arofili: elves of arda ◆ misc. noldor ◆ headcanon disclaimer Imlad
arofili: elves of arda ◆ misc. noldor ◆ headcanon disclaimer Imladris, known in the common tongue as Rivendell, was for those traveling out of Eriador the Last Homely House east of the Sea. It was a home for any in need of refuge, a land of calm and harmony, and yet this valley was not always a haven of peace as it later became. Imladris was founded in the middle of the Second Age during the War of the Elves and Sauron, when Elrond Peredhel led an army out of Lindon to the aid of besieged Eregion. He was joined by warriors of the Galadhrim with Celeborn at their head, but before either force could reach Ost-in-Edhil they were assailed by Sauron’s hordes and driven northward to the headwaters of the river Bruinen. Here Elrond established a stronghold, refusing to give any further ground to the Enemy. The valley was fortified and guarded, and while it, too, was now under siege, many refugees of the war fled northward to the protection of Elrond and Celeborn’s armies. Among those who fled the downfall of Eregion was the renowned loremaster Pengolodh, whose records of the Elder Days was the most complete history of Beleriand. He was a survivor of the Fall of Gondolin and had rescued a few ancient writings from its destruction, and at the Havens of Sirion he collected the stories of his fellow refugees. In the Second Age, Pengolodh compiled his histories into the Annals of Beleriand (continued from Rúmil’s Annals of Aman), and further philosophized on elvish languages, gestures, number systems, and customs with his writings Dangweth Pengolodh and Eldarinwë Leperi arë Notessi and his revised version of Rúmil’s Lhammas. His work Ósanwë-kenta, while it only survives in summarized forms, was at the time of its writing the most detailed exploration of mind-speech, and his discussion of Quendi and Eldar was, while controversial, one of the most well-written documents discussing the Sundering of the Elves. His scholarly eminence as the leader of the Lambengolmor in Middle-earth was so great that he was even welcomed into Khazad-dûm, and he may even have been permitted to learn the highly secretive dwarvish language of Khuzdul. Pengolodh rescued as much of his works as he could when he fled Eregion, but inevitably much of his writing was lost. He was deeply wearied by the destruction of yet another home, and upon his arrival in Elrond’s valley he was brought near to fading, but by Elrond’s skill in the healing arts he was saved. Still, he longed now as he never had before to sail to Valinor, and in his moments away from war duties Elrond aided him to set his works in order so there would be no lingering regrets about unfinished business when he departed. When the war came to a close, he bid Elrond farewell, then set sail to Tol Eressëa, where he dwells even now. With Sauron driven from the land, Elrond found he did not want to leave this refuge he had built. Taking counsel with High King Gil-galad, he named his haven Imladris and officially became the King’s vice-regent and lord of the valley. Celeborn remained with him for a time, building the fortress into a place that could be called a home, until his wife Galadriel and their daughter Celebrían crossed the Hithaeglir seeking him. For some years they dwelt in Imladris together, and it was then that Elrond first saw Celebrían, and loved her, though he said nothing of it even as she departed with her parents for Lothlórien. Taking Celeborn’s place as Elrond’s right hand was Glorfindel, a mighty captain whose loyalty had once been pledged to Elrond’s ancestor Turgon of Gondolin. Glorfindel had fallen battling a Balrog in the First Age, and his sudden reappearance in Middle-earth shortly after Annatar had been revealed as Sauron had created much suspicion from his long-sundered kindred. But Círdan the Shipwright remembered him and vouched for his identity, and eventually his tale of reembodiment in Aman came to be believed. He had been sent by the Valar on a mission to aid the elves of Middle-earth in the renewed fight against Sauron, he claimed, and with him traveled two Maiar of Oromë and an Avarin elf who, like him, now returned to the aid of her kin. With Glorfindel as his captain, Elrond built Imladris into a beautiful city, small compared to other elven settlements but guarded with love and care. He dwelt in Imladris for the remainder of the Second Age, leaving only once, when Sauron’s treachery led to the sinking of his his brother’s island-kingdom of Númenor into the Sea. Elrond desperately searched for any survivors of the Akallabêth, and was glad to meet the Faithful who had escaped the destruction of their homeland, welcoming them to Middle-earth with mixed sorrow and joy. He proved a faithful ally as their leader, Elendil the Tall, established a new kingdom in Eriador: Arnor, the Realm of Kings. Though