Queen of Spring by Deborah Judge  

Queen of Spring

In Lothorien Galadriel always baked Lembas. That was what queens do for their people, it has always been since Yavanna and Aulë gave their secret to the Three Elderwomen of the Eldar. It was the love between the Valar: Yavanna's corn baked in Aulë's ovens. When Eruhini ate of it they were nourished by the Valar's love. Galadriel had first learned of this love from her grandmother Finwë, first queen of the Noldor, who ground corn and distributed bread in the Great Square in Tirion, where thousands gathered to receive food from her outstretched hand. Determined to learn, Galadriel sat in front of Yavanna's trees grinding her grain until her hair absorbed the light of Laurelin. She knew through her foresight of distant lands where only one queen ruled and only one small part of this land was protected by her girdle. Though Galadriel was the youngest daughter of Queen Finwë's youngest daughter still one day she would go to this land to rule a kingdom and bake bread for it. In her kingdom, she knew, Yavanna's light would shine in dark places and her waybread would be given to all those who hunger.

Unlike Galadriel, her aunt Fingolfin was always meant to be a queen. She was Finwë second child but oldest daughter and her girlhood was spent baking with her mother, preparing for the time when she too would distribute bread in Tirion. Inexplicably, though, Finwë favored her impetuous son from her first husband over her two loyal daughters from her second. Even after Fëanor drew blade on Fingolfin she still was loyal to her son and followed him into exile. Bereft, Fingolfin took up the work of baking in her mother's place. Her Lembas was so like Finwë's that they called her Vinya Finwë, young Finwë. 

Galadriel grew up in Alqualondë where it was easy for her to ignore the politics between her aunt and her uncle until the terrible darkness after her grandmother's murder. Feanor came to the Great Square wearing Queen Finwë's crown, as if the Noldor had any need for a king. He took great pride in his Silmarils but he had never even attempted to bake bread.

It always infuriated Galadriel when people compared her to Feanor. Yes, they both were artisans in their different ways and both had drawn the light of the Trees into their work. But Galadriel had never rebelled against the Valar. Nor had they ever commanded her in any way. Rather the Valar inspired her. They had come into a world of suffering to bring nourishment to Eru's creations, and that was what Galadriel intended to do.

For Fingolfin it was more complicated. She agreed with her brother Feanor about one thing: her mother's death was the Valar's failure. The Valar had promised Queen Finwë safety and light in Valinor and instead had brought her to die alone in darkness. Though Fingolfin did not completely renounce the authority of the Valar she still insisted that would go to Middle-earth to seek the revenge for her mother that the Valar would not take. 

But, Fingolfin wondered, if she led what amounted to rebellion, would the Valar still help Fingolfin and her people? Those who make bread know that all living creatures need the help of the Valar to survive. Without the help of the Valar grain will not grow. In their exile the stars shone on them, the sign of Varda's mercy, and Yavanna's bread still nourished, so Galadriel and Fingolfin both knew they were not completely abandoned, but nothing could grow in the ice. Fingolfin was far too valiant to show hesitation or concern, she would endure to the end, but as the dayless time passed on the Ice she led with determination as much as hope, tirelessly working during the brief rest periods to grind and bake their dwindling supply of corn.

When they stepped off the barren ice the lands of Middle-earth stretched out before them, equally barren. No grains grew in this land where for so long there had been no queen to bake them.

Let there be a sign, Galadriel asked, if we are still loved, let there be a sign.

Signs from the Valar were rare in the three ages that Galadriel dwelled in Middle-earth. Sometimes all the Valar could  give was the nourishment that was still in the bread that came from the earth. Galadriel still hoped for signs, sometimes, as she did when they first came to this empty land where no queen ruled and no corn grew. And in that one moment a sign appeared. It was the last fruit of Telperion, what they later came to call the Moon. A great shout rose from the host and with renewed strength they stepped forward.  

Fingolfin unfurled her banners, blue and silver. They only had a little corn left but Fingolfin cast it to the ground. Then she stepped forward, first High Queen of the Noldor in Beleriand. Where she walked grain sprouted beneath her feet.