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update

It’s been months, so might as well make it official. Silm is on hold until further notice. Don’t get me wrong, I find the worldbuilding and stuff fascinating, but I have a lot of other stuff on my plate, schoolwork not being the least of it. Besides, books are really hard to liveblog. I think that when (yes, when, not if) I pick Silm up again, I’ll summarize thoughts from a section instead of going sentence by sentence like I have been. I do have a problem with reading too quickly and thus not absorbing what happens, but forcing myself to copy and paste every sentence is really just overkill.

Meanwhile, I’m going to use this blog for its original intended purpose, as evidenced by my URL. That’s right, I’m going to be rereading Problem Sleuth (and also probably SelanPike’s AU sequels because they’re freaking amazing). That will not happen right away, but it will happen. After I finish that, I will probably go back to Silm.

See y’all when I get around to it.

#jsc speaks #@thecoilsoftheuniverse I love you but it must be done

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im doing this instead of homework

Who knows? Maybe I’ll actually stick to a reasonable schedule this time and finish this before the summer.

Lol.

Now Varda purposed that the two vessels should journey in Ilmen and ever be aloft, but not together...the flame of Anar scorched him, and the island of the Moon was darkened...Anar rested therefore a while in Valinor, lying upon the cool bosom of the Outer Sea; and Evening, the time of the descent and resting of the Sun, was the hour of greatest light and joy in Aman. But soon the Sun...came unseen to the east and there mounted the heaven again, lest night be over-long and evil walk under the Moon. Varda commanded the Moon to journey in like manner, and passing under Earth to arise in the east, but only after the Sun had descended from heaven...often both may be seen above the Earth together, or at times it will chance that he comes so nigh that his shadow cuts off her brightness and there is a darkness amid the day.

Origins of day and night and eclipses, very cool. I still think it’s strange that this wasn’t the first thing that happened.

Therefore by the coming and going of Anar the Valar reckoned the days thereafter until the Change of the World. For Tilion tamed seldom in Valinor, but more often would pass swiftly over the western land, over Avathar, or Araman, or Valinor, and plunge in the chasm beyond the Outer Sea, pursuing his way alone amid the grots and caverns at the roots of Arda. There he would often wander long, and late would return.

The moon is a slacker.

But Morgoth hated the new lights, and was for a while confounded by this unlooked-for stroke of the Valar. Then he assailed Tilion, sending spirits of shadow against him, and there was strife in Ilmen beneath the paths of the stars; but Tilion was victorious. And Arien Morgoth feared with a great fear, but dared not come nigh her, having indeed no longer the power... But seeing the assault upon Tilion the Valar were in doubt, fearing what the malice and cunning of Morgoth might yet contrive against them.

I guess that’s wise, but as long as the sun’s around, they can afford to relax a bit.

Therefore at that time they fortified their land anew, and they raised up the mountain-walls of the Pelóri to sheer and dreadful heights, east, north, and south...A sleepless watch was set upon them, and no pass led through them, save only at the Calacirya: but that pass the Valar did not close, because of the Eldar that were faithful, and in the city of Tirion upon the green hill Finarfin yet ruled the remnant of the Noldor in the deep cleft of the mountains. For all those of elven-race, even the Vanyar and Ingwë their lord, must breathe at times the outer air and the wind that comes over the sea from the lands of their birth; and the Valar would not sunder the Teleri wholly from their kin.

Is this the thing I’ve seen floating around the internet about how the world was originally flat but was made round at some point?

And in that time also, which songs call Nurtalë Valinóreva, the Hiding of Valinor, the Enchanted Isles were set...strung as a net in the Shadowy Seas from the north to the south, before Tol Eressëa, the Lonely Isle, is reached by one sailing west. Hardly might any vessel pass between them, for in the dangerous sounds the waves sighed for ever upon dark rocks shrouded in mist. And in the twilight a great weariness came upon mariners and a loathing of the sea; but all that ever set foot upon the islands were there entrapped, and slept until the Change of the World.

What is this “Change of the World” of which the text speaks?

Thus it was that as Mandos foretold to them in Araman the Blessed Realm was shut against the Noldor; and of the many messengers that in after days sailed into the West none came ever to Valinor - save one only: the mightiest mariner of song.

Oh that’s scary. How many elves before Legolas tried to sail to Valinor on their own and never made it?