now diminished and robbed of his fair form, Sauron was not defeated, and soon he attacked the Free-peoples of Middle-earth once more. A Last Alliance of Elves and Men arose to resist him, the mortals led by Elendil and his sons Isildur and Anárion and the Noldor by Gil-galad; joining them were Oropher and Amdír for the Sindar and the son of Durin V for the dwarves. Before the Alliance marched to meet Sauron’s forces in battle, Elrond delivered Isildur’s youngest son Valandil, who remained in Imladris while his father went to war. A long and brutal struggle led to the loss of nearly every leader of the Alliance, but in the end Sauron was thrown down and victory was won. Elrond returned to Imladris in grief, mourning the death of Gil-galad, his dear friend and king. Before his final, fatal assault on Sauron, Gil-galad had passed to him Vilya, the Ring of Air, and with this magical asset Elrond strengthened the protections around his city, refusing to take up the title of High King and remaining only the Lord of Imladris. Isildur had survived the War, but perished soon afterward, leaving his young son fatherless. Elrond helped to raise Valandil and prepared him to assume the Kingship of Arnor, renewing the alliance between Imladris and the North-kingdom of the Dúnedain. Only now did Elrond turn to thoughts of starting a family of his own, and he began once more to pine after fair Celebrían. He sought permission to court her, and after a century-long betrothal they were wed in the dawn of the Third Age. Their love was great and glad, and soon Celebrían bore Elrond twin sons, Elladan and Elrohir, who grew into skilled hunters and warriors. A daughter also was granted to them: Arwen Undómiel, the Evenstar of her people, for Elrond was granted foresight of the waning of the Eldar and knew that his daughter would be the last great star among them. But in her youth Arwen was a joyful child, knowing a peace Elrond had not been granted in his own childhood, and he was glad to encourage her pursuits in smithing and weaving. But peace would not last forever, and eventually a new darkness arose in the North: the Witch-king of Angmar, a fearsome necromancer, who devoted his kingdom’s strength to the destruction of Arnor. Elves he hated also, and during the reign of Arveleg I of Arnor, the Witch-king besieged Imladris. But he underestimated the might of Elrond and his Captain Glorfindel, and when the siege was broken the elves came to the aid of their mortal allies and subdued him. Yet Angmar was not defeated for long, and eventually succeeded in destroying the remnants of the North-kingdom, forcing its kings into exile. Elrond received many heirlooms of Arnor and guarded them in Imladris, and took the humbled Chieftains of the Dúnedain under his protection, fostering their heirs and lending them aid whenever he could. In vengeance for Arnor’s fall, Glorfindel allied with Prince Eärnur of the South-kingdom to defeat Angmar once and for all. In the Battle of Fornost, the Witch-king was driven from his keep and fled to his master Sauron in Mordor; Eärnur purposed to chase him down, but Glorfindel was struck then with foresight, restraining him with a cryptic prophecy: ‘He will not return to this land. Far off yet is his doom, and not by the hand of man will he fall.’ Though his words were held in awe by many, Elrond’s friend and chief counsellor Erestor often teased him for the vagueness of his premonition, and though at first this rankled Glorfindel the two soon became fast friends and dear companions. Some centuries prior, the had Istari arrived from Valinor, joining their kindred the Blue Wizards who had traveled with Glorfindel an Age earlier. Radagast settled in the Greenwood to keep watch on Sauron’s stronghold of Dol Guldur, but Saruman and Mithrandir remained among the Eldar for a time, taking counsel with the Wise among them. It was with the aid of the Istari that Sauron was driven out of Dol Guldur and the Watchful Peace began, and in the wake of this victory the White Council was formed with Saruman at its head. When this Council convened, they usually met in Imladris, where Elrond played host to the greatest minds that remained in Middle-earth. Yet even amid the Watchful Peace, evil lurked in the shadows, waiting for a chance to strike. A band of orcs in the Misty Mountains seized their opportunity when Lady Celebrían traveled through the Redhorn Pass to visit her parents in Lothlórien; she was captured and tormented, receiving a poisoned wound and great damage to her spirit. Though her sons Elladan and Elrohir rescued her and slew the orcs, Celebrían was deeply injured, and despite Elrond’s gift for healing he could not soothe her mind and soul. Her physical wounds were healed, but after a year of suffering in the lands that brought such darkness upon her, Celebrían departed for Valinor where she and her family hoped healing