Challenge: Ring Out the Bells - Bells, by Himring

[hhimring]

Author : Himring
Fandom : Silmarillion
Rating : PG
Characters : Indis, Maglor (Makalaure)
Disclaimer : The characters and the bells of Valmar are Tolkien's; the rest is by me.
Spoilers : Allusion to background tensions among the Noldorin elves in Valinor.
Summary : Indis of the Vanyar, queen of the Noldor and a singer, discusses cultural differences with her step-grandson Maglor, the musician. 


Indis has a little too much self-control to wince. Makalaure notices anyway.

‘You don’t like the sound of the bells?’

Indis hesitates. She avoids alluding to cultural differences, considering it risky, but Makalaure’s interest seems genuine, even friendly.

‘It is because I have only just come from Valmar. The bells there are different; they play tunes.’

‘Like a carillon?’

Maglor is thinking like a musician.

Indis smiles. ‘Yes.’ She sings a few notes, to demonstrate one of the simpler tunes played by Vanyarin bells.

‘But, now, when I go to Valmar’, she confesses, ‘at first, I miss Noldorin change ringing!’


A/N: Inspired by the difference between the English approach to bell-ringing and traditions in some other countries like Belgium and the Netherlands. [Also x-posted to LJ] 

Comments

[lferion]

This is really cool -- also, headcanon totally accepted that the Noldor do change ringing.

[hhimring]

Glad you like the idea!

[sauronnaise]

I wonder what Indis would think of gongs

[hhimring]

Depends on the gong, probably?
I don't think Indis objects to loudness as such. (The bells of Valmar are in harmony with each other, but not particularly quiet.)

[liadt]

Nice! Makes me glad to have posted the prompt:)

[hhimring]

Thank you!
And thank you for the inspiration!

[liadt]

My pleasure:D

[fredbassett]

I can see the Noldor liking the mathematical precision of the way change ringing works! Nice one!

[hhimring]

Thank you! Glad that association worked for you!

[with_rainfall]

I never considered something as simple as bells to be a point of cultural difference - well done. And yes, funny how you get used to such small things.

[hhimring]

Glad you liked this, thank you!
Anyone who has moved to another country for a while finds themselves missing the strangest things occasionally, I think!