#the silmarillion #jsc reads silm #silmarillion liveblog #silm day 34

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takeoff

The maiden whom the Valar chose from among the Maiar to guide the vessel of the Sun was named Arien, and he that steered the island of the Moon was Tilion. In the days of the Trees Arien had tended the golden flowers in the gardens of Vána, and watered them with the bright dews of Laurelin; but Tilion was a hunter of the company of Oromë, and he had a silver bow. He was a lover of silver, and when he would rest he forsook the woods of Oromë, and going into Lórien he lay hi dream by the pools of Estë, in Telperion's flickering beams; and he begged to be given the task of tending for ever the last Flower of Silver.

And we have ourselves the Silm equivalent of Apollo and Artemis.

Arien the maiden was mightier than he, and she was chosen because she had not feared the heats of Laurelin, and was unhurt by them, being from the beginning a spirit of fire, whom Melkor had not deceived nor drawn to his service. Too bright were the eyes of Arien for even the Eldar to look on, and leaving Valinor she forsook the form and raiment which like the Valar she had worn there, and she was as a naked flame, terrible in the fullness of her splendour.

I’m still fascinated by the relative unimportance of the sun and moon in this particular pantheon. Usually they’re among the first to be created, and their deities are major powers, but here they are remnants of an earlier time and those tasked with their keeping are only Maiar, minor powers, basically angels. Gandalf was a Maia.

Isil was first wrought and made ready, and first rose into the realm of the stars, and was the elder of the new lights, as was Telperion of the Trees. Then for a while the world had moonlight, and many things stirred and woke that had waited long in the sleep of Yavanna. The servants of Morgoth were filled with amazement, but the Elves of the Outer Lands looked up in delight; and even as the Moon rose above the darkness in the west, Fingolfin let blow his silver trumpets and began his march into Middle-earth, and the shadows of his host went long and black before them.

How was there moonlight before sunlight? /think

Tilion had traversed the heaven seven times, and thus was in the furthest east, when the vessel of Arien was made ready. Then Anar arose in glory, and the first dawn of the Sun was like a great fire upon the towers of the Pelóri: the clouds of Middle-earth were kindled, and there was heard the sound of many waterfalls. Then indeed Morgoth was dismayed, and he descended into the uttermost depths of Angband, and withdrew his servants, sending forth great reek and dark cloud to hide his land from the light of the Day-star.

How did the plants grow on Middle Earth without rain? /think

Well, it worked, sending Morgoth screaming “IT BURNS” back down into his hidey hole. Judging from the title of the chapter, I’m guessing we’ll put a pause on the Morgoth sequence of events to learn more worldbuildy stuff.

#the silmarillion #silmarillion liveblog #jsc reads silm #silm day 33

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tolkemon sun and moon

These things the Valar did, recalling in their twilight the darkness of the lands of Arda; and they resolved now to illumine Middle-earth and with light to hinder the deeds of Melkor. For they remembered the Avari that remained by the waters of their awakening, and they did not utterly forsake the Noldor in exile; and Manwë knew also that the hour of the coming of Men was drawn nigh.

So they kind of have to pay attention to Middle Earth now, since not only have some elves gone back, there were also those who never left, and more species are coming besides.

And it is said indeed that, even as the Valar made war upon Melkor for the sake of the Quendi, so now for that time they forbore for the sake of the Hildor, the Aftercomers, the younger Children of Ilúvatar. For so grievous had been the hurts of Middle-earth in the war upon Utumno that the Valar feared lest even worse should now befall; whereas the Hildor should be mortal, and weaker than the Quendi to withstand fear and tumult. Moreover it was not revealed to Manwë where the beginning of Men should be, north, south, or east. Therefore the Valar sent forth light, but made strong the land of their dwelling.

On the one hand, it would be prudent to defeat Melkor for once and for all. On the other, it’s true, humans can’t really handle that kind of strain on their homes and psyches.

Isil the Sheen the Vanyar of old named the Moon, flower of Telperion in Valinor; and Anar the Fire-golden, fruit of Laurelin, they named the Sun. But the Noldor named them also Rána, the Wayward, and Vása, the Heart of Fire, that awakens and consumes; for the Sun was set as a sign for the awakening of Men and the waning of the Elves, but the Moon cherishes their memory.

