#and melian who is like the only reason he has power at all

[mercutiotakethewheel]

Tolkien’s specific sense of misogyny is so funny to me cuz like he clearly knows that women are often very, very cool and writes all these cool women characters. like galadriel and melian and eowyn. but like his writing is always so damn selective about when he remembers these women are cool (or like that they exist at all). And coincidentally these women always seem to stop being relevant or important or any sort of non-passive the moment theres a quirky little dude to pair them up with.

with the exception being, obviously, luthien, who gets a million times cooler the second she has a cute little damsel in distress to run after. (and also that eowyns whole shtick actually works and aligns with the themes of the novel)

#tolkien #like i get that galadriel isnt a warrior and shouldnt be written as one #but how you really gonna have her as like the last bitch standing whose been to valinor #and is therefore the most powerful elf for most of lotr #and still completely forget about her at every oppurtunity #and ill never forgive him for what he did to melian #tho it does kinda fuck that shes like the ominous voice haunting the narrative in the background #but also like maybe tell your husband hes doing fumb shit before he does it #or better yet DONT LET HIM DO IT ALL #like thingol lowkey is responsible for most of the shit that goes wrong in the latter parts of the silm #and melian who is like the only reason he has power at all #the threat behind all his dumb decisions #is just sitting there while he does this shit like doot do doo #leans over to galadriel #pssst hes gonna regret that #not to mention her lame ass death

[sotwk]

Thranduil's love of wine

If you’ve watched The Hobbit films enough times (or simply engaged regularly with Thranduil posts on Tumblr), you will surely have noticed that in multiple scenes, the Elvenking is seen with a wine goblet in his hands. In the book, a good amount is written about the Elvenking’s wine cellar, the inventory management process for his wines, and from where his favorite vintage is sourced. His “wine manager”, the butler Galion, is named in the book, whereas the name Thranduil does not appear even once.

It is likely Thranduil’s Wine was given a prominent role in The Hobbit mostly as a plot device to give Bilbo and the dwarves a means of escape. However, I don’t believe Tolkien made characterization choices randomly, so I would like to propose a few headcanons that link Thranduil’s seeming obsession with wine with certain aspects of his history.

What is the deal with Thranduil and wine? Does he have a drinking problem? Is he truly a wine snob? Does he have an iron liver?

Why does King Thranduil value wine so greatly?

Wine was used in his healing and recovery process after the War of Wrath. That unspeakably terrible war was a mass casualty event (to say the least), and Thranduil was among the young elves to suffer horrific injuries. The Hobbit movies depict him sustaining deadly burns from dragonfire, and although it failed to kill him, the burns would have required advanced Elvish healing and many years of painful recovery. Now consider this: if warriors from Valinor came to fight in the decades-long war, it would make sense that healers accompanied them as well. That would include some of the Maiar.

A Maia undertook the task of saving Thranduil’s life, likely one who served under Estë (healer of hurts), under whom Queen Melian also once served, which makes a neat little Doriathian connection. That unnamed Maia used their powers to heal Thranduil’s battle injuries--flesh burns, poisoning, damage to muscle and organs--and succeeded in eliminating nearly all physical signs of damage. But what did they use for anesthesia and pain management? A potent liquid akin to very, very strong wine. Thranduil consumed that wine while under the Maia’s care, and for a period afterward to aid in his recovery. It gave him strength and comfort during an extremely traumatic time in his life, and he never forgot its taste.

Thranduil has craved that same “wine” ever since. Sadly, since it was a product of Valinor, it is nowhere to be found on Middle-earth. His yearning for the taste of that specific libation has led him to search all the lands for any drink that could come close to matching it. He does not seek it obsessively as an addict would, but as one might ache for a fond but elusive memory from one’s childhood. His quest for the “Maia’s wine” and distaste for liquors that don’t live up to it, has led people to see him as a “wine snob”.

The Dorwinion wine is the closest he has gotten to tasting that special drink again. Early in the Third Age, Thranduil discovered the strong wine from this region and immediately initiated trade with Dorwinion to guarantee a regular supply of it. It became known as the Elvenking’s “special wine”, because it is reserved primarily for his consumption, and is offered only to special guests (e.g. Bard). On occasions of feasting, he orders enough wine to share with his people, but it is often too strong for other elves to drink much of.

Thranduil has had a very high tolerance for alcohol since he was young (likely as a result of consuming that drink from Valinor), and has almost never gotten drunk. He drinks the Dorwinion wine recreationally and on a daily basis, but noticeably consumes more of it in times of stress. The alcohol helps calm and comfort him to a degree, but does not impact his mental state.

Finally, on a less complicated and more light-hearted note, another simple reason why Thranduil loves wine is because he has a history of being a “party prince”. He has always enjoyed hosting and attending dinners and feasts, and values good food and drink in the company of friends. (This dialed back considerably after the death of his wife, but in the years before that, he was known for being a sought-after party guest.) He has a natural fondness for wines of all varieties, and not just the Dorwinion. To him, sharing a cup of wine with someone is a simple but genuine gesture of friendship.

#thranduil oropherion #king of mirkwood #king thranduil #the elvenking #mirkwood #the hobbit #thranduil headcanons #thranduil fanfiction #lotr elves

[emyn-arnens]

I've put together a list of some of my favorite Silmarillion gen works for @genworkjune. Works are organized by the people group the main/POV character(s) belongs to. Please leave a kudo or comment if you enjoy these!

NOLDOR

Cinders and Smoke by ncfan (T, Galadriel, 2.7k):

In the ruined Havens, Galadriel finds the Ring of Barahir, or, as it will always be, her brother's ring.

Do Not Go Alone by @dreamingthroughthenoise (T, Celegorm & Dior, 1.9k, character death):

Dying was taking longer than Celegorm would have liked.

He supposed it came from death being dealt by someone who was still fairly new at it, who did not know how to strike quickly and end the threat fast and mercifully. Or perhaps it had been intentional, Dior had no reason to grant him mercy after all. Still, he didn’t think it would take this long to die, lying side by side with the young King.

i will not say the day is done by @southfarthing (T, Fingon & Maedhros, 7.1k):

Fingon came alone, into the land of the enemy, for him. Nothing can begin to repay that debt, but Maedhros doesn’t know what else he can do at this moment. What he can do to make Fingon look at him, just once. - After all the hurts they have inflicted, Maedhros and Fingon cannot face each other.

On Sands of Pearls by @cuarthol (G, Finrod & Olwë, Finrod & Finarfin, Finrod & Eärwen, Eärwen & Olwë, 5.5k):

Finrod Felagund returns from the halls of Mandos. Though his body has been restored, he remembers little, and the traumas of his first life and death lie just beneath the surface.

Regrets by @dreamingthroughthenoise (G, Amrod & Amras, 1.5k):

“It feels strange, doesn’t it?” Amrod asked suddenly. Amras looked at him, brows raised. “What?” “That there are only the four of us left. The eldest two and the youngest two, with the middle siblings torn out.” “Ah. Yes, it does.”

Songs of Sun and Shadow by Zdenka (G, Finrod & Melian & Thranduil, 2k):

Melian asks Finrod, on a visit to Menegroth, to test the abilities of her young student in songs of power.

sown as seed in the dark by @melestasflight (G, Fingolfin, ~800, character death):

‘None of the Valar, but the King rides upon Rochallor, his great steed. Yea, and wrathful he is, flying ahead as an arrow.’ - Ard-galen witnesses Fingolfin's final stand.

This Living Earth by @searchingforserendipity25 (G, Maedhros & Aulë, 1.3k, character death):

Maedhros had loved Beleriand, once.

though here at journey's end i lie by @southfarthing (T, Fingon & Maedhros, ~900, character death):

Maedhros tries. It's never enough.

What Lies Beyond the End by @melestasflight (G, Maglor, ~600):

The Silmaril falls slowly, so slowly, as if taking its time to caress the weightlessness of Ulmo’s waters. Does it seek relief also, Maglor wonders, to be free at last of all the hands that lusted after its blessed shine?

Maglor casts his Silmaril into the Sea.

Wrought in Secret by @cuarthol (G, Finarfin & Fingolfin, Fingon & Turgon & Argon & Finrod & Angrod & Aegnor, 1.5k):

Nolofin and Arafin disagree on the need for weapons, and their sons grapple with questions on the nature of swords. And when Melkor saw that these lies were smouldering, and that pride and anger were awake among the Noldor, he spoke to them concerning weapons; and in that time the Noldor began the smithying of swords and axes and spears. Shields also they made displaying the tokens of many houses and kindreds that vied one with another; and these only they wore abroad, and of other weapons they did not speak, for each believed that he alone had received the warning. The Silmarillion - JRR Tolkien

SINDAR

autumn fruits with me prevail by Anonymous (T, Thranduil, ~200, horror):

On his head he wore a crown of berries and red leaves, for the autumn was come again.

