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#Tolkien headcanons
niennawept · 1 year
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psssst, new headcanon: Tolkien elves can literally feel starlight like we can feel sunlight. It's not warm though— it's cool and reassuring, and since there are so many stars, it feels like a soft brush on their skin.
It is no wonder, then, that they love stars the best.
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marietheran · 1 year
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I’m thinking how at some point Elrond, who definitely saw many Men die during his (immortal) life must have started saying something like “If you meet my brother, give him my love” to them on their deathbeds. And I think it became something of a tradition, something he was actually expected to say and maybe eventually when you had the Rangers of the North leaving Rivendell on some dangerous errand, they would add “I hope we meet again but if we don’t - I’ll be sure to tell Elros...” to their farewells and no one would be sure if that was more heartbreaking or heartwarming
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growingingreenwood · 11 months
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Random headcanon that the other elvish realms think that the Greenwood Elves have SOME-FUCKING-HOW developed **significantly** superior hearing compared to the rest of the elvish cultures/races. When I say 'significantly' I mean so significantly that it genuinely scares them a little bit.
A lot a bit.
It seems to them that the Greenwood Elves are capable of hearing and understanding even whispered conversations from MILES AND MILES AND MILES AWAY. Even when the distance is so great elvish eyes cannot even see a dark spec on the horizon, Greenwood Elves can still successfully eavesdrop on what is happening.
The other realms have, of course, come up with many of their own theories as to why and how they're capable of such things. Including but not limited to: Evolution that happened after most of the Noldor left for Valinor to help them survive the Dark Scary Times, a permanent enchantment of Melians that can be genetically passed down to one's offspring, an Extremely Elaborate Lie, a side effect of one of the plants that they eat, a sign that they've made a deal with Melkor to be his spies (this theory is banned from being openly spoken about in Imladris, if it is, you get 1 single warning before Elrond yeets you out of the valley his damn self. You are not welcome back for at least 100 years, and you have to apologize before you're allowed back in.)
There is, of course, an incredibly simple and straightforward reason for this perceived 'super-hearing' which is: The elves don't hear things, the trees do and just relay the information (or at least the gist or important bits) back to the elves. They can hear what you say from 1000 miles away because there's trees literally everywhere.
But since the other realms don't speak to/with the trees in the same capacity as the Greenwood Elves, the thought that this is possible literally never occurs to them. And the Greenwood Elves think the entire situation is too funny to ever explain it.
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maglorslostsilmaril · 9 months
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Imladris HCs that nobody asked for but I will be sharing anyway bcs I have some thoughts about that silly little elf hotel
Upon entering the borders, the magic surrounding the valley is tangible to the person entering and reflects Elrond’s opinion on them
AKA it might feel like to hug to any of his kids, or a warm greeting to a friend. I guess some sort of discomfort to come to people he doesn’t like but who is trying to enter the valley if Elrond hates them anyway
The title “Last Homely House” only refers to the home of Elrond and his friends/family; there’s a surrounding city as well tucked further into the valley
The city is actually fairly undivided in terms of Sindar vs Noldor; at this point everyone just kinda vibes.
Maglor obviously was not allowed traipsing around the city at first though; however after a couple hundred years people are more or less accustomed to “Lindir” anyways
(He mostly spends his time haunting/terrorizing guests though, much to Elrond’s dis(?)pleasure)
The grounds surrounding the main house/manor or whatever include a frankly astounding amount of statue gardens including but not limited to:
Statues of the sons of Feanor, the houses of Fingolfin, Finarfin, Beor, Hador and Haleth, Melian’s line, Beren and Luthien, the great-grandchildren of Finwe, the valar, and the kings of Numenor
The grounds also include two graveyards, one for elves and one for men.
Celebrian planted wildflowers year-round, timing them so that in the spring the grounds explode with flora. Arwen and Elrohir continue the tradition after she sails.
One of Elrond’s kids (either Elladan or Aragorn) brought a warg pup back home once. It bred, and now there are fairly domesticated wargs protecting the valley
Everyone in the valley gets excited when hobbits visit, as it’s a rare occasion; they don’t normally serenade visitors. Hobbits are the exception.
Elrond’s home and the surrounding grounds are just a tad sentiment; the paths and corridors have a habit of bringing people Elrond likes straight where they need to go, and getting others hopelessly lost.
That’s all I have for now, possibly will update later!
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sotwk · 9 months
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Food and Agriculture in Thranduil's Kingdom
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It's unfortunate that Thorin's Company was welcomed as dinner guests in Rivendell but imprisoned as invaders in Mirkwood. Had Thorin just shown King Thranduil just a little bit more respect, they could have been fed a whole lot better by the Silvans. And there would most definitely have been meat!
While the Rivendell elves seem to lean vegetarian, and Lothlorien's culinary specialty is the "one bite" lembas, the elves of Greenwood know more than a thing or two about indulgent feasting. These elves consider themselves permanent residents of their land, and with that outlook comes an attitude of celebrating Middle-earth's bounties.
The Silvans of the Woodland Realm have always been fond of feasting, merry-making, and community and family traditions centered around food. Furthermore, they are ruled by a King and royal family who whole-heartedly support this culture, participate in it themselves, and encourage trade that allows the realm to access food from other lands.
When it comes to food, the Greenwood elves are actually more alike Dwarves and Hobbits than they are the lofty High Elves.
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Below the cut are SotWK headcanons regarding Food and Agriculture in the Woodland Realm:
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Food, Cuisine, and Agriculture in the Woodland Realm
Prior to the establishment of the Woodland Realm and in the early reign of King Oropher (c. SA 700), the Silvan Elves populating Greenwood lived in smaller communities spread throughout the vast forest, but predominantly in the southwest, closer to their kin in Lorinand. Limited subsistence farming was practiced by a few, but by far most food at this time was obtained through hunting and gathering. The rich and bountiful Greenwood had always provided more than enough resources for its dwellers.
GATHERING
Greenwood Elves happily spend most of their immortal lives within Eryn Galen and the lands of Rhovanion, so they are accustomed to living off solely what the forest produces, and their diet is influenced largely by it.