It’s interesting how the Vanyar name of the sun is the reverse of the Noldor name of the moon.

#the silmarillion #silmarillion liveblog #jsc reads silm #silm day 33

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im doing this instead of practicing my presentation

I’m giving a speech about the periodic table tomorrow and so far I haven’t practiced once. Let’s read about the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor.

It is told that after the flight of Melkor the Valar sat long unmoved upon their thrones in the Ring of Doom; but they were not idle, as Fëanor declared in the folly of his heart.

Well that’s news. I’m not sure thinking the Valar idle is folly.

For the Valar may work many things with thought rather than with hands...they held vigil in the night of Valinor...they mourned not more for the death of the Trees than for the marring of Fëanor: of the works of Melkor one of the most evil.

Behind-the-scenes forces of nature, or stewing in their own grief?

But at that last word of Fëanor: that at the least the Noldor should do deeds to live in song for ever, he raised his head, as one that hears a voice far off, and he said: 'So shall it be! Dear-bought those songs shall be accounted, and yet shall be well-bought. For the price could be no other. Thus even as Eru spoke to us shall beauty not before conceived be brought into Eä, and evil yet be good to have been.'

But Mandos said: 'And yet remain evil. To me shall Fëanor come soon.'

Manwe: Feanor can do things like nobody else (except maybe me)! The world will pay a great price for his exploits, but that is simply the nature of his deeds!

Mandos: And he’ll be dead soon. Get a grip.

But when at last the Valar learned that the Noldor had indeed passed out of Aman and were come back into Middle-earth, they arose and began to set forth in deeds those counsels which they had taken in thought for the redress of the evils of Melkor. Then Manwë bade Yavanna and Nienna to put forth all their powers of growth and healing; and they put forth all their powers upon the Trees. But the tears of Nienna availed not to heal their mortal wounds; and for a long while Yavanna sang alone in the shadows. Yet even as hope failed and her song faltered, Telperion bore at last upon a leafless bough one great flower of silver, and Laurelin a single trait of gold.

At least they’re getting something done.

These Yavanna took; and then the Trees died, and their lifeless stems stand yet in Valinor, a memorial of vanished joy. But the flower and the fruit Yavanna gave to Aulë, and Manwë hallowed them, and Aulë and his people made vessels to hold them and preserve their radiance: as is said in the Narsilion, the Song of the Sun and Moon.

Ohhhhh. The sun and the moon are the last remnants of the Trees. That makes sense.

#the silmarillion #silmarillion liveblog #jsc reads silm #silm day 33

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doriath

Let’s finish up this chapter.

And when Thingol came again to Menegroth he learned that the Orc-host in the west was victorious, and had driven Círdan to the rim of the sea.

Cirdan is the shipwright. I had to Ctrl+F the first occurrence of his name to find that out because I forgot.

Therefore he withdrew all his people that his summons could reach within the fastness of Neldoreth and Region, and Melian put forth her power and fenced all that dominion round about with an unseen wail of shadow and bewilderment: the Girdle of Melian, that none thereafter could pass against her will or the will of King Thingol, unless one should come with a power greater than that of Melian the Maia.

I feel like this is a net loss for the people who lived there. They beat the orcs, but lost their king and their connection to the outside world.

And this inner land, which was long named Eglador, was after called Doriath, the guarded kingdom, Land of the Girdle. Within it there was yet a watchful peace; but without there was peril and great fear, and the servants of Morgoth roamed at will, save in the walled havens of the Falas.

I remember the name Doriath. I don’t remember where, but it sounds familiar. At least the people of Doriath are safe.

But new tidings were at hand, which none in Middle-earth had foreseen, neither Morgoth in his pits nor Melian in Menegroth; for no news came out of Aman whether by messenger, or by spirit, or by vision in dream, after the death of the Trees. In this same time Fëanor came over the Sea in the white ships of the Teleri and landed in the Firth of Drengist, and there burned the ships at Losgar.

WELP. Feanor’s coming. He shows no sign of calming the heck down. What a way to end the chapter. It seems next time we will finally see how the sun and moon arrive, and Valinor unarrives. Strap in.

