Writing the Elves

[remix17.livejournal.com]

I'm still pretty new to Tolkien, even though I've learned a lot about the mythos, but I am having trouble with a project I want to write--specifically, having trouble with some of the Elven details.

My story will take place on a timeline of about 20 years, and two of the main characters will be Elves. Can I create a special village or place for their Elven community, or did the Elves only dwell in listed ME places like Mirkwood and such, especially since they were fewer in number in Middle-Earth and many went to Valinor? Since the story will be set against the backdrop of the second big war against Morgoth, is there a specific way I must potray this community's involvement in that? My idea is for the community to be beseiged by the enemy's forces at present.

Any help would be appreciated.
 

Comments

First Age elves, Part Two

[allie-meril.livejournal.com]

Dear God, I exceeded the max word count for a comment! Never done that before. LJ can't handle verbose Tolkienites. ;)

And after all my very long-winded explanation, let me add this: for me, personally, there's a lot more leeway in the Silm because it can be seen as an essentially Noldorin history book. "History is written by the victors" and all, and the Noldor were great lorekeepers; even though so many of them were decimated/returned West, the ones that remained wrote the Quenta Silmarillion. There's no real focus on the Sindar, on the elves that remained in MIddle-earth: the Silm is a history of the rebellion of the Noldor and the tragic effects that had on Beleriand. They could be completely ignoring the existence of your elven community because they didn't think it was important enough to include in their grand history of tragedy and drama.

So to sum up... Does that help? ;)