So It Is Said, by StarSpray

[starspray]

Author: StarSpray

Title: So It Is Said

Characters: Elros

Pairing: n/a

Text type / Format: not fixed-length ficlet

Source / Fandom: Silmarillion

Rating: G

Warnings: n/a

Word Count: 365

Summary:Elros befriends some gulls
Author notes: Written for Tolkien Gen Week 2022

It is hard to find quiet moments these days, away from the constant noise and activity that comes with building a new kingdom from the ground up. But when it gets to be too much Elros puts his foot down, as the king, and commandeers a small skiff to take himself off down the coast, away from the half-done harbors and the mostly-done buildings around them.

When he is alone he tilts his head back, feeling the sun on his face, and breathes in deep. The water laps against the sides of the little boat. Gulls wheel overhead, and some come down to perch on the boat with him, watching with bright black eyes.

It is said that the seabirds of the world go at times to gather and bring tidings to a lonely tower on the eastern shores of Valinor. Elros does not know if this is true. It is also said that Lady Elwing, who lives in the tower, takes the shape of a great seabird and flies out over the waters; he has even heard claims from his own people of seeing her circling over the island, though she is not permitted to set foot on mortal lands. He knows the first part is true: he saw her transform into a great bird himself, long ago and far away in a world now drowned. He is not so sure about the latter part, which sounds to him like a mere fisherman's tale—for such tales are always followed by the claim that such sightings bring good luck.

He would like to believe the stories of the seabirds, though, and tossed the gulls on his boat a few bits of dried fish, and laughed as they flutter and squawk and right over the pieces. When they fly away at last he calls after them, "Give my greetings and my love to my mother!"

Three days later, as he is meeting with architects and builders, one looks up and points out a great sea bird, white with black-tipped wings, circling over the harbor. It does not call to them, but swoops down low over their heads before wheeling away westward.

 

Comments

[shirebound]

When they fly away at last he calls after them, "Give my greetings and my love to my mother!"

Oh, how wonderful. This is such a unique and hopeful glimpse of Elros.

[starspray]

Thank you!

[hhimring]

Nice scene in the boat! I like how he only half believes at first, and yet it clearly means a lot to him anyway! And then the stories are confirmed, at the end...

[starspray]

Thanks!

[erulissedances]

Oh, this actually brought tears to my eyes. In these days of attacks and families ripped apart, to have this small bit of comfort was wonderful.

- Erulisse (one L)

[starspray]

Thank you! Arriving in Numenor must have been such a relief to all of the Edain after all those years of war.

[anna_wing]

THat's lovely! So, er...is she an albatross then?

[starspray]

Thank you!

The albatross may or may not be Elwing--I meant to leave it ambiguous. I typically picture her as some kind of large white bird of indeterminate species (though more similar to an albatross than anything else), but I can easily see the sailors of Numenor associating albatrosses with Elwing, particularly since in the real world they were thought to bring good luck.

[anerea]

Lovely!

[starspray]

Thank you!