#the silmarillion #jsc reads silm #silmarillion liveblog #silm day 32

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the first battle

Now the Orcs that multiplied in the darkness of the earth grew strong and fell, and their dark lord filled them with a lust of rain and death; and they issued from Angband's gates under the clouds that Morgoth sent forth, and passed silently into the highlands of the north. Thence on a sudden a great army came into Beleriand and assailed King Thingol.

Uh oh. The fighting is starting for real now.

Now in his wide realm many Elves wandered free in the wild, or dwelt at peace in small kindreds far sundered; and only about Menegroth in the midst of the land, and along the Falas in the country of the mariners, were there numerous peoples. But the Orcs came down upon either side of Menegroth, and from camps in the east between Celon and Gelion, and west in the plains between Sirion and Narog, they plundered far and wide; and Thingol was cut on from Círdan at Eglarest.

More geography. I don’t know where any of these places are, but I get the gist of what’s happening.

Therefore he called upon Denethor; and the Elves came in force from Region beyond Aros and from Ossiriand, and fought the first battle in the Wars of Beleriand.

Wars??? Plural?????

And the eastern host of the Orcs was taken between the armies of the Eldar, north of the Andram and midway between Aros and Gelion, and there they were utterly defeated, and those that fled north from the great slaughter were waylaid by the axes of the Naugrim that issued from Mount Dolmed: few indeed returned to Angband.

Ok good. That didn’t go as badly as it could have.

But the victory of the Elves was dear-bought For those of Ossiriand were light-armed, and no match for the Orcs, who were shod with iron and iron-shielded and bore great spears with broad blades; and Denethor was cut off and surrounded upon the hill of Amon Ereb. There he fell and all his nearest kin about him, before the host of Thingol could come to his aid. Bitterly though his fall was avenged, when Thingol came upon the rear of the Orcs and slew them in heaps, his people lamented him ever after and took no king again.

Well...I guess it still didn’t go as badly as it could have...

After the battle some returned to Ossiriand, and their tidings filled the remnant of their people with great fear, so that thereafter they came never forth in open war, but kept themselves by wariness and secrecy; and they were called the Laiquendi, the Green-elves, because of their raiment of the colour of leaves. But many went north and entered the guarded realm of Thingol, and were merged with his people.

Are these people going to be important? I don’t remember them from anywhere else.

#The Silmarillion #jsc reads silm #silmarillion liveblog #silm day 32

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all good things must come to an end

In Beleriand King Thingol upon his throne was as the lords of the Maiar, whose power is at rest, whose joy is as an air that they breathe in all their days, whose thought flows in a tide untroubled from the heights to the deeps. In Beleriand still at times rode Oromë the great, passing like a wind over the mountains, and the sound of his horn came down the leagues of the starlight, and the Elves feared him for the splendour of his countenance and the great noise of the onrush of Nahar; but when the Valaróma echoed in the hills, they knew well that all evil things were fled far away.

The impression I got from @thecoilsoftheuniverse was that Beleriand was a hard, terrible place. Maybe it will become so. It’ll be pretty on-brand at this point for that to happen.

But it came to pass at last that the end of bliss was at hand, and the noontide of Valinor was drawing to its twilight. For as has been told and as is known to all, being written in lore and sung in many songs, Melkor slew the Trees of the Valar with the aid of Ungoliant, and escaped, and came back to Middle-earth. Far to the north befell the strife of Morgoth and Ungoliant; but the great cry of Morgoth echoed through Beleriand, and all its people shrank for fear; for though they knew not what it foreboded, they heard then the herald of death.

Ohhhhhhhhh, this was happening before the events of a couple chapters ago. I suddenly understand everything.

Soon afterwards Ungoliant fled from the north and came into the realm of King Thingol, and a terror of darkness was about her; but by the power of Melian she was stayed, and entered not into Neldoreth, but abode long time under the shadow of the precipices in which Dorthonion fell southward. And they became known as Ered Gorgoroth, the Mountains of Terror, and none dared go thither, or pass nigh them;

Oh crap, she still exists at this point. I don’t think she’s coming back, though, if her fate is unknown.

But Morgoth, as has before been told, returned to Angband, and built it anew, and above its doors he reared the reeking towers of Thangorodrim; and the gates of Morgoth were but one hundred and fifty leagues distant from the bridge of Menegroth: far and yet all too near.

