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#Maedhros and his hand jokes
doodle-pops · 1 year
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Things that people said to Maedhros for years intentionally(you evil bitches I'm going for your eyes) or just because they often forget what he has been through and how he got out of that:
"Hey how is it hanging?"
"Need a helping hand?"
"High five-- uhmm, sorry wrong hand... high five :D"
"Why you're writing with your non dominant hand? Why don't you write with th- oh... sorry I forgot"
"You wanna play the knife game?"
"Are you the love child of Captain hook and Peter pan or something?"
"Wanna hang out?"
-👻
This sounds like insults @edensrose would throw at him due to their forever ongoing unnecessary feud 😂😂
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annoyinglandmagazine · 5 months
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I love the idea of Finweans being transported into Years of the Trees Valinor as much as the next person but you know what I think could be just hilarious for a crack concept? A Sinda being transported into Years of The Trees Valinor. Think Beleg, Mablung, Daeron or maybe even Thingol himself (preferably with no one knowing who they are) getting out of Mandos and into Valinor but they don’t realise immediately that this isn’t current Valinor.
Thingol sees Maglor Feanorian in the marketplace which is a shock already because why would he get out before him but he doesn’t even have the decency to offer apologies when he sees them, how dare he in fact wait a minute he’s waving at him? What’s going on here why is he being friendly, he shouldn’t be able to be that friendly after killing so many people? Does he feel no guilt?
Mostly though for Thingol’s world to get absolutely shattered at meeting Maitimo Nelyafinwe, who yes technically is Maedhros Feanorian but how?! He doesn’t recognise Thingol of course so when he notices he seems a bit shaken by something he’s all polite and considerate and guides him to a bench before clapping him on the shoulder reassuringly and fetching him some tea. With the two hands he now has somehow.
And he sits with him and tries to find out if he’s alright but Thingol’s too confused to run like his life depends on it (and since this is the infamous Lord of Himring it might) because what is he even wearing? That’s practically a gown, not one he’d want to see Luthien in either, he’s not even wearing armour or carrying a blade? And he’s still smiling and it doesn’t look even slightly forced and his hair is actually long, not normal long either it’s down to his thighs for goodness sake.
All hope of sanity disappears when someone who looks no older than 20, comes up to them and starts tugging on Maedhros’ sleeve impatiently, ‘Nelyo, Nelyo, I can’t reach the tools I need for a project.’ Why in all of Arda would a child be approaching Maedhros Feanorian for anything? Why would they not be running in terror and avoiding him at all costs?
Maedhros shot him a conspiratorial glance as if he’d enjoy being in on some joke with a kinslayer ‘That’s most likely a sign you shouldn’t be using them Curufinwë,’ Curufinwë as in Curufin, possibly worse than even Maedhros himself. Of course it was.
‘But Nelyo.’
He smiled apologetically and asked him if he was feeling well enough now. He assured him he was mostly to get him out of his sight long enough to process the interaction and Maedhros Feanorian beamed at him, ‘Alright then, just feel free to come to me if you need anything, I’m always happy to help and Uncle Ara is very good at giving advice if something’s bothering you if you’d prefer.’
Then he stood, making Thingol concerned enough about the loose swathes of material to look away as a precautionary measure (was this a seduction attempt? He’d never heard of the Lord of Himring employing such dishonourable tactics but did he really know anything anymore?) and swept the child who could not be Curufin into his arms spinning him around above his head until he was in fits of giggles, ‘Now how about we ask Ammë about your project and if she says no I can take you somewhere instead? There’s an exhibition on in the city you might like? Sound good to you?’
The person who has to have just stolen the face of the eldest son of Feanor walked off with the elfling balanced easily against his hip and chatting away. This must be a weird fever dream.
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ettelenethelien · 4 months
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1st age Beleriand dashboard Simulator
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🌫️ mithrim-noldo following
Yeah, Thingol kind of flew off the handle with banning Quenya and all that, but why on Arda are people now justifying the Kinslaying in response?? have some nuance and also, that's just plain horrible.
✨ btw-this-is-hopeless following
hope it's fine to copy your tags, mithrim, because they're great:
#I mean I know this is probably because they've taken part in the kinslaying themselves #but #can't you just admit you did wrong and move on? #in so far as it is possible because of course forgetting would be disrespectful and unwise #because the consequences are with us still #but it should be way more comfortable than being on your defences all the time #always ready to rationalize or deny #with a conscience you cannot silence
✴️ eightpointedstar83
I am tired of typing this out again and again but Alqualondë could have been averted had the teleri been less self-centred and readier to cooperate. Thingol is just another example of this attitude. But of course, please deny that the third clan is what it is and pin the blame on the people who saved everyone's skins.
We have done nothing wrong and yet our own people are turning on us. One day you will rue this.
Long live the house of Fëanor!
💝 heart-in-a-box
This is just the sort of behaviour OP was talking about.🤦‍♀️
🌫️ mithrim-noldo following
Admittedly, this seems to be a fanatical Fëanorian and more committed than the average apologist of his/her own actions - but yes.
#current events #thingol's quenya ban #my post
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🧝🏼‍♂️maglorfeanorion following
finished another canto of the noldolante today
🌖 hunters-moon
you have a tumblr account??!
🧝🏼‍♂️ maglorfeanorion following
do I know you?
🌖 hunters-moon
yes :)
🧝🏼‍♂️ maglorfeanorion following
wait - yeah, I do...
which of the twins are you?
🌖 hunters-moon
how did you know😮???
👨🏻‍🦰red-haired-twin
he looked through your blog, nitwit :)
🧝🏼‍♂️maglorfeanorion following
I guess I shouldn't be surprised to find you two out of all possible people on here...
so - which is which?
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🌸 a-flower-in-the-snow following
himring winters are horrible and I hate my parents for bringing me to middle-earth
#rant #children of exilse #i meant #children of exiles #coe
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🏞️ the-wide-earth-unexplored following
Y'all weren't joking when y'all said the Sirion is impressive...
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(more photos under cut)
read more
#photography #nature photography #nature #sirion #falls of sirion
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🖼️ wonder-the-earth
is it still a secret city when everyone is talking about it?
👰🏼‍♀️ celebrin following
that's a good question
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👤 incessant-leaves following
It makes me sick to see all those positive nostalgic posts about the Mereth Aderthad. How pretty the pools of Ivrin were or weren't doesn't change the fact that THE NOLDOR WERE HIDING THE TRUTH ABOUT THE KINSLAYING THE WHOLE TIME. Yeah "everyone was kind" back then. You were feasting together with people whose cousins you had killed and have the audacity to complain they don't like you as much anymore. I don't care if you're a Sinda or a Noldo who "didn't take part in it" - if you say anything positive about it I'm blocking you.
#mereth aderthad #the truth about ivrin
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💎 lord-maedhros-is-the-true-king
Things they don't want you to know about Fëanaro:
read more
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🏹 huntingprincess following
with all due respect, gondolin is the most boring place in the world.
🌼 golden-flower
it's not. but you're entitled to your opinion.
🌌 daughterofdoriath following
if only all debates on here were as civil...
👤 incessant-leaves
OP is a kinslayer apologist. Didn't you check that out before you started praising them?
🌌 daughterofdoriath following
*throws hands up*
I was admiring that one exchange.
(and this was actually more about @golden-flower's response than about OP)
*sighs*
#this site...
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image used for Sirion: link
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aotearoa20 · 1 year
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*sits up suddenly* Buzzfeed Unsolved/Ghost files style au with all the Sons of Fëanor! They don’t all show up every episode but they are all involved in production and go to different haunted sites to look for ghosts!
Featuring:
Maedhros ‘a ghost could backflip me down the stairs and I’d say it was the wind’ Nelyafinwë
Maglor ‘the wind could knock a tube of toothpaste off the sink and I’d say it was a ghost’ Kanafinwë
Celegorm ‘secretly a demon and doing the bare minimum to hide it’ Turkafinwë 
Caranthir ‘of course ghost don’t exist oh no oh f*ck what was that!!?!?’ Morifinwë
Curufin ‘of course ghosts exist but here’s all the reasons these other ghost hunters evidences suck’ Curufinwë 
Amrod ‘I suggested this as a joke to deal with my grief of losing my twin brother and it just got out of hand’ Ambarussa
Amras ‘an actual ghost trying to get his families attention with ghostly shenanigans that they. miss. every. time.’ Ambarussa
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imakemywings · 6 months
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SO SO SORRY BEING NEGATIVE IN YOUR ASKbox but It's the fact that Elrond continued the tradition of honoring Thingol by naming his twin sons Elladan and Elrohir, as well as the canonical references of ways Elrond and Elros honored their parents (by wearing their colors, the symbols, and the names!), that makes me so so so salty about the way people never write Elrond being proud of his sindar lineage. It's always noldor this, feanorian star that, that has me reeling so much, its so popular that has me rolling my eyes and thats coming from a die-hard feanorian fan, like it gets exhausting when it keeps getting pushed that Elrond bashes his mom and dad and wears the symbol of his peoples murderers, as well as hate his moms lineage, like the book says he dont, what the hell?
gjkndsgkbjnb Anon you can only imagine the amount of salt I keep off this blog by being privately salty in DMs XD
But yeah I agree...at this point I'm veeeery hesitant to read any Elrond fic by Silm fans that hasn't been vetted and approved by someone I know because I'm so weary of coming across Feanorian Elrond and Elrond-who-literally-calls-Elwing-a-bitch and Elrond who gets angry with people who justifiably do not love the Feanorians, etc.
