Hi, I just found out about new No.6 novel. I am very exited but can’t find the translation, the link doesn’t seem to work
Hi there! Unfortunately, there have been some difficulties with hosting the novel online. For the latest news about the novel's translation and upload status, please follow @aowyn, who is doing the translation. She is also receptive to questions!
he’s actually a very nice person, with a lot of friends, but he’s very very awkward and doesn’t always realise how much the people around him care about him.
he and celegorm used to be close when they were children, until curufin was born, at which point celegorm’s attention shifted, leaving moryo feeling a little out of place within his family. he has a variety of skills, but one of his brothers is always better at it than him, until he discovers his talent for weaving and sewing, which make both fëanor and finwë quite excited.
his favourite colour is deep red.
he loves learning about the clothes of and the techniques used by the different cultures he encounters, and will sometimes incorporate them into his own clothing.
random thought that has occurred to me while making this post: modern!au caranthir would be a costuber. he makes or thrifts most of his clothes and posts videos of making historical outfits.
For the kiss meme prompt: Eomer/Lothiriel, 48: One person has to bend down in order to kiss their partner, who is standing on their tip-toes to reach their partner’s.
The Welcome Cup (Ao3 link)
The housekeeper would later claim that Éomer had never tossed back a welcomecup so swiftly.
She would be right.
Even when he was young lad, more interested in making eyes at the servinggirls than drinking the mead provided homecoming Riders, he would at leastsavour the warmth of the drink.
But tonight the King cared not, tossing the tin goblet over his shoulderwithout a care as he bent in the saddle, lips seeking a far sweeter welcome.
And Lothíriel would be lying if she tried to claim she didn’t want thesame, stretching up on tiptoes in her soft slippers – she’d been abed already,wearing little but a thin shift and a hastily done-up robe in Rohan green – to welcomeher husband back with a sweet kiss.
And then Éomer’s arm wrapped around her body and suddenly she was mounted infront of him, wrapped in his warmth and the light scent of horse that clung to thereturning riders.
Lothíriel laughed joyously.
“Westu hál, Éomer Cyning,” she teased, pressing the greeting into his skinwith a kiss.
“Westú hal, Lothíriel,” he replied, wrapping a fold of his cloak around herand dismounting with his customary liquid grace, landing easily despite herweight in his arms. “Now permit me to take you back to your bed, my love.”
Lothíriel nodded, leaning her head against his shoulder and distractingÉomer with small kisses along his jawline. “I did miss you, husband.”
Here’s my contribution for the Secret Santa, for @aowyn who requested something about Celebrimbor/Annatar. @officialtolkiensecretsanta
I’m really sorry for the delay. I thought I had the post queued. Turns out it wasn’t, and then I somehow forget to take my laptop, along with my bag, with me to the country...
Anyway, after many adventures, here’s the fic. I hope you enjoy it. I really liked your prompt. I don’t usually write for Celebrimbor, or Sauron, or both, so I enjoyed the challenge. I plan to post it on Ao3 as soon as I get my laptop back (probably next week). Not the happiest thing to read around Christmas, (when is Celebrimbor/Annatar ever happy?), but I tried to tone it down a bit.
Happy Holidays!
Copper
There’s something to be said about the colour of copper. That rancid, acid smell that would cut through cloth and leather, and get into your nose, under your fingernails and coat your hair. It’s harsh, it’s unpleasant. It’s familiar. It’s honest.
******
“There’s something not quite honest to him”
Gil-Galad is too much of a diplomat to outright say dishonest.
“I know you admire him. And rightly so, for he is the finest craftsman I have ever seen but there is a cruelty in him... Celebrimbor, be careful.”
Then Celebrimbor would come to him, take his hand, say “I know”, and kiss him. “I know your sufferings. I know your doubts. I know what hides behind that face. I know who’s behind that posture. Annatar, the Master of Gifts. I know and I love you all the same. You don’t have to be perfect with me. And that thing you were working on, it doesn’t matter if or when you get it. In a week, a month, a year. Maybe never, and you know what? You don’t have to. I’ll love you all the same. But I trust you, I have faith in you, and tomorrow you’ll get it. I know.”
******
Celebrimbor has to agree. He has seen Annatar being cruel, cold and cutting. Has seen how ferociously he strikes the anvil. Has seen him crying tears of rage. Has seen him lost, broken, in the throes of despair. Celebrimbor has lost the count of how many times he has found him sleepless. Hungry and agitated. Curled in a corner, a small metal trinket in his hands. Polishing, filing the imperfections, correcting an invisible flaw again and again and again, until there was nothing left of his work but a pile of grainy steely dust at his feet. Annatar would then throw his hands in the air, and a ferocious glare to Celebrimbor, as if to say: “I don’t care. I’m not phased. Everything’s going according to the plan.” Which made Celebrimbor laugh, and want to cry a little because he knew what it was like when the blessed perfection eluded you, when your mind had tricked you, or the other way round, and you were left with your failing body and your crude, inadequate hands.
******
“You still have not given me one good reason, why I should trust him.”
“I don’t know what to tell you Galadriel. You’re the only one that doesn’t, and nothing I can say will make you change your mind. “
“Not the only one. Gil-Galad is as wary as I am. Celeborn certainly doesn’t trust him.”
