Character of the Month: Marach
There are few details in the texts about Marach, but he is noteworthy for his allegiances and his descendants, who would become pivotal to the history of Middle-earth and the eventual defeat of Morgoth and Sauron.

Tata is offered a solution to a grave problem, at a very low price...

Thus, he lingers in this doomed city for yet another year—until he wakes to alarm bells ringing wildly and to the stench of smoke rising from the reeds.
Celebrimbor, at the Havens of Sirion.

The Shadow was always meant to claim them both. Born the twin children of Celebrimbor and Sauron, Mirruin and Mírestel reflect on their doom before the end.
Written as a pair of sonnets in the Shakespearean style, and featuring artwork from 1rabong on Tumblr.

The Herald of Maedros Noldoran rides to Doriath, to demand answer for Dior’s illicit silence. There will be Recompense or Just War to follow, and not even Maglor can say which he hopes for in truth.

Melkor demands an account of Mairon’s failures.

A young Elrohir has disappeared, and Erestor throws himself into the search. Elrond's son must be found. For his family's sake of course, but the old Fëanorian has reasons of his own...
A prequel to Under Strange Stars as a gift for my excellent beta Grundy.
Many thanks to Grundy and Marchwriter for beta-reading.

Children who return from the Halls of Mandos without their parents need familes in Valinor to care for them. The task of finding these families falls to Olwë's son Elulindo, once a Mandos child himself, and his new husband Ingwion son of Ingwë. Ingwion's sister Indis, who learned many things from her years with the Noldor, is building skyscrapers and telescopes and waiting for news of her own children. All of them, parents and children alike, will play a role as Valinor prepares for war.

Fëanor arrives in the court of Mandos. Let he judges be judged.

Elwing is fleeing towards the Havens of Sirion when she spots a nightly visitor.

A new star shines in the sky. They claim it brings hope.

But how could they ever think to sleep on a night such as this? Their hours together are already so short, and in these days of encroaching darkness they only grow shorter. Tonight Fingon’s bed is warm, and Fingon is also, and Maedhros is loath to close his eyes even long enough to blink.
***
Maedhros, Fingon, and their final night together before the Nirnaeth Arnoediad.

On the night before the battle, Caranthir and his ally share thoughts about their peoples' traditions:
Burning bones ward off evil.

A March-Warden assists the last of the refugees from Doriath to the Falls of Sirion after the sons of Feanor assail Menegroth.

The Halls of Nienna are infinite, for so is grief. Within it lie the waters of the Ekkaia, the sea that surrounds the world, fed by Nienna's tears and the tears of her children. Finarfin is not like his brothers, not wise or brave or clever, but when he cried the Valar did not shut him out.

In the aftermath of the third kinslaying and the death of Amrod and Amras, Maglor needs to reassure himself that Maedhros is still there with him.

Maedhros is left behind by his family after the Kinslaying at Alqualondë after falling beneath the waves. Fingon, in a chance return to Alqualondë, finds an unconscious Maedhros and brings him to camp. The two will discover anew what their love means for them after the lies that split them apart.

Celebrimbor reunites with his family in the Halls of Mandos, hoping to reconcile with them.

The thing about forgiveness, he thought, was that it was so much easier when the object of it was far away—or dead. It was so much easier to let it all go when those responsible were far away and unable to do any more harm.

Lalwen comes to tell Elemmírë that the Noldor have resolved to leave Valinor. Elemmírë is devastated that she can't persuade her beloved to stay.

A woman of the Faithful is heartbroken to learn that her beloved Inzilbêth will be forced to marry the king Ar-Gimilzôr.

Fëanor shrugged, studying the contents of his wine glass. “Something must be done about that house. It will fall down eventually.”
“It does not follow that it must be you that tears it down single-handedly. Are you sure you do not want help?”
“It’s not as though I have much else to do. I need to build something new there,” he said after a few moments. “To do that, I must first clear away the old and broken things.”
Decades out of Mandos, too many things in Fëanor's life remain broken. He can't do anything except wait for his sons to come to him, but he can do something about the old and crumbling house where they once lived.

It was only the second time Finwë had come out foraging with them, and of course this would happen—of course the Hunter would come, the Dark Rider on his steed with its terrible, heavy footfalls, and the deep-throated laughter that held no mirth, only malice.
In the dark woods near the Waters of Awakening, Finwë's brothers are taken.
In Valinor, when the Trees wither, Finwë is slain.
In the Fourth Age, things take place long thought impossible.

Arafinwë attempts reconciliation.