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LadyElleth — Nerdanel and Ambarto: Return

Published: 2007-06-20 13:11:09 +0000 UTC; Views: 8272; Favourites: 54; Downloads: 269
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Description An illustration for an AU drabble or double-drabble I had thought about writing for the Seven in '07 Project: [link]

Nerdanel watches the return of her youngest son Umbarto (whom Fëanor called Ambarto) in one of the swanships of the Teleri. The original version of the legend (as found in the History of Middle-earth, not in the published Silmarillion) goes thus:

In the night Fëanor, filled with malice, aroused Curufin, and with him and a few of those most close to Fëanor in obedience he went to the ships and set them all aflame; and the dark sky was red as with a terrible dawn. [...]

In the morning the host was mustered, but of Fëanor's seven sons only six were to be found. Then Ambarussa went pale with fear. 'Did you not then rouse Ambarussa my brother (whom you called Ambarto)?' he said. 'He did not come ashore to sleep (he said) in discomfort.' But it is thought (and no doubt Fëanor guessed this also) that it was in the mind of Ambarto to sail his ship back and rejoin Nerdanel, for he had been much shocked by the deed of his father.

(J.R.R. Tolkien, The Shibboleth of Fëanor; To be found in The History of Middle-earth Volume 12, The Peoples of Middle-earth)

I'm sure it is easy to see how this picture deviates from the original story.
--

Done in Photoshop 7; less than two hours - the Swanship was what took me longest of all. I'm not sure about the proportions of Ambarto in comparison to the ship, but I hope it won't look too out of place.

Credits:

(Nerdanel - [link] )
(Ambarto - [link] )
(the swan - [link]
(the swan's head - [link] )
(the Viking ship - [link] )
(the waves - [link] )
(the background - [link] and a texture - [link] )
/ (textures - [link] )
(hair brushes - [link] )
Related content
Comments: 34

TuxedoElf [2012-07-22 22:43:21 +0000 UTC]

This is georgous and I like your version much more!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

LadyElleth In reply to TuxedoElf [2012-07-23 01:58:10 +0000 UTC]

Thank you. Since then I have had to wonder what would happen after he returned, but I still like the idea that he does.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

TuxedoElf In reply to LadyElleth [2012-07-23 16:05:47 +0000 UTC]

It's been a long time since I wrote fanfic, but would you mind if I wrote something based on this? I feel inspired!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

LadyElleth In reply to TuxedoElf [2012-07-23 16:17:21 +0000 UTC]

I don't mind at all, I'd feel honoured. Would you mind giving me the link when it's done, if you're planning to publish it? ^^

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

TuxedoElf In reply to LadyElleth [2012-07-23 16:35:09 +0000 UTC]

Thanks! I'll definitely link you when I post. Should get some free time in the next couple of weeks!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

LadyElleth In reply to TuxedoElf [2012-07-24 21:07:19 +0000 UTC]

I'm looking forward to it. Good luck writing!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

EmeraldKeefe [2012-03-30 02:50:00 +0000 UTC]

This is nice, at least Nerdanel didn't lost him and he wasn't burned alive by his father...

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

LadyElleth In reply to EmeraldKeefe [2012-06-04 21:21:09 +0000 UTC]

It's a preferable end to the story, I agree. Alas, not what happened in canon...

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

EmeraldKeefe In reply to LadyElleth [2012-06-04 23:09:15 +0000 UTC]

No, unfortunately...

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

CirdanHavens [2009-02-01 13:24:04 +0000 UTC]

Several hundred years later, I finally join deviantART and it ends up being your pic of all pics that draw me to finally do it. This is a lovely picture and goes well with the flashfanfic? Because I came about it through SWG, which I still haven't really gone through. But it's a touching reunion in the dreamiest of ways. I love the way her dress billows in the wind.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

LadyElleth In reply to CirdanHavens [2009-02-01 23:21:17 +0000 UTC]

Wow, that is quite an honor - but I'm glad you are around.
Now just to update your gallery... it looks a little empty right now.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Firiath [2008-06-22 09:48:20 +0000 UTC]

Very beautiful, both the manipulation and the tale itself!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

LadyElleth In reply to Firiath [2008-07-16 01:57:24 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much - and the story just is a tearjerker...

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Pebble-and-a-half [2007-07-25 23:10:12 +0000 UTC]

Aw - no barbecue at Losgar then ? Sorry.

