The Heart of a Dragon

This is a short one-off piece I wrote up today. It has been on my mind since I read the book by Verelyn Flieger - but a list of suggested story titles sent me by Ellie set me off on a 'must write' quest.

With this story it needs to be remembered that Melkor had darkened the thoughts of many of the Noldor. The shadow of evil lies on Nerdanel as well, and she is writing from a semi-decieved viewpoint.

Saying that - I am obviously likening some of Fëanor's characteristics at that time to a dragon with its hoard. The heart of a Dragon is - I think - one of greed, possessiveness and violence. I don't believe there were any dragons at the time Fëanor lived. Morgoth 'develops' them in the First Age!

On with the tale..any feedback is welcome.(I have a more positive one-shot sequel in mind!)

Picture? Well I shouldn't have posted it, because it is my rough copy of Nerdanel writing. A VERY rough copy with scribbles of others in the background. But Eru_Melin said post what you have done! I will finish this drawing properly and post it again. It makes a change from the Lake District and the Feanor doll! ;)



The Heart of a Dragon


Of Nerdanel’s thoughts on the departure of Fëanor to Formenos.


(Disclaimer. All is Tolkien’s. Only the interpretation and mistakes are mine. A/N. This piece was inspired by reading ‘Making verses Hoarding’ in Verlyn Flieger’s book ‘Splintered Light’. Kent State university Press; and also by an e-mail from Ellie. All other references are from The Silmarillion and Morgoth’s Ring. J.R. R. Tolkien. Ed C. Tolkien)



The house of Curufinwë Fëanáro. Tirion. 1490


So you move of your treasures from this house to a new place of keeping, my lord? A new, deep chamber you will build in the north in which you may contain all you hold dear – all you hoard unto yourself, all you desire to possess yet would deny to others.

Ai, it is true that for our sons and your father you make an exception – they alone do you permit to gaze freely upon your greatest works of skill. But now I begin to wonder if you count them as but part of the riches of your House?

They go with you! All of our sons and their families go with you. All of your goods and treasures do you take with you - save for one.

Even your father is now to be hidden from many others of the Noldor who would see and speak with him – safe in your fortress - in your dwelling place to be. The greatest of treasures is he to you, as all do know – and now you have what your heart has long desired - his uninterrupted company, and that none may steal of his time or affection from you. Nay – neither Indis, or your half-brothers, or sisters, or people may take your father from you.

The Great Jewels are yours you state! You are their maker; without your skill they would not exist. The Valar only want them as possessions of beauty; they would withhold them from the Eldar as they withhold light from the Hither Lands. Do you not withhold them, you who see yourself as the noblest of the children of Finwë – do you not see them as possessions to keep, to wear as you will? Of surety the light of the Trees is for all to live in, not to be locked away in safekeeping, not for wearing as an adornment, nay, not even for one as mighty as you!

How has your heart changed, my beloved lord - that you forget the light within the Silmarils is not your own? For good reason, with noble intent did you first craft them – and for the benefit of all. And you pored of yourself into that recombining of silver and gold that all were amazed at your skill. But you have come to love too well the works of your hands. You see the jewels increasingly as yourself – as your heart! So it is that the one who would possess of the beauty of light has become the one possessed.

Possessed of a hardening heart that fell deeds and violence matter not to you! Possessed of a tainted form of love – a greedy love, a selfish love. And have I not tried to speak to you, to give warning that any who seek to possess the light to the exclusion of others, do but lose sight of it altogether.

That pronouncement of Mandos’ upon you at Máhanaxar, you name it unjust, as indeed it is – but you welcome it! Save for the humiliation to your person, you welcome this exile. Seven days is the term Mandos has set before you must depart of Tirion. Yet you will be gone long before that passage of time. I will not go with you into exile. I will not be another of your treasures for you to lock away. I will not lose sight of the light, nor allow you to taint the love I have for you by further violence. And that my decision is not at all to your liking strangely brings me of joy! Though of late have our disagreements been many, you still wish of my company. Yet you do not seek to force me to leave, to possess me! Do we not still love each other, you and I? And that love one of the few things which remains untainted by the pervasive poison that mars so many of your deeds. Mayhap the armour you seek to encase yourself in has yet a chink that in time may let in the true light again? Mayhap then can I be fully with you, my lord and my love?

But for now, while you travel far to build of your fortress, while you keep guard over all that you deem yours by right that none may take it from you – remember that for a greater purpose than hoarding the light were you born. For a great and noble purpose I believe it was, and for the glory of Arda. Oh, my beloved Spirit of Fire – remember that, though as strangers we must now become, the heart that beats within you is yet the fiery heart of my lover and husband, of a Prince of the Noldor, of an Elda – not the cold heart of a creature spawned of Melkor's design, and of greed!