Inheritance by Zimra (T, Dior & Celeborn, Dior & Beren, Dior & Celegorm, 2.2k, character death):

Dior remembers what his father taught him.

EDAIN

For We Remember by ncfan (T, Morwen & Andreth, 7.1k):

Morwen, in childhood.

Howl by heget (G, Andreth & Beren, 1.3k):

Companion piece to The Brides of Death. On the autumn equinox the first men to arrive in Beleriand dance and sing to remember how and why they fled over the mountains. On the night of masks, a young Beren is dragged before the throne.

The Brides of Death by heget (G, Andreth, 2.3k):

"Nóm has many questions, but he never asks about the wreath Andreth wears in her hair." A story of the Edain and their first interaction with the elves, of courage and defiance and most of all the Gift of Men.

Watcher Of/In the Woods by ncfan (T, Andreth, 2.4k, horror):

"Outside, the world was changing." Andreth, in the time following the Dagor Bragollach.

#genworkjune #the silmarillion #rec list #.txt #the edain section should more accurately be titled the andreth section lol #long post #q

[thelien-art]

HOUSE OF FINWE

Headcannons for Maglor, Caranthir, Amrod&Amras, Fingolfin, Gil-Galad, Turgon, Eärendil Elros&Elrond, Aredhel, Eöl, Maeglin, Finafin, Finrod, Angrod, Aegnor, Galadriel, Celebrían, Elladan&Elrohir below

Maglor:

Maglor manipulates his way through Valinor and kept doing it in Beleriand both in songs and way of words and knowing when to keep away. He also tears his eyes out in a moment of insanity after he hears about Celebrimbor's death which he founds out at the end of the second age when Elrond finds him (he wasn´t close enough to stop him) to take him home, right before Gil-Galad´s death.

Caranthir:

Caranthir is autistic and loves working with textiles of any kind and he will go on for hours without end about it, he also knows the laws a bit too well to find loopholes. taxfraud (I also headcannon him as being Erector's dad but didn´t add it here)

Amrod & Amras:

Amraod was on the ships when Feanor burned them and he lost most of his left face, his body was heavily scarred and the worst was on the left side, he also lost two fingers and when Maedhros comes back from Angband he keeps making fun of it telling him they could borrow each other's hands, he did lose his ability to speak but Caranthir designed sign langue for him and Amras translated to others. Amrod was always more of a scholar and enjoyed beauty quite a lot, he would sometimes join Amras and Celegorm on hunts. Amras was the more outspoken of the twins and usually spoke for Amrod outside of court and after the burning of the ships he became Amrod voice as Amrod followed him no matter what and even insisted on sharing a bed (Amras didn´t mind they´ve always shared a bedroom and when they were smaller bed)

Fingolfin:

I like to think he's all for jewels but only when he has something to do, when he's home or something like that he wears the simplest and most comfortable available, but when he has somewhere to be or do, he goes crazy on the jewels, also he´s an introvert.

Gil-Galad:

He used to straighten his hair for a long time when he first came to power and only really stopped in the few years before his death because of Elrond.

Turgon:

Turgon is autistic. I mean look at his action and think about it, also loves architecture.

Eärendil:

I don´t think Eärendil and Elwing ever really loved each other, they were good childhood friends but when they got married it was more of a chore. It was only later, long into the third age, that they began having romantic feelings for each other. Later when he has sailed with the Silmaril for a lot of years he turns blind and his forehead is always heavily burnt and sometimes there´s blood in his hair

Elros & Elrond:

Elros and Elrond got their eyes from Turgon and the reason they´re so light is 1. the Silmaril 2. the Maia part, also keeps Elros away from scissors it took Elrond years to convince him to grow 1/4 of his hair long after Maedhros gave him permission to wear his hair whoever he wants (later when he becomes king, he makes a habit of covering his hair).

Aredhel:

She wears white because her mom usually wears either light colors or white. She and Eöl love each other very much they just understand the world in two different ways which sometimes makes them quarrel.

Eöl:

I headcannon Eöl as a Maia of Aule who joined Melkor but left. His hair is purple and so is Maeglin´s, although he kept dyeing Maeglin´s hair to hide the real color for everyone. Maeglin never really relies it's unnatural color and just thinks some Avarins hair has that color and Aredhel just believes it turned purple because of Melian, she and Thingol know Eöl is a Maia, she also joins for tea sometimes. The tattoo symbol on Eöl´s forehead is picked up from dwarves (it stands for protection) nobody ever realizes Eöl is a Maia except when Fingon joins Aredhel to try and find him when they have been reborn. Aredhel says they should check the halls of Aule as he´s a smith and when they arrive Fingon finds a Maia if he has seen an Avarin named Eöl, Eöl (the Maia Fingon asked) doesn't have the time to explain before Aredhel crashes him in a hug. Also, he´s dyeing his hair to make it look like northern light which he really likes (Melkor made it and gave a jar with it to Eöl who now has it in his office or something)

Maeglin:

Maeglin always saw himself as part of Eöl´s house and never really Fingolfin´s, although he does end up staying with his grandad until they find his dad, Eöl didn´t know he was back as Maeglin decided to stay a long time in Mandos and Namo ended up telling Eöl to stop coming and that Maeglin wasn't ever coming out (BIG MISUNDERSTANDING HAPPENS)

Finarfin:

Finarfin has bangs because he has a little scar on his forehead from an accident when he was smaller. He always wanted kingship which was the main reason for him staying behind.

Finrod:

He will go to sleep in his jewels. He also wishes for kingship like his dad, although he might be a bit better at hiding it and making people do as he wants (he´s a snake and I love him)

Angrod:

No, I didn´t add his wife because I didn´t know how to make space for her. His always there to listen or help his brother (Aegnor).

Aegnor:

He´s always had depressive tendencies but when they arrived at Beleriand it kicked hard and the fact that Angrod has a wife while Finrod kept telling him to stay away from Andreth didn´t help.

Galadriel:

Galadriel wants power and she will do anything to get her way. Tolkien makes it known that she´s prideful and "too wild" for the Valar´s liking many times. Although she might be even better than Finrod hiding her lust for power as she´s less reckless.

Celebrían:

Celebrían colors her hair in honor of her father's culture.

Elladan Elrohir:

Elladan has a tattoo of a blue branch on his right chin and Elrohir on his left.

-

I'm gonna this again and when I do it's gonna look way more professional than that sketch on sketch thing I made there

I just found out tumblr has a tag limit... (it´s 30)

#finwe #miriel #feanor #maedhros #maglor #celegorm #caranthir #curufin #celebrimbor #fingolfin #anaire #fingon #turgon #idril #tuor #earendil #elwing #findis #irime #finarfin #earwen #finrod #orodreth #elrond and elros #angrod aegnor #amrod and amras #galadriel #gil galad #celebrian #arwen

[nocompromise-noregrets]

Empty Vessel-'verse headcanons: Thranduil

So, approximately a million years ago (as in, LAST MAY OH MY GOD) I did a poll asking who I should do headcanons for in My Heart Is An Empty Vessel-'verse. Thranduil won by a long way, and I sat down to write them down...and then completely forgot to post them. Then @tildabardsdotter11 commented on the poll post the other day to ask for Tilda, and I remembered again. So here is Thranduil, and Tilda is coming up next!

Westron is his third language, and although he’s fairly fluent, probably from the Last Alliance, he hasn’t had occasion to speak it in a very long time, hence how formally he speaks: he does not use contractions, he has a distinct accent, he speaks quite slowly, and sometimes he has to ask for a word, or make one up.

He gives absolutely everyone he cares about Sindarin nicknames. Bard and Auriel (his wife) are both ‘meleth-nín’ (my love) and Auriel is also ‘calan-nín’ (my light-of-day), while Maudie (Bard’s wife) is ‘galad-nín’ (my sunlight/sunshine); Sigrid is ‘melinettë-nín’ (my dear girl), Bain is ‘maethor-nín’ (my warrior), Tilda is ‘pen-neth’ (little one, literally young one), Lotta (Bain’s wife) is ‘dess-muin-nín’ (my dear young maiden, although Lotta says it never really suited her and it really doesn’t once she’s properly grown up, but she loves it anyway), Brand is ‘brôg-tithen-nín’ (my little bear), and his sister Astrid is ’fileg-nín’ (my little bird). I don’t know what he calls Brand’s other sister Ingrid, it hasn’t come up yet. And of course Legolas is ‘lass-nín’ (my leaf). Tauriel is ’hanariel-nín’ (my niece, literally ‘brother-daughter’) because he and Auriel adopted her when she was very small, and she called them ‘adarhanar’ and ‘adarmuinthel’ (uncle and aunt, literally father-brother and father-sister).

