Disclaimer: I have no financial gain from writing fanfictions. I do not own the characters of this story (except for those I invented myself), nor the world of Middle Earth along with its fascinating languages. They were created by J.R.R. Tolkien and I am immensely grateful for his enrichment of our literature, giving us not only a whole new world, but also a new idea of what fantasy should be like.

Preface

Concerning Language and Names:

This story takes place during a time when the Ñoldor had just arrived in Middle-earth and, though at least their loremasters had learned Sindarin, this language was not yet used among the people coming from Aman. I think it is plausible to assume that many Sindarin names of places in Middle-earth were translated to Quenya, before the Ñoldor eventually adopted the foreign tongue. Thus, in my story I use the Quenya form of personal and place names. Those which are not given by Tolkien I translated myself. A list of all the Quenya words used and their meaning is given below and it will be updated as the story proceeds. The places markes with * are my own inventions, the others occur in Tolkien's writings.

Here also follows a survey of the main characters appearing in my story, listing all of their names and their relationship. This is mostly for those who are not familiar with the Quenya form of names from the Silmarillion. The descendance and the names are drawn from "The Peoples of Middle-earth".

If several names of a person are known, I give them in the following order: father-name, mother-name, added name, nickname. The Sindarin equivalents are given in brackets if known.

The father-name is the first and official name of every Elf, often resembling closely the name of the father (or the brothers). It is used mostly at formal occasions or among people that are not very intimate.

The mother-name is given individually according to the characteristics of the Elf and is used among friends and family.

Added names are given later in life. They can be given by anyone and may or may not be adopted by the Elf whom they apply to. They are not part of the full title of an Elf and are placed at the end, following a phrase such as "by some called ..."

The concept of the chosen names (kilmessi), I excluded from this story.

As the story is written from the perspective of Findekáno, I use the name by which he would normally refer to a person and this one is given below in bold letters. In direct speech however, I switch between the different names of a person, depending on the context and who is speaking.

Index of Names:

Elves remaining in Valinor

- Arafinwe (Finarfin), son of Finwe and Indis

.

The House of Feanáro

- Kurufinwe Feanáro (Faenor), son of Finwe and Míriel, second king of the Ñoldor, slain by Valaraukor

- Nelyafinwe Maitimo (Maedros), sometimes known as Russandol, Nelyo, son of Feanáro and Nerdanel, third king of the Ñoldor

- Kanafinwe Makalaure (Maglor), Káno, son of Feanáro and Nerdanel, king of the Ñoldor during Maitimo's captivity

- Turkafinwe Tyelkormo (Celegorm), Tyelko, son of Feanáro and Nerdanel

- Kurufinwe (Curufin) Atarinke, Kurvo, son of Feanáro and Nerdanel

- Morifinwe Karnistir (Caranthir), Moryo, son of Feanáro and Nerdanel

- Pityafinwe Ambarussa (Amras), Pityo, son of Feanáro and Nerdanel

- Telufinwe Ambarto/Umbarto¹ (Amrod), Telvo, son of Feanáro and Nerdanel

.

The House of Ñolofinwe

- Ñolofinwe (Fingolfin) Arakáno, Nólo, son of Finwe and Indis, fourth king of the Ñoldor

- Laurefin(dele) (Glorfindel), son of Findis²

- Findekáno (Fingon) Astar³, Findo, son of Ñolofinwe and Anaire, fifth king of the Ñoldor

- Turukáno (Turgon), Turvo, son of Ñolofinwe and Anaire, sixth king of the Ñoldor

- Elenwe, wife of Turukáno, drowned during the crossing of the Helkaraxe

- Itaril(le) (Idril), Rille, daughter of Turukáno and Elenwe

- Írisse (Íreth) Faniel⁴ ((Ar-)Feiniel), by some called Aredhel, Fani, daughter of Ñolofinwe and Anaire

- Arakáno, son of Ñolofinwe and Anaire, died in the battle of Alqualonde⁵

- Írien Lalwen(de), daughter of Finwe and Indis, went into exile with her brother Ñolofinwe

- Aikastelion (Egthelion), from the house of Turukáno, captain of the guard

.

