The History of Middle-Earth, Part III

Wow. I'm really very sorry that it's taken so long for me to post a new entry, and I don't believe that any act of contrition will convey the sense of guilt I feel over taking so long, but I have been awfully busy the last few days what with housekeeping, and trash, and laundry, and shampooing the carpet, and making sense of my schedule for MMI etc. etc. etc. Please don't take this for an excuse; it's a reason. But I do promise on Skippy Khan that nothing of this sort will ever happen again.
Anyway, all of that aside, I found time for sledding with my brother and Kristin, Sara and Jenny Galbrecht at Riverside Park (I had no idea there was a tobogan in my garage- go figure) on Saturday before Game Night. We ripped some intense multiplayer Ghost Recon 2 (and a bit of Halo 2, since Eric despises Ghost Recon. What a dweeb.) and gorged on chili pizza. "Chili pizza?" you ask. "Chili pizza!" I reply. Jon invented it earlier last week, and though I was skeptical at first, I am now a firm convert, having tasted its deliciousness. Mm-mmm.
Kristin made some cheese bread that Kayleigh's rude friends indulged in (they waltzed into the house when Kayleigh was gone and made themselves at home in her room, and one of them punched me in the collarbone) and some steak was made as well, so there was plenty of fine eatin' that night, as well as slaughtering and mayhem.
The next day found me and Nate sledding at Riverside Park again, this time with Brad, Jim, MutationPakes' daughter and half of her family, and believe you me, it was a grand old time. We dominated. After conventional sledding for an hour, we created a five person Chain of Doom and annihilated the hill facing the road (as well as ourselves); it was considered a failure if everyone made it to the bottom in one piece. That was probably some of the most fun I've had in a while; if you have the means, I highly recommend it.
On a bit of a down note, I donated this morning with Jon and had my arms destroyed by "Shannon" (if that is her real name) while I was hooked up to a crappy machine. She stuck my left arm, and apparently did something wrong, because she proceeded to yank the needle about for several minutes whilst from my arm flowed crimson streams of gore. Needless to say, I didn't think that that was very professional. After bandaging my left arm, she asked if I wanted to attempt to donate with my right arm, and I said no, but I was told that if I "refused," I would have a 30 day deferral, so I went ahead and gave it a shot, and the results were the same, save that now I see that there's a big ugly bruise on my inner elbow. To cap everything off, I had a cell loss, i.e. the machine ate up some of my red blood cells; should that happen again, I get an 8 week deferral. Great. I still was paid the normal amount, though, which kind of surprised me. Had I not received some type of recompense, I would not have been a happy camper in the least. So, though my arms are effectly kaput, I'm still twenty dollars the richer.
Now, with all of that aside, we can go on to:

The History of Middle-Earth, Part III

Now Elu Thingol was Lord of the Eldar of Beleriand, and these were known as the Sindar or the Grey-Elves. With him Melian the Maia who ruled beside him as Queen. During these countless ages Beleriand had peace, and under the light of the stars the Sindar grew in wisdom and craft nearly enough to rival those of the Eldar who resided in Aman.

Many of the Sindar wandered through the land in companies without permanent settlings, singing as they went. Many, however, lived along the western coasts of Beleriand in the Falas ("the Coast"), and their lord was Cirdan the Shipwright. They had great havens at Brithombar and Eglarest, and those people alone of the Eldar of Middle-Earth loved to sail upon the sea and were skilled in seafaring.

Others lived in Ossiriand ("the Land of Seven Rivers"); these were of Nandorin origin. The Nandor ("Those Who Turn Back") were Telerin elves who forsook the Great Journey upon seeing the Blue Mountains. However, after many years, one of their lords, Denethor, led many people of that kindred into Beleriand and took Thingol as their king. They became known as the Laiquendi or Green-Elves, because their clothing was made to match the forests of their land. Because of this, and because of the fact that their homes were made in the trees, it was said that one could walk all through their realm and never see one of them. They were vegetarian, and their great hunting skills were used only in the defense of their land.

The greatest realm of the Sindar was in the forests of Neldoreth and Region in the heart of Beleriand, and this land was called Eglador, and Thingol and Melian ruled it directly. There were other dwellings of the Sindar spread throughout Beleriand, but never in numbers as great as in these realms.

