Faeries dance delightedly
as in the heavens angels sing
a song of the many wonders
this new day shall surely bring
Elven magic gently awakens
lush meadows of bright green
and the sunrise paints a picture
no mortal eyes have ever seen
Ancient trees sway in the breeze
creatures of the woodlands play
stars sparkling in the heavens
sigh softly as night fades away
White sails sighted on the sea
deliver mankind with the wind
and spirits of the forest weep
knowing this will be their end
Hc that different types of elves are able to use magic in different ways/to different levels.
I will be focusing more on the avari and silvan elves as i am known to do:
Magic, in this sense, is more like the life force that flows through everything and everyone. Elves generate an extra amount of it which, they then can use through pathways in their body. Humans and dwarves, etc, are rarely able to use magic to an effective result bc they don’t generate as much as elves and aren’t built with the pathways to access it, though dwarves can occasionally channel the magic around them into the objects they create.
Silvans actually have a surprisingly high level of magic usage, even more than their valinorian counterparts, though most of it is passive. A surprising amount of people will hear “silvans can communicate with trees” and then never proceed to link it to magic usage. Of course it varies silvan to silvan, but a well trained silvan can actively use magic to protect and defend and lay down wards. Their link with the world around them through trees also allows them to boost their own magic when they need it. It’s because of this especially why silvans do not like being underground. Thranduil and Legolas are actually rather adept magic users, though they don’t show it off.
There’s also a type of elf that cannot use magic at all. These are the Fawneli elves. They are considered the strongest elves in the world, to the point they can pick up boulders the size of a palace and toss them about without breaking a sweat. They’re fast and their hardy. They are also referred to as “mini-giants” because it is as if someone took a giant and shrunk them, but kept all their strength in tact. However, in return for this strength, they are unable to use even the slightest bit of magic and are completely cut off from it. The Fawneli are mostly desert elves, and nomads. They don’t have a governing body and sadly most of them were hunted down and enslaved, which was made easier due to their vulnerability to magic of all kinds. There’s only a few dozen left in the world by the end of the third age.
If silvans were magic positive, and the Fawneli were magic neutral, than the Okreans are magic negative. Not only are they capable of seeing through any magic disguise of anyone, including maia and vala, but they are also mostly immune to any and all magic thrown at them. Whenever they are around, magic actively deteriorates. As a result, they are elves of science. And, as a result, the Valar do not like the Okreans as they see them as a threat bc of this immunity. Because the Vala saw them as a threat, they massacred the Okreans, with Tulkas and Orome themselves coming down to kill off these elves, during the second age. Only 8 Okreans surivied, including Kleoyia (though she was only 8 at the time), and they were cursed by the vala to live in agony untill they either killed themselves, or lost themselves to madness.
The Atric Elves share their magic with the forms of beasts. Individually, they cannot cast it the way most do, but rather they obtain the form of animals with their magic and get power through that. The Atric elves live in the the far north, mostly in the arctic circle, and thus tend to share the forms of arctic animals, whether they be from the land, air, or sea.
Aquatic elves are, as the name describes, elves that live in bodies of water, emphasis on in. Way back at the lake, they decided that the water was much safer than land, and so they took a plunge and never looked back. Aquatic elves are often refered to as mer-folk or sirens. Parts of their body take on shapes of aquatic life, and they come in many shapes and sizes. They have abit of a rivalry with the Atric elves, specifically the Atric elves that shape-shift into aquatic animal forms, as they compete for food. The silvans, however, they have a good trade relationship with. The Aquatic elves will provide silvans with good seafood, and in turn the silvans will give them a lot of land meat and vegetables the Aquatic elves can’t reach.
Sucian elves are probably the most common of Avari elves. They are also referred to as spiritual elves. Their magic mostly comes from their own power, and many will use tools in order to aid themselves. There are two major Sucian elf empires: the Bali’tsa empire and the Qitian empire. What is unique about the Sucian elves is that they can pass on their power to others, though it is extremely difficult. It is also the most diverse of the magic types, and tends to be more unique to each family.
Lastly you have the Agpetian elves, who get their power assigned to them, assumably by Eru himself. As far as i’m aware there’s no rhyme or reason as to why they get the magic they get, but when a child becomes 100 days old, their magic will display itself. As a result, they tend to be a little more…. Religious? Than other avari, though they do not worship or care for the valar at all.
I was at my wits end. Where to go? What to do? How to take care of all those people who lost everything?
But suddenly Solas pulled me aside for a word and told me some shocking information. The orb, the anchor, it's all elven magic. Our magic. And people are sure to find a way to blame us for it.
Fortunately, he also added some good news. He knew of a place that was unused and could serve the Inquisition. He wanted to give it to me.
