Makalauriels

elwing | sacrifice

Elfbruary Day 8: Arwen the Smith

I noticed in my recent reread that the banner Arwen makes isn't described as embroidered or woven. It's described as "made" and "wrought." Words Tolkien uses for things made through smithcraft. And the materials mentioned for the banner are metals, not any specific cloth.

WE ARE SO BACK

Why do I have so many of these

She’s in the safest place in Middle-earth, and she refuses to take off her armour—her dress is literally made of metal.

What’s more, she’s wearing one of the darkest colours of any of the Elves we’ve seen, a deep green that is enshrouding her, dragging behind her and weighing her down like the shadow she carries. It’s tempered somewhat by the glint of the golden leaves on the border, but even then it’s heavy.

And the leaves are not growing! There are no branches, no vines, only leaves that have already fallen, and I feel like that speaks volumes about Galadriel’s mental state and the storyline of the Elves as the season goes on.

I just love this design so much, how despite being so beautiful and so suited to the setting of Lindon, it’s still speaking to the war in Galadriel’s heart at this point and all the fear and anger and grief she is carrying with her.

Since Tolkien gives us little detail about Curufin’s death, I drew this headcanon of mine where he’s killed by Nimloth :3

Zoomed-in faces below