back to middle-earth month

The silwritersguild is holding daily challenges to celebrate Back To Middle Month or B2MeM, as it is fondly called. And sustained by the moral force of nature that is lanyon, I have acted upon my desire to meet said challenges. Therefore, two drabbles. One of which is not Silm-related at all.

#1: learning to make a fire


Sight

Alone of the children of Eru Man is born afraid of the dark, it is said. In Elros' life he has met few Eldar for whom the night is still blessed. He has hidden from it all his life. But though it is pitch dark when his ship finds its shore, he husbands his inheritance of light, glimmering from skies and sea. For he has brought his people with him, and their gentle harbour is filled, before dawn, with torches to greet Eärendil, and to face the new day they have chosen for themselves, after long years of wandering blind.


#2 tedious jobs / great danger


Earth

Temptation is a fly fanning the sweat of his brow on a summer's day at Bag End. It is one of the habits of Sam's trade to ignore it until it goes away. When Frodo falls it would be almost the easiest thing in the world to nurture him back to Sam's own liking, well-fed and content, like the uncurious marigolds blooming in their bower, touched neither by frost nor flies.

But power is a different thing in Sam Gamgee's garden. He cannot carry the Ring; he can only hold the earth in his hands and make the oaks grow.