The most commonly foraged edibles are:
Nuts: hazelnut, pecan, walnut, hickory, beechnut, chestnut
Fruit: plum, apple, grape, persimmon
Berries: mulberry, blackberry, currant, elderberry, raspberry
Wild garlic and ramps
Fungi: mushrooms and truffles of many varieties
Eggs: from various wild birds
Herbs and Spices: fennel, corn mint, dandelions, ground elder, pigweed, cicely, sorrel, hogweed, stinging nettle, watercress, wild carrot, rowan, wood avens, sneezewort
Maple: sourced for sugar and syrup
There are also hundreds of plant species native only to Greenwood and Rhovanion that are valued for their uses in healing. However, the Silvan herbalists of Greenwood are usually the only ones able to effectively extract the curative properties of these plants, indicating a connection between Elves and homeland may be necessary for the healing to work.
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Art from Fantasy Flight Games
HUNTING
Greenwood Elves are expert hunters and trackers, with unparalleled mastery within their forest and the lands that surround its borders. With careful consideration and instinctual knowledge of the forest ecosystem, they select their prey according to what's most populous, and rotate as necessary to balance out conservation levels.
Among the animals they hunt regularly for meat consumption are rabbit, squirrel, duck, turkey, quail, weasel, racoon, boar, deer, wild oxen, and elk. On rare or special occasions, they hunt less common game such as lion and bear. They also obtain fish and freshwater mussels, clams, and snails from the Forest River and various streams.
It is illegal in Greenwood to hunt or kill specific animals that are declared a protected species, including the King's Elk (the breed of Thranduil's war elk), the silverwolf, and all species of eagle or falcon.
Any fauna or fauna may also be temporarily decreed off-limits for hunting or gathering, by order of the Elvenking and his council.
Any animal taken in as an elf's pet or familiar may also not be killed, so long as it has been properly tamed and does not pose a risk to others.
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Throughout the Second Age, the Woodland Realm's population steadily increased under the wise rule of King Oropher and his court. As the communities and villages that made up the kingdom grew larger and more numerous, the practice of agriculture became more widespread to bolster the realm's food supply.
In the Woodland Realm, farming would always remain secondary to hunting and gathering due to the preference of Silvans for wild game and native vegetation. Farmed products serve primarily to enhance cuisine, supplement large feasts, provide reserves in case of war or famine, and as goods for trade with other realms.
FARMING and LIVESTOCK
Tracts of community farmlands were gradually cultivated in the arable fields between Greenwood's western borders (near the capital of Amon Lanc) and the Anduin River.
In order of output, the food crops most commonly grown are: wheat, barley, oats, potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, and peas.
Fiber crops grown for cloth, paper, and rope include: flax, hemp, and cotton.
Domesticated animals are raised in small numbers solely for their by-products and not their meat. In order of importance, livestock that are raised are:
Sheep: source of wool and milk
Chickens: source of eggs
Cows: source of milk and for birthing calves
Animals raised for labor include:
Horses: highly valued and raised exclusively for transport and mounted cavalry
Oxen: used as beasts of burden (large-scale/community work)
Donkeys: used as beasts of burden (small-scale/family work)
When Prince Thranduil built his own palace of Bar Lasgalen just south of the Old Forest Road (which would later become the new capital upon his ascension to the throne), he helped the Silvans residing in the valleys of the Emyn Duir to initiate small-scale agriculture, which encouraged further migration into that area and northward towards the Grey Mountains.
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Elvish historians refer to the first millennium of the Third Age as the "Golden Age of the Woodland Realm". During these years, the kingdom enjoyed an unbroken peace under a wise King and Queen who also had five sons actively involved in the governance of the realm.
Departing from his father's more isolationist leanings, Thranduil encouraged trade with realms across Middle-earth. It included all the races except for Hobbits, since the Shire did not yet exist prior to the darkening of Greenwood.
Sadly, most trade came to a stop by the end of the Third Age, with the exception of the nearby Dale, due to the struggles with Dol Guldur. However, after Erebor was reestablished by King Thorin, trade gradually resumed with the Dwarves. After the War of the Ring and the Cleansing of Dol Guldur, Eryn Lasgalen once again thrived with renewed relations with their trade partners--finally including the Shire!
AGRICULTURAL TRADE
The Woodland Realm's three most valuable exported agricultural products are:
Rare spices
Mushrooms and truffles
Medicinal herbs (extremely valuable but highly controlled to prevent misuse)
Imported goods are considered luxuries and not necessities, and are brought in seasonally for community feasts and celebrations (of which there are many). Everything is meant for the consumption of all the kingdom's citizens, regardless of status; there is never anything reserved as "special" for the royals or nobles.
The top agricultural imports, usually from realms/communities of Men, are:
Wine
Textiles (silk, cotton)
Seafood
Sugar
Cheeses
ARTISAN COOKS and BAKERS
Exposure to outside realms and cultures also resulted in an expansion of the culinary arts within Thranduil's kingdom. Cooking and baking became full-blown, respected and sought-after professions instead of tasks done within individual households. With the King's support, talented Elves were sent to other realms to learn their culinary practices; chefs from other kingdoms were invited to Greenwood as royal guests to do the same.
A few culinary feats and innovations the Woodland Elves became known for:
Use of offal (innards) in recipes that actually taste fantastic, thanks to seasonings and skilled cookery
Using literally every single part of a butchered animal with zero waste
Aphrodisiacs in common food recipes, using plant ingredients (partly responsible for their marriage and birth rates and large families)
Salted game meat (jerky) that is highly nourishing and excellent for travel; essentially a meat version of lembas
The use of whipped egg whites to make essentially a type of meringue--which opened up an entire category of desserts that became staples at feasts
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Bonus Fun Headcanons! (as a thank you for reading this far)
Mealtimes in Thranduil's Family
No one can beat Ada in drinking contests, ever; it has been attempted hundreds of times--usually with Dorwinion wine--and Thranduil has never been dethroned by his sons.
The King and every single one of the Princes are all heavy eaters, and everyone, including the Queen, eats meat.
While they all observe formal manners at the table, the Princes can get rowdy when not in the presence of their mother--especially when there's drinking involved. (Not quite as bad as Thorin's Company, but close.)
