#maia-elf relationships are so interesting

[catofadifferentcolor]

Terrible Fic Ideas #24: LotR, but make it half-Maia!Legolas

I honestly thought I was done with Legolas headcanons, but then this one hit me over the head: what if Legolas’ mother was a Maia?

Bear with me:

We are given little-to-no information about Legolas’ background in canon. The only thing we know for sure is that his father, Thranduil, was originally from Doriath and has been ruling Mirkwood since his own father, Oropher, died of his own poor tactical thinking in the War of the Last Alliance.

But what if we know nothing about Legolas' background because no one in Middle Earth has any idea either?

Just imagine it:

After the War of Wrath, Oropher led his people into the Greenwood and established himself as king over the local population. However this came about, "The few Sindar who had come with him were soon merged with the Silvan Elves, adopting their customs and language and taking names of Silvan form and style. Oropher and his household wished to return to a simple existence natural to the Elves before they had been disturbed by the Valar" [x].

I'm not quite sure what Silvan elves got up to before Greenwood became Mirkwood, but I imagine it involved a lot of frolicking and hunting in the woods, and generally living up to the stereotype forest-dwelling immortal spirits at one with nature. And Thranduil, being the prince of this realm, would be naturally be the best of them all.

I imagine this catches the eye of one of the more minor Maiar sometime in the Second Age - a hunter in Oromë's retinue, most likely, but someone in Vána's retinue could possibly work too.

Thranduil strikes up a relationship with this Maia whenever she passes through, because unlike Melian a hunter of Oromë wouldn't be content to stay in one bounded woods when there are things to hunt across Arda and Aman. It is the epitome of a long-distance relationship.

Key to all of this is that Thranduil never tells anyone her identity. Oh, he very obviously is in a relationship and will disappear for weeks at a time throughout the Second Age to be with his wife, but no one ever meets her - or, as they assume she's just some Silvan elf with no interest in being princess or queen, admits to being her.

Thranduil goes off with his father to fight in the War of the Last Alliance. Unlike his father, he lives and returns to the Greenwood as king of his people.

Shortly after he returns, his Maiar wife presents him with baby!Legolas to raise and rejoins Oromë's hunt. Depending on his actual age when given to Thranduil, Legolas may even have some youthful memories of hunts he spent on the back of his mother's horse and/or of hunts in Aman.

Their relationship continues much as before, and though she makes the effort to be more present for Legolas' benefit it's dealer's choice whether she's successful at it. Maybe as a Maia of the hunt she's not good with children and is able to salvage her relationship with her son when he gets old enough to spend all his days hunting too; maybe she's a really good mother despite her frequent absences and the family dynamics just work for everyone. Who knows?

Legolas' mother is only a minor Maia, and so he's not quite as extra as Lúthien. He's noted for being the best hunter of his age - but most assume that's down to genetics, because of his father's legendary skill, and because of a lifetime of practice, because Mirkwood is Mirkwood.

And, honestly, a Mirkwood filled with spiders to hunt is probably all a half-Maia elf could ever want, particularly when their Maia parent is a huntress of Oromë.

The events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings go as in canon, with the exception of Galadriel saying that she cannot give Legolas a better bow than his mother made for him, and so granting him a different gift. This prompts several questions about Legolas' mother, particularly when Aragorn admits that not even Elrond knows her identity.

The hobbits responsible for The Red Book of Westmarch never learn the truth.

But, as I'm an inveterate Legolas/Gimli stan, Legolas admits the truth to Gimli sometime after that relationship forms - maybe Legolas' mother shows up at some point while they're in Ithilien to check up on her son after the war ends and the truth comes out; maybe it comes out when Legolas is trying to reassure Gimli theirs wouldn't be the most unusual marriage in the family - but no one else ever learns the truth.

It's Legolas' Maia heritage that allows Gimli to sail with him to Aman - either his mother requests it as a boon from the Valar for her son, or something about his ancestry allows him to grant others access.

Bonuses include: 1) Everything that might point to Legolas' Maia heritage is written off as elfish weirdness by non-elves, Silvan weirdness by non-Silvan elves, and Sinda weirdness by Silvan elves; 2) Despite all this, Legolas talks about his mother a lot and so by the breaking of the Fellowship everyone has this idea that his mother is the Greatest Hunter Ever To Live; and 3) the question of just who Thranduil is married to being a big source of betting and speculation for elves, and all the elves the Fellowship encounters try to use them to get the inside track.

And that's it. As always, feel free to adopt this plot bunny, just link back to me if you do anything with it.

Other Legolas Headcanons: First Age | Second Age | Third Age | Half-Maia | Half-Elven

More Terrible Fic Ideas

#plot bunny #fic ideas #lotr #the lord of the rings #lord of the rings #tolkien #legolas x gimli #legolas #thranduil #legolas headcanon #lotr headcanons #tolkien headcanons

[beatrice-otter]

📓 (most interested if you have something in your head for TGE, but if you'd rather talk about something else, go ahead)

I have a number for TGE, but the biggest is DEFINITELY the Sedoretu AU round robin. (For those who don't know what a sedoretu is, it's a fancy polyamorous quad marriage created by Ursula K. Leguin, in which each of the four spouses has one heterosexual pairing, one homosexual pairing, and one person (of the opposite gender) whom it would be incest to fuck (whether there's any biological relationship or not).)

Back in May of 2020, we got to talking on the Goblin Emperor discord, and stills and Taliesin started a Sedoretu AU round robin (i.e. fic where anyone can contribute). After it was established, I also wrote some (though not as much as they did). And then it petered out. It's fun, but would need a number of fill-in scenes to make it into a cohesive enough thing that I would feel comfortable posting as a completed story. I came up with an outline that the other two liked, and even wrote one or two of the scenes! ... and then it petered out, and there it has stayed for over two years.

But I really love it!

Here's the bare bones: so, in this AU, goblins have sedoretu marriages and elves have monogamous het marriages. But, given the number of goblins in the Ethuveraz, there are a lot of sedoretu there as well--just not among the nobility.

Anyway, in this particular AU (as distinct from the general sedoretu trope) one of the members of the poly marriage is officially the manager/coordinator of the family. And so when the Great Avar is visiting, he tells Maia how wonderful it is that he's on the way to putting together his sedoretu! because obviously, Csevet would be the perfect manager, he's doing that already for his Emperor.

Maia (who got told all about sedoretu by his mother and secretly longs for One Big Happy Warm Polamorous Marriage but thought he could never have one because it's Not How Elves Do Marriage) is confused: Csevet, Csethiro, Maia himself, who would be the other wife? (But he still assumes it couldn't happen.)

According to goblin practice, the other wife would be Vedero, because that way any children born of the sedoretu would be members of the Imperial family. (In this sedoretu, the expected pairings would be Maia/Csethiro, Maia/Csevet, Csethiro/Vedero, and Vedero/Csevet. Maia and Vedero would not be a pairing, nor would Csethiro and Csevet--both of those would be considered incest.)

Csethiro: Actually, it would be fairly easy to sell to the court despite being A Goblin Thing because it would mean people could imagine that Vedero's future child (i.e. a pureblood elf) would be the next Emperor, rather than Maia's future child. If you're into it, I'd be up for it, sounds like fun, Vedero's hot and we're friends already.

Vedero: Neither Csevet nor I have any interest in the opposite sex, this is a way for me to have a wife and not have to worry about having to fuck my husband, and I would still be allowed and encouraged to continue my research! That sounds awesome, sign me up!

Csevet: I get to be with Maia? 😍

Maia: do ... do you think it would work? Could we get away with it?

And they do! And they all lived happily ever after.

And one of these days I'm going to finish and publish the damned thing.

(Ask box is still open to talk about my plot bunnies/ideas!)

#the goblin emperor #fanfic #fanfiction #sedoretu #au #plot bunny

[tolkien-feels]

Re; Elros mannish anon, I think that’s valid, I think though, I just want to empathize the mannish-ness because the mannish side is often perceived as the lesser half and obviously Elros didn’t see it like that, but I still think that’s a general trend in fandom spaces that I think letting Elros enjoy and want to be mannish for the sake of being mannish is just more of wanting to push against the idea that being mortal is the lesser option. Elrond really doesn’t talk about his human ancestors with the same air of reverence as he talks about his elvish kin. If anything, I think Gondor carries a bigger fan flame for the old first age mannish heroes than the half elf family, lmao.