The House of Arafinwe

- Findaráto (Finrod) Ingoldo, later called Felagund, Ingol, son of Arafinwe and Earwen

- Angaráto (Angrod) Angamaite, son of Arafinwe and Earwen

- Eldalóte (Edhellos), wife of Angaráto

- Artaher (Arothir⁶), son of Angamaite and Eldalóte

- Ambaráto (Amrod) Aikanáro (Aegnor), son of Arafinwe and Earwen

- Artanis Nerwen, also known as Altáriel (Galadriel), daughter of Arafinwe and Earwen

.

Sindar and Teleri

- Elwe (Elu), also called Singollo (Thingol), king of Doriath with autority over all the Sindar

- Faelin – intended as a compound of fael ("just, generous") + in(d) ("heart")

- Telporno (Celeborn), Telerin Elda and spouse of Artanis

.

Other creatures

- Hrívangwe – Findekáno's horse, the name meaning "winterly storm"

- Morikotto (Morgoth) = Black foe

- Sorontar (Thorondor) – king of the Eagles

.

Notes

¹ His mother Nerdanel, foreseeing his death during the burning of the ships, named him Umbarto, which signifies "Doomed One". Yet Feanáro would not accept such an ominous name, wherefore he was called Ambarto instead, meaning "Fated One".

² This descendance of Laurefindel is my invention to account for his golden hair. Of Findis it is said that she "went with her mother after the slaying of Finwe and they abode among the Vanyar in grief" (PM:343). I imagined she has always been more fond of her mother's kin and married one of the Vanyar, who then passed his hair colour on to their child.

³ Findekáno's mother-name is nowhere mentioned. As an explanation for this fact, I decided to make his name "Astar", a Quenya noun meaning "faith, loyalty". Using just one word without a masculine/feminine suffix as a name is uncommon among the Eldar, but in some cases did occur, as "Beleg" and "Estel" show. The origin of this special name gets told later in the story.

⁴ Actually, the third daughter of Finwe and Indis was called Faniel, though in the last of Tolkien's genealogical tables she does not appear. I think he removed her in order to avoid the clash with Ar-Feiniel, a name he considered along with Aredhel for the character formerly named Isfin. Faniel would be the Quenya form of Feiniel, thus I have taken the liberty to use this name for her and stick to the concept that Finwe had only two daughters.

⁵ Tolkien considered several versions of his death. I decided for this one, since I like it most and we don't know the names of any other victims of the battle of Alqualonde.

⁶ in the Silmarillion he is called Orodreth

Index of Places:

Alataire (Belegaer) = The Great Sea

*Aldasilion (Galathilion) = White Tree of Tirion

Ambar = the Earth, Habitation

*Andarottor = Caves of Androth (lit. "long caves"; Ñolofinwe struggles a bit with the pronounciation of the sindarin word and calls them And-ross)

Angamando (Angband) = Iron gaol

Angoronti (Ered Engrin) = Iron Mountains

Arda = the World, Realm (in which Ambar is contained)

Avakúma/Oiakúma = outer/everlasting Dark

Ea = Creation, the Universe of that which Is

*Ehtele Siriondo (Eithel Sirion) = The Well of the Great River

*Endapanda = The Heart-Square, or Central Courtyard

Endóre (Ennorath) = Middle-Earth

*Falastamo (southern inflow of Mísiringwe) = Foaming One

Helkaraxe = Grinding Ice

Hísilóme (Hithlum) = Land of Mist (lit. "Twilit Mist")

*Hísiras = Horn of Haze

Ilurambar = Walls of the World

Ilmen = Middle Air, region of the stars

*Kalina Landa (Ard-galen) = Green Region

*Karniramba = Red Wall (mountain with iron deposits, located in the mountains of Mithrim)

Lestanóre (Doriath) = Land of the Girdle

*Lósarda (Losgar) = region of flowers

*Lúmenke Solmar = Timeless Halls

*Malle Maklaiva = Street of Swords

*Malle Serindiva = Street of the Seamstresses

*Már Léraiva = dwelling of the free

*Menquerotto (Menegroth) = Thousand Caves

*Mísiringwe (Mithrim) = Mist Lake (or Lake of Grey Mist) → Name applied to the lake and the region