At the very least, these sorts of takes never seem to address the devastating cultural loss that Elrond and Elros experience. Even if we want to assume the best about Maglor's ability to raise them, he simply lacks the knowledge to make up for that. What does he know of Iathrim traditions? He never even saw Doriath, except when he showed up to kill everyone. What does he know of Edanic customs, or anything of mortal life? What does he know of Gondolin, where the distinction between Sindar and Noldor all but disappeared? Elrond and Elros are isolated from anyone who might be able to help them understand their parents' cultures and their own heritage (Gil-galad, Oropher, Cirdan, etc.) and so they grow up without that knowledge, and that's just always so sad to me. I'm sure it has an impact on Elrond's later interest in collecting knowledge.
All of this is compounded, of course, by the fact that Maglor and Maedhros are quite literally responsible for the virtual extinction of the Iathrim and the total destruction of the unique culture at the Havens of Sirion.
yadda yadda opinions under the cut
These takes also rarely reckon with how disturbing Feanorian Elrond is from an assimilation perspective. Here we have a couple of young children, from a culture whose people have already been attacked, slaughtered, and driven from their homelands by the Feanorians, who experience a second such attack from those same people, who lose their parents, who are taken from any other adult in their lives who might have nurtured them, by two people who know nothing about their culture(s)...and it's supposed to be cute, the idea that Elrond prefers to speak Quenya? It's supposed to show how he ~loved~ Maglor, that he was raised so alienated from his own cultures that he prefers that of his kidnappers, of his family and people's murderers (the very people who so alienated him)? It's actually really, really sad.
And obviously these takes rarely genuinely address the trauma that Maedhros and Maglor caused Elrond and Elros, or the ongoing trauma of being raised by the people with the blood of your mother and your neighbors and your friends all over their hands. Sure, I can buy Elrond pitying them and even forgiving them eventually--but Feanorian Elrond who thinks they did nothing wrong feels like a joke.
I think of course that a large part of this is just because fans love the Feanorians and the Noldor and many of them are not interested in the Sindar (and Thingol is deeply unpopular, primarily for not getting along with the Feanorians), so they are not interested in exploring Elrond's canonical attachment to his Sindar heritage and the line of Thingol. Which is too bad! I love the Sindar and I think it's great that Elrond's biggest attachment to his heritage is to the Umanyar part, not the Amanyar part, and Elros' to the mortal part, not the immortal part. They both chose what some might (wrongly) call the "lesser" part of their heritage, and I love them for that.
In many cases I think Elrond is used as a morality pet for Maedhros and Maglor, in that if Elrond, beloved the world around, adores and champions and defends the Feanorians, then no one can defensibly dislike them. Which circles back into something about discourse surrounding liking ~problematic~ characters...you CAN actually admit the Feanorians committed multiple mass slaughters and stole two children (and killed a minimum of two others) and still like them. I do.
But also, as someone else on tumblr more eloquently pointed out, even if Elrond did feel something like this...he's tactful enough to be aware how much pain and suffering the Feanorians caused the Elves of Middle-earth, and he would never shove the Feanorians in their faces or think it was funny to watch them flinch hearing a Feanorian accent (a h/c I've actually seen) (apart from the fact that I really doubt the Feanorians continued using the thorn past the first few decades in Middle-earth).
To me, Feanorian Elrond just comes across as a clumsy attempt to redeem Maglor and Maedhros and I'm not interested in that, at the end of the day. I'm far more interested in Elrond's complicated relationship with them and his willingness or desire to hold them to account for the reality of what they did to him and his family, while also reckoning with his childhood attachment to the only adults he was permitted to grow attached to.
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thelordofgifs · 8 months
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Happy Tumblr Milestone Saturday, congrats!!!
If you're up for a fic prompt, any thoughts on Maedhros playing a musical instrument?
Yikes so sorry this took three months to get to! Thank you for the prompt friend <3
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“I think,” says Maedhros, “I should learn to play the harp.”
Maglor stops what he is doing and stares at him. “Nelyo.”
“What?” Maedhros says mildly. “It is a key part of my own history.”
Maglor’s face twists in distress. He turns his gaze back to his work, organising the little bottles of medicines and salves on the table.
“The fiddle, otherwise,” Maedhros suggests. “Or the flute?”
Maglor makes a small, unhappy sound, quickly stifled. That is not what Maedhros wanted. There were few memories he dared cling to, in Angband, scared that in turning them over too often he would rub away the details, or else that they would be snatched perforce from his mind; but he does remember the clear bright sound of Maglor’s laugh, which rang so often and easily through the streets of Tirion. He has not heard it once since his return.
Hard enough to realise he does not know himself any longer – but to find his little brother a stranger is nigh unbearable.
“I was joking, Káno,” he says. “I know I cannot play with only one hand.”
“Oh,” says Maglor. He smiles bravely, although his eyes are wet. “I knew that.”
“Come and sit,” Maedhros says, and then flinches – it sounds like an order, and what right has he to give orders?
But Maglor sets aside his fidgeting and sits down in the chair next to Maedhros’ bed. He always balances the distance perfectly, close enough for Maedhros to see him without straining his neck, far enough away that the proximity does not frighten him. Today, however, Maedhros wants his brother near. He reaches out to take Maglor’s hand in his.
“I miss you,” he says, and then, “I miss me.”
“I know, Nelyo,” Maglor breathes.
“Shall it never again be as it was?” Maedhros asks.
“I think not,” says Maglor, “and yet—” He swallows. “I am glad that you are back, Nelyo.” His eyes bleed apologies.
“Sometimes,” Maedhros says dreamily, “I think I am still there, and it was only some facsimile of me that Thorondor bore back.” Maglor takes a breath and Maedhros adds, “I know that it is not true. My old self was lost long before Finno came.”
“Nelyo,” Maglor says miserably.
“Now I have upset you,” Maedhros says. Tentatively, he lifts his hand to Maglor’s cheek, and Maglor does not flinch in disgust from his touch. “And I only wanted to make you laugh.”
Maglor smiles wryly. “Laughter is in rather short supply, these days,” he says.
Maedhros has known that to be true for himself. But he did not think—
"Is the world so changed?" he asks. "Are you so changed, dearest?"
Maglor lowers his gaze. He looks rather ashamed.
"I should not have left you," Maedhros murmurs.
Maglor meets his eyes again, startled. "How you can say that!" he says. "When I—"
Maedhros touches his cheek again. "All the same," he says, "it has been hard for you."
"Nelyo, that is absurd," Maglor says. "You cannot possibly blame yourself that I grieved you – and while you were living all the time!" He smiles again, bitterly.
Was I? thinks Maedhros. But aloud he says, "Káno, I – I barely recognise anything of myself. May I not – at the very least – remain your elder brother?"
"You are always that," Maglor says, blinking away his tears.
"Then come here," says Maedhros, and he pulls Maglor into a hug, and does not shudder to feel his body so close; so there is still this. And if Maglor is a stranger to him now he still lays his head on Maedhros' good shoulder as he used to when he was very small, and they sit that way for a while.
It cannot last forever – Maedhros is too weak to sit upright for long. Eventually, Maglor lowers him carefully down onto his pillows and fetches the evening round of medicines, and once again he becomes the carer and Maedhros the patient. He is still very gentle, as he coaxes the bitter concoctions into Maedhros, and changes the dressings on his wrist. So perhaps the world is not so changed.
***
The next morning, Maglor is carrying his harp when he comes into the tent. He looks pensive, but not unhappy, and he smiles to see Maedhros awake.
"Have you come to play for me?" Maedhros asks.
"Yes, if you would like me to," says Maglor; "but first I thought you could try playing it yourself, if you want to."
Maedhros blinks at him. "Káno, I only have one hand."
"I can teach you some simple melodies," says Maglor, and then he looks uncertain. "But we don't have to – if you would rather I played instead—"
"I'd like you to teach me," Maedhros says gently. (That was interrupting – they will punish him for speaking out of turn – no, it is Maglor, it is Maglor who loves him. Maedhros knows that.)
Maglor brings the harp over to the bed and sits down beside it. He reaches for Maedhros’ hand. “May I?” And when Maedhros nods, he places Maedhros’ fingers on the harp, and teaches him the name of each string in turn.
It turns out to be possible to pluck out a simple little melody on the harp, even with Maedhros’ numb and clumsy fingers. Eventually, Maglor stops guiding his hand and accompanies him instead, smiling encouragingly as he does so; and the sound of the music is very sweet. And when Maedhros deliberately botches the tune, moving his fingers quickly across the strings in a rapid, messy glissando, Maglor's laugh is sweeter yet.
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runawaymun · 8 months
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Maedhros for disability awareness month!
