About Elwin's past

The tale of Elwin part 1 - All credits goes to J.R.R. Tolkien

The tale of Elwin

part 1

About Elwin’s past

 

One of the characters (invented by myself) who I cherished perhaps the most is Elwin the seafarer. He is distantly related to Númenóreans, and he was born in Middle-earth long after the Downfall of Númenor. His father's name was Eor the Young (not related to the Eorl the young, First King of Rohan) and her mother was Amariël Vanima (Quenya mean ‘Beautiful, Fair’), daughter of the Númenóreans and belonged to the distant branch of the Númenoreans Kings.

Elwin has dark brown hair and his eyes are blue-green, it has been said that Elwin’s eye color resembles aquamarine. Otherwise in appearance Elwin resembles his father Eor, who was tall with brown hair and belonged to the Men of Gondor. Elwin inherited love and longing for the Great Sea from his mother (due to Amariël’s wish they lived close to the sea), who was much beloved by her kin and her family. Eor was a man of honor, and he used skillfully the sword. Eor loved green hills and wild grasslands, and in mid-summer when the West wind came, the plain flourished with many colorful flowers in splendor. From his father, Eor, Elwin inherited his strength and courage, and how to deal with horses, since Eor had visited and stayed often in his youth in Rohan but Elwin loved the most the Sea and those fast, white ships.

Elwin was born on 3 March, Third Age 2933, three years later than Aragorn son of Arathorn, in a secluded valley which was called Lindell or ‘The valley of the Linden trees’, and in that time the Green-elves knew that place and only small number of Men (those who lived there and they were friends with Green-elves and elves protected the borders of the valley) knew where that land was but in these days its exact whereabouts have been lost from the memory of Men. It was said to be located somewhere in the Ossiriand or known later as Lindon, on the west side of the mountain-chain called Ered Luin, (after the sinking of Beleriand they became a coastal range), nearby the river ‘Little Lune’,  which is least known. The land was very fair and there grew many small-leaved linden trees or known as ‘littleleaf linden’ with heart-shaped leaves and fragrant yellowish blossoms.

During the summer in the woods those flowers smelled sweet and in the eye of beholder, it seemed like the forest would have had a ‘golden roof’. In the heart of the forest, there grew once a very old and tall Silver linden tree, which had almost oval-shaped leaves with green color above and below leaves were silver-colored. In mid to late summer the tree had pale green leafy bract which had strong scent and were pollinated by honeybees. The Silver tree was located in a small square and there was also waterfall with crystal clear water and lot of fragrant and colorful flowers and the air in there was filled with the sounds of bees buzzing and cheerful murmur of water.

Eor and Amariël had moved there since she longed for the sea and at the same time sheltered place to raise their childrens. Amariël had inherited longer lifespan and through her also Elwin got it.  

Of Amariël Vanima and days of the War of the Ring

Her parents were distantly related to each other and belonged to king’s lineage. She had raven hair and blue eyes. It was said that she knew well Gilraen, mother of Aragorn, and they were friends in their youth. From time to time Amariël saw prophetic dreams. She told once to her friend, Gilraen that soon she would give a hope to all of us. She had seen (in her dream) of a great tree and in its branches, there was a beautiful green stone and after that Gilraen was carrying it in her arms.

In later years Amariël’s heart grew restless and she felt how the nameless Shadow filled the air with fear and land with terror. She knew that they could not find a safe place anymore. Eor went often with the Green-elves to defend the lands. Elwin was a familiar sight in the Mithlond and he befriended with Círdan the Shipwright. From Círdan he learned how to make lightweight and durable boats. 

Here’s passage of discussion between Elwin and Círdan:

Elwin said; ‘I have seen a dream, a same dream every night for two weeks now. What is the strangest thing is that I am sleeping in my dream. I wake up and I see thousands of stars above me in the sky. The sky seems alive, you know that time when gentle breeze causes ripples in the surface of water and I saw a light, beautiful white light glimmering in various shades of gold and silver.’ Círdan was silent for a moment and looked at his friend. He was one of the most far-sighted of all Elves and he figured Elwin’s words carefully in his heart. Then Círdan spoke with wisdom which has given to him and the tone of his voice sounded in Elwin’s ears like the sound of the waves singing merrily. ‘Elwin, Eärendil was a great mariner, and your destiny is not very different than his, who sail as a Star of High Hope across the firmament as long as the World is.’

