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Of Elven Magic And its Applications
From Letter 131 To Milton Waldeman: "Both of these (alone or together) will lead to the desire for Power, for making the will more quickly effective,-and so, to the Machine (or Magic.) By the last I intend all use of external plans or devices (apparatus) instead of development of the inherent inner powers or talents - or even the use of these talents with the corrupted motive of dominating: bulldozing the real world, or coercing other wills. The Machine is our more obvious modern form though more closely related to magic than is usually recognized.
I have not used 'magic' consistantly, and indeed the Elven-queen Galadriel is obliged to remonstrate with the Hobbits on their confused use of the word both for the devices and operations of the Enemy and for those of the Elves. I have not, because there is not a word for the latter (since all human stories have suffered the same confusion. But the Elves are there (in my tales) to demonstrate the difference. Their 'magic is Art, delivered from many of its human limitations, more effortless, more quick, nore complete (product, and vision in unflawed correspondence). And its object is Art, not Power, sub-creation not domination and tyrannous re-forming of Creation. The Elves are 'immortal' at least as far as this world goes; and hence are concerned rather with the griefs and burdens of deathlessness in time and change, than with death. The Enemy, in successive forms is always 'naturally concerned with sheer Domination, and so the Lord of magic and machines." (Emphasis mine.)
POWER was NOT the focus of Elven 'magic" - it was the creation of Art - the survival of the successive ages and the maintenance of beauty and health that Elves used 'magic' to accomplish (Bold emphasis mine)
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Given the quote above, it's sufficient to say that magic among the Eldar, at least as mortals percieved it, was everywhere they were.
It was in the Valley of Imladris, where Samwise Gamgee felt he was 'in a song', where the skill of Lord Elrond brought Frodo back on the mend, and gave him a time of rest, and peace. It was with Lord Glorfindel, who inspired Asfaloth to outrun the fell horses of the Nazgul.
It was in the Golden Wood; where the Lady Galadriel could envision with her Mirror, the past, present and future; not to any specific end, but to view the possibilities.
It was in the lembas her maidens prepared for the fellowship, that heartening bread that kept a traveller on his feet for many a day; the more he relied on it, the less he needed other food, though he might still crave his tastes for it.
It was in the Phial, whose Light knocked back fear and despair as well as giving off the Light of Earendil.
It was in Lord Celeborn, named Wisest of All by Galadriel, who, like his wife, could 'see'/'feel' the spirits of others (Gandalf) from afar.
It was in any Elf who had seen the Light of the Two Trees; for they could speak with their spirits, sometimes from afar, more oft at close distance. They lived simultaneously in the physical and spiritual realms...
Of other Elves of old;
It was in their Song, one needs only to remember the Daughter of Melian the Maia, whose song put the Mightiest of the Ainur to sleep in his very stronghold.
And of the Elves of the Third Age;
It was even in their ability to sense the nuances of the land; look to Legolas, and his keen sense of Fangorn, of how he 'felt' the ancient trees' presence, 'felt' their wrath at their treatment by the orcs.
Succinctly
From the above, we can gather that the majority of Elven 'magic' was widespread, some had more power than others. Being a Calaquendi might well mean that one lives in the spiritual and physical realm, but being a Silvan Elf means you're better able to hide in a forest. (For the woodcraft of the Elves of Ossiriand was such that one could pass through an inhabited forest and not see a one of them- Silmarillion)
Much of it was object-focused.
-Swords imbued with ithildin or like metals; forged in ways taught possibly by Aule himself.
(Glowing Glamdring, Awesome Anduril)
-Mirrors of Sight (Scrying tool)
-Phial (Holds a Silmaril's distant light)
-Realms (Imladris, Lorien, and Mithlond specifically)
Some of it was Song focused;
-Luthien's Song of Power
-A Elbereth! Gilthoniel!
Some of it was simply keener senses;
-Spiritual senses (Calaquendi)
-Physical- such as tracking, lighter feet, keener eyes
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Ways We might Create 'Magic'
-Look at Mantauriel's Jewels of Light, given to three of our own inhabitants. (Though the Jewel of Heart has seen the most action)
-Family amulets/talismans, perhaps? Maybe a mother's love gives courage to her daughter when she wears a certain item, be it brooch, hairclasp, ribbon, ring, etc etc etc?
Bear in mind that items like these can do what I just said above. They could NEVER HOPE to compare with the Silmarils, Rings of Power, staves of Wizards- none of them. EVER. To try would be to godmode.
-Swords of old, or at least forged in the old ways, with Mithril and ithildin. The Smith would, presumably, be old enough to remember how Aule (THE Smith of the Valar) would have taught him or his forebears.
-Ships- At least, where the Army's Sea Forces are involved. Ships crafted in the ways the Teleri of Alqualonde did are a sure success on the waves- the Teleri were taught by Ulmo himself.
-Song, song, song! They did it then, we can do it now! Just bear in mind that unless an RP is specifically set in the First or Second Age, your Song had better [i]not[/i] try to rival that of Luthien or Melian!
-Scrying Device IE another Mirror. This one borders on godmode, and unless you're in an RP where you have a VERY good reason to be using such, try not to use this sort very much.
A Quick Guide to the Valar/Ainur and How they Relate to the Eldar
Illuvatar- Created us.
Manwe- Is Lord of Arda. Husband to Varda Elentari.
Varda/Elbereth- Most beloved to us. Queen of the Stars.
Orome- First found us, at Cuivenen. Hunter of the Valar.
Nessa-Sister of Orome, loves most the deer.
Yavanna- Sang the Trees to life, her corn makes our lembas, her fruits our limpe. She taught some number of maidens how to do these things, and it's possible one might have been Galadriel herself; for how else during the War of the Ring did the Fellowship acquire Lembas?
Aule- The Smith! Taught Feanor. Taught lots of the Noldor his arts.
Ulmo- Vala of the Sea. Taught the Falmari (Alqualonde Telerin Elves) shipcrafting.
Osse and Uinen.-Maiar of Ulmo. Osse is a wild soul, his tempestuous nature causes many a sea storm. Uinen keeps his temper in check, but her weeping for Teleri slain by the fleeing Noldor in the First Age would rise many a wrathful wave in their own right.
Tulkas- Wrestled Melkor to the ground and chained him with Aule's chain.
Nienna- Wept for the hurts of Arda, taught Olorin pity and hope in endurance
Este- Vala of Rest and Healing
Vana- The Everyoung. Melian was a Maia serving her and Este; if there were Ainur of Beauty these would they be.
Mandos- Keeper of the Houses of the Dead; his Halls are where the Eldar pass into, should their bodies die.
Vaire- The Weaver. Wife of Mandos, she weaves the tapestry of time, history going into her storied webs.
Lorien- Vala of vision and dreams.
By Mantauriel
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