I’m getting Voldemort vibes here. Angband is the forests of Albania. Come to think of it, I never saw any concern for the Albanians on the part of the British wizards. ��oh hes far away he cant hurt us” THERE’S PEOPLE IN ALBANIA, ARE YOU STUPID?

#the silmarillion #jsc reads silm #silmarillion liveblog #silm day 32

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the only valid part of the silm imo

Now that it’s the summer, I should start updating more often. NO promises.

Now as has been told, one Lenwë of the host of Olwë forsook the march of the Eldar at that time when the Teleri were halted by the shores of the Great River upon the borders of the westlands of Middle-earth.

...new story?

Little is known of the wanderings of the Nandor, whom he led away down Anduin: some, it is said, dwelt age-long in the woods of the Vale of the Great River, some came at last to its mouths and there dwelt by the Sea, and yet others passing by Ered Nimrais, the White Mountains, came north again and entered the wilderness of Eriador between Ered Luin and the far Mountains of Mist.

Hey, I know where that is. That’s around the first leg of the journey from The Hobbit. I got a little map of Middle Earth in my head, but it only really encompasses the places from The Hobbit and maybe a bit from LoTR.

Now these were a woodland people and had no weapons of steel, and the coming of the fell beasts of the North filled them with great fear, as the Naugrim declared to King Thingol in Menegroth. Therefore Denethor, the son of Lenwë, hearing rumour of the might of Thingol and his majesty, and of the peace of his realm, gathered such host of his scattered people as he could, and led them over the mountains into Beleriand.

Denethor?? Was that Denethor named after him? Or one of his ancestors maybe?

Of the long years of peace that followed after the coming of Denethor there is little tale. In those days, it is said, Daeron the Minstrel, chief loremaster of the kingdom of Thingol, devised his Runes; and the Naugrim that came to Thingol learned them, and were well-pleased with the device, esteeming Daeron's skill higher than did the Sindar, his own people.

Writing system, very cool. I find JRRT’s linguistic stuff much more interesting than the rest of the worldbuilding, tbh.

By the Naugrim the Cirth were taken east over the mountains and passed into the knowledge of many peoples; but they were little used by the Sindar for the keeping of records, until the days of the War, and much that was held in memory perished in the ruins of Doriath.

Even more parallels with Israel/Bavel here. Someone must have been the R Yehuda HaNasi equivalent and written down the most important records so they wouldn’t get lost.

But of bliss and glad life there is little to be said, before it ends; as works fair and wonderful, while still they endure for eyes to see, are their own record, and only when they are in peril or broken for ever do they pass into song.

I’m glad someone at least had a nice life. It’s true, that most stories are tragedies, and few that aren’t last long.

#the silmarillion #jsc reads silm #silmarillion liveblog #silm day 32

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arms race

Therefore Thingol took thought for arms, which before his people had not needed, and these at first the Naugrim smithied for him; for they were greatly skilled in such work, though none among them surpassed the craftsmen of Nogrod, of whom Telchar the smith was greatest in renown.

I hope I don’t need to remember who Telchar is. On the other hand, I would be perfectly happy if the rest of the book was just the adventures of Telchar and nobody else.

A warlike race of old were all the Naugrim, and they would fight fiercely against whomsoever aggrieved them: servants of Melkor, or Eldar, or Avari, or wild beasts, or not seldom their own kin, Dwarves of other mansions and lordships.

“I’ll kick your ass. I’ll kick your mom’s ass. I’ll kick your dog’s ass. I’ll kick my own ass”

At this time therefore the Sindar were well-armed, and they drove off an creatures of evil, and had peace again; but Thingol's armouries were stored with axes and with spears and swords, and tall helms, and long coats of bright mail; for the hauberks of the Dwarves were so fashioned that they rusted not but shone ever as if they were new-burnished. And that proved well for Thingol in the time that was to come.

I can just imagine Thingol and co. standing in the armory like “what are we going to do with all these weapons”

#the silmarillion #silmarillion liveblog #jsc reads silm #silm day 31

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it begins

And when the building of Menegroth was achieved, and there was peace in the realm of Thingol and Melian, the Naugrim yet came ever and anon over the mountains and went in traffic about the lands; but they went seldom to the Falas, for they hated the sound of the sea and feared to look upon it. To Beleriand there came no other rumour or tidings of the world without.