Elwin stood silent for a moment. Then he spoke; ‘

‘To the West I cannot go or to the hither shore, it is forbidden me even to know.‘

‘But very deep in my heart there is a secret wish. The very same wish that was in my mother’s mind. You see, my mother told me a story, a very old story of a “bridge between two worlds”. When the Sun and the Moon hit the sky at the same time, the gold and silver light mixed together and the light became as one, it is then you can see the bridge which is otherwise invisible. It was told that if you could get across that bridge you would get passed beyond those Timeless Walls which separate the visible and the invisible.’

Círdan did not seem surprised. He smiled to Elwin and said; ‘N’i lû tôl!’

Elwin replied with a smile. ‘Iston mellon nín, until then.’

 

Source; http://henneth-annun.net/img/resources/img__Map-Lindon.jpg

Forlond, meaning ‘North haven’, on the Gulf of Lhun, the westernmost of the three harbours, Forlond, Harlond and Mithlond or known as the ‘Grey havens’.

Of Elwin and the later Years (of peace)

Fourth Age in Middle-earth

After the fall of Sauron, peace time returned and everywhere in Middle-earth the plains were even greener than before, rivers sang even more joyfully than before and birds came with glad tidings. In his heart, Elwin rejoiced but soon new sorrow came into his path. Amariël, now feeling old and gray in her hair, felt her heart heavy and tired. So she said farewell to his son and traveled to the Mithlond or’ Grey havens’, and the elves told that she lived there alone, and often stood by the Sea and watched to the West. ‘To there were the memories still lived in the hearts of the Faithful’, she said. ‘Truly, I am one of them, and such as them, I will always feel the longing in my heart’. When Frodo and Bilbo set sails to the West and left Middle-earth behind, it was in that time when Elves of the harbor saw Amariël the very last time. Very few knew about her fate, but Elwin knew, because Amariël had sent a word to him and asked him to come.

And Amariël said; ‘My beloved son, this is the last time I spoke to you. My time has come. I remember that spring was just dawning in Lindell when you were born; it was the happiest day of my life. Your father loved you so much. He took you in his arms and said; Lo! Here’s the heir of the Faithful’s! Look at the son of the Men of West! Dear Eor is gone now; he died with the sword in his hand defending the King Elessar. He went to the Halls of Mandos, and he is waiting for me. Do not cry, but hold the memory of us in your heart.’

Amariël looked to the West and her eyes glistened with tears. She settled down, and Elwin took her slender hand in his hand and kissed gently her pale cheek.  So Amriël finally closed her eyes and gave up her life. Elwin stood there motionless for a long time, holding his mother’s hand until the stars lit up the sky. Elwin fell Amariël alongside her husband and in the valley of Lindell, there is the final resting place of Amariël Vanima and Eor the Young, parents of Elwin the Seafarer.

Soon after that Elwin set sail and nor seen him again in Middle-earth. 

* * *

The other parts of the tale of Elwin you can read here;

-          The tale of Elwin part 2 ; In the search of the Straight Road of Elves

http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/Arwen-Evenstar/1720796/

-          The tale of Elwin part 3; About Elwin’s Dream

http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/Arwen-Evenstar/1722580/

-          The tale of Elwin part 4; About Awakening of the Elves

http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/Arwen-Evenstar/1871946/

Author's Note

All credits goes to J.R.R. Tolkien

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

A amazing story. I read this story years ago. I need to read again. A classic. I have the book in my collection. Thank you Sarah for sharing the work.
Coyote

[~Sarah~ Idríel The Fair]

Thank you so much.

It means a lot to me.

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome dear Sarah.