#silmarillion epistolary

[meluiloth]

Here is my drawing for @silmarillionepistolary day 2, Exploration!

There are a lot of drawings on this page, and Finwë has been practicing - though it isn’t just his sketches that are new. The Elves are migrating!

On the top left is a patch of strawberries, which Finwë really likes. The top left is an illustration of Oromë, the Elves’ Valadin guide, and his steed. There is also a sketch of a mountain, and a moment from the journey; some of the Elves are excited about the new land that Oromë is leading them to, but others are more wary about the possibility of danger (a company remained behind, at Cuivienen, which Finwë is still grieving). Then, on the bottom right, is a portrait of the weaver Míriel, whom Finwë finds very beautiful.

I had so much fun with this page (although not the horse or the mountains). So far this event has been lovely, and it’s a challenge figuring out how to draw in Finwë’s style, and also portray a story without words. I hope I’m doing well!

#art #my art #the silmarillion #finwe #miriel serinde #orome #silmarillion epistolary #fandom event #finwe's sketchbook

[camille-lachenille]

Day 5: Tears Unnumbered

A letter from the private archives of Lord Elrond of Rivendell, now kept in the Royal Archives of Arnor.

My d[e]ar[es]t R[uk]o (name uncertain), I have high hopes for the battle to come so tr[y] [n]ot to fret too much (I know it […] like asking A[rie]n not to rise [b]ut try for me.) Here is a token of my [word illegible] to keep you safe (?). With [word illegilble], Fin[no]

Despite the obvious damage, this letter dated to the second half of the First Age is remarkably preserved from time thanks to countless layers of Elven enchantments. All the damage seems to have been inflicted during the lifetime of the person who received this letter (Elf Ruko), probably due to poor conditions of storage. The spots and smudges let the historians think they may be tears, for the paper shows no other sign of water damage, and some words are worn out by what may be frequent touch.

We may make the educated guess that this letter was re-read by the elf called Ruko after the battle as they mourned their friend Finno and was an object of high personal value. The historians of the First Age agree that the battle mentioned in this letter is likely to be the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, the battles of Tears Unnumbered, as it fits in the timeframe this letter is dated from.

Despite its briefness, this letter is a precious and rare testimony of a close friendship between two soldiers, showing that, despite the state of semi-constant war of the First Age, there was an efficient messenger service between the Elven strongholds.

We know not how this letter ended in the keeping of Lord Elrond of Rivendell, nor why he put such care in its preservation, but this is one of the last written primary sources we have from the First Age and we can only be grateful it survived to this day to offer us a brief glimpse of two unknown, long dead Elves.

#tolkien #the silmarillion #fingon #maedhros #nirnaeth arnoediad #calligraphy #silmarillion epistolary

[elentarial]

Miscalculation

Dear Morifinwe,

I recently had the privilege of reading your treatise on Dwarven tariffs and found it fascinating reading indeed. I don’t suppose you hear that often. However, I was wondering if you could perhaps clarify the situation on the 36th page, just under the table of tares of standard shipping containers. I was under the impression when one converted between ounces and gallons (which, why aren’t you using liters as a standard unit of liquid measurement??), the multiplier is 0.0078126, but you have it listed as 0.0078125. Does the Naugrim measure alcoholic liquids differently? As you have only two sentences describing the conversion of Dwarvish mead, I can not determine whether it is a typographical error or if I have been misinformed. If the latter is the case, any more explicit suggestion or direction would be appreciated since (as I have pointed out) your explanation in the paper is relatively brief.

Sincerely yours,

Turukano

Dear Turukano,

I am delighted that you enjoyed my protocols for trade in East Beleriand! In regards to your question about whether dwarves measure alcohol differently than other liquids, no Turno, an ounce is an ounce. You have been misinformed. The conversion factor is indeed 0.0078125.

Thank you,

Carnistir Morifinwe,

Dear Moryo,

Thank you for the quick and brief reply. However, I digress, the conversion multiplier is 0.0078126. It was that in Tirion, and it is that now. Please explain your computations. 

Looking forward to your reply,

Turukano

Dear Turno,

I am the one who devised that conversion. I don’t need to prove my work to you because I came up with it in the first place. Any possible discrepancies are due to rounding errors. The conversion is valid.

Carnistir

Dear Moryo,

I am well aware that you first calculated the conversion between ounces and gallons. I sat on the council that granted you the defense of such a claim, and if you will recall, I questioned your math then. You were wrong in Tirion, and you are wrong now.