He did not want or mean to close himself away from his children after Auriel died, but he found he couldn’t help himself; he was so devastated by her death that he could do nothing else. He has regretted this ever since, and he is determined to do better this time around.

He is terrified of what will happen when Bard dies (with good reason, as it turns out), but he is determined to at least try and take the family’s advice and try to deal with his grief as the humans do, by remembering the lost loved ones, talking about them, sharing stories and eventually learning to smile at the thought of them.

He rules entirely alone, without councillors or advisers. Feren is his lieutenant, but only in military matters (although he does end up acting as regent while Thranduil spends all the time he can in Dale).

He is not an alcoholic or a party animal. He likes his wine, that’s all. There’s a difference.

He is very wise, and very powerful; how else has he managed to hold off the creeping evil from Dol Guldur for so long? He learned magic from Melian and uses it to maintain the wards and enchantments on the Woodland Realm.

He was born and spent his earliest years in Doriath, where his father was high up in the court of Thingol and Melian. Auriel was the King and Queen’s adopted daughter (her birth parents were one of the court ladies and Celegorm, don’t ask, she doesn’t like it), and the pair of them were betrothed by their fathers, despite not having very much time for each other; they decided to make a go of it and ended up very deeply in love.

Dior was a friend of his, and for a short while rather more than that - but only for a short while. Nobody knows about this except Auriel and, much much later, also Bard.

After the fall of Doriath, they went East with Thranduil’s parents and eventually settled in the Greenwood, assimilating into the Silvan population there.

Legolas was born in roughly TA1900, and was only a child when his mother died in battle at the gates of Gundabad. Thranduil could not reach her body to bring her home and bury her; all he could salvage was her white knives (which she had forged herself in Doriath) which he took from the body of an Orc who had thought to steal them. Later, Legolas carries them as a blessing and protection from his mother.

Thranduil received his dragonfire injuries in battle some time in the Second Age but before the Last Alliance. Elrond was also there, and treated him on the battlefield, then he and Auriel spent several years in Imladris while Thranduil healed and learned the glamour that hides his wounds from Elrond and Gandalf. This is why he doesn’t particularly like either of them; he feels indebted to them and his pride finds that very difficult to take.

He was not expecting what happened in Dale; he was not being altruistic when he turned up with his army and his wagons full of supplies for the Lake-town refugees, all he cared about was getting back his wife’s gems (she had taken them to the Dwarves to commission something like the necklace she had made herself, to be made from the remaining gems, but then she fell in battle and Thranduil didn’t go back for a long time, by which point the Dwarves, several generations later, had forgotten the arrangement that had been made). But there was something about the Dragonslayer and his simple, straightforward honour and his determination to do right by his people, that broke through the walls of ice that Thranduil had built around himself over the centuries. After that they went pretty much head over heels for each other in five minutes flat, as Sigrid likes to put it.

There are probably more, but I can't remember them off the top of my head - I'll come back and reblog this with additions if I think of them!

#lotr #the hobbit #the hobbit fanfiction #the hobbit fanfic #thranduil #bard/thranduil #barduil #my heart is an empty vessel #headcanons #empty vessel-'verse headcanons #my writing

[maironsbigboobs]

Any eol thoughts? :0

OF COURSE I HAVE THOUGHTS.

First of all, I know many people don't like him for understandable reasons. So if you are a Eöl hater (so valid) this is not the post for you.

HOWEVER I feel we are sleeping on the fact he absolutely slayed. Morgoth? No, Eöl is more goth. He wears his jet-black armour and his jet-black armour ONLY when he leaves Nan Elmoth and his face was 'noble but grim'. GOTH KING.

Personally I like that he is one of the most dubiously moral elves we have. We need more fucked up elves that are fucked up for reasons entirely unrelated to the plot - no oaths, no dooms, he's just like that.

Alright: serious and extremely lengthy thoughts under the cut because this got away from me, whoops.

Eöl is 'kin' to Thingol - I don't know if he would call himself Sindar (though the Sindar don't call themselves Sindar either, so...) but I think he's distinct from the Avari or the Nandor in that he was living among the Doriathrim until he's granted Nan Elmoth

Personally I think 'kin' here is referring to the fact that both Eöl (or perhaps his parents?) and Thingol were part of the host of the Teleri together, and quite possibly high status/close to Thingol, rather than them being literally related

Close enough that Thingol grants him Nan Elmoth for the price of one (very chatty) sword.

He invented a whole ass metal that's so freaking cool.

He was friends with Dwarves - IMO this is a point in favour of an Eöl who is capable of making friends and allies

I think he still had friends in Doriath too - I think it was Girdle and the city he was most uneasy with, I think he desired to live more like they had during the Great Journey. I don't think he visits them, though he might write.

Sometimes they visit him - but infrequently, with long gaps of time between visits, because what is time to elves - and then war comes, and leaving the Girdle becomes more and more dangerous.

I think he is generally, a stern and serious kind of man - strong-willed and proud

But he's also clever and creative and he loves the stars and the woods and wilds and forging; I don't think his life was absent of joy.

I also think he has a strong distrust of the Ainur. It's almost ironic - he thinks they are full of sorcery and trickery and malice, they are kin of the Shadow that hunted them on the Journey, one of them ensnared Thingol, who's to say what happened to their kin across the Sea, if they ever reached land?

It's unfortunate that he chose to live in Nan Elmoth. That forest is deeply entwined with Melian's power, with Song, with Shadow, with magic - it's a beautiful but dark place that only starlight reaches.

The paranoia and fear and distrust inside him festers. Perhaps he has good reason to dislike the Ainur. Perhaps he has good reason to feel paranoid. Maybe he just didn't vibe with Menegroth.

But Nan Elmoth - it takes what's inside of you and amplifies it.

For Melian and Thingol - that was love.

For Eöl? It's fear. It's hate.

Part of the appeal of Eöl for me is this. Nan Elmoth is such a gothic location (as in the literature).

The whole Aredhel/Eöl and Maeglin situation is SO extremely gothic I LOVE gothic lit and I love Sindar so JIRT actually wrote it for me personally.

As for the Noldor - well, I think his dislike of them is pretty valid. I think fanon tends to exaggerate the Noldor-Sindar divide but in Eöl's case he's stated to blame the Noldor for the coming of Morgoth. Of course it isn't actually their fault, but I think this is a pretty understandable emotional conclusion for Eöl to make.

He clearly still considers (as does Thingol) the Teleri his kin and he takes Alqualondë personally.

Now - Aredhel

I consider the Silmarillion version canon:

It is not said that Aredhel was wholly unwilling, nor that her life in Nan Elmoth was hateful to her for many years. For though at Eöl's command she must shun the sunlight, they wandered far together under the stars or by the light of the sickle moon; or she might fare alone as she would, save that Eöl forbade her to seek the sons of Fëanor, or any others of the Noldor

I think they loved each other. I think there was a period of time, in the beginning, when they were happy. They shared a love of the wilds, of wandering and a desire for freedom from authority of kings

Things start to go wrong as Eöl's fear of looming disaster deepens. He becomes more and more restrictive, quicker to anger, more paranoid and fearful

I think this coincides with Maeglin's birth

It's not foresight. It's not Nan Elmoth's Bad Vibes (though they don't help); it's the end of a path of paranoia and fear he's been on for a long time, fear he doesn't know how to deal with so he deals in the only way he knows

He fears for Aredhel as much as he fears her; if wives become of their husband's kin, would the Noldor come and slay her as readily as they might slay him?

Of course not, but he is not mentally able to recognising that

He fears her because - she is a Noldor, she may be a kinslayer herself, what if she turns on him, one day? Best keep her safe in Nan Elmoth, with Maeglin. She can't hurt him in his own house, surely, he thinks.