Breakfast: Taken individually in their own rooms, according to each one's schedule/leisure
Lunch: The most commonly skipped meal; usually taken "on the go", and oftentimes with people outside of the family (e.g. business lunches, lunch with friends)
Dinner: The family meal. Everyone is expected to sit down and eat dinner with the rest of the family, unless traveling or there is a prior commitment that takes precedence.
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Random Fun Food Facts with the Thranduilions
The Princes regularly compete to see who can eat the most exotic/"disgusting" food items. Turhir remains champion at this (able and willing to eat literally everything), with Legolas frequently trying (and constantly failing) to unseat him.
They have also competed to see who can eat the riskiest (aka poisonous) food items. Arvellas has somehow proven to be the most impervious to natural poisons, much to Gelir's frustration.
Legolas can go the longest without eating food, but no one really cares to try to beat his record.
Mirion is the heaviest eater, but is also the fastest, and because he has flawless table manners no one really notices.
Gelir can find truffles just using his sense of smell--yes, like a truffle pig. He has successfully trained other similarly gifted Elves to do the same.
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For more Thranduil/Mirkwood headcanons: SotWK HC Masterlist
Tolkien Headcanon tag list: @quickslvxr @laneynoir @auttumnsayshi @achromaticerebus @tamryniel @friendofthefellowshipsnerdblog @blueberryrock @aduialel @glassgulls @ladyweaslette @klytemnestra13 @creativity-of-death @heilith @fizzyxcustard @absentmindeduniverse @lathalea @tamurilofrivendell @jordie-your-local-halfling @ladyk8tie @scyllas-revenge @asianbutnotjapanese @conversacomsmaug @lemonivall @ratsys @a-world-of-whimsy-5 @entishramblings @stormchaser819 @freshalmondpandadonut
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mushroomates · 2 months
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gimli headcanons:
likes doing laundry. finds it soothing
history nerd!! loves reading old tombs/biographies of his ancestors
is incredibly intelligent. beats frodo in chess. would beat gandalf but gandalf cheats. has been in a stalemate with aragorn for two and a half years.
well mannered but chooses to forgo his politeness to make a point. especially around elves.
does NOT like horses. not just riding them, which is canon, but actually dislikes the animal itself. the reasons why include (but are not limited to) :
he does not like being not on ground. he does not have a fear of heights so much as a fear of… feet not on ground. as evidenced by refusal to jump, treehouses, and well, horses
he does not like their faces. they are long and have eyes on the side like prey. gimli thinks this is deceiving as horses are very large and can kick in someone’s skull. not his skull.
gimli believes that in a one on one match with a horse, he could easily win. he has thought of several, very specific, scenarios of this and has a detailed plan of attack should this situation occur.
they so easily turned against their home for an evil overlord (read: sauron stole all the black horses from rohan) and therefore cannot be trusted. as a rule, anything that willing you let you ride it cannot be trusted. they can’t be satisfied with this life. they are plotting something.
believes he would be great at drums. it’s just hitting things hard and he’s pretty strong.
ok, another thing about horses: they are fragile to a ridiculous extent. you breath wrong and it breaks. they have bad bones and bad blood flow in their legs, and their legs are all that they’re used for. he doesn’t understand why humans invested so much time into horses when they’re genetically bad at what they are meant to do. he’d feel bad for the horses if they weren’t so awful.
drinks coffee, not tea
takes great with the up keeping of his gear. he sharpens his axes, polishes his boots, shines his armor and waxes his mustache. that’s not gear, but he takes great pride in looking groomed and caring for his belongings.
has an axe for every occasion. battle axe? do you want throwing or slashing. a day on the town? have you seen this intricately carved masterpiece that also is a weapon? doffing a hole? PICKAXE. cutting a cake? how about an axe???
hates the rain because it ruins his hair and beard. also loves the rain because it ruins legolas’s hair and clothes.
will eat anything. has a great tolerance for spice. contrary to popular belief, dwarves are not shy of seasoning but are very cautious around other races in fear of poisoning their friends
will also eat some rocks. salty is his favorite (halite, hanksite, glauberite) but also likes to add chunks of chalcanthite to his food for a slightly sweet yet metalic flavor. this is also slightly (SLIGHTLY) poisonous as evidenced by sharing his trail mix with boromir
also calls dirt the “local seasoning”
will taste dirt to try and get a feeling for the land. this tells him the acidity, weather, possible wildlife, and also pisses off legolas
actaully genuinely likes the taste of dirt. (note: if you desire to eat clay/dirt that is a symptom of iron deficiency. for gimli, he eats spoonfuls of the stuff like their supplements because as a kid it was fed to him like multivitamins)
OK SO HEAR ME OUT: lack of sunlight can cause really low hemoglobin and ferritin (a blood protein that contains iron) sooo being constantly in dark caves can cause some forms of iron deficiency. because dwarves are conscious of their young, dwarf children often grow up not often being in direct sunlight.
the solution? dirt. dirt contains iron and other tasty minerals that are good for the body. charcoal has natural antioxidants. so does clay. am i saying that momma gimli (unnamed) fed her son ash and clumps of dirt? yes. also bits of broken pottery. it’s also good of the immune system.
fr tho clay/dirt/charcoal are the dwarven multivitamins. you have a tummy-ache? here, have a rock. i truly believe this was scientifically proven by dwarves and only FOR dwarves (plz do not eat dirt)
fuckin loves mushrooms. has a mushroom log at home. whenever dwarves find some fungai in a cave they go feral
likes dogs. thinks it’s great that they dig holes. thinks it’s fantastic that the bury things in holes. absolutes loves when they get muddy, and then shake off all water and dirt all over you.
when he came back home with the name lockbearer, a lot of the dwarves thought it was really cool and he has some sort of elven puzzle that requires a code to unlock something. imagine their surprise when he rocks up and is like: no, even better. HAIRS. three of them.
enjoys making mudpies- made them as a kid with his cousins, (mostly with rock slurry) and continues to, even even as an adult.
made them on the fellowship with the hobbits. taught them all about the best types of dirt and the water-to-soil- ratio needed.
while cutting up slices of his pie, he offered one to boromir, who in good nature, took it, clearly thinking it was just part of the bit.
poor boromir was locked in a stalemate after gimli cut his own slice, and began eating it.
to his credit, boromir did brave a few bites, but had to stop once he nearly had a mouthful of maggots
“protein”
gimli is like crazy good at hair. can braid quickly and efficiently in elaborate styles
picked up eleven hair style techniques in lorien (quicker than legolas) and was forced to relay them to the elf through twine as there is no way he’s letting grubby elf fingers to touch his glorious mane that’s been decades in the making
would ask for a drink “on the rocks” and get slightly upset if it did not come back with actual rocks
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thyinum · 8 months
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Headcanon about Varda
Since she carries the holy light of Eru and mostly is associated with light and stars, everyone sees her differently simply because everyone is perceiving light differently. Therefore she appears beautiful beyond description to literally everyone.