SO it’s widely head cannoned that dwarrow have a one, and usually some ✨magical ✨ moment happens when they recognize their One.
That being said, Dwarrow don’t really know how elves work, especially not elven healing magic.
SOOOOO my thoughts are that when Tauriel was healing Kili, and he saw her glowing, he believed that he had found his One.
And maybe he did.
Maybe he didn’t.
I’m saying that while there definitely was attraction and some flirting, they didn’t have a whole lot of special moments and time spent to know each other and actually fall in love.
So this theory would explain why Kili became devoted to Tauriel so soon, because he believed he had found his One, the love of his life, and was willing to sacrifice everything for her, even his life, so quickly after they met.
- - - The origin & explanation of Visériel’s amulet, featuring Solas - - -
- - - CW: blood magic by a willing individual - - - Word count: 2642 - - -
The clear reflection of the glass heart sparkled serenely from the mirror in front of her. The amulet cast a shimmering vision of delicate beauty, yet the weight of it felt sturdy and solid in Visériel's hand.
The warm glow of the flickering candle near the balcony added to the moonlight in her bedroom a soft romantic aura that hinted at the enlightening exchange she had experienced earlier that day with the distinguished elf in this very spot. There had been no occasion to celebrate, nor reason for gift-giving, and yet he had presented her with the pendant which now hung regally around her bare neck.
"We have been on many journeys in the past," Solas began as he stood stoically in the rotunda that he had partially filled with frescoes. "Some of them have been quite perilous and though I am here now to lend my counsel regarding the spirits we encounter, there may come a time when though we are apart, my guidance could still be of use in your travels."
[[Continue below]]
It had not escaped his attention that she had yet to exclude him from any of the expedition parties she went out on, and yet as events continued to transpire in increasingly unpredictable ways, he found himself frequently questioning the possibility of a safe and secure future with her. Nothing thus far had gone according to plan, so it seemed a tempt of fate for him to imagine even a chance at spending a lifetime of years by her side. It would've been better if he had distanced himself from her early on, but the confidence and hope that emitted from her spirit drove his desire to persevere toward finishing his goal, his duty.
"I value your insight, Solas. And I welcome any suggestions you may have. However, I do very much enjoy our adventures together and wouldn't leave you behind even if Cassandra herself demanded it." With head raised to meet his gaze in a confident manner, the corner of her lip turned upward into a soft smirk at her own cheekiness.
"It is but a precaution. Our circumstances may not always be so kind."
He paused for only a breath as a tsunami of unnerving possibilities flooded his mind.
"This spell in particular," he continued, "will truly be enhanced by your unique ability to so effectively communicate with spirits already."
"A new spell?", she chimed excitedly, always ready to discover new and interesting ways to use magic.
"In a way." he responded. "I have already taken the necessary steps to activate the amulet so that you may benefit from its affects immediately."
His left hand tightened its grip on the smooth shape within it.
'This is selfish', he thought. 'This is selfish and foolish. You are giving her another tool to use against you. Another means of magic beyond what she knows to be possible... and you used your own blood.' But the spell had been cast, the spirits had been called, and he would not regret it for the world.
As he lifted his hand and unfolded his fingers, the semi-transparent glass heart was revealed. The very center of it seemed to shift and swirl as though it contained a clear liquid of some sort.
"What does it do?", Visériel asked, holding the glimmering pendant up to the light with wonder, studying her gift in admiration.
"It is both a call for aid and a warning," he responded, his eyes surveying the glint of green that radiated from the center of her blue eyes as if the fade itself had become a sun, emanating from within. "It tells benevolent spirits that you are a friend and that they should assist you should you call upon them. In the same way, it also cautions spirits of ill intent that you are protected and that should they value their existence, they would be best to avoid harming you at any cost".
Wide-eyed at the extent of the promise twirling in the air between them she replied, "That is quite a large task to ask of spirits." Suddenly, her expression changed and the features of her face, which a moment ago had been full of awe and wonder, were now as cold as the stone on the snowy mountain peaks outside. "You did not bind a spirit, did you, Solas? You would not do that."
"I did not. You know very well how I detest such actions. No. But spirits, like all living beings, can be persuaded to act or not act upon their own free will. This amulet contains a spell of compassion, one that they will understand in their own way." That was enough. She need not know it was under the protection of Fen'Harel that they would gladly obey. No binding. No orders.
The sharpness of her expression melted away instantly, once more revealing her usual relaxed demeanor, a calm regality. He had not predicted she would react in such a way, and yet it was so very much like her to come to the defense of one who needed compassion when there seemed none left. Perhaps one day she herself might practice the same spell to save others, and yet -
"What was that??" she exclaimed, jolting suddenly, her eyes now possibly larger than he had ever seen them. "Is this alive?? I can feel its heartbeat!"