Celeborn is paranoid, and feels uncomfortable having his wife live so far from him, and so closes to dwarves. Why you would continue to follow his advice when he’s so obviously prejudiced is beyond me, Celebrimbor thought. He kept his mouth shut.
“He is from the Valar, and has indeed, bestowed us many gifts.”
“No he is not.”
“You would refuse the gifts of the Valar? Oh, Artanis. I thought you had outgrown that.”
******
“No he is not from the Valar”
“He isn’t” conceded Celebrimbor. “He is like us. On our side. As much from the Valar as we are. Trust me Galadriel. “
It smelt of burnt copper and iron in every room. His eyes were burning. His back was aching his lungs were scorched by the furnace in the workshop. He could taste the iron on his tongue. His blood and Annatar’s whenever he could draw it in their frenzied unions. They were working. Together. And Celebrimbor dared dreaming again.
“I wish this moment would never end” he confessed late at night when they were both safely ensconced in their bed.
“It doesn’t have to” answered Annatar, wrapping himself around his lover.
“When the world was younger and beautiful and innocent still, I would have believed you.”
Celebrimbor smiled and kissed Annatar’s forehead. I wish I’d known you back then.”
“You wouldn’t have liked me then”, mumbled Annatar.
Valinor was the only subject they never spoke of. It was too painful for the both of them.
“I wish I could keep them. All those moments sleeping away through my fingertips.”
“I must confess there are times when I dream of extracting that pleasure, the pleasure we share together, and setting in a jewel. Like those butterflies sealed in these drops of amber Narvi gave you. Forever there for me to remember. Your face. Your voice calling me. Your arms clutching me.”
Annatar grabbed Celebrimbor hands, intertwining their fingers.
“Time passes. But not for everyone. Not for us. We won’t let it. Think about our work. We can be the gardeners of this world. Keeping it safe. Pure. Preserved.”
“Feänor managed to capture the essence of the light of the Trees. Look what happened. And I am not my grandfather.”
“You’re not. You’re better than him. And your work will surpass even my gifts.”
Celebrimbor tried to argue and was silenced by a kiss.
“You will heal us all”
Celebrimbor remained silent; his mouth tightly shut.
******
“I hoped to find you there” said Galadriel.
Alone was the unspoken word. She spoke very slowly, and very kindly, as if to a child.
“You have to be honest Celebrimbor. With yourself, if not with us. You know who Annatar is. You’ve seen more of him than we have.”
“He’s a liar. He could not have come from Valinor. I don’t have to know him to say the truth. There’s something about him. He is too far removed from the Undying Lands.”
“You’re right. You don’t know anything about him.” And Celebrimbor exploded
“The smell of copper. Turns out, it was our own smell all along. The reaction between to metal and the oils produced by our skin makes the copper a conductor for our body odours.”
“Yes I know he’s lying about his past! Yes I know he was on the other side, during the Great War.”
“The other side! Celebrimbor, listen to yourself! It wasn’t about sides. It was everyone who ever wanted to live against the Enemy!”
“I know all of that. I’ve thought about it. I know that a being like him, a Maia could hardly have been just a soldier, just one of the many heads of the Enemy’s legions. I know all of that and more. And so what? Here I am! Working with him. Sharing my bread and my roof with him. Sharing my dreams and my hopes. You think you know him so well, don’t you? You think you know us all so well! Mighty
Galadriel, wise beyond her years. Truly, Melian’s worthy heir. Tell me do the Sindar know about your unofficial title at Gil-Galad’s court? Has Elrond ever said anything about it? So what if he has done unspeakable things? Haven’t we all? Who are we, Noldor, to judge? You’re not the only one that’s fleeing her past. But you can have a second chance, and the others cannot?”
“Celebrimbor. You are of my blood. And because of that… And despite that, I love you. I would help you if I could. If you allowed me to.”
“Of my blood. I am of Feänor’s blood. And yet you will tolerate me. You will have me at your table. You will praise my craft because I have repudiated my father and my lineage. You trusted me. Did you ever regret it?”
“Oh Celebrimbor! We never did. I never did. “
“I can be many things. But I will not be a judge. Nor an executioner. I don’t have the right. And I wouldn’t want it. I know him. And he has changed Galadriel. He’s not the being he once was. You have not seen it but believe me when I say he’s atoning. And he is going to redeem himself. You just wait to see it.”
Galadriel’s puzzled expression had disappeared, replaced by one of infinite sadness.
“No one doubts you. Celebrimbor. We only doubt him. I do not want you to be hurt. No one will ever blame you for being wrong. “
There were tears running down Celebrimbor’s face.
“He can be saved, Galadriel. I know he can. I was pardoned. And if I was, he can be too. And I will help him. I cannot be the only one redeemed. And he is just like me.”
Galadriel took her cousin’s hands and kissed them.
“No, he is not.”
******
Her name was Lôminzil. She was one the most promising craftsmen of Numenor. Along with ten other younglings, she had been sent to Eregion, to train under the Gwaith-I-Mirdain.
“That’s astonishing isn’t it?”
Celebrimbor liked to young woman. She had the spark. She was eager to learn, and eager to train.