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notinusesworld · 5 months
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Galadriel as your girlfriend head cannons!
synopsis: as the title says, g!n reader, no specific race or body type. can you tell i like the elves?
warnings: having children is mentioned
requests open!
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Rings of Power Galadriel:
- It was difficult to get past her stubborn nature at first, but once you got through she is extremely caring and attentive
- She doesn’t like you fighting and won’t take you with her on adventures, the trauma from losing her brother makes her not want to lose you too
- She even gave you duties in the Lindon court so it was difficult for you to leave with her for long periods of time
- However after the rings of power was made, she began to warm up to the idea of you joining her
- She isn’t big on PDA but if you like it then she doesn’t mind it, but she’s extremely loving and caring behind closed doors
- She likes to kiss your hands and resight romantic poetry
- If you’re shorter then her, she likes to pick you to tease you
- And if you’re taller the her, she likes to wrap her hands around your waist and rest her head on your body
Lord of the Rings/The Hobbits Galadriel:
- Her caring nature for you is amplified now, but she tends to encourage you to go on adventures with her foresight abilities
- If you’ve been with her since the second age, then she is extremely soft with you and you’re her most treasured person
- If you’re able to naturally reproduce with her then you only have a few children, but if you’re unable to you both take in orphaned children, elves and humans and raise them as your own, you may also do this if you are able to reproduce with her
- She is able to see your every want and desire, you know this but you’re still surprised at how well she understands you
- she likes to surprise you with gifts she knows that you’ve been thinking about, she also likes to gift you random items like ropes, shields and seeds and not explain why, but they almost always become helpful to you in the future
- You have gotten to the point in your relationship where physical affection isn’t really needed to show how much you love eachother, but she still likes to hold you as you both sleep
- While who owns the eleven rings is secret, you’re the only one she entrusts with that knowledge, not even your children know
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thelien-art · 11 months
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Some of my favorite Autistic Elvers for Autism awareness month
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Autistic headcannons below cut
Turgon:
He lines up everything according to color, from his buildings to his food to his books (especially his sketchbooks), repeats most of the things he says at least one time, will go into an eight hour rant about how amazing architecture is if anyone asks a question that just touched it. He has secured routes in his house and other places he is at a lot and is determined to walk precisely there. You can usually see what his route is if there´s a carpet where he walks as it´s usually worn down to almost look like footprints.
He doesn´t handle change well and usually shows his stress and dislike for a situation with silence and glaring.
Caranthir:
He will have a breakdown if something in his plans changes or something unexpected happens, he also cares a lot about how the clothes he wears feel, not necessarily how it looks, and will deny eating something if he doesn't like the texture or color of it. He does math, weavers, and embroidery in his free time.
He likes Maedhros the most as he´s the most understanding of his brothers and doesn´t always ask why he´s reacting differently than others to some situations and when he was smaller and there where too much noise Maedhros would hold his hands over his ears for him so he could stim in peace, and if he ran away from a situation Maedhros would always come check on him, not necessarily talk just be there if needed.
People sometimes calls him cold or cruel as he isn´t good at finding out how other people feel or care, this is unintentional, he does want to care he just finds it hard, if he hasn´t met you yet he really could care less about you and when he hates someone, he goes full on.
Also when Caranthir gets happy he gets really happy and feels the need to tell everyone about it and why, no matter if it´s simply a servant or a good friend or brother.
He needs everything to be precise and when eating he has rules, like how to cut an apple in the same way each time, cut all the food out in the same sizes before he'll even try it eat it, the same way he needs to put on clothes in a specific order.
Maeglin:
He always wears gloves as he doesn´t like the feeling of most surfaces, he knows all there is to know about stones, minerals, and crystals. Sensitive to sound but especially light, Rog makes him a pair of sunglasses when they´re done being wary of each other.
Like Caranthir when he gets happy he does it on another level, although he doesn´t feel the need to tell it to everyone like Moryo does, but a few trusted ones should know.
Maeglin also feels the need to do almost everything in a specific order. He also has to think about every movement of his body himself so it´s not instinct reaching for a glass but taking the energy to get a glass fill it etc, which of course leaves him sometimes using more energy than he has and becoming extremely tired.
Lindir:
He has a whole wall in his room dedicated to flutes, harps, and insects. Everything is bug themed. His social skill is very poor and sometimes he will leave mid in a conversation, just turning around with no explanation, he also goes into small episodes sometimes where he refuses to talk for a few days, that´s mostly triggered if something stressful happens.
Lindir, like Maeglin, has to think about every movement of his body himself so it´s not instinct reaching for a glass but taking the energy to get a glass fill it etc, which makes him tired.
Elrond:
Like Caranthir he can have a breakdown if something doesn´t go as planned or if something comes up he´s unprepared for, he has problems forming longer sentences, unless it´s something he´s interested in and will stare the person he talks with deep into the eyes while fidgeting something, unintentional creepy.
Maedhros once gave him a small yellow sack filled with sand to fidget with, it breaks somewhere in the second age and he has a big breakdown, Gil-galad makes him a new one, first of blue which Elrond won't use, and later one of a jaffa orange he does use.
He won't wear anything that´s not yellow or orange toned and had a lot of breakdowns when he was smaller if the clothes, and sometimes bedding, weren't the right color or if someone pulled his hair away from his face as he used it to stim. He fills Rivendell with as much brown, orange, yellow, and red as he can get away with.
