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

[sirielle.livejournal.com]

"I would love to see the line after (Huan} please. That bit can also refer to what follows next."

There is no line after that, next is footnote 5 about Gwaihirand Landroval, exact quotation from RotK. This line about Huan was a footnote to the line I wrote in bold text - that they could be Manwe's emissaries. Footnote 4. So this should look this way:

Only the Valar and Maiar are intelligences that can assume forms of Arda at will. Huan and Sorontar could be Maiar - emissaries of Manwe.⁴ But unfortunately in The Lord of the Rings Gwaehir and Landroval are said to be descendants of Sorontar.[MR, p.410]

⁴See p. 138.
- At the bottom of the page bearing the brief text V (p. 389) my father jotted down the following, entirely unconnected with the matter of the text:

Living things in Aman. As the Valar would robe themselves like the Children, many of the Maiar robed themselves like ther lesser living things, as trees, flowers, beasts. (Huan.)

[MR, p.412]

I should check p. 138 then, either... End notes to The Annals of Aman:

My father scribbled a few hasty notes on the typescript, but those that arose from his later rejection of the essentials of the cosmogonic myth are not given here. The following may however be recorded:

$169 The words 'utterly forsake' were underlined, with a marginal note: 'They forbade return and made it impossible for Elves or Men to reach Aman - since that experiment had proved disastrous. But they would not give the Noldor aid in fighting Melkor. Manwe however sent Maia spirits in Eagle form to dwell near Thangorodrim and keep watch on all that Melkor did and assist the Noldor in extreme cases. Ulmo went to Beleriand and took a secret but active part in Elvish resistance.' On the Eagles as Maiar see pp. 409 - 11.

[MR p. 137-138]

And pages 409-411 are quoted above (though maybe not all). Now we've got a bigger picture , including the quotation about Huan having no soul in between on page 411 O_o. In fact to catch what's going on one would have to read it whole carefully - from the beginning to an end, for maybe note on page 411 is some older note than the note on 412.

I've found it in a discussion about Maiar at Elendili board, where after discussing various quotations and ideas people finally agreed that Huan and Eagles were Maiar. Also that it must have been late legendary idea, while in the earlier versions Gwaehir is Thorondor's descendant, so can't be Maia according to late thesis on Maiar being sterile. Late Maiar do not breed, apart Melian, but that's also early story. And in her case she wasn't mother in her main Maia body, but took elven form to marry Elwe, with it she must have lost some of her powers, but gained the ability to have a child. And her powers were weaker after giving a birth to a child (though still great enough to save Doriath from harm). So in the end he would have to give up the idea Gwaihir being Thorondor's descendant or that Maiar do not breed, he did none, unfortunately, his time on Arda ended :(