Tolkien rec, a story written for me!!

[thrihyrne]

As you all know, I participated in slashy_santa this year, though the gifts were really for Valentine's Day, posted yesterday. Thankfully the recipient of the story I wrote seems to have enjoyed it, though she was pretty brief in her commentary. I was fortunate to have ennorwen write for me, and she came up with the compelling "Lodestar", featuring a favorite character of mine who doesn't often show up in any kind of fanfiction, Tar-Meneldur Elentirmo, the 'star-watcher' king of Númenor. In doing a search of a summary about him, I just stumbled across my own poem I wrote from his POV… I'd totally forgotten that I was so smitten with him once upon a time that I wrote The Love Song of Tar-Meneldur Elentirmo. Wow. Um... And I just read her reply to my review, and she used my bio for him over at HASA as a base. I'd forgotten I'd written his bio over there! Anyway, on my own web page, I kindly included a wee bit about him which I'll repost here:

For those who are not familiar with the Kings of Númenor and Unfinished Tales: from Part Two, Chapter I, "A Description of the Island of Númenor"- 'Towards the North Cape the land rose to rocky heights, and there great Sorontil rose sheer from the sea in tremendous cliffs. Here was the abode of many eagles; and in this region Tar-Meneldur Elentirmo built a tall tower, from which he could observe the motions of the stars.'

Tar-Meneldur Elentirmo was the 5th king of Númenor, and his name means 'Star-watcher.'

So! ennorwen's story is brilliantly conceived, very realistic, bringing an obscure character to life in his younger years, and an OMC who ends up falling for him, despite their very different stations in life. Here's her summary:

Relatively young, Írimion (the future Tar-Meneldur) begins work on his tower at Sorontil. He enlists the aid of a stone-mason, Minardil Gonhiriôn, and as they work, a fast friendship develops. Through a series of fits and starts and separations, they come to learn that they care deeply for one another and after Írimion’s journey throughout Númenor, he returns and cements their love with a startling revelation of his own. Written for Thevinia.

I would repost my own review, but that gives away part of the plot. You all know I don't gush about stories all that often, nor rec them, but this one is a true gem. Even without the presence of any Dwarves. ;) It is slash and it is adult, in the most delicious fashion. The primary focus, however, is on the young to-be king and the stone-mason who helps him build the tower where Írimion can watch his beloved stars.

Go and read, especially if you're a Tolkien fan and not all that familiar with the early centuries of Númenor and like to read well-crafted, thoughtful, and ultimately passionate prose. If you do read it and like it, please let her know at the site!

Comments

[heartofoshun.livejournal.com]

I read and got a huge kick out of Ennorwen's story. I am no expert on Numenor, so I had, after reading it, to do a little personal research. I found the most interesting detail. Írimion, his original name before he became king, means 'desirous' in Quenya; of course, after reading her story I will forever translate that and think of him as 'desirable' instead. Lovely story. Thanks for the recommendation. I would have read it eventually but read it sooner as a result.

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

I saw your comment about the 'desirous' meaning; it is rather a wonder that JRRT was so bold in that name choice!! There's not much out there to do with Numenor, which I think was why I incorporated it in one story and had started what I'd hoped would be a longish epic, tying together two people in Numenor a few hundred years apart. It languished after I discovered HP, but I let elfscribe5 read it when I visited her this summer, and I did get re-enthused about it. Just not enough time!! :P

Gorgeous icon. :)

[heartofoshun.livejournal.com]

That icon is Maedhros, of course, but he could almost be Vaysh in the far North, couldn't he?

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

Yes, it could! I may have to revisit my other Tolkien/HP crossover, as well, featuring Amras and that line going down to the Weasley family. Sheesh. I didn't think I had that many abandoned, interesting stories, but I'm realizing I have three. Blast.

[heartofoshun.livejournal.com]

I found another, somewhat hilarious, over-the-top crossover Silmarillion/Wraeththu picture today. It's a Japanese Fingon/Maedhros, which with a stretch could be seen as Pellaz/Vaysh. Gave me a chuckle.

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

That's a great Pell and Vaysh icon! The pointed ear on "Pell" kind of makes it less likely, but I'd still make an icon out of it. ;)

[heartofoshun.livejournal.com]

It would only take the tinest dab of color to take the point off Pellaz's ear! (Here. I just put a little hair over his ear.)

[brumeux77.livejournal.com]

A lovely story, but alas you have to be a member to leave a review. I really know nothing of Numenor--I've read no Tolkien but The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings--so there was much that was strange and even slightly confusing, but the love between the characters was clear.

[elfscribe5.livejournal.com]

Hi there, hate to butt in, but you don't have to be a member to review on that site. Just go to the end of the fic and type in your review and hit send. You can put your name in the window if you want or you could even leave your name off and submit it anonymously. Just in case you wanted to leave fb . . .

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

Ah! Well, per Elfscribe, you can leave an anonymous review. Glad that you gave it a try! Most people don't know much about Numenor— probably why I was especially glad she gave it a try. ;)

[elfscribe5.livejournal.com]

Hi Thev - I'm glad you enjoyed it. It was funny, En asked me to pinch-hit as a beta and as soon as I read the request, I burst out laughing, 'cause I KNEW it was you. Heh heh. Anyway, that just added to the fun of getting a first read-through.
Hugs!

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

as I read the request, I burst out laughing, 'cause I KNEW it was you. Heh heh.

You know me well!! I can't even remember my exact request, but I'm so thrilled at what I received. I think it's hilarious that you beta'ed for both of us.

[ennorwen.livejournal.com]

Oh my, thank you for the pimpage/rec, T. After reading Oshun's comment it reminded me that there was a part of the conversation between them with respect to Irimion's name(s) that I meant to include. Perhaps I'll have to write it as an "outtake." And believe me, I'll be going back over your ouvre, too. And not just the Tolkien. I'm not big on HP, but Elfscribe tells me your Wraeththu fics are to die for. I have such a big pile of reading right now, I feel rich! (And it's funny, the whole time I was considering Minardil and his vocation, I DID think of dwarves and thought to include a comment from Irimion re: his thinking that Min might have dwarvish blood!)

Again, thank you so much for your kind words...here and over at the site.

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

You are so welcome! A marvelous story like that, especially set in an era unfamiliar to many people, needs to be recc'ed as often as possible!!

Enjoy my stories- my Tolkien has been rather a minute amount of my output in recent years, but there are some I'm especially proud of, and I'm glad to be heading back over into that area. I've written primarily Wraeththu in the past year, which was what brought Elfscribe and me together, though it turned out she'd read some of my Tolkien in the past.

You are welcome for the commentary! I don't do it all that often, but when I do, it's because I've been moved by the story. Yours did that for me on a multitude of levels, and that's good storytelling and wordcraft.

[heartofoshun.livejournal.com]

Have to hop in and give an unconditional recommendation and urge you to push Thevina's Wraeththu fics up on your list: they were a highlight of my past year (first Maestrom and Mage, but those that followed lived up to my expectations). Her Wraeththu writing is lush and sensual, fits entirely within canon, but is distinctive, memorable OCs, has completely defined several canon characters for me, and contains some of the best erotica I have ever read. Must read. Fascinating how different Thevina's style is from fandom to fandom, she really channels her own particular take on each one.

Damn! I know some incredible writers!

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

:::beams:::

Thank you so much!! calanthe_fics recently said how much she loved my Wraeththu stories as well; I'm feeling so much more positive about my writing thanks to you two. But now I must finish the giftfic so I can send it to you to beta! I'm down to the wire!!!

[heartofoshun.livejournal.com]

Please do the outtake!