When they leave, he follows. By the time he catches up to them, he's wound with anger and fear and anxiety - he hasn't been anywhere other than Nan Elmoth and the Blue Mountains in a long, long time. He's in a city of Noldor, who he hates and who have good reason to dislike him

Side note but when he says: 'this land is the land of the Teleri' he's right. The Noldor don't have any more claim to it than anyone else, and until the Noldor & Morgoth came, the Teleri (or the Sindar & Nandor & Avari - but again, they just called themselves Elves) were living across Beleriand. Thingol 'allows' the Noldor to have realms of their own (because well, even if he didn't want to, the Doriathrim are out numbered and Intra-Sindar relationships are complex), they don't have magical claims to lands 99% of them have never seen.

I also don't think it's quite fair of Turgon to say Nan Elmoth would be destroyed/overrun without the Noldor. It's not as if Eol chose to have them as neighbours. He would be in Nan Elmoth whether the Noldor were there or not. They're there to defend their own lands, not Nan Elmoth, which just happens to be there.

It shares borders with Doriath too. Sindarin swords (and Melian's power) keep it safe too.

Continuing with Aredhel & Maeglin now:

I don't think he went to Gondolin with any intent to kill her, or Maeglin.

He wanted his son back (he seems willing, though reluctant, to let Aredhel remain)

It sucks that he seems to consider his wife and child some kind of property, but Turgon has to be reminded that Aredhel is his sister and not his servant so it's a zero point game here. I think this is more a reflection of patriarchy within Elven society (Watsonian) / Tolkien's own biases (Doylist) than anything particular to Eöl.

He is offered a choice: Live in Gondolin, the golden city of sunlight (that he hates) full of Noldor (whom he hates) and Sindar (who probably have little care for him either) or Die in Gondolin and the same choice is given to Maeglin.

I can't help but wonder here - if Turgon had permitted him to leave, would things have gone differently?

It's Maeglin he tries to kill, and Aredhel who steps in to save her son

This makes me insane.... accidentally killing your wife in your attempt to murder your son, after your brother in law has offered you a choice of a gilded cage vs death.

I am not sure why he doesn't say the javelin was poisoned. Was he asked? Did he believe Aredhel had died straight away, so it was a moot point? Was it out of anger? Or did he think they knew? Perhaps he customarily carried poisoned javelins, and thought Aredhel or Maeglin would mention it.

I do think he feels guilt - terrible, awful, all consuming guilt, but rage too, because who was Aredhel to deny him his right over his son? Other sons and other husbands she could have once he and Maeglin were dead. Who was Turgon to command him live in Gondolin or die? Turgon was not his king nor kin.

The Eöl who is thrown off the walls of Gondolin is a shell of the elf who granted Nan Elmoth. He is twisted and tormented by his own mind and his own actions; hate and fear darken his heart, not any curse or doom, nor any innate quality of him.

It's not a curse he yells at Maeglin. It's not a prophecy - it's what Eöl sees as the inevitable result of tangling with the Noldor. Clearly his fear and hate was justified - these Noldor are going to be his doom after all, and so will they be his son's.

Imagine being so terrible they invent the death penalty just for you.

Basically all of this is to say: Eöl is an incredible complicated and fascinating character, with insane Gothic Literature vibes that make me want to put him in a jar and study him

#wisdom of the strongbow #incendiak #eöl

[kanafinwe-makalaure]

Rotating a possible headcanon of Nerdanel's mother being a (minor) Maia of the sea:

The aesthetic of Mahtan being a smith (fire) and his wife relating to water. Frothing at the mouth

(also, since Thingols hair became silver when he married Melian, maybe that's why Mahtan had red hair and a beard??? Maybe??)

Nerdanel having both "fire" and "water" qualities which is why she gets along with fiery boy Fëanáro so well; she both relates to him in the fire aspect but also her presence tempers him/ prevents him from overheating so to speak. Not saying she like babysits him actively, it's more a passive thing, an explanation for why they get along - they're the same where it fits and different where they need to be, all in the exact right places to be compatible (oh I love this pairing!!)

She and her sons inherit small bits and pieces of Maiarin qualities; it's possibly why Nelyo is so tall. It's why Maglor feels such a strange kinship with the sea, and with music (the music of Ea can be heard in the sea after all!). It's why Celegorm feels so drawn to the Ainur - Oromë and, tragically, Luthien - and why Tyelpë trusts Mairon too easily.

This is not the reason Nerdanel is Fëanor's equal, or a great artist, or particularly wise. She is all those things simply because that's who she is, regardless of whether she has Maiarin heritage. I just think the concept is cool okay

I actually really like the idea that elf/Maia pairings could be more common, especially in Aman. I think this makes Melian/Thingol more believable (as something that can happen?) WHILE ALSO not diminishing its status as unique simply because 1) it's probably the only elf/Maia pairing in Beleriand and 2) (in my understanding) Melian has uniquely high status/ is very powerful as a Maia, so she remains Special.

#my headcanons #nerdanel #silm #silm headcanons #Nerdanel's mother #sons of nerdanel #im gonna be tagging them that from now on btw

[beyonddarkness]

In the Darkness, Bind Them

Has anyone else wondered why Power was the proper exchange for Light? This line always stood out to me as something extremely peculiar, unexpected, menacing, ominous—you name it. It seemed like there was a lot more to it than what we perceive on the surface.

"You bind me to the light, and I bind you to power" (Sauron, 1x08).

The most obvious purpose behind Sauron using Power as incentive for Galadriel was, that the idea of having a realm to rule was very appealing to her. That's the whole reason she left Valinor in the first place.

"[...] but Galadriel, the only woman of the Noldor to stand that day tall and valiant among the contending princes, was eager to be gone. No oaths she swore, but the words of Fëanor concerning Middle-earth had kindled in her heart, for she yearned to see the wide unguarded lands and to rule there a realm at her own will" (The Silmarillion: Of the Flight of the Noldor).

Sauron would have fulfilled his promise, but OH BOY did he have something up his sleeve!!!

Those of you who have visited the Blog might have already seen this picture on the homepage:

I realized (at Peak Inspiration Hour, aka 2 A.M.) that the image draws an alarming parallel between Galadriel and Lúthien. Chapter 6 is all about parallels, but I assure you that when I made the image, this particular parallel was Unthought Of.

Once upon a time, Sauron heard Lúthien singing songs of power to Beren, in the hour of Finrod's death...

"Sauron stood in the high tower, wrapped in his black thought; but he smiled hearing her voice...

...for he knew that it was the daughter of Melian. The fame of the beauty of Lúthien and the wonder of her song had long gone forth from Doriath; and he thought to make her captive and hand her over to the power of Morgoth, for his reward would be great" (The Silmarillion: Of Beren and Lúthien).

Every. Single. Clause. has a connection to that scene in the prison (1x03), down to the name Halbrand literally translating to "High Tower" in Sindarin; BUT for this post, I would like to focus on the last line: "he thought to make her captive and hand her over to the power of Morgoth, for his reward would be great."

In prison, Sauron's true intentions were concealed, but on the raft, they were finally out in the open.

He knows that Galadriel left Valinor because she wanted her own realm to rule, so he tells her, I would make you a Queen. I'll give you power. But what he fails to mention is that the "power" he speaks of, means binding her to something far more sinister.

His language is expertly disguised, to make it appear as though he would give her what she wants. In reality, his plan for her was the same for Lúthien: to make her captive, and "hand her over to the power of Morgoth." THAT is the Power he planned on binding Galadriel to—the Darkness ("...and in the Darkness, bind them").

"Light" and "Power" are perfect opposites, in that context. He speaks fondly of the Light of the One, and tells her that he wants to be bound to it. In exchange, he'd bind her to the balance (or opposite) of that Light, handing her over to the Power of Morgoth...

"...for his reward would be great."

He's not going to give her what she actually wants, no more than when he gave Gorlim what he wanted (which was to be restored to his wife; but this desire Sauron granted, by cruelly putting him to death).

He wears puppy-eyes and sincerity in Galadriel's warped mind because that is what she can see. On the outside of her mind, Sauron has no need to hide (even though she's looking right at him) because she cannot perceive his expression, being stuck in the vision. But we can see it.

Behold his true intent:

"You bind me to the light the One, and I bind you to power Morgoth."

#rop meta #rings of power meta #rings of power thoughts #sauron #rop galadriel #galadriel #halbrand #luthien #beren and luthien #the silmarillion #book quote #morgoth #text #spontaneous post #gifs #mygifs

[catofadifferentcolor]

Terrible Fic Ideas #22: LotR, but make it Second Age!Legolas

Although I'm rather attached to the idea of Legolas being born in the First Age, the idea of him being born sometime in the Second Age has its perks.

