A Singular Honour

Firstly thank you to those who so kindly reviewed. Many apologies for the incorrect label, this is a work in progress and I will publish more over the next couple of weeks until we are up to the point the story is at on fanfiction.net.

I feel constrained at this point to explain why I have deviated slightly from canon in some places for the sake of those who may read and wonder why I have put certain people where they are.

Glorfindel - Theoretically this character shouldn’t really appear in Middle-earth until quite a few years into the 2nd Age. There is no indication that he actually took part in the War of Wrath because he was still in the Halls of Waiting having died in the fall of Gondolin in Year 510 of the 1st Age. I have therefore taken a little liberty for which I crave the indulgence of Lords Manwe Sulimo and Namo by sending him back to ME a little earlier. This is because he is such a wonderful and mysterious character he brings richness to the world and for no other reason.

Galadriel & Celeborn - Again, their history is rather vague and Tolkien seems to change his mind a lot about where they were at any given time. Once again I have taken a little liberty and decided to put them in the region of the mouth of the River Sirion along with Cirdan and Ereinion Gil-galad at the time the War of Wrath begins and the landing of the Host of the Valar. They subsequently get involved in the events of the book to some degree.

Using Galadriel’s ability to far-speak during this time, which is only mentioned in the Lord of the Rings trilogy as far as I am aware and is most probably a result of using a Ring of Power, is a creative licence I have awarded her for having Melian the Maia as her mentor during her stay with Thingol and Melian. It is stated that Melian taught her some of her own powerful sorceries, the most notable of which being the girdle of protection or sorcerous web she spun around Doriath. I believe Galadriel may have utilised something similar for Lothlorien. For the purpose of this story I have decided that far-speaking is one of these sorceries which she was subsequently taught by Melian.

The War of Wrath – Again all timings for these events seem to be +- whatever years. The only thing that is clear is that it happened during the short 1st Age and ended that Age. For the purpose of my story the war begins in Year 547 of the 1st Age and ends in Year 597 when Eonwe sails back to Valinor with the host and Elros leaves with those of the Edain who follow him. The war was approximately 50 years long and I have chosen to set my tale in Year 553, eight years after Host of the Valar landed.

Gil-galad/Cirdan, involvement in the war – Nothing Tolkien writes states that the ME Elves acted in any capacity in the war. As has been pointed out to me, they were probably heartsick and war-weary, their resources were depleted and their backs to the wall with the enemy baying at their very gates. They were also still operating under the Doom of Mandos and would perhaps have received short shrift from Eonwe had they offered to help. This was why Earendil made the trip to Valinor in the first place, to plead for succour and for both Elves and Men and mercy for the Noldor despite Namo saying that they would find none. However, I have a sneaking suspicion that despite being tired, Elves like Gil-galad, Cirdan, Celeborn and the like would not wish to just sit by and not do something. I have chosen to let Gil-galad and Co, put together the remnants of their own forces and make an attempt to join the host and fight for what was, in reality, their homeland. Something I believe they would have felt very strongly about.

One of Tolkien’s works says that none of the elves of ME knew that the War had taken place and they only found out about events from kinsfolk who had been in the battles once they had eventually sailed West much later on. I find this particular statement to be a rather unrealistic one from Tolkien (I will say five Hail Mary’s later on for insulting the good Professor!) especially since he also states that Eonwe’s trumpets and calls to arms sounded over the countryside and that the sound of his armies made the mountains of Beleriand rumble. To me that says that unless Gil-galad and the other elves had developed the sudden onset of extreme deafness, they would have known about the Host and certainly would have received news that Eonwe had sent out a call for arms. Tolkien was quite happy to have men join the host, but the Elves remaining in ME were possibly banned from taking an active role. Tired or not I cannot see them taking that lying down. I choose for the purpose of this story to believe that they not only knew about the war, but also chose to try and take an active part. Another creative licence for which I hope I am forgiven!

That all having been said, I will now stop blathering on and get on with the tale!