Alive in the Land of Many Fountains

actually Éowyn. Princess of Ithilien & your favorite wild shieldmaiden from the north. 30. (she/they) || ao3 || about || icon by @balrogballs

[lady-of-ithilien]

hello! I'm so glad you're here.

I'm Éowyn. Sometimes known as Lady of Ithilien, princess of the land of many fountains, and a wild shieldmaiden of the north (also a poor follower of commands, lover of open sky and sun and flowing water!). At other times, in this modern era, known as a scientist, environmental advocate, outdoor adventurer, and person with big feelings. On this blog, you can find any and all things Tolkien, with a particular focus on Rohan and Gondor in the third and fourth ages (but there's a healthy dose of the Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales, and the broader legendarium too!) you can find my writing on AO3 here. My writing is set in the LOTR-book verse, not the movie universe. My current flagship project is my Farawyn longfic, I Brought the Sun and Stars, which details everything that was left out of The Steward and the King chapter (& the subsequent denouement). I also write shorter one shots for fandom events such as TRSB. I post my photography & costuming on here, but you can find a more complete record on my instagram profile here. If you follow me on there and are a tumblr mutual, please shoot me a dm to say hello so I can follow you as well (if you like!) <3 finally, here's a more general about me page. thank you for being here! I really value the community aspect of fandom, so I am always happy to chat about your faves or answer asks or take a look at your fic/posts if you think I'd be interested. My dm's are always open. I also track #hey eowyn if you want to tag something so I see it. One last thing: I don't believe in DNI or pre-policing how people interact with me. I very rarely block (typically I only do so for bigoted, unethical, or mean-spirited behavior), and while I'm at times passionate and firey about things I believe in, I am always *very* happy to consider other perspectives and discuss. I think that's one of the best parts of fandom!

divider credit: @littlestpersimmon

[dilettantefeminist]

@tolkienocweek Day 6, Ghosts Create a fanwork about someone who haunts the narrative without ever showing up in it

Below and on AO3. Rated M for dark themes. Mind the tags.

My Prince,

We were introduced when you made your visit to Cardolan last spring. I do not flatter myself that you recall our meeting, as you no doubt had many on that journey, but when we spoke you had begged of me to send along any items of interest that I encounter. I do so now as I feel that this will amuse you. I have transcribed the fragment as it is quite badly worn. Its provenance is unknown but it seems to have come to the collection around the time of the rebuilding of Cardolan and, based on the nonstandard spelling and the events referenced, dates from around the invasion (c1409).

It seems this lady held quite the grudge. It’s a grisly thought to be sure, though a blacksmith of my acquaintance assures me that the metal would be ruined. Still it has a certain poetry.

All glory to King Ellesser and the Prince of Illithian, long may they reign.

Dírhael of Cardolan, Chief archivist

Transcribed from a fragment by Dírhael of Cardolan, c1409

Witch they call me

But I was not

Old magic there is but I did not have it

Except for herb lore

My husband is dead

The man so good at shaping swords

Was not skilled with their use

His hands were good at smithing

And other things more sweet

Our Ifig is dead

They found her body ill used

she had a knife

Her hand stretched towards it even as they

She is my daughter you see

I went into the dark spring

She told me what to do

I am a witch now

I know the curse and it will be done

Daggers are women’s weapon they say

And yet a dagger is used close

And so I warrant this is best

I have done the work for the hilts as always and

bid that Ansgil make them a long leave

To honor his brother daughter

My teacher said in darkness that

Serpints bite and though it seem a small wound

a man may die later

and so serpints I mayde

And the jewels she gave me shall be in each

My finest work, fit for kings

Which is well as it is my last

Iron there is in blood

It will take all I hayve but gladly will I give

For my blood that was taken from me

And my blood will bond the steel

May they slay them who killed my love and my heart

When kind hands must turn unkind

maye they find their mark

————————

So passed the sword of the Barrow-downs, work of Westernesse. But glad would he have been to know its fate who wrought it slowly long ago in the North-kingdom when the Dúnedain were young, and chief among their foes was the dread realm of Angmar and its sorcerer king. No other blade, not though mightier hands had wielded it, would have dealt that foe a wound so bitter, cleaving the undead flesh, breaking the spell that knit his unseen sinews to his will. 

Lord of the Rings, The Battle of the Pelennor Fields

———————

This is the passage that has haunted me since I read it.

Ifig translates to Ivy.

Who is the 'she' who meets vengeful ladies in dark springs? Is it perhaps the river daughter herself? Did Faramir understand the significance of this? I wonder...

[starshadeemilyart]

Gender status update: I feel that after a period of doubt and struggle I have reached a point of resolution, as I am very certain that regardless of my big bad vague feelings, I want to be perceived as a woman. I have also found that despite having used them for a bit when I was much younger, I rather do not like they/them pronouns for myself. Because I am playing at womanhood like I’m an actor and I want you all to join me in my performance! It’s validating to be called according to the role you are playing! There’s one or two people I know irl who call literally everyone even cis ppl they/them and that kind of annoys me lowkey bc I know I’m definitionally cis but nonetheless I’m making an active well-deliberated choice here, so plz respect that choice!!

