Tag: Anonymous

Hey, bit of a weird thing – I was interested in the dark names, so I clicked the tag, and it’s not showing any posts as being tagged like that? I mean, I know for a fact you have a ton of posts about them. It’s just not letting me filter for them. Anyone have any idea what’s up with that?

ohHHHHHH-kay, it’s not working for me either. That’s annoying, I would like to read my posts on dark-names… 

All right, it might be the dash in the tag ‘dark-names’, urgh. I’ll go through my blog and change the tag to ‘dark names’. Thank heavens for tag-replacer!!!

EDIT: DONE! You should be able to search the tag now, Nonnie!

The Dark Names – are Dwarves personalities almost predestined or innate? Do Dwarves ever get upset because their personalities might give them a harder time in society, or if they think they’re not as good as someone else or if they’re “made” shy or something?

Ooooh, good – and really difficult – question, Nonnie.

I like to think that a kherumel is more of a description of a Dwarf’s best self. Some Dwarves might be very intimidated by the promise inherent in their dark-name, but I don’t think they would consider theirs ‘less good’ than another Dwarf’s.

It’s not about predestination, but it is innate. It is less a prophecy and more an promise of Mahal’s individual, specific love for them in particular. No Dwarf would ever wonder if their Maker does not love them. Their dark-name would be a confirmation of that – a secret and sacred acknowledgement of that love. 

Some Dwarves are definitely shy! Even with their esteem issues, however, I would think that their special and secret name would give comfort rather than take it away. Even if they find it hard to make their way in larger Dwarven society, they have a personal and enduring reminder of Mahal’s love, just for them.

EDIT: OH, and I also should mention! Each kherumel could easily be interpreted in many different ways. The Dwarf’s personality is not shaped by their dark-name. I’ll take Dwalin as an example.

Dwalin Fundinul – 

Bakhuzâluh
Mahal – Hammer of Mahal.

At first glance (and only because we know Dwalin) this appears to refer to Dwalin’s role as warrior and protector of the Durin line. BUT – what if Dwalin were rather more shy and studious? He could have become a great jurist or scholar – thus, he would have been fulfilling the promise in his name in another fashion, protecting and upholding justice or wisdom.

Another example!

Frerin Thrainul – 

Abkundûrzud – Dawning Sun

Because we know who Frerin is, this can be seen as referring to Frerin’s youth at death, and his sunny, warm and bright nature. But if he had lived? Perhaps Frerin would have been a great diplomat, and so have brought a new dawn to his people. Perhaps he could have been a mighty warrior, and his Name might have referred to his ferocity.

Each name is a descriptor, yes, but there is no specific mold that a Dwarf must fit in order to fulfil it. A dark-name is not a prophecy. 

Hope that answers the question, Nonnie!

im sorry bc this is a weird trigger but can you tag thew dain thorin ask with a tw for violence or something? flawed people or no i find any comments talking about people deserving to be hit or beaten triggering, even if they are bad or jerks or whatever sorry.

Sure thing, Nonnie. Done.

And – just have to mention – They’re not bad or jerks, either. Demonising Dain Ironfoot is one of my most hated tropes in fandom (i will seriously avoid everything an author writes if they write evil!dain), as is demonising Thorin. 

I have a few Hrera-related questions. When and how did she die? Did she and Frís watch the Azanulbizar battle, and how did they react? What did she and Thror say to each other when he showed up in the halls? (I also apologize for the feels and angst this ask might bring you or anyone else).

Meet a Dwarrowdam: Hrera

A painfully upper-class Dwarrowdam from the Broadbeam ruling family, the Line of Telphor. Hrera is a silversmith known for her small and detailed work. She was wed to Thrór, King under the Mountain, in a match arranged by her father and the Council of Erebor. She moved to Erebor when she was barely eighty, and yet it didn’t frighten her in the least. Prim, proper and careful with appearances, Hrera enjoyed ceremony and tradition. She was never afraid to speak her mind, and thoroughly disapproved of “all this Longbeard stoicism”. In fact, she thoroughly disapproved of practically everything – except her grandchildren. She had dark brown hair and hazel eyes, and a rather fanciful beard with diamond beads plaited into it like water-droplets hanging from a branch. She had one child, Thráin. Hrera was killed when Smaug attacked Erebor in 2770 TA.

When Thror finally fell to Azog’s blade, Hrera waited impatiently in the hall before the selpuchre doors. The minute they cracked open, she actually picked up her skirts and raced inside, heedless of her dignity for the first time in her existence. 

There upon the cold stone floor she found her husband, face in his hands.

Hrera did not speak, but simply held Thror close at last. After all his terrible tragedies, he had finally come back to her. Wounded, yes. But he would heal, and she would help. She would see to it.

When Thror’s tears had abated somewhat, she finally murmured, “your braids are a wreck.”

That prompted a new rush of tears from Thror – but he was half-smiling this time.

Is Baris a soprano? I would really love to audition for her but I’m an alto (albeit with a well-trained falsetto).

Oooooh, I think Baris has quite a large range tbh. But the song I mentioned in that anon-ask before would not. It would be a very soft gentle song, probably in the upper alto range. 

(When I thought her up, I headcanoned Baris to have the kind of range that raises eyebrows: F3 – F6, 3 octaves. A big fat contralto down below, a full belt range, and A BLAZINGLY HUGE DRAMATIC SOPRANO. 

Like, Jessye Norman huge, absolutely HUGE. Jessye is the gorgeous black woman in this production of Walkure, btw – utterly problematic opera, utterly jaw-dropping performance. Jump to 1:20 to be completely and totally floored.)

But! I’m not so cruel as to make people actually try to do that sort of thing! So don’t worry, Nonnie, your range is absolutely fine. 

Hi! I just wanted to let you know (if you didn’t already) that a bunch of your stuff is up on that ‘e-books tree’ site that took all those fics off of AO3. Again, sorry if you already knew this, just wanted to let you know!

Aw, thank you so much, Nonnie. People have indeed let me know – and I appreciate every single one of you who are looking out for me. 

I have emailed both the ebooks-tree bunch and their host site. It appears that it will take a week for anything to come of this though. 

Thank you so much for your kind thought! *hugs*

I’m thinking of auditioning for Baris, but I’m slightly nervous that you might someday write her singing. I’m a decent soprano for everyday purposes, but entirely untrained, and I certainly don’t have an dwarvish operatic range. Do you at least have any immediate plans to write her singing, so I can go try to cram a lifetime of vocal coaching into a few months?

I’ve actually got plans for her to sing quite soon? But it will not be an operatic performance. It’s rather more personal and emotional. 

The emotion of it is 800x more important than your technical proficiency, for this particular moment Nonnie. So don’t be discouraged from trying out for Baris!