Just imagine it:

I love the idea of Oropher, his wife, and Thranduil were apprentices of Melian before the Fall of Doriath - it would certainly explain how Thranduil held Mirkwood against the darkness without a ring of power - and the idea of Celeborn’s mother being Oropher’s sister, so that remains the same as in my First Age headcanon.

By pushing back Legolas' date of birth, however, we allow for the possibility that his mother was a Silvan elf and that her marriage to Thranduil was almost as big a scandal as Galadriel, a Noldo, marrying Celeborn, a Sinda.

Here I like the idea of giving him two older brothers, born sometime between 1000-2500 SA, with Legolas being born in 3319 SA as Númenor sank beneath the waves. He's very much the baby of the family.

When the War of the Last Alliance started in 3429, Legolas was left behind to rule the Greenwood as regent while his parents,  grandparents, older brothers, and nearly every one else in the kingdom went to fight. Barely an adult by the standards of elves, he managed admirably, though he would be the first to admit that ruling a barely populated kingdom whose overriding mission was sending supplies to the front is much different from ruling that same in peacetime. (For some reason my mind montages this as an elvish Wartime Farm.)

Legolas loses his mother, grandparents, and eldest brother to the war. His father comes back king and grief-stricken. His middle brother, now heir, battles both grief and PTSD and, though he tries to stay in Arda for his remaining family, he sails for Aman no later than 1000 TA.

So Legolas and Thranduil are all that’s left of their family by 1050 TA, as darkness settles over the Greenwood.

Legolas here is not a the elvish veteran of many great battles, as in the First Age headcanon, but instead a veteran of the battles of the home front - there is something very WWII Britain about this take on Legolas' background in my mind. His battles are all of survival, of keeping the home fires burning so that others may march off to war, of defending the borders, of mend and make do, of keep calm and carry on; of loss and privation and the shadow of war, but not war itself.

The events of The Hobbit go according to canon - by which I mean instead of the movie nonsense Legolas was, IDK, left at home to rule again or on his way to Rivendell and missed crossing paths with the Company because they fell down the Goblin's front door. Anything but the movie canon.

The events of LotR go mostly according to canon as well, though a lot of the focus is on Legolas finally confronting war as much as death for the first time. This Legolas has seen war take much of his family and irrevocably change those who managed to come back. He knows all too well that even if he survives this, he may end up having to sail west like his middle brother because of what he sees, and has absolutely no idea how to cope with any of it.

Naturally there is Legolas/Gimli, because they are my original OTP. Here I imagine Legolas gets hit by a clue 2x4 fairly early on and it's Gimli that's hesitant because 1) he doesn't understand that elves only love once, 2) thinks its nothing more than an infatuation brought on by high emotions which will pass once they get home, and 3) even if the feelings are true, he doesn't want to tie an immortal elf to a mortal dwarfish lifespan.

Bonuses include: 1) at least one heart-wrenching conversation between Legolas and Eowyn, mostly involving Legolas sharing his own memories of being the person who has to remain behind while everyone he loves marches off to war and death; 2) exasperated but deeply invested Aragorn playing increasingly-less-reluctant yenta; and 3) a surprisingly supportive Thranduil, who doesn't care who or what Legolas loves so long as his son is happy and not taking any more road trips to Mordor.

As always, feel free to adopt, just link back 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 #lord of the rings #the lord of the rings #tolkien #the hobbit #legolas #legolas x gimli #tolkein #legolas headcanon #lotr headcanons

[eleajay]

Maiar Power Activated!

So P1 is how they all look like when their powers are in use. P2 is their looks under usual circumstances. Below is my explanation and some headcanons.

Melian: the reason all these peredhil have powers :D

Power of singing, healing, hypnosis, telepathy, future-seeing

The Girdle is just hypnosis and telepathy but on a very large scale. She has other forms, including one which is just a huge human-size nightingale, and another one with human body and nightingale head, kinda like Horus in Egyptian mythology.

Lúthien: oh the fairest of all who put down Morgorth by singing

Power of singing, hypnosis, telepathy, disguise

Of course, all these powers are very effective against Morgorth. The thinner and brighter halo represents Melian, and the other represents Thingol. The powers are retained in her second and mortal life, and she mimicked her mother’s girdle and made a similar but much smaller one around where she and Beren lived together, which was why the Fëanorians never found them.

Dior: poor guy died before we can find out if he’s mortal or not

Power of hypnosis, telepathy

He used it against Celegorm during the second kinslaying, and killed him while he was distracted. He also used it against Maedhros and made him saw Dior as Fingon, which unfortunately actually pissed Maedhros off and drove him deeper into a mad killing spree.

Elwing: from young princess to saving the day

Power to transform into a white bird

The end of her hair turned white after her first time transforming during the third kinslaying. Became more and more experienced with it as Eärendil sails vingilot towards Valinor, since she had plenty time on the ship and there’s really not much to do. Likes to sit on Eärendil’s head, shoulders or arms, and prefers head the most. Since Eärendil’s hair is already always puffy and messy, she made a bird nest on his head with his hair. He enjoys having her on his head a lot, and pets her wings sometimes, but gets bitten from time to time.

Elrond: my personal favourite, needs a hug very badly

Power to shine the light of Eärendil and future-seeing

He sees future with only left eye, so the future vision is overlapped with the reality seen by his right eye. It’s sometimes quite traumatising, seeing for example someone’s face on their dead corpse and right in front of him alive at the same time. Picked up the habit of covering his marking during his time in Lindon, as every elf and human are extremely curious towards him————son of the legendary Eärendil, with a face looking like Lucien. He’s tired of everyone asking him to show them the marking or even show them the halo, which is tiring to use and not so under his control at the time. In time the curiosity from those around him died down and he learned to control the halo better, but still kept the habit from that time. The detailed description of his halo is here:

Elros: sometimes I can’t believe he and Elrond are twins

Power of to glow the light of Eärendil and healing

I really like the idea that “the hands of a king are the hands of a healer” came from the Maia power of the Númenorean Kings inherited from Elros. Atheleas is canonically brought to middle-earth by Númenoreans, so here is THE first atheleas————on Elros’ head. With Elrond’s help (since he’s better at plants and medicine than Elros) they were able to transfer some of the plant from his head to fuse with another plant. Elros later named it atheleas/asëa aranion. Since the source of atheleas’ healing power is the same as that of the Númenorean kings, they work better in the hands of those kings. Also, Elros was able to gather human followers during the War of Wrath fairly well because of his god-like healing powers. ( A bit like how Jesus gathers followers through healing people with miracles) And of course, his powers were also retained like Lucien’s after he chose a mortal life.

A bit more on the twins:

Elros has healing powers, so Elrond had to study healing and medicine to achieve as much healing as Elros can with a lift of his hand, while Elrond has future-seeing powers, so Elros had to study strategies and politics to achieve as much comprehension as Elrond can with a blink of his eye. (Study from Maglor and Maedhros respectively actually lol) And btw I didn’t draw it here since these are just busts, but Elros has a similar “halo” that glows the light of Eärendil as well, but it’s around his right wrist when using, instead of on the head like Elrond’s, and it “glows” instead of “shines” like Elrond’s. His more-like-a-bracelet-halo can drive evil and darkness out of a victim better, while Elrond’s can repulse evil and darkness away from a combatant better.

Arwen: oh the evenstar the end and beginning of an age

Power of future-seeing

Not as good as her Ada. The top star on her forehead represents Elrond, the bottom one is Aragorn, and the middle one is the same as her evenstar necklace. Doesn’t like to wear circlets, or at least those that cover her forehead, likes to show her marking, unlike her Ada. This is because she was raised in Imladris and Lothlorien, and basically everyone close already know how her father’s marking came to be, and was not too curious on hers, but only complimented and took as usual. So she would actually be a bit flattered to see someone interested in hearing the reason behind it.

Eldarion: the re-combining of the bloodline of the twins

Power of healing

It’s interesting that the bloodline of Elrond should enhance the power from the bloodline of Elros. So, he actually has a stronger healing power than Aragorn or his ancestors, but he should be the “anomaly” in the line of kings. His descendants would not have the extra boost in powers, just the usual level of “king’s hand is healer’s hand” with some better at it, and some worse.

