Exchange of letters between Erálor and Thangrineth
Found nigh Imladris
Esteemed and hated Erálor,
as I stood recently before my scaffold, I wondered, what meaning the art follows and what drives us on, not only to practice it but to become better and to strife for perfection.
Is it a need like breathing and eating?
Where does it come from?
Greetings
Thangrineth
Unworthy Thangrineth,
that question is of no meaning at all, for what you produce upon the canvas cannot be called art.
Regarding myself: I create marble divinity, which task it is to put the beholder into awe about me and to conjure up a sense of wellbeing.
Not greeting
Erálor
Esteemed and by now very hated Erálor,
I know Elves of our kin who use your marble busts to kill slaves, for there is nothing in their households that is less of value, except another slave.
So I conclude that your art has the task to be just an overly pricey tool.
To me, however there's no case known in which one of my pictures was used to strike down a slave.
Scornful greetings
Thangrineth
Even more unworthy Thangrineth,
to me there is one case known in which the mere look upon one of your pictures caused the beholder to die.
They should carry your works before our soldiers to slay the enemies of our kin!
But I could not forbear that your question has kept me busy: What meaning has art?
Without question is it the divine spark that has made us, for such as the Powers created us, so remained a part of their divinity within us and brings us to create, as well.
Sadly, we do not possess the same capabilities as the Powers, for otherwise the would be constantly new worlds and creatures lurking about.
Or is it in the end a blessings for all us that we cannot do so?
That the barbarian people of Man and other despicable creatures try themselves in art and create just the more despicable things is easily explained: The powers made them as ugly as intended.
Never greets
Erálor
Esteemed and exceptionally hated Erálor,
I will make the proposal in the Conclave to have your statues used as ammunition for our ballistae and catapults.
With that, you could begin to sell your horrendously misshapen works and you would earn coin for the first time in your life.
Would I follow your theory, so would the Masters of Words, the writers and authors, the tale-makers be the closest to the Powers.
Is it not them who relentlessly think of new worlds and creatures and send heroes out to quests to appoint them a fate, such as the Powers do, too?
Snidely Greetings
Thangrineth
Of nothing worthy Thangrineth,
without doubt would my statues be the best ammunition, that would have ever been used and I would only chisel your face into them, so that our enemies stand still of revulsion and are slain by the falling stones.
To your childish realization I can only remark: NONSENSE!
Never are the writers the greatest.
Words are merely their tools such as my hammer and my chisel, with which I could no less create figurines to make them move among the landscape.
We are all hence on the same level and are different alone by the skill in our field.
That you stand among the painters at the bottom, should be known to you.
Recently your pictures even had to be given away.
To blind people.
Greets not even with the small finger
Erálor
Esteemed and deeply hated Erálor,
the blind know to value the colors more than those who see. I have the skill to make the colors visible within one's mind merely by touch of the surface.
No one blind however wishes to touch one of our ugly figures, for they can make out deformedness perfectly with their hands.
You even fill the hearts of the eye-less with fear of your works.
But I can see some sense in your explanations.
Know one thing: Whatever you create of your marble, it will be dead.
I make living colors, that enter the very spirit and revive it and urge the fire of imagination of the beholder.
You give rock another form. The same water can do.
Condescending Greeting
Thangrineth
Most absurd Thangrineth,
Every further word to you is a waste of time.
But I propose a meeting, for I wish to see the Dark Elvish maiden who has amused me so brilliantly with her simplicity.
Without a look
Erálor
Esteemed and from all my heart hated Erálor,
gladly I let you beg me for a meeting.
Long already do you wish for such, as I know. Me and my body you will be allowed to behold, my perfection you will praise and after that return to your house.
And I know that your next statue will bear my face and it will be the most beautiful that you ever created.
That is to me a great gratification.
Deprecating Greeting
Thangrineth
