An illustration for an AU drabble or double-drabble I had thought about writing for the Seven in '07 Project: [link]

Nerdanel watches the return of her youngest son Umbarto (whom Fëanor called Ambarto) in one of the swanships of the Teleri. The original version of the legend (as found in the History of Middle-earth, not in the published Silmarillion) goes thus:

In the night Fëanor, filled with malice, aroused Curufin, and with him and a few of those most close to Fëanor in obedience he went to the ships and set them all aflame; and the dark sky was red as with a terrible dawn. [...]

In the morning the host was mustered, but of Fëanor's seven sons only six were to be found. Then Ambarussa went pale with fear. 'Did you not then rouse Ambarussa my brother (whom you called Ambarto)?' he said. 'He did not come ashore to sleep (he said) in discomfort.' But it is thought (and no doubt Fëanor guessed this also) that it was in the mind of Ambarto to sail his ship back and rejoin Nerdanel, for he had been much shocked by the deed of his father.

(J.R.R. Tolkien, The Shibboleth of Fëanor; To be found in The History of Middle-earth Volume 12, The Peoples of Middle-earth)

I'm sure it is easy to see how this picture deviates from the original story.
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Done in Photoshop 7; less than two hours - the Swanship was what took me longest of all. I'm not sure about the proportions of Ambarto in comparison to the ship, but I hope it won't look too out of place.

Credits:

(Nerdanel - [link])
(Ambarto - [link])
(the swan - [link]
(the swan's head - [link])
(the Viking ship - [link])
(the waves - [link])
(the background - [link] and a texture - [link])
/ (textures - [link])
(hair brushes - [link])