The tale of Huor, Son of Galdor of Dor-lómin

My name is Huor, son of Galdor, House of Hador. My brother is Húrin Thalion, whose courage all men look up to. I have long walked beside him in the great wars against the servants of Morgoth. We are Men of Dor-lómin, loyal to the Elves of the North and sworn to fight for the freedom of Middle-earth.

I was young when I first saw battle, yet I already experienced the terrible price of what it means to live under shadow. The darkness from the North grows ever stronger, creeping across the lands of Beleriand, burning, corrupting and breaking hope. Still, we of the Edain shall not yield. My brother and I have stood beside the High Elves in their great struggle and seen both their glory and their grief.

Once, by the grace of fate, Húrin and I were saved from the hands of death and taken to a hidden place in the mountains, far out of reach from any evil and for that I will not expose its secrecy. I felt hope for a world  that was not tainted by Morgoth’s darkness, filled with beauty, peace, and the mingling of Elf and Man in friendship. That memory burns within me even now as a reminder that light still exists through the shadow.

Now war gathers again. The hosts of Morgoth swell in the North, and rumors of another great battle spread through every hall. I know that when the horns sound, my brother and I will answer. I do not deceive myself with false hope that there will be no casualties. I know that many will fall, perhaps even I, but I believe no life is wasted in the effort to stop Morgoth.

If I am to die, then let it be with a sword in my hand, standing beside my kin and my king. And if any good remains in this world after me, may it find its way through my line. For even in the darkest hour, the flame of our House will not be smothered.

The Jury's Out: Defending Fëanor

In our class activity we held a mock trial to decide whether Fëanor and his sons were morally responsible for the Doom of Mandos and the tragedy of the Noldor. I was part of the defense team, meaning my job was to argue that even though Fëanor's and his son’s actions were extreme, they were not entirely unjustified. 

At first, I didn't see how Fëanor or his sons could possibly be seen as innocent but after looking  at the evidence more closely, I began to understand their situation. They were bound by an Oath that essentially held them hostage and disobeyed it could bring terrible consequences upon them. 

While I don't believe that killing is right, I can understand where they are coming from and why they did what they did. The jury's decision to find Fëanor and his sons guilty of the Kinslaying of the Elves wasn't a big surprise. Although their actions were somewhat justifiable, they were still crimes and terrible ones to say the least.  

Ultimately, this activity helped me see how complex moral responsibility can be and that its important to understand the full picture of an event before judging what happened. 

The Pride of Our Craft & the Curse of Their Jewel

The powerful tools of stone, steel, gems, and gold endure across centuries, outlasting even the songs of Elves as they turn into whispers. In those days, we Dwarves forged some of our greatest works, one of them being the Nauglamir, shaped by our hands in the halls of Nogrod. It was a necklace far beyond compare, filled with jewels from many lands. Now Thingol, the Elven king, has commanded us to set the cursed Silmaril into it.

At first, I felt great pride in what we Dwarves could achieve. For in our hands, gems and metal bend to a higher purpose. We would take the crafts of our fathers and bind the light of Fëanor into a creation unmatched to all of the world, no Elf lord nor Vala could compete against. This was proof of our worth, showing the Eldar that we are no less than them. 

 And yet…fear stirs with me. The Silmaril is no simple jewel. It burns with a fire of its own, provoking greed and wrath into anyone who beholds it. I saw this flame in Thingol’s eyes as he clutched the Nauglamir, fully consuming him. I wondered if this jewel would bring ruin upon us as it did so many before us? Will we learn from the fate of others that have been scorned by the Simirils light?

Still, I can't lose hope, not yet. We are strong and our craft is unmatched. If Thingol refuses to see our worth, then let him behold the might of Dwarves, this time we won't be forging. We will be taking down those who underestimate and scorn us. 

So I write unknowing of whats to come but I sense that more blood will be spilled so long as the Silmaril’s light shines on.

The songs of Eru and Melkor

The song of Eru

Light of dawn, the first soft ray,

Gentle winds guide the day.

Stars awake with a silver gleam,

Flowing rivers join the dream.

Mountains rise in quiet grace,

Every creature finds its place.

Hearts of all in harmony,

Echoes for all of eternity.

Time unfolds its golden thread,

as songs of hope continue to spread.

Morning blooms in tender light,

Shadows vanish, hearts take flight.

One true voice, forever near,

Sings the song all souls can hear.

