The Court of Ardor by AliceNWonder000137  

Melkor and Ungoliant ruin the Two Trees of Valinor and High King of the Noldor, Finwe, is slain and the Silmarils are stolen.  Elven followers of Melkor, who were seduced by his honeyed words, celebrate.  They prepare for his return in Angband, awaiting their great king who will save the world.  But one elf is struck with horror and seeks repentance from Mandos.  

Elves in the south of Middle Earth are surrounded by peace and tranquility, a paradise.  But war and conflict will eventually find them.

This story will have a number of POVs and look at the tale from both sides.  This chapter introduces us to the future Court of Ardor.  It begins in Angband but eventually moves south.

Melkor flees Aman with his stolen treasures, pursued by the great spider, Ungoliant.  What will he sacrifice to escape?

A look at Morgoth's POV.  I'm trying to stay true to the lore and write him as a powerful coward and a malignant narcissist.  It features his battle with Ungoliant.

A cousin of Finrod Felegund, Chrys Menelrana, builds resistance to Morgoth in the south, establishing a guild of like-minded elves.

Let's look at the group that will oppose the Court of Ardor, led by Chrys Menelrana.  The characters and setting come from the RPG module but I've taken liberty to bring their story to life.  Initially, I'll use the Quenya calendar for time.

The Astrologer, Ardana, leads the elven followers of Morgoth as they gather artifacts and power for their mission.

Introducing a main POV character for the Court.  I want to write a character that has depth of motivation and a rationale for what she does, even though it is evil.  Characters courtesy of the RPG module.

Chrys Menelrana comes to Beleriand to support his kinsman, Finrod, in battle.

The male Featur meets with a secret contact.  Some sensuality.

The plan to destroy the sun and moon progresses.  Warning for one scene between Ardana and Morgoth.

Chrys has a reunion with his kin in Beleriand.  We also see some flashbacks to their life in Valinor.

Ardana gives birth to the catalyst that will destroy the sun and moon.

I'm introducing another group that will feature in the story.  The characters and settings are provided by the RPG module.

Image of Ty-Ar-Rana courtesy of the Court of Ardor RPG

Morgoth moves to attack Hithlum with an army of orcs and trolls.  The Noldor move to stop him.

The battle from Morelen's POV.  I'll show both sides as the two are interconnected as siblings.

Back to Moran's POV as the battle begins.

Back to Morelen's POV.  

This chapter showcases the healer, Yavekamba and talks about Morgoth's descent into utter evil.

Let's look at Featur's preparations for the Court to move south.  We'll look more closely at The Three as well.

This is the official formation of the Court.  Ardana has a vision of Valinor and the Vanyar.  Warning for a scene between Ardana and Morgoth that showcases his evil.  

A look at Morelen becoming a rider of Fingon's Company.  

Things take a dark turn for Moran.  

We see the young dragon in action and how the Noldor fight it.

A really dark look into the growth of the cult and how it affects Moran.

Chrys tries to cement an alliance with the free peoples of the south but the Court has other plans.  The Guild encounters men for the first time.

The Citadel of Ardor nears completion.

Chrys and The Three forge an alliance to protect the south and to fight the forces of Morgoth.

Morelen and the riders take a break in Nargothrond.  This chapter showcases the hidden kingdom.

Yavekamba attempts to protect Moran from the horrors of the cult.  There is a song taken out of Tolkien's writing.  

King Finrod holds a council to determine how to fight Glaurung.  Morelen gives her testimony on the fight against the dragon.  The Sons of Feanor make an appearance.  Some foreshadowing of the fate of Nargothrond.

Gorthaur has arrested Yavekamba for treason and means for Moran to sacrifice her to the Dark Lord.  Moran goes to beg his mother to help.  Fractures appear in the Court.

Featur panics over what happened to Yavekamba.  The Three attempt to console him but he becomes desperate.

Morgoth plots to unleash hell on the north.  A short look at Morgoth's character and the narcissism that drives him.

Fingon's riders sally forth to Ard Galen after Thangorodrim erupts.  This chapter ties into another story, The Dark Mage of Rhudaur.

The climax of the Battle of Sudden Flame.  The riders meet their match and desperately try to stem the tide as High King Fingolfin duels the Dark Lord.

The ritual to destroy the sun and moon takes shape.  One mildly sensual scene.

