super skilled like his dad and grandpa but he’s also supposed to be very unlike them in personality. He’d be the Hermione sort of Gryffindor.

Idril: Ravenclaw - Being smart is one of the few things we know about her.

Maeglin: Slytherin - And he’s definitely the slimy sort.

Orodreth: Gryffindor - Simply because I don’t think he’d fit better anywhere else.

Earendil: Gryffindor - He’s some kind of holy savior I guess.

Finduilas: Hufflepuff - She just is, I mean this is the girl who tried keeping quiet about her feelings because didn’t want to betray her fiancé.

Gil-Galad: Gryffindor - It’s in his vibes.

[undercat-overdog]

Thinking more about this post, in which I quote Tolkien saying that Celebrimbor and Celeborn were great friends: it's really interesting that Tolkien often takes the path of *not* writing interpersonal conflict between characters when another author would.

Miriel and Indis, for example, is a relationship that I would honestly expect to be written as two women being cattily jealous over Finwe, even hating each other. Instead? Miriel says of Indis that "she hath my love." That's not just Miriel being glad that her widower spouse will find happiness again. That's Miriel talking about her relationship with Indis.

Or Fingon and Maedhros. Fingon had every reason to hate Maedhros. He just spent... however many years walking across pack ice and his sister-in-law and no doubt other people he knew died. He didn't know that Maedhros stood aside as Losgar (which, yes it's a big deal in a culture of filial loyalty, but also it doesn't seem that Maedhros tried to stop it), and it appears that their friendship was already broken. And yet he saved him anyways.

The movies introduced a lot of interpersonal conflicts that aren't present in the books, and downplayed some of the friendships, in particular the one between Gimli and Legolas. I think I most miss how the two of them bond over a shared love of beauty, for all that their aesthetics are different. But then, Gimli is quite possibly the character done the worst by PJ and the one that I see the least justification for changing.

The movie also introduces political conflicts where there aren't any. The Council of Elrond is no longer reasoned disagreement that turns to agreement but an outright shouting match. Theoden no longer knows that he has no choice but to support Gondor but dithers about it. Denethor... oh Denethor. The forces of good in the books work together like mature adults and know they have a common, existential threat. PJ, as far as my non-expert eyes can tell, adds interpersonal conflict because that's what modern viewers are conditioned to expect. 

But while there absolutely is intense interpersonal conflict in Tolkien (hi Feanor and Fingolfin), in other situations Jirt avoids it and friendship is this consistent theme of his.

[tolkien-feels]

Double Silmblogging: Quenta 6: Of Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor || Quenta 7: Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor

When I was a kid and Tolkien said in the Hobbit “Now it is a strange thing, but things that are good to have and days that are good to spend are soon told about, and not much to listen to; while things that are uncomfortable, palpitating, and even gruesome, may make a good tale, and take a deal of telling anyway.” I was disappointed because I wanted to know more the Last Homely House. And now as an adult I want to scream every time I read “This was the Noontide of the Blessed Realm, the fullness of its glory and its bliss, long in tale of years, but in memory too brief.” TELL ME ABOUT THE NOONTIDE TOLKIEN!!!!!

Miriel being too tired to weep is very narratively interesting in the context of “tears unnumbered ye shall shed” isn’t it?

I don’t think I need to stress how much I wish we’d gotten more about Mahtan and Nerdanel in the published Silm, right? I bring up Nerdanel like once a week here. For the record, I’m also interested in Feanor’s relationship with Mahtan. Like. A lot.