Now where were we? Oh yes, the dwarves and elves chilling in their little mountain paradise. The Middle Earth incarnation of Valinor, perhaps, but less sparkly.

But as the third age of the captivity of Melkor drew on, the Dwarves became troubled, and they spoke to King Thingol, saying that the Valar had not rooted out utterly the evils of the North, and now the remnant, having long multiplied in the dark, were coming forth once more and roaming far and wide. 'There are fell beasts,' they said, 'in the land east of the mountains, and your ancient kindred that dwell there are flying from the plains to the hills.'

The perils of isolationism.

And ere long the evil creatures came even to Beleriand, over passes in the mountains, or up from the south through the dark forests. Wolves there were, or creatures that walked in wolf-shapes, and other fell beings of shadow; and among them were the Orcs, who afterwards wrought ruin in Beleriand: but they were yet few and wary, and did but smell out the ways of the land, awaiting the return of their lord

And here we go. Here come the fell beasts, scoping the scene, in case Melkor decides to pay Beleriand a visit, which he definitely will.

Whence they came, or what they were, the Elves knew not then, thinking them perhaps to be Avari who had become evil and savage in the wild; in which they guessed all too near, it is said.

I totally forgot about the Avari, since they were last mentioned so long ago. They’re the elves that never got to Valinor at all.

#the silmarillion #silmarillion liveblog #jsc reads silm #silm day 31

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menegroth

Now Melian had much foresight, after the manner of the Maiar; and when the second age of the captivity of Melkor had passed, she counselled Thingol that the Peace of Arda would not last for ever. He took thought therefore how he should make for himself a kingly dwelling, and a place that should be strong, if evil were to awake again in Middle-earth; and he sought aid and counsel of the Dwarves of Belegost They gave it willingly, for they were unwearied in those days and eager for new works; and though the Dwarves ever demanded a price for all that they did, whether with delight or with toil, at this time they held themselves paid. For Melian taught them much that they were eager to learn

Oh to live in a time of peace when the only payment you need is knowledge. The dwarves in the First Age (?) were living the best life.

One there was as great as a dove's egg, and its sheen was as starlight on the foam of the sea; Nimphelos it was named, and the chieftain of the Dwarves of Belegost prized it above a mountain of wealth.

Inb4 Nimphelos is stolen or damaged (by an elf probably) and becomes the object of a generations-long race war. If there’s anything we learn from Tolkien’s works, it’s that prized cultural artifacts are going to be somehow desecrated and start hella drama.

Therefore the Naugrim laboured long and gladly for Thingol, and devised for him mansions after the fashion of their people, delved deep in the earth...Beyond the gates wide passages ran down to high halls and chambers far below that were hewn in the living stone, so many and so great that that dwelling was named Menegroth, the Thousand Caves.

Nice place. Going to come in handy when (not if) Melkor comes a-calling.

But the Elves also had part in that labour, and Elves and Dwarves together, each with their own skill, there wrought out the visions of Melian, images of the wonder and beauty of Valinor beyond the Sea... And as the years passed Melian and her maidens filled the halls with woven hangings wherein could be read the deeds of the Valar, and many things that had befallen in Arda since its beginning, and shadows of things that were yet to be. That was the fairest dwelling of any king that has ever been east of the Sea.

I’m getting some Talmud-era Israel/Bavel vibes from the situation of the people in Middle Earth and Valinor.

#the silmarillion #silmarillion liveblog #jsc reads silm #silm day 30

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return of the geography

From Nogrod and Belegost the Naugrim came forth into Beleriand; and the Elves were filled with amazement, for they had believed themselves to be the only living things in Middle-earth that spoke with words or wrought with hands, and that all others were but birds and beasts.

"What are these weird cats?”

But they could understand no word of the tongue of the Naugrim, which to their ears was cumbrous and unlovely; and few ever of the Eldar have achieved the mastery of it But the Dwarves were swift to learn, and indeed were more willing to learn the Elventongue than to teach their own to those of alien race.

That explains a lot

Few of the Eldar went ever to Nogrod and Belegost, save Eöl of Nan Elmoth and Maeglin his son; but the Dwarves trafficked into Beleriand, and they made a great road that passed under the shoulders of Mount Dolmed and followed the course of the River Ascar, crossing Gelion at Sarn Athrad, the Ford of Stones, where battle after befell.