Maedhros & Disability Pride
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[Image ID: some drawings of maedhros. The top image is a sketch page of Maedhros wearing a body-powered prosthetic for his right hand, showing how he wears a compression sleeve, the strap that goes over his shoulder to power it, and how different attachments can screw into place. It also includes sketches of some attachments he uses, like an articulated hook for everyday use, a decorative hand, and a 'lego hand' for holding things for long periods of time. The second image is a drawing of Maedhros and Maglor. They are lounging on the floor while Maglor braids Maedhros' hair for him. Maedhros is a light-skinned elf with freckles and visible scars, with very long wavy red hair with white streaks. He is wearing a patterned brown and turquoise fur coat and brown pants. Maglor is a light-skinned elf with iridescent black hair, wearing a turqoise and white gown. Maedhros jokes: "Need a hand?" Maglor, visibly shocked but amused by the joke, scolds: "Nelyo!" and Maedhros answers: "What? I have so many to choose from!" /. END ID]
Some Headcannons:
Maedhros prefers the articulated hook the most and only rarely wears the gold hand. He also has various attachments he can use in sparring and in fights, including a shield which will buckle to his arm, and spiked mace for smacking people with. These can be painful to use, though.
Maedhros' horses respond to verbal commands, rather than reins, to leave both his hands free.
He deals with chronic pain & often walks with a cane (though he dislikes doing this at public events tbh). This also makes him (more) cranky. It can be draining and he needs to rest more often than he would like to admit.
Hand jokes galore. Most people don't know how to respond to this, but Caranthir and Celegorm often join in. Maedhros made hand jokes one (1) time around Fingon and never again.
He has always taken great pride in his hair and it was another kind of grief to realize that he needed help taking care of it. Maglor mostly does it for him these days.
Celebrate Disability Pride with me! Send me in prompts for your favorite Tolkien characters, and I’ll make you something – art, headcannons, or perhaps a ficlet.
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kanalaure · 1 year
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feanorian cooking headcanons, because im tired and sad and want to think about something fun
maedhros: makes a lot of soup bc you can make big batches almost more easily than small ones, and usually when he cooks he's babysitting or his little brothers will sidle up wanting some of what he's having. occasionally his parents will wander in from their workshops after a seventeen hour creative binge not sure what day it is but suddenly realizing theyre very hungry. after thangorodrim he has this little skit he loves to do that everyone else hates where he pretends he chopped the veg too hard and cut off his hand, bc what is the point of having all these little brothers if you cant antagonize them with dad jokes and maybe guilt trip them a lil into better behavior
maglor: only knows how to make a handful of things but does them well. dump and pour cook, so everything comes out a lil different each time. has never given anyone food poisoning, unlike some brothers he could name. drives caranthir insane bc he will just throw a handful of peppercorns or whatever in there all casually because they make things taste good and dont you know how much those COST, kano??! probably invented the in-universe equivalent of a sandwich so as to more conveniently eat while composing
celegorm: overall? pretty good, but its a lot of the same things with very minor variation. him being a skilled hunter, it's a lot of deer and small mammals, game birds and fish. probably good with edible plants and herbs growing wild, bc you only need to be made fun of by your entire family for getting scurvy one (1) time before you wise up, so your food would be well seasoned. however. absolutely everything is cooked over a campfire. put him in the wilderness and He Will Provide. stick him in a kitchen with an hearth and a pot rack and he is Lost. like maglor, has never met a measuring spoon he wouldnt ignore
caranthir: will measure spices to the microgram, kano, because he does know how much they cost thankyouverymuch. he's the best (only) baker of the bunch and likes all the math involved in it. just a mediocre cook though, partly bc maedhros invariably got to the kitchen first, and he's really meh about the idea of cooking anyway so he doesn't really protest or try to get in the kitchen on his own time to improve. (exceptions to this: likes making jams and fruit butters.) despite this, has never given anyone food poisoning
curufin: no. nope. no. it's his achilles heel. see mentions of food poisoning above
amrod and amras: got a lot of their cooking know-how straight from celegorm when they were out hunting, so it's all more of the same: deer, rabbit, fish, etc. like caranthir they dont get a lot of time or opportunity to practice bc maedhros beat them to the draw, but like maglor sometimes they will go off and make their own food for the hell of it, or because they were craving a specific thing. they only gave their family food poisoning once, curvo, and that was because they hadn't really nailed the pickling process yet. speaking of, they do a lot of pickling and other longterm things like cheesemaking that have a scientific element to it. they think its neat, and also its one of the few areas none of their older brothers ever tried to break into so for once there's no comparisons to be made, positively or otherwise
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warrioreowynofrohan · 9 months
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Would you do 3, 8, and 12 for the choose violence ask game, please?
3. worst take you’ve seen on tumblr
This gets the worst take award for someone making it up out of their own head and then treating it as canon. I have seen at least two people say they hate Thingol for ‘deliberately orchestrating the death of Denethor (king of the Green-elves) in order to incorporate the Green-elves into Doriath’s rule’. Something that never happened - Thingol and the Green-elves fought and defeated one orc-army but Denethor was cut off by another, and Thingol’s army was too late to rescue him when they came to defeat the second army. (This also gives the lie to the assertion/assumption that Thingol never fought and never left Doriath. He did both in the First Battle.)
The Green-elves, when they came to Beleriand, were welcomed by Thingol “as kin who long return”. Thingol arriving too late to save Denethor, but not too late to avenge him, is something that could foster as many tragic, heartbreaking imaginings as Maedhros being unable to reach or save Fingon at the Nirnaeth.
To give a sense of how bad this take is: imagine someone claimed they hated Maedhros because he deliberately abandoned Fingon in an attempt to gain the kingship of the Noldor. That would be a ludicrous misinterpretation of the Nirnaeth, but it would still have more evidence than the one about Thingol and Denethor. Thingol shows up; he defeats one army and then shows up to defeat the second one, but just too late to save his friend and ally. The Fëanoreans flee the Nirnaeth - all of them surviving - before they get anywhere near Fingon or his armies, and apparently also flee while their dwarven allies are still fighting (“the sons of Fëanor…drew together, and gathering a remnant of the Noldor and the Naugrim about them hewed a way out of the battle and escaped far away toward Mount Dolmed in the east. Last of all the eastern force to stand firm were the dwarves of Belegost…”).
Make up whatever headcanons you like, but “I think this character is awful and unsympathetic for [non-canon and counter-canonical thing I made up them doing]” is just nuts.
8. common fandom opinion everyone is wrong about
The typical (almost universal) characterization of Maedhros as 1) a master diplomat/politician; 2) a dad-figure to his brothers; and 3) extremely stoic and not given to showing his feelings, really has very little canon support, and most of what we do see of him indicates the opposite! A shortlist of things he is described as doing in canon:
Begging Fingon to kill him when he is chained to Thangorodrim
Again begging Fingon to kill him when Fingon can't cut him loose (the stoic, practical, ruthless type we see in most fanon would have come up with the 'cut my hand off' thing himself)
Seeking Fingolfin's pardon for the burning of the ships, and making what certainly comes across as a self-deprecating joke (calling Fingolfin "not the least wise" of the House of Finwë, implicitly in comparison to himself) in the process.
Defusing the tension around Thingol's limits on where the Noldor can settle by laughing at it.
Planning the Fifth Battle out of a sudden feeling of hope inspired by the success of Beren and Luthien's quest.
At the end, throwing himself into a fiery chasm in despair.
That's without even getting into the HoME material, where Maedhros' account of Morgoth's attack on Formenos is so melodramatic it circles around to being ridiculous.
This does not come across as a stoic person who continually conceals and buries his emotions. I don't have issues with that characterization existing, but it's strange for it to be so universal that you virtually never see a Maedhros who isn't defined by it.
With regard to his brothers, we definitely do see him engaging in deliberate brother-wrangling in Beleriand, because he needs to in order to keep the peace, but he's only successful at it as long as they're all in relatively close proximity (see, Celegorm and Curufin going off-leash in Nargothrond), and after the Nargothrond incident, not even then (see: Maedhros being unable to stop them from threatening to kill Thingol, and not substantively punishing them for anything they did). And the "team dad" thing is nowhere in evidence.
Lastly, I would say there's enough in the Silmarillion to say that Maedhros is at least decent at political management - and more importantly, that he has enough humility to do what's necessary to keep the Noldor united (first abdicating the kingship, and then moving his brothers to where they'll be in less contact with other people and make more trouble). But he doesn't consider whether a nominal acknowledgement of Thingol's kingship of Beleriand might smooth relations over at the start, he doesn't make any attempt to apologize or make restitution for the kinslaying even after Thingol learns about it, he at no point in canon attempts to negotiate for the Silmaril or offer anything in return for it (yes, the Oath is presumably involved in that). Treating the Nirnaeth of all things (a battle which is lost largely because a large part of his allies turn out to be traitors, and in which two of the largest kingdoms in Beleriand refuse to participate due to personal grievances against his family, and where his only major elven ally is the guy who's ride-or-die for him regardless of anything) as evidence of diplomatic skill is particularly strange! his sole wholly positive achievement re: the Union of Maedhros is the alliance with the dwarves. Which is not nothing, but also not enough to support the "master diplomat and would have been an awesome king" assumption. In terms of Noldor-Sindar relations, the ones who stand out are Finrod (of course) and, far less acknowledged, Turgon - Gondolin is a mix of Noldor and Sindar, and that the Sindar are willing to choose to follow him to a hidden kingdom even at a time when Beleriand is largely at peace says a lot.
I'm not actively opposed to the usual characterization of Maedhros, but I'm somewhat frustrated (and getting bored) with it being the only one we see when it seems almost entirely fanon-created and there's so much space for other portrayals.