Cause, like, even during that post people kept bringing up the elves whom he was related to that would cause sauron to fear him but not the humans whom have done equally amazing feats (Elros comes from a line that did produce Túrin and Hurin!) and I think constantly exulting and relating the specialness of the dunedain to their relationship to the eldar is…just kind of boring :/ and men are cool and don’t deserve to be second fiddle. Like, I agree the twins should be aloud to be half elves, but I just feel like that would mean that the HUMAN half needs to be just as important and respected and sometimes I feel like it isn’t, which is why I’m the original anon I just wanted to express why I like the idea of a increasingly series of separation from larger elf culture in Elros especially as he nation builds himself a kingdom FOR MEN. 

And I agree I don’t think they change that much, but I do think Elros had a girlboss Mulan moment and cut his hair mannish short and elrond has a moment thinking that this is the first time they’ve ever looked completely different.

Feel free to delete, I hope that this doesn’t come off as Argumentative. I just think Elros is such a blank slate and yet is the only half elf who ever choose to be human because he liked being human and I think he can be such a interesting character to explore why humans in Arda are cool as someone who wasn’t born among humans yet choose to leave everyone he ever knew to be one of them. As a mannish fan, that means a lot to me, bc I think men are cool too lmao.

You don't come off as Argumentative™, don't worry! I'm putting my answer under a cut just for length, don't worry, I'm not about to yell at you or anything!

From the perspective of this ask, I would basically agree with you! I think Sauron would fear Elros's elvish ancestry (well, and Maia) simply because I headcanon Sauron's fear of men grows throughout the Second Age, so while Elros is alive, he would be focusing on the elven side of his line. But the reason I headcanon that is precisely because Sauron shows a marked tendency to assess threat wrongly (Aragorn and Frodo, most noticeably, but he also thinks he can take down Huan, for example), so I'm very much camp Oh Sauron Should Be Fearing Elros Because He's A Man. I headcanon he doesn't realize the might of Men until it's too late.

I think many people often tend to treat Men as lesser because Tolkien seems to have a very schematic hierarchy of races (something like Valar > Maiar > Calaquendi > Moriquendi > Edain > other Men > hobbits), and I think people sort of internalized that. Plus, the First Age stories are mostly stories about elves, with men becoming more important in the Third Age (and in the Second, but the Second Age doesn't have tales as much as it has lists of events), so I think a large part of the Silm fandom have elves as their blorbos and think more about them, while people who have Men as their blorbos tend to focus on LotR. Although that is far from being an absolute rule, of course.

People's interests can't really be controlled, but as for the hierarchy thing, I feel like this is one of the areas where we should be pushing back against canon, yeah. I don't think in modern day society there's really room for putting peoples in hierarchies (with the possible exception of Valar and Maiar because I personally see that as more of a distinction of jobs, like kings and their servants, than like a distinction of races), and as you probably know given I often mention it, I'm deeply uncomfortable with, for example, the uncultured Eastern Lesser Men and the enlightened and amazing Men of the West. Likewise, I profoundly dislike seeing elves as superior. I do headcanon many people in-universe would believe this hierarchical view, but I, as a reader, do not, which is different. It's similar to how I think women are as capable of going to battle as men, but in Arda, this wouldn't be a common view, so I headcanon accordingly.

I feel like when confronted with uncomfortable aspects of canon, people often find different solutions. To the very valid problem you describe, my personal solution is not to have Elros's Mannishness be emphasized, but rather to, like I'd answered, emphasize he's one of the Peredhil, while also very much assuming Numenor is as remarkable and good as any of the Elvish realms, although maybe in-universe not everyone would agree. But your solution is just as supported by canon and does provide fandom with the very important perspective of men being awesome, which they are!

[elennalore]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: The Silmarillion and other histories of Middle-Earth - J. R. R. Tolkien Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Elu Thingol | Elwë Singollo/Melian, Elu Thingol | Elwë Singollo & Finwë Characters: Elu Thingol | Elwë Singollo, Melian (Tolkien), Finwë (Tolkien) Additional Tags: Pre-Relationship, Slow Burn, Valinor, Years of the Trees, Elf/Maia Relationship(s), Prompt Fill Summary:

Elwë is one of the three Elven ambassadors in Valinor. Melyanna is a Maia, and their guardian. Their story did not begin in Nan Elmoth. It first began here, in the gardens of Lórien, when Elwë could not sleep.

#my writing #elu thingol #melian #elwe #finwe #valinor #silm fic #slow burn #silmarillion fanfiction #prompt fill #maia-elf relationships are so interesting #melian the maia #thingol

[ceescedasticity]

Another story idea which can GET IN LINE and WAIT ITS TURN:

Fourth Age quest to find and destroy the Orc Bank.

Featuring:

Elladan and Elrohir, who WERE heading off East on a more conventional orc-hunt, but got diverted by someone demanding they stop indiscriminately killing orcs when that DOESN'T EVEN MAKE THEM STOP BEING ORCS. They are forced to grapple with the personhood of orcs.

The person or persons doing said diverting. I have several ideas for this, each more outrageous than the last. (The child of an Avari elf and a runaway orc who fell in love! A part-Maia descended from Alatar or Pallando, who all these years have been empowering the people of the East to fight the darkness in the best way they can think of! The OFFSPRING OF THE ABOVE! Who gets in a RELATIONSHIP!)

Maglor, who is still in shock after getting dragged into this by

Currently-an-orc!Celegorm. Celegorm has lived and died as an orc hundreds of times and eventually remembered who he was in many of them, partially because of force of personality and partially because Sauron thought it was funny. With Sauron gone, Celegorm WOULD take his chances with jumping in the Sea, except -- Curufin is in the Orc Bank. He's managed to avoid getting orc-reborn since Sauron involved him in Celebrimbor's torture and then let him remember. He may be there forever if someone doesn't find the place.

Currently-an-orc!Turgon, who's had similar experiences to Celegorm. (With the addition that in one of his non-remembering lifetimes he was the Great Goblin! Had his own city off away from the people who were really in charge, had opinions about trespassers, went berserk after seeing a sword from Gondolin.) HIS reason not to just jump in the Sea right now is that currently-an-orc!Maeglin probably couldn't be persuaded to do so.

Currently-an-orc!Maeglin and his currently-an-orc/previously-an-Avari best friend/love interest.

Additional supporting cast of orcs, Easterners, others.

Also possibly: orc!Oropher. Thranduil, if anyone tells him about that.

Initially I was thinking this would be after Arwen's death but on second thought it would be much funnier to have her periodically getting increasingly outrageous letters from the twins relating their progress. Which would open up

Possibly: Legolas and Gimli, overly adventurous hobbits, newly adult child of one of the human couples who was supposed to be getting some light experience with the twins…

#tolkien #reckless application of spackle #stuff i'm not writing #if anyone else wants to write this PLEASE DO

[gossip-girl-of-middleearth]

Imagine the Fellowship comforting you, as you reveal your Aro/Ace identity to them

Requested by: @a-dragon-under-the-stars

I was wondering if you could write a gen or maybe qpp (x reader) oneshot where the reader is aroace and they're feeling unaccepted. The fellowship helps the reader then?

AN: I researched the topic, to ensure I got it right, and started relating a little too much, and now I’m questioning my identity. Alas! Enjoy the product of head scratching, and muttering ‘is it an emotional attachment thing, or is this me too??’

‘Either come back with a husband, or don’t come back at all’ – the last thing your mother had said to you, before you’d set out on the Fellowship’s journey.

Though you resented the idea greatly, you knew better than to argue with your mother. Of course, this left you at wrath with yourself. Here you were, travelling with those you’d rather call friends, but were instead sorting through them – as potential suitors, no less!

There were many feasible candidates, and at least two royals in your company. Your mother had placed great emphasis on that particular fact, but you knew she’d be happy either way, so long as you returned home with a lifelong partner.

However, as mentioned before, you found yourself rather at war, with no one but your own mind – and heart.

You see, that was just the thing – your heart cared not for what your mind thought. It had no attraction to any of the males in your presence, and for the life of you, you couldn’t figure out why!