Awaiting your reply,

Turgon

Turgon,

How delightful to know you remember our time together at the Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences. I have no recollection of your involvement in my defense, but I really try to avoid thinking of you. Were you there? I thought you were too busy being henpecked by the campus gulls to accomplish anything, research or otherwise.

Carnistir

Moryo,

I generally thought you were one of the better brothers; don’t be an ass. Just admit you are wrong. 

Sincerely,

Turgon Turukano,

 Lord of Nevarast,

 High Prince of the Noldor

My dearest Turukano,

What a lovely title that is. Quite fitting for your already overinflated ego, but I genuinely hate to remind you that you are a second son and not, in fact, the High Prince of anything. Unless, of course, condolences are in order, then I also do not care because I find your brother infuriatingly obnoxious. I would feel for Nelyo, though. 

Yours,

Moryo

Dear Carnistir,

Nelyo…remind me, is that your eldest brother or our grandfather? I can never remember who was born first, him or my father. Regardless, he’s ancient and an inappropriate match for my brother. 

But I beseech you, dearest cousin. Please take a look at your defense from Tirion. I believe there is a note regarding the conversion on the final copy. I don’t have a copy with me, but I am sure you must have kept one for yourself. 

Yours,

Turgon

My darling Turno,

At least we agree on one thing. Fingon and my brother are terrible for one another. 

I do happen to have a copy in my archives. I will check for this mythical correction and have my scribe translate a copy for you. I will enclose it in my next reply, as it’s rather embarrassing to doubt the work of scholars. 

With love,

Moryo

Turukano,

Fuck you. There was no correction; the rate has always been 0.0078125. This exchange has been a complete waste of my time, and I will implore Himring to approve an additional one point five percent tax on all limestone coming from and all other goods going to Vinyamar. 

Sincerely,

Morifinwe

Despite all of Caranthir’s immense irritation, the final letter to Nevarast is returned some months later by an exhausted raven. Shortly thereafter, he receives word from Hithlum that Turgon and one-third of the Noldor forces in West Beleriand have disappeared. 

@silmarillionepistolary

For @cilil (who suggested Caranthir and Tax Day as a prompt) and @dalliansss (who originally did the heavy lifting on building Caranthir’s taxation empire).

Miscalculation (on AO3)

#silmarillion epistolary #nolofinweans #feanorions #silm fic

[muse-write]

Excerpt: “Introduction”, Gold Does Not Always Glitter: Analyzing Friction Among the Noldorin Feanorians, written by Elrond Peredhel (T.A. 120)

‘To be a follower of Feanor’s sons was, by the time of the Second Kinslaying of Doriath, to be, to a certain extent, a conscious devotee of blood-stained murderers.’

So said Pengolodh in his widely-circulated account of the tragic, unnecessary attack by the sons of Feanor on the great kingdom of Doriath, held by King Dior Eluchil. While Pengolodh’s historical record has received a thousand years of fame for many valid reasons, not least of which is his meticulous attention to detail and his reliance upon first-person accounts and interviews which formed the basis of his research, it is nevertheless my intention to prove these words misguided if not utterly incorrect.

The first part of this book will analyze the lives of soldiers, merchants, and artists, all of whom claimed to be devoutly loyal to the sons of Feanor and believed that their service was important and purposeful, but did not necessarily hold uncomplicated and blind loyalty toward their lords. Some of these followers now dwell as refugees in the Homely House in Imladris, and following in Pengolodh’s footsteps I have included extra information for further context, including interviews, first-person accounts, and such small details as these individuals permitted.

I have chosen to focus much of the second half of my record on the lives of Feanor’s eldest sons, Maedhros and Maglor—not out of any sense of personal feeling, it must be made clear, but for the simple fact that, having some first-hand knowledge of the individuals involved, I hope to bring new information to this analysis regarding Noldorin customs, their worldview toward language and creation, and their potential motivations.

I am aware that my unique understanding regarding certain aspects of my subject matter will send my critics rushing to their history books and flinging accusations of personal bias. To these I can offer no satisfying refute, as the knowledge of my upbringing is widely known. This book, I must remind the more opinionated reader, is not an attempt at explaining or examining the psychology or cosmology which drove the sons of Feanor to commit any of the actions for which they have gained such infamy, but the discussion shall inevitably arise in brief. I hope that this book instead adequately does justice to my intention, which is to present an account of the daily lives of the sons of Feanor and their followers in order to deepen our understanding of the diverse, often internally divisive, always creative lives of the Feanorian faction of Noldorin elves.