This is also the chapter that introduces the eternal question of “What if Finwe had never remarried?” Together with “What if the elves had never been taken to Aman?” that’s probably a pointless question. It amounts to “What would this book be if it was a completely different book?” There are probably no right answers here. But god!!! Thinking about it drives me crazy!! I have many thoughts about it that I’ll probably share one day - I’ve been so busy lately that whenever I have enough free time to write meta I realize I have no brainpower left

Let me say the most arrogant sentence ever: I’m full of compassion for the Ainur. I know it’s not my place since Tolkien worked so hard to make them superior to us mere mortals but sorry, I’m packbonding with your godlike beings, Jirt. Anyway, I understand that they do their very best to do right by Arda and the Children, and it’s a pet peeve of mine when people are too harsh to them. They’re good, they’re just not perfect. But. I take so much issue with their view that they’re not hindering the elves if they want to depart. “You came here guided by several Ainur ensuring your safety. We have encouraged you when you were afraid and found ways to help you cross mountain and sea alike. When you arrived, we provided places for your dwelling according to each of your needs.” is WORLDS away from “You can go but you won’t get even boats from us.” I understand not wanting to encourage folly, but do you want to make an entire people resent the Valar? Because that’s how you do it!!!

Congratulations Melkor on daydreaming about taking over the world and not listening to the Third Theme. I am sure this will not impact your evil plans in any way! Men will not in any way challenge you, it’ll be alright!

Also. Melkor being like “O Firstborn of Iluvatar, the Aftercomers shall usurp your inheritance!” and “O Firstborn of Finwe, the sons of Indis shall usurp your inheritance!” is so funny. Projecting much, Melkor? Does it irk you to see Manwe King of Arda when you fancy yourself King of the World?

(But on a serious note, do note how Fingolfin comes to rule the Noldor through Feanor’s own mistakes, as Tolkien draws attention to. This is exactly what happens to Melkor. It’s only one of many, many ways Feanor and Melkor are alike and it breaks my heart. Or at least it does when I’m not laughing wondering which of them would hate this comparison more)

Hi, hello, has anyone got any headcanons about the swords Feanor made for himself and his sons?

It’s lowkey funny that the elves are all stockpiling weapons while pretending they just happen to suddenly have taken a fancy for shields

I have so many complicated feelings about Finwe. I won’t say much about him because if I begin I’ll never shut up. The next time my brain decides to be nice to me, I’ll make a whole Finwe post

Shout out to Tulkas for wasting no time in trying to get his hands on Melkor. He’s been trying since 1919. I believe you, Tulkas! One day you will get to beat up Melkor as much as you want!!

[eri-pl]

Warning: loose rambling, suicide-related topics, criticism of Feanorians and of Polish culture, especially romanticism.

Feanorians, Polish history and self-destruction

We, the people of Poland celebrate our failed uprisings. Well, maybe not now, now it's going away, but until recently.

Feanorians are driven by death too. Glorifying death. What did Miriel do? Die.

And now she's the best mother ever, you cannot criticize her, Nerdanel can't compare, not can Curufin's unnamed wife. Not to mention Indis.

What does Finwe do? Many things, but then dies. And Feanor is driven to self-destruction. He knows he won't survive the Oath, deep inside he knows that

We destroy ourselves in an effigy to the dead, because we can't accept that they're gone.

We cannot parse the feeling, instead we burn. We say it's for our freedom, our national independence, our Silmarils and what not, but really it's just about not coping with loss.

It was never about recovering anything.

Only about channeling the pain of not having it, the guilt of people having died because of us, or even just close to us. Channeling it all into fire.

Polish romanticism is so Feanorian. Oaths, arguing with divine brings, trying to solve problems by self-destruction, and death for The Cause held as the highest achievement. Long suffering is a good second place.

"It's all because of Catholicism" you say. But it's not.

Catholicism, any healthy Christianity is not about self-destruction. It's about life, not death, with the caveat that life isn't only here and this. Martyrdom is not about self-destruction, self-punishment and suffering. It's about showing to others (and maybe to yourself) that somewhere beyond is so much more life, so much better life if you trust God, that this life cannot compare. Not because it's worthless. It's worthless only in comparison. Only.

(I'm not saying every Christian is emotionally healthy, I'm just saying it's the doctrine. Every group has people who hate themselves and want to burn, because they see it as the only way to being with anything.)