could be found. Just before her departure, she was visited by foresight and was moved to give her daughter Arwen the Elessar, an enchanted green stone worn by many powerful elves of the Elder Days, and gifted to her by her mother upon her wedding day. Arwen mourned Celebrían’s departure bitterly, for no stone could make up for the loss of her mother, and deep in their hearts they both knew they would never meet again, for like her father Arwen had been granted the Choice of the Peredhil and felt that she was only waiting for the right moment to declare her mortality. Yet she and Celebrían did not speak of Arwen’s fate, clinging to a sliver of hope that someday they would reunite; but in later years Arwen regretted this, and returned the Elessar to her grandmother Galadriel for it only reminded her of this deep and irreversible loss. But despite Celebrían’s departure, Imladris was not forever plunged into mourning. A century after its Lady sailed, the valley became home to a talented young minstrel known as Lindir. He had dwelt with his parents in the Greenwood amid his youth, but when they chose to sail for Valinor themselves he found he was not yet ready to leave Middle-earth. Thus he came to Imladris seeking to train under its mysterious, anonymous bard, and from this master singer Lindir’s talent soared to new heights until he became the official minstrel of the valley, allowing his tutor to retreat further into comfortable retirement. Lindir’s songs were merry and bright, lightening the spirits of everyone around him, and though his ditties were often spontaneous and nonsensical they carried a joyful magic within. As the Third Age continued, the Shadow began to lengthen again over Middle-earth. When Chieftain Arathorn II was slain by orcs while his son was only two years old, Elrond foresaw that this child would be the Dúnedain’s last hope at restoring their ancient glory, and determined to protect him, he and the boy’s mother Gilraen resolved to hide his true identity from him until he was old enough to understand the burden placed upon him. Thus little Estel grew up ignorant of his status, raised by Elrond and Gilraen and calling Elladan and Elrohir his elder brothers. Estel was ten years old when Imladris was visited by a company of thirteen dwarves and one hobbit, guided of course by the wizard Mithrandir, and he delighted in these strange new visitors, who were amused in turn by his childish antics during their stay amid the valley. This same year, the White Council ruled that the darkness festering in Dol Guldur once more could no longer be ignored, and Elrond accompanied the others of his order to banish the Necromancer once and for all. But in truth this sorcerer was none other than Sauron himself, and though he fled the forest it was only to return to Mordor and begin preparations for the next great war. When Estel came of age, Elrond at last revealed to him that he was none other than Aragorn II, son of Arathorn II and the heir of his ancestors Isildur and Elendil. Stunned by this revelation, Aragorn took the woods in contemplation, whereupon he saw for the first time Arwen Undómiel as she returned from a century-long visit to her grandparents in Lothlórien. He was immediately smitten by her, and was not dissuaded by Elrond’s demand that he take his rightful place as the King of both Gondor and Arnor before he would be permitted to wed his daughter, determining to fulfill his destiny and heading out into the wilds to prove himself. He adventured for many years before he met Arwen again, and this time she fell for him as well, and they plighted their troth in Lothlórien with hope in their hearts. By this time, the hobbit Bilbo Baggins, the one-time companion of Thorin Oakenshield’s dwarven company, had come to reside in Imladris in his retirement. He was eccentric by hobbitish standards, but a clever scholar by elvish ones, and soon befriended both Lindir and Erestor, who aided him in translating much of Pengolodh’s works from Sindarin to the common tongue. Aragorn was delighted to meet Mr. Baggins again, and they renewed their friendship of his childhood, writing many songs together. As part of his duty as a Ranger of the Dúnedain, Aragorn would sometimes patrol the borders of the Shire. When Elrond received word from Mithrandir that the One Ring had been discovered and was in the possession of Bilbo’s nephew and heir, Frodo Baggins, Aragorn made haste to escort him and his companions to Imladris. Yet this task was not accomplished quickly, and soon Elrond began to fear that something evil had befallen his foster son and the Ringbearer, so he sent out several riders to look for them and lend them aid. Among these riders were his sons and Glorfindel, and it was the latter who discovered Frodo and his friends. The poor hobbit had been stabbed with a Morgul blade, and was fading quickly, so Glorfindel