eccentricmya

[eccentricmya]

Moon Dumplings: A Pan-Elven Cultural Debate in Three Documents (Part 2)

Warning(s): None Rating: Gen Summary: The origins of moon dumplings, shared amongst all branches of elven kindred, are a source of frequent arguments, both culinary and scholarly. Part 1 is here.

Selected Interviews from Díril’s research into moon dumpling origins, transcribed in her own hand

Q: When did you first hear of moon dumplings?

A: They were with us even at Cuiviénen. Had them often when the nights got very cold. They are warming, you know. Good for putting some meat on your bones. You are too skinny, young lady. Respondent 1: a Sindarin elleth of unknown age, asked to estimate she shrugged and said “we did not count years back then”

A: Not until we were nearing the Anduin on the Great Journey. We made lembas out of Valarin corn, but it was not until we halted to wait for better conditions for crossing that those with minds for cooking learned to make the dough. Respondent 2: a Nandorin ellon, born approximately ninety winters before the Journey at Cuiviénen

A: They were invented during the hottest days, of course. Stews and porridges are hearty and delicious, but they leave something to be desired when it gets too warm out. The calming influence of the stars will set that right. [interviewer prompts “can you estimate the year?”] Oh! Right after Oromë gave the Noldor the right type of flour. We kept them secret, you know, from the other kindred. Respondent 3: an Exilic Noldorin elleth, who was born on the Great Journey

A: I do not remember. When I was still a small child. Respondent 4: an Avari ellon, who remembered choosing to stay rather than joining the Great Journey

Q: Why are they called moon dumplings?

A: They were not originally called that. It was only after the moon and his phases that folk changed their name. They used to be called “starbeads.” Respondent 1

Respondent 2 declined to answer.

A: Because they are cured under moonlight these days. What do they teach you in Lindon, girl? Respondent 3

A: We do not call them that. We call them “starbeads.” [respondent says something mostly inaudible, but a portion of it contained the phrase “new names for old things”] Respondent 4

Q: Who invented them?

A: The Noldor. I already told you that. Respondant 3

All other respondents declined to answer.

Q: Are the fillings of this dumpling sweet or savory?

A: Either, whatever is available. Respondent 1

A: Sweet, always. Respondent 2

A: Savory, always. Respondent 3

A: Both, sometimes. Respondent 4

Q: What is the traditional filling for these dumplings?

A: Oh, all sorts. Anything that will not tear the skin while cooking. No one wants to be picking out little bits of burned vegetables from a steam basket. It is important that the filling is soft either by nature or by cooking first. [interviewer asks “which were the most common?”] Mushrooms, wild plants, sometimes fish or fowl. Respondent 1

A: We begin by collecting sap from maple trees, which is boiled to remove impurities and concentrate the flavor. We filter it and add dried fruits and minced nuts. When it has cooked down and become rather sticky, we fill the dumplings. Respondent 2

A: Meat, obviously. [interviewer prompts “what kind of meat?”] Whatever can be gotten with relative ease. Respondent 3

A: Minced nuts are most usual. Respondent 4

Q: Are there alternate fillings that are acceptable?

A: I have already answered that question. Respondent 1

A: Absolutely not. Respondent 2

A: Have you taken leave of your senses? No. Respondent 3

A: Fruit is also common. Respondent 4

Q: What texture should the dumpling wrapping be?

A: They should have a texture that requires a bit of chewing. The flavor improves with more moonlight. Respondant 2

All other respondents answered with a variation of “not tough [like the Nandorin variety.]”

For @silmarillionepistolary week

#have some dumplings and opinions!

[eccentricmya]

Elrond be like: I am 4/8 human, 3/8 elf, and 1/8 angel. My mother is a bird and my father is the planet Venus. My twin brother was the first king of Atlantis but somehow I seem to be more famous than him. I am one of three ringbearers, the other two being the female version of Feanor and a guy who loves fireworks. My foster father is a crazy homeless guy who likes music and his whole family is dead. My many-greats grandnephew is in love with my daughter. No one can tell my sons apart. I like waterfalls and am both a glorified innkeeper and a top-notch doctor. I am the voice of reason no one listens to.

#also elrond: I'm a blorbo-whatever that means-to people I've never met in a world where I've never existed

[eccentricmya]

say whatever you want about me on anon, i have to post it without any comment

#ooooh looks interesting

[eccentricmya]

On the fourth day of @silmarillionepistolary week, we navigate the confounding waters of mindfuckery aboard the stolen ships!

Read chapter 6 here and join a Noldo in the terror of his circumstances.