I'm not judging from above, I have a deep deep instinct of solving problems by hating and sabotaging myself too. I'm gradually healing from it.

So yeah, redemption arcs culminating in the character dying. Sometimes it makes sense but there's too much if it and not enough of characters actually having to do the work.

Also, revenge. Revenge on yourself for your father, your country, your whatever, and later revenge on everyone, friend or foe, cold revenge rising from its grave, cold oath, with God or without. Mickiewicz is so Feanorian, except Feanor would fight in the uprising 😋

Because destroying your enemy (you are also your enemy, the oath never says that they are except from the death and woe) is more important that whatever you were grieving at the start? Because the dead (not they as actual persons, they as your guilt) are more important than the living?

Feanor never went to Mandos to ask Finwe whether he wanted to be avenged. But he had no problem forcing his sons to swear a dancing oath.

There was a really good quote about how we should focus more on being good ancestors than dutiful descendants. Was it on Pinterest or in the fall of Numenor?

We build museums and statues for lost wars instead of building houses for our children.

Death and woe we shall deal. Mostly to ourselves.

Hmmm, I should end with some conclusion but I lost my train of thought before I got half as far as I wanted.

There are a lot of great psychotherapy - related videos about how many problems are caused by the inability to accept negative feelings, uncertainty, and sadness. Just sitting with them and saying "yes, I'm sad." (I recommend Heidi Priebe on YT if you feel like you want to go swear an impossible oath or something similar, and for many other issues too)

Tldr: life before death or something.

Also, from one song

...so I'm gonna live, 'cause I'm so tired of dying.

Ps: no, I'm not in a dangerous mood or anything (but if you worried, thank you for caring!), quite the opposite + feeling philosophical + pondering origin of Feanor's issues and later Maedhros and all after the Czech musical gave me inspiration.

[silvantransthranduiltrash]

Miriel’s Depression

This is pure speculation.

But what if one of the reasons Miriel was depressed was bc she knew her husband didn’t love her anymore. I mean, with him moving on in 1 valinor year (and even for humans moving on from a dead spouse, one that left an infant behind, within a year is not a sign of things being ok) it really wouldn’t be that surprising if Finwe stopped loving Miriel long before her death.

Furthermore, what if the only reason Miriel even went to Valinor in the first place was because she loved Finwe, and she left the rest of her family (who didn’t want to go) behind?

Heck, what if she did not want to be the queen, but because she loved Finwe she went with it anyways? What if she was a hunter, like celegorm, who prefered to live away from council meetings and society balls? And the reason she started to weave was to escape the golden cage she became trapped in?

What if, all of this misery she persevered through because she loved her husband, because she loved her to-be-born son...

Only for Her to be slapped in the face with the realization that Finwe no longer loved her?

Look, we know nothing about Miriel, other than she was Finwe’s first wife and Feanor’s mother, but, seeing as some traits that the feanorians showcase are clearely not from Finwe (and as far as i know Nerdanel’s side of the family) i’m willing to bet that things like Feanor’s drive , passion and fire, and celegorm’s love of the outdoors and hunting (which ambarussa also share i think?) are all parts of Miriel that are shinning through.

So, if that’s the case, what exactly would cause such a soul to choose to lay down and die?

I will bet you that not everything is what it seems in her and Finwe’s marriage, or her life in aman.

(And, this is even more speculation that’s probably not cannon but food for thought, but what if Finwe and Indis had an affair behind her back? Albeit an emotional one, but one none the less? I’ve said it before and i’ll say it again, but Finwe and Indis’s sudden and quick relationship is really sus)

Anyway, these are just some thoughts i had, considering we don’t really know what transpired between Miriel, Finwe, and Indis other than the basics and the end result. But it’s at complete odds with everything we know about elvish behavior, and i am not going to brush Feanor’s reaction to his new step-mother aside because it’s WAY to strong in my opinion, especially since there are cases like Elrond and Elros, where Maedhros and Maglor literally slaughtered Sirion and kidnapped them for a jewel, and yet the two boys still have a positive relationship with M&M. Clearly, there probably is additional things that caused Feanor to be so hostile to Indis and be at odds with his father, despite Finwe apparently favoring Feanor or smth.

