#indis x nerdanel

[ffigwit]

this sea is also a garden/a place to sow our death — read on ao3

In the wake of Finwe's death and the Oath Indis and Nerdanel find ways to reconcile their grief and anger.

There is nothing precious about this thing between them. It is comfort and prayer combined, the salt lick of a tongue over a wound. Regardless, the way they came about is better off left unsaid. Nerdanel seeks the brashness of the shore just before dawn. Every morning, before Valinor truly awakes and the silence is heard, she lays her hair in the sea and weeps for herself, for her sons, and for her husband who she named dead even before he fell to ash.  Indis finds her piety in Tirion’s great garden, with its lightless soil and the warmth of the earth. She does not cry, regardless of how much she wants to. She has been mourning for as long as she can remember; Indis who married into grief and bore more of it into the world–who poured it over her children’s heads like dripping starlight.  There is much of it in Valinor these days.

written for @tolkienwomensweek day 1: love/companionship (i'm late!!!! so sorry </3)

[saintstars]

Touch became a second language to them. Not more than any another close friendship might have even though both knew there were other things going on below the surface. They walked arm in arm around the garden. Sat leaning against each other on benches and sofas. When it had become late at night Indis would lead Nerdanel to the door like she had done that first time.

Have you read @oakenting’s gorgeous Nerdis fanfic yet?

[polutrope]

hmmmm indis/nerdanel or curufin/finrod?

Indis/Nerdanel

Not that a ship needs canonical support, but I like when it does, and a friendship is supported by this quote. Love them inventing divorce together (yes, Indis and Finwë seem to have been estranged when he died) and making tender love all day long, not sparing a single thought for their fail husbands.

I also love them seeing through the maelstrom of hate stirred up by the men around them. A lesser person could easily have been petty and resented Nerdanel for her connection to Fëanor (who lbr wanted to and successfully did make Indis' life hell), but Indis isn't and doesn't. Likewise, Nerdanel could have resented Indis for her role in the Tragedy of Fëanor, but she doesn't. It's peak women supporting women and that's beautiful.

Curufin/Finrod

Every ship that involves Finrod is hot, so there's that. And I can totally see Curufin wanting Finrod for a whole list of reasons, from genuine to downright sinister (not least that Finrod is gorgeous and Curufin is vain), but I struggle to come up with reasons for why Finrod would go for it. So it's a ship for which I need that "tell me why" supplement that fic offers.

[arofili]

@finweanladiesweek day seven | freeform | nerdanel x indis

But Nerdanel would not go with him [to Formenos], and she asked leave to abide with Indis, whom she had ever esteemed, though this had been little to the liking of Fëanor.

—The History of Middle-earth: Volume X: Morgoth’s Ring, “The Later Quenta Silmarillion”

[ffigwit]

indis/nerdanel WIP

coming....tomorrow...probably

 “Findis has asked for you,” Nerdanel turns her gaze towards the city which sits brighter than ever, ribbons of candle-light flow gently out of windowsills and shaking hands. She turns her gaze to where she knows Findis waits, impatiently.  “Why did she not come to me herself?” Indis asks. She has yet to face anything but the sea, which moves solemnly as the feet that passed it did.  There is a beat before Nerdanel answers. “She does not wish to leave the light, I suppose.”  Another silence follows that leaves more than dread in Nerdanel’s stomach. Indis was a figure she remembered with decorum, a strong quiet type. But this hush was different, it was loud and rumbling and sent waves of sorrow out into the world.  “Are you angry?” Indis whispers.  “Nay--” “Not with this. Not about this very moment–I speak about everything. Are you angry?”  Nerdanel does not know how to answer. No would be easy. What is there left to anger at, who can she scream and claw at, the air or the dark? Yes, it is just as easy. She is angry, Indis is angry, most of those in Valinor are angry, or sad, or scared. Frightened. But Nerdanel is more than angry, more than furious, there is so much rage within her she thinks she will die standing. When she carves now it is with hate, every piece she makes carries a semblance of this violence flowing with her. Am I angry, Indis? Nerdanel asks herself.  She does not say most of that. 

[ffigwit]

wip snippet

thank you for tagging @elvendreamsfics <3

writing has been slow because final papers are killing me but i am working on both a holiday samfro and a indis/nerdanel fic—slow coming but soon i hope!!! for now here’s the indis/nerdanel for i was just working on it

—

It feels nice, Indis thinks, to hold some power in her palm. It is not like a child’s head or a husband’s hand, it is not taking or wanting or asking for more than she can spare. It is simple power.

And it is hers.

Hers for the taking, hers for wanting, hers to enjoy and seek pleasure in. And even more so, it is Nerdanel who places it there.

Indis is not sure if Nerdanel’s crafting hand has carved its spot, or if she was born with it all along.

—

no pressure tags: @silme-lorien @xximmortalkissxx @balrogballs and of course anyone who wishes to join!

[sapphictolkien]

Mothers

On AO3

The music of each of her children had been different. Maitimo’s a gentle flame. Shy at first but growing ever steadier, brighter, its warmth spreading to her fingers and feet as if she had eaten a fruit of Laurelin.

—

After the exile of her children, Nerdanel heals and nurtures a love of a different kind.

Inspired by welcomingdisaster's beautiful art of Indis and Nerdanel

Rating: G

Relationship: Indis/Nerdanel