12. unpopular character you like and why more people should like them
Mandos! It’s barely even really a case of fans emphasizing certain passages and detractors emphasizing others, many of the passages that make me like him are the ones other people dislike him for. I like what we see of him in "Laws and Customs of the Eldar". I like what he says regarding the Statute of Finwë and Míriel:
"We may indeed in counsel point to the higher road, but we cannot compel any free creature to walk upon it. That leadeth to tyranny, which disfigureth good and maketh it seem hateful. Healing by final Hope, as Manwë has spoken of it, is a law which one can give to oneself only; of others justice alone can be demanded. A ruler who discerning justice refuseth to it the sanction of law, demanding abnegation of rights and self-sacrifice, will not drive his subjects to these virtues, virtuous only if free, but by unnaturally making justice unlawful, will drive them rather to rebellion against all law. Not by such means will Arda be healed."
And, continuing from this, I like his reaction to Finwë's decision to stay in the Halls and allow Míriel to return to life:
"It is well that thou desirest not to return, for this I should have forbidden, until the present griefs are long passed. But it is better still that thou hast made this offer, to deprive thyself, of thy free will, and out of pity for another. This is a counsel of healing, out of which good may grow."
It's two sides of the same coin: that justice means working with a flawed world and giving people their due even if the choices they are making are not the ideal ones, because self-sacrifice is not something that can be compelled or demanded. But he's happy - we rarely see him happy, but he is happy about Finwë's decision - when people choose something better than mere justice. And that's not something seen in most literature from characters represented as the literal personification of Justice!
And, also in the Statue, I want to note what he says about Eärendil:
"I say to you that the children of Indis shall always be great, and the Tale of Arda more glorious because of their coming. And from them shall spring things so fair that no tears shall dim their beauty; in whose being the Valar, and the Kindreds both of Elves and Men that are to come shall all have part, and in whose deeds they shall rejoice. So that, long hence when all that here is and seemeth yet fair and impregnable, shall nonetheless have faded and passed away, the Light of Aman shall not wholly cease among the free peoples of Arda until the End. When he that shall be called Eärendil setteth foot upon the shores of Aman, ye shall remember my words."
And then people act like he's not pleased when Eärendil shows up! He very much is; it's his role to bring up the Doom so that it can at last be lifted, but he knows that this is the moment when it will be lifted through Eärendil's action.
I also have no issue with his "Not the first" line in response to Fëanor's line "I shall break my heard and I shall be slain; first of all the Eldar in Aman." I take it as a hint: You are not the only thing that matters in the world, think of something other than yourself for a second. There's nothing stopping Fëanor from turning around and saying "What do you mean by that?" and I think Mandos would give him an answer if he did - but Fëanor is too absorbed in the Silmarils to even consider what it might mean.
I moreover like the description of how Elves can return from the Halls: But his dooms in such matters are not uttered in haste; and even the most guilty are long tested, whether they may be healed or corrected, before any final doom is given. If an Elf is staying in the Halls permanently, it's not just a matter of their deeds in life, no matter how bad those are, but a matter of them sticking to those deeds and refusing to change or heal even when they're offered the opportunity.
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i-did-not-mean-to · 1 year
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Cursed Cards - Part I
So, on this blessed day (birthday of my beloved husband and wedding of an author I SO admire), I offer you a little gift.
Here's a commission by @sauroff for my very favourite boys!!! At the end of the small ficlet I've written for it, you'll find the extra Fingon-reaction-panel and the mini-comic I got (I am still screaming) on which I've based the last part of the story!!!
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Cursed cards
Words: 1,21 k
Warnings: Russingon (which is a half-cousin-incest ship)
Context: This might be read as a snippet out of my many Modern!AU stories. Either way, Maedhros and Fingon did not know each other well when they were younger because of their fathers' strife.
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“Ai Russo,” Fingon called from the door. “You won’t believe what just arrived.”
As he re-entered the room, he was brandishing a small rectangular piece of cardboard triumphantly; from his perch on the sofa, all Maedhros could make out was a cramped block of handwritten text followed by an eerily familiar, sprawling collection of signatures though.
“What do you have there?” he asked cautiously, craning his long, slender neck to get a better look at what he now clearly identified as a postcard of sorts. 
“Your mother has sent me a Christmas card!” Fingon whooped and threw himself on the sofa, the newly-obtained treasure protectively clasped against his broad chest. “And it is the best card anyone has ever received.”
At first, Maedhros was so elated to see his beloved brimming and gleaming with happiness at receiving a missive from Nerdanel that he almost forgot how mischievous his mother could be.
After a few seconds of Fingon cradling his precious card without making any move to share its excellence with him though, Maedhros was overcome by doubt and a terrible suspicion.
“What kind of card is it, darling?” he asked calmly, battling the frown that wanted to crease his smooth, pale brow.
“It’s a family picture,” Fingon said, his voice strained with the effort to suppress a merry guffaw. His eyes were glinting with boundless glee as if he was pondering an excellent joke his lover was not yet privy to.
Instantly, the smile on Maedhros’ face froze into a grimace of pure dread. She wouldn’t do that; his mother knew how much Fingon meant to him. She would never have risked exposing her oldest son to ridicule by digging out the worst holiday picture any family had ever taken.
“Show me!” he demanded shakily and gave a small cry when his worst fears came true. “Oh, no!”
As he tried to snatch the card away, Fingon threw himself around, shielding it with his very body and all but baring his teeth in a territorial frenzy. “No,” he grumbled, “you shall not have it.”
Just by the look on Maedhros’ face, he could tell that he’d destroy the missive if he could.
“Oh, how could she?” Maedhros exclaimed and curled up on himself. “We thought, we really believed, that we had destroyed every last copy of that accursed picture!”
“Why?” Fingon asked cautiously, still keeping his prized possession out of the reach of those terribly nimble and strong hands he so loved to feel on his skin. “It’s an adorable photograph…and you look glorious in it!”
“I…what?” Maedhros combed his fingers through his hair nervously; he was mortified at the mere thought of his dishevelled hair and the awful sweaters his parents had made them wear, so he didn’t so much as glance in the direction of the picture Fingon stared at as if it held every truth of the universe. 
“The twins were in the process of strangling me and scalping Káno,” he informed reproachfully. “Moreover, we had to take Moryo to the hospital. It was an awful night!”
Immediately, Fingon’s huge eyes turned compassionate, and Maedhros’ discontent was mellowed by the earnest empathy he read in them. “How come?”
“Moryo tried to wrench himself free and Tyelko toppled backwards over Curvo…” Maedhros rubbed his forehead with a long-fingered hand; in hindsight, he could appreciate how ludicrous this sounded and cringed. “Either way, Moryo then refused to let us see his hand, Tyelko had hit his head against the edge of a table, Curvo was no longer cackling but wailing. Even the twins stilled in their mayhem upon witnessing the chain reaction of disaster.”
When Fingon merely blinked, Maedhros sighed deeply. “They all still have the scars and, apparently, my parents do not think that reason enough to annihilate the incriminating evidence!”
Fingon had started caressing the picture with a tender fingertip, tracing those noble, gorgeous features he saw every time he closed his eyes; he was, of course, sorry that Fëanor’s children had paid this work of art with blood and tears, but he could not bring himself to truly regret their sacrifice.
“It’s fascinating,” he whispered reverentially, “to see that you’ve all made good on the promises of your childhood days.”
“I guess,” Maedhros agreed grumpily, “I am still awkward, Moryo is still ill-tempered, Tyelko is a savage still, and Curvo never stopped being a sneering pest.”
“I was thinking more along the lines of the prodigious beauty, valour, and strength of your line, but suit yourself,” Fingon laughed and nudged his head against the other’s sharp, bony shoulder. “I wish we had known each other back then!”
“I am glad we didn’t.” Maedhros grimaced in deepfelt embarrassment; he was convinced that his unusual complexion had not done him any favours back in the day. 
Nevertheless, his face softened as he finally looked upon the round, chubby faces of the brothers he thought of constantly – with equal measures of love and exasperation – and found that the memories of their younger days made him smile wistfully.
“I love it,” Fingon swore perfervidly, “and I love you!”
What else could Maedhros do but sling his arm around Fingon and press a kiss against that temple behind which his beloved would keep the memory of that darned picture forevermore, even if he managed to wrench the card from him and throw it into the fire?
“Don’t let Maglor see it though,” he mumbled insistently, “or Moryo. They hate it with a passion!”
All too soon, Maedhros understood that he might as well have saved his breath though as Fingon proceeded to carry the card on his person all the time.
More than once, Maedhros was fooled into believing that his lover had found some rare new treasure upon finding him gaping at something – evidently immensely precious by the look on his face – clasped in his hands, only to discover that it was the vexatious Christmas picture all over again.
Unfortunately, all his earnest endeavours to take it from Fingon ended in bitter defeats though.
“No way,” Fingon grinned as they companionably stood in Maglor’s living room, “I’m sending this to Ingoldo!”
With his impeccable sense of comedic – or tragic, depending on whom you asked – timing, Maglor suddenly appeared at their side to see Fingon gauchely trying to snap a picture of a postcard while swatting away Maedhros’ hand. 
“Nelyo,” Maglor squawked in a melodramatic voice, “please tell me it’s not that photo again!”
He recognised the colour scheme and the chaotic composition even without getting a good look at the object Fingon so ferociously defended from Maedhros’ half-hearted attempts at theft.
“The very same,” Maedhros huffed, “and – if we cannot dissuade him – Finno will make sure everyone with eyes to see will be made aware of our shame!”