Instrumental song; An End, Once And For All - Mass Effect 3 (Piano Cover)

The song of Melkor

Shattered skies and thunder’s roar,

Darkness creeps in and breaks through doors.

Twisted light in jagged streams,

Burning through forgotten dreams.

Echoes clash with piercing cries,

Raging storms across the skies.

I will twist what once was whole,

And rip apart the Maker’s goal.

I will be the only voice they hear,

All will submit, compelled by fear.

Whispers twist the hearts of men,

Every soul will bow again.

I take the throne that no one else can claim,

All shall tremble at just the thought of my name.

Instrumental; Clint Mansell . Requiem For A Dream. Lux Aeterna. Orchestral Remix 

The process of making these lyrics and choosing the instrumental songs;

Eru is like the author of the universe, he created everything; the world, the Ainur, Elves, Men. He symbolizes creation and unity so I wanted to make his song hopeful and upbeat. The piano pairs so perfectly with such beautiful and graceful tones it was an easy choice to pick. On the other hand, Melkor is much like the fallen angel Lucifer who lost his way. So his lyrics were created with a more harsh, and manipulative voice of evil. For his instrumental song I also did a piano because although it can make such peaceful sounds at the other end it can also become quite deep. This shows how although they started at the same point, Melkor strayed away to the dark side.

The songs of the Two Trees of Valinor

 To those who wish to hear the songs of the olden days,

I, Eldra Stonebraid of Durin's folk, write once again to share the tales of the First Age that I grew up with. There is none that hits my heart so deeply than that of the dark hour when the Two Trees of Valinor were slain.

I have never seen their vast light with my own eyes, for no dwarf has ever. Yet every song I've heard speaks of a light brighter than mithril and as gentle as a forge at rest. The Valar named them Laurelin and Telperion, trees of living gold and silver. Whose light bathed all of Valinor in its beauty, far beyond the deepest artistry my people could ever dream of. I am torn between my envy of such transcendent work and sense of longing to think of how something so fair once shone across the heavens.

However, Morgoth could not bear such beauty he could not rule. So he requested the help of Ungoliant, a spider shadow, whose hunger was an endless void. Together they struck like thieves in the night, draining the trees of their light and leaving Valinor in darkness as thick as the deepest mines with no torch to guide. The singers say Ungoliant drank until the Trees were withered to husks and even the stars seemed to fade. 

Among my people, to destroy another’s craft is the foulest deed known to dwarfs. We carve stone and forge steel to outlast the ages when memories turn to dust. The fact that Morgoth would unmake such marvels chills me to my core. No hammer or chisel could mend what he has destroyed. 

From this terrible loss I take a warning for my own age. The Shadow creeps across middle earth and Sauron gathers strength as his master did once long ago. Light mustn’t be left unguarded. Whether it's a worthy jewel or the bond of a friendship, every bright thing must be defended or darkness will drink it dry of life.

The tale of Eldra Stonebraid

To those to wish to know my story,

I am Eldra Stonebraid, daughter of Durin's folk and kin to Thorin Oakenshield. My line runs back to Durin the Deathless himself and though I do not claim the crown of my great ancestors, I carry their same pride and heavy burdens they bore long ago. The weight of their legacy is not just an honor I live by but a responsibility I must uphold.

 I was born beneath the mountain halls of Erebor, where stone and fire shaped our lives. Here I labor alongside my people as a craftswoman forging and chiseling. Although we may contribute in different ways, we are all united as one system that fuels the heart of our people. To be a craftswoman especially, is to inherit the honor of creating strong, long-lasting, beautiful works that are vital to the community. In every tool, weapon or carving that we make reflects the fundamental ideas of what our kind values so dearly; strength, loyalty, and endurance. 

Many may call dwarves stubborn, as if it was a weakness, but I see this as a strength. It is this stubbornness of our great ancestors, like my own kin Oakenshield, that have passed this down to us, granting us the resilience and determination through these hard times. Even as the Shadow creeps its way back into the lands of Middle-Earth, we must endure, standing as tall and unwavering as the mountain itself.  

I stand with the Free people as we must unit together in the journey to defeat Sauron. Our weariness of one another will soon fade and turn into an unbreakable bond as we shed blood together on the battle field. We will rely on these connections to carry us as there are much more darker times ahead of us.

However, I do not fret because I know who I am and who my descendents are. It is in my blood to endure and preserve peace amongst my people. The strength of Durin runs through my veins, guiding my hands in my craftsmanship and my heart through the heavy battles to come.