*Nenaikale = Water Peak (a tall iceberg, somewhere at the Helkaraxe)

*Nóre Andyelwa (Dor Daedeloth) = Land of Great Dread

*Nuntarwar = Lower Gardens

*Oromar = high hall, lofty dwelling

*Oronti Mísiringweo = Mountains of Mithrim

*Ringasir (northern inflow of Mísiringwe) = Cold River

*Sangoronti (Thangorodrim) = Mountains of Tyranny

*Sírinke = Little River

*Sononor (Dorthonion) = Land of Pines

Valariande (Beleriand) = Country of Balar

*Wahtaine Oronti (Eryd Wethrin) = Stained Mountains (This is actually not a direct cognate of the Sindarin "Eryd Wethrin", which means "Shadowy Mountains" and contains the verb gwathra- "to overshadow, dim, veil". The Ñoldor when rendering this place name to their own language apparently confused it with S. gwatha- Q. wahta- "to soil, stain" and noticed their mistake only when "Wahtaine Oronti" was already in common use)

*Wasarando = Gate of Veils

Index of Elvish words:

aiya! = hail!

Aldu = the Two Trees in Valinor

Amaneldi = Elves of Aman (ie. those Elves that had went to Aman)

Anar = Sun

*annon allen (S.) = thank you

aran, *aranya = king, my king

*Aran Anyára = the Elder King (a title of Manwe)

aranel = princess

aran Doriath a chîr Beleriand (S.) = king of Doriath and lord of Beleriand

aran ie mólome = "being a king is a burden" (an Elvish saying)

(Aran) Meletyalda = your majesty (lit. "king your mighty")

Arda Harina = Arda Marred

Arda Vanya = Arda Unmarred

aryon; *aryonya, *aryondinya, *aryondonya (archaic) = Prince; my prince

asari = festivals (loanword from Valarin)

*assaila na sé, ye lav' ana hé. = lit. "wiser is he, who yields to the other." (For lack of a satisfying english equivalent of the German saying "der Klügere gibt nach", I decided to translate it into Quenya instead)

*Astaldo = valiant one

Atani = Men

atar = father

atto = daddy

áva márie = "go happily" (a fomula of farewell)

ela! = behold!

Elda (pl. Eldar) = Elf, Elves (meaning both "Star-folk" and "Marchers" ; originally applied to those who departed from Kuiviénen, though later the general term for Elves)

eldarin = elvish

Elen síla lumenn' omentielvo! = A star shines upon the hour of our meeting! (elvish greeting)

*Elu Thingol, aran Doriath a chîr Beleriand = Elwe Greymantle, king of Doriath and lord of Beleriand

emil; emilinya, emya = mother; my mother

emme = mummy

Eruhíni = Children of Eru

fana (part. pl. fanali) = bodily form of an angelic spirit; radiant and majestic figure

Feanárion (pl. Feanáriondi) = Son(s) of Feanáro

háno, hanno = Brother (formal, colloquial)

*hantan tyen = thank you (informal)

haru = Grandfather

heri (pl. herir), *herinya = lady, mylady

heru (pl. heruvi), *herunya = lord, mylord

Herunúmen = Lord of the West (a title of Manwe)

hesto = captain

hîr (S.) = lord

hríve = winter (fifth month of the elven calendar)

*Hrótatorko = Cave-troll

indo = heart (in the sense of "mood", "state of mind", "resolve")

*Ingaran Ñoldoron = High King of the Ñoldor

Kalaquendi = Light-Elves (i.e. the Elves who went to Aman and saw the light of the Two Trees)

Kemen = the earth

koire = early spring (sixth month of the elven calendar, lit. "stirring")

koranar = solar year

laire = summer (second month of the elven calendar)

lár (pl. lári) = league (three miles)

lará = stop, halt (my calque of Sindarin daro)

lepettar = Gondorian hardwood (lit. "finger-trees"); Sindarin: lebethryn

lie = people, folk

linque = liquid light (Tolkien calls this word "in origin a 'mythological' word — referring to the primitive Elvish conception of 'light' as an actual substance [...], though ethereally fine and delicate" (NM/285))