It just does not add up.

And, considering that the silmarillion is written from the point of view of an in-verse historian who is biased against the feanorians, it also really would not surprise me if information that would paint Feanor in a more understanding light would be left out, either accidentally or on purpose.

Am i focusing way to much on the Weird af relationship between Miriel, Finwe and Indis and how it affected Feanor, especially considering the little information we are given on it? Some would say yes.

However, i maintain the fact that this weird relationship and the resulting family dynamic between the Finweons is the crucial starting point for everything that happened in the silmarillion, and even stretched all the way through the 3rd age with the One Ring. Therefor, i believe that trying to understand exactly what went wrong, and what we were not told, is worth focusing on as, without this one fucked up relationship drama, the history of the elves would likely have been very different.

[galadhremmin]

Maybe Feanor assumed that, just like Finwe kept th in deference to Míriel, he was now changing in deference to his new wife... But honestly, blaming your father's new girlfriend for everything in your household that you don't approve of is irrational, yes, but so common

(ask refers to this post about the Shibboleth) Yes hmm well again... why could he assume? Fëanor was very outspoken about feeling hurt and rejected by Indis ignoring Miriel's wishes. Poor Indis seems to never have corrected his idea that it was her doing, perhaps out of loyalty to Finwë again; maybe she didn't want to feel like she was badmouthing him, and coming between him and his already hurt son. Maybe she thought --well, he dislikes me already anyway. There is no helping that. Let him blame me for it, let his father keep his love. It really would be almost impossible to overlook that this was happening for Finwë. Feanor goes around complaining about it, making his sons say Þ, calling himself Fëanáro Þerindion. He's very open about his dislike for Indis. Finwë could have spoken up at any point, and explained that the Þ would actually be a more natural pronunciation for Indis as a Vanya, but that she was following his wishes. And he doesn't. Anyway I don't think you can apply common divorce dynamics to the Finwë Fëanor situation, for a few simple reasons; 1. it was the first divorce they ever had. And Miriel's passing is more or less blamed on Fëanor's birth in the text, which adds some emotions to it all (Indis' children don't cause their mother to die, there might be some anxiety about the idea of ~unmarred 'replacement' children). 2. Finwë is a king. He is apparently in charge of if changes in language become official. This is his responsibility in more ways than one-- and not taking it ends up harming his son, his new wife, and the political situation. 3. Again you cannot compare this to human divorce dynamics because if your parents divorce one of them is not condemned to the underworld forever. That is a very good reason to be upset, and not petty. 4. I don't think Fëanor blames 'everything' on Indis. I think he blames her for what he thinks is instigating a rejection/insult of his mother when that is apparently actually his father's doing (given that Indis was Miriel's friend, I wonder how she personally felt about it). Then there is the fact that a) the Vanyar are pious b) he feels the Valar have wronged him and his mother deeply c) his father marries a pious Vanya with approval of the Valar (whose children will probably support the Valar to a greater degree, while his birth was affected by 'marring'). That's probably a coincidence, but it's not hard to see how these things connect in his mind. Like again, Feanor was not a subtle person. And Finwe cannot have been that stupid. The only reason why Feanor could 'assume' is because Finwe wasn't saying it, and allowing Indis to take the blame-- when Fëanor already would have had legitimate reasons to object to the marriage without that (like come on, I'd object to a beloved person staying Dead Forever too if there were other options).

[dialux]

I’ve been going on a reading binge of all your Tolkien Women fics, and I cannot stop thinking about Indis. As a consequence I’ve created a headcanon that hurts my heart and I am going to inflict it upon you because this is clearly your fault.

