In the pursuit of more wholesome pastimes for his lords, Turgon decides to revive the Gondolin Games in Valinor. Needless to say, chaos ensues. Think of this as the Elvish Olympics, the first and only.
Valinor Games
Fourth Age 100, Tirion
Dear Arwen
It should come as no surprise to you by now that the most well-meant venture of your forebear Turgon is destined to go horribly awry. In an attempt to regain the past glory of the Lords of Gondolin, former High King Turgon has decided to revive the Gondolin Games – a series of competitions between the noble Houses of Gondolin. The Noldoran Arafinwe also encouraging this venture as an attempt to wean the Lords off drinking, wenching, and generally making a nuisance of themselves in Valinor.
All the Lords and their men are strongly invited to join in the competition to be held in Tirion. However, Turgon failed to realize that in the yeni since Gondolin and re-embodiment, most of the Lords had allowed their Houses to literally crumble about them. Heard from Cousin Maeglin his House of the Mole is currently defunct. The House of the Golden Flower has been long neglected by Glorfindel – understand his men had long gone their own way after he left for Middle-earth the second time. However, I doubt that would stop Fin from joining in the games – he has a real combative streak. The entire House of Elrond has been persuaded to travel to Tirion to compete, or at least cheer him on. Erestor is hoping there is a segment on combative calculus he could participate in, which I seriously doubt.
Grandfather Tuor has been arguing with Grandma Idril whether the House of the Wing should be considered a part of the King's House – Tuor was the triple title-holder for the axe-hurl before Gondolin burned. Lady Aredhel insisted that she not be counted as part of the King's House as her son is Lord of the House of the Mole. So there goes Turgon's hopes of bagging the archery medal. Ecthelion has been trying to persuade Finrod and Maglor to join his House for the competitive singing segment and Maeglin's step-father Celegorm is asking permission from Feanor to have the Feanorions compete on Maeglin's team.
Holy Manwe! Could you imagine the uproar that would arise from that? Everyone knows how much the Feanorions hate to lose. There are whispers there will be a kinslaying before the games are over if they are allowed to join. The Alqualonde elves still recall a certain unhappy royal regatta yacht race some years back where Feanor's daughters and niece used a fire-breathing dragon figurehead on the Spirit of Fire to eliminate the competition. Feanor had to write a very public and poetic apology to King Olwe for that debacle. Your grandmother did not appreciate being called a pirate and a thief, even if she did steal Feanor's vessel from under our noses. The apology has since been memorialized in stone on Alqualonde's Market Street – I mean, it was an actual written apology from Feanor, and those are hard to come by.
Oh, I just heard from your Nana that Feanor has decided to back Cousin Maeglin and the House of the Mole. All the Feanorions will be competing on Maeglin's team, much to the horror of Turgon. He passed out when Idril informed him of the news and he is on his way to the House of Healing. Another possible reason for Turgon passing out might just be that wayward hammer from Lord Rog's practice which hit him on the head. Lord Rog was a bit rusty on the hammer-throw, so we understand. It was his favourite event and he felt he needed to put in more work to keep up his form.
Fearing worse is to come,
Your Ada Elrond
Fourth Age 100, Tirion
Dear Arwen
After much discussion between the leaders of the Eldar, with some suggestions from Lords Tulkas and Aule, we have come up with a revised list of events. Rougher events like beer-guzzling and naked mud-wrestling would be replaced by more refined arts like steeplechasing and smithwork. Regrettably, bodybuilding will remain on the cards – to Glorfindel's immense delight. He has been training to tone up his muscles. With that barely-there loincloth, Methinks the naked mud-wrestling would be less indecent, even by Vanyar standards. The javelin, races, hammer-toss and other athletic events would remain along with the cultural competitions.
