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Nevrast - coloured pencil scetch, 1985
This is the second in a series of three coloured pencil sketches inspired by the tale of Tuor and his travel to Gondolin - they don't pretend to be anything in the way of great art, but I rather enjoy the naivity and simplicity that seems to go with this rather childish medium. :-)
The drawing shows Tuor's arrival at Vinyamar in Nevrast, the deserted former abode of the Elven Lord Turgon, Lord of the hidden realm of Gondolin. Tuor is led to this place by several groups of birds that appear at different stages along his journey - first the three seagulls whose eerie cry he first hears in Cirith Ninniach, then seven swans that shun him along - hence the birds in the drawing. At Vinyamar, Ulmo, the Lord of the Waters, appears and speaks to Tuor, commanding him to go and seek Turgon in Gondolin, and he sends him the elf Voronwe as a guide.
From the story of Tuor and his coming to Gondolin
"... And then amid the silence he heard in the air above him a strange cry; and he knew not of what creature that cry came. Now he said:"It is a fay-voice," now: "Nay, it is a small beast that is wailing in the waste"; and then, hearing it again, he said: "Surely, it is the cry of some nightfaring
bird that I now not." And it seemed to him a mournful sound, and yet he desired nonetheless to hear it and follow it, for it called him, he knew not whither."
The next morning he heard the same voice above his head, and looking up he saw three great white birds beating down the ravine against the westerly wind, and their strong wings shone in the new-risen sun, and as they passed over him they wailed aloudd. Thus for the first time he beheld the great gulls, beloved of the Teleri. Then Tuor arose to follow them, and so that he might better mark whither they flew he climbed the cliff upon his left hand, and stood upon the top, and felt a great wind out of the West rush against his face; and his hair streamed from his head. And he drank deep of that new air, and said: "This uplifts the heart like the drinking of cool wine!" But he knew not that the wind came fresh from the Great Sea...."
"Now Tuor journeyed south along the coast for full seven days, and each morning he was aroused by the rush of wings above him in the dawn, and each day the swans flew on as he followed after. And as he went the great cliffs became lower, and their tops were clothed deep with flowering turf; and away eastward there were woods turning yellow in the waning of the year. But before him, drawing ever nearer, he saw a line of great hills that barred his way, marching westward until they ended in a tall mountain: a dark and cloud-helmed tower reared upon mighty shoulders above a great green cape thrust out into the sea."
"Now Tuor came to the ruins of a lost road, and he passed amid green mounds and leaning stones, and so came as the day was waning to the old hall and its high and windy courts. No shadow of fear or evil lurked there, but an awe fell upon him, thinking of those that had dwelt there and had gone, none knew whither: the proud people, deathless but doomed, from far beyond the Sea. And he turned and looked, as often their eyes had looked, out across the glitter of the unquiet waters to the end of sight. Then he turned back again, and saw that the swans had alighted on the highest terrace, and stood before the westdoor of the hall; and they beat their wings, and it seemed to him that they beckoned him to enter. Then Tuor went up the wide stairs, now half-hidden in thrift and campion, and he passed under the mighty lintel and entered the shadows of the house of Turgon; and he came at last to a high-pillared hall..."
"And as he stepped down from the doors the swans did him reverence, and plucking each a great feather from their wings they proffered them to him, laying their long necks upon the stone before his feet; and he took the seven feathers and set them in the crest of his helm, and straightway the swans arose and flew north in the sunset, and Tuor saw them no more.
Now Tuor felt his feet drawn to the sea-strand, and he went down by long stairs to a wide shore upon the north side of Taras-ness; and as he went he saw tha the sun was sinking low into a great black cloud that came up over the rim of the darkening sea; and it grew cold, and there was a stirring and murmur as of a storm to come. And Tuor stood upon the shore, and the sun was like a smoky fire behind the menace of the sky; and it seemed to him that a great wave roise far off and rolled towards the land, btu wonder held him and he remained there unmoved. And the wave came towards him, and upon it lay a mist of shadow. Then suddenly as it drew near it curled, and broke, and rushed forward in long arms of foam; but where it had broken there stood dark against the rising storm a living shape of great height and majesty."
From: J.R.R.Tolkien / ed. Christopher Tolkien: "Unfinished Tales" Part One: The First Age, "Of Tuor and his coming to Gondolin"
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last updated: 12 January, 2004