#what if elrond was a cultural historian? he’d be a good one i think #and also use it to process trauma because he needs an objective look at everything #elrond peredhel #might ​publish/edit this more for #silmarillion #silmarillion epistolary #in april #my writing #fanfiction

[aotearoa20]

correspondence and revelations shortly after Dagor Bragollach for @silmarillionepistolary

To, Caranthir Morifinwë Fëanorian Lord of the East

Dear cousin, it is with great sorrow which I greet you. The attacks of the Enemy took us all by surprise and I mourn the blow the loss of Thargelion will surely have on us all. Though I had never the chance to visit I had heard many great things of the eastern mountains, they were fair to behold, I am told, and I know that you loved it there. Still it gladdens me to hear that you and yours escaped for the most part unscathed. Know whatever aid and support we can spare is already on its way to you as you receive this letter.

I'm sure you know already that Celegorm and Curufin have taken up refuge among my people. You should know you they are well and whole. They, along with I, have sent letters detailing their arrival and stay. I have also sent some papers detailing preliminary adjustments to traderoutes and logistics for delivering aid among our people and allies. I am sure you have more than enough plans of your own and as always i defer to you judgement on such matters.

But all this aside I had another matter I wished to inform you of concerning one of the people of Haleth in Brethil. I have kept it to myself for some time but if anything has come from these last days is that none of us knows when doom will rear its head.

The Lady Haleth herself I met only a few times, when negotiating the terms of her people’s dwelling, and found her to be a woman of brusque and bright countenance. Indeed, when I learnt of her dealings with you I thought that the pair of you must have gotten on like a house on fire, else hated each other entirely. But I digress.

It was upon one of those meetings when I saw a child, I reckoned at the time, perhaps five by the count of Men often about her dwelling. No husband she ever spoke of nor did I ask. The child had her likeness and hearing of the tradgey that claimed the rest of her family, I thought perhaps his father had perished with her kin.

In truth, I thought little of it at all until some years ago, on a visit to the city of Menegroth, when I found a youth milling about the edges of the Girdle. It must have been two hundred years since I’d last seen him, the Haladin had since had two chieftains but the boy looked no older than twenty. He named himself a changeling in his own tongue and told me his father was one of the Eldar.

Erestor he called himself in Sindarin for though he’d lived among his people, at on the request of his mother had not taken her title. Instead he stayed as a counseler for his cousin and later his children and grandchildren. (The translation is a bit off I deem but he having learned more seems loath to correct it and resistant to advice) Either way, wishing to learn more of his father’s people and had come to Doriath to see if he may by his blood be permitted. I spoke with him a while and finding him genuine in his desire, brought him with me and vouched for him before Elu Thingol, the King.

Since then he visits the city every few summers and then returns to his people before the snows set in. He has had little trouble of it, for his mother’s features hide much of his fathers heritage and he is wont to pass through, drawing as little attention to himself as he can. But I found him curious and upon further investigation and despite his protests to the contrary, I am certain his father is Noldorin. In fact, on those rare occasions he does smiles without restrain cousin - were it not for his quiet temperament I know he did not inherit from his mother - I would have wondered if he was your own.

At any rate, considering the time and circumstances I first found him, it's likely it is that his father is among your people. I can think of any number of reasons such a thing would have been hidden from offical records but I truly doubt it could have happened without your knowledge. To the point, I thought, especially in the chaos of these days, you might pass on some news of the boy’s well being. I have had news from Brethil, written in the the his hand, they are well, if overwhelmed with refugees from Dor Lomin. But he is safe. Perhaps that might comfort his kin in Amon Ereb. And perhaps you could tell him that his child is a scholar in training. That he is happy, as much as any of us can be, and untouched by doom or darkness. May he remain so.

I hope I have not overstepped in my assumptions. Always I have hesitated in speaking on this subject. I just have with the loss of don't want to leave anything unsaid that ought to be.

That is all.

As I detailed before, i have sent ahead letters pertaining to more practical means. I have no doubt in your prompt reply. I wish you well, cousin. May Tilion watch your steps before the Dawn breaks.

Finrod Felagund King of Nargothrond

#this has been sitting in my drafts #waiting for the right moment #so here you go:) #silmarillion epistolary #my writing #silmarillion #tolkien #finrod felagund #caranthir x haleth #caranthir #erestor #erestor son of canarthir

[niennawept]

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.