#Melian #Lucien #Dior #dior eluchil #Elwing #Elrond #elrond peredhel #Elros #elros tar minyatur #Arwen #arwen undomiel #arwen evenstar #Eldarion #silmarillion #lotr #lord of the rings #the hobbit #jrr tolkien #tolkien

[ladysternchen]

Headcanon explained/character study- Elu Thingol, part 5

Fine. So I’ve written myself into a corner with a project that I was once really really excited about- these headcanons. This is getting too much of a fic. It’s waffling. Like my current WIP is. Yay. But writers need to have their bad (really bad) phases, too, don’t they? But I’m still going to try for a  bit more momentum in here.

Now, I know that many people picture the meeting of Elwë and Melian as a bit of a ‘nick-the-elf’-move by Melian, something that she intended, an enchantment she placed upon him (the darker headcanons go towards making him her puppet after that encounter). 

I disagree to that. There is this one passage in the Silmarillion saying that they were hidden by an ‘enchantments of their own making’. Their own making. Their, not her. Now, I’m not saying Elwë had powers to match Melian’s, but I still think that something happened there to both of them, not only to Elwë.

They are the only couple of that kind, and so it’s hardly surprising that also their getting-to-know-each-other is somewhat unique. And they would certainly have got to know each other thoroughly while standing in that trance for two hundred years. More, even. They would likely go beyond getting to know each other, they would have got to feeling each other, and to become part of the other, of their past experiences, of their reasoning behind decisions, of their very essence. It was not Melian who somehow changed Elwë to her liking, (opposed to popular fandom opinion) but his becoming so very entangled in an Ainu’s self. He ‘appeared as he were a lord of the Maiar’ afterwards, after all. Now, Tolkien does not tell us what that means exactly, but I imagine those changes to be more internal than external.

Melian, on the other hand, learned the ways of the Children from an internal point of view. She experienced it, and so could make herself a being that could easily be mistaken as an elf, and would ever after remain an elf of sorts. 

They both became beings in between- Melian the Maia, yet also elf. Elwë the elf, yet touched so much by a Maia that he almost, almost became one himself. They both never again fitted into their people afterward, and I picture Elwë to be all too aware of this- he was one of the ambassadors, but had still not returned to Aman. He was lord of Moriquendi, yet was himself an elf of the light- though he would not fit among them, either. He was not elf, but most certainly no Maia. That made him unique, but also very vulnerable, fragile, one might say, a spirit in between the worlds. 

That ‘in-between’ accompanies his actions and his very being throughout times- he was Finwë’s dearest friend, and yet quite hostile to his sons and grandsons. He was lord of all Beleriand, yet the one least able to move freely within his realm, being confined instead to Doriath (not by Melian’s doings, but because she needed him so she could hold the Girdle, and he could not step outside it without risking to tear it asunder). He disliked Men, but nonetheless accepted Beren as his son-in-law whole-heartedly once he had proven himself. He almost succumbed to his grief when Lúthien first died, and yet later chose to foster Túrin, and love him as a son. That is bordering on deliberate self-harm, considering that he knew that he would lose Túrin to the same fate as Lúthien. He was the only one of the elven lords of the First Age who remained undefeated by Morgoth, and yet died such a mundane, self-induced death. Tolkien himself calls him the mightiest among the Eldar safe Fëanor, and yet we never see him display his strength.

(Funnily enough, this very ambivalent air stays with him also in his perception within fandom- he is about as close to the POV character the Silmarillion gets, and yet hardly anyone actually identifies with him- quite the opposite. Who has read the Silmarillion and not at least once rolled their eyes and muttered something along the lines of ‘oh, not you again?!’? 

And yet his legacy within the legendarium stands firmly, even many many millennia after his death- be it as Aragorn repeats -presumably unknowingly- the words of his forefather “I can choose but for myself, and all my people shall do likewise!”, or when Elrond chooses to follow in Elwë’s footsteps rather than Turgon’s, or really when Elrond sets Aragorn just as seemingly unachievable a task as Elu Thingol set Beren)

To headcanon-storytelling, though:

When Melian and Elwë came out of their trance, they knew each other better than any other elf would know their spouse. They became almost one. And yes, if read from a modern view, this sounds incredibly toxic, but we cannot read the love of Elves, and even less that of the Ainur, like human love. Those relationships are meant for eternity, though some of them go through long periods of separation. Others however do always stay close to each other, so there’s nothing wrong with Elwë and Melian being clingy. (Sorry, I’m aware I’m still not headcanon-storytelling, but I HAD to make that point.)

Elwë understood, when he woke from the trance, what had happened. He knew instantly that everything was changed, that he had abandoned his people, even if it was unintended. He did not know what to hope for, that all his family and friends had left without him or that they had lingered. 

He was totally overwhelmed to find that so many had forsaken Valinor for his sake, but also felt incredibly guilty, especially where Nowë/Círdan was concerned. (He did overcome that eventually, at least mostly). Melian felt the same, and together they made a promise to their people- that they would guard and guide them to the best of their ability. They may have robbed them of the chance to go on to Valinor, but they would do their best to make sure they did not miss out on anything.

The first year after their return was tough. Much had changed during their unintended honeymoon, language being only one example. Another was that Elmo was now a father, and Elwë needed a while to wrap his head around that fact. But most of all, Elwë himself had changed, and he felt those changes heavily. The most irksome of these changes were his vastly sharpened senses that made sensory overload not only common but painful, and the fact that he had to re-learn how to eat (and THAT was in truth something he never fully managed, but hid well enough). Not that he had ever been fond of eating, but after the journey, where he had lived off lembas, and his trance in Nan Elmoth where magic had kept him alive, he struggled more than ever. 

But there were more important changes to his person. Time would no longer pass for him, not just very slowly (or rapidly, depending on the situation) as it did to Elves in general, but not at all. Seasons would wash over him like they did over Arda- to him, that was no more than breathing in and out.  

(Yes yes yes, I AM proud that I finally explained to myself Tolkien’s cryptic “In Beleriand King Thingol upon his throne was as the lords of the Maiar, whose power is at rest, whose joy is as an air that they breathe in all their days, whose thought flows in a tide untroubled from the heights to the deeps.”)

All that came at a heavy cost. Unable to forget anything, unable to arm himself against stimuli (as mentioned before), he would get overwhelmed easily, especially when under pressure. During that first year, Melian, Elmo or Círdan would regularly find him shaking and curled up as much as possible, desperately trying to shield himself. It got better, though, as he got used to this new way of life, and by the time Elwë, Elu now, and Melian were crowned King and Queen and their realm of Eglador established, he had learned to manage life. More or less. 

(Author’s notes: Ha ha ha ha… speeding things up. LOL. No, not happening apparently)

#silmarillion headcanon #headcanon explained #elu thingol #elwë singollo #melian #nan elmoth #character study #what actually happened with them internally #changes

[thegreatzombieartisan]

Rings of Power + Tolkien Fusion Meta

What’s in a Name: Case for ‘Halbrand’ as Sauron’s True Name - One That Shall Never Be Known Part t. 2

Series : Pt 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Why does Sauron have an Elvish name? Well ‘Mairon’ isn’t a name, it’s a title

*

The most pragmatic reason? Sauron once coexisted with the Eldar in Valinor and moved among them. Not far-fetched, as even post-prison Melkor was re-welcomed among the Noldor, who ‘took delight in the hidden knowledge that he could reveal to them' [1]. If so, dare it be asked, did the Eldar bestow their future tormentor “The Admirable” title? After all —Sauron, Gorthaur, Thû —Elves ain’t shy about giving old boy nicknames.

What is sure, as Noldor royalty, Galadriel and Mairon would have definitely met under better circumstances.

In contrast to the published The Silmarillion -- which has Mairon yelling #YOLO and joining Melkor in Middle-Earth long before the Elves awoke -- Tolkien did experiment with such a backstory origins storyline[8].

In S1:01, we see the light of the Two Trees of Valinor destroyed.

In The Silmarillion, Melkor forms an uneasy partnership with a giant spider named Ungoliant to carry-out the dastardly deed [2].

But in a different version, Sauron replaces her as the reason why Elves can’t have nice things before joining Melkor in Middle-Earth.

Sure, The Silmarillion is a draft yet it’s unlikely Tolkien would have reintroduced a plotline where Sauron and Eldar could be potential besties. It would require rewriting intricate lore. Besides, pre-Second Age was Melkor's time to wreak havoc on the Elves.

So again, why is Mairon an Elvish name?

*

'Mairon' is a Quenya Elvish translation of 'The Admirable' in the Ainur Language

Valarin -- the "tongue of the gods" -- predates all Elvish forms. Few every learn it ,as most little Elf ears judged Valarin as unpleasant and alien AF. Some Valarin words and names into “fair Eldarin” (Elvish) [4].

