snowflake 2016: day 7

[keiliss]

Day 7 - In your own space, share a favorite piece of original canon (a TV episode, a song, a favorite interview, a book, a scene from a movie, etc) and explain why you love it so much

So many – there are books I’ve read way more than anything by Tolkien, a tv series I loved, but I’ve been running with Tolkien, the only fandom I currently create in, and of all the many possibilities I’ve picked the piece below the cut, something I've read over and over for its power and imagery, especially the final paragraph. If possible, try and read it aloud. Some passages just work best that way.

~~~o~~~
Then Manwë upon the Mountain called upon Ilúvatar, and for that time the Valar laid down their government of Arda. But Ilúvatar showed forth his power, and he changed the fashion of the world; and a great chasm opened in the sea between Númenor and the Deathless Lands, and the waters flowed down into it, and the noise and smoke of the cataracts went up to heaven, and the world was shaken. And all the fleets of the Númenóreans were drawn down into the abyss, and they were drowned and swallowed up for ever. But Ar-Pharazôn the King and the mortal warriors that had set foot upon the land of Aman were buried under falling hills: there it is said that they lie imprisoned in the Caves of the Forgotten, until the Last Battle and the Day of Doom.

But the land of Aman and Eressëa of the Eldar were taken away and removed beyond the reach of Men for ever. And Andor, the Land of Gift, Númenor of the Kings, Elenna of the Star of Eärendil, was utterly destroyed. For it was nigh to the east of the great rift, and its foundations were overturned, and it fell and went down into darkness, and is no more. And there is not now upon Earth any place abiding where the memory of a time without evil is preserved. For Ilúvatar cast back the Great Seas west of Middle-earth, and the Empty Lands east of it, and new lands and new seas were made; and the world was diminished, for Valinor and Eressëa were taken from it into the realm of hidden things.

In an hour unlocked for by Men this doom befell, on the nine and thirtieth day since the passing of the fleets. Then suddenly fire burst from the Meneltarma, and there came a mighty wind and a tumult of the earth, and the sky reeled, and the hills slid, and Númenor went down into the sea, with all its children and its wives and its maidens and its ladies proud; and all its gardens and its balls and its towers, its tombs and its riches, and its jewels and its webs and its things painted and carven, and its lore: they vanished for ever. And last of all the mounting wave, green and cold and plumed with foam, climbing over the land, took to its bosom Tar-Míriel the Queen, fairer than silver or ivory or pearls. Too late she strove to ascend the steep ways of the Meneltarma to the holy place; for the waters overtook her, and her cry was lost in the roaring of the wind.

Comments

[lexigent.livejournal.com]

<3

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

Yes :)

[heartofoshun.livejournal.com]

That always leaves me shocked, speechless, and puzzled. Why not just take out Sauron? Very powerful stuff though! Wow!

Then suddenly fire burst from the Meneltarma, and there came a mighty wind and a tumult of the earth, and the sky reeled, and the hills slid, and Númenor went down into the sea, with all its children and its wives and its maidens and its ladies proud; and all its gardens and its balls and its towers, its tombs and its riches, and its jewels and its webs and its things painted and carven, and its lore: they vanished for ever.

Talk about a vengeful god!

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

It is very Old Testament in feel, isn't it? But amazing when you read it aloud and the words just roll out. And the final bit, with the cold green wave swallowing her - stark!

They could not take out Sauron. They needed other (lesser) beings to do their dirty work for them. It's the same as capturing Morgoth and drowning Beleriand in the process, and killing every living being who hadn't got out to sea or very, very far east. Exceptionally flawed gods.

[red-lasbelin.livejournal.com]

He did have a way with words. Some of his word usage is very King James, almost.

This passage did remind me how much I love The Night the Sea Came In. You captured a similar feel and imagery but made it your own as well.

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

I love that fic, even if it's not the most popular thing I ever wrote. Never thought of it but it's the same kind of ultimate destruction, isn't it? (Still needs a sequel)