I'm dating a woman living in another time of day, and our boy just helped me out ☀️🌙
This woman and I knew each other in highs hool and reconnected 10+ years later. She lives in Japan (Me US). After visiting her we've begun a long distance relationship. She called us Day and Night recently because we're practically 12 hours apart. and I was reminded of the tale of Tolkien's Sun and Moon.
She is a fan of long letters and grandiose romantic gestures... And very good at it. So I will tell her a story of lovers fated to be on other sides of Arda - (Almost) for ever apart.
For my Arien, Who bears the last Fruit of Gold ☀️ ~
In your last letter you called us Day and Night. I will recount a tale from Silmarillion for you now. On the creation of the Sun and Moon.
It is said by the Eldar that in Ages of Olde, before day and night, Two Trees were created in the sacred land of Valinor:
Laurelin - The Golden-Song -who was called also Culúrien (Gold-red heat) and Melthinorn (Tree of gold). Her leaves were bright green, trimmed with gold, and emitted a radiant heat nourishing plant and animal beneath her boughs, and she bore a wonderous fruit 🌳💛🥭
Telperion - The White-Blossom - who was called also Silpion (Shining silver). His leaves were of dark green, shining silver beneath, and his boughs were decked with brilliant flowers that shed a rain of silver dew 🌳🤍🌸
The trees were destroyed, and not even the Tears of Nienna or the Songs of Yavanna could save them. Their lifeless stems remain even now in Valinor - a memorial of vanished joy.
As a parting gift Laurelin bore a solitary fruit of gold, and Telperion a solitary blossom of silver. The Valar resolved then to illumine Middle-Earth with these gifts and bathe the land in the light of the Trees, to hinder the work of the Shadow.
Isil was wrought first, and it was to be the Island of the Moon, a ship made to carry the light of Telperion's Blossom across the darkness of the skies 🌚⛵️ Tilion begged and was chosen to captain the ship Isil - He is a hunter spirit of Orome's Great Host who would retire to lay long in dream by the pools of Este, beneath Telperion's flickering beams 🏹
Anar was wrought second, and it was to be the Vessel of the Sun, a ship to carry the radiance of Laurelin's Fruit and share its life-giving energy 🌝⛵️. Arien was chosen to captain the ship Anar - She is a powerful spirit of fire who had tended the gardens of Vana under Laurelin's warmth. When she forsook her form and raiment of Valinor she was as a naked flame, terrible in the fullness of her splendour 🔥
It was decided the two vessels would journey ever aloft, but not together. Tilion was wayward and uncertain in speed, and saught to come near to Arien, being drawn by her splendour, though the flame of Anar scorched him, and a glance from Arien's eyes could not be long endured 👁Talion goes at an uncertain pace, and is drawn to Arien, as he shall ever be; so that often both may be seen in the sky together. Or rarely, so nigh will he come that his shadow rests in her embrace but briefly, so that the Earth once again glows with the light of the Two Trees.
...And so began the passing of Days and Nights and the Count of Time...
These days I feel like Tilion, ever lured by your radience around the turning of the World. Presiding over night as you preside over day... fated for eternity to follow you from afar until that rare-but-not-never time when we can meet and embrace in the light of the Two Trees once more 🌳🤍🌚🌝💛🌳
"...In the Deeps of Time and amidst the innumerable stars..."
For ever sailing, 🌌
Your Tilion, who tends the last Flower of Silver🌙