Nerdanel's Own Forge by Kaylee Arafinwiel

[kayleearafinwiel]

Title: Nerdanel's Own Forge

Author: Kaylee Arafinwiel

Summary: Nerdanel muses on her fellow smiths, and her lost older brother Varyano (OC)

A/N: Apologies to JRR Tolkien and Elizabeth Bishop! 

 

"The art of forging is extremely hard to master."

"The coals too red, the heat of Aulë’s fire intense!"

“A nis, to forge?” Disbelief – they say I court disaster.

 

I scoff. I’ll show them – mine atar’s heir, much faster

Am I than they to learn the craft of Aulë. A hammer

At the forge since I could toddle – hard to master? 

 

I would laugh, to bruise their fragile ner pride, fluster

Their jokes, their sneers. Had my brother lived, then I

Would ne’er need forge; he was lost to a disaster.

 

I beat out the copper steady-handed; I, near-master

Have been given the joy of my own forge. Hear, brother!

Varyano’s name is my prayer. Of our forge I am master.

 

I lose myself in the work, the song of the forge, and vaster

Than all of Aman, than Ekkaia, I feel we two together

Varyano, my forge-partner – until I court, a disaster

 

Even with your loss, brother unknown, I mourn a specter

I shan’t work alone. Send me a forge-partner you deem worthy!

The art of forging isn’t hard for Mahtan’s daughter to master.

The art of loving, of courting – truly that could bring disaster.

Comments

[hhimring]

That's very neat!
How did her brother die?

[kayleearafinwiel]

Thanks Himring!

He was captured by "the Dark Hunter" (Morgoth) long ago, along with his wife Elegil, one of the Nelyai. Their daughters, Caraphinnith and Barahel, were taken in by Arophen and Naruves, two of the Nelyai who became Sindar, when the girls ran to them for safety. Barahel, who adopted the name Baraves when she was older, is the wife of Galadhon and mother of Celeborn and Galithil, though she does not remember her birth parents and isn't counted among the Noldor.

Technically this means Barahel/Baraves and Galadriel share an uncle, but she doesn't realize this and is rather antagonistic toward her daughter-in-law who refuses to be a proper lady.

[kayleearafinwiel]

And actually, Emma realized we'd changed Varyano and Elegil's fates and she forgot to change it under Baraves' part in our character document, lol.

Varyano and Elegil died while pearl fishing in the bay of Cuivienen (Elegil was especially fond of pearl fishing and swimming) but a pile of rocks broke off, trapping and crushing her leg. She couldn't free herself, Varyano swam down to help but he wasn't as used to swimming, being one of the Tatyai, and he drowned alongside her.

[shirebound]

I like this!

[kayleearafinwiel]

Thank you so much Shirebound!