They were all so handsome, and single! Even the ranger, Aragorn, no longer had ties to that Elven lady from Rivendell.

Legolas, the prince, was high on your radar. He had flowing blonde locks, a tall frame and a charming smile. Your mother would be very proud, if you returned home with him linked through your arm.

Of course, then there were the two human men. Boromir and Aragorn were both very similar in heart and spirit, and you knew for sure they’d make wonderful husbands.

Gimli the Dwarf made you chuckle, but you knew he had great social standing, within his own culture.

The Hobbits were last on your list, but they were most agreeable, nonetheless. Frodo, Merry and Pippin, the three cousins, allegedly stood very high in their society, back in the Shire.

Gandalf also travelled with you, but you halted your thoughts, before anything else could be birthed within your mind.

So many great males you travelled with, and yet, you had no hope of romancing them – it simply wasn’t in you to accomplish.

You felt at unease for days, and the Fellowship soon noticed. Your stomach churned and churned, as you wondered how your mother would react, to you returning home without one of them. The other half of you, was restless over the idea of actually returning home with one of them. You would be miserable, forcing both your heart and body to do things it had no interest in.

You felt incomplete, in a way, as if when your soul was crafted, such finite details were neglected. How would you ever honour your family tree, if you couldn’t carry on the ancestral legacy?

It was one big mess – one your newly found friends wished to help you with.

You sat around the campfire, with your head in your hands. The males all glanced between one another, as they revered you in concern.

You thought you had been discreet in your troubled antics, but apparently, at the gentle calling of Aragorn’s voice, you had not been.

“Y/n?” Aragorn called, stoking the fire, as he glanced at you sideways. “Are you okay? Is everything alright?”

Aware that tears were in your eyes, and had been running down your cheeks, you lifted your head. You sniffled loudly, shocking both yourself, and your friends.

“I’m fine,” you lied, wiping at your nose. “Thank you for asking.”

“Clearly not,” Legolas huffed, creasing his brows at you. “It doesn’t take Elven eyes to observe your saddened state.”

“Aye, we are your friends,” Gimli promised, slurping at his stew. “If you can’t tell us, then who can you tell?”

You lifted your head more, and knitted your own brows at the group. They gave you their undivided attention, and some even shuffled in their seats, as to better pay attention to you.

Their endearment warmed your heart, and you couldn’t help but feel it swell three times bigger in response. You even offered your own smile, as their sincerity was just too lovely.

Sighing, you averted your eyes to the ground, and replied. Your voice was small, and barely above a mumble. However, they had all heard you.

“I don’t want to marry any of you,” you said sheepishly.

Silence ensued around the camp, as the boys all looked between one another. Who among them had desired to court you, so much so that they had asked for your hand in marriage? Worse yet, why would you taunt them so cruelly, as to announce said rejection in everyone’s presence?

“Did…one of us…ask you, for your hand?” Boromir slowly said, glancing at the Hobbits and Legolas – whom he assumed were the most viable candidates.

You cringed deeply, for you quickly realized that you’d have to reveal your mother’s ulterior motives.

“Not exactly,” you winced. “I don’t know how to say this, without coming across as scheming, but…my mother…she told me to marry one of you.”

Silence ensued again, and you kept your eyes on the ground. That is, until Pippin chirped aloud.

“I’ll marry you!” he offered, grinning brightly. “Our children would be rather tall, that way!”

“That’s just the thing,” you huffed, rolling your eyes – amused nonetheless. “I don’t think I want any of that.”

“How so?” Aragorn gently asked, looking at you fully, as he continued meddling with the fire.

“Well,” you swallowed your nerves, “I know what tags along with marriage, and relationships, and I don’t know if there’s something wrong with me, but…I don’t feel inclined towards any of it? I don’t know, I’m just not interested? It’s hard to explain, but forcing those kind of things feels wrong somehow…am I just crazy?”

“Absolutely not,” Frodo promised – smiling, and nodding once in your direction. “I know so, because I’m the exact same.”

“What?” you incredulously asked, gaping across at the Hobbit.

“I feel the same as you,” he repeated. “I too do not have any interest in romance, or the things that ensue afterwards…nor did my uncle, for that matter.”

The Hobbit blushed at his own innuendo, regarding what ensures after marriage. He looked away, with a clearing of his throat.

Legolas’ brows were raised, and he pursed his lips to the side. ‘Can’t relate’, the young Elf thought. Boromir and Aragorn merely only nodded in understanding, as they mulled over both yours and the Hobbit’s admittance.

“I too, will jump on this bandwagon,” Gandalf piped up, having been sat and smoking against a tree the whole time. “It might be because I am a Maia, but even in my Middle-earth form, I do not crave such relations. If you’re crazy, or incomplete, then so am I – and I was made in Eru’s image.”

You suddenly perked up at the wizard’s words, and offered him an eye-squinting smile.

“Doesn’t seem that weird to me,” Gimli mused, shrugging his shoulders. “I know a few Dwarves who felt the same – Thorin, for one. At least, that’s what my father says.”

“It seems the rest of us are in the minority,” Aragorn smiled, glancing between the other Hobbits, Legolas and Boromir. “I wouldn’t fret at all, Y/n. It all seems perfectly natural to me. And regarding your mother, well…if her words ever cause doubt in your heart, remember ours instead; you are valid – just as valid as both Gandalf, and Frodo.”

You steadily beamed brightly, and found tears warming your eyes again. However, this time, they were out of the joy lighting up in your heart.

“Thank you, guys,” you said, nodding around at all of them. “I’m glad I have you all.”

#lotr imagine #lord of the rings #lotrdaily #lotr movies #the hobbit #legolas #hobbit #lotr fanfic #lotr x reader #fellowship x reader #aro #ace #hobbit x reader #lord of the rings x reader

[an-eldritch-peredhel]

Living up to my URL (jk)

thanks to this post by @rohirra i have been INSPIRED! so here’s all my eldritch Luthien headcanons bc she deserves it.

First off I should clarify that I have some very specific headcanons re: Luthien and Daeron’s half-maia nature and relationship to Arda. I wrote some of them down here but because it’s long and also not really about that the short story is that a maia’s spirit is most attached to the world but is very “large”, then an elf’s (also probably dwarves are around here), then a human’s (+ hobbits) which is actually roughly the “size” of a maia’s (my reasoning/headcanon is complicated and too long for here, hmu if you wanna see it)(yes this is ask-bait, no im not ashamed). Elven parents use some of their fea to make their kids, but for Luthien Melian way over-shot it, so Luthien has a body and spirit that want to be incarnate, but her spirit is way too big to fit as an elf (but not for a human ;) so she has to keep a pretty tight hold on it so that she doesn’t more or less explode into a flaming crown of wings and eyes and other monstrosities. Anyway this means that typically she looks normal-adjacent, with only nice, pretty eldritch additions (though admittedly my definition of pretty is a little skewed. Beren and Thingol are in good company). BUT! If she gets especially emotional for whatever reason her control on that starts to slip. (see, my icon)

And another clarification (and more ask bait, please please please ask me to explain/elaborate) : I hc that maiar each have several “domains”, some of them very small and specific (a river and the stones nearby/happy thoughts caused by kittens) others much less so (all rivers/most happy thoughts) that can overlap. So I like to think of Melian’s domains (and thus her descendants’ too) as being: Doriath, first and formost (which does end up increasing her influence over forests in general, but really it’s just Doriath. She saw it and was like “!!! It’s ME! DIBS!”), passerine (perching birds, usually songbirds but can be birds of prey) in general but especially nightingales, the dusk/twilight/evening, forest wildflowers and prey animals, foresight (which is based on the stars), and then the Big ones because she studied under Este and Vana: healing (este), the entropy stopping thing (vana), and protection as being a combination of them both (also fits w/ my next headcanon bc metal makes armor).

Putting everything else under the cut bc Hoo Boy I Cannot Stop Talking

Ok so lets start off with the basics: Jirt himself described Luthien’s skin as being like silver. I’m just going with what the man himself said! So uh. Yeah her skin looks like metal with a skin-colored stocking or other thin, stretchy cloth stretched over it, so it’s a little more matte than just. metal. but it gives her some very interesting undertones (i also imagine it as being more silvery at places where the skin is tighter, as if her skin is transparent and there’s just metal underneath it.) I think she gets a little shinier when she’s happy. I’ve seen a lot of artists making her blue which is also cool!

