The Memory of Gold by Flora-lass  

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Fanwork Notes

For the Swinging 40s challenge prompt:

  • It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eyes. 
    ~ Antoine de Saint-Expeury, The Little Prince

This was also very much inspired by a prompt by sallysavestheday:

'Gelmir, my guy! Let's get to know him. How do you come back from the way he ended? Bonus points for his resolution involving some kind of connection to Fingon and/or Maedhros.'

Fanwork Information

Summary:

Gelmir (the brother of Gwindor) arrives in Mandos, hurting and bewildered and still blind. But there is help and comfort to be found - and to give.

Major Characters: Gelmir (Nargothrond), Fingon, Finrod Felagund, Edrahil, Nienna

Major Relationships: Finrod & Gelmir, Fingon & Gelmir (Nargothrond)

Genre: Hurt/Comfort

Challenges: New Year's Resolution, Swinging 40s

Rating: Teens

Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings
Chapters: 2 Word Count: 3, 727
Posted on Updated on

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Table of Contents

The Memory of Gold

Warning for frequent references to Gelmir's canonical, horrific injuries; there's little here that's graphic (although there is mention of the smell of blood), but he's dealing with a lot. My version of Mandos is rather more physical than spiritual, as he starts to come to terms with what has happened to him.

Golden Light

A 100-word poem, also from Gelmir's POV, written for SWG's instadrabbling session in March 2026. Two of the prompt words I used were golden and light.

Comments on The Memory of Gold

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Gelmir cannot see and only remembers the pain and blood when he arrives in the Halls of Mandos. Beyond the healing offered by Nienna and the Maiar, he gets strength from the other fëar, Fingon and Edrahil, and especially Finrod. I think that being around Finrod for any length of time would be healing, and hopeful. 💛 

Gelmir deserves this. 💛 So nice for him & Fingon to find some strength and healing in each other’s company, and it is true that caring for someone else’s pain can sometimes lift you out of yours. Interesting to experience the Halls of Mandos like an army hospital! After a big battle it would feel that way. This is lovely — would love to read an epilogue where Gelmir and Gwindor reunite. 

Thank you so much for reading, and for your interesting comment. Yes, the idea of Mandos after a battle is grim. I've thought about trying to write Gwindor's arrival, but it would be so horribly sad - and poor Finrod would be trying to comfort everyone after the fall of Nargothrond while being devastated himself...but even then, there has to be some hope somewhere. I'll see what I can do!

I really love this--the awakening, the confusion, everyone's kindness and tenderness.  Watching Gelmir working through something genuinely difficult and painful, but with so much help and friendship along the way.  You do an amazing job of underlining the hope at the end--very Tolkienesque!

Oh my heart!! This is marvellous in the saddest way. I love that you gave Gelmir some love, and absolutely love how you did it. Your vision of Mandos here feels so much more real, like I can finally understand the how of being healed in Mandos. And oh! These Elves, these beautiful compassionate Elves caring for each other. Without the hassle and admin and demandsand distractions of physical life, all attention can finally go to the emotional one, even as their bodies gradually return (even if they're emotional bodies while in Mandos). I so enjoyed this! Thank you!

This is such a wonderful comment, and you've summed up so beautifully what I was trying to do. Thank you! Caring for each other is very much part of the healing process for them all (Finrod and Edrahil as much as Gelmir and Fingon), and it all ripples outwards - Finrod doing Fingon's hair then helps Gelmir. I know it's all rather sentimental, but I loved writing this - I'm so happy you enjoyed it. :)