We would hold the games in the newly-built Arena just outside Tirion. It was built a yeni back when horseracing through the streets fell out of favour back due to property damage complaints, and a couple of trampled elves. In addition, the Valar decreed that the games be open to all the elves, not just those from fallen Gondolin, so we have teams from the Sindar, Teleri, and Vanyar joining too. Feanor is sending his own team, including Cousin Maeglin, under the banner of Formenos. The home team includes most of the House of Fingolfin, apart from Aredhel and her son. The House of Finarfin has decided to abstain as His Majesty Arafinwe will be sitting on the panel of judges.
To be honest, I am sensing some dreadful Doom closing in on us all.
Your Ada Elrond
Fourth Age 100, Tirion
Dear Arwen
Today we have the first ever Valinor games, dedicated to the Valar – which promptly descended into a free-for-all brawl. And the day had started off so well…
Your forefather Arafinwe Noldoran carried out the opening ceremonies with his usual dignity by lighting the torch of friendship. He did not even flinch when his sleeve caught fire, which in hindsight should have been a clue of how the day was going to turn out. His chamberlain was quick to act with a bucket of water, so he only had second-degree burns on his arm. There was an opening choral performance by the Crown Prince Finrod Felagund and his brood – all fifty-eight of them, including Gildor Inglorion and Ada Maglor's foster children.
Elu Thingol's house was gunning for the archery gold. They had Beleg Cuthalion as their champion on the team. Unfortunately, the entire archery team was disqualified from competing when my uncles Elured and Elurin were caught red-handed sabotaging the equipment of the competition. Celegorm was unable to compete for the rest of the archery events due to having his bow and arrow stuck to his hands. It did not stop him from siccing Huan on Elured and Elurin despite his wife's request that he set a good example for their twins by forgiving the mischief-makers. Huan gladly obliged. I missed the wrestling events due to having patch up my uncles after one hell of a mauling.
Before I could return to your Nana in the tiers, I received my next patient – who was unfortunately dead. Somehow Prince Fingon broke his neck in the act of securing victory in the wrestling finals. His rival was none other than Uncle Maedhros who did not quite realise his cousin was dead. He was waiting for Fingon to go up the podium and receive the medal. Had to seek out Melian to get some urgent help from Lord Namo. I sure hope he can get Fingon's fea back into his body and patch up his neck before Maedhros goes off the deep end. Maedhros kicking up a fuss over the delay. I know the gold medal is much sought after, but surely it is not worth a trip to Mandos. Thankfully, Lord Namo and Lord Irmo got that little hiccup sorted out. I still had to put Fingon in a neck brace though, with strict instructions not to move his head suddenly.
The 100 metre sprint was won by one Saeros of Doriath, just before he got a fractured skull from Rog's hammer-toss. Elu Thingol is not amused his great-grandsons got mauled and the first Sinda champion got knocked out on his way to receive the gold medal. Just as Finwe managed calm his good friend Elu Thingol down, there was a riot in the stands – Caranthir thought it would be profitable to start a betting ring on the side and a few disgruntled elves are demanding their coin back from his runners.
Remember what I said about challenging a Feanorion some years back? Curufin and Celegorm leapt into the fray and they were promptly disqualified from the rest of the events. Not that anyone was listening by now. Lord Tulkas not exactly helping the situation by shouting out encouragement to the combatants. In fact, he is the only Vala left. Lord Manwe and the others have flown off to the more peaceful environs of Taniquetil. We have no idea why our normally dignified High King Ingwe is trying to choke Glorfindel… something about seducing his granddaughter, I suppose. Well, no better time to let his hair down and sort out grudges when everyone is too busy rioting to notice.
Thankfully Erestor managed to get your Nana out of the stands before the fighting got really bad. As for me, I am waiting at Tirion's House of Healing with the rest of the healers who are not caught up in the fracas. The Arena is on fire now…
Excuse me, I think the first of the casualties are arriving and need my attention…
Your Ada Elrond
Author's Notes:
Imagine the worst football riots, multiply by a factor of 10.