This is a blog - slash - archive of some old blogs - slash - place to throw stuff which makes me feel things. No idea how you got here, but you're welcome anyway.
The Passing of Arwen Watercolour on cold-pressed Waterford paper, 19×27 cm. “I shall not go with him now when he departs to the Havens; for mine is the choice of Lúthien, and as she so I have chosen, both the sweet and the bitter.” Prints here! Original available.
It hasn’t escaped my attention that for the past couple of days it’s been RIP notices all the way down. Man. News of Ian Holm’s death came today. It was only a couple of weeks since he popped up on the Lord of the Rings zoom reunion. RIP, Ian.
It is hard to believe that 20 years ago today, we got our first collective tease at what would become the greatest film trilogy of all time. (Yea…I said it.) Way back on March 31st, 2000 – New Line sent out an update for those folks subscribed to their newsletter…footage was going to be released…
Today is Tolkien Reading Day, and also the day (Middle Earth-wise) that the One Ring was destroyed. I’ve seen people sharing Tolkien quotes today so here, have one of my favourites. Obviously it’s pretty damn applicable these days.
FRODO: I wish the Ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened.
GANDALF: So do all who live to see such times… but that is not for them to decide. All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you.
So the question of time again: how long can a kingdom remain a kingdom if it is king-less? A long time.
Decades, centuries. Boundaries and demarcations of ownership may ebb and flow with the natural tides of victory and defeat, interest and disinterest, growth and regression, but the unified body of Kingdom remains.
Boromir one time said, So long as everyone agrees that it ought to. He had been fifteen and was promptly rebuked by Mithrandir.
And Mithrandir was right, the idea of a future hope keeps Gondor trudging onward in a bizarre fusion of movement and stasis. There is no time for this.
Boromir has met the heir of Isildur. What a thing. Marvels upon marvels. He wishes to vomit into a finely sculpted bush. He puts this down to the food not agreeing with him.
His father never spoke of the heirs of Isildur because there was no reason to speak of the heirs of Isildur. If they remained, they were no more and no less than the rest of us who are descended from the Dunedain therefore why should we give special credence to them? Special licence to those who shy away from duty and hide in the north.
This heir of Isildur, whom the Elves and Mithrandir put special import upon, has a sword. It is broken. It is to be reforged before they set out. Boromir doesn’t say, I have more swords broken in the line of duty than fingers on a hand.
What is a sword?
Faramir would put meaning to it but Boromir can’t haul himself over that ledge just yet. He thinks, Oh yes, fine, the man has a sword and the man is tall with a commanding air, when he decides to put one. I know men like him. Indeed, I can be such a man when I want to. But I don’t go around dredging up the past so sand roils in surf making everything unclear.
silhouette-cosplay: “Do not scorn pity that is the gift of a gentle heart, Eowyn! But I do not offer you my pity. For you are a lady high and valiant and have yourself won renown that shall not be forgotten; and you are a lady beautiful, I deem, beyond even the words of the Elven-tongue…
Finally ! This is my version of the fellowship of the ring ( and Arwen :B ), I’ve tried to not be influenced by the movie but as per the Tolkien’s story. Hope you like it :D