|
|
Post by levade on Nov 17, 2010 17:58:50 GMT -6
I was talking to someone about this after they commented that I wrote "magical" elves. I didn't think so. The comment came up after I said something about elves being able to weave their will into the making of things.
For example, the cloaks the Fellowship receives from Galadriel. The sword Sting, that could warn of Orcs (not to mention Glamdring, Orcrist and Alglachel that also had unusual properties). The ability of elven bards to make images appear to the listeners.
Is that considered "magical"? I thought it was just something the elves had the ability to do and maybe because they were more in tune (sorry...pun) to the music of Arda? I always thought the elves wouldn't consider it magic like humans might, but I wondered what you who know more think.
Also, this has always bugged me in a stupid way, but would elves who weren't born in Aman during the time of the Two Trees glow? I know, it's probably like asking if Balrogs have wings, sorry!
|
|
|
|
Post by aearwen on Nov 17, 2010 19:45:08 GMT -6
Isn't the definition of "magic" something on the line of "anything we can't explain any other way, regardless of whether there is a reasonable, scientific explanation or not"?
I think the Elves would be a bit more in tune with the music of Arda since they are so much closer to the point of origin - AND because they have had interactions with the guardians of Arda (the Valar).
Tolkien wove enough magic into his Elves in the Silmarillion (I mean, Fëanor captured the light of the two trees in the Silmarilli, didn't he?) that I wouldn't worry too much about it. I'd answer an accusation like that with, "So did Tolkien. And your problem with that is........?"
Write them the way you see them, is my advice...
|
|
|
|
Post by randy on Nov 17, 2010 23:37:24 GMT -6
The Sindar had a term for the Noldorin exiles -- Lachenn, meaning flame-eyed. So maybe the glowing didn't come naturally tp all of them.
|
|
|
|
Post by erulisse on Nov 18, 2010 20:17:31 GMT -6
The elves seem to be more in tune with the Song. After all, Songs of Power are mentioned in the Silmarillion. Who could say that they didn't use similar Songs when shaping items of power - the swords and cloaks, for example. Or even Lembas. A Song of Power, an item more in tune with Arda, might potentially be seen as "magic" by others who cannot tap into the Song. Just a thought...
- Erulisse (one L)
|
|
|
|
Post by vanime18431 on Nov 19, 2010 14:36:54 GMT -6
What would flame-eyed mean? Confused here...
Vanime
|
|
tanis
Councillor 
Posts: 257
|
Post by tanis on Nov 20, 2010 10:24:48 GMT -6
[glow=red,2,300]What would flame-eyed mean? Confused here...[/glow]
Goa'uld? ;D
Sorry, couldn't help myself. For a Stargate fan it was just to difficult to pass up.
|
|
|
|
Post by randy on Nov 20, 2010 19:00:20 GMT -6
The way JRRT himself explained it was a 'glow' to the eyes that came from absorbing the light of the Two Trees.
|
|
|
|
Post by vanime18431 on Nov 24, 2010 18:06:25 GMT -6
Aha! Thank you for the information...so as there weren't too many Noldor in ME as time went on - one wonders how the elves who were born in Arda would know that that is what they were seeing for the first time. Wonder if they would have felt jealous or envious?
Hugs,
Vanime
|
|
|
|
Post by kymahalei on Nov 25, 2010 14:01:46 GMT -6
One more question on the topic. Elves are not supposed to get cold, or at least not as cold as Men do. Canon or Fanon?
Thanks,
Ky
|
|
|
|
Post by randy on Nov 25, 2010 15:41:28 GMT -6
I vote fanon. The Sil mentions the sufferings of the Noldorin Exiles in the northern wastes, so they must feel something. True, Legolas was "less troubled" on Caradhras than the rest of the Fellowship, but that doesn't mean he wasn't chilly.
|
|
|
|
Post by vanime18431 on Nov 25, 2010 18:41:57 GMT -6
I think it's Fanon too. FWIW, I seem to remember that the Helcaraxe was brutal for even the elves in the Sil. ( could be wrong too...my memory is a little fuzzy at the moment)
Hugs and Love,
Vanime
|
|
|
|
Post by kymahalei on Nov 26, 2010 8:33:39 GMT -6
*Heavy sigh* I was afraid of that. I'll have to play my AU card. I actually wrote another chapter of Another Road and not being cold is rather pivitol to the story line. I don't think I'll revise, but I'll have to include a note to avoid the tomatoes being thrown!
|
|