Indis is one of those people just meant to be a parent, it fits her so well everyone knew it was just a matter of time before she became one. And once she gets married she tries so hard to be there for Feanor despite her own grief, but he won’t let her in. She has her kids and everyone congratulates her on having four (four!!) wonderful children, but in her heart she has five. Because Feanor might not have let her into his heart, but she certainly let him into hers, and she will always think of him as her eldest son.

It will haunt her to the end of all days and beyond, that he was always her son but she could never truly be his mother, and on her bad days she thinks that every catastrophe and death of the first age can be laid at her feet for not succeeding in the one thing everyone said was her speciality.

Okay, so a) fuck you, b) fuck you, c) fuck you. This story is basically just saying that, only in more euphemistic terms, anon.

...

Once, there were three: a woman with fair hair, a man with fair eyes, a woman with fair skin. 

...

The woman with fair skin is captured and taken by the Dark One to his fortress, where she languishes for long weeks in grief and agony. She is not turned, even as those captured alongside her become evil beings, twisted and gruesome and cruel. Melkor wonders why this woman- this limpid-eyed, weeping girl- can withstand what no other has managed.

He does not get the chance to find out.

The woman with fair hair storms Utumno. She drags her sister out alongside whoever is left of their people. But the fair-skinned woman collapses only a few days’ from the chill of Utumno, and she shows her sister the secret she expended all her fea upon: a child, a fair-haired, fair-eyed, fair-skinned girl.

Intyale the Fair-Haired buries her sister Indis in a cave of glittering light. Then she takes the child down to her people, and she bids her brother, fair-eyed Ingwe, to watch their niece. Indis he names her, for the mother she will never know, and he raises her as his own daughter, this girl who bears the brightest things of all his family.

...

She is the daughter of all three of them. Of Indis the Slain, and Intyale the Bright-Speared, and Ingwe the Grand. Indis bears one woman’s name and another woman’s steadiness and a man’s strength. She is the princess of the Vanyar. She will always be that.

She will always remember how desperately her mother fought to keep her alive. Hidden in Utumno, chanting song after song of hiding and cleaving and darkness, straining for one more moment- one more moment- to keep the little babe at her breast alive- defying Melkor himself- 

The Vanyar suffer the greatest of the losses to the Dark One before ever Orome comes to them. They- none of them, not from the eldest down to the youngest child- will ever trust Melkor ever again.

She was born in grief. 

The Doom that Namo places- it is shocking, it is pitiless, it is cruel. But then Alqualonde still rings with the laments of the Teleri. But then, Finwe is dead. Melkor has taken not just one from Indis’ life. 

She was born in grief, and, as one by one her children too learn that taste, she wonders: Perhaps the doom is my own.

...

When she is very young, she asks Intyale: What did I get from my mother?

And Intyale- this, Indis remembers very, very well- had paused, and considered, and then said, Her silence.

...

From Indis her mother, she receives silence. From Ingwe, she receives the knowledge of ruling and leadership. From Intyale- 

-from Intyale, she receives the strength of will to remain unbowed.

...

Indis loves Miriel with the kind of love of a calf for its mother: overwhelmingly, adoringly, all-consumingly. She spends hours with Miriel, learning to weave those tapestries, hands tangled in thread of silk and cotton and wool, eyes affixed to the wall just as often as she watches the silver spirals of Miriel’s hair.

The Noldor tend to craft to show their passion for the world, but Indis has nothing of that: she is a fair dancer, a well-versed scholar, a singer of surpassing talent. None of them call to her more than the rest.

She aids Miriel often, now that the building of Tirion is almost complete. Indis enjoys sitting with her and with Finwe, sipping a salty-hot tea as the light changes from gold to silver; she often falls asleep there, slumped over in her chair, and returns only at the second Mingling to Ingwe’s abode.

...

This is what they all forget about Miriel’s death: it was slow.