Maglor pondered this for a second and then shrugged. “I look somewhat cute in it,” he declared in a regal act of grace, “and it’s – oh, so much – worse for the others, so…I shall condone the propagation of the monstrosity.”
Astounded, Maedhros merely blinked at this utterance; he had just lost a valuable ally.
“Also,” Maglor continued, his eyes glinting sharply, “I shall have my revenge. Charming a middle-aged lady into handing over pictures of her beloved children should be child’s play!”
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Here are the promised extra artworks:
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I hope you've all liked this, please give @sauroff a big round of applause for being delightful, generous, and absolutely lovely to work with.
As always, lots of love from my little person!
A hooray to love, to friendship, and to happiness. May December be good to you all!!!
-> Part 2
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animatorweirdo · 1 year
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Imagine being Melkor’s child and having a tragic marriage with Maedhros
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(This idea had been on my mind for some time and it’s finally time to post it. Heed the warnings because this will be a one sad story)
Imagine from @imagine-all-the-elves​
Warnings: Angst, mentions of child neglect, manipulation, torture, forced marriage, violence, loss of hand and death. Neither you or Mae will have fun time but you do have some fluff moments together. 
----------------------------------------------------
-It was never supposed to happen in the first place. You were the child of the world’s greatest enemy, and he was the son of your father’s greatest enemy. It was a union never meant to happen. 
-You never wanted it to happen, especially to him. 
-You had been kept hidden when your father, Melkor, took you away from your beloved mother. You had been barely allowed to go outside, so it left you with doubts that you even existed to the outside world. 
-Melkor never treated you horribly in your first years of life, but he was absent most of the time. He was always busy warring with the rest of the Valar and trying to take over Arda. You only had caretakers and Mairon to look after you. 
-You knew your elven caretakers were slaves and forced to look after you. It made you feel bad for them, especially when they got poorly treated by orcs and other servants of your father. 
-Mairon didn’t treat you horribly. He was busy like your father, but he sometimes took turns watching and keeping you company. You once thought you could confide in him like a friend, but you were left uncertain since he was a ruthless maiar who often thought lowly of everyone. 
-You did not have a similar mindset to everyone on your father’s side, and they kept you away from the elves to avoid ‘attachments’ – so you grew up rather lonely. 
-In those lonely times, you would think about your mother, Nienna. She was one of the warmest beings in Arda, and she was the one who taught you to be sympathetic toward others. 
-You missed her terribly. You missed her and your uncles. You wanted to feel her embrace and hear her lullabies soothe you from nightmares again. You wanted to play with your uncle Manwe and listen to Irmo’s jokes that never failed to make you laugh. You also wanted to be with your sibling again. 
-You asked your father many times if you could visit them, and he always refused, making your loneliness grow as you had no friends in Utummo or anywhere in your father’s kingdom. 
-Mairon kept you safe and hidden in Angband when the Valar tore down Utummo and took your father away. It was a terrifying experience as you didn’t know what was happening and were not allowed to go outside for a long time. 
-When everything calmed down, you were left alone with Mairon, who got busy rebuilding your father’s armies while you grew up alone in the shadows. 
-It was peaceful when your father wasn’t around. It was more quiet in the world, and there was less destruction even though orcs brought new thralls every day, and you weren’t allowed to leave Angband.
-You regret that you never took the chance to escape and reunite with your mother and sibling. You felt like a bird in a cage because Mairon restricted you from leaving Angband and tried to fill your head with teachings and expectations of how you would help your father reach his goal when he returned. 
-At that time, you hoped your father never returned from his imprisonment, but fate has never been the kindest to you, and the day finally arrived when Gothmog and his balrogs marched out of Angband to save your father from Ungoliant’s webs. 
-You did not know how to react when your father walked through the doors, holding three stolen jewels, and when he shared the news that the two trees of Valinor were no more, destroyed by his and Ungoliant’s hands. 
-You were worried, especially when you heard the Noldor elves left the blessed realm to chase after him to take revenge for what he did to their previous king and the two trees. 
-You expected war and bloodshed, so when the elves and your father’s armies finally went to war. It was the least surprising thing to you. 
-However, when your father captured the new high king after Feanor’s death. That’s when things began to go south. 
-It all started with shared looks. 
-You visited your father and Mairon from time to time to give out reports and the progress of your work, and that's how you met your father’s latest captive. 
-Nelyafinwe, who in Sindarin came to be known as Maedhros, the firstborn son of your father’s enemy and the current high king of the Noldor. 
-He was in a poor state the first time you met, and you pitied him since he was going through the same thing many of the thralls did in Angband. If things were different, you could have helped him out of his situation, but since you had little power in Angband and he was an important prisoner. There was nothing you could do for him. 
-Although you never talked to each other, you continuously glanced at one another, and it ended up in a regretful situation because your father noticed and had a horrible idea. 
-He proposed marriage between you and the red-headed elf. 
-It was unthinkable, so you tried to reject it because you did not want Maedhros to suffer any more humiliation. He already suffered enough in your father’s hand. His kin would most likely take him as a traitor if he ended up getting married to the child of his father’s enemy.
-You tried to reject it and reasoned that the whole idea was useless. It would bring nothing for either side. However, your father had always been a talented manipulator. He used your weaknesses and sympathetic nature against you. 
-He spoke unimaginable things and persuaded you how things would go since peace was all you always wanted. He also questioned if you liked the tortures to stop or continue since you were so against the idea. 
-You found yourself in the corner. You couldn't find your way out of it, and deep down, you did want the torturing to stop, so you agreed to the proposal. 
-A ceremony was held. You went out of your way to keep it small and argued with your father about what you wanted for the wedding so It would be small and quick. 
-Maedhros was against the whole thing, and you understood him well, so you at least managed to give him robes to cover his chains and a veil to spare him the shame of being seen. 
-It was a terrible situation for both of you. You never wanted a spouse who would get forced to marry you, so you could not help but utter silent apologies. 
-Your father did keep his promise and allowed you to take your new spouse away from his and Mairon’s grasp. 
-You brought your spouse to your realm. It was a gift from Mairon after you grew older and decided to work alongside him. It was a lonely fortress behind Angband, surrounded by vast icy landscapes. It was a peaceful place, but it was also just another prison for thralls and those meant to keep in check. 
-It would be impossible to escape from there without crossing anyone from Angband, so your spouse was now truly trapped. 
-Your relationship with him was silent and awkward. Maedhros was weary of you, no doubt thinking you would be exactly like your father and start torturing and mistreating him upon the first chance. You did not blame him. The whole thing was undesirable for both of you, so you tried to explain that you would not do anything against his will. 
-He did not have to go through the wedding night and was free to have your chambers to himself. You did work in your office most of the time, and there was a couch, so you had a place to rest. 
-He was free to do anything. If he needed something, he could just ask. The only thing he should not do is go outside or try to escape since there were creatures outside who guarded your realm or made sure no one would try to leave without permission. 
-You had the servants unchain him and kept your distance from him so he would not have to deal with you, and that’s how your new married life began. 
-Maedhros was weary of you and waited for you to turn back on your promise and do something to him, so he ended up spending his time in your chambers with no one but servants to bring him food. 
-He was surprised when he saw the state of your elven servants. They walked freely and were in good shape, unlike others who served in Angband. They were not afraid to talk to him, so he often conversed with them. 
-He felt conflicted when they spoke well about you and assured him he could trust your words. You were truthful and kinder than your blackhearted father, so he did not need to fear betrayal. 
-He began asking about you and collecting information. He had not heard about you before in Valinor, so he tried to gather all the information he could get before thinking about confronting you. 
-He was surprised when he learned your mother was Nienna. He knew your sibling and had heard that she had another child who went missing many years ago, even presumed dead.
-When he grew less weary, he took a bold step and stepped outside your chamber. Your servants showed him around and told him everything about the fortress. 
-When he asked if anyone tried escaping, they took him to a window and showed him the wild yetis that guarded your realm. They were faster and more ferocious than orcs. It was nearly impossible to flee, and many faced a horrible end at their hands. 
-You were kind enough to interfere whenever you could, but many would end up living with horrible scars after the encounter. 
-The servants explained to him that the yetis were made to guard the fortress and to deal with any thrall that dared to escape, but everyone knew their main task was to keep an eye on you, so you were just as a prisoner as them. 
-Maedhros took in the knowledge and began to understand your situation more. He was still weary of you and kept his distance whenever you were out. 
-He observed you most of the time, especially one time when a new maid got brought from Angband, and she accidentally broke something. He expected you to act differently behind closed doors and punish the poor elleth, but you calmed her down and simply told her to clean it up. 
-Having seen and experienced your father's temper, Maedhros was taken aback by your calmness. 
-He continued observing whenever you came out of your office. You knew he was watching and did not mind it. You even played ignorant, continued your days, and even asked for his well-being from time to time. You tried to show you meant no harm. 
-Maedhros began to grow less weary of you and then started wandering around your home and getting familiar with every detail. It was surprisingly warm inside despite the outside world being an icy wasteland. It was more welcoming than Angband, though.
-Maedhros didn’t plan to face you or talk to you anytime soon, but he made a mistake going to a library that he thought was a separate room from your office. 
-He was startled when he saw you and froze when you looked back at him. He quickly apologized and prepared to leave, but you stopped him and told him it was alright and he could stay if he wanted to read something. 