Prompt: The viewpoint of a Noldo on the ships while Uinen’s tears make the sea rougher

Anon! Thank you for this most inspiring prompt! 🤍💛

I've decided to explore this as diary entries for @silmarillionepistolary week! There will be one entry for each day. Hope you like it ^^

Chapters: 1/7 Warnings: Major Character Death Characters: Original Characters, Uinen (Tolkien) Additional Tags: Epistolary, Flight of the Noldor, Psychological Horror

Summary: Some snippets from the journal of Almalindë during the flight of the Noldor on the stolen ships.

#silm fic #horror #oc

[eccentricmya]

Tidbit Thursday

thanks for the tag @eccentricmya, here's something I just started writing yesterday because I can't resist the brain worms people leave around 😂

Fingon picks up the neat pile of parchment from Maedhros' desk. He knows he shouldn't pry on what might be personal thoughts or correspondence, but his curiosity gets the better of him. The year-long separation has left him starved for news, he will take scraps even, of the things that have filled his beloved's days while they were parted. The title is drawn out in perfect Tengwar, evidently practiced with deadly discipline. "On Dialectical Variation Among Orc Communities in the First Age: A Preliminary Analysis by Maedhros, Lord of Himring." So this was Maedhros' important project? This is why he couldn't make his annual spring journey to Hithlum? Fingon feels his jaw tightening and resists crushing the paper between his hands through sheer willpower.

no pressure summoning @niennawept (who left behind the brain worms I spoke of), @spiritofwhitefire and @gardensofthemoon to share a tidbit if you'd like

#mae the scholar! #that too in a niche subject! #fics to come

[eccentricmya]

Thank you, my friend! You tagged me at a very fortunate time! 😸

Here's a snippet from my fic The Terror that I'm writing for the epistolary week. This is literally the last sentence I wrote just now:

Lelyavendë thinks it's the weeping woman haunting us. Oh, that's the nís who often delivers the bread… she's taken to hovering around me, though why, I know not. She says it's to 'repay a life saving grace' but when did I ever save her? Perhaps I pulled her out of the water at Alqualondë? It's difficult to recall the precise happenings on that beach… for the better I feel.

I'll tag @melestasflight @dalliansss @arofili if any of you wish to!

Tidbit Thursday

Once again thanks to @welcomingdisaster for tagging me <3

Here's a tidbit from the WIP that I doubt I'll finish (Maedhros Thangorodrim one)

“Have you seen my son, Maitimo?” Fingolfin asked. Maedhros heard Fingon’s muffled giggles. He knew that if he had the strength to turn his head, he would see a small lump under the blanket on his bed. “No, Uncle,” he said. The corners of his mouth turned up, broke and bled.

Tagging @sallysavestheday, @searchingforserendipity25, @runawaymun, @amethysttribble, @eccentricmya

#tag game #fic snippet #I so hope you finish this fic zwc! #this n the mae/nolo one 👀 #ngl I'm waiting for the uncle nephew ship to sail

[eccentricmya]

Morning light

#this looks straight from the witches' times #photography #nature

[eccentricmya]

Ok the plot has officially run away from me. Because wtf is happening!? 😭

My one hour haunted ship music has started. Let's get today's update done!

#I'm leaning so hard into the unreliable narrator tag now #it's not even funny

[eccentricmya]

My one hour haunted ship music has started. Let's get today's update done!

#writing the terror

[eccentricmya]

#omg happy mae!! #fingon #maedhros #tolkien art #so lovely!!

[eccentricmya]

WIP Wednesday

A little sneak peak of the aroace Fingon fic, to tide you over until I'm done!

Fingolfin shook his head, scoffing, "because we'd be dead!" A hush fell over them at the vehemence with which the words had been spoken. How long had his father been tormented with the prospect of death? Why had he not noticed? Fingon could only berate himself for the lapse, now that the time to act had passed. Had Turgon been there, their father would not have felt the need to wait and hide, letting despondency reach the unshakable resolve of his mind. No, Turgon would've nipped any such errant thought in its bud before it could take root. He would've sensed the shift in their father far sooner, simply because he was not Fingon the Lacking.

#'self reblog' #iykyk #silm fic #fingon #fingolfin

[eccentricmya]

What if Morgoth's parlay was a different sort of trap?

He sends the message, dangling the promise of the Silmarils, and of course Maedhros agrees to go. Of course he brings more than the agreed upon amount of force, forbids any of his brothers from riding with him. It's a trap, obviously, but he won't drag them into death with him.

But Morgoth is counting on that. Because that means Maedhros is bringing the best of his soldiers. That everyone who stayed behind - Maedhros' brothers, those who might have been injured from the Dagor-nuin-Giliath and could no longer fight - will be thinking about their king. They will be distracted. Less defended. Vulnerable.