See translations below. Listen to them said in Valarin here:

Aulë - Aȝūlēz

Telperion - Ibrîniðilpathânezel 

Manwë - Mânawenûz 

⁠Oromë - Arǭmēz

Ossë - Oššai/Ošošai

In Valarin, ‘Mairon’ is most likely Mayarônôz (pronounced my-yah-row-noze)

Although Tolkien never fleshed out Valarin, enough exists to fairly conceptualize ‘Mairon’. Translation credit to @valarinventures [4]:

Known Valarin words starting with a “M” + vowel translate exactly into Quenya. Now it’s ‘M’.

In Valarin, Ainur = Ayanûz. So the ‘ai’ of ‘Mairon’ is translated into ‘aya’ in Valarin. Now it’s ‘My-yah’.

(+/- z) suffix might indicate the nominative singular or plural noun. That is, Mayarônôz (+ z) might be ‘The Admirable’ (singular), while Mayarônô (- z) might be ‘The Admirables (plural).

If Mayarônôz left Valinor before they awoke, how did the Eldar learn of his name? In the Valaquenta, it’s written:

Among those of his servants that have names the greatest was that spirit whom the Eldar called Sauron… he was of the Maiar of Aulë, and he remained mighty in the lore of that people.

Surely, the Valar warned the Eldar of Melkor and Mairon wickedness. Possibly Oromë told them first, as he was tasked to find and protect the newly awakened Elves in Middle-Earth.

Did Galadriel know Valarin? Once Aulë’s apprentice, Yavanna's handmaiden, and Melian protege — it's likely Galadriel would know more Valarin than most Eldar.

Mayarônôz is still not Sauron's true name

Now the names that we have for the Valar or the Maiar, whether adapted from the Valarin or translated, are not right names but titles, referring to some function or character of the person; for though the Valar have right names, they do not reveal them. Save only in the case of Oromë…[Quendi] asked him what that signified, and again he answered: Oromë. To me only is it given; for I am Oromë. Yet the titles that he bore were many and glorious; but he withheld them at the time, that the Quendi should not be afraid [3].

(Say, what’s with the Ainur “no name reveal” policy?)

Oromë's admission here is profound: Ainur true names lack a primitive root meaning in Valarin. Only the sound of their names distinguish them. He also states that his name (and presumably all Ainur) was "given" to him. By Eru Illuvatar or other Ainur? It's unknown.

Thank you for reading! Your likes and tagged reblogs are appreciated. Got feedback?

What did you like? Got theories or insights to share?

Disagree? I love good faith debate and sparring!

Need clarity on points? Got feedback on readability?

Spot an inaccuracy? Hey, Tolkien's work is complex. Drop it in comments or DM.

Works Cited

[1] On Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor, Morgoth’s Ring

[2] On the Darkening of Valinor, Morgoth’s Ring

[3] Quendi and Eldar

[4] Valarin - Like the Glitter of Swords

[5] Why You Should Love Your Guardian Angel (And Not Name Him)

[6] Osanwe - Tolkien Gateway

[7] Orkish and the Black Speech - base language for base purposes

[8] Name for a Dark Lord

[9] Quenya Grammar

#sauron #Valarin #halbrand #rings of power #watsonian

[imakemywings]

How about Galadriel and Celeborn for the ask meme?

Ooh yes okay let's see

Galadriel:

Galadriellllll what young girl did not watch the LotR trilogy and come away a little obsessed with Galadriel? Honestly one of my favorite things about her is that she's not unambiguously good? Like...Galadriel is shady af. That's only more true if you've read Silm. Did she partake in the Kinslaying at Alqualonde? Who's to say? She very explicitly sided with Feanor about leaving Aman because she wanted a kingdom of her own to rule. She was apparently willing to take the Teleri ships even after the kinslaying. She sits at the foot of Melian the Maia for probably a few centuries and then fucks off into the ether only to reappear in the Second Age with that realm she always wanted to rule.

And the pride! I don't totally remember if we get canon reasons for her sticking it out in Middle-earth but I enjoy the idea that she refuses a pardon to return to Aman after WoW because she thinks she doesn't need a pardon and she cannot handle what she perceives as the shame of returning home and admitting they made mistakes. So instead she stays in Middle-earth until the end of the Third Age when she has finally matured enough to set aside her pride and accept the offer to go home and she is so excited. I'm not sure Galadriel ever really came to view Middle-earth as home...it's possible, but I prefer the idea that it was other things that kept her there.

Galadriel is someone, imo, who enjoys power. And she is aware of that, at least by the Third Age--we see that in her conversation with Frodo about why she can't take the Ring. She can't be trusted with it. Galadriel likes having power. Which I also think adds an interesting element to her relationship with Feanor, who also enjoyed power in his own way, mostly related to the "mastering" of minds and his desire to out-argue everyone in everything all the time. Perhaps there was an element of pride clashing between them.

I'm not super enamored of the "always right always morally correct about everything" take on Galadriel that crops up sometimes. To me, that flattens out one of the most interesting things about her which is her moral grayness. By the Third Age, where we see her in LotR, I think she has grown a lot as a person and she is more likely to be right in both senses, but particularly when she was younger, I prefer a more ambiguous, less morally-correct take on her. It gives her room to change!

Celeborn:

Celeborn my man I am so sorry I have never had a thought about you in my life. Galadriel's boytoy.

Is it canon that he stays behind when she sails for Aman? That is interesting and I'm deeply interested in this take where his romantic relationship does not trump all other considerations for him--that Middle-earth is home for him, and he isn't willing to part with it, even for Galadriel, even to save his own life.

I've also talked about this before but I always snicker a little at the idea that he and Thranduil do not get along at all despite both having been Doriathrim (which stems mainly from the fact that Thranduil does not like or trust Celeborn, but at this point, it's grown to be rather mutual).

I tend to think he and Galadriel left Doriath well before the Second Kinslaying and likely before the fall of the Girdle. Just seems like it would've been mentioned if they were there?

Has to start introducing himself as "Galadriel's husband" at some point because that gets more recognition than his actual name.

#galadriel #tolkien bingo

[squirrelwrangler]

Million Dollar Question: The bats that crowded Tol Galen, you mentioned in the notes there was some deal involving Thuringwethil. Could you elaborate on that?

Yep! It's a headcanon more than a fic at the moment because I haven't had any fic with the opportunity to use Gilrean the Bat Maia, but it's quite simple. Thuringwethil was a former Maia of Varda and when she defected she took with her other later gathered to her a bunch of other Maia would delighted in the nighttime and/or flight and thus took bat forms. Core to my headcanons is that the Maiar range from power and cognitive reasoning almost on par with the Valar - your Saurons and Eönwë down to single tree nymphs and will o'wisp faeries. Thuringwethil was a less than Melian but not too much less but most of her children/followers/flock are very weak and shallow Maiar. In the Lay of Leithan we learn how Drauglin died but when Huan fetches both Drauglin and Thuringwethil's pelts for the sneak into Angband disguises, her part is off-screen and glossed over. And the concept of Morgoth or Sauron using bat messengers only shows up in the Lay of Leithian, implying that post-Silmaril theft they were no longer used in service. And Morgoth is a bad boss anyway that hates failure, as seen by Sauron hiding out in the Nightshade after his defeat until Morgoth is recaptured by the Army of the Valar. I made some quick and natural assumptions, so it does something like this.

Quickly after Tol-in-Gaurhoth falls, Thuringwethil runs into Huan as she's dithering on if to report back to Angband how Drauglin is dead and Sauron majorly fucked up and has gone into hiding. She knows if she goes with the bad news that she'll also be the only remaining lieutenant of any command authority within Morgoth's reach that was connected to this fiasco and thus bear the brunt of the punishment for everyone's failures. She puts up only a token fight against Huan and then hands over her intact bat-fell on the condition that Huan (and by proxy Lúthien and Beren) do whatever they can to shield the bat-Maiar to whom Thuringwethil is liege-lady and mother. Morgoth is especially wroth with Thuringwethil and anythign associated with her because Lúthien was wearing Thuringwethil's skin when Lúthien embarrassed and stole from him in his own throne room. Cue every bat, Maiar or otherwise, flying as far south out of Morgoth's reach as possible. Thuringwethil herself is dead and in the Halls of Mandos going through penance and detox, but her minion-daughters know the deal made with Huan and B/L. They can't get through Melian's Girdle, so for a few months they're awkwardly haunting the woods of Brethil (the Haladim called this that Winter of the Forest Chock Full of Bats) until Lúthien and Beren are reborn. The two lovers walk out of Doriath heading south to Ossiriand and are immediately swarmed by a giant flock of bats.

