House of the Harp

Indie RP blog for Salgant, Lord of the House of the Harp from Gondolin.Character and locations belong primarily to J.R.R Tolkien. Tracking the tag #asksalgant OC Friendly, and welcoming to friendly anons Icon credit to 'Dagmar Jung'.

[houseofthehammer-blog]

(Throws open the doors to his forge and crosses his arms.)

[salgant]

Freezes midstep on his way past, looking startled at the sound. “Ah, Rog! What a pleasant surprise to see you emerge from your lair!”

[salgant]

“Joyous Tarnin Austa?”

[goldenglorfindel]

--

At that last comment he laughed. An incredulous and loud burst of laugher and shook his head, bewildered, at Salgant. “Is that what you think? You honestly believe that? You’re a bigger fool than I took you for.”

He considered just walking away but he hated it when he was poked as such about his own part in The Fall. He detested the titles he was given and avoided calls for stories as best he might. 

“I do not deign to think that I alone feel the hurt of the past and I would expect you to understand that without having to be told. Do not speak to me of a quick end, for you know nothing of it. You weren’t there at the end with the rest of us afterall…were you?” 

[salgant]

“No, you are right. I did not meet my end with the rest of you; my end was alone in a dungeon, years later,” Salgant drawled, plucking his final quiet chord. He dipped his chin politely to his fellow lord as he bit harshly at the inside of his cheek. “A joyous Tarnin Austa to you, Glorfindel.”

Turning on his heel, he stalked slowly away to find a more quiet balcony that would not judge him so harshly.

[sharpglance]

--

The way those eyes looked away frustrated him. His grip on his fingers tightened automatically in some way on Salgant, and when he realized it Maeglin released his grip with a soft sigh.

Salgant’s words could be dismissed as overly cautious, but he didn’t wish to ignore him. There was a reason he decided to tap Salgant for help, and his pride winning out over his exhaustion woukd do nothing to help. “Tell me more, my friend. How do you mean?”

[salgant]

Idly, he rubbed his fingertips over the spot Maeglin had squeezed. At least the lad kept his nails filed nicely. Salgant’s gaze trailed around the courtyard, mostly empty but for scribes scurrying to or fro. They were sheltered enough, and he did not hear anyone nearby. Still, he kept his voice very low.

“I mean that you are making a play that not everyone might appreciate. Yes, some of the extremist policies around here have made Turgon unpopular of late, but you forget that many of our fellow lords are loyalists to a fault. If you try to call a vote and do not have enough support, you condemn anyone who does back you to whispers of treason.”

[salgant]

“Joyous Tarnin Austa?”

[goldenglorfindel]

--

“Did I ask for one?” He gazed at Salgant a moment before turning away and unconsciously running a hand through his hair with a sigh and pacing away a few steps to look out at the valley. 

“There are few of us here now who know the truth of the past and not just through the stories passed down by Penlodh. I still don’t feign to understand everything myself. Mostly it is all past and left there…but there are times when the past seems closer and sharper. Those days I would prefer not to have to see those who make it even harder to bear.” He turned his gaze back on the rotund elf, “do you understand my meaning?”

[salgant]

Salgant folded his hands over his stomach, thumbs rolling against one another as his fingers twitched minutely to pluck imagined strings to an unheard song. After a few moments of silence, he turned his head to peer at Glorfindel and swallowed visibly.

“Then do not look at me,” he whispered. “Just because the tale of your fight and passing are famous does not mean your pain is the only real pain. You are not the only one with scars, old friend. At least your death must have been relatively swift.”

[feanope]

Tarnin Austa (meaning “Gates of Summer”) was held on the first day of summer. It was custom to begin a solemn ceremony at midnight, continuing it until dawn of Tarnin Austa. No-one could speak from midnight to daybreak, but upon the rising of the Sun they would burst into ancient songs, with choirs standing upon the eastern wall. At that time the city was filled with silver lamps, and lights of jeweled colors hung on the branches of the new-leaved trees

~The book of the Lost Tales - Part II~

photo credit: x

[salgant]

“Joyous Tarnin Austa?”

[goldenglorfindel]

--

“I wasn’t the one who declared a vow of silence for the day,” he replied lightly, “that was all you…and in honesty I can’t think of a single time before when you weren’t clamouring to be centre of attention with supposedly witty comments or ballads.” He was being rude and he knew it, but he couldn’t bring himself to be nice.

[salgant]

With a sigh of his own, Salgant returns his attention to the horizon. “If you are seeking an apology, I believe I have already granted one to you. Whether or not you believe it is not something I will attempt to control.”

[sharpglance]

Catching up to the Lord, Maeglin ushered him to a more private location. He leaned his head close, and from a close view one might see the lines around his eyes and the tired sag under them. “Midsummer comes,” he said softly, trying to stand in way that doesn’t catch attention from others. “What do you think of what I told you?” His gaze searched Salgant’s deeply, piercingly; as though it would reveal an answer before Salgant could speak.