As the power of the Sindar increased, newcomers came to Beleriand in the form of the dwarves of Belegost and Nogrod. These were great cities delved in the Blue Mountains and their people were akin to the dwarves of Khazad-dum (or Moria, as it was later called). The Sindar named them Naugrim ("the Stunted People") and the Gonnhirrim ("the Masters of Stone") and they began to trade and the wealth of Beleriand grew immensely. The Dwarves built a great highway from their cities in the mountains into Eastern Beleriand and both peoples prospered, and they brought news to the Sindar of the world without.

During these days the Eldar of Aman grew likewise in wisdom and strength under the guidance of the Valar. The Vanyar were much beloved of Manwe, and they dwelt at the slopes of Mount Taniquetil. The Noldor learned much from Aule the Smith, and their works soon began to rival those of the Ainur of Aule. They went far and wide throughtout Aman in search of new knowledge and built towers of stone and other great works. The Teleri brought great pearls and other precious stones from the Bay of Eldamar and distributed them amongst the Noldor, and in recompense the Noldor built for the Teleri their haven of Alqualonde, for their former dwellings were not made with stone. However, they were unequalled in their shipcraft, and they made great white ships in the likeness of swans, and they sailed about the Bay of Eldamar and the coasts of Aman for they loved the sea.

Now during the Blisstide of Valinor (as this time was called) Finwe, High King of the Noldor, had a son by his wife Miriel Serinde whom he named Curufinwe, but his mother-name (and the name he was known by ever after) was Feanor, the Spirit of Fire. He was the greatest of the Noldor, and the effort of birthing him weakened Miriel, and she was the first to perish in the Blessed Realm of Aman. This grieved Finwe greatly, but he found some solace in his son, who likewise loved his father dearly. After a while, Finwe married Indis of the Vanyar (who was of close kin to Ingwe, their King) and had two sons by her, Fingolfin and Finarfin. This did not meet with the favor of Feanor, who never grew close to either of his half-brothers.

Feanor was the most accomplished Noldorin craftsmen of any age, and his pursuit of knowledge knew no bounds. He created beautiful jewels, and lamps that burnt with a secret fire, as well as the palantirs. It was rare that his hands were not at work, and his mind was subtle and skillful. However, he was proud, and none could dissuade him from any course. He married Nerdanel and had seven sons by her: Maedhros the Tall, Celegorm, Curufin (who inherited the most of his father's skill), Caranthir, Maglor, and the twins Amrod and Amras. Their mother was as gifted as Feanor but more patient, and she and Feanor grew estranged. Some of her mood was passed on to her sons, but not to all.

Fingolfin had two sons, Fingon and Turgon, and a daughter, Aradhel. Finarfin had four sons by his wife Earwen of Alqualonde (the daughter of Olwe), Finrod the Faithful, Orodreth, Angrod and Aegnor, and a daughter, Galadriel. The House of Finarfin had golden hair that they inherited from their Vanyar grandmother. The sons of Finarfin were so close in friendship with the sons of Fingfolin that they could all have been brothers, but there was small love in Feanor's heart for the others of his father's house, though Fingon and Maedhros were great friends.

Finally, the three ages of Melkor's imprisonment came to a close, and he was brought before the Valar in the Ring of Doom and he submitted to them. Manwe forgave him, as he was unable to understand evil, being not evil himself, though he ruled that Melkor must remain in Valmar for a term. Melkor took to the aid of the Valar and the Eldar (only in public; he hated them both still) and finally he was allowed to wander freely throughout man. This infuriated Tulkas, but nevertheless he obeyed Manwe.

During this time, the Dwarves brought word to Thingol that the creatures of Melkor were abroad in great numbers once more: orcs, werewolves, spiders and other dreadful beasts. Taking thought to this, Thingol commissioned the dwarves to create great arms of steel for his people (for they did not understand metalworking) and to create a place of strength. Thus, the dwarves made new weapons of war fo the Sindar, and delved the Thousand Caves of Menegroth within the Forest of Neldoreth. Within its grottoes, Melian crafted images of Valinor, and it became the fairest city in Middle-Earth, and its armories were filled with axes, spears, swords, and hauberks that never grew dull. Afterwards, the Sindar drove their enemies from Beleriand and again had peace.

Okie dokie, folks. The story will definitely picck up with the next installment, so be not afraid. Also, be not afraid that I'll wait another flippin' week for said installment, or for any kind of post, period. No way. I'm on this.

Love,

Ian