Comments on Built Far from the Sea-Board

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I’m married to an architect and so I enjoyed a bunch of this just from the parallels of how difficult permitting and approvals always are, even in a fantastical fictional world! But on a more serious note, this is such an intriguing entry point into that little interim time period between when Turgon’s plan was formed and when it was carried out. I’d never thought much about that before, but this is just the kind of practical situation that would arise — and be frustrating or inexplicable to those who weren’t privy to the idea— in that situation. And the ending is so bittersweet in the loss of their old home and its openness to the west and the wider world!

I was indeed also thinking of IRL planning permissions, although I believe they rarely involve interviews with kings! (You might also be amused by the drabble I wrote that one time in which Narvi and Celebrimbor had gone over budget.)

I think that all kinds of practical considerations would arise with that move to Gondolin! We see some of the issues the secrecy is causing in the narrative, but they would really start much earlier.

Halven (who is a Sinda) is perhaps thinking that, if she had chosen to move to Doriath instead, she would at least find it easier to to go home occasionally. But she let herself in for this when she married Aranwe and is not the kind to back out.

It's interesting, I think of Vinyamar as temporary but they were there long enough that there would be a sense of loss when leaving, especially when combined with sea-longing. It's nice to see that here, it makes Vinyamar feel more real.

Thank you very much!

Halven is a relative of Cirdan's and a Sinda, so for her the coast of Belegaer is just home. But she is committed to her marriage and to safety for her young son. (I was planning to link the other two fics in which she features, but I have not got around to it, yet.)

And I am sure that the Sindar of Nevrast who joined Turgon had no idea of that coastal settlement being temporary, to begin with. They may have been more concerned with safety from Morgoth than other Sindar who stuck to wandering. Nevertheless, I am not the only one who has wondered how those Sindar coped with what Gondolin turned out to be like.

But I think, even for the Noldor, Vinyamar was originally built with more permanence in mind, even though Turgon also seems to have chosen the location to stare longingly over the Sea towards Valinor. It seems unlike the settlements closer to Morgoth that started out more as military camps. Vinyamar was clearly built to last, even though it was abandoned so soon.

Poor Enerdhil, seemingly being rejected in such a way. It's difficult for Turgon too. I like how you used the prompt, and connected it to Penlod. Even though he got to build it inthe end, since he had such a specific location in mind originally, I wonder whether he changed his design at all to suit the new surrounds, or if he feels that it's not quite the same? (And as a seawaterbaby, I feel for Halven missing the sea.)

Thank you, Anerea! 💗

I think Enerdhil probably did adapt the design a bit, not just because of the new surroundings, but also to make it as suitable as possible for Penlod.

He is more enthusiastic about Gondolin than Halven ever was, really. So he would have seen that more as a welcome challenge. He may still have a twinge of regret about the earlier plan, too, nevertheless.