I like all of your Silmarillion stuff but this one is particularly good - the choice of colours and light, the atmosphere, the movement in the scene...really great.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

LadyElleth In reply to Pebble-and-a-half [2007-07-25 23:26:53 +0000 UTC]

[link] . Barbecued swanships, anyone? I'm afraid the redhead's out.

Thank you very much for that, I'm glad some of the atmosphere came across... I'm always worried that it doesn't.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

LadyElleth In reply to LadyElleth [2007-07-25 23:28:09 +0000 UTC]

Eh, sorry... The link originally said "best comment ever" just with dots in between, so apparently DA converted it. >_>

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Fiverart [2007-06-27 07:25:48 +0000 UTC]

Very melancholy look to this - its beautiful - thanks for using my stock!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

LadyElleth In reply to Fiverart [2007-06-27 13:28:37 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for the comment, and thank you for providing the stock.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

RhapsodyBrd [2007-06-22 15:05:34 +0000 UTC]

An excellent take!!!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

LadyElleth In reply to RhapsodyBrd [2007-06-23 01:02:40 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

immortalis [2007-06-21 20:26:14 +0000 UTC]

The Silmarillion is the one Tolkien book I've yet to read, but your art really makes me want to grab it down off the shelf

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

LadyElleth In reply to immortalis [2007-06-23 01:02:21 +0000 UTC]

Please do so! The Silm may be a bit dry at first, but it gets better if you just keep on reading. The multitude of names can be a bit intimidating, too, but you'll love it. The stories themselves are just too great not to.

And psst, this is not a real Silmarillion picture.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

AutumnRaindrop-Stock [2007-06-21 16:05:50 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for using my Stock in this It's really nice.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

LadyElleth In reply to AutumnRaindrop-Stock [2007-06-21 16:38:05 +0000 UTC]

You are welcome! Thank you, though, for offering the stock and for commenting!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Idril-Celebrindal [2007-06-21 06:12:12 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful! I love the composition, the colours... The swanship is perfect!
I love you Silmarillon work, it really capures the essence of Tolkien's work.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

LadyElleth In reply to Idril-Celebrindal [2007-06-21 11:12:54 +0000 UTC]

Thanks very much! I'm glad you like the swanship, because I really wasn't sure if it looked realistically like a ship or just like a freakishly large swan with a weird pattern.

Again, thank you very much. It's really interesting to hear such things - it seems that Tolkien very much succeeded in conveying one distinct aspect in the Silmarillion which we all seem to recognize and realize in our art.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Celebel-Quettandil [2007-06-20 14:18:00 +0000 UTC]

O.O Oh, I like it too. Just as my friend Efenleot said, great composition.
Ah, Silmarillion really is a book to cry and grieve.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

LadyElleth In reply to Celebel-Quettandil [2007-06-20 15:25:45 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much for the comment, and I do agree about the Silmarillion... but then that is what constitutes some of the chief - beauty (for lack of a better word) - of the book.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Efenleot [2007-06-20 13:36:06 +0000 UTC]

I love your composition! You couldn't have chosen a more impressive topic! I invite you to look at this collab of mine, about the same character [link]
And to this other drawing, made by my friend (the same one from the collab)
[link]

I love the atmosphere of your composition, dark and cold.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

LadyElleth In reply to Efenleot [2007-06-20 13:40:37 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much, for both the comment and the link! I'm crazy about most anything concerning the Ambarussa, so I wonder how that picture managed to escape my notice - I like it very much, and will definitely fave both the original and the colored version.

I'm glad it came across like that - Valinor can't have been a very cozy place for some time after the Darkening, and Ambarussa's return can't have been all that joyful either... after all, he was a kinslayer and under the curse of Mandos - though I do like to think that he was forgiven like Finarfin was earlier.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Efenleot In reply to LadyElleth [2007-06-20 14:26:18 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome! And you're totally right about how the Valinor of that time must have looked. You got it very well

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

LadyElleth In reply to Efenleot [2007-06-20 15:26:18 +0000 UTC]

Again, thank you. And do you mind if I add you to my friends? It really seems like we do get along well.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Efenleot In reply to LadyElleth [2007-06-21 13:14:02 +0000 UTC]

I wold be greatly honoured, really! I think we have much to share and talk. Please do!

Aurë entuluva!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

LadyElleth In reply to Efenleot [2007-06-21 13:20:03 +0000 UTC]

Friended you!

Aurë entuluva!
No, I'm not giggling myself silly about this, no.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0