A God Among The Stars

by Lasgalendil

"The Quest stands on the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and you will fail, to the ruin of all." Sauron knows their names, he knows their kinds, and he can alter history to ensure that this time, the Fellowship fails. Now it's up to Hari Seldon to make sure the chain of events remains unbroken from Cuivienen to pave the way for the greatest friendship in Middle-earth.

2. And Depart on the Winds of Space

Midwest USA

Indianapolis, Indiana

June 29th, 2014 CE

Call me Hari.

I have two birthdays.

I was born Harry Liam Sheldon on midsummer's night in 1990. I was nicknamed "Hari Seldon" by my nerdy parents less than thirty seconds later, and Hari Seldon I would remain.

I was reborn as Harriette Lynn Sheldon on June 23rd, 2005. That's when all the official paperwork cleared, at least. Mom and dad had been calling me their little girl long before, but that's the day we finally made the name and status change legal. And I don't blame them or Dr. Caihe—a large portion of questioning trans kids re-identify as cis as they approach puberty. I just happened to be one of the minority who didn't.

It's not bad or weird or anything. I'm a girl. I take birth control, just like any one else, and the extra estrogen gives me all those secondary sexual characteristics like tits, hip/waist ratio and a nice ass. The testosterone receptor blockers stop me from sounding like Samuel Jackson or having facial hair like ZZTop, and as for the rest…

Well, what is or is not currently between my legs is between me and my boyfriend only, end of story.

So yeah, I'm trans. But I'm not all that different than you. I had your typical childhood, you know, two parents, puppy, and a picket fence. I went through the horrors and hassles of puberty, just like you did. I went to school, got my heart broken, got back up and moved on, got a job, lived in that shitty first apartment where we could barely make rent and the walls were too thin and the AC never worked but damnit, it was home and it was ours.

I guess what I'm trying to say is in the end we're all emotionally complex, unique individuals who call ourselves human beings, and that means despite any and all our superficial differences, deep down inside, we're all the same. Just keep calm and don't be transphobic, okay?

So hey there, stranger. I'm Hari Seldon. I have two birthdays, and I have had many names.

To the Valar I was Athâratulukhashtâz. In Cuivienen, was Khînâ. In Gondolin, I was Laurië and in Doriath, Laurlómen. In Númeanor, they called me Calion, Nimruzîr, and Pharazinî. To the Hobbits I was Levazîro or Râmavet, to the Dwarves Heri Fullspaksdóttir, in Mirkwood and Lórien I was Glorben, and in Rivendell, Glorphen. To the US government I've been both Harry and Harriette, to my parents and friends I'm Hari, and to Sean, I'm—

Well, on further thought, what Sean calls me when we're in bed together is really none of your business.

Anyways, I'm Hari Seldon. And I guess you could say that being transgender is probably the least interesting thing about me.

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Athâratulukhâz: (Valarin) Appointed-gold

Primative (Quendian) Elvish: Child.

Laurië (Q): Golden

Laurlómen (S-Doriathrin) Golden-echoing

Calion (Adûnaic): Golden

Nimruzîr (Adûnaic): Elf-friend

Pharazinî (Adûnaic): Golden-woman

Levazîro (Aduni aka "Westron"): Wise-woman

Râmavet (Aduni aka "Westron"): The Man-like

Heri Fullspaksdóttir (Norse-derived from the Voluspá and the Landnámabók, standing in as Dwarvish "outer name"): Hari Full-wise-daughter

Glorben (Sindarinized Silvan): Golden-one

Glorphen (Sindarin): Golden-one.