Text; Anonymous

[vocarrah]

My dear Citizens of Hadriel,

I'm glad to see that our circumstances haven't prohibited you from forming bonds with each other. On the other hand, aren't those same bonds difficult to navigate at times? I'm not only speaking of romantic bonds, either. Sexual, familial, bonds of camaraderie...

And I've no doubt our predicament is a unique stressor that can strain those bonds as well. And so many of you are suffering in silence. And it isn't just the present bonds, either, is it? Many of you are shadowed by your pasts, as well.

I want to offer myself as a supportive shoulder. If you've been seeking a second opinion, or advice, or anything of the sort, please, consider this an open invitation.

I care not to find out about your secrets; if you'd prefer to speak privately or anonymously, I will not begrudge you, nor doubt the sincerity of your claim.

I only seek to provide succor to those who have been needing it. Love can be...rather difficult to talk about it, can't it?

Comments

video

[so_dark_a_road]

Thanks for your kindly thoughts! You are obviously a warm and supportive person. You're right. It can be difficult to navigate the bonds you speak of, and Hadriel can stress them terribly at times. And yes, it's difficult to speak of these matters.

[perma anon text]

[vocarrah]

It is indeed. I do hope that this little project helps at least some people.

private video

[so_dark_a_road]

I hope so, too. I often ask people about their lives. It seems that when you get past the ways we all present ourselves, almost all of us have griefs and worries. And some people are very troubled indeed.

[ Curufn is normally very select in who he tells his own troubles to, but he feels this anon person is truly sympathetic, so why not? ]

My son and my eldest brother vanished from Hadriel some months ago. I grieve for both. It is not only that I miss them, but that I know the type of death they both went home to. My heartstrings have been jangling like a badly-tuned electric guitar ever since.

[vocarrah]

Is your world dead, then? Or does returning mean death for them?
[Both can be equally terrible--returning to nothing, ah! A tragedy.]


I imagine your son, in particular...I am sorry.

private video

[so_dark_a_road]

The Door pulled each of them from the scene of his own death. And from what I have heard, both of them died terrible deaths. My son Celebrimbor was unable to speak of his own, so great was his fear of experiencing it to its conclusion. He must have died by torture. And my brother Maedhros was in such despair at the end of his life that he threw himself into a volcanic vent.

I grieve for them both. I love all my brothers dearly, Maglor in particular. But I loved my son more than anyone. Thank you. . . whoever you are.

[vocarrah]

[Oh, Curufin.

Ianchus has to take a moment to sigh at that. That's...rather close to home, isn't it.]

The worst thing you can do is keep thinking of their deaths, I think. Not even the fact of death; denial doesn't help. But running potential scenarios through your mind will only haunt you.

If you ever want to talk to me about them, I'll listen.

private video

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Rather close to home for both Curufn and Ianchus! Curufin still feels guilty that he didn't contact Ianchus to find out if he was all right, after he was revived. Of course, he doesn't know it's Ianchus he's talking to right now, but if he did, he'd apologize profusely. ]

I think I'm going to be haunted till the end of my days. But you're right. And I do try to think of the good. We Elves don't leave the Earth when we die; we are bound to it forever. We go to a place called the Halls of Mandos, which is both a refuge and a place of healing. And according to our sages, we have the option of reincarnating when we are healed of the traumas of the last life. I hope this for my son especially. He is a compassionate person, and one who achieved much that benefitted the Elvish community before he was defeated in war. He was respected and honored, and we all have much to thank him for. I think maybe he'd want to return to life in order to continue his work.

I think. . . I shouldn't give other people my nightmares by describing what I see when I imagine the deaths of my relatives. However, your are very kind to offer to listen, and I thank you.

But you must have sorrows of your own? Everyone does.

Re: private video

[vocarrah]

Perhaps I do. But I'm more concerned about others at the moment. I'm quite fine where I am.

As for nightmares. Take care to keep them from choking you, yes?

private video

[so_dark_a_road]

Are you really fine? Because if you're not, you can always talk to me. If not here, then elsewhere. You know who I am.

As for nightmares, yes. I'll do my best to keep them from haunting me to the point of compromising my ability to act. Thank you. . . whoever you are. Your sympathy helps. I will remember this conversation with gratitude.