Nulda Hendunár Elbilin [Secret Eyes of Fire Star-Arrow]

Known alias’: Hendinur, Osdil, Halmir [Fiery Gleam in the Eyes, Lover of Wealth, Hidden Jewel]

Son of Fëanulda (father) [Secret Spirit] and Isilmewen (mother) [Moonlight Maiden]

Father of Hendalacon Felminquo [Stormy Eyes Full of Emotion] {Deceased} Husband of Níreäriel Órenië [Daughter of Sea Tears Tear Heart] {Deceased} Step-Father of Murchadh [Warrior of the sea] Husband of Kalandria De Mein [Small Greek Port The Main]

Horse: Lómerocco [Twilight Horse]

Born (1420 Age of the Trees) of a Noldo father and Vanya mother Elbilin inherited his father’s features and dark hair. But he had the same fire in his heart that his mother had also, though his heart was ever drawn to Laurelin his love belonged to Telperion like his mother’s did. Spending most of his time with his mother by the lake of Lórellin Elbilin learned the benefit of rest which his mother had learned herself from Estë. His father also often came with them unto Lórien though his time was spent in the following of Irmo master of dreams and visions, one of the Fëanturi. It was here that his parents met, while his mother was under the tutelage of Estë and his father Irmo. In his childhood Elbilin often spent time running through the woods playing with the various spirits that inhabit them. He would occasionally spy from afar some of the great Valar but never dared to near them save if he was with his parents or his uncle Fëaril [Spirit of Balance] who was older than his father and spent his time in the service of Námo doomsman of the Valar. As he got older he was taken to Ezellohar to see the two trees, and for time that first visit with his parents he often forsook Lórien for Ezellohar preferring instead to sit in thought bathed in the light of such beauty. Sitting as he did beneath Telperion but ever towards Laurelin it was because of this that upon returning home one day while in a discussion with his mother she noticed that his eyes were aflame with the light of Laurelin, and so gave unto him the name Hendunár [Eyes of Fire]. At the time she was grieved for she thought that this meant he was to be like Fëanor who it was well known had great dislike for Indis of the Vanyar and therefore, according to his mother, by proxy all Vanyar. This was fuelled by Elbilin’s new love of craft, and forsaking his seat of thought upon Ezellohar he took to working with the smiths of Aulë. Though never a master craftsman Elbilin loved ever his own creations and those of others, he was marvelled by the beauty contained within the objects. He gathered unto him many things through trade with other smiths, finding that his skill at crafting arrowheads and swords was appreciated by others whose skill lay more in crafting fine jewels and such. So it came that he often brought home many necklaces and jewellery for his mother, who he loved dearly. As his love for these objects grew so did his mothers worry for him, and so great it got that he would surely have sworn the Oath of Fëanor had it not been for a chance encounter one day.

Deciding to take a day off from his crafting, Elbilin decided to once again travel up to Ezellohar to sit in the light of the trees. After many hours of gazing upon Laurelin he was suddenly overcome with grief, not his own but that of another. He looked away to the east, his eyes taking time to adjust and before him he saw Nienna walking up towards the trees and behind her the splendour of Valmar, which never before had he looked towards for his gaze had always before been fully on Laurelin until he walked home eyes closed. Upon seeing Nienna he understood the grief he felt, and when she was come by the trees he begged her to teach him. Three times she asked him what it was he wanted to learn, and three times he answered that he did not know. Upon the final answer she turned from him and continued to water the trees. Elbilin moved not from his place and listened to her as she sang a lamentation. Its words were so sweet, so moving, as he listened he learnt about a time before the awakening of the elves beside Cuiviénen, a time when the Valar lived in Middle-Earth. He found himself so moved that when she had finished he noticed he had a stream of tears down his face. Then Nienna looked at him and asked what he wished to learn, and in response he turned to her and said; “Oh Nienna, sister of the Fëanturi whom my family serve, you have taught me more than I could have asked for.” It was through that song that he learnt of endurance in hope and in waiting until the end he learnt the great value of patience. It was this great patience that counselled him against the rash Oath of Fëanor. As he left he saw another walking up towards Ezellohar to meet Nienna, Olorin he was named though Elbilin knew that not.