An annotated copy of a recipe book from Nargothrond before its fall

To make moon dumplings:

A short time before moonrise, take a good amount of ground corn (as was the gift of the Valar for the Great Journey) and by gradations, add to it enough water to make a fine dough. Knead this with your hands until it is well combined. Allow the dough to rest under the light of Tilion’s full face for a time.[1] Knead the dough afterward until it is smooth. Allow this to rest again until the moon’s face is the breadth of one finger above the horizon and the dough feels as soft as a fawn’s ear. Divide the dough into four parts. Keeping one out, cover the others with a dark cloth so that they absorb no more light.

Pluck a piece of dough from the ball that is as wide as a thumb from tip to first joint. Flatten this to a disc and then, roll it flat with a pin using more ground corn to prevent the moon dough sticking. Place a good amount of filling[2] on top and carefully pleat the edges shut, using water if necessary to seal. The finished dumpling should be the shape of a crescent moon.

[1] The amount of time for the first resting of the dough is a matter of heated debate among the various branches of elvenkind. While the Exilic Noldor say that it can rest no longer than seven minutes, Vanyar sources claim that precisely fourteen minutes is optimal, in honor of the Valar themselves. The Teleri and Sindar agree that the dough can rest for up to ten minutes, but disagree on the manner by which the time to knead again is decided. The Teleri say that it should be done once the surface of the dough has a pearlescent sheen to it; the Sindar say it must be done when a cloud breaks the moon’s gaze or the full time has elapsed, whichever comes first. The Nandor are an outlier, who claim that dough for moon dumplings is only ready after twenty full minutes at rest. Notably, all of the other groups agree that this is too long of an exposure and produces a tough dough with an overwhelming flavor.

[2] The source declines to describe what manner of filling should be used, and consequently, the original filling is also a matter of intense research. During the early part of the Second Age, the scholar, Díril of Lindon, undertook a lengthy project, traveling across Middle-earth and even into the East to interview elves who could remember when moon dumplings first arose within their communities. This undertaking did not result in consensus.

For @silmarillionepistolary week

#silmarillion epistolary #silmarillion fic #tolkien elves #every culture has a dumpling

[lotr-bitches]

Silm Epistolary Week, Entry #2: A List (Exploration/New Lands)

A portion of the casualty lists: crossing of the Helcaraxë (ordered alphabetically).

Carastarnion, apprentice carpenter (House Arafinwean)

Carnion, horse master (House Nolofinwean)

Curulíre, bard (House Arafinwean)

Elenwë, ladywife to Prince Turukáno (House Nolofinwean)

Haldanárië, ladywife to Lord Duilin (House Nolofinwean)

Istimiel, daughter of Lord Rog (House Nolofinwean)

Lérion, cup bearer to Prince Findekáno (House Nolofinwean)

Lilótiel, daughter of Lord Duilin (House Nolofinwean)

Lingwílocendûr, sailor (House Arafinwean)

Mírimiel, daughter of Lord Duilin (House Nolofinwean)

Moripilin, archer (House Arafinwean)

Morna, nurse to Princess Idril (House Nolofinwean)

Nahtarion, sworn protector to Princess Artanis (House Arafinwean)

Nyellondûr, scribe to Curulíre (House Arafinwean)

Ontamë, ladywife to Lord Rog (House Nolofinwean)

Qualmeapilin, archer (House Arafinwean)

Quildossë, record keeper (House Nolofinwean)

Satariel, cup bearer to Prince Angaráto (House Arafinwean)

Telemniel, waiting lady to Lady Elenwë (House Nolofinwean)

Terewa, hunter (House Nolofinwean)

Tuvindion, hunter (House Arafinwean)

Varandë, seamstress (House Nolofinwean)

Verye, scribe to Prince Findaráto (House Arafinwean)

Note From the Compiler: The list is likely much longer than this unfortunately. This list was compiled by myself from fragments of a longer document. These were the names and occupations that could be discerned from the torn document. It seems that large parts of the household of Lady Elenwë and Lord Turgon were lost as well as the families of Lords Rog and Duilin, later of Gondolin.

#silmarillion #silm fic #silmarillion epistolary

[sallysavestheday]

Silmarillion Epistolary Silliness

I'm delighted to see how much attention my friend Caranthir is getting in this week's @silmarillionepistolary entries. Bureaucracy lends itself to letters, it does, it does.

Here's a teaser from my own silly Caranthir epistolary fic, The Tax Man Cometh:

Go suck an egg, Caranthir Feanorion. The People of Haleth pay taxes to none. Haleth rolls the parchment into a tight, crisp cylinder and hands it back to Caranthir’s discomfited emissary. Her teeth flash sharp in the firelight as she grins. “Deliver that directly to the hand of your lord, do you hear? He’ll be pleased to learn I’m lettered, I suspect.”