Great, more geography. I really hope I don’t need to remember all these place names and where they are in relation to one another.

Ever cool was the friendship between the Naugrim and the Eldar, though much profit they had one of the other; but at that time those griefs that lay between them had not yet come to pass, and King Thingol welcomed them. But the Naugrim gave their friendship more readily to the Noldor in after days than to any others of Elves and Men, because of their love and reverence for Aulë; and the gems of the Noldor they praised above all other wealth. In the darkness of Arda already the Dwarves wrought great works, for even from the first days of their Fathers they had marvellous skill with metals and with stone; but in that ancient time iron and copper they loved to work, rather than silver or gold.

Dwarves: Same hat?

Noldor: Same hat!

I’m wondering what griefs will come to pass that will lie between them, to result in the situation we have in the Third Age.

#the silmarillion #silmarillion liveblog #jsc reads silm #silm day 30

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dwaaaaaaarves

It came to pass during the second age of the captivity of Melkor that Dwarves came over the Blue Mountains of Ered Luin into Beleriand.

Eyyyy! The dwarves have arrived! Maybe they’ll knock some sense into whatever crazy elves they meet.

It came to pass during the second age of the captivity of Melkor that Dwarves came over the Blue Mountains of Ered Luin into Beleriand. Themselves they named Khazâd, but the Sindar called them Naugrim, the Stunted People, and Gonnhirrim, Masters of Stone...To the north of the great height of Mount Dolmed was Gabilgathol, which the Elves interpreted in their tongue Belegost, that is Mickleburg; and southward was delved Tumunzahar, by the Elves named Nogrod, the Hollowbold.

First time we’re getting names that aren’t Elvish. Very interesting. (what the heck is a “mickle”)

Greatest of all the mansions of the Dwarves was Khazâd-dûm, the Dwarrowdelf, Hadhodrond in the Elvish tongue, that was afterwards in the days of its darkness called Moria; but it was far off in the Mountains of Mist beyond the wide leagues of Eriador, and to the Eldar came but as a name and a rumour from the words of the Dwarves of the Blue Mountains.

Aha, the underground realm of many a legend. I didn’t know it was so old. The first time I read the Hobbit, I thought the dwarves who showed up to avenge and reclaim Moria hadn’t even finished building it yet, which is why I was so confused when I read LOTR and Gimli described Moria as this great majestic ancient place and not the underground equivalent of a skeletal building.

#the silmarillion #silmarillion liveblog #jsc reads silm #silm day 29

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and now for something completely different

Now as has been told the power of Elwë and Melian increased in Middle-earth, and all the Elves of Beleriand, from the mariners of Círdan to the wandering hunters of the Blue Mountains beyond the River Gelion, owned Elwë as their lord; Elu Thingol he was called, King Greymantle, in the tongue of his people.

Um

They are called the Sindar, the Grey-elves of starlit Beleriand; and although they were Moriquendi, under the lordship of Thingol and the teaching of Melian they became the fairest and the most wise and skilful of all the Elves of Middle-earth.

What’s going on

And at the end of the first age of the Chaining of Melkor, when all the Earth had peace and the glory of Valinor was at its noon, there came into the world Lúthien, the only child of Thingol and Melian.

I barely recognize these names help

Though Middle-earth lay for the most part in the Sleep of Yavanna, in Beleriand under the power of Melian there was life and joy, and the bright stars shone as silver fires; and there in the forest of Neldoreth Lúthien was born, and the white flowers of niphredil came forth to greet her as stars from the earth.

I literally had to reread half the beginning of the Silm to figure out what’s going on. We’re taking a break from Elves Gone Wild: Feanorian Edition to check up on Elwe’s squad (or Elu, now) back in Beleriand. Ok. I think I got it.

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maedhros officially uncancelled

But when they were landed, Maedhros the eldest of his sons, and on a time the friend of Fingon ere Morgoth's lies came between, spoke to Fëanor, saying: 'Now what ships and rowers will you spare to return, and whom shall they bear hither first? Fingon the valiant?'

Oh you sweet child...

Then Fëanor laughed as one fey, and he cried: 'None and none! What I have left behind I count now no loss; needless baggage on the road it has proved. Let those that cursed my name, curse me still, and whine their way back to the cages of the Valar! Let the ships burn!' Then Maedhros alone stood aside, but Fëanor caused fire to be set to the white ships of the Teleri.

