B-7 Erulisse - A Blade of Sun and Moon

[engarian.livejournal.com]

B2MeM Challenge: B-7 Landscape – Cliffs, Botany – Sage, Artifacts & Weapons - Narsil
Format: Fictlet
Genre: Drama
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Characters: Telchar
Pairings: None

Summary: Telchar has received a commission for a sword. What goes into making such a weapon? We watch while he makes the blade that will separate Sauron’s ring from his body and speculate about the sword’s long history.





A Blade of Sun and Moon


Sparks were flying upwards, the coals glowed brightly red and his hammer was ringing on the anvil. Telchar was in his element. His assistants were manning the bellows and the regular whoosh was a rhythmic counterpoint to his hammer meeting the newly-formed blade. He had been working with star-metal, metal that had fallen from the starry skies onto the earth. When the star metal was mixed with a secret formulation of steel, a weapon could be made that would have no peer.

He moved in a time-honored sequence: fire to anvil to water and back. He teased the metal, folding and forging it to accept its new shape. Finally after days of work it had taken on the appearance of a sword and was ready for the next step.

Sharpening his gravers, he began carefully saying the words of power while engraving the blade and the pommel. He had imbued the steel with powers that would allow the blade to glow red in daylight and silver during the night, therefore he named the sword ‘Narsil’. Now he carved the Sun and Moon, and the word ‘Narsil’ between them. These properties were now being locked into the blade by both the engravings and by the words he was speaking.

Carrying the carved and shaped blade over to the grinder, he began the rocking motion with his foot that drove the wheel. Holding the blade against the rough stone, sparks flew as he began grinding the edges sharp, carefully watching so as not to overheat the blade. He moved from one wheel to another, and then another, each one placing a finer and sharper edge on the weapon.

Then, with his whetstone in hand, he began the final edgework. He caressed the edges with the stone as a lover caresses the body lying next to him. Each stroke brought the sword closer to completion. Finally, taking leather and finely twisted mithril wire, he carefully wrapped the hilt; then tested the blade by cutting through a falling piece of fine silk. It was almost ready.

For the final step, he took a sage bundle from his shelf and climbed the stairs to the cliff top. Emerging from the entrance that the dwarves guarded on top of their domain, he made his way to a specific stone that was called the Stone of Mahal. Reverentially placing the sword across the stone and lighting the sage bundle, he wove the pungent smoke around both stone and weapon in a complex pattern while praying to Mahal to bless the blade. The sword was now complete and ready to be given to the red-haired Elven lord.



A/N Although the sword Narsil is mentioned as having been Elendil’s sword carried against Sauron, its history says it is made by Telchar in the First Age. So how did a Dwarven-made sword make it to Númenor? I speculate here that the sword came to Maedhros who then gave it to Elros who carried it to Númenor where its history got a bit murky, but finally it ended up with the family of Elendil.

Comments

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed this.

[engarian.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much. I don't have a chance to bring my metallurgy skills into play in my stories very often :-)

- Erulisse (one L)

[hhimring]

When you write of craft, the reader can always feel that you know what you are talking about!

The suggestion that the blade was originally commissioned by Maedhros has also been made by Russandol, although subsequently the blade gets to Elendil by a slightly different route in her story.

[engarian.livejournal.com]

I wasn't aware of that, I hope I didn't step on her toes.

I looked at the map to see what was closest to Nogrod and Himring and Maglor's Gap were nearby. It seemed reasonable, since Maedhros and Maglor raised the twins that the sword might pass on as a gift to Elros from one of the two Feanorians.

Thank you for the kind words about my craft. I do love working with metal.

- Erulisse (one L)

[hhimring]

I can't imagine Russandol minding. The stories are so different.
But hers is well worth reading. Check it out when you've got the time!
Here: http://www.silmarillionwritersguild.org/archive/home/viewstory.php?sid=758

[engarian.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link, I'll check it out :-)

- Erulisse (one L)

[blslarner.livejournal.com]

I suspected a similar history for Narsil, although I've written it that it was given or traded to Finrod, who after all befriended Dwarves as well as Men, and that he gave it to another of his Mannish friends who was ancestor to Tuor, and that it thus passed to Earendil, was captured in the tower of Sirion and taken with Elrond and Elros, and thus eventually was given to Elros, who took it with him to Numenor, there descending through Amandil to Elendil. Perhaps a bit more roundabout, but workable, also, I think. I love the tale of the forging of it here! And I hope that you feel that my description of its reforging as Anduril as told in "In Empty Lands" is worthy of it!

[engarian.livejournal.com]

It's an interesting history for the weapon, and somehow this wonderful blade must make it from Telchar to Elendil to Aragorn. I enjoyed your tale of the reforging in "In Empty Lands". I haven't made weaponry, but I have a fair idea of what goes into it and I liked the fact that you had so many participating it the reforging.

Your tale of how the sword came to Elendil's hands is as likely as any :-) I tend to be direct A to B to C, but it is those who can think more roundabout who make interesting storytellers :-)

- Erulisse (one L)

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

What fabulous sword-making description. Holy cow, I am so glad I didn't draw this card for the B7 challenge.
Oh wait...I think I did. *headdesk*

Anyway, I also agree with you about how a Dwarven-made sword made it to Numenor. You are completely right about that. Hail, Maedhros! ;)

This is one beautiful fic.

(I actually used to work in metal and mining company research for a major stockbrokerage firm, and I still love anything to do with the subject.)

[engarian.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. I am a jeweler and multi-media artist and love metals. I'm delighted that you enjoyed my description of how Telchar made this sword that lasted for many thousands of years. I appreciate your writing and letting me know that you enjoyed the fic.

- Erulisse (one L)