Her ears are shaped a little differently than normal elves because Melian has those cool wing “ears”, so hers are a little flatter and have some scallops on the edges, and her earlobe is more pronounced. They end up looking a little like butterfly wings.

she is Very Tall. Thingol is one of the elves who is described as being the tallest elf ever, and Melian is an eldritch abomination my beloved, so Luthien is probably even taller than her dad. No idea on an actual height besides >8ft/2.4m

“and light of stars was in her hair” “her hair like shadows following” I could interpret this how he undoubtedly meant, and say she has lovely shiny black hair. orrrrr I could direct you to the amazing and talented Kokiri85 on AO3 and Instagram because that’s where I got this headcanon from. Specifically see: here, here, and here (and check out the rest of their stuff it’s REALLY GOOD)(I also got a bunch of inspiration for my Melian design there too) if you don’t want to bother to check it out, then basically her hair is definitely not really like actual hair, and is instead a very very swirly starry chunk of space, more or less. I like to think that it’s perpetually flowing a little, like it’s underwater, and that it’s actually depicting a chunk of space that sometimes switches with her mood, so it might typically be “set” to the edges of a nebula, but if she’s bored it might switch to a blank piece of space. I’m just gonna stick a disclaimer here that with basically any of these headcanons you can assume it gets “more” whatever when she’s more emotional so I don’t have to repeat myself.

TEEF! My girl has fangs because I am weak. Also talons, though usually they just manifest as slightly long and sharp fingernails (this is one of the things she has the best control over, so it’s easy to make them more “normal”)

purple eyes purple eyes purple eyes purple eyes purple eyes purple ey-

If I ever actually bother to draw her normally/in a neutral state I would probably give her a natural grey-blue-purple, like the color of an evening sky, just to be Jirt-accurate. But I don’t, so GLOWY NEON PURPLE EYES FOR HER! My elves all have tapetum lucidum, so Luthien gets that from her dad and her literal glow to them from her mom. (I also really like the idea of her pupils working a lot like a cat’s, and then getting weirder (cross shaped anyone?) as her control slips)

Actually that gives me another idea! Luthien is crepuscular, ie. active mostly at dusk and dawn. She’s associated with evening and morning a lot anyways.

I honestly can’t decide if she gets horns/antlers or not. Like on one hand- yes. Vibes are Off The Charts. On the other- it doesn’t entirely vibe with my domains for Melian so. IDK.

WINGS MY BELOVED! They usually only come out as an unconscious intimidation tactic when she’s mad or scared, but she does choose to have them sometimes. They start out as a very spectral outline and glow, but become more and more present the angrier she gets, until she has like a pair of huge bright sparkly purple neon signs floating behind her. They’re only tangible (and thus able to make her fly) when either her control is near-completely gone and her spirit is crawling out of her skin to the point where it’s actively dangerous for her, or if she’s consciously making them like that (only possible when she’s calm/relaxed/happy). When they’re like that they look like really big nightingale wings but a little shinier and slightly iridescent. She absolutely takes Beren flying once or twice and loves getting them preened even if she doesn’t have to. It’s the same feeling as having someone comb through your hair without running into knots, absolutely melt-worthy.

Haloooos. This is admittedly mostly for Art PurposesTM, but it only happens when she’s especially emotional, though not only negative ones. It starts off as a glow around her head, then a ring behind it, then a disc, and continues getting more elaborate. Fun fact: The three interlocking halos above her in my icon were originally designed to look like an atom because I was doing it during chemistry and got Inspired.

And now an incomplete list of things I associate her with when writing the Spookies.

petrified wood. literally its so good it’s like rainbow gemstones made out of ancient forests why are so many people sleeping on this for fae type creatures? Also easy “death turned into something beautiful” symbol.

amethyst. from google: “the gem's purple colors represented... the chastening and purifying effects of suffering... were used to aid the healing of wounds.” Ohhh great Maaandos, high among Valarrr~

Voids, a classic, but specifically starry ones, to contrast the blank Void the Feanorions swore to vs the metaphorical “void” where humans in the legendarium go post-death, which is presumably something/somewhere.

Mercury, I often call it “quicksilver” for the Vibes. It’s silver, drippy (like blood!) and now associated with madness and poison. For the OG Eldritch Flavor.

Eagles, in the context of their talons, bc it was the eagles that snatched her and Beren from Angband, but mostly Luthien who saves them over and over. I use it especially in the context of Luthien “cutting her spirit loose” to go to Mandos and sing to him bc of the fun parallels.

Nightingales, which sounds obvious, but really think about it. Historically kept in “golden cages” for their singing, but never domesticated so they’re still wild birds. Like the symbolism practically writes itself. I use the specific phrase “Nightingales are wild birds” as often as I can when I’m writing about her, and especially her relationship to Doriath/Menegroth/her parents because it is very golden cagey, and gives her a lot more character and weight to her choice to be with Beren beyond love at first second sight.

Cheating a little here but wolves for Beren. I like to think that even after she became mortal Luthien still was pretty eldritch, but Beren got some too because being resurrected is Like That Sometimes. So it’s fun because they’re both human, but with “elven grace” and some more maiarin/eldritch traits and habits. Also it’s fun because wolves are predators but the “Nightingale” is the more dangerous/scary of the two.

Lightning and ozone for her glow. Another classic.

There’s probably more that I just can’t think of right not, but those are the main ones

Dang now I want to write a self-indulgent purple-prose fic about Thingol admiring how eldritch Melian is. This is gonna be like. my Thing.

#tolkien #silmarillion #beren and luthien #luthien #luthien tinuviel #my headcanons

[imakemywings]

character ask meme - any of these you feel like doing: thingol, luthien, zevran :D

Character ask meme

Thingol

First impression

Sindar Sindar Sindar SINDAR (I was already a fan of Thranduil at this point)

Impression now

Tolkien takes the time to tell us how wise and beloved Thingol is and then goes on to detail only the worst mistakes he ever made so imo he gets a little short-shrifted by the narrative sorry buddy

Favorite moment

Sending Beleg after Turin because they were so worried about him :( He got attached to his human foster-child.

Idea for a story

TELL US ABOUT HIS MARRIAGE TOLKIEN. We are looking at the only non-Ainu to ever wed or have a significant relationship with a Maiar, and we know nothing about it, except that they apparently fell in love at first sight.

Also, I feel like these two and Luthien have some bizarre-ass family vibes so I really want to hear more about that.

Unpopular opinion

Hear me out but I don't think his reaction to Luthien's thing with Beren was totally unreasonable. Before this, no Elf had ever wed with a mortal before. If your kid was the first immortal to volunteer to give that up I doubt any of us would take it well, at least initially. Furthermore, not only does Thingol's beloved only child suddenly have a very near expiration date (humans cap out at like 100 years if you're lucky), she also will not go to the Elven afterlife. Thingol and Melian are going to lose their daughter forever, when she was never supposed to die at all. The kind of terror that would inspire is sure to make anyone do some reactive things.

You can argue certainly that sending Beren after a Silmaril was a dick move, but I also don't think he thought Beren would actually try it. That was a "fuck off" task.

Not saying he was right, only that it was understandable.

Favorite relationship

Melian ❤ But I'm also very interested in his relationship with Finrod, since the Arafinweans were the only ones allowed into Doriath, and we know Finrod visited. Thingol is technically his...grand-uncle? The brother of his maternal grandfather?

Favorite headcanon

You will never met an Elf into freakier sex shit than Thingol. Also, stamina for days. Dude shacked up with a Maia. There's no way he's not into some bizarre shit, either on his own, or because Melian wants to do it.

Luthien

First impression

This is that chick Aragorn talks about!

Impression now

You know why I respect the hell out of Luthien? She knew what she wanted, she went for it, she didn't listen to anyone who told her not to do it, she got it, and then she fucked off and lived in peace and quiet. Good for her.

Also, badass as hell.

Favorite moment

Is there a better moment in the entire fucking mythology than Luthien facing down Melkor and digging a Silmaril out of his own fucking crown? fucking QUEEN.