#my fics #caranthir #haleth #silmarillion epistolary

[thescrapwitch]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: The Silmarillion and other histories of Middle-Earth - J. R. R. Tolkien Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Elrond Peredhel & Maglor, Maglor & Sons of Fëanor (Tolkien), Finrod Felagund & Maglor, Eärendil/Elwing (Tolkien) Characters: Maglor (Tolkien), Elrond Peredhel, Sons of Fëanor, Finrod Felagund, Olwë (Tolkien), Finarfin (Tolkien), Elwing (Tolkien), Sam Gamgee Additional Tags: Crack, Crack Treated Seriously, Crablor, Court Transcript, Fourth Age of Arda (Tolkien), Fluff Summary:

Maglor Fëanorion has returned to Valinor to be put on trial for his many crimes. Unfortunately for the judge, he is a crab.

For Day 7 of @silmarillionepistolary event: New Beginnings

#silmarillion epistolary #my writing #maglor #crablor #elrond #and many many other characters #silmarillion

[elenagr]

The last letter

@silmarillionepistolary Fingolfin to Fingon

My dear son,

Our warriors continue to die in a war that seems hopeless. I have to take one step that can change everything. Even if my chances are negligible, I feel I have to do it. If I achieve victory, then the elves and men can have a celebration. But just in case, I'm saying goodbye to you. Take care of Hithlum and Dor Lomin. Whatever my fate, do not believe the promises of the enemy and do not try to save me. Don't risk yourself unnecessarily and think about saving our fortresses and our people. I cannot say goodbye to your brother Turukano at this hour. If you see him again, give him the heart pendant that Anaire gave me as a gift. I leave the crown to you. Maybe you'll become a better king. I don't have to tell you to be brave, because I know you are already brave. In any case, I wish you strength during these difficult times.

Your father Nolofinwe Arakano

#silmarillionepistolary #silmarillion #fingolfin #fingon #tolkien #nolofinwe #nolofinweans #silmarillion epistolary

[meluiloth]

Here’s my artwork for @silmarillionepistolary day 4, love and creation!

More time has passed, and Finwë still loves his art, his people, and his growing family. His eldest son, Fëanáro (shown on the top left and right), has grown into an ambitious and genius adult. He is always creating and inventing new things - even a written language! Finwë has spent much time learning the script (a few failed attempts are shown in the top left corner), but he is immensely proud of his son (and his wife, Nerdanel, pictured below him).

Finwë’s ‘other family’, so called by Fëanáro (who doesn’t get along with them at all), has grown over the last several years. Indis is a ray of sunshine in his life, and as strong a woman as she is a Queen - she has borne four children and remains as joyful and sturdy as ever. Nolofinwë is the eldest, followed by Arafinwë, then his two daughters Findis and Írimë. Finwë adores children, and would love to always have them near him forever. (Though his own are swiftly growing up, Nerdanel is already pregnant with her first child, which is very excited about).

Still, though his first wife makes no more appearances in his sketches … she always lingers in the back of his mind, a phantom he could not erase even if he wanted to. And he doesn’t want to, no matter how much guilt he feels about pining over Míriel when his living wife is ever beside him.

Tengwar translations (the language is English transcribed into Tengwar):

#lord of the rings #art #my art #the silmarillion #finwe's sketchbook #finwe #house of finwe #silmarillion epistolary #indis #Fëanorian #nerd #fingolfin #finarfin #findis #irime lalwen #fandom event

[camille-lachenille]

Day 1: childhood

#tolkien #the silmarillion #maglor #makalaurë #maedhros #maitimo #for this one I imagine a small maglor pushing his letter under maedhros’ door while pouting #silmarillion epistolary #i decided last minute i wanted to try and do the whole silmarillion epistolary week #i won’t follow prompts tho just going with the vibes in my brain #i’ll be having so much fun with calligraphy these next days!

[i-did-not-mean-to]

Epistolary Week 2024

Dear friends, as I think that letters should involve more than one person (and it's my BDay Week), I invite you to get involved.

I shall supply the beginning of a letter or of an exchange, and I'd be delighted if you could continue in the comments.

