Out Over Open Waters by Himring
Fanwork Notes
For the Naturalist's Guide to Middle-earth challenge.
The prompts used were:
Survival on Land and Sea (edible parts of plants), Sea and land snails (sea snail, conch)
Fanwork Information
|
Summary: The first of the great seafarers of Numenor is inspired by the tales of Elvish mariners of the First Age. Update: another chapter / drabble added Major Characters: Erellont, Vëantur, Voronwë Major Relationships: Genre: Fixed-Length Ficlet Challenges: Naturalist's Guide to Middle-earth Rating: General Warnings: |
|
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 199 |
| Posted on 28 September 2020 | Updated on 28 November 2020 |
|
This fanwork is complete. | |
Chapter 1
Read Chapter 1
‘You have not met?’ said Voronwe. ‘This is Erellont, who sailed with Earendil, forefather of your king.’
Instinctively, Veantur looked up at the sky.
‘I sailed the seas with him!’ said Erellont, smiling.
They walked along the shoreline together. Erellont spoke of long voyages, of wondrous sights, but also hardships, how they had starved, reduced to eating the pulp of unfamiliar plants.
Voronwe picked up a snail shell, tiny and whorled. His gaze was far away.
‘I heard the conches of Ulmo once,’ he said.
Sighing, Erellont nodded.
‘Will you advise me how to build a seaworthy vessel?’ asked Veantur.
Chapter End Notes
Also incorporates Tolkien Weekly prompts for the Sea Places challenge: shoreline, open water.
Oshun's bio of Veantur is here.
I have written about Erellont before here.
Chapter 2
Read Chapter 2
Erellont and Voronwe did not leave until Veantur had detailed plans for the construction of a shipyard and the expansion of the harbour in the bay of Romenna.
‘Did I not myself receive unstinting help from Cirdan?’ said Voronwe, when Veantur thanked them repeatedly. ‘Greet my kinsman for me when you see him! He will receive you kindly.’
Much work still needed to be done, before Veantur’s first ship could set sail or he could hope to lay eyes on the fabled Cirdan, but in his dreams he already heard the waves beating on the beaches and cliffs of Middle-earth.
Chapter End Notes
This drabble written for Numenor Week on Tumblr, incorporating the rest of the prompts of the Sea Places challenge at Tolkien Weekly: harbour, bay, beach, cliff.
100 words in MS Word.
(1) Comment by oshun for Out Over Open Waters [Ch 1]
This is my favorite line:
spoke of long voyages, of wondrous sights, but also hardships, how they had starved, reduced to eating the pulp of unfamiliar plants.
Re: (1) Comment by oshun for Out Over Open Waters [Ch 1]
Thank you very much, Oshun! I am glad you liked that bit!
(2) Comment by Lferion for Out Over Open Waters [Ch 1]
I love how spare and evocative this is.
Re: (2) Comment by Lferion for Out Over Open Waters [Ch 1]
Thank you!
(3) Comment by Cate Wolfe for Out Over Open Waters [Ch 1]
I enjoyed this, it's like a tiny window into what might become a much longer conversation. Although I hope Veantur doesn't pester Erellont too much!
Re: (3) Comment by Cate Wolfe for Out Over Open Waters [Ch 1]
Thank you!
I think Erellont quite enjoys being a mentor to Veantur for a bit!
(4) Comment by Grundy for Out Over Open Waters [Ch 1]
What an interesting encounter - Voronwe seems rather melancholy, but Veantur is so taken with Erellont and his stories.
Re: (4) Comment by Grundy for Out Over Open Waters [Ch 1]
Thank you!
I have been wondering whether to write a second drabble to complement this one. I haven't made up my mind.
I think Voronwe's melancholy derives from some of what he says about the Sea in Unfinished Tales.
In the earlier piece about Erellont, I had made her female, following a suggestion by Elleth.
In this drabble, there are no pronouns referring to Erellont that indicate gender.