He is highly fascinated by any living organism, be it animal or plant. He does tend to sometimes, unintentionally, hurt people emotional as he finds it hard to feel with other people. He gets easily distracted.
Elrond, like Caranthir and Maeglin, gets hyper happy when he´s happy and would like to tell everyone he likes why he´s happy.
Like Lindir he goes into periods where he doesn´t speak, although there needs to be something more triggering happening than there would with Lindir. Like the third kinslaying or Ereinion´s dead.
Elrond feels the same as Maeglin and Lindir when having to move his body/do something wich means using a lot of energi and being some of the reason he´s tired a lot of the time.
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fraeuleinfriedhof · 4 months
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We know Sauron/Mairon can shapeshift into a werewolf, a vampire and a serpent.
But what else does he shapeshift into?
There's so much potential for hilarity, I need your opinions and hcs.
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echo-bleu · 3 months
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Mettarë/Yestarë traditions
In Númenor and Gondor (On AO3)
Today is the winter solstice, which corresponds to Yestarë, the first day of the year, in the King's Reckoning (Númenor and early Gondor calendar) and the Steward's Reckoning (later Gondor). In elven calendars, it usually falls in early spring or at the equinox instead.
Tolkien said little about it, except that the last and first day of the year, Mettarë and Yestarë, fall outside the calendar proper. I wanted to come up with some headcanons for the holiday for my fics.
Mettarë is the last day of the year, and as such, a day of closing and ending.
You are meant to finish as many ongoing projects and things as you can in the week leading up to it to be able to start fresh in the new year.
Mettarë is also the day for the worship of Mandos.
For Men, death is an end and a new start, and Mandos is the Judge and the Guardian of the Halls through which they must pass to go beyond the world. Mettarë is about closure, and remembering the dead and letting go of your grief.
If someone in the household died in the previous year, you spend Mettarë sorting through their possessions.
(personal items, mostly, clothes and such, whatever you can afford to keep untouched until Mettarë)
Then you put them all into the room where they slept (or a room you can associate with them, but it’s usually a bedroom. Depending on who mourns them, might be their childhood bedroom, or even their front door if they lived alone and you could afford to keep the rent up/not sell it until now, etc. If needed, it could be a room they’ve only been to once while travelling, or even a random closet or a cellar with their stuff in it in a pinch).
Usually people decorate the door somewhat, with dried flower wreaths and bouquets that they made in the summer for that purpose.
During the day of Mettarë, the household will also welcome in anyone who knew and loved the deceased, and the guests will bring either something of the deceased that they can afford to give away (or something that reminds them of them) or more dried flowers, maybe also dried fruit.
At nightfall, after all but the closest people have gone, they gather around the door and light a candle, which they put on the floor in front of the door (far away enough that all the dried flowers don’t catch fire, please, we’re trying not to burn down the house).
They say a prayer to Mandos in Quenya that goes something like “please Mandos, give them a second chance and call them again so that they might go beyond the world and be at peace” (but like, archaic).
That is because there’s a belief that on Mettarë, the doors of Mandos might open just a fraction for all the people who didn’t answer the call the first time, and Mandos will call them again.
This is derived from various elven beliefs and traditions, but Men go through Mandos too on their way outside the world, and it’s unclear whether they can miss the Call or not, so better be safe. In any case, that’s how it coalesced in Mannish beliefs.
Then they open the door just a fraction, and they will leave it like this until dawn, with no one going in or out.
(if someone else usually sleeps in that room, they might relocate for the night, but this is why you wouldn’t normally use a kitchen or a living room)
If the candle is snuffed out quickly by a draft, it is believed that this might be the fëa of the dead finally answering the call and going through the crack of the door. If it’s not, they already answered the call, or they never will.
The candle, while it is there to call the loved one’s fëa and light the way, is really more symbolic and also a bit of a hazard, so you don’t leave it burning all night.
It’s not really done to snuff out the dead’s candle, of course, so you should select a candle that will only burn for a couple hours at most.
In third age Gondor, candles that burn for exactly two hours are sold for that purpose, sometimes decorated with flowers, but most people will just use the end of a regular candle.
Often families will reminisce about the dead loved one while the candle burns.
In the morning, on Yestarë, the first day of the year, the family takes down the decorations and opens the door wide.
They bring out all the possessions of the deceased, which they sorted through and stacked in the previous day, and they start handing them out.
Usually anyone who was close to the deceased will take one personal item that belonged to them, so various people will come in through the morning to pay their respects and take an object.
It’s mostly the same people who came the previous day, and left things of the deceased in the room, so a lot of them will just take the same thing back, but they might leave “theirs” and take something else. The family/spouse/children/whatever still normally gets final say over who gets what if there are disagreements, but it’s very bad form to argue over this. Usually they’ve mostly agreed on it the previous day.
People symbolically take one thing but of course, if there is a need, someone might get the deceased’s entire wardrobe or whatever, this is a day of charity.
Then anything left is taken to be donated to people who need it. Large official building (city hall, feast halls, the lord’s reception room, etc) will be turned into a donation space on Yestarë afternoon, where you can bring things to donate and people who need it can receive them.
If you haven’t lost someone during the year, you can still honour Mandos and the dead on Mettarë.
It’s a good day to go through your own stuff and pile up what you no longer need and can donate.
A lot of families will still decorate a door and go through the ceremony, for any fëa that doesn’t have anyone to do it for them. Over the years though, it’s become more and more symbolic and ritualistic, rather than meaningful.
Dried flowers are still popular for the door, but so are other things, like death imagery: various objects decorated with skeletons or skulls, depictions of Mandos and his Halls, and also depictions of Valinor, because death and Valinor have coalesced together somewhat in the minds of Men.
Mettarë door ornaments are a flowering market in the weeks leading up to it.
Those without a loved one to mourn usually don’t light a candle, but they might also add something in the shape/likeness of a candle on the door.
Then on Yestarë morning, people exchange small gifts. You’re supposed to give your loved ones something of yours that you picked the previous day, but many people make or buy new things instead.
It should still be small, inexpensive gifts.
Then in the afternoon, families go to the donation spaces and bring anything they no longer need to donate. Everyone gathers, and it’s a time of collective enjoyment and celebration of the new year.