-You even offered to leave since you were almost done with the daily work so your presence wouldn’t bother him. Maedhros did not know how to answer your offer, so he rejected it and said you could stay and finish your work. 
-The exchange was awkward, so you agreed and tried to work while he went through some books.  
-You thought it could go peacefully and without troubles, but the silence soon became unbearable. You managed to continue your work, but you could feel the elf looking at you from time to time. It made you almost flinch how uneasy your spouse was, but you did not blame him. 
-You decided to break the silence and ask if there was something he wanted to ask and if his stay had been comfortable so far. 
-Maedhros thought through his questions carefully, and when you didn’t show annoyance or anger with each question, he decided to talk and ask more questions without fear.
-You answered to the best of your abilities. You were silently happy that Maedhros felt comfortable enough to talk with you despite the questions obviously directed at why you were not like your father. 
-It was not the first time, so you didn’t mind. Many of your servants assumed you were cruel and terrible, like Melkor. It also leaves them confused when you don’t act on their assumptions and treat them better than anyone from Angband. 
-You never had a reason to hate the elves or any other creation. You knew your father was obsessed with conquering Arda and creating something of his own, and it made you sad how many got hurt because of him. You were more sympathetic like your mother. 
-The conversation was quick since it was time for dinner, and Maedhros wished to dine alone in your chamber like he always did. He took the time to think about you and your answers to his questions. 
-He felt a bit ashamed for the way he spoke to you. He was rather forward and demanding with his questions, like he was interrogating you, and it made him feel slight regret because you didn’t even do anything to upset him.  
-You didn’t even get angry with his tone of voice, so it was clear to him that you were nothing like your father. Truthfully, you looked saddened when he spoke to you like that, and it only fueled his desire to apologize for his behavior. 
-He left your chambers, hoping he would find you and apologize to you for what happened. He was unaware he would end up finding someone else, someone unexpected.  
-Maedhros was only walking through the hallway, trying to remember the location of the dining hall until he felt like being watched. 
-He then dumped on someone he never expected to see, your sibling. 
-He was left shocked because your sibling should be in Valinor with your mother, but they were standing right in front of him, grinning at him. Maedhros was creeped out because they looked and acted nothing like they were in Valinor.  
-They were psychotic and made vulgar remarks about him and his kin. They even called him your toy while threatening to taste his blood. 
-Maedhros didn’t know what to do. He was unnerved to the core and close to doing something rash like fighting them until you arrived and stopped your sibling from touching him. 
-It was the first time he saw you get agitated and more threatening. You strictly spoke to your sibling and chased them off before turning your attention toward him with a much softer expression. 
-He was shaken and confused from the encounter. He then assumed your sibling was working as a spy, but you brushed off that theory and explained this sibling was a doppelganger. 
-When you were younger, and the old Utummo was still up. You asked your father many times to see your mother and actual sibling since you were lonely. He created the doppelganger to fix that, and you have been stuck with a psychotic fake ever since. 
-You apologized for his unpleasant encounter and told him to call or come to you if they bothered him again. 
-Maedhros felt anxious for the rest of the day, and you felt horrible watching him be afraid again since he was finally getting comfortable around you. It made you curse your father and that fake even more. 
-You didn’t dare to bother him, so you stayed at your usual spot on the balcony whenever the night graced the sky, hoping you spot a few stars through the gray smoke. 
-Maedhros once found you alone and was curious, so he approached you and talked to you.  
-You asked him if the sky was really full of stars like your servants said since you have long forgotten. Maedhros was pretty surprised to hear that, but he confirmed and told you about all the stars he knew. You listened with a smile, and the conversation just flowed from there. 
-You asked about your sibling and mother since he had met them and known them for a while before he departed from Valinor, and he described how they were doing and how much they missed you ever since you went missing. They and the rest of your family dedicated one day to remembering you each year. 
-You felt happy to know your family was doing well and that they had not forgotten about you. You thanked him for sharing about your mother and sibling. 
-Maedhros felt sad for you and angry. He could see the loneliness in your eyes, and the thought that you have been kept away from your family so long that you had forgotten how a star-filled sky looked made him resent Melkor more. 
-You began to talk more, especially wherever you were on the balcony. Maedhros tried to spot stars with you, and you spoke about your families. He told fond memories about Valinor, and he sometimes joked with you about his father since your imagination made him look like a screaming goose on fire when you heard about him. Honestly – it was perhaps one of the most accurate descriptions of his father. 
-You two began to spend more time with each other. Maedhros felt more comfortable with you. Even though he shouldn’t, he began to trust you. He began to see you as some kind of a friend.
-He just couldn’t see Melkor in you. You were soft-spoken and gentle like your mother. You made him enjoy his stay with your stories, and he liked how kind you were toward your servants. 
-It made him wish you could have met under different circumstances. 
-You were happy you were building a connection, but even so, you tried to avoid touching him or indulging in any close contact. 
-Maedhros noticed when he asked about your ring once. You two were on the balcony, and he was curious about the peculiar-looking ring on your finger. He touched your hand, and he felt you freeze under his touch. He thought he did something wrong, but you kept your composure and told him how you used to steal the ring from Irmo, and he allowed you to keep it since you liked it so much. It was one of the only things you had left from your family. 
-Maedhros thought he made you uncomfortable, so he tried to apologize for touching you without permission. 
-You were surprised and then explained he did not make you uncomfortable. You were afraid to touch people in general because there had been cases when people mistook you for your father when you tried to help them. 
-You did not want to touch him because you thought it would revoke bad memories of Angband and the horrible things he went through, especially when he had scars as a reminder of his time there. 
-Maedhros understood that you felt guilt and made a bold move to hold your hand, telling you how you would never remind him of your father, and it wasn’t you who gave him his scars. 
-It was at that moment you started falling for him hard. 
-You would have been happy if you two became friends, but after feeling his hand on yours and seeing him smile for the first time. You couldn’t help but start feeling something more for him. 
-You were terrified because there were several reasons why you shouldn’t feel such a thing for him. 
-One, your father would win if he ever knew about your growing feelings, and two, Maedhros would never feel the same for you. He got forced to marry you, so he had no reason to love you back. He would only see you as someone he could trust in this place, nothing more. 
-You tried to keep them hidden, but the crimson-haired ellon did not make it easy when you two spent time together on the balcony, and he started smiling more.
-He adapted to your way of living and even learned the little codes you made with your servants to know someone unwanted was visiting. He even started helping you with your work. 
-You tried getting your hands on fruits and food he would like when he started dining with you. He would always be surprised when you managed to bring Noldor-made cuisine to the table, but it made him smile and thank you for going to such lengths. 
-You couldn't stop thinking about the feeling of his hand when he held your hand for the first time without fear. The warmth and the gentleness behind it made you want to feel it again, but you didn’t dare to ask him. You were still afraid to touch him. 
-However, your yearning had made you unaware of how much you started looking at his hand, imagining how it would feel against yours. 
-Maedhros was quick to notice and decided to ask your permission to hold your hand instead, making you flustered. You did not want to say no, so you let him touch your hand and even make little jokes about how small your hands were for an Ainur, and those little moments always made you feel weak and crave more for his gentle touch. 
-It was now obvious you were falling hard for him. It was an incredible feeling because it felt like how your mother described it when she was still with your father. But you knew, one day, you had to help Maedhros out of your prison.   
-He would never be safe as long as he was stuck with you, so you finally started planning a way for him to escape and be free of his predicament. 
-It was a carefully crafted plan. You made a note to keep all the details in mind, and one day, you found a perfect chance for him to escape, but then your fake sibling just had to visit and start harassing your beloved. 
-They had arrived without your knowing and started harassing Maedhros with vulgar remarks about his family and situation. They called him names, and Maedhros tried to ignore it like you told him, but when they made a crude remark about you, he couldn’t help but retaliate against them. 
-They were threateningly quiet after he stood up for them. Maedhros felt unnerved and tried to leave through the door, only to have his hand cut off when he grabbed the handle. 
-You stood up when you heard him scream and quickly made way toward him and your fake sibling. You found Maedhros’s hand on the floor and saw him sitting against the wall while holding his bleeding stump. It felt like the world froze around you when you watched his blood dress him in red. 
-Your sibling only cackled and told you they only gave your spouse a lesson in misbehaving and blamed you for not keeping your things in check, but you only grew furious. 
-The anger you felt was uncontrollable, and you attacked your fake sibling. 
-You threw them away and even took your sword out of its sheath, ready to kill them. You were known for your reluctance to harm anything, so when your sibling saw the murderous rage in your eyes – they took out their weapon, and you ended up in a violent fight. 
-Maedhros watched with fright as you fought with your sibling, slashing wounds and throwing kicks and punches at each other. He became worried when he saw you getting hurt from the attacks. 
-You even went as far as to use your abilities against your sibling, throwing their body against the walls like a ragdoll before they used their powers and disabled you. 
-You both eventually lost your weapons and started throwing punches at each other, breaking each other’s bones and trying to kill with raw strength. 
-However, your sibling managed to throw you away, and you were down, groaning and coughing blood from your mouth. 
-Maedhros wanted to run to you, but when your sibling turned their attention upon him and came at them with a sinister grin. Maedhros took up your sword, and your sibling ran right through it. 
-You saw as Maedhros held the blade that ran through your sibling. Your sibling’s black blood slowly dribbled from the steel before they fell backward, sliding off the sword and falling dead on the floor. 
