Being unsure where to start my publications, I thought a preface was best to let readers know where my works will take them. Being an avid Tolkien fan, all my fan fiction is derived from the immersion my imagination has with the worlds Tolkien has created. I write fiction in this world to try and cure the hollow feeling I have when I realise this brilliant mind is no longer here to expand his works, and so my poor imitation is all I have left. Of particular interest is Tolkien's early works surrounding the first age as told in the Silmarillion. I've never been a talented writer but love creating ancient tales and more than anything, expanding a world to make it so immersive and detailed readers can hardly comprehend it's not real history. I am somewhat of a perfectionists and half my study is researching to make sure a name fits, or that the date could make sense with the ages of characters, location etc. If you pick up faults in my timeline or inaccuracies with names please let me know. In this sense my writings may not be for all, but if the similar style of story telling to the Silmarillion appeals to you, you may enjoy my work.
This is where my canon starts, with the few scraps Tolkien left us concerning the fourth age. I built the world around the few vague details Tolkien noted of the fourth age-
The 120 year rule of Aragorn and Arwen, and the birth of Eldarion, at last reuniting the house of Earandil.
The existence of Barahir, son of Elboron, son of Faramir and Eowyn. In the appendices it is Barahir who tells the tale of Aragorn and Arwen.
The vague surmise Tolkien made that the eldar slowly departed middle-earth, leaving men to their fate.
My canon is built around the knowledge we have of the fourth age, and I try to intertwine it with Tolkien's works as best as I am able. For example Barahir is one of the main protagonists and the only known thing about him is that he is Faramir's descendant and he wrote the tale of Aragorn and Arwen. This small bit of information is the foundation of his character
-He is named Elf-friend as he knows well Aragorn and Arwen, in my tale he spends much time with the sons of Elrond as well as Círdan the shipwright. I also came to the conclusion that either his father Elboron, or even Faramir himself was a keen study on the ancient world as he is named after a hero of the Edain in the first age. At one point in my tale, he is even the keeper of the ring of Barahir, and he understands the importance it represents. ie friendship of Elves and men via Barahir's rescue of Finrod Felagund. The fact that the name Barahir alone implies friendship between elves and men give his story arc its own starting point.
-He is a lore-master/scribe as it was he who wrote the tale of Arwen and Aragorn
-He has heritage with the peoples of both Gondor and Rohan
These points I've gleamed from a tiny sample Tolkien left us gives me everything I need to justify who that character is and his/her part to play in my story.
I'm a keen believer that throughout history events repeat itself in one shape or another, and have taken the same approach in these tales.
examples of this include my chapters on Berion muin Edlendir, the son of Eldarion who abandons middle earth to build an isolated Kingdom on Tol Himling to the west, and adapts the Quenya speech. This incorporates themes similar to the Numenorean isolation and want to find Aman (yet also polar opposites as the Edlendiri are great supporters of the Valar and the eldar), as well as similarities to the hidden city of Gondolin and the sense of secrecy and isolation Turgon kept.
Where Tolkien has permitted (in my imaginary Tolkien code of conduct) I have acted more freely with his vagueness. In particular the daughters of Aragorn and Arwen, who he didn't even name! I chose the names Nestriel, sindarin for daughter of the healer, and Gilorneth, the lady of the star tree as the princesses of Gondor and they play big parts in my tales of the fourth age.
I have manuscripts on my old faithful harddrive of over 50000 words of either tales, detailed timelines, very specific family trees, and drawings that i have compiled over the last 8-9 years I've been doing this. Indeed much of my writing is notes or explanations as to why a certain event has happened, ie explaining how a son of Eldarion came into possession of Aeglos, the glaive of Gil-Gilad, or explaining how a certain character's could live for so long. Ie Barahirs daughter lives a long time due to having dunedain blood on both sides of her family and having family trees to accompany this (she is a descendant of Halbarad on her mothers side). I even have a chapter titled "Of the Elendiri on Himling" which details the lifestyles and peculiarities of Berions lost people.
The overarching theme to my tale in general is the struggle of men, in particular the lords of Middle Earth, when they realise the eldar are leaving forever, and how they adapt to a new Middle-Earth that a greater race left behind. Knowledge that the abandoned cities of Mithlond and the refuge of Rivendell are still greater and more beautiful than the busy halls of the mightiest men saddens those left behind, and also fills them with envy. This is perhaps a metaphor for my own struggles with realising Tolkien's middle earth is finished. If any of this interest you please let me know and I will start publishing my works in some kind of chronological order. Its fairly scattered at this point. My sister and wife are the only people I've shared my stories with so I'm excited to talk about the world of middle earth with any who will read.
Many Thanks,
Berion muin Edlendir