But there are no drinks or food while the donations are ongoing, out of respect for those who are in mourning.
Usually the local lord (or king) will preside over the donations. If he’s a good lord, he will donate more than anyone else and make sure that the poorest people get everything they need.
Then a large buffet is served, at which everyone, regardless of class, is invited.
In some places, there is a dinner and feast specifically for the court, but the lord is supposed to provide for everybody on Yestarë night, so there will still be a free meal for the lower classes.
In terms of dress code, you can dress up on Mettarë but keep it sober, with little jewellery or bling.
You should also do your hair in the simplest way possible. If it’s long, it should be in a simple plait.
This is derived from the First Age Noldor tradition of braiding the hair of the dead in a single plait as part of the funeral customs, so that they might not be too attached to their body and refuse the call of Mandos.
That’s of course a very Noldorin belief, but it spread to Númenor (probably through Elros, but perhaps also from those who came from Thargelion and Nargothrond) and they’ve kept it up, though they no longer remember the cause.
On Yestarë, you can go all out and dress in your best clothes.
Food is also very simple on Mettarë, with no drinking allowed. On Yestarë, fast is broken at dawn with a large breakfast, but made only of plants and dairy, no meat. Then a large animal (or more depending on the size of the town or place) is slaughtered in the morning and roasted in public for the feast.
The actual dishes vary depending on the area, and change dramatically in Fourth Age Gondor, when the start of the year is moved to the spring.
Yestarë isn’t really a food-based festival though (unlike, say, the harvest festival) so it’s mostly going to be large, filling dishes rather than delicacies.
Note: none of this is canon. I meant to write more details and stories involving actual characters, but I also wanted to post it today, so. Feel free to use it in fic if you want! (and please tell me if you do!)
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catofadifferentcolor · 3 months
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An Incomplete List of Lord of the Rings AU Fic Ideas
All Those Frustrating Fools: In which Legolas and Gimli are surrounded by Middle Earth's most oblivious idiots
First Age Legolas: Born as Doriath falls, Legolas is one of the oldest elves left in Middle Earth - a child of war, and grief, and loss
Everything (Between Us): In which Legolas and Gimli secretly wed before the quest
Half-Elven Legolas: Born Eluréd Diorion, war and truama-induced amnesia lead to his adoption by Thranduil during the First Age
Half-Maia Legolas: Born of Thranduil's relationship with a handmaid of Oromë, the only two people in Middle Earth who know the identity of Legolas' mother are Thranduil and Legolas himself
Of Aerandír and his Coming to Arda: PJO/LotR crossover, in which Percy’s presence in Middle-Earth changes everything and nothing
Princess of Dol Amroth SI: In which a Modern Woman in Middle-Earth changes almost nothing - but still makes a difference to her nephews
Second Age Legolas: Born as Númenor sank beneath the waves, Legolas serves as his father's regent during the War of the Last Alliance - a child of suffering and survival
Third Age Legolas: Born after the fall of Erebor, Legolas is one of the youngest elves alive, coming of age during the quest
More Terrible Fic Ideas
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ofmiceandwomen · 1 year
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On the fashion of the Gondolindrim
I have realised that I did quite a research regarding sensible fashion design for the 1st age elves and that I could share what I had learned.
The Gondolindrim live in a secluded valley in abundance. The city’s beauty and glory is close to that of Tirion. They have been living in relative safety for about four hundred years which is more than average American city. They are scholars and artists with multiple cultural influences and a loooot of time on their hands.
Materials
The Gondolindrim would probably use a lot of silk and metal fibres. Oh wait - is someone objecting that the silk moths are proliferating mostly in warmer climates? Totally right. But there are plenty other moths that produce their own kinds of silk and are adapted for colder climates too, the properties of these silks are just not as convenient for weaving as the silk moth’s cocoons. Maybe an obstacle for a human but certainly not for an elf. They probably love layered gowns with subtle embroidery creating 3D impressions and ethereal elegance, or prefer exquisite brocades with ornaments (probably ocassionaly using the house emblems). As for winter fabrics, Silk velvet would be the choice. I can imagine them trying to avoid using too much fur and furs mostly serve as decorative trims.
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Egalmoth wearing his complicated attire including layered cloak with goldwork stars and diamonds . His hair is braided, although most of it is loose - probably Glorfindel influenced.
Colouring and patterns
This is the difficult part as each elf has probably their own taste. The lords usually sport their own colours but it doesn’t have to be a rule - they have multiple outfits and since they have their personal lives as well, I highly doubt they strictly stick to their emblem colour. As for the patterns, they don’t need to worry about the fabric waste so their clothes are probably well fitted and flattering. Lower classes clothes are beautiful as well but have probably much looser fit.
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Left: Penlod sporting a light grey silk shirt. Right: Ecthelion’s costume design.
Influences and fashion icons
Now we have celebrities and big name fashion brands to set the trends. However, in the past, the nobility was responsible for that. I assume there were three major trend setters influencing the other lords and citizens: Turgon (the king), Egalmoth (aka the rich one) and Glorfindel (the pretty one). Turgon’s gowns (or…Turgowns? I will see myself out) are usually white with red silk lining and subtle but intricate embroidery, combined with some jewellery. As for the length of the robes it probably varies by the occasion. His style is followed mostly by Penlod, who is very fond of white as well. Egalmoth has a thing for jewels and rainbow colours, which makes his clothing extravagant and lavish. He is probably very fond of embroidery and even his outfits for archery trainings are masterfully crafted. His trademark, however, is the goldwork combined with gemstones and beads (a type of embroidery using metallic threads). His ceremonial attires are very complicated, however many elves struggle to follow his example mostly because of the costs. There are several elves that probably managed to customise his style for their needs - for example, Ecthelion is said to be very fond of diamonds. Since he is the lord of the Fountain and probably very fond of water he usually wears subtle blues adorned with sparkly diamonds droplets imitating the rain droplets. Then we have Glorfindel. If you look at eg. Fingon, we know he wears his hair in braids adorned with gold. I can imagine the Noldor in Valinor were fond of difficult hairstyles which probably persists in Hithlum. Glorfindel decided to ditch this trend once for all and leaves his hair loose for everyone to admire. His garment choices are significantly simpler than Egalmoth’s, he is avoiding long robes and his priority is movement and comfort. His favourite fabrics include linen and subtle brocade, sometimes embroidered. His choices are probably the most popular in the city as they usually reflect the nature (which must make the Sindarin citizens very happy). As for the female trend setters, we have Aredhel (but she has taste very similar to Turgon, the only difference would be probably the pattern) and Idril, who probably prefers loosely fitted garments with subtle jewellery. She is known for her negative attitude toward shoes which might be related to her Vanyarin legacy (I imagine Vanyar wearing very simple clothes unlike the crafty Noldor- their priorities don’t concern material things as much).
