Shards of a Line Unbroken by polutropos

Fanwork Information

Summary:

At the gates of Edoras, Aragorn tells the guard that Narsil was forged by Telchar, the great dwarven smith of the First Age. How did this ancient heirloom come into the hands of Elendil, king of the Realms in Exile?

Written for the SWG challenge Kings & Queens (as well as Akallabeth in August), and part of my Weapons series, the rest of which is on AO3. 

Major Characters: Elrond, Elendil

Major Relationships: Elendil & Elrond

Artwork Type: No artwork type listed

Genre: General

Challenges: Akallabêth in August, Kings & Queens

Rating: General

Warnings:

Chapters: 1 Word Count: 1, 020
Posted on 24 August 2024 Updated on 25 August 2024

This fanwork is complete.

Table of Contents

Shards of a Line Unbroken

Comments

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!!!!!!!  Oh I'm so glad you explored this!

I love how you jointly draw out the characters of both Elendil and the absent Elros through comparison
He did not say it was his self-assurance, his candour that nearly overstepped the bounds of common courtesy.
😉

his promises of pomp were the very reason Elrond had given no notice of his coming.
Love an understated Elrond <3

Elrond wore no such jewels.
Oh it feels like there is such a story hidden in this line

Without ever saying it outright I like how you show Elros as the elder with all the extra attention that often goes with that.

commissioned by Felagund for Bëor the Old and became,
Such a beautiful piece of world building, and making it all the more precious as an heirloom!!

And then Elrond's grief at the end, always to lose those around him 😢

Gorgeous!  Truly gorgeous 💖

Thanks so much. Started jotting things down with a pen and what do you know the characterisations leapt out at me. 

Oh it feels like there is such a story hidden in this line I think so. Of course, he ends up wearing one very significant jewel soon after this (Vilya) but I've never thought that was a role he relished. 

Such a beautiful piece of world building, and making it all the more precious as an heirloom!! That Finrod, gets himself involved in every story :D

 

Interesting encounter with all those contrasts between Elrond and Elendil, and the implications about Elros!

I can see your point about how the uncertainty about its early history might fit a heirloom of the Edain.

I'd be interested in those women bearers, if you'd be happy to say a bit more about them!

 

ETA; Also the title: I see what you did there...

Thank you for the comment! I've developed a bit of an investment in Elros in the last little while and enjoy exploring ideas for his character.

I have two not-fully-formed thoughts about what happened to Narsil between Brethil and Sirion:

1 - It passed to Beren's semi-canonical sister Hiril. Since we know virtually nothing of her, the possibilities are vast. I haven't thought beyond that for her.

2 - Emeldir entrusted it to Morwen who brought it with her to Dor-lomin. Why she would not have sent it to Doriath with the Dragon-helm I do not yet know, but I'm imagining she herself wears it on the journey to Doriath and then passes it on to Nienor. Nienor wears it when she follows after Morwen disguised as an elf-man and it's still on her when she's enspelled by Glaurung. But of course when she becomes frightened and flees, she casts it off with the rest of her garments. Mablung retrieves it and brings it back to Doriath. When he at last learns of the fate of Turin and Nienor, he brings it back to Brethil for their Haladin kin to do with as they see fit. I was thinking of it maybe being placed on their tomb/memorial, but then someone taking it from there and bringing it to Sirion seemed not quite right. 

ETA; Also the title: I see what you did there... 😉

I like your idea for how Narsil could have been handed down! It's a very cool idea for it to be originally made for Bëor and passed down among his descendants. I like the involvement of Emeldir, Morwen and Nienor as you explain in the comments. And I agree, it's only fair and makes sense for Elrond to have some heirlooms too. :)

and Elrond noted how securely the ring circled his finger, as though it had become a part of his hand — for so jewellery appears when seldom, if ever, removed from the wearer.

Oh no, that's ominous foreshadowing . . .

And poor Elrond, who finds himself guarding both the shards of Narsil and his brother's heirs so soon.