Featur manages to secure a meeting with Yavekamba after many years.  Chrys and Lyrin accompany him and Lyrin gets a valuable life lesson amid the horrors of war.  

Well, if you know the Silmarillion, you knew this was coming.  We go back to the north to see Morelen and the riders prepare for the cataclysmic battle. 

The battle begins, but not as expected.  Fingon is hard pressed but Turgon moves to reinforce him as Maedhros tries to join them from the east.  

The battle reaches its horrific conclusion as the riders struggle merely to survive.  

As the ritual nears, Featur leads a small group to discover the secrets of the Citadel.  Disguised as his sister, he risks infiltrating the Court.  Warning for a scene of intimacy.

Introducing a new POV character, Rilia, the Sorceress and her hold of Naurlindol.  Rilia is not meant to be an evil character so much as a thoroughly amoral one.  Warning for some sensuality.

Image of Rilia courtesy of the Court of Ardor RPG

Rilia pushes for more intelligence on the Alliance and uses any means to get it.  More backstory on her character.  Warning for some sensuality.

The riders rebuild a life for themselves in the hidden kingdom of Nargothrond under King Orodreth.  But a man named Turin arrives and then a warning from Ulmo.

News comes from the south and the riders speak with King Orodreth about it.  The riders journey to the Isle of Balar and meet with Cirdan and young Gil-Galad where they are exposed to the culture of the Falathrim.  Language and music are the lifeblood of the elves.

Morelen, Notaldo and Lireno journey south to reunite with The Guild of Element and The Three and to discuss a new alliance with the north.  They see the wonders of the ocean but not all is quiet and peaceful.

The Bregolaph makes port and Featur brings them to Tumlinde to meet with Chrys Menelrana.  Gil-Galad and Cirdan hear the tales of the south of Middle Earth.

Lyaan, head of The Three, travels with the Alliance and the visitors from the north to show them the wonders of Ardor.  But all things must come to an end.  

I'm getting back to writing this story.  I want to look in on the inner workings and conflicts of Lyaan and The Three, who are part of the Luingon Alliance in the south.

The Telepta officers return from the south and settle back into Nargothrond, training, singing, dancing and loving.  But Morgoth's malice is ever present, and his armies press the Men of Brethil under Handir at the Crossings of Teiglin.

Warning: scenes of sensuality.  I want to show a juxtaposition between the peace and tranquility of the realm against the horrors of the Wars of Beleriand.

Turin leads the riders in skirmishes to trap one of Morgoth's armies on the Plains of Tumhalad but scouts find another army hidden in the Woods of Nuath along with Glaurung.  Turin launches the decisive battle of the Kingdom of Nargothrond.

Turin calls for the general attack of Nargothrond's armies against the smaller orc force to crush it quickly, but Glaurung leads a huge army from the Woods of Nuath to surround them.  King Orodreth and Gwindor lead the infantry while Captain Tintallo leads the cavalry.  Morelen confronts Glaurung again.  

*I did a fair amount of research on the Battle of Tumhalad of which there's not much, but I got some of the ideas from LOTR podcasters on the topic.  I wanted to paint a picture of the influence that Turin has over King Orodreth.  I'm also taking the path that Orodreth is Finrod's brother and that Gil-Galad is the son of Fingon.  Makes more sense to me.

Also, I originally was not going to do anything that included Gondolin, but I can't resist writing about that wonderful kingdom.

At the limit of their endurance and pain, the survivors of Nargothrond are delivered.  They vow to integrate into their new home, but will they ever feel safe again?

*I couldn't resist writing a segment on Gondolin so this is very non canon.  I did a lot of research on Gondolin, the city, the people and the houses, to try to bring them to life.  We also deal with some of the emotional fallout of the Battle of Tumhalad and the Sack of Nargothrond while keeping connected with the struggle in the south to save the sun and moon.

There are and will be a few Tolkien canon items about elves that I'm going to stray from.

This is a juxtaposition between the two Fëaturs, brother and sister, one cruel and savage and the other thoughtful and compassionate.  It also has the birth of a Fëatur’s sisterhood, devoted to espionage and assassination.

The wedding of Tuor and Idril.  We look at some of the Lords of the Houses of Gondolin and how the riders fit into the kingdom now.  

Then a glimpse of the south and how the Court of Ardor is preparing for the Ritual.