set him on his horse Asfaloth and sent him to Imladris while he faced down the attacking Nazgûl. Here he revealed his full power as an agent of the Valar, terrifying the Black Riders and driving them into the waters of Bruinen, which were now raised by the power of Elrond and Mithrandir to consume them in a mighty flood. Elrond healed Frodo, and when he was well enough to tell his story, he called a council of the Free-peoples. Dark tidings came from all over Middle-earth, and many kingdoms had already sent messengers to Elrond seeking for aid. Among those present at this Council of Elrond were Mithrandir, who bore a tale of the treachery of Saruman; Bilbo and Frodo, who told of the One Ring’s discovery and keeping; Glorfindel and Erestor, Elrond’s closest counsellors; Glóin and his son Gimli from Erebor, bearing news of a Nazgûl’s treacherous demands from King Dáin II; Galdor of the Havens, who had been visiting on behalf of his lord Círdan; Legolas of the Woodland Realm, serving as his father’s messenger of the grim news that the creature Gollum had escaped their prisons; Aragorn, bearing the shards of Narsil and ready to proclaim his destiny; and Boromir, son of Steward Denethor II of Gondor, with a cryptic dream-riddle in need of deciphering. At length, the Council decided that the Ring must be destroyed, and that Frodo Baggins must bear it to the fires of Orodruin where it had been forged. But he would not go alone: eight companions would accompany him, Nine Walkers to oppose the Nine Riders of the Enemy. Frodo’s dear friend Samwise Gamgee refused to part from him, and Mithrandir was needed as his guide; Aragorn and Boromir volunteered to represent the Dúnedain, and Legolas and Gimli for the elves and dwarves. For the two remaining Walkers, Elrond considered one or both of his twin sons, or Glorfindel, who had slain a Balrog, but Mithrandir insisted that Frodo’s cousins Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took instead take the perilous journey, for he believed friendship more than strength would be the Fellowship’s saving grace in the end. Instead, Elladan and Elrohir were sent out to prepare the way for the Fellowship’s journey, scouting out a path and clearing out as many orcs as they could. In this time Arwen took up her smith’s hammer and reforged the shards of Narsil into a new blade: Andúril, the Flame of the West. Aragorn took this gift gladly, despite the heavy burden of its legacy and his position as the Heir of Isildur, and spent one last night with his beloved before the Fellowship departed Imladris at last. Elrond’s sons would eventually reunite with Aragorn, riding with the Grey Company led by the Dúnadan Halbarad to join him in his trek through the Paths of the Dead. They delivered to him also another gift from Arwen their sister, a banner with the emblem of Aragorn’s house upon it, which he would unfurl at the gates of Minas Tirith when he claimed his rightful place as King of Gondor. Elrohir passed on his father’s advice to attack Mordor as a diversion to allow Frodo more time to complete his quest, and thus he and his twin were with the Armies of the West as they marched on the Morannon. Miraculously, they achieved victory when the One Ring was at last destroyed, and returned to Minas Tirith for Aragorn’s coronation. Now that he had fulfilled the task set to him by Elrond, Aragorn and Arwen could be wed. Elrond escorted his daughter to her betrothed, Erestor and Glorfindel as part of her retinue and Lindir performing at the wedding. On this blessed occasion, Glorfindel met those who had fulfilled his prophecy concerning the Witch-king: Éowyn Shieldmaiden, a woman, and he was reacquainted with the hobbit Merry, congratulating them both on their achievement. But despite the gladness of Arwen’s marriage, Elrond was full of sorrow, for Arwen had at last made her Choice to become mortal, following in the footsteps of Lúthien her ancestress and Elros her uncle, and he would never see her again. Now knowing his time in Middle-earth was at a close, Elrond set sail for Valinor with many noble companions, including Frodo, Bilbo, Galadriel, and Erestor. Celebrían awaited him in Aman, and their reunion was joyous, for she had indeed found the healing she sought and was eager to introduce him to many kinsfolk. The tidings of Arwen’s Choice brought much grief to Celebrían, though it was no surprise, and they clung to the hope that her brothers would someday sail and join them in Valinor. Indeed, after Arwen’s death, Elladan and Elrohir felt the call of the Sea and each Chose to be counted as elves like their father, and accompanied by Glorfindel they sailed to Aman to reunite with their parents. Glorfindel, too, had many waiting for him on the white shores of Alqualondë, not least his dear friend Erestor and his once-beloved Ecthelion, to whom he now at long, long last could wed. -- source link