Idea for a story

I would like to see some Luthien bonding with Melian! It must be difficult having a Maia for a mother, and Melian's ideas of affection and love are probably very different from Elves', so I wonder how that would affect her relationship with Luthien.

Unpopular opinion

I don't think I have an unpopular opinion about Luthien?

Favorite relationship

I really like her relationship with her parents, sparse and fraught as it is. I do believe they were mostly happy together before Beren, and I'd like to know more about what their regular life was like.

Favorite headcanon

I've hung onto this idea that she and Thranduil were party buddies back in Doriath. Not that there was anything romantic there, but they both liked a good party, and she counted on him to be able to let her know about the good ones. Also, slutty dance partners.

Zevran

First impression

Is this dude who just tried to kill me really hitting on me rn

Impression now

Zevvvv baby ❤ Zevran's had a crappy run of it. Sold to the Crows as a kid? Killed his best friend/lover believing she had betrayed him? Took on a suicide mission and then got spared? Zevran plays off his pain with humor and flirtation, but if you get to know him you know how afraid he is of opening himself up to hurt again. Zevran is also loyal as hell to a friendly/romanced Warden and he feels deeply even if he tries to pretend he doesn't.

Favorite moment

His intro scene is honestly peak Zevran. But I also like his more serious scenes as you get closer to the end of the game where he makes it clear that suicide mission or not, he stands with the Warden and his new friends. It means so much knowing how much of Zevran's life he's lived, essentially, alone.

Idea for a story

I've really kicked around the idea of what he and Aeducan do after the archdemon is slain. She, of course, is going to be busy with Grey Warden business, but I think it means so much to him that a romanced Warden sticks with him after their goal is complete, and settling into any kind of routine with her would make him so happy.

I don't necessarily buy the idea Aeducan would go in for motherhood, especially with how much "work" she has left to do vis-a-vis the Grey Wardens, but I also think Zevran would be a good dad ❤

Unpopular opinion

I don't think this is necessarily unpopular, but I think a lot of people who played the game took him at face value, especially if they never romanced him, and never saw the deeper level to his character. Zevran actually does care about things (there are several moral stances he'll take against the Warden if he believe they're acting cruelly) and he is a very emotional person.

Favorite relationship

With a romanced Warden, for sure. But excluding the PC, as I said on the Wynne answer, I think they have a really cute relationship. I also love the idea of a close friendship between him and Leliana, because I think her gentleness and kindness would be good for him, and I think his humor helps keep her spirits up.

Favorite headcanon

So Sereda and Zevran had already started sleeping together by the time I got to the Orzammar quest and I just love the idea of him being very cheeky with the Dwarves because he's just some nobody from nowhere but he's now affiliated with a Grey Warden and their own ex-princess so they have to be at least civil with him.

#asks #thanks anon these were fun!

[amethysttribble]

Please share unpopular Celegorm headcanons!

asdfkhljk when I say unpopular I kinda just mean super self-indulgent and unlikely to have a wide appeal. In that regard all my Celegorm head canons are ‘unpopular’ because I kinda took one look at the stinky elf prince with the dog and religious order and went... “mine now”

But you’re so sweet for being interested! I presume this is about the Celegorm Sexuality Headcanons I mentioned in the tags of a post, and I’d love to share. Just keep in mind that they’re... not typical. 

In short, I head canon Celegorm as ‘ainursexual’ in that I think he’s primarily attracted to Vala and Maia ( i.e. Orome and Luthien... and Tilion, let me have my crack ships). But it’s not really a physical attraction, as ainur don’t have natural physical forms, more of a feä-attraction, religious ecstasy thing. And because ainur aren’t inherently sexual beings, I head canon Celegorm as asexual, as well. 

I’m just really amused by the idea of him and his brothers at a party where Maglor’s making out with a stranger and Maedhros has disappeared (Huh, where did Fingon go?), meanwhile Celegorm treats advancements like a knight with chastity vows going, “I’m flattered, but I’m married to god,” except god lives down the street. 

I even imagine that with elves in Valinor ‘ainursexuality’ is a common and accepted sexuality (separate from asexuality and aromanticism with other elves)! 

Like, “She’s a maiden of Vana.” “Oooohhhhh.”

Just, elves who are more interested in ainur than elves. I also think of it as a sliding scale (as with all sexualities) that goes from Elu ‘Monster Fucker’ Thingol to more sex-repulsed Elves. Similarly, I think there's a scale for aromanticism (its a GRAPH actually now that I think about it) where Elves’s relationships with various ainur are romantic or platonic or in between, but still caught under an ‘ainursexual’ umbrella term.

I think Celegorm’s in the middle somewhere for both. 

All this being said, I’ve never been tied down to even my own headcanons, and depending on what story I’m interested in telling at any given time, these bend. These are my primary headcanons for him though! I hope you find them interesting. 

Thank you so much for asking!

#also is this a lot of projection in regards to my own complicated feelings about sexuality? maybe #ask #celegorm #the silmarillion #tolkien #tribble post

[red-riding]

* blushing madly while covering my face* I know it is not a elf... I humbly ask if there is a reader that is Saurons love interest( He has yet to tell them). She is shorter then him yet protective of him and his reputation. I feel as tho the tolkien fandom makes Sauron a sassy, moody, evil gay maia that is in love with melkor... I don't think that is accurate.

Here you go! Hope you like it, Sorry if its not perfect. Thanks for the request and being an amazing human and helping me with character heights so much. 

Sauron with a love interest 

You relationship originally formed from mutual teasing and competition. You always want to out do each other and will lightly make fun of each other.

However not that either of you would admit it, but when someone else insults the others name, You will be quick to defend. 

You were the first person to break through his shell, and though he does not show it he cares strongly about you, maybe even loves you.

He teases and jabs at you are normally based around your height since you are quite short compared to him. He does this because he loves how you will always blush and look down.

No one, even Sauron himself can not quite pinpoint when he fell for you, but all he knows is one moment you were just another pawn in his game for power and the next he cared for you and your well being which was a foreign feeling for him. 

Sauron will leave random gifts at your chambers with no notes or way to tell who they are from, he is a bit of a secret admirer 

What finally prompted him to admit his feelings and ask to court you was an ellon trying to win your heart

Eventually the jealousy just became to much and Sauron cracked and stormed to your chambers and pulled you into a passionate kiss 

After you both pulled away from the kiss Sauron quickly asked if he could court you which you agreed and pulled him into another kiss. 

#lotr #silm #the simarillion #the simarillion headcanon #lord of the rings #sauron #Sauron x reader #annatar #lotr headcanons #lord of the rings headcanon

[saurons-pr-department]

Title: Sometimes Curiosity is Rewarded Rating: Teen and Up Relationships: Celebrimbor/Annatar, Celebrimbor&Annatar Characters: Celebrimbor, Annatar/Mairon/Sauron Summary: Celebrimbor has never actually gotten to see the inside of Annatar's library before. So one day, when the Maia carelessly leaves the door ajar, he can't help but take a nose inside. His boldness is rewarded with a tour and a bit of bonding with his beloved Maia.

Preview: Celebrimbor had not really spent much time in Annatar's private library. In fact, he hadn't seen the inside of the room since the shelving was initially installed. When the two met, it was usually in Celebrimbor's quarters, or elsewhere, with Annatar occasionally bringing some manuscript or other that he felt would interest the Elf Lord. It wasn't that Annatar ever said no, exactly, it was more that the Maia was very adept at finding other locations for the two to meet. Celebrimbor was mostly fine with this. If Annatar wanted a private space, he was entitled to it. Had he not contributed enough of himself to the Mírdain already? No, he couldn't begrudge his friend his bit of solitude, but that didn't mean that Celebrimbor wasn't curious. And Celebrimbor was always curious, which meant that one evening, when he came calling at the Maia's quarters to see if he would be interested in taking tea with him, Celebrimbor couldn't help but be drawn to the ajar door of the library.

Read the whole thing on AO3

This is my Secret Santa gift for [Redacted] I hope you like it!

@officialtolkiensecretsanta

#tss2020 #celebrimbor #annatar #mairon #sauron #silvergifting #sorcha's writing

[cousinslavellan-archive]

Spun in a Circle

The Sea is calm, the night is young, and the crew is in good Spirits. What better time is there to play pass-the-Watcher?