Tol Galen has a large flock of giant talking bats. Some are elevated to the position of foster-daughters. That's Gilrean, who is about the scale of Goldberry and while usually a giant fruit bat can give herself a mroe-or-less elven form. She thinks of herself as Dior's older sister/nanny and self-appointed babysitter. When Thingol died, Melian started to unravel and lose herself and her grip on a corporeal body in the grief and strain of holding the Girdle. Before Melian completely lost it, she delivered the Silmaril to Lúthien. In return, Lúthien asked Gilrean, as a (flying) Maia not under the Ban, to carry Melian back to Valinor. Gilrean carries her foster-grandmother to Valinor and the Gardens of Lórien and begs clemency for herself, the other followers of Thuringwethil, and Melian.

The bat Maiar might have originally been Maiar of Varda or Melkor, but most end up hanging out in the entourages of a combination of Nessa or Estë.

Dior loves his sister Gilrean.

Beren has a bat phobia. He tries not to be too freaked out by all the girls and he loves Gilrean despite it, but it was an adjustment, and he was relieved when Gilrean figured out how to shapeshift.

#meme replies #gilrean the baby bat maia #bat mama lúthien

[aboutanancientenquiry]

A fifth century BCE Athenian Patriot and his righteous anger towards the ancient Greek historians

“Dionysius of Halicarnassus, ‘On the Reclamation of History’

September 1, 2021 by Neville Morley

The abuse of so-called ‘history’ for political purposes is as old as Herodotus’ invention of it a couple of years ago. Recently we have seen concerted campaigns to rewrite the history of Athenian democracy so as to undermine communal solidarity, our sense of achievement and total superiority over all other Greek states, and even our basic legitimacy. The foundational story of Athenian autocthony that expresses the deep connection between the pure indigenous inhabitants and their land is rationalised and rewritten in order to promote a multicultural, pro-migrant agenda that threatens to undermine our collective identity. Figures central to our history like the heroic Tyrannicides are stigmatised as self-interested and incompetent, and our noble leaders in the present are mocked and caricatured. Athens’ civilising mission is cast in negative terms as a mere exercise in power and self-interest.

Activists sometimes assert that ‘investigating the truth’ about a past they present as complex and problematic is the path to a better and more rational future – a ‘possession for ever’. But the real effect—perhaps the true aim—of their actions is nihilistic destruction whose only beneficiaries are themselves and their literary reputations. Tendentious and even blatantly false readings of history are creating divisions, resentments, and even violence, even as their authors claim to be analysing the roots of such divisions.  They depict partisanship, polarisation and culture war because that is what they feed on, even suggesting that the consolidation of power in the hands of a limited number of oligarchs might go against the freedom of all Athenians. This is damaging to democracy and to a free society.

Free societies depend on popular participation, trust and solidarity.  They need a sense of common purpose and self-worth.  A shared history is a necessary foundation for a successful democracy, rather than all this questioning and uncertainty. The best citizens are those who don’t think that they should be exercising their own judgement about public affairs or that they’re cleverer than the laws, but simply accept the advice of their superiors and sacrifice themselves for the city.

It is a law of nature that the strong will rule while the weak just have to suck it up; we didn’t invent that rule, and anyone else would have done the same given half a chance. You have to judge our empire by contemporary standards, not some anachronistic morality, and that means not paying any attention to all the people in the assembly, let alone elsewhere in Greece, who question whether our rule is actually just and reasonable. The Spartans and Persians have also massacred innocent civilians, you know!

In this historian’s so-called Melian Dialogue, the wisest of the Greeks are made to adduce the most disgraceful arguments, and invest them with the most disagreeable language. Perhaps it was because this historian bore his city a grudge for the sentence passed on him that he has deluged her with these reproaches, which were calculated to make her universally hated: for when the leaders of a state, entrusted by her with great power and appointed to represent her on missions to other states, seem to express certain views, those views are assumed by all to be those of the state which sent them out. The fact that he is praised – praised, not blamed – by one of his admirers for being a ‘citizen of nowhere’ tells you all you need to know.

We do not take the view that our history is uniformly praiseworthy—that would be absurd.  But we reject as equally absurd the corrosive claim that our empire is unjust and shameful, and that there is anything blameworthy in our continuing conquests and massacres.  We agree that history consists of many opinions and many voices.  But this does not mean that all opinions are valid, and certainly not these ones. Only some ivory-tower elitist would think it matters whether or not the Spartans have a troop called the Pitanate; only an enemy of all we hold dear would depict the Sicilian Expedition as an act of monumental folly and then revel in descriptions of the death and capture of our noble soldiers.

We cannot let those who wish to subvert the present state of affairs by questioning the past win this argument.

[Update: I have been politely upbraided by Johanna Hanink on the Twitter for taking Dion Hal’s name in vain; whereas I see his criticism of Thucydides for making the Athenians in the Melian Dialogue say disgraceful things as a problematic critique of historical practice, she – and she’s studied DH much more than I have – thinks it needs to be seen in broader context of his overall condemnation of the Athenians of that era. Not sure, but in any case this is an opportunity to note that she has a new essay out on DH’s reception of the Funeral Oration that looks like a must-read.]”

Source: https://thesphinxblog.com/2021/09/01/dionysius-of-halicarnassus-on-the-reclamation-of-history/

About Neville Morley. Professor of Classics & Ancient History at the University of Exeter, UK, blogging in a personal capacity. Believed whoever it was who said that social media are the lecture theatres of tomorrow, and decided that they could also be the research seminars of tomorrow. Reception of Thucydides, pre-modern economic and social history, random thoughts about German literature and higher education, and occasional music. Source: https://thesphinxblog.com/author/nevillemorley/

Pr. Neville Morley

#ancient greek historians #thucydides #herodotus #neville morley

[roselightfairy]

In light of @quarantinedwanderer‘s recent posts and some other great Thranduil stuff I’ve seen floating around lately, I have a headcanon I’d like to contribute. I have only vague familiarity with Silm stuff, but I was revisiting the Melian bits awhile ago and realized: Melian was keeping Doriath safe using her magic girdle. Thranduil lived in Doriath when it fell. Ergo, Thranduil presumably has memories of her leaving Doriath, abandoning her protection and her people, after Thingol’s death.

I’ve seen some conversation lately about this, and I tend to agree that it’s at very least implied that Thranduil too has some sort of semi-magical enchantment on Mirkwood (the enchanted river, the almost hallucinogenic visions the dwarves see, the elf-party vanishing in an instant). I don’t know if it’s specifically tied to him or not but I love to think of him as the anchor point of the wood, particularly as it becomes more and more threatened with Sauron as a next-door neighbor. And all of this just makes me think of Melian.

First, there’s the fact that Thranduil’s protection does not come from a ring of power. Whatever it is in Mirkwood, it’s presumably tied to the forest itself, the elves within it, some kind of mystical bond that forms there. How must Thranduil feel, being aware that Lothlorien is protected by some force beyond that? Is he distrustful of it, and of Galadriel who wields it? (Extra good because Galadriel and Melian were friends, so there’s that association there.) But then there’s also such a great possibility for abandonment trauma, the feeling of betrayal and anger at a leader who could leave people vulnerable like that. And if he does (as I like to headcanon) become the anchor point for Mirkwood itself - how must he feel knowing that he too bears that same responsibility? How must he weigh and calculate his own losses, knowing he cannot allow them to drive him to the same point of abandonment? His losses, his emotions, are no longer just his - the fate of a people depends on them, a people he has to love more than his own family, his own individual points of care, in order not to abandon them.

There are a lot of reasons I find Thranduil a very tricky character to pin down, some of which are tied to inconsistency of representation in the book/movies/fanon - but I feel like this goes some way towards understanding them: how he can be a merry laughing king with his people but perhaps a complicated father at times, how he must be able to compartmentalize the many different losses and traumas he has faced in his life and the potential burden of responsibility; his deep suspicion of intruders but his lack of desire for war. (Part of the reason I give him two children is as a way of dealing with these inconsistencies and incorporating them both into how I write him.) But I wonder how an analysis of his experience of Doriath - and specifically Melian’s departure - must shape how he is as a leader in his own right.

#thranduil #mirkwood #my mirkwood apologism continues unchecked #melian #silmarillion #lotr #my headcanons