Menelmacar (Extended Edition) by Fuin  

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Fanwork Notes

Some new additional art and snippets for my fic Fallen Star, for the „Starry Skies“ bingo board of the Stars Challenge!

Prompts used: 

Eärendil, Menelmacar, Eclipse, Alcarinquë, Laurelin, Telescope, Elemmírë, Satellite, Nénar, Nebula, Shooting Star, Carnil, Varda, Illuin, Milky Way, Telumendil, Tilion

(BINGO!)

Fanwork Information

Summary:

At the end of time, Beleg sets out on a search for Túrin once more. Menelmacar shines brightly in the sky.

Accompanied by additional snippets of the lore Beleg studied in the Library of Alqualondë.

Major Characters: Beleg, Túrin, Eärendil

Major Relationships: Beleg/Túrin

Artwork Type: Animation, Drawing/Painting, Illustration

Genre: Ficlet, Folktales/Myths/Legends

Challenges: Stars

Rating: General

Warnings:

Posted on Updated on

This fanwork is complete.

Menelmacar

Illustration for my fic Fallen Star 

Menelmacar

That he awaited the end of time was not a thing Beleg had ever spoken aloud, although he suspected that at least Mablung had guessed it. He still preferred the quiet of the forests to the rushed larger cities of Aman, just as he had preferred Dimbar and Neldoreth above Menegroth during his life in Beleriand. But deep within those cities, in Valimar and Tirion and Alqualondë and many others, the loremasters had created in their great libraries sanctuaries not only of knowledge, but of a deep silence which Beleg loved well. There, he had studied the lore and the legends about Dagor Dagorath, and he had read everything that there was to read about the Last Battle, be it scientific analyses or romantic poetry—and secretly, he had hoped.

Now though, the end of time has come and Menelmacar shines brightly upon his face, and yet no trace of Túrin Turambar can be found.

It should not come as a surprise that he hides his face from those who had loved him. Beleg wishes Túrin would have come back to him. But then again, he knew him well and has half-expected that Túrin would not believe himself to still be loved as he is, although the manner of this love has changed for some. To him it must seem that he brought only darkness into their lives, as the shadow of Tilion's vessel had sometimes darkened Arien's flame. Túrin had always been blind to his own light.

Beleg's love for him remains unchanged, and drawn to him as by the invisible pull of gravity, he sets out on a search for him once more. It is for the sake of Arda, he tells the others. It is for his own sake, too—but this thought he keeps to himself.

This time, he hopes, Túrin will follow his guidance on the road that leads up to the Last Battle.

Image
A dark-haired Elf looks at the starry night sky, in which the Milky Way and the constellation Menelmacar (Orion) can be seen. The very bright star at the top of the image is Eärendil.

Of the Swordsman and the Mariner

… a loremaster’s notes on the stars and Dagor Dagorath

The loremasters reckoned that Dagor Dagorath would come upon Arda in winter, when Menelmacar, the Swordsman, looms high in the sky, a prophecy of hope amidst ruin set into the stars.

But alas, he who brings hope to others may yet not feel it in his own heart. Thus some also said that Varda Elentári bade Telumendil, Lover of the Heavens walk by the Swordsman's side—a companion to guide him on the path of stars stretching from horizon to horizon.

Of Eärendil the Mariner the loremasters told that he would gather lights about him to shine alongside the Silmaril upon his brow like the links of a chain in the sky. As a gleaming front line they should stand against Melkor's darkness.

Five stars soaring side by side would be seen by mortal Men: Elemmírë to the left of Eärendil's Light, and to his right red Carnil and bright Alcarinquë and Lumbar adorned with rings. But by the Eldar and those scholars of Men who gaze at the night sky through great lenses revealing the secrets of the depths of Eä, seven stars are seen, for faint Luinil and Nénar up high in the heavens cannot be perceived by Men's eyes alone.

Eärendil and his star-guardians would then fight Melkor in the heavens, and they would cast him down to the ground. This would mark the beginning of Dagor Dagorath.

Then, on the plains of Valinor, Light will meet Darkness in the Last Battle, until Túrin Turambar with his reforged black blade shall slay Melkor. This will be the end of Dagor Dagorath.

Thereupon, the Silmarils shall be broken and the Light of the Trees renewed, and joy shall return to all hearts in the year-long celebration of victory.

The art is lovely and I enjoyed the extra insight into Fallen Star too. I so hope Beleg finds Turin and they have some time together before the end ... and after!