The Return of the Balrog-Slayer by

Fanwork Notes

0. The story presented here does not actually contradict canon, at least not any more than canon already contradicts itself: Tolkien never said Glorfindel was the only re-embodied Elf to go to Valinor, and even used the phrase, “possibly as one of a small party.” (In the first essay on Glorfindel, where he also wondered whether the Galdor at the council in Rivendell might have been Galdor-of-Gondolin, but dismissed the idea as the former Galdor was written as too stupid -- still, that establishes the possibility of multiple Lord of Gondolin.) Moreover, most arguments for why Glorfindel was chosen work just as well for Ecthelion. Oh, and I have clearly gone more with the second essay, where Glorfindel goes over in the Second Age, by ship, with the Blue Wizards.
1. Laurefindil is Glorfindel’s Quenya name, according to the Parma Eldalamberon.
2. Alatar and Pallando are the previously-mentioned Blue Wizards, originally Maiar of Orome.
3. I am extremely inexpert in both Quenya and Sindarin, so making up names fills me with the deepest unease. Anyway, here we have Loswë, who sort of matches Elenwë (who is her cousin, in this headcanon), and who echoes the name of Glorfindel’s “house in Nolorissa”, Los’lorial. I don’t like it, but how long can one spend fussing over a name? If one is not Tolkien, that is.
4. The Festival of Winds is, of course, made up by me, but Elves did seem to have many festivals, and some sort of kite-flying competition seems like a fitting way to honour Manwe.
5. Ecthelion’s pimped-out silver-and-crystal armour is mentioned in several places. His white horse shows up in The Coming of Tuor to Gondolin.
6. The overall blame for this ficlet goes to Zeen’s Resurrection Ficathon, which had a prompt about Glorfindel’s return to Middle-earth being complicated by someone he has to leave behind. I misremembered this prompt, and then started thinking about how I really didn’t want to do the usual “Oh I must leave these shores, Ecthelion, but you’re reluctant/stuck in the Halls” sort of thing. Here is the result.
7. I would like to thank Lenine, Wulfila, Zeen, Eveiya, and Uli for their comments!

Fanwork Information

Summary: So, how did Glorfindel of Gondolin make his (posthumous) way to Middle-earth in order to become Glorfindel of Rivendell? The relevant canon is full of uncertainties and contradictions. I like to think it might have happened as follows... Major Characters: Ecthelion of the Fountain, Glorfindel Major Relationships: Genre: Challenges: Rating: General Warnings:
Chapters: 1	Word Count: 3, 347
Posted on 16 December 2013	Updated on 16 December 2013
This fanwork is complete.