[HI I’m writing Pillars of Eternity: Deadfire fic because I’m loving this game why not. My Watcher still doesn’t have a name because I suck help. Tekēhu/Watcher, though pre-relationship here! Also on my AO3 ]

It’s a night like any other, days out from the shores of Neketaka.

The sea is calm and the sky is clear - and perhaps the only difference, this night, is that everyone is above decks.

It’s not long into the evening that the singing begins - at first just a low hum, and then a loud chorus as the entire crew takes up the melody, spirits high and souls alight.

It is a common occurrence, here on The Defiant - Tekēhu has heard it nearly every night since joining the myriad companions of the Watcher of Cad Nua - a testament to how well their Captain looks after them, he is sure.

She is a mystery, their Watcher - a Pale Elf from the Living Lands, says Edér, quiet and diplomatic until pushed beyond what can be solved with words - amber eyes burning bright with a fire as hot as the spells she controls.

She would be easy to overlook, had he not seen her in action - seen the way she bends elements and communes with Spirits, at once foreboding and welcoming, a force of nature seeking her purpose.

But here, with her Crew, their Watcher is open - there is a guard behind her smiles, a sense of detachment - and yet she is always willing to talk, to listen, to laugh and engage.

So it is when Serafen catches her wrist amidst the singing, smirking and tugging her into some form of Príncipi jig, that the Watcher goes with no more than a lifted brow and rolled eyes.

The singing of the crew swells, seeing their Captain now up and dancing, and it thus seems to become a game of pass-the-Watcher.

Serafen leads her through a full run of the jig, laughing openly at her missteps and making her laugh in return, before passing her off to the nearest of their Companions.

Aloth pauses to bow, just a touch, before leading her in a slightly more structured dance, correcting her gently when she steps on his foot.

Edér links arms with the Watcher and starts them first in one direction, then the other, their Watcher’s laughter and ease telling Tekēhu that she’s done this dance before.

Pallegina hesitates a moment before attempting a quick two step, lips quirking in amusement when the Watcher only shakes her head and laughs at her own failure.

Maia mimics Edér - not exactly the same, but similar - and her touch on the Watcher’s arm lingers a moment, drawing his eye. Hmm… that is interesting.

Xoti links hands with the shorter woman and spins them in quick circles - not really a dance, per say, but who is to say what counts as dancing? - leaving them both dizzy and laughing as the Priestess hands her off.

Finally, then, it is Tekēhu’s turn to entertain their Watcher, her golden eyes bright and mirthful as her hand finds his - and he allows himself to be drawn into those eyes, only for a moment, before pulling her closer.

It is not quite as formal as the dance Aloth had led her in, but much more practiced then the others - borrowing heavily from the forms of Watershaping, a close and, at times, sensuous experience.

Knowing they have eyes upon them - and knowing their Watcher cares to keep her business under wraps - Tekēhu behaves himself. Mostly.

He cannot resist giving her a quick twirl at the end, her hair brushing his skin as he reels her in and bends her back over the crook of his arm.

His Watcher’s eyes are wide, mouth open in a surprised oh and cheeks flushed a lovely shade of pink as he pulls her back up, ignoring the catcalls and sounds of annoyance from their Companions around them.

There is a moment where she goes very still - eyes going distant, in a way he has glimpsed several times since joining her - but it fades quickly, and she shakes herself out of it as he rights her.

“Ekera, I believe that is enough excitement for the night. What say?”

His Watcher shoots him a smile, giving his hand a squeeze as she takes his offered out. “You’ve all tired me out more then I’d have expected.”

She takes a step away, and Tekēhu finds himself missing her warmth; a notion he tucks aside for later, when they are not surrounded by companions.

The feel of her hand in his remains long into the night, long after the singing has stopped and the lanterns have been put out, and he knows, perhaps, why he was meant to be on The Defiant.

He only need wait for the right time to broach the subject.

#pillars of eternity #pillars of eternity: deadfire #tekehu #poe watcher #poe fanfiction #tekehu/watcher #tekēhu

[warrioreowynofrohan]

The Silmarillion as a TV/Netflix Show (Part 5)

Season 5 centres on Túrin, Tuor, and Dior - and, later, Elwing and Eärendil. The last two seasons have looked hopeful for a while but ended on tragic notes (the Bragollach and the Nirnaeth); this season is going to flip things by being almost unremittingly tragic but ending on a hopeful note.

There are a few key things to do here:

1) Draw out parallels and common threads between our main characters. At first I wanted to shift the timeline a little and have key events in Túrin and Tuor’s lives happening at the same time: Túrin as outlaw, Tuor as thrall and then outlaw; Túrin in Nargothrond, Tuor in Gondolin; Túrin and Finduilas, Tuor and Idril. But it felt like there were too many big events happening simultaneously, and it was hard to fit them all in. Still, the parallels between the cousins are present.

Dior needs more characterization in order to be able to hold his own, narratively speaking; we have very little on him in canon.

2) The Fëanorians will be very important in the last few episodes of the season, so they need to be worked into the storyline of at least some of the earlier episodes to keep them in view. I’m going to go with them being based on Amon Ereb for this period; it fits some of Tolkien’s versions, and having them in Ossiriand at the same time as Beren and Lúthien and Dior would feel like a massive Chekhov’s Gun that is never fired.

So, with that in mind:

Episode 1: Túrin is going to take centre stage here, with the episode covering everything from his departure from Hithlum up to the death of Saeros and Túrin’s departure from Doriath. (And the episode will start with the Words of Húrin and Morgoth.) There will also be a few scenes from Tuor’s and Dior’s childhoods, which were comparatively more stable. Since Beren and Lúthien had such a large part in the last season it will be nice to see their experiences of parenthood. Lúthien, never having met mortal children, will be shocked at how fast Dior grows up. (He definitely ages on a Mannish scale - he’s married at 22, a king at 27, and dead at 30.)

Near the beginning, the episode will also include a scene where the Fëanorians attempt to invade Doriath and are turned back by the Girdle of Melian. It doesn’t function as a direct, physical barrier; it causes confusion and disorientation and strange visions and a loss of sense of direction, and you look around and find you’ve ended up outside Doriath again. This eerie, hallucinatory quality fits Melian’s background as a Maia of Lórien, Master of Dreams. (And hey, if you can work some subtle prophetic/ominous foreshadowing into the visions, all the better!) The purpose of the scene is to show that the Fëanorian’s aren’t idle; they do want pursue the Silmaril, but for the moment it is beyond their reach. The brothers will have varying levels of enthusiasm about the plan, with Celegorm and Curufin being the ringleaders.

Episode 2: Heavily focuses on Túrin’s time as an outlaw, from his first meeting with the bandits through to Dor-Cúarthol, the fall of Amon Rudh, and the death of Beleg. This is a lot of material - joining the bandits, becoming their leader, the first meeting with Beleg, finding Mîm and Amon Rudh, Dór-Cuarthol, and the fall of Amon Rudh and the death of Beleg. There may be a need to streamline it, with Beleg only finding the outlaws once they are at Amon Rudh, and staying with them then.

There’s a lot of good characters here, and a lot of good personality confllicts - it’s practically a short movie in itself. Particular care needs to be taken with Mîm, who cannot be allowed to become a caricature.

This episode introduces Anglachel, so it would be good to have a short Gondolin scene with Maeglin (bearer of Anguirel) to establish the symmetry. And also to keep Gondolin in the viewers’ minds. A short scene in Nargothrond showing their reaction to Dór-Cúarthol (positive: it is or was their realm, and he’s doing more to defend it that they are) will set up later events,

Episode 3: The focus splits between Túrin in Nargothrond - particularly his relationships with Gwindor and Finduilas, and his growing prominence, with him becoming de-facto in charge at the end of the episode - and Tuor as a thrall and later outlaw. Tuor’s personality really comes to the fore here: he’s patient, and steady, and kind. He puts up with considerable abuse an a thrall, escapes when there’s an opportune moment, and can’t be effectively pursued because he’s made friends with all of his captor’s hounds. (I especially like that last fact.) The episode ends with him leaving Dor-lómin by the Gate of the Noldor.