[salgant]

Salgant met Maeglin’s gaze only for a second before his eyes darted away uneasily. The poor lad had been worryingly intense lately; he could use with less fretting and more resting and meals. “About your intention to make your bid for the crown?” he murmured, quirking his lips into a tired but doting smile. “I think you mean to move too swiftly, and it is clearly exhausting you. But you mean to ask about my support -- I will back you, m’boy, but it is not over my vote that you should be concerned.”

[salgant]

“Joyous Tarnin Austa?”

[goldenglorfindel]

--

He sighed heavily. “What are you doing here anyway?” He tried to keep his tone civilized at least.

[salgant]

“Respectfully and silently reflecting on the past and seeking forgiveness,” Salgant finally hisses back in a low voice. He turns and pins the golden Elf with a bemused glare. “Funny how you accused me of being incapable of silence, and it has been you carrying the weight of this conversation. Perhaps you need some pastries?”

[salgant]

“Joyous Tarnin Austa?”

[goldenglorfindel]

--

“Perhaps going round all day finding those who you owe apologies to and actually meaning them might be a better use of your time?” He arched a brow in return and folded his arms.

[salgant]

Salgant looks away, very interested in studying the horizon. Respectfully. And without speaking.

[salgant]

“Joyous Tarnin Austa?”

[goldenglorfindel]

--

“That will be quite a feat if you manage that. Planning on eating all day then?”

[salgant]

Salgant deigns to reply, only arches a brow and shakes his head in disappointment at Glorfindel. How rude, to so early be breaking this no-talking trend.

[salgant]

“Joyous Tarnin Austa?”

“I recommend that this year we extend the solemn silence and quiet reflection through the entire day. No speaking at all. Nobody talks.”

[feanope]

Summer Solstice Tolkien Legendarium Appreciation Day

Well … I’ve re-read some parts of the Legendarium and browsed tumblr search with the Silmarillion Week appreciation tags (#gondolin week ; #nolofinwean week) and stared in awe how many gorgeous edits/fanarts/etc were prepared for these events. I’ve been a big fan of those weeks ever since but sadly there hasn’t been one in ages but incredibly talented people have joined the fandom ever since - the very reason why I write this now.

The Fall of Gondolin is on the morning after Tarnin Austa/Gates of Summer festivity which is the beginning of Summer; *click* for some information

I personally see it as the summer solstice which actually is VERY soon in our modern calender - and who knows, maybe the other elves celebrate it too (my many headcanons, especially for the woodelves screams YAS)

So here’s an idea:

Why not devote the day/night of the Summer Solstice (21/06) for a Legendarium-based appreciation day?

The Fall of Gondolin, the Woodelves holding a feast in the forest, edits, fics, fanart based on the concept of Middle-Earth Legendarium together with his event? Anything goes.

How does Mirkwood’s royal family celebrate?

The (remaining) Fëanorians? ( i mean come on  - the perfect opportunity to set things legally on fire).

Celebrate this event on tumblr with #Gatesofsummer2015 ?

I personally think it would a fantastic thing to do but of course it only works if people are interested in doing such a thing. So please spread the word and tell me what you, lovely followers, think about that? My askbox is also open if you’ve got any questions/ideas/whatsoever

[salgant]

working on finding a proper FC. Difficulty is:

finding someone with more than one expression.

finding someone with more than one expression and no facial hair.

finding someone who does have head hair though.

finding someone with expressions, some hair, and the proper BMI.

current candidates are John Candy, Emeril Lagasse, maaaybe Artie Lange...?

[do-not-touch-my-food]

Raspberry Lemon Sweet Buns with Cream Cheese Frosting

[ask-turgon]

I am sure, being the generous king you are, you would not refuse a request of a specific set of flavor combinations. Knowing that, I was hoping for nacho cheese, buttered popcorn, a dash of cinnamon, some crushed hard candies and a cherry on top! In the form of your favorite theatre proprietor.

This ended up with more than one cherry on top, my friend.  I hope you enjoy your cheese pony.  Obviously, from the two tones, it is a colby-jack pony, whose name is neither Colby nor is it Jack.  This pony is just named Cheese.

Do not eat the pony.

[salgant]

What a lovely image, ha! Though if I cannot eat the pony, and I am finding it to be more than slightly hilarious to imagine eating myself, I suppose that limits me to the curtains and stage.

Hm.

[ask-turgon]

I shall request the third selection of flavors (heavy on the cheese, please) in the shape of a portrait of your favorite harper.

My favorite harper would have to be my older brother.  He’s also my favorite older sibling.

I was not sure what the cheese was about, since the yellow was lemon.  However, I have created a harp made of cheddar cheese in a red casing for this drawing. 

I can have it framed and delivered to you if you would like to hang it in the House of the Harp.

[salgant]

Ha! That was my error, indeed -- the lemon yellow and cheese yellow were quite hard to distinguish between! Does this mean your brother plays instruments of cheese and is, himself, rather sour?

No need for a fra A frame would be lovely, as I have been informed that we are lacking in them for some items currently residing under the bed. I intend to sate my curiosity about these marker flavors.

[salgant]

*casually avoids anyone who may have ever heard of Gondolin*

[salgant]

…. *spends the day with food because that’s pretty much the only safe company he has*