[merilles]

@tolkienocweek Day 6: Ghosts

Nelluin was the sister of the Last Prince of Cardolan; a noble-born lady with a gentle heart. She was called Gwilwileth by her people after the butterflies she loved so much, and also for her soft, joyful, and carefree nature. Often she would sing and dance on the wild green hills when the poppies and bluebells bloomed, butterflies adorning her hair like a crown.

[melestasflight]

Lights of Arda for @tolkienrsb

@ulmondil's beautiful companion story will be revealed on Sep 5!

[gaazhgens]

Harry Collins Photography

A cropped closeup of the sleepy loon chick

[elodieunderglass]

Oh my goodness oh my gosh

[lady-of-ithilien]

Proper photos from our adventure

[hobbitinnumenor]

For Tolkien OC Week::My longfic universe OCs: wives of Anárion, Elendil, and Isildur

(top left to right and down as pictured)

SO! Can we talk for a moment about the fact that Tolkien did not name the women of Amandil's family, not for their wives and mothers. Anárion had four children but ONE of them is named...sooo my peeps and I think that they were daughters 😭

SO. Moodboard rep here for Manwen, Tariel, Cynwen (in same order as above) in my longfic universe. Cynwen is a healer // nature enthusiast, Manwen is a painter, and Tariel a badass warrior Vanya. Chosen sisters. Standing with and for their family and the Faithful right up to the point of landing in Middle Earth (and beyond, but that's as far as I've written, haha).

PS Manwen based on bestie @adarswidow, because of course 🙂‍↕️🌞 and Tariel courtesy of the insanely brilliant and talented @mysteriesunfoldthemselves. Go read their fics pleaaaase, yes you 🫵🏻 and you can thank me later 🙂‍↕️

The erasure of these women hurts, but my friends and I are doing what we can to fix it. And, more to the prompt, my headcanon is these ladies for partners for these heroes🙂‍↕️👏🏻⛵🌊✨

[lady-of-ithilien]

You would love Scythian gold! Source: Olena is never wrong 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

Olena *is* never wrong! I LOVE it... I'm thinking about where in the legendarium this best fits in. The floral motifs and swirls feel Númenorian to me, and the animal detailing is *divine* but feels too complex for men even, so maybe this is Noldorin?! so many possibilities! Anyways thank you for sending I am so enthusiastic about this <3

[beautyandcuriosity]

BYZANTINE GOLD & EMERALD NECKLACE circa 6th-7th century A.D.

[archaicwonder]

Greek Gold ‘Pontic Aristocratic’ Diadem, Late 4th-Late 3rd Century BC

A gold diadem consisting of a twisted rope border with a series of heart shaped scrolls with applied acanthus leaves and flowers with gold wire detail and tear drop shaped settings with blue enamel, flowers recessed for red enamel inlay; central wire motif in the form of a Hercules knot with applied flowers and acanthus leaves with tear drop shaped setting with blue enamel; in the center an amethyst cameo with the bust of a woman wearing a diadem and robes held at the shoulder by a brooch; one small flower element present but detached.

Keep reading

[tathrin]

Éowyn, First Queen of Rohan — my artwork for the Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang of 2026 @tolkienrsb

This is my first time doing art for a fic-exchange and I'm very excited! (It's also my first time doing art for anything in ages; but I had so much fun writing for TRSB last year that I couldn't resist the chance to participate on both ends this year! It's been excellent!)

Here's the accompanying fic by the incredibly talented @silmalope, telling the tale of Rohan's first ruling queen. You will LOVE IT!

And check out the whole collection here.

[lady-of-ithilien]

one day your mind is on fire and you feel there’s nothing left for you here; you feel as if you’re aged beyond your years, your time run out, you are spent, there is no more ahead of you except darkness and pain

and another day, in the future, you sit on a shore in a place you didn’t know existed with friends you didn’t know you’d make, with someone who loves you that you didn’t know you’d meet, and the gulls call in the air and the sun is out and you wade into the clear water and rake your hands through the pebbles looking for agates. you find none, but it doesn’t bother you, and instead you walk along the shore and laugh with your companions; and later the moon rises above the sea and you watch it through a picture window as dragonflies race in the twilight and you realize that nothing is ever certain and no feeling is ever final and that beauty and joy yet exists that you could not have previously dreamed of.

[balrogballs]

BELEG & TURIN

me: god i miss doing semi realistic stuff

me, 2 days later: wow a good portion of everything i have done across the last handful of commissions has been semi realistic

a little post dagor-dagorath beleg and turin for the excellent @serregon ! thank you one william times for commissioning me, i really enjoyed painting this one. also, the constellation pattern in the background is, in fact, orion 😌✨

[deadpearls]

lotr version because this meme encompasses my entire being

[cerielstar]

Éowyn ☆

[albabbgg]

Lady Galadriel 🌊