This is also a good time to build up the romance between Dior and Nimloth. Nimloth must be Laiquendi, as those are the only other people Beren and Lúthien would meet in Ossiriand; I rather like the idea of them being childhood friends, to offset some of the more love-at-first-sight romances. Dior is now in his late teens and - this is important - very, very good-looking, even by elf standards. He’s also very interested in his Doriathrin heritage, and asking his parents a lot of questions about his grandparents; that sets up his determination to be Eluchíl later on.

Episode 4: Tuor’s meeting with Ulmo and his coming to Gondolin, the Fall of Nargothond, and Túrin in Dórlomin. The fall of Nargothrond and deaths of Gwindor and Finduilas form a nice counterpoint/contrast with Tuor’s meetings with Voronwë and Idril and his arrival at Gondolin. Túrin’s impulsive actions in Dor-lómin contrast with Tuor’s approach in the prior episode as well.

Episode 5: Focus is on Túrin’s story. Journey of Morwen and Nienor to Nargothrond and its consequences, and Túrin in Brethil, through to his slaying of Glaurung and his and Nienor’s deaths.

For extra bonus irony points, parallel the wedding of Túrin and Níniel with the weddings of Idril and Tuor and of Dior and Nimloth.

Episode 6: Wanderings of Húrin through to the Sack of Doriath and Beren and Dior’s fight with the dwarf-army. (Dior isn’t mentioned as being part of this fight in the Silm, but it’s an excellent moment to include him here.) The Fëanorians reenter the scene, attempting to intercept the dwarf army carrying the Silmaril, but arriving too late. This is the best chance they’ve had st recovering a Silmaril yet - they’re not going to ignore it.

The line “while Lúthien held the Silmaril no elf would dare assail her” is typically read as it just being something no one would consider on a moral level - and that’s a valid reading - but I like the idea that the Fëanorians aren’t going after her because they’re freaking terrified of her. This is the woman who defeated Morgoth single-handedly! Holding one of the most powerful artifacts ever created! Who knows what she could do! (The Fëanorians absolutely make concessions to practicality when it comes to the Oath - otherwise they would have attacked Angband sometime in the 400 years of the Siege, or after the Nirnaeth as a way to die pursuing their oath in a decent way rather than slaughtering kin. It’s only the final attack by Maedhros and Maglor after the War of Wrath that they attempt in the face of impossibility, and by that time I think suicide-by-Valarin-army makes up a solid portion of their motivation.)

Episode 7: The refounding of Doriath, the Second Kinslaying, and the capture and treachery of Maeglin. Broad theme of the episode being Bad Elvish Behaviour all round, with elves doing Morgoth’s work either directly (Maeglin) or on their own initiative (the Fëanorians).

My idea on the refounding of Doriath, and on Dior’s title of Eluchíl (Thingol’s Heir) is that this quickly and breifly becomes the core of Elvendom in Beleriand. Dior, as Lúthuen’s son and Melian’s grandson, likely has some degree of ‘magical’ power beyond what is usual for elves. Not enough to reestablish the Girdle of Melian, but enough to provide some general deterrance against evil forces. Doriath is also, for the first time, open to all the other free peoples of Beleriand, and is the only true realm remaining aside from secret and mysterious Gondolin. Not only do the Doriathrin Sindar and some of the Laiquendi and the northern grey-elves unite around Doriath, various Noldor, remants of lost realms and destroyed armies, join them. Dior is becoming in truth what Thingol claimed to be: King of Beleriand. All the more so when the Silmaril comes to him and Doriath blossoms like a memory of Valinor in the Ages of the Trees.

And this would fit with why the Fëanorians would regard Dior as ‘proud’, this would offend them more than anything, because what he’s achieving is exactly Fëanor once boasted that he would achieve, long ago in Tirion. This would fit with the sheer visciousness of the Second Kinslaying, with the abandonment of Dior’s young sons in the forest. Celegorm’s people aren’t even thinking in terms of hostages; they just want to destroy Dior’s entire family line, because his existence, his kingship, what he’s achieved are such an affront.

But Elwing escapes, and the Silmaril is still out of their hands.

(The attack is at Yule, whuch sets up a strong and deliberate parallel - Morgoth’s earlier attacks on the Lamps and the Trees were also at times of festival/celebration, so the Fëanorians’ actions are being deliberately equated with his.)

Episode 8: The Fall of Gondolin. This is your absolutely epic big battle scene. Balrogs! Dragons! Eagles! Maeglin acting like a cackling B-movie villain! (I have not read The Fall of Gondolin, but I’ve hear that Idril swordfights Maeglin in it, and this absolutely needs to happen.) Ecthelion kills a Gothmog! Glorfindel kills a balrog! It’s tragic, but it’s also extremely exciting television (unlike the kinslaying the previous week, which was mostly just really depressing and horrific.)

The episode ends with the survivors of Gondolin making their way to Sirion, where the survivors of Doriath have already settled. I think that the survivors of Nargothrond should also be there, to keep things simple and allow for some extra drama.

Episode 9: This one starts with a timeskip, so we can have adult Eärendil and Elwing. The episode is a quieter one, mainky setup for later events: the departure of Tuor and Idril, the marriage of Eärendil and Elwing, the birth of the twins, and Eärendil’s departure to seek the aid of the Valar. The voyage of Eärendil is dramatic and can take up some of the episode.

Episode 10: The Third Kinslaying, the destruction of the Fëanorian base on Amon Ereb, the voyage of Eärendil and Elwing to Valinor, and the Valar’s decision to go to war. The nain reason I wanted the Nargothrondim in Sirion is so that we can get Celebrimbor fighting against the Fëanorian forces here, because that just increases the level of emotional drama. The whole thing’s a traumatic mess. Fëanoruan solidiers throwing down their swords and surrendering. Fëanorian soldiers switching sides to defend the people of Sirion. It’s hard to overstate how teagic this is - here is almost the last remnant of elves in Beleriand, and they are being destroyed not by Morgoth (from whom they would be protected by Ulmo’s waters), but by their own people.

But at the end of the episode, Valinor is marshalling for war, and things are finally. finally, looking like they could get better.

#tolkien #the silmarillion #edain #elves #túrin #tuor #dior eluchil #eärendil #elwing #sons of fëanor #nargothrond #fall of gondolin #idril #maeglin #adaptation

[nowendil]

It just hit me again that the reason why I like elf/maia pairings and maiar and nonhuman characters in general so much is because I feel more comfortable projecting my identity on characters that aren't human. I feel weird making human characters aromantic or asexual or thinking about aromantic or asexual relationships between humans because I have been taught from a very young age that romantic love is something that makes humans human, and that sex is what makes relationships interesting.

And on top of that, I've became so accustomed to seeing only nonhuman characters portrayed as existing anywhere outside the gender binary that trying to project my nonbinary identity into human characters feels "cringey" or just plain unrealistic. I have became so accustomed to not seeing myself in human characters that I myself can't create those characters without feeling like I'm doing something wrong. And let me tell you I HATE this!!! I'm tired of hating myself without even realizing it!!! I'm so fucking sick of it!!! when will I know peace!!!

#i have realized this before too but it hit me again today #i HATE this SO MUCH #now im going to go and imagine HUMAN aroace nonbinary people for the rest of the evening instead of doing schoolwork out of SPITE #nowe talks

[rpgchoices]

Sometimes I really want to read a short summary of what to expect from a game with a very particular description that CATER to my OWN SPECIFIC interests, so here we go.

(click here for other videogames)

what to expect from PILLARS OF ETERNITY: DEADFIRE

This is a direct sequel of Pillars of Eternity and you play as the same character and can import the world you shaped in PoE

fantasy renaissance kind of world, this time set in an archipelagos of islands where different factions fight for control

classic rpg combat, you also have the turn based combat option

fights between ships! naval fights! 