>:0 >:0 >:0

So in that place which was called Losgar at the outlet of the Firth of Drengist ended the fairest vessels that ever sailed the sea, in a great burning, bright and terrible. And Fingolfin and his people saw the light afar off, red beneath the clouds; and they knew that they were betrayed. This was the firstfruits of the Kinslaying and the Doom of the Noldor.

Pros of this scene: I know what @thecoilsoftheuniverse‘s old blog title was referring to. Cons: Feanor is an entire ASS.

Then Fingolfin seeing that Fëanor had left him to perish in Araman or return in shame to Valinor was filled with bitterness; but he desired now as never before to come by some way to Middle-earth, and meet Fëanor again. And he and his host wandered long in misery, but their valour and endurance grew with hardship; for they were a mighty people, the elder children undying of Eru Ilúvatar, but new-come from the Blessed Realm, and not yet weary with the weariness of Earth. The fire of their hearts was young, and led by Fingolfin and his sons, and by Finrod and Galadriel, they dared to pass into the bitterest North; and finding no other way they endured at last the terror of the Helcaraxë and the cruel hills of ice.

Great, now we have two families wandering Arda seeking revenge. And Galadriel is with them?! I am guilty of underestimating Fingolfin’s squad.

Few of the deeds of the Noldor thereafter surpassed that desperate crossing in hardihood or woe. There Elenwë the wife of Turgon was lost, and many others perished also; and it was with a lessened host that Fingolfin set foot at last upon the Outer Lands. Small love for Fëanor or his sons had those that marched at last behind him, and blew their trumpets in Middle-earth at the first rising of the Moon.

Oh hello, the moon has arrived. We have, at long last, finished this chapter, yet are without an explanation for the sudden appearance of the moon. I hope we’ll learn more next time.

#the silmarillion #silmarillion liveblog #jsc reads silm #silm day 28

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feanoreans are the worst

But his sons were not with him, for they would not forsake the sons of Fingolfin; and all Fingolfin's folk went forward still, feeling the constraint of their kinship and the will of Fëanor, and fearing to face the doom of the Valar, since not all of them had been guiltless of the Kinslaying at Alqualondë. Moreover Fingon and Turgon were bold and fiery of heart, and loath to abandon any task to which they had put their hands until the bitter end, if bitter it must be. So the main host held on, and swiftly the evil that was foretold began its work.

I don’t feel bad for them, not really. I really just feel bad for Finarfin.

The Noldor came at last far into the north of Arda; and they saw the first teeth of the ice that floated in the sea, and knew that they were drawing nigh to the Helcaraxë. For between the land of Aman that in the north curved eastward, and the east-shores of Endor (which is Middle-earth) that bore westward, there was a narrow strait, through which the chill waters of the Encircling Sea and the waves of Belegaer flowed together, and there were vast fogs and mists of deathly cold, and the sea-streams were filled with clashing hills of ice and the grinding of ice deep-sunken. Such was the Helcaraxë, and there none yet had dared to tread save the Valar only and Ungoliant.

O O F more geography. I need to get me a map of Arda. And isn’t there something about the world being round for everyone except elves for some reason?

Therefore Fëanor halted and the Noldor debated what course they should now take. But they began to suffer anguish from the cold, and the clinging mists through which no gleam of star could pierce; and many repented of the road and began to murmur, especially those that followed Fingolfin, cursing Fëanor, and naming him as the cause of all the woes of the Eldar.

I guess they didn’t have Seasonal Affective Disorder in Aman because there wasn’t any winter? Also, despite Feanor indeed being the cause of most of their troubles beside Morgoth, you brought this on yourselves. 

But Fëanor, knowing all that was said, took counsel with his sons; and two courses only they saw to escape from Araman and come into Endor: by the straits or by ship. But the Helcaraxë they deemed impassable, whereas the ships were too few...And as though it came at his call, there sprang up a wind from the north-west, and Fëanor slipped away secretly with all whom he deemed true to him, and went aboard, and put out to sea, and left Fingolfin in Araman.

*facepalm* You evil bastards.

#the silmarillion #jsc reads silm #silmarillion liveblog #silm day 28