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Salgant’s last outfit is mostly inspired by the King’s style. The short tunic suggests that he is wearing an informal outfit. The cape is made of silver velvet.
Ouch. This was long.
Special thanks to my partner who helped a lot with all the research. It means a lot for me. All the art belongs to me. I apologise in case there are some grammar errors, I’m not a native speaker.
Feel free to ask me anything. I will try my best to answer your questions as fast as possible.
Are you interested in more costume designs or references? ❤️ I’m about to open commissions and I can include this cathegory as well.
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growingingreenwood · 1 year
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One of the Headcanons that lives rent free in my brain and my heart with absolutely no business being there is that Maglor fought with Greenwood for the last little bit of the war. What I can’t decide on is just how LONG he had been fighting with Greenwood before the War of the Ring ended and Dol Guldur was finally cast down.
It's been narrowed down to two main options.
1) Maglor hears about Legolas joining the Fellowship somehow (maybe Elrond told him, maybe he was in Imladris at the time, doesn’t matter) and promptly appears on Greenwood's borders like: “Hey, I heard you were down a warrior Prince. They’re pretty rare these days, how fortunate that I happened not to be doing anything too terribly important and can come to help. Relax, I don't see any Silmarils around, do you?”
2) Maglor shows up several years before Legolas leaves to bring news of Gollum's escape, maybe after the events of the Hobbit, and joins their military forces. Probably under a new name. But with a very similar sales pitch to the one above.
The decision on whether to accept the offered assistance was not made lightly, especially considering the fact that Thranduil and Ferdan were both in Menegroth when Maglor and his brothers attacked the city and slaughtered a huge portion of its people.
But, while they may not be able to outright trust Maglor, they can certainly trust his hatred for Saroun and everything he touches. And he IS a warrior of legend in both skill and power and there aren't any Silmarils around….
Beggars can’t be choosers and dying kingdoms can’t be too prideful.
Obviously everybody is extremely suspicious of Maglor and follows him around no matter where he is are or what he’s doing. Maglor allows it with nothing but the occasional joke. He also never does anything that could even be remotely considered an act of sabotage, and seemed to make the lives of the Greenwood warriors his top priority.
After he gains their trust, I also think that he would kind of become a silent bodyguard of sorts for the captains commanding the border between Thranduil’s land and Saroun’s.
Thranduil will forever deny the claim, but it's rumored that part of the reason he allowed Maglor into their borders was because he said: “I can’t let Galadriel be the only Grandchild to do something even halfway redeemable, otherwise, nobody will ever hear the end of it. Ever. For all of eternity we will hear about it.”
It was an added bonus that Thranduil, Ferdan, and Maglor got to see Galadriel’s face when she showed up at the last minute to support Greenwood, only to come face to face with the only other elf left on Arda that she thought Thranduil hated as much if not more than he hated her.
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maglorslostsilmaril · 9 months
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headcanon that yes, Maglor’s identity as Lindir is literally the worst kept secret in Imladris but like…only to residents OF Imladris
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sotwk · 7 months
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Horses in the Woodland Realm
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Historically, the Silvan Elves that dwelt in Greenwood the Great, prior to the coming of their Sindar rulers, had no desire or reason to keep horses. Horses were neither necessary nor practical for travel within their dense woodlands, and the Silvans did not journey frequently enough from their home territory to require them. As peaceful Elves, they also had all the stamina and time in the world to walk leisurely to their destinations.
Even with the arrival of the would-be King Oropher and his brethren, there were only a handful of Sindar who brought horses along with them, and continued the practice of riding as a means of transport, whether for recreation or warfare. In the Second Age, the most skilled of these horse-riders was the Crown Prince Thranduil.
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Thranduil, the Great Rider
Thranduil grew up in Doriath among the Sindar, an environment where horse riding was not a very common practice.
It was not until he participated in the War of Wrath and trained as a soldier amongst the Vanyar and Noldor, did he learn to be around and ride horses.
(Note: Thranduil's participation in this war is a controversial headcanon and a massive deal that doesn't get addressed enough. It needs its own separate, in-depth discussion--or two or three!)
For his valor during the war, Thranduil was gifted by his commanders with the orphaned horse he rode during the later battles, a great stallion that originated from Valinor, carried across the sea with the Host of the West. He named the horse Raindal, meaning "wandering feet".
As a creature of Valinor, Raindal was blessed with extraordinarily long life and vigor, similar to that of Elves. The steed accompanied Thranduil throughout his widespread travels and adventures early in the Second Age, and carried him to Greenwood when Oropher and his kin migrated out of Lindon in c. SA 750.
Thranduil commanded the forces that cleansed Greenwood from the encroachment of orcs and evil creatures that had survived the Great War (see related HCs here).
He made such a fearsome, terrible vision in hunting down the foul beasts, astride his great horse, that the Silvan Elves thought he might have been Oromë himself coming to their aid.
During the Second Age, many Greenwood Elves referred to their new Prince reverently as "The Great Rider".
Sadly, Thranduil's 1,700-year friendship with Raindal came to an end when the great horse perished during the Sack of Eregion, a battle in which Thranduil fought to rescue the elleth he loved, Lady Maereth. Later on, opponents of his betrothal to Maereth claimed it was an ill-foreboding sign that he should not marry her.
Despite mating with countless different mares over the centuries, Raindal never successfully sired offspring.
After the loss of Raindal, Thranduil never kept or claimed another horse of his own. For the rest of the Second Age, he rode only in certain times of need, and never using the same animal.