-Maedhros was standing in shock, staring at the corpse of your fake sibling while holding your sword with a shaking hand. 
-When you heard your fake sibling’s servants approaching. You stood up and went to Maedhros, intending to take your sword from his hand. 
-” Maedhros –” You said gently as your hand laid upon his. He looked at you with a frightful expression as his skin turned cold from the touch. “You did nothing wrong. It’s alright,” You comforted, taking the sword from his hand. You laid your other hand on his cheek, making him look you in the eyes. “You did nothing wrong,” You said and backed away.  
-It took a moment for Maedhros to calm down, but before he knew it – you struck your sibling’s corpse right when your sibling’s servants showed around the corner. He was shocked because you were making it look like it was you who killed their master. You were taking the blame for him. 
-When you walked back to him, you gently handled his bleeding stump and muttered something under your breath, which allowed light to glow beneath your fingers, and Maedhros could feel the pain lessen and the wound stitching itself up. 
-He was then taken by surprise when you suddenly embraced him and held his head close to yours. 
-You told him to go to a remote place of your fortress and find his cousin you noticed sneaking in, the one with the golden ribbons. 
-Maedhros knew it was Fingon from your description, but before he could say anything. You promised him you would hold your sibling’s servants back while he escaped and pushed him away, yelling at him to go. 
-He was quick to follow your instructions, and he ran. He only turned for a moment to see you start killing your fake sibling’s servants, taking all the attention on you.  
-He did not want to leave you behind, and it was by luck that he suddenly bumped into his cousin, Fingon. 
-The reunion was short-lived, and Fingon quickly took him away from your fortress. They were quick to run through the mountains, but Maedhros paled when he heard the yells of the yetis and saw them coming toward them.  
-You managed to fight off your sibling’s servants and walked outside to see Maedhros and his cousin running away from the yetis. They would die if you didn’t do something, so you took out your blade and gave yourself a deep wound. 
-The yetis were made to guard your home and prevent anyone from leaving. However, if they smell something wrong with you, they will make you their first priority and stop their task to check on you. 
-You used your powers to enhance the smell of your blood, and it didn’t take long for them to stop and come for you instead, leaving Maedhros and his cousin alone and giving them a chance to escape. 
-You smiled in relief, but you knew their escape would be impossible since Angband was on their way. So, you prayed from the bottom of your heart for Manwe’s help or someone who would help the one you loved to escape. You soon lost consciousness when the yetis came through the door and found you. 
-Maedhros felt dread when he saw the yetis come for you, but he tried to keep going until he and Fingon got surrounded by orcs from Angband. 
-He thought about telling Fingon to leave him so he could buy him some time, but before he could do anything, a great eagle flew down from the sky and took down the orcs. 
-Thorondor helped them mount and flew them away from Angband. Maedhros did not know what to think, and he watched as your fortress got smaller and smaller until it was out of his eyesight, and he returned to his kin. 
- He thought about you as he healed from his injuries, and his brothers questioned him about his time in Angband. He was surprised that no one knew that he was married off to the child of his enemy, but he said no word about it. 
-The more he thought about you, the more anxious he became to know what happened to you after the incident. Deep down in his heart, he wanted you to be alive, but there was a mild chance because no one would survive the anger of a dark lord, so he concluded you were dead. 
-He mourned for you. You were one of the good things that happened, and it felt like he left part of himself when you told him to leave you and your home. 
-He kept quiet about the incident and his marriage because he knew his kin would not take it kindly if they knew about the whole affair.
-They would assume you were like your father and take no other answer. 
-Maedhros tried to live quietly, but he couldn't bring himself to forget you. Not after all you did for him: and your sacrifice to save him. It made him feel undeserving and realize he might have loved you in return. 
-The feeling was like a sword that struck him in the heart, especially when something horrific happened during a battle. The orcs were taunting him and his people, brutally executing prisoners and thralls before them. Maedhros felt helpless that he couldn't do anything to help them, but he had to keep his composure and look strong in front of his people. That was until the orcs caught his attention and threw a severed hand before him. 
-He was confused until he recognized the ring on the hand’s finger – on your finger. The hand in front of him was your hand. 
-He felt sick as it was obviously a gesture of mockery for losing his hand, and he almost couldn’t hold his composure because he couldn’t stop thinking about all the things you suffered in your father’s hands.
-He only allowed himself to break into tears when he returned to his home in Himring when no one would be looking. He held on to your ring, which he had retrieved in secret, and grieved for you as it was clear that you were now truly gone.
Taglist: @heilith​
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doodle-pops · 2 years
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Maedhros: listen son, I don't give a shit about who you are. If you hurt my daughter's feelings or do anything with ill intentions towards her I'm gonna do ten time worse to you and then I will kill you. I have hundreds of people's bloods on my hands-
Boy: hand...
Maedhros with a death glare: What did you just say boy?
Boy: Nothing sir
Maedhros: That's what I thought.
*reader and their daughter looking at the scene*
Daughter: shouldn't us stop him?
Reader: nah, your boyfriend have to know exactly what kind of family he's getting into
Daughter: was it like that for you too?
*reader having flashbacks of how every family member threatened them if they did something bad to Mae, more like*
Reader: something between those lines
-👻
I know he was dying on the inside. Probably saw God and came back to life in a second. Maedhros would have strangled him with that one hand. Reader and daughter looking on like:
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verecunda · 1 month
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Misc. "Beren and Lúthien" thoughts
Honestly, fair play to Christopher Tolkien for his efforts in producing these standalone volumes, especially in tracing the development of the stories, because the way he describes his dad's multifarious drafts, notebooks, bits of scribble on the backs of envelope etc... Jesus Christ. X'D
I found so much interesting stuff in the Beren and Lúthien book! I'm not even going to try and put them all down here, but in the early versions especially, there are so many odd wee details that seem to me to shed light on certain ambiguous details in the version that appears in the published Silmarillion (whether these were Tolkien's final thoughts on the matter or not).
One of the most interesting things, particularly in the earliest versions, is the stress laid on the fact that Thingol/Tinwelint's order to Beren to fetch a Silmaril is actually meant sarcastically. It's a joke; he doesn't actually expect Beren to go and do it. It struck me because that's exactly how I read it in the Silmarillion: it's Thingol's way of scoffing at Beren and getting him to fuck off. I don't think Thingol had any particular desire for a Silmaril himself (at least, not until it actually came into his hands). That was how I read it, at least, but I was surprised that in the early versions, it's made pretty explicit. It also gives an added resonance to Beren's "lololol the Silmaril is in my hand!" line: the quest that began with a poor-taste joke is brought to fruition with a poor-taste joke. :D
Also quite interesting that Beren's father was originally called Egnor. Clearly not meant to be the same figure as Aegnor son of Finarfin, but it is an early version of the same name. Interesting just because it's a name that always seems to be floating about the fringes of these tales of love between mortals and Elves... ;___;
The version where Felagund first encounters Men while he was a "guest of Celegorm in the East" (as opposed to Maedhros and Maglor in the published Silm). This, I thought, was interesting, because it might serve to explain why Celegorm and Curufin wind up in Nargothrond after the Bragollach, if Tolkien had - at least at one stage - envisioned a friendship between them. There's definitely versions where C&C are friends with Angrod and Aegnor; I wonder if that was meant to extend to all the sons of Finarfin at one point.
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felagund-the-valiant · 3 months
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All I Want Is You - Fingon x gn!reader
There’s only one thing Findekáno wants for his Begetting Day – to finally start courting the love of his life.
Words: 1.1k
Tags: best friends to lovers, first kiss
A/N: sooo, this is the first proper one shot i've ever written for fandom stuff. i hope it doesn't suck.
Aikanáro - Aegnor, Angaráto - Angrod, Fëanáro - Fëanor, Findekáno - Fingon, Maitimo - Maedhros, Turukáno - Turgon
Findekáno noticed you the moment you came through the door and made a beeline towards you. “(Y/N)!” He exclaimed in his usual cheerful manner and pulled you in for a hug that seemed to linger just a second too long, not that you minded. You discreetly breathed in his scent and felt your stomach flutter. “Happy Begetting Day!” You said with a bright smile when he let go of you and handed over your present to him. He gratefully accepted it and went to put it with the other presents he had received. Even though you shouldn’t be, you were astounded at the volume. He was a prince, after all, and you couldn’t help but feel the tiniest bit self-conscious, hoping your gift wouldn't appear too simple next to the others. You pushed the thought aside and followed him to the opulent buffet to grab something to drink and a bite to eat.
You observed him carefully as you followed behind him. His hair was adorned with his signature golden hairbands that matched the artfully crafted jewellery he wore as well as the intricate embroidery on his royal blue robes. He looked stunning as always and you could only hope your own appearance was a suitable match.
After the two of you had filled your plates, you settled down at an empty table and you happily listened to him chatter away about all the planning that had gone into the celebration as well as the latest royal family drama. Apparently Maitimo – his oldest cousin – had managed to convince his uncle Fëanáro to attend and so far, he had only gotten into minor squabbles with Findekáno’s father. One would see what the rest of the evening would bring. After the recounts of drama were finished, he went over to presenting his newest jokes to you. He loved making you laugh. You were oblivious to the fact that he had practised all of his jokes on Turukáno beforehand, making sure they were actually funny, and he wouldn’t embarrass himself in front of you. Although he sometimes wondered if his brother was the right choice for this as he wasn’t exactly known for his sense of humour.