He chuckled. He had wondered how long it would take for her to notice, but the answer proved slightly harder for him to reveal than he had anticipated. "No, Vhenan. It is my heartbeat you feel."
He was wrong. Her eyes could, in fact, get larger.
He continued, knowing that if he did not tell her this of his own accord, she would surely question him further to satiate her boundless curiosity. "This particular spell requires a donation of blood from the one who casts it. The blood is then filtered through the fade to purify it with a spiritual energy, thus removing all color which is why the vial you hold does not appear to be red. What lies within it could be referred to as an echo or memory of my blood, and yet it is still connected to my physical being which is why you can feel the rhythm of my heart. I do admit the explanation is a bit more complicated than that. The technique is, afterall, very old, and was rarely practiced even in ancient times."
He watched as she pondered his words for a moment.
"Then, is this blood magic? I thought you didn't practice blood magic."
"It is not dissimilar but neither is it the same. Like I said, it is a very old, very rare technique". All of this was true. He had not been surprised when there failed to be any documentation of Faded Blood or Vials of Compassion echoed in the current world. Another consequence of the veil's creation. Another of his failures.
"Do you have one for yourself?"
"I - ", he stopped short. He had not predicted she would ask such a question, and yet it was so very much like her to reflect the kindness she was shown, although perhaps in this case she was a bit mistaken. His actions had not been entirely altruistic. They were that of a man striving to save what he could not bear to lose. And also to provide her with some sense of comfort, should their paths diverge, her golden hair fragrant of cinnamon and honey no longer able to rest upon his chest. But hopefully it would not come to that.
"The blood donation required must be from a willing individual who holds extreme compassion for the one to whom the spell is directed." Though she would never fully understand the vastness of his feelings for her, she would surely understand how this would prevent him from creating a pendant of his own. Beyond that, he knew that a spell of protection written by the hand of the Dread Wolf would be superfluous around his neck.
"Then it would seem I should certainly be able to enchant one for you." she said with an excited grin. "What will I need to get started?"
His heart leapt at her unreserved eagerness and the implication that she could truly care for him so deeply, and the smile on Vis' face grew a hundredfold as she felt the piece in her hand react to his elated state.
"If you are certain, Cirael", he began, "I should start by teaching you the incantation. It goes as such...". And he began to recite:
"Elgara vallas, vhenan. Melava somniar. Mala tara aravas, ara ma'desen melar.
Iras ma ghilas, vhenan, ara ma'nedan ashir? Dirthara lothlenan'as bal emma mala dir.
Tel'enfenim, vhenan, iassal ma ghilas. Ma garas mir renan ara ma'athlan vhenas."
When he had finished, he turned to see her mouth slightly agape with a look of disbelief upon her spirited face.
"That can't be right.", she proclaimed.
"I'm sorry?"
"That can't be the incantation." she repeated. "That's a common Dalish lullaby. My mother sang it to me every night as a child."
He was silent for a moment. How had this gone unnoticed? How had he not seen? Through all of his research he had somehow missed that the simplest and gentlest of Dalish culture held within it a power so immense it commanded the world of spirits pause to attend. The Dalish had unknowingly been nightly protecting their children from every malevolent spirit, and all under an enchantment by the Dread Wolf! They would be furious if they knew! He now realized what a blessing it had been for him not to mention the affiliation earlier. He would much rather the little ones be safe from harm than to share the truth and risk the incantation's banishment.
"Then it seems I have not been thorough in my research. I had assumed all aspects of the skill had been lost, but I appear to have been incorrect." He was not accustomed to being wrong, for how could those who lived such short lives compare in knowledge to his great many years of study and practice?
"That's okay," Visériel chimed, "What is life for if not to grow from our experiences? I'm rather glad I already know this song. It makes learning the rest of the spell all the easier." She never failed to impress him.
For the next hour he worked at teaching her the specifics of the ritual - how to properly draw an appropriate amount of blood from her inner elbow, how to hold onto her memories of him so strongly that her thoughts absorbed into the extracted blood, how to speak the words so as to be heard by a willing Spirit of Compassion dwelling beyond the veil.
When it came time for her to learn how to reach her spirit into the fade, they traveled higher in the Skyhold fortress to her bedroom so the veil was thin enough. And when she had rather easily become proficient at it, he withdrew another glass heart from his pocket.
"You carry a second bottle on you?" Vis asked jokingly.
"I am not unaware that it is quite possible for my possessions to find themselves broken or in the hands of another." he replied.
They sat together on the stone floor of her balcony, rays of glittering sunlight bouncing across their skin as though the spell had already begun.
