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Qitian — Contemplation

Published: 2010-05-10 21:22:16 +0000 UTC; Views: 1219; Favourites: 20; Downloads: 16
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Description Another fanfiction illustration, this time for Lady Roisin's The First Queen as a (very early) Christmas gift.

There's a quote in Jane Austen's History of England (which you should totally read: it is short, tongue-in-cheek, and altogether hysterical, and it's up for free over at Project Gutenberg [link] ) which also fits some of Tolkien's writings very well:
"It is to be supposed that [he] was married, since he had certainly four sons, but it is not in my power to inform the Reader who was his wife..."

In fact the prince in question had five sons (and two daughters), but never mind. We, of course know (or stealthily wiki'd it) that the woman in question was Mary de Bohun. Likewise, Lady Roisin has made it her task to give names and faces to the women of Tolkien's legendarium who must have existed (as all them Númenorean kings certainly had offspring, and can hardly have produced that all by their onesies), which is a purpose of which I fully approve.
The most recent (though chronologically the first) is Laurianna, the wife of Elros, whom you can see depicted here (reading Austen does strange things to my syntax, did you notice?). The reasonably newly married couple, suddenly bereft of the turmoils of their respective youths and crowned king and queen of Númenor, can't sleep yet. Bonus appearance by the groom's father...

Yes, I'm afraid this is quite similar to "The Lion and the Doe" - loving couple, a nice architectural vantage point, some nondescript nightly background, and a starry sky. That is because I actually have a very limited repertoire of backgrounds and postures. >_>
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Comments: 14

Ellosse [2014-10-04 22:45:34 +0000 UTC]

I love the atmosphere and the brightness of Earendil. And those trees in the background. And Elros looks very much how like I imagine him. 

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Qitian In reply to Ellosse [2014-10-06 07:34:23 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!
(To be fair, I despair a little because all my male Elves look more or less the same. Glad this version fits your idea of Elros, though!)

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Ellosse In reply to Qitian [2014-10-09 21:12:20 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome!
(Same here. They have to have unusual hair or facial shapes to look different. )

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Qitian In reply to Ellosse [2014-10-14 07:37:51 +0000 UTC]

Yep. I tend to colour-code my Elves (Feanorians always wear reddish hues, Fingolfinians always wear blue ) to make things a bit easier...

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Ellosse In reply to Qitian [2014-10-14 21:11:55 +0000 UTC]

Me too! And Finarfinians get to pick any color, but mostly yellow. (Though I'm not really sure as to how well that works...)

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Qitian In reply to Ellosse [2014-10-15 09:56:32 +0000 UTC]

*nods* Yellow and white, in my books.

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Ellosse In reply to Qitian [2014-10-15 20:25:39 +0000 UTC]

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SeekHim [2010-05-12 09:55:52 +0000 UTC]

The whole atmosphere is so soft and tender.

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haius [2010-05-11 20:32:06 +0000 UTC]

the background here is especially pretty.

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Aranov [2010-05-10 23:08:06 +0000 UTC]

This is a most admirable quest, and I applaud the Lady's efforts. With that said, I would again express my adoration of your clothing designs: It is very logical that the first Númenoreans would have fashion more similar to the Eldar than their descendants, whom I always pictured in more of a Byzantine style. It is a most charming scene, and I congratulate you once more on a mood-setting success.

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Qitian In reply to Aranov [2010-05-17 21:41:48 +0000 UTC]

I love how you keep noticing these things! Yes, I did indeed give them (more or less) Elvish-style clothing, seeing how that's the high civilisation the first Númenoreans likely modelled their own culture on. Later on, of course, they'll succesfully develop their own style - or styles, we are after all talking about several centuries here. One (presumably) that suits the climate, and the reasonable safe environment of Númenor, more than a culture adapted to the wilds of Beleriand

Did I mention that I'm really excited that you notice these things?

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Aranov In reply to Qitian [2010-05-17 23:21:56 +0000 UTC]


I'm a costume designer. It's one of the first things I notice, for better or worse. I'm one of those people who notices seam lines during the close-up shots in the movie theater.

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Qitian In reply to Aranov [2010-05-18 08:15:33 +0000 UTC]

Aaaah, that explains it

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Aranov In reply to Qitian [2010-05-18 15:42:56 +0000 UTC]

I thought it might.

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