Elbilin talked to his mother about this, and she was happy. She counselled her son to spend more time with Nienna and less in the forges, there was worry in her voice, and because of his love for his mother he did as she asked. From that day on he often went to again to Ezellohar to meet with Nienna. It was on one of the many meetings they had there that he met another who sought tutelage; her name was Níreäriel Órenië [Daughter of Sea Tears Tear Heart] though to her friends she was known as Quingwen [Bow Maiden]. There was an instant connection between the two as they listened to the songs and the words of Nienna, as if they had been brought here together as part of a greater plan. Much love had Elbilin for her as she reminded him of his mother, strong and passionate yet also sorrowful and slow to anger. Being also of the Vanyar she had the same long golden hair as his mother. Because of these lessons they grew to be close friends and in wanting to find common ground she began to teach him archery. Taking to it slowly at first he practiced every evening with her, and the days such as he was not with Nienna he spent in the forges of Aulë forging arrow-heads of splendour such that each one glistened with an ice cold blue haze all as gifts for Níreäriel. Each time he would bring her them but never did he see her use them. It was in fact because she saved them all, fearing she might lose one of these precious things she saved them all in a chest one of the few things she took with her when they left the Undying Lands. In time Elbilin’s skill with a bow increased, so much so that he seemed to best all with whom he contested, all save Níreäriel. His father was one who loved tradition, he believed it to be a perfect way of maintaining the brilliance of the Eldalië and was most disappointed that when his son reaching the age of 50 had not wed. To him the friendship between Níreäriel and Elbilin was no doubt the long awaited union he had hoped for and constantly inquired when Elbilin was to ask for her hand in marriage. A long time passed before he got anywhere in this questioning with his son merely replying soon father. Perhaps it was out of fear of rejection but most likely it was an attempt to teach his overly eager father the same lesson of patience that Nienna had taught him.

After a while Elbilin realized that his father was too old and set in his ways to learn anything new regardless of how important a message it was, his father being first generation Valinorean. So after time Elbilin himself gave up, and one day while out practicing with Níreäriel he turned to her, bending upon one knee he offered up a silver ring that he himself had forged in secret in the mines of Aulë. And in doing so he asked for her hand in marriage. Her response being as always to joke was to demand that he fire one perfect shot from where they stood straight into the centre of the farthest target. Elbilin looked worried for even at best he had only been able to hit the middle-ring on the farthest target. So fearing slightly that this would be his only chance he took an arrow laying it on top of his finger gripping the bow he drew back the bow. Then gently Níreäriel placed her hand on his shoulder, he turned to look at her and holding in her hand she had an arrow of white. The blue-hazed tip he recognized as one of the many he had made for her during the early stages of their friendship, she had taken the head and made it into an arrow. Dropping his original and taking this new arrow he put it in place, drew back his bow. Focusing his mind, eye, and breathing all on hitting the target, he released the arrow. Straight and true it flew, faster than any he had shot before. All time seemed to slow around them as the arrow neared its target, then plunging itself straight into the centre of the target it came to a halt. Looks of glee graced both faces as they saw from afar and knew what it meant. It was around this time that she gave him the name Elbilin, though after her death he did not use it until many years later when his comrades in the Heavenly Arch of Gondolin gave him also the same name. Less than a year later their son was born, upon viewing him for the first time Elbilin knew what he would name him Hendalacon [Stormy Eyes] for after looking into the child’s eyes the untameable flame that dwell within his own seemed quite docile. Níreäriel also did not take long to choose a name for him, for after mothering him for only a month she managed to see beyond the storm contained within and he was named Felminquo [Full of Emotion]. For a little while they lived in happiness, undaunted by troubles. On occasion Elbilin and Níreäriel took little Felminquo to the trees, and unlike his father he was enamoured with Telperion the soft light shining from its dark green leaves. In this time Elbilin still continued on occasion his work in the forges, and it came to him one day that he should make something for his son. So a broach he crafted, that when fastened interlinked a golden fruit of Laurelin and a silver-green leaf of Telperion. When unfastened however one found that the fruit and leaf were on opposite sides, meant to symbolize the harmony and strength in the union of the two trees. Then came the cruel and vicious desecration of the light of the Valar. At the time he, along with his family were asleep in Tirion for earlier that day they had been at the festival of the Valar….To be Continued