If you need a smile (for example, IF YOU HAVE BEEN CRYING YOUR HEART OUT OVER A CERTAIN MUSICAL, PRAPS) then here we are: have some epic sweetness and cuteness galore!
😉 It’s totally undefinable, and I will never confirm whether it is platonic, romantic, physical or otherwise… because Mahal knows NARVI never ever ever would.
So it is completely open to all interpretation… and every single one is valid!
1. ‘Determamfidd’ is a mishmash of bits and pieces of my own name, and the word ‘determined’. It’s a reminder to myself to be steadfast in myself and in my goals. It’s a trait I admire, and wish to emulate.
2. Narvi is the Dwarf who made the Doors of Durin, the magic doors of Moria. We only know the name because of the inscription on the doors.
(These doors, that is.)
The inscription reads as follows:
“Ennyn Durin Aran Moria. Pedo Mellon a Minno. Im Narvi hain echant. Celebrimbor o Eregion teithant i thiw hin.”
(“The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter. I, Narvi, made them. Celebrimbor of Hollin drew these signs.”)
So this is how Narvi, a Dwarf of Khazad-dum, would have known the grandson of Feanor and one of the most skilled Noldorin Elves ever to live.
Well, in canon it’s not presumed to be anything, really. As you say, it’s most likely a working relationship.
In Sansukh, they are very close. But it isn’t known what the nature of their relationship was. I am not confirming whether it was platonic, romantic, or whatever.
This is quite deliberate, and I am doing it because this is how Narvi is (or at least, my version of Narvi). It’s a conscious character choice. She is something of an enigma, and she does NOT talk. About things. That hurt her. She holds things close and tight. She keeps her secrets.
This is quite a point of difference between her and all these other focus Dwarves, whose personal lives end up splashed all over the walls. Narvi could not bear such a thing. GOD no.
The closest she has ever been in the whole story to letting out anything personal is in Chapters 32 and 36… and each time it’s only one line.
Chapter 32
“I’ve seen good, innocent, true-hearted people hardened by the world,” Narvi said, and her eyes were dark and glittered strangely as she watched Pippin. “I’ve seen naivety punished and gentleness broken. It’s not a new tale.”
..
Chapter 36
Gróin and Fundin were, for once, sad-faced and silent: not a single bickering line passed their lips. Haban was tight-lipped. Narvi’s eyes were full of ancient rage and hatred, her hands clenched by her sides.
“There is nothing I would not do,” she began in a voice that shook with fury. Then she checked herself and stalked away.
“What-” Fundin said, scratching the back of his head, but Haban held up a swift hand.
“There’s not a single one of us,” she said quietly, “who can even come close to hating Sauron as much as Narvi does.”
…
So yeah, the relationship is never going to be defined. I am fairly sure that for Narvi, it would be indefinable anyway.
Nobody – nobody – hates Sauron as much as Narvi. Not Galadriel, not Gandalf, not even Frodo. NOBODY. She has so much hatred for him, so much anger, that sometimes she feels like she cannot possibly contain it. It feels like it spills out between her gritted teeth, seeping out of her skin or escaping upon her every exhaled breath.
Celebrimbor had associated with the dwarves for a long time, and clearly admired their skill. But, he is an elf, and therefore, must be difficult at all possible times. So. To his friends, he started calling Khazad-dum Moria instead. It was a joke. It was him being ridiculous about this gorgeous glowing kingdom of dwarves.
He had no idea when to pull back the joke, so damn right he put it on the gate. The dwarves knew about it. They knew that it was how this elf showed his admiration. And just a little bit at first, it was a memory of Celebrimbor who had died in agony and torment in Sauron’s clutches, protecting the world.
Basically, I’m saying that for a while after Celebrimbor died, dwarves called it Moria in the same way you see pics of a guy in a crazy outfit at a friend’s funeral. They’re honoring an old joke, and so, honoring him.
After the balrog, after Dwarrowdelf fell? If you think the superstitious dwarves didn’t read that inscription and take it as long ignored prophecy, I will call you a liar.
And now, in the genre of TRULY random things I’ve podficced, here is a crossover between the Silmarillion and Star Wars, featuring Narvi and Celebrimbor as ancient Jedi. This little fic is by the wonderful @jedi-goldberry-with-the-force, who shares my extremely esoteric tastes enough to have written something that fits so many different I like into such a small package. @poplitealqueen, this one is for you, because you are the one that got me interested in crossing these fandoms over, and because I know things have been hard lately. I hope this provides you with some cheer.
Nearly five minutes of awesome, narrated crossover goodness
(psst @determamfidd you should check it out since you’re morphing into star wars trash AND it has female! Narvi ;3)
I like Narvi and Celebrimbor any old how! Ace snugglebuds, saps in love, besties with hammers, idc how they are put together, but I like it!
Yeah, Narvi’s hatred of Sauron is unspoken in the fic, but it refers to what he did to Celebrimbor. Narvi is reeeeeaaaaally not a forgiving soul. And yeah, she saw it all.
Aw Yiss 