A Sense of History: Straight Road
The next in a series of articles about ships passing to and from the West, Simon uses "The Fall of Númenor" to attempt to arrive at Tolkien's reading of the exordium to "Beowulf."
Sauron assassinates Ar-Pharazôn before the Great Armament can be sent against Valinor, and takes power as Steward, turning the military might of Numenor and Mordor against the Eldar and Faithful; the history of Arda is altered forever.
Maglor and Uldor, some time before the Nírnaeth.
The Steward Boromir, son of Denethor I, ruled Gondor at the end of the Watchful Peace, centuries before the War of the Ring. He fought and repelled the Witch-king's forces in Osgiliath, but received a wound from a Morgul-blade doing so. Though his life was saved by his healers, he was crippled and died nine years later.
This story explores a different path for the life of the Steward...
Olwë on the Kinslaying.
Elrond is not the only one who is disrupted by his visitor.
A chance meeting in the forest prompts Nellas to revisit first impressions, and Lúthien to re-examine how she relates to her homeland.
Indis and Lalwen have a final conversation before the Exile.
Two sonnets for Daeron: one for his joy and youth in Doriath, and one for his exile in Eriador, searching in vain for Lúthien.
What Maglor, in both obdurate pride and grievous lament, might have sung of the Silmaril. In blank verse unrhymed, after Paradise Lost.
Ecthelion finds his flute disagreeable.
“Are you going to tell me what’s bothering you, or are we just never going to talk again?” he asked finally, as they crested the Calacirya, and sprawling Alqualondë came into view, rainbow beaches glittering in the noonday sun. Even from there they could hear singing rising from the docks.
Elwing took a breath. “I don’t know,” she said finally. “Am I ever going to see you again?”
Request from Winterwitch: “ . . . something about Maedhros and Elrond would be lovely, perhaps of the time when one of the two discovers his respect, admiration, or even fondness of the other. Or Maglor and Elrond in the same situation.”
This is young Elrond's POV in the first hours after Maedhros and Maglor take him and his brother with them from the Havens of Sirion.
A very old Nerdanel looks back on her life from childhood to the present and reflects on her art and personal life while remembering her first work.
A reborn Telerin mariner contemplates sea-longing.
A character of few words may yet have great significance. An essay on Finarfin, the third son of Finwë and later King of the Noldor, and what he means to the story of the Silmarillion.
The morning after the Mereth Aderthad, Fingolfin enjoys a quiet moment with Aredhel.
Maedhros enchaîné attend sa délivrance... (drabble)
Sentenced into the Void for eternity, Melkor now plots his final revenge against the Valar. And as time counts towards the prophesied End, Melkor enters into one last alliance with an ancient entity: a self-serving ally in the distant past ... and an old enemy.
Who was Fingon's wife? How does that mesh up with a Maedhros/Fingon narrative. This is one attempt.
Finduilas and Niënor survive and take refuge at the Havens.
A young Elladan and Elrohir return from playing by the sea with a strange tale that sends their father on a mad chase.