When the conversation came to a natural lull he glanced over at the minstrels and the other guests dancing to their harmonious music. He rose from his chair with determination. “Would you care for a dance, my lady?” He asked with a dramatic bow and extended his right hand to you with a mischievous spark in his eyes. “You know I can’t dance, Findekáno.” You grumbled. You had been over this countless times, he seemed to ask you to dance every time there was a chance and you tried to not read into it, even though you desperately wanted to. It’s not that you disliked dancing with him – quite the opposite, you cherished every moment you got to be this close to him – you just hated making a fool of yourself in front of him. “Don’t worry about it, I’ll show you. Also, it’s my Begetting Day, meaning you legally can’t deny my wishes.” He gave you his best puppy eyes and broke into a triumphant grin when you let out a resigned sigh. “Fine, but don’t be upset when I eventually trample your feet.”
To your credit, the dance went considerably better than you had thought – you only stepped on his feet two times and both times he laughed it off, assuring you it hadn’t hurt at all, though you suspected that was a lie. “You look beautiful tonight, by the way.” He said out of nowhere and tucked a wayward strand of hair behind your ear. You felt your insides melt a little at the contact. “This colour really suits you.” He continued and gave you an earnest smile. “Thank you. You look quite dashing yourself.” You replied a little bashfully. Friends give each other compliments, you reminded yourself, there’s nothing more to it. Right? He stopped his movements after a while and threw a look at a set of doors that led out to an empty balcony. “I could use some fresh air.” He declared. “Care to join me?” You nodded and he led you out to the cool evening air.
Findekáno leaned against the railing and you followed his example. “Thank you for coming today.” He said. “Of course. You’re my best friend, how couldn’t I?” There was a short pause. “Have you … ever thought about us being more than just friends?” He asked with bated breath. You blinked rapidly at him, not sure if you had heard him correctly. “What do you mean? Like … courting?” He nodded, eyes filled with hope and nervousness at the same time. You felt an aggressive blush creeping up your cheeks and averted your eyes. “Maybe.” You said barely audible. “What about you?” “I have. A lot.” He replied and reached for one of your hands. “(Y/N), I’m in love with you.” He finally confessed. “I have been for a long time, but I was scared that if I told you, it might ruin our friendship.” He took a deep breath before he continued. “But I’m tired of hiding my feelings and it’s okay if-“ “I love you, too.” You blurted out and covered your mouth in surprise. “You do?” He asked and you nodded your head vigorously. His face lit up brighter than both Laurelin and Telperion together and he let out a laugh that almost sounded giddy. “You have no idea how happy I am to hear that.” He exclaimed and pulled you into his arms, squeezing you tightly before loosening his grip a little. You looked up at him and found your gaze wandering between his eyes and his lips. Findekáno smirked knowingly. “Is there something on your mind?” He asked in a teasing tone. You bit your lower lip slightly. “Can I kiss you?” You asked while subconsciously gripping the front of his robes. “You most certainly can, melda.” He replied and leaned down to which you rose to the tips of your toes to meet him halfway.
All your fantasies paled in comparison to the real kiss you were sharing, and you wished it would never end. When your lips parted you reached up to caress his right cheek and he lightly leaned into the touch. “I love you.” You repeated in a whisper. “I love you, too.” He whispered back and in that moment nothing else mattered.
If either of you noticed your other two best friends, Angaráto and Aikanáro, lurking outside the doors and triumphantly exchanging money, you didn’t comment on it.
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theelvenhaven · 1 year
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Round 2 with the Fëanorians!
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lordgrimwing · 8 days
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Teasing #02
[For C+C week hosted by @candcweek. Prompt: loyalty -- kind of, I tried]
The first snow fell in the late afternoon, blanketing everything in a thin layer of white that reflected the last rays of light. A glass prism hanging just inside one of the windows of the snow-dusted house gleamed in the light, spreading a burst of colors around the living room. 
Curufin sat on the heavy rug in the middle of the dancing light. “Oh!” He said in a delighted whisper. “Look at all the rainbows, Brimby.”
A black-haired baby rested in his arms. Swaddled in the same cloth his grandparents wrapped his uncles in, Celebrimbor was snug and warm and halfway asleep already. His little eyes opened slowly at the words, and he blinked blearily up at the red, green, and blue sparkles on the ceiling. 
The lights were interesting enough to pull the baby back from the edge of sleep. Blinking twice more, he opened his little pink mouth. His father grinned, constantly thrilled by any of his gurgles or burbles. This time, he blew a little spit bubble. It sat on his lips for several seconds before popping.
Curufin leaned down and nuzzled their noses together softly. Celebrimbor giggled. 
“I take it all back,” Celegorm said in a lazy tone, lounging by the popping fire in the hearth and scratching looping designs into a long bone (from a small deer or maybe a large goat) with the tip of his belt knife. “He couldn’t possibly be anyone else’s kid.” 
At the start of the year, the entire family had wordlessly agreed that the fifth son was more than a little crazy when he rode home with Mirioneth from town and announced proudly that she’d be the mother of his kid before long. The repeated reminder that she worked as a prostitute and might be having anyone’s baby fell on deaf ears. Curufin never wavered. 
In an uncharacteristic show of restraint, Celegorm kept his doubts to himself, or at least to between himself and the animals he spent most of his time with—he thought he ought to keep himself as a neutral shoulder for his favorite brother to cry on when the baby was born and revealed to not be his. He hadn’t thought for a moment that Curufin would be vindicated in the end. Yet, after the baby (a little boy with wispy black hair who screamed louder than his mother when he came out) was washed and fed and sleeping soundly, Fëanor took one look at him and said there was no denying that he was part of the family.
Curufin was so delighted with his son’s noises that he didn’t notice the sly jibe in his brother’s words. 
“Yes you are,” He said in a high-pitched voice usually reserved for particularly cute, hapless lambs or kids. “You’re my little boy. Aren’t you? My little Brimby.” The words dissolved into bubbly noises.
Celegorm rolled his eyes and bit down on a smile. He didn’t understand his brother’s obsession but a nagging feeling at the back of his mind warned him to not joke about it too much because once the baby was a little less delicate, he might love being an uncle just as much as his brother loved being a father. He recalled the way Maedhros and Maglor held and played with tiny Amras and Amrod when they were born (he’d been thirteen and more interested in the new responsibilities he was given than in looking after the babies). Vaguely, from the deepest recesses of his mind, he remembered Pa sitting him in his lap and helping him carefully hold new-born Curufin—he was so nervous and excited to have a little brother (Carathir didn’t count because they were only a handful of months apart).
“Curufin.”
Celegorm’s eyes jumped over to the sole armchair placed near the fire. Celebrimbor’s mother sat knitting a painfully slow scarf. Her expression was pinched and unhappy. 
“He’ll stay up crying if you rile like that,” She said.
“What do you know?” Celegorm shot back before anyone else could respond. He straightened up so that he could glare at her easter. The knife bounced in his hand as he pointed it at her. “You don’t care about him. You’re just here to feed him.”
“Don’t tell us what to do,” Caranthir snapped at her from the other side of the room where he was helping the twins warp table looms in the fading light. 
“Caranthir!”
The brothers flinched. Celegorm hastily put his knife away.
Nerdanel loomed out of the darkness in the hall to her and Fëanor’s room, hair half-undone from her braids for the evening. Her ire and flyaway hair seemed to fill half the room. 
“Sorry, Ma.” Caranthir ducked his head, already chastised for his rudeness. That didn’t stop his mother from laying on more, though she restrained her volume thanks to the nearby baby. The others kept their eyes averted, hoping to avoid drawing her attention to their own behavior. Curufin even hushed burbling Celebrimbor, rocking him gently until he quieted and yawned.
When she finished, Caranthir’s face was red with embarrassment. He turned to Mirioneth and, sounding sincere, apologized for what he said. She awkwardly forgave him, no doubt uncomfortable with how they were all looking at her.
Satisfied, Nerdanel turned to Amrod and Amras. “The light’s too poor to work on that anyway. Put those away and clear the table before going to sleep.” To Curufin and Mirioneth she said, “It’s high past time for Celebrimbor to be sleeping if you want any kind of a restful night. Take him to bed.” Her direction for everyone to be in bed before the end of the hour went unsaid but fully understood.
Caranthir helped the ten-year-olds tidy up their threads and move the looks. While their mother was assuredly still listening, Celegorm politely asked Mirioneth if she needed anything before she and Curufin retired; she was a guest after all. Caranthir shot him an annoyed look. She declined, shoved her knitting into a bag, and hurried to the unwed parents’ room, made private by evicting the twins and moving them to the open spot with Celegorm and Caranthir. 
(The rearranging of sleeping rooms was a sore spot for several months but they’d all gotten used to it. Caranthir insisted the twins were better roommates than everyone else in the house.)
Amrod and Amras excused themselves to run out to the barn with a lantern to say goodnight to the sheep. In short order, Caranthir and Celegorm found themselves alone in the quiet living room.
“So,” Caranthir said, face finally returning to a normal color. “Do you think she’ll try to run tonight?”
Celegorm considered the dark windows. “First snow, new moon, no clear road to follow. She’d be foolish to try.”
“So I should hide her shoes, just in case.”
The blond grinned like one of his dogs. “We’ll get Amrod to say he did it if anyone wonders.”
“Right.”
With that, Celegorm went back to work on his bone.
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