Ithilien - Tumblr Posts
References that are clearly explained like this one make me soo happy as a tolkien fan!
Gondor During The Hobbit
They didnโt know it, of course, but 2941 was sort of Gondorโs Last Summer, if youโll excuse the WWI reference. Because by the end of The Hobbit, the White Council has driven Sauron out of Dol Guldur, and right back to his old stronghold in Mordor, which basically started a period of ongoing warfare with Gondor that lasted the next 78 years.
So, what was happening in Gondor during these last few months of relative peace?
Denethor II, father of Boromir and Faramir, is 11 years old. His grandfather, Turgon, is steward of Gondor, and he is at this point in his life likely living in Minas Tirith with his parents and two older sisters. Denethor was said to be an exceptionally learned man, so itโs likely that even at age 11 heโs already quite dedicated to his studies.
Turgon, the Steward of Gondor, is nearing the end of his life at 94 years old. Heโs been ruling Gondor for 35 years now, and during his rule has had to deal with steadily worsening conditions in Ithilien (the region had been infested with orcs since the days of his fatherโs rule. Luckily, Turgon inherited the fortified and secret ranger camps that his father had had built. By 2941 these ranger forts were forty years old, so Iโd imagine the entire ranger system was pretty well established by now.ย
What with the orcs and all, Ithilien was only lightly populated by this point. And, in fact, when Sauron does arrive at the end of the year, the last of the people who lived in Ithilien fled the region. Many of the descendants of these people will make up the ranger force that Faramir commands during the War of the Ring.
Prince Angelimir, the grandfather of Imrahil and Finduilas, rules in Dol Amroth. Tolkien didnโt record anything of his rule, but itโs likely it was basically uneventful at that period, mainly just watching out for attacks from Umbar.
Morwen Steelsheen, Theodenโs mother, was 19 years old and living in Lossarnach. In two years she would marry her husband, Thengel son of the king of Rohan - itโs possible that theyโve already met.
Meanwhile, somewhere far to the north, a little hobbit is sorely missing his pantry back in Bag End, completely unaware of how his adventure is going to affect the rest of the world.
SOURCES: LOTR, LOTR Appendices, The Histories of Middle Earth vol. 12 (โThe Heirs of Elendilโ)
"Men against Men"
2022
He wondered what the man's name was and where he came from; and if he was really evil of heart, or what lies or threats had led him on the long march from his home; and if he would not really rather have stayed there in peace.
-"The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers", by J.R.R. Tolkien
A small scene from a small passage, but a very significant one in that it portrays Tolkien's antiwar thoughts. I amย glad that in the Extended Edition they give those lines over to Faramir, him being after all not a warrior by choice.ย
Happy New Year! Chapter 2 of A Starling in Rohan has been published!
"Look at how happy they are," Lothรญriel sighed happily, leaning her head on the arms she'd folded on the windowsill. So it was - as Aragorn sang, Arwen leaned her head on his shoulder. He put his other hand in hers and looked down at her, and he had no need of smiles or laughter; even from the distance, and past the crowd of people, his level of devotion was obvious. "You and Faramir are very lucky, to share a love as strong as our King and Queen."
"Someday you will have it also," รowyn hastened to assure her. "I do not even need to hope it for you, because it is a sure certainty."
Lothรญriel allowed herself for a brief moment to dream, then reminded herself of her principles by which she seriously doubted such a thing. She knew exactly what รowyn was feeling - such an unrelenting joy that she felt the need to share it with everyone in her path, that it overflowed from her in a river of need to give it back to the world. Her sister-in-law Meluieth had spoken similar words of assurance the night of her wedding to Elphir, Lothรญriel's eldest brother, some five years ago, and though Lothรญriel had seen only sixteen summers that time, no suitors had followed that had held her fancy for more than a few days.
Also available on Wattpad where my username is yavanna_kementari!