Slow and lingering and painless. She had dignity unto the end. Finwe clutched her hand until it could not be held. Little Feanaro is the only person in all of Aman, they say, who has lost his mother.

Indis bites her tongue until it bleeds, and does not speak.

...

Intyale dies upon the hills of the Ered Luin. Indis is still young in those days, not quite an adult and not quite a child. Three children are gamboling near the water, and there is- something. Not quite something, but not quite nothing either. Intyale realizes before anyone else, and flings herself forwards, bare-handed.

Bare-chested.

The water boar is driven backwards into the river. Indis grabs the children. Two maiar run, grasp the situation, calm the boar down with songs. Intyale emerges from the river dripping.

She collapses upon the sand, and Indis is there in heartbeats: Intyale is the only mother she remembers, distant and proud though she may be. When she dares to let her eyes drift to Intyale’s chest, everything tightens up inside of her. Her mother is rent open, from breast to belly. 

“No,” says Intyale, and reaches up, and grips Indis’ chin tighter than she ought to be able to, so close to death’s door. “Look at me, little one. We are more than our flesh.”

“You are dying,” whispers Indis, trembling.

“Yes,” says Intyale bluntly. “Call for Ingwe.”

Not for the maiar, who might save her. And not for the Valar either. Intyale has given up: Indis doesn’t realize this until later, but her mother- her aunt- would not have called for Ingwe had she not been determined to join the sister she watched fall.

Intyale forces Ingwe to swear to care for Indis as he would his own daughters. Then she asks for her spear, and to be burned until even her bones show no ash. She tells everyone who her sparse belongings must go to. And then, fingers clutching the bone-spear, she dies.

...

(Feanor, too, burns. Half her family burns to death, Feanor and Fingolfin and Fingon and Turgon and Maedhros and- and- and-

That fire is not of Finwe alone. Fire can be taught to catch, and Feanor never burned quite so brightly to anyone else as he did for Indis and her usurpation of his sainted mother. No: the fire is Indis’ inheritance, and Indis’ gift.)

...

Intyale does not tell anyone who her bone-spear should be given to. Indis finds herself holding onto it, and somehow never lets go.

...

This is what they forget: Miriel was the first to die in the peace of Valinor. 

The second is Finwe.

...

Feanaro has lost his mother, but Indis will become that mother if he will allow it. She would wish for nothing more. Of course she wishes for nothing more. 

But he does not.

Indis watches him when he does not realize. She can see it- the grief, the loneliness. He is a little boy, and Finwe is not half the father he would wish to be, and there are impossible things in this world that Indis wants- her mother, her Miriel, her peace- but most of all she just wants little Feanaro to be happy, to know happiness and joy and trust in it instead of fearing the joy will turn cold and dead in his arms.

...

Miriel had been- quickly angered.

So had Finwe. So do most of the Noldor. Indis is patient enough not to pay much attention to it. 

Well. She is patient.

...

Miriel had been easily provoked into greatness. A few insults, a carefree comment- Miriel would sit at her loom and weave, something ever-greater and ever-better. Even now, the finest gown in Indis’ keep is one that she received from Miriel the day after she spent hours insulting Miriel’s taste in fabric.

Indis would have done that to her in those awful weeks after Feanaro’s death. She would’ve gone in and insulted Miriel to within an inch of her life, made her so breathless with rage that Miriel would have levitated out of her bed to strike Indis about the face. 

But Este’s healers- called in when the labor lasted for more than two days- refused to hear of it, and Indis could only watch as Finwe’s face went whiter by the hour and all they heard from the sickroom were little Feanaro’s wails and the healers’ murmurs. She obeys the Valar: she watches Miriel fade into Lorien, and never return.

Little Feanaro is all that’s left of Miriel. 

She is certain that he’s very much like her, too.

...

