Tolkien Meta Week Starts December 8!
Join us December 8-14, here and on Tumblr, as we share our thoughts, musings, rants, and headcanons about all aspects of Tolkien's world.
Makalaurë was the living-room, reading his newest book, a music manual that at first had seemed interesting but alas seemed to be written by someone obviously stuffy who didn’t know a thing about music. The whole thing was so ridiculous that he could only laugh, and write furious notes in the margin, well decided to send his heavily corrected version to the publisher of that joke of a book.
He was leaning against Maitimo, on one of the couches of the room, in front of the fireplace. He watched from the corner of his eyes the twins approach them:
“Hey, Nelyo?” Ambarussa asked their elder brother, interrupting his reading of what looked far too much like a political treatise of some kind for Makalaurë’s taste.
“Hm?”
“Why do we even have winter? What’s the point of it?”
Makalaurë looked up from his book and turned slightly to face his siblings, curious as to Maitimo’s answer:
“… Why do you ask me?”
“We asked dad earlier but his answer was not convincing and he said to ask you.”
Tyelkormo, who was sprawled on the thick carpet in front of the lit fireplace, buzy whittling a piece of wood, Huan curled up near his legs, huffed in laughter as Maitimo looked at the twins and then at their parents _who both seem to think that pretending not to have heard a thing was realistic_ and then back at their little brothers:
“I have the exact same answer than dad, ask Tyelko for another answer.” Maitimo answered, letting himself lean against Makalaurë.
“But we can’t ask Tyelko! He actually likes winter!” One of the twins protested, making Tyelkormo snort in amusement.
Makalaurë bit his lips in order to not laugh slightly as well. Their littlest brothers didn’t seem to enjoy the cold for all they seemed to have fun in the snow.
“All the more reason for him to have answers for you.” Makalaurë offered them in answer.
There was a moment of silence, the twins clearly deliberating via Osanwë, and then both came to stand in front of their hunter sibling instead:
“Tyelko, why do we have winter?”
“I should really tell you to ask dad instead.”
“I’m not the one running around with one of the Valar. Also they already asked me and didn’t like my answer.” Fëanáro protested.
Tyelkormo rolled his eyes at that even Huan snorted sounding strangely amused to Makalaurë’s ears; the animal companions of a vala were always too strange for his tastes.
“How about you answer us, Tyelko. The Valar control everything, right? We could have warm weather all year long! So why bother with winter?” One of the twins asked, glaring at him as if he was the one responsible for the cold weather, much to Makalaurë’s amusement.
Tyelkormo sighed but sat up, facing his brothers:
“This period is necessary for plant life. Some plants need the rest that the cold provides, others need cold for their seeds to germinate.”
There was a cough from their father that sounded vaguely like the words: “terrible design”, and Tyelkormo obviously chose to act as if he hadn’t heard.
“It’s also true for animals. The seasons as they are also regulate animal lives.”
“But why? Why couldn’t they make a more efficient and enjoyable season?!”
“You don’t find it enjoyable, but who says it’s not efficient? Look at it this way. Tree leaves and plant that die in autumn will fall to the ground. Those tree leaves and plant remains will rot, and as they rot, they feed the soil so the plants can feed on it in turn to develop new leaves or grow from seed in an endless cycle of death and rebirth. It’s a continuous source to replenish the food in the soil to feed plant life. Plant life that then can feed animals…”
“Those that won’t die of cold, you mean?” Ambarussa grumbled.
“And those animals that die will be eaten by other animals or rot and feed the soil that’ll allow plant life to develop around it. It’s all the same, little brother. It’s a cycle, a delicate balance. Life and death aren’t separated, they’re intertwined and codependent. The season of winter that brings death to delicate plant and animal lives only makes way for the next generations of plant and animal lives to thrive and reproduce.”
“Who taught you that?” The twins asked him.
“Lord Oromë and lady Vána.”
“So… If I understand well… There’s really no way to make a case with the Valar to cancel winter and bring us straight to spring?” Umbarto mused.
Tyelkormo started to laugh at that, and Makalaurë was close to join him. Curufinwë had had similar thwarted plans once upon a time. Of all his brothers, only Tyelkormo really liked the season as it was.
“No, there is absolutely no way to petition the Valar to wreck havoc in the natural world just to please you.”
“Well there goes that plan.” Ambarussa grumbled.
Nerdanel’s and Fëanáro’s faces were both strategically hidden behind their respective books, but there was also no mistaking the giggle that Fëanáro didn’t manage to stop at the twin’s disgruntled conclusion.