This is a truly wonderful response to a challenging request. You really set the tone of those early, early days and created a fascinating world barely touched on in the texts. (In my own mind, I think of think is Bard's pre-historic elves story--please forgive my silliness--I should think of it as elves before they had a history.) I loved the use of such expressions as the "singing time" and "working time"--really evocative of a developing culture, well before the advent of the sun and the moon, starting well before that first trip to Aman. I also love the way you took two canon elves, who have a well-developed history much later in the tales, and gave them a youth and a backstory. Cirdan's research and Thingol's fascination with it is great: convincingly handled. The entire piece is thoughtful and creative, appropriately measured and languid in its pace. The puzzlement and fear of Orome is beautifully done and the "First Contact" as well. Great work.

I enjoyed this immensely!   Like The Making of the Werewolves, you tell the story in a captivating "faerie tale" style.  The courteous - almost formal - manner of speech between the protagonists dovetails nicely with this tone.  Their mutual attraction makes perfect sense - both are bold, inquisitive men.

I doubt that you'll be surprised to know that I am absolutely delighted by your portrayal of Nowë as a proto-Archimedes.  Your description of his keen observations and experimental approaches to shipcraft is great - poetic but the underpinnings of the scientific method nonetheless firmly in place.  I loved this:

Ever restless for new experience, Elwë and Nowê began to explore and map parts of the coastline. Their expeditions were always equal parts science and pleasure as they collected specimens, sketched, and delighted in the wind in their hair, the movement of the waves beneath the ship bearing them to previously unexplored areas of the bay.

All in all, a wonderful ancient tale.  Oh, and the eroticism was quite tasty, too!