Chapter Text
Ilmarë, sister to Eönwë, and equal in power. Once, with Mairon they had been the three greatest.
Her honour and place was in service to Varda. When Varda created the stars, Ilmarë was her companion. Through her love, music, beauty and purity came into Arda.
Varda was celebrated for it and Ilmarë rejoiced. Her place and her purpose was to serve Varda. She was the star-queen’s handmaiden.
Mairon rebelled, but she was happy to just be. She could not be seduced by him nor Melkor.
She was sad when the Noldor left, because Varda was saddened. She often slipped to Middle-earth for her. Varda did not go herself. She would send Ilmarë, with Yavanna, just to report.
When the Mariner came, she helped put him in the sky. Varda blessed him and his family, so Ilmarë promised to look after them.
She gave his wife the permanent ability to change into a bird to go to him. Ulmo was given the credit for that, but he only changed Elwing the first time. Ilmarë made certain neither would be lonely, for the sacrifice they made to save the home they would never see again. Varda was secretly pleased and praised Ilmarë in private. They should not be punished for choosing their people.
She visited Elwing often, bringing news of her children. The she-elf was overjoyed to hear of their survival and even how they thrived. Only their diverging paths saddened her. She knew she would never see Elros in Valinor, for his choice.
Just before Tar-Minyatur’s time came to pass from the world, Ilmarë snuck Elwing out to Middle-earth. For the first and last time, she got to see both her grown sons, together in a room. None knew Ilmarë had done this, but she felt Elwind deserved a little peace for her sacrifice.
When Ilmarë spied how lonely Elwind’s surviving son was, she found a she-elf. She poured all the love she could into her and touched her hair with starlight. Then Ilmarë made certain that eventually she would be in his path.
None of this she took credit for. None of this was known to anyone but her and Elwing. For when she told Elwing how enchanted Elrond had been with Galadriel’s daughter, they both danced and then flew to tell Elwing’s husband.
Caring for this family was a promise to Varda and a joy Ilmarë had not expected within elves. She saw Eärendil and Elwing watching their awkward son stumble for conversation with a highly amused Celebrían. She was content for her work to be unnoticed. It was her own joy and reward.