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Thranduil only found a replacement for Raindal when he discovered the first of his elks, a one-of-a-kind species never before seen in Rhovanion or perhaps all of Middle-earth. He named the elk Alvar, meaning "good fortune", considering the creature a gift from the Valar themselves.
Henceforth that particular breed of elk became known as the "King's Elk", and was bred and raised exclusively to be the mount of the Elvenking of the Woodland Realm.
(Note: A detailed history of Thranduil and his elk, and the characteristics of the "King's Elk" will be discussed in future headcanons, since it is also a lengthy topic!)
The finding of Alvar factored heavily into Thranduil's decision to join the Last Alliance of Elves and Men (which then pushed Oropher to ride into war), and was instrumental in his survival of the bloody battles.
Alvar lived up until TA 318 to an estimated age of about 400 years old. The great steed was replaced by his offspring sired with a native Greenwood elk, a crossbreeding effort overseen by Thranduil's young son, Prince Gelir. (referenced in the fanfic "Greenleaf's Day Out")
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Mirkwood's Ties with the Rohirrim Ancestors
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Very early in the Third Age, horses were bred and kept by the Greenwood Elves in small numbers, for the main purpose of travel outside of the Woodland Realm to other kingdoms.
Because most Silvans seldom ventured beyond Woodland territory, such travel was primarily done by the Royal Family and their retinue.
However, the Greenwood breeds at that time, which descended from native wild horses in the eastern plains of Rhovanion, struggled to meet the rigorous work often required by Thranduil and his elder sons.
Greenwood horses were smaller, gentler, and not physically built for warfare, charging, or enduring over long distances.
Thranduil and his elder sons, Crown Prince Mirion and Prince Tuhrir, were all over seven feet tall, and the princes inherited the heavy warrior builds of their Noldorin ancestors from the First Age. As they grew older and stronger and heavier, it became very difficult to find horses that could match the level of physicality their activities required.
The Woodland Elves had friendly relations with the Northmen who occupied the Vales of Anduin in scattered tribes.
One nomadic tribe in particular, who called themselves the Lôthéod, had old traditions of taming and breeding wild horses all across Rhovanion.
When they learned about the Woodland Princes' unique predicament, they came forward and offered knowledge about an "untamable" herd of "giant" wild horses they came across in their travels down the northern Wilderland.
The Lôthéod believed their lack of success in capturing this wild horse breed was because they descended from horses of the High Elves from the First Age, and therefore could only be mastered by those with High Elf (Calaquendi) blood.
Young Prince Turhir (less than 90 years old at the time) received permission from his father the Elvenking to accompany the Lôthéod to the northern lands and seek out these special horses.
After several years, around TA 120, the Lôthéod--with the help of Turhir--succeeded in capturing and taming the first of the northern wild horses, which were given the name, "Arroch" (noble horse).
With the Lôthéod's guidance, the Woodland Elves succeeded in bringing the Arrochs to their lands and bred them in very small numbers for over two millennia.
From that time on, Turhir had a special affinity for the Northmen horse lords, a friendship that continued for centuries to their descendants, the Éothéod, and finally the Rohirrim.
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SotWK Fancast: Sam Heughan (Outlander) as Prince Turhir Thranduilion
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The Arrochs: Horses of Princes
Similar to the Mearas, the Arrochs were extremely selective about whom they permitted to ride them. Presumably, only Elves with Calaquendi blood (which the Mirkwood Princes had through their mother) could safely ride an Arroch.
Although Arrochs were owned almost exclusively by the Sons of Thranduil, there were no laws restricting the use or ownership of Arrochs to Elven nobility. However, it was extremely risky to attempt to mount one without "permission", as these great horses were notorious for seriously injuring or even killing riders they rejected.
Their accepted origin story is that Arrochs descended from Valinoran horses of the Great War, similar to Thranduil's old horse Raindal but interbred with Middle-earth horses.
They were long-lived, but not immortal. Their lifespan averaged about two hundred years. Although more durable (in flesh and will) than most horses, they could be slain by standard weapons.
Arrochs were highly intelligent, and could be trained to understand commands in different languages.
They were extraordinarily brave in battle and did not scare or bolt even in the face of terrible monsters. They were fiercely loyal to their masters, willing to give their lives rather than preserve themselves.
They had high endurance levels, and could sustain a hard gallop for hours without need for rest, even when bearing heavy or multiple riders.
They could be ridden without saddle or reins, but the Princes usually outfitted them with tack for the safety of others who assisted in handling and caring for them (such as stable hands or soldiers).
What differentiated the Arrochs most from the Mearas was their enormous size. On average, they stood 7 feet tall at the withers and weighed at least 2,000 pounds.
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SotWK Fancast: Henry Cavill (The Witcher) as Crown Prince Mirion
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Mirkwood Horses in the Third Age Onward
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The Arrochs thrived as a breed in the Woodland Realm from TA 120 to about TA 2600, enduring even when the Elvenking's lands grew increasingly infested by the darkness of Dol Guldur.
However, with the succeeding losses of the three eldest Princes--Mirion, Arvellas, and most especially Turhir, the Arrochs gradually stopped breeding.
Turhir's final horse was the last known Arroch to survive. After its death, the breed seemingly became extinct despite the best efforts of Prince Gelir to preserve their line.
By TA 2600, only the native Greenwood horses remained to serve what was left of the royal family and the realm's limited mounted cavalry.
By the time of the War of the Ring, the Arrochs (like many things in the Woodland Realm's long history) were thought by most people in Middle-earth to be merely a myth.
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For more Thranduil/Mirkwood headcanons: SotWK HC Masterlist
Elves HC Tag List: @quickslvxrr @laneynoir @auttumnsayshi @achromaticerebus @tamryniel @friendofthefellowshipsnerdblog @blueberryrock @aduialel @scyllas-revenge @glassgulls @ladyweaslette @asianbutnotjapanese @ratsys @conversacomsmaug @lemonivall @lathalea @heranintomyknife23times @heilith @entishramblings @stormchaser819 @a-world-of-whimsy-5 @freshalmondpandadonut @beekieboo @elan-ho-detto-elan-15 @konartiste @g-m-kaye
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Interested in more SotWK AU content?
Introduction to SotWK
My Headcanon Masterlist 
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