And then...

Maedhros arrives at the parlay meeting grounds and waits. And waits. Morgoth does not come. A coward, Maedhros thinks, and he rides back with his soldiers to his camp.

They see the smoke first. Maedhros' heart turns cold.

Too late, Morgoth's true intentions become clear. It was a trap, but Maedhros did not spare his little brothers by not letting them come with him. He looks at the devastation the Enemy has left behind and screams.

(later, his followers will say that he looked like Feanor. That his eyes burned with a dark fire, a horribly familiar mix of grief and madness)

In Angband, Morgoth forces the six sons of Feanor to kneel before his throne and laughs.

#woah. that's one great idea!

[eccentricmya]

Not sure if people honestly forget or just kind of ignore how Dior explicitly took part in the Battle of Sarn Athrad one of whose main objectives (or at the very least RESULTS) was to retrieve the Silmaril. As if a huge part of the irony of the run-up to the Second Kinslaying isn't that Doriath are the ones who killed people specifically in pursuit of the Silmaril (that were longstanding allies of the Fëanorians and contributed in the wars against Morgoth as recently as the Union of Maedhros, even potential friends re: Curufin, and whose craftsmanship Beren has to thank for being able to cut the thing free from Morgoth's crown in the first place). Dior's connection to the Silmaril isn't just having it passed down from his parents, he actively fought for it (which I'll grant wasn't necessarily his chief motivation and more important to his father, but the larger point still stands). That's the context in which he refuses to even negotiate with the Fëanorians claim.

#good shit right here! #long post #but worth it! read!!

[eccentricmya]

we used to get prescribed a summer on the seaside. now we just get told to go touch grass. the economy is in shambles

#lol #wait till they tell you to speak to your desk plant because grass too is miles away

[eccentricmya]

haleth and caranthir

#waaah look at haleth! tiny but fierce #haleth #caranthir #tolkien art

[eccentricmya]

Makinng stickers ✨️

#omg these!!! #bird art

[eccentricmya]

Someone asked me to expand a little on a topic that was buried down in a big chain of reblogs, so I'm doing that here--it's about the use of the archaic "thee", "thou", "thy", etc. in LOTR and what it tells you about characters’ feelings for one another. (I am NOT an expert on this, so it's just what I've picked up over time!)

Like many (most?) modern English speakers, I grew up thinking of those old forms of 2nd person address as being extra formal. I think that's because my main exposure to them was in the Bible ("thou shall not...") and why wouldn't god, speaking as the ultimate authority, be using the most formal, official voice? But it turns out that for a huge chunk of the history of the English language, "thee," "thou," and "thy" were actually the informal/casual alternatives to the formal "you", ��your”, “yours”. Like tú v. usted in Spanish!

With that in mind, Tolkien was very intentional about when he peppered in a "thee" or a "thou" in his dialogue. It only happens a handful of times. Most of those are when a jerk is trying to make clear that someone else is beneath them by treating them informally. Denethor "thou"s Gandalf when he’s pissed at him. The Witch King calls Éowyn "thee" to cut her down verbally before he cuts her down physically. And the Mouth of Sauron calls Aragorn and Gandalf "thou" as a way to show them that he has the upper hand. (Big oops by all 3 of these guys!)

The other times are the opposite--it's when someone starts to use the informal/casual form as a way to show their feeling of affection for someone else. Galadriel goes with the formal "you" all through the company's days in Lórien, but by the time they leave she has really taken them to heart. So when she sends them a message via Gandalf early in the Two Towers, she uses "thee" and "thou" in her words to Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli because now they're valued friends and allies. And--this is the big one, folks, that was already alluded to in my previous post--Éowyn starts aggressively "thou"ing Aragorn when she is begging him to take her along as he prepares to ride out of Dunharrow. She is very intentionally trying to communicate her feelings to him in her choice of pronoun--an "I wouldn't be calling you "thee" if I didn't love you" kind of thing. And he is just as intentionally using "you" in every single one of his responses in order to gently establish a boundary with her without having to state outright that he doesn't reciprocate her feelings. It's not until much later when her engagement to Faramir is announced that Aragorn finally busts out "I have wished thee joy ever since I first saw thee". Because now it is safe to acknowledge a relationship of closeness and familiarity with her without the risk that it will be misinterpreted. He absolutely wants to have that close, familiar relationship, but he saved it for when he knew she could accept it on his terms without getting hurt.

So, you know, like all things language-based...Tolkien made very purposeful decisions in his word choices down to a bonkers level of detail. I didn’t know about this pronoun thing until I was a whole ass adult, but that’s the joy of dealing with Tolkien. I still discover new things like this almost every time I re-read.

#excellent post