Feanaro thinks that his dislike of Indis comes from her marriage to his father. Perhaps the dislike deepened into hatred then; Indis does not know. What she does know- for she’s ensured it- is that Feanaro hated her well before her marriage.

...

(“I expected better of you,” says Indis, once.

Feanaro is three years old. His eyes are Miriel’s in shape and size and beauty. Indis, determinedly, does not flinch. 

“I’m just doing with Rumil taught me!” he exclaims.

“In Valmar,” says Indis, “children learn their letters by the time they turn a year old.”

Feanaro flushes red. “I don’t like these letters. They don’t make sense.”

“Then make your own,” says Indis, careful not to let sympathy seep into her voice.

She does not smile when the news percolates through Valinor of Feanor’s Tengwar. She does not smile, but oh, oh: how she wants to!)

...

This is what they do not see: Feanaro is young, and while fire is forever dangerous, while fire is forever alluring, it is too easy, far too easy, to stamp it out. Especially when it is young. Especially when it is small.

Indis would have been the shelter to that little flame if he would have allowed it. But he will not, so all she can do is throw fuel onto the fire. Chaff and dross and dried straw: insults and backhanded compliments and petty slights. If Feanaro will not let her protect him, then she will build him so high that none will ever be able to strike him down.

(Letting him die was never an option.)

...

Finwe dies, and they leave, and then Feanaro dies, and then Findis disappears, and then Nolofinwe dies, and then Arafinwe comes to her, for the first time since his father’s body burned in Tirion’s courtyard.

“We have been given leave to go to Beleriand,” says Arafinwe quietly, solemnly. “Morgoth shall be defeated and thrown into the Void. The Vanyar shall all come, by King Ingwe’s decree.”

“Is there something you wish to ask me, then?” asks Indis gently.

Arafinwe swallows, one reflexive jump of his throat. “Will you join me?”

Indis rises. Steps away. Goes to her bedroom and plucks it from the wall, and returns in time to see her darling son’s shoulder slump with frustration. 

“I will not,” she says. Arafinwe jumps, startled. Indis steps closer to him and presses the bone-spear into his palms. “I will not return, Arafinwe, to that land. Already it has taken much from me. I will not offer it more.”

“But-”

“Take this,” says Indis. “It is your grandmother’s.”

Surprise glitters in his pale eyes. “I have a sword.”

“This has already held off Morgoth once,” says Indis. “There are tales that will never be told, of the courage of the elves that never saw the Blessed Isles. Intyale Bright-Speared was your grandmother named, and well-named was she! This spear held Morgoth back long enough to release prisoners in the depths of Utumno before ever Orome saw us, long enough to let Intyale’s sister flee. Long enough for Intyale’s sister to hand the child in her arms over to Intyale.

“The sister’s name is Indis,” says Indis. “I was that child. I was named for her.”

Arafinwe stares at her. “You speak so rarely of them.”

“I’ve no desire to relive tragedy for the rest of my life,” says Indis flatly. “Now come. You’ll need to learn how to use that, if you wish to hold Morgoth hostage!”

...

Perhaps she began this, when she chose this path.

Perhaps she could have averted this.

But Indis is the daughter of Intyale, and it will be her bone-spear held to Morgoth’s throat at the end of this awful, deathful road, and if nothing else- if nothing else- she has the will to remain unbowed, this girl born in the shadow of Utumno, this woman who watched all those around her fall as wheat before a scythe, this mother who would rather her children loathe her than die, this daughter who has lost both mothers and knows, bitterly, the whole of that unfathomable loss.

...

That is what she tells Feanor, finally, when he returns to life.

There is something thoughtful in his gaze. He nods, and returns, a week later, and when she blithely tells him that his sons have inherited his monotonous fashion sense, Feanor flushes, and then pauses, and then says, carefully, “I’d rather it be monotonous than Finarfin’s gaudiness,” and Indis drinks her tea- salty-hot, just as she likes it- and she says, smiling, “I am glad you can be taught.”