Lots of love and my sincere thanks to @cilil who, as so often, has inspired me to participate ❤️

Day 1: Daily Life, Customs - Halenthir with replies from @melestasflight, @elentarial, and Wisteria53 - post

Day 2: Exploration, New Lands - Firebird with replies from @melestasflight and Wisteria53 - post

Day 3: Family, Loyalty - Finwë & Fingolfin with a reply from Wisteria - post

Day 4: Friendship, Alliance - Russingon with replies from @melestasflight and Wisteria53 - post

Day 5: Love, Creation - Angbang

Day 6: Loss, Betrayal - Curufin & Celebrimbor

Day 7: Remembrance, New Beginnings - Nerdanel & Fëanor

In hopes of seeing you soon,

Yours faithfully, from the other end of the world,

IDNMT

@silmarillionepistolary sorry. Didn't tag 🤣

#og post #IDNMT writes #fanfiction #writing #tolkien writing #jrrt #Epistolary Week 2024 #Interactive event #write me a letter #silmarillion epistolary

[niennawept]

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

#silmarillion epistolary #silmarillion fic #every culture has a dumpling #and these elves sure don't agree about theirs

[lotr-bitches]

Silm Epistolary Week, Entry #4: A diary entry (Friendship/Alliance)

An entry from Prince Findekáno's personal diary regarding Nelyafinwë (Y.T. 1312).

I am so excited for tomorrow and the next day! Tomorrow, Atto and I are going to see Uncle Náro and all of my cousins! Atto says he is very much not looking forward to visiting Uncle, but Haru, Uncle Arya, and Auntie Findis are all going so Atto feels as if he has to attend. I am mostly excited because I get to see my cousins and none of my other siblings will be in attendance. That means I will have cousin Nelyo all to myself.

Nelyo is my favorite cousin because he makes the best cookies and gives the best hugs and he likes me the best out of all of the others besides his brothers. He says my spirit is very bright. I think that means that I am awesome enough to spend time with the older kids. Atto says it means that I have a lot of energy.

Not even Turukáno gets to come with us tomorrow, but that's because there are no cousins who are his age so Atto thinks he will be bored. Irissë doesn't get to come with us because she's only two. I forgot how small babies were until I saw her after she was born. I think it's also because I am one of the older kids now so she seems smaller in comparison. I am a whole 31 years old! That means I am practically an adult. Cousin Nelyo is 58 which means he is even more of an adult than me. I am very upset that I have to be close in age with cousin Moryo because I want to be just like cousin Nelyo.

He is very pretty. He has long, red hair and it is a little bit curly so it has volume (??? I think that is the right word). It is so fluffy and cousin Nelyo lets me touch his hair even though Atto says you are only supposed to touch the hair of your parents, brothers and sisters, children, and people you are married to. (I would not mind marrying cousin Nelyo.) And he still has green eyes even though Auntie Nerdanel said that the color would likely fade as he grew. And he has freckles which I think make him even prettier.

Turukáno says our part of the family looks boring. He says black hair and blue eyes looks stupid. I have brown eyes from Ammë so maybe it is just Turukáno who looks stupid. Cousin Nelyo says I am cute and taps me on the nose whenever he sees me so he definitely thinks I am better looking than Turukáno.

Anyway, I am so excited to see cousin Nelyo! He said last time we visited that next time (otherwise known as tomorrow) he would start teaching me how to use a sword! Cousin Nelyo is the best at everything so I think he will be a great teacher. Turukáno says 'there is no value in learning to fight with a sword because you should fight with your words first and weapons as a last resort.' I think that sometimes you just need to get stabby.

Atto is calling so I have to go! I will write all about sword fighting lessons! and cousin Nelyo.

Notes From the Compiler: It is clear that Findekáno and Nelyafinwë were close from a young age. Additionally, the dynamic between Findekáno and Turukáno is amusing to read about. The hair customs of the Noldor are only ever alluded to in most primary sources. This seems to be a direct reference to an aspect of the culture which dictates who is allowed to touch your hair and what is seen as culturally unseemly. It is unclear here how Nelyafinwë perceives allowing Findekáno to touch his hair, but it is possible that Findekáno has always had a bit of a crush on his cousin.

#silmarillion #silm fic #silmarillion epistolary #maedhros #silm headcanons #fingon #silm #noldorin hair culture

[who-needs-words]

Before Everything (There Were Stories)

Written for @silmarillionepistolary week

Chapter 1 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/55237534/chapters/140111176

#eli writes #silmarillion epistolary #silmarillion #silm #silmarillion fic #silm fic #tolkien fic #sons of feanor #just. take this weird in-universe discussion of comparative folklore okay