*lyen hantanye = I thank you (formal)

Máhan = one of the chiefs of the Valar, originally nine before Melkor was excluded (loanword from Valarin)

*Már Paityaléva = dwelling of requital

(hara) máriesse = a greeting (lit. "(stay) in happiness")

*melda rendonya = my dear cousin

*melotorninya = my love-brother (here signifying "love, which Men might call 'friendship'" but involving the "greater strength and warmth and permanency with which it was felt by the Quendi" (NM/20))

*Mísirimbe (Mithrim) = Grey-People

Moriquendi = Dark-Elves (i.e. the Elves who never saw the light of the Two Trees)

*Nai eleni siluvar tietyanna! = "May the stars shine onto your path!"

Nai Eru lye mánata! = "Eru bless you!"

namárie = "be well" (a formula of greeting or farewell)

níka = little, small

ñóla = wise, learned (which also appears as the first element in Nolofinwe`s name)

Ñoldóran = King of the Noldor (title)

ñoldorin = of the Ñoldor

*Ñolofinwion = Son of Ñolofinwe

nosse = kindred, family, 'house'

*Nosset Ambarussa yo Umbarto = the two Houses of Amros and Amrod

Númen, Hyarmen, Rómen, Formen = West, South, East, North

Númeheruvi = the Lords of the West (a title of the Valar)

óre; órenya = heart; my heart (The Elves have several different words for heart. The óre is also translated as "inner mind", "premonition", "warning" and seems to be the source of feelings, as well as the conscience.)

Orko (pl. Orqui) = Orc; Sindarin: Orch (pl. Yrch)

quelle = late autumn/early winter (fourth month of the elven calendar, lit. "Fading")

quén = person, individual (man or woman)

quenderin = of the Quendi

Quendi (sg. Quende) = Elves (more general term; lit. "those that speak")

quendu = Elvish man

*Rámanáre = winged Sun, or wing-fire (The emblem which Tolkien designed for Finwe is said to be a "winged sun", opposing the "winged moon" of Elwe (AI:194f.). This proves to be a little problematic though, because Finwe died before the making of Sun and Moon. However, due to the close semblance of the two emblems, I like to assume they were devised during the sojourn of Finwe and Elwe in Aman and depict the essence of the golden and silver light of the Two Trees, rather than the celestrial bodies that later sprang from those Trees. After their creation, the connection to Sun and Moon would have been made quite naturally. This is why I chose to translate this term into Quenya. Rámanare could be derived either from Anar (Sun) or from náre (fire), thus freeing us of the inconsistency.)

*Rainemar = dwelling of peace/good will

súriquesse = species of grass (lit. "wind-feather")

*Torko (pl. Torkor) = Troll; Sindarin: Torog

*torninya = my brother (Toron is an older word for "brother", possibly replaced by háno. But since the Feanáreans spoke a more archaic dialect, keeping for example the proper pronounciation of th, I like the thought of them using a slightly different vocabulary as well.)

tuile (S. ethuil) = spring (first month of the elven calendar)

turúna = defeated

Urko (pl. Urqui) = Bogey, Orc (word of lore, referring to any dubious shape that causes fear)

Vala (pl. Valar) = Angelic power; Sindarin: Balan (pl. Belain)

Valarauko (pl. Valaraukor) = Mighty demon; Sindarin: Balrog

veryanwe = wedding

yávie = autumn (third month of the elven calendar)

*yeldenya = my daughter (formal, the more intimate address would be *yenya)

yén (pl. yéni) = long-year (144 solar years)

*yondonya = my son (formal, the more intimate address would be yonya)

Abbreviations:

LR: The Lost Road and Other Writings

MR: Morgoth's Ring

WJ: The War of the Jewels

PM: The Peoples of Middle-earth

NM: The Nature of Middle-earth

PE: Parma Eldalamberon

AI: J. R. R. Tolkien – Artist & Illustrator