"Are you certain you want to do this?", Solas asked. "It will cause you pain."
"If I can protect you from afar, pain is the least of my worries." she said, breathing in the peaceful chill of mountain air.
He was not certain this was the best idea. He didn't want to trick her. If the spell cast for him personally created no more protection than that which he already had, for it to inflict her pain of any sort seemed a horrible and pointless price for her to pay. He was well aware she preferred to use the safety of either physical or magical barriers in battle, and he was always sure to place one around her whenever he could. 'An ounce of prevention', she would say.
"Perhaps-" he began, but was abruptly cut off by a gentle finger placed upon his lips.
"I Want to do this." she declared.
As soon as she removed her hand, a rush of warmth spread through his being and calmed his nerves. She would be fine. And more than that, they would be connected. Heart to heart, no matter the distance. She wanted this.
Solas watched as Visériel tilted her head toward the sky and laid the inside of her bare arms out, settling them upon her crossed legs so he could begin the ritual. She looked so serene.
"Do you remember the steps?" he asked.
"I do."
"Would you like to begin now?" he asked.
"I would."
More careful than he had ever been, Solas began the ritual, his eyes never leaving her person. From the smooth skin of her palms, to the gentle lift of her eyelids. From the inner curve of her arm, to the tender pink of her lips. From the spot where he started, to the way her breath held for a moment when it began. From the letting, to her careful breathing. Until the moment he had finished and bandaged her wound.
"It is done." he informed her. "You may proceed to the next step."
Without opening her eyes, Visériel inhaled one long deep breath and began to sing.
In all his travels, through all the furthest reaches of his memory, he had never seen anyone or anything as beautiful as she appeared before him now. Every fiber of her being seemed to sing the words he had written, and every breath she took was a soft caress on the wind as though she herself were a part of it and amidst the wonderment he found himself in, he had almost failed to notice the presence of the spirit of compassion, floating gingerly on the wings of her song.
Silently, the wispy drapes that encircled the spirit dipped down to caress the inside of the heart-shaped bottle he held in his hand, now filled with her blood. He swallowed, regaining composure.
"Thank you", he wordlessly breathed to the spirit as it drifted away back into the fade.
The faint wind had subsided, and as the last of Cirael's long hair fell down upon her back, she opened her eyes and gazed at him in astonishment.
"That was incredible!", she remarked, letting out a sigh of relief. "I could feel the spirit ask for whom I drew protection and it was as though it already knew you! Could this be the same spirit who came when you performed the ritual?"
"It would be most unlikely.", he assured her. "Perhaps it is a spirit I met once on my journeys. It would likely remember me." That seemed an agreeable answer to her, and thus she was content.
They stood to reenter the room when suddenly he found her wrapped around his torso, arms pressed steadfastly upon his back. He caught the scent of jasmine as her garments swirled in the breeze. She was so beautiful.
And so they each wore around their necks, Vials of Compassion, enchantments that glowed beyond the heavens, singing to the spirits of heart and home, of vhenan and vhenas. And it was through these pendants that they would never be apart, not truly, for the beating of intertwined hearts carries with it the hope of tomorrow.
As Visériel stood in the moonlight in her room that night, focusing her gaze on the mirrored reflection of her new enchantment, she felt an aura of harmony. The quiet patter of Solas' heart lay beating in her hands.
~~~~~~~~~~
*Notes: The amulet and the origin of the lullaby being created by Fen’Harel are NOT canon and only of my own creation. However, the lullaby itself is from The World of Thedas Vol 2. Here the word “da’len” was replaced multiple times for “vhenan”. Translation of the original lullaby: “Sun sets, little one, Time to dream Your mind journeys, But I will hold you here. Where will you go, little one Lost to me in sleep? Seek truth in a forgotten land Deep with in your heart. Never fear, little one, Wherever you shall go. Follow my voice-- I will call you home. I will call you home.”
“The Sword of Elendil was forged anew by Elvish smiths, and on its blade was traced a device of seven stars set between the crescent Moon and rayed Sun, and about them was written many runes; for Aragorn son of Arathorn was going to war upon the marches of Mordor. Very bright was that sword when it was made whole again; the light of the sun shone redly in it, and the light of the moon shone cold, its edge was hard and keen. And Aragorn gave it a new name and called it Andúril, Flame of the West.”
Going to try to be more active on here again! Since finding out I'm elfkin I've been really wanting to get back into witchcraft (tbh I always lowkey wanna do witchcraft, now I just have a more solid excuse lol). Please recommend me any blogs/posts that could be elf witchcraft related!! I believe in my elf life I did magic with plants/herbs and sometimes crystals, and I'd LOVE to incorporate those into my spells more.