You can help and side with the factions (the pirates, the military colonialists, the original inhabitants of the archipelagos and the aggressive merchants)

Your race you choose to play (human, aumau, dwarf, elf, orlan and godlike), some of the classes (especially priest of Berath or Eothas) and your background (ex. slavery vs noble) will have some consequences in dialogues with characters commenting on who you are

The gods are officially characters in this game! Berath and Eothas are major characters

you start by being killed by a giant Eothas and Berath sending you back down to stop Eothas from his mysterious plans

The plot is: you have to find out what is Eothas doing and you can decide to aid him or stop him

in the DLC you will get into close contact with some of the other gods too

You will have a ship (and can buy new, better ships) and will travel around the islands and explore the archipelagos while completing quests

the side quests I found were all interesting and not just fetch quests

You can recruit Maia, Tekehu, Pallegina, Serafen, Eder, Aloth and Xoti as companions. They will approve or disapprove of your choices and your attitude.

The companions have dialogues, comments and quests

You can romance Maia, Serafen, Aloth, Xoti or Tekehu. You can also change the relationships between your companions and this can end up in a romance betwee Maia and Xoti, or between Xoti and Eder

 There are also other 6 followers you can recruit, usually through a quest. They have no personal quests a part from that, and not as much dialogue (they are better than mercenaries you create yourself, but not as developed as the companions)

Tekehu, Maia and Pallegina will have very strong preferences about the ending you choose

Different endings, based on what you do with Eothas and what faction (o no faction) you support

plot? Eothas awakened and destroyed your castle as he is now a giant statue walking around. You start to follow him to find out what he truly wants, and the gods ask you to stop him. gameplay? classic isometric rpg with dialogue choices, explorations and combat, main quests are pretty linear and not very long, but the secondary quests were quite interesting and not just filler quests characters? the characters are the heart of this game! They are all voiced or partially voiced (if I am not wrong) a part from the main character. A lot of interesting secondary characters too. Also the gods!! sadness level? medium  death?

You can cause the destruction of some of the factions by siding with others, and you can cause the death of some characters.

#pillars of eternity #poe deadfire #poe #pillars of eternity: deadfire #pillars of eternity deadfire #deadfre #what to expect #what to expect by lucre

[cad-faoi-maeglin]

Head Canon Time! Mairon and Relationships.

Technically, Mairon has been in a lot of relationships, but most of the time these were part of some plot, some deception to get him what he wanted. Mairon’s a practical person (with a rather questionable moral compass) if sweet nothings and sex helped him achieve his goals, he had zero issue with using these as tactics. A good example would be Ar-Pharazôn. There were plenty of rumours doing the rounds of the Númenórean court that it wasn’t just the Maia’s council that allowed him to rise above the level of a captive. Not that anything was ever officially confirmed or proved...  So, if you look throughout his history, you’ll see that technically he’s been one half of many couples.

However, Mairon didn’t view these acts solely as tools. He actually attached quite a lot of importance to closeness (platonic or otherwise) and physical intimacy and no amount of important goals would ever be enough to make him compromise on this. So, if he wasn’t willing to compromise, how did he go about having all those strategic relationships? Well, this is where his aliases came in. (Of course, this obviously wasn’t the only purpose of his inventing aliases for himself, but we’re not interested in those other purposes for the minute.) His aliases allowed him some much needed distance. He wasn’t the one in the relationship, it was his alias. He wasn’t the one who claimed to love whoever his latest victim was, it was his alias. And he never invited anyone into his bed. He’d fuck them anywhere else they wanted, but never in his own private spaces. That would be too close. That was reserved for someone he genuinely wanted and those were rare. The distinction was important to him. All these people fell in love with a fiction, almost no one was allowed to fall in love with Mairon (though, if we’re being honest, not many would probably want to. ‘Dark Lord’ and all that...).

All of that means that, while he technically has been in many relationships, as far as he’s concerned, he’s only had three.

1)  Eönwë

Mairon’s first relationship from back when the world was new and even the Ainur could be considered young. It was a simple thing. If he had to label it, Mairon would probably struggle. It was neither a friendship nor a romance, but seemed to fall somewhere in the middle. When they were free of their duties they would spend much of their time together. Mairon would tell Eönwë of the shaping of the Earth as it was carried out by Aulë and his Maiar and Eönwë would tell Mairon of his duties as the right hand Maia to the King. And when the two wanted to be alone, they would go to their secret spot where they could sit in silence for hours just cuddled up into a ball together. When Mairon’s ambition and thirst for power drove him to turn traitor and join Melkor, Eönwë was the one person Mairon felt like he was actually betraying. Even though by the end of the third age he had come to hate his former friend/love, as he hated most everything else, he never could bring himself to view their memories with distaste. It was the first and last relationship that he had had that was uncomplicated and brought him nothing but happiness.   

2) Melkor

This one had come as somewhat of a surprise to him. He had not expected to ever turn the Vala’s head, nor had it even been his goal, but turn it did. Mairon had never been afraid to show his more insolent side to Melkor. While others behaved carefully around their master, Mairon was always unashamedly himself. In his arrogance he didn’t see why he should be anything else. It earned him his master’s respect and eventually his interest. Unlike his relationship with Eönwë, Mairon’s relationship with Melkor was decidedly a romantic one, especially in it’s beginning. They would bring each other gifts, share in private jokes, each would bring the other news of something that they thought they would find interesting, one would sit in silence and watch, awed, while the other worked. When they ruled separate fortresses, they wrote to each other constantly. Melkor was also the one who introduced him to sex and all the fun that they could have with that. As much as he’d later hate to admit it, Mairon was smitten. The best part was, he didn’t have to be anything in particular around Melkor. He could just be himself, like he was with Eönwë, and Melkor would return his feelings. Though they knew Eru would never recognise it, the two considered themselves married.

However, this wasn’t to last. Melkor was changed when he returned from his imprisonment. Mairon had never been able to figure out whether it had been the isolation or those fucking silmarills or both which had poisoned Melkor’s mind. Melkor became withdrawn, unpredictable and aggressive. Mairon had to carefully calculate his responses to his master (oh how often he was reminded of his lower position now!) in order to not wake his wrath. Though the two continued on for a long time after this, and Mairon tried with all his strength to hold them together, he regarded this as the real end to their marriage. He never stopped hating that Valar for this. 

3) Tyelpë

This was another of Mairon’s difficult to pin down relationships. It blurred the lines between plot and genuine in a way that made Mairon deeply uncomfortable. Technically, Tyelpë did not know who he really was, but so much of what Tyelpë loved about Annatar did not come from fiction but from Mairon himself. In truth, not much of Annatar was a fiction. Mairon didn’t see the need. He was genuinely a Maia and a smith and he had come to share skills and techniques. Aside from concealing his own name and history, he didn’t see a point in making up much else. He kept his usual bluntness and arrogance. It seemed to only add to the sense of divinity his presence instilled in others. He kept his usual demanding standards in the forge. It apparently just made him look more the part of the expert. He kept his sarcastic sense of wit. It only endeared him to the word-loving Elves. As a result, it was very much Mairon that Tyelpë had fallen for and not Annatar. And Mairon very much felt the difference. His tactical side told him to use Tyelpë’s feelings to his advantage. The rest of him told him that in this instance it mightn’t be wise. He did it anyway. At no point was he ever certain in his motives towards Tyelpë. Of course the Elf would be easier to manipulate if he pretended to be in a relationship with him, but he was never meant to enjoy the relationship as much as he did. In his moments of greatest weakness it was not Annatar who kissed Tyelpë, but Mairon, it was not Annatar that shared in private jokes with Tyelpë, but Mairon, it was not Annatar who brought Tyelpë potentially interesting news, but Mairon. Once, fueled by good drink and Tyelpë’s grin, Mairon had been tempted to tell Tyelpë everything and to try to convince him to join him, just so he could keep the Elf by his side once the forging of the rings was complete. He quickly realised what a ridiculous plan that was and managed to hold his tongue. Tyelpë never did find out why the Maia had suddenly burst into tears. Mairon was more careful after that. Mairon hated the way Tyelpë made him feel so loved and unloved at the same time. He knew that if Tyelpë ever found out who he really was all traces of affection would disappear in an instant, but despite that, all of his favourite things about Annatar were all parts of the true Mairon. This hatred manifested itself as the extreme brutality he visited upon Tyelpë when questioning him about the three rings’ whereabouts.          

#mairon #eonwe #melkor #celebrimbor #tyelpe #angbang #moron #silvergifting #this ended up waaaay longer than i intended #i just have so many *feelings* about mairon's feelings #silmarillion #i spent way too long on this #head canon time!