#I like the idea that Legolas is the youngest elf we know of in LOTR canon

[sillylotrpolls]

(Relevant reading below the poll)

What is the exact context for the dad fight? (Or "dad-off", if you prefer.) That's up to you! However, this poll was inspired by this post by @deheerkonijn, where they say:

#I like the idea that Legolas is the youngest elf we know of in LOTR canon#so yes he’s an adult and over two thousand years old but he’s also: everyone’s little brother#all elves treat him either like a bratty twerp or a precious baby boy#like ???????? you sent an infant on this dangerous quest Elrond look at him he’s a CHILD#Thranduil shows up in Rivendell like two months after the Fellowship leaves absolutely ready to throw hands with Elrond#dad fight of the age#place your bets#(it's a tough call cause elrond is elrond but Thranduil is basically a cryptid)#WHO WOULD WIN IN A DAD-FIGHT BETWEEN ELROND AND THRANDUIL LIKE COMMENT AND SUBSCRIBE

#lotr #lord of the rings #poll #polls #specify means SPECIFY you cowards

[catofadifferentcolor]

Terrible Fic Ideas #20: LotR, but make it First Age!Legolas

I've been slowly falling back into the LotR fandom and I have to say that, although there is a lot to recommend the idea of Legolas being one of the youngest elves we come across in the series, I personally love the idea of him being one of the oldest - older, in fact, that Elrond himself.

Hear me out:

We have absolutely no idea how old Legolas is in canon. All we know for certain is that his father, Thranduil, was born and lived for at least a few years in Doriath before the Second Kinslaying in the winter of 506 FA.

This could mean that Thranduil was just a child at the time, but I love the idea that he was a young adult of no more than 500, because that would make him old enough to have 1) a child fight and die in the Sack as a young recruit in the city guard, and 2) for his wife to give birth to Legolas literally as they're fleeing the destruction. (After all, Legolas, green leaf, sounds like something you'd name an elf child in the immediate aftermath of tragedy - the elven version of hope.)

So this gives a Legolas born in the ashes of Doriath, whose day of birth was the day his older sibling (and possibly a great deal of extended family) died, 26 years before Elrond and Elros are born.

This Legolas would also, perhaps, have been old enough to fight in the War of Wrath. He would have lived through the rise of Sauron and the forging of the rings of power, fought at the Battle of Dagorlad and seen his grandfather Oropher (and who knows how many other kin) die, seen the Wizards come to Middle Earth in 1000 TA, and Sauron take up residence in what had once been his grandfather's capital.

The upshot of all of this is, at the Council of Elrond, Legolas would be roughly 6544 and been part and party to all of the same major events as his host, albeit in a somewhat more minor role.

This changes very little, except the entire Fellowship is peppered with these comments that make everyone wonder. The slight digs he makes about famous Nodor elves? Just the traditional animosity of the Wood Elves towards them and absolutely not the result of Legolas having known them in life. Celeborn says something about greeting his young kinsman? The rest of the Fellowship never hears the I'm only twenty years younger than you and that stopped being funny after our third millennia that follows. Legolas occasionally talks about famous historical places and events like he was actually there? That's just the way of elves.

I'm an inveterate Legolas/Gimli stan, so I imagine that as their relationship develops Gimli comes to understand just how much this seemingly young elf has actually lived through, but nobody else does. Not until the conclusion of Battle of Morannon does anyone know the truth - and even then his comment of "it makes a nice change to leave this battlefield without leaving so many kin upon it" is misinterpreted until he goes on to mention something only someone who had been there would know.

The revelation is a bit of a shock, because how is the knowledge that the elf you thought was a couple hundred years old at most is older than Elrond not be a shock? But, again, it doesn't change much.

Except the dynamics of Legolas and Gimli's relationship, because how can it not when Legolas was born in the ashes of a city sacked by dwarves? When Legolas himself has seen the rise and fall of Moria? Rather than overcoming inherited racism their relationship becomes one of I have seen the best and worst Middle Earth has to offer and choose to love you.

Bonuses include 1) Legolas saying some things that really only make sense if he was an older elf, but the rest of the Fellowship running rings to explain them away because there's no way in their minds this particular elf is even 500, 2) Gandalf knowing of the misunderstanding and encouraging it because it's harmless mischief, 3) Legolas being really unimpressed by most of the major figures in Middle Earth history as only someone who knew them as a moody teenager can be.

And that's really all I have. Feel free to use the idea, just let me know if you ever do.

NB: I've expanded upon this idea somewhat here.

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

More Terrible Fic Ideas

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

[babybat98]

Also you know I HAVE to ask about LotR Fantasy AU because I am a sucker and that sounds right up my alley, please!

Ok I feel like I have to explain myself on this one because the phrace 'LotR fantasy AU' sounds just Completely bonkers

It's called this because I realised I don't think there's a term for when you take a piece of fiction, put it in an AU, but the AU is the same genre as the original work. And not in a 'oh it's a star wars star trek AU, with the star wars characters in a star treck world' way but in a 'I literaly made up an entire fantasy AU not realy based on another existing work, and ploped the LotR cast in is sims style' way.

I guess it's technicaly just a regular AU, it just happens to be the same genre as the original work.

So that's what spawned this. It's less of a single story and more of a bunch of random worldbuilding but anyways. The Fellowship would still be a thing, just fighting a different (yet to be determined)evil, and with roughly the same background.

The story beggins with a big royal wedding in this worlds equivalent of Erebor. I was thinking about the wedding being Thorin/Bilbo, but tbh that's mostly an excuse to gather everyone neatly in one place. Gandalf is there as a friend of the wedding couple. Frodo is there as Bilbos nephew, and the other hobbits as his friends. Gimli is there as Glóins son. Aragorn is the heir of a human kingdom, with Boromir being his advisor, and thus invited as neighbour royalty. And Legolas is the youngest prince of the neighbour wood elf kingdom, invited for the same reason as Aragorn and Boromir. This is what gathers everyone together and people begin making friends.

I haven't writen much on the wedding but I did pen down how the three hunters met, with Legolas and Aragorn helping a distraught Gimli find his missing nibling. Legolas helps the toddler dwarfling out of a hole they got stuck in, and keeps runing into Gimli throughout the wedding until they end up friends.

“Greetings!” Aragorn said. “Sorry to disturb you, but we are looking for a red haired dwarfling by the name Thóig. You haven’t seen them?” “Oh we’ve seen them alright!” The dwarf closest to them, a dwarrowdam with ebony hair and yellow ribbons in her beard rose to greet them. “The little pebble has made themself a fine home inside this wall, and has gotten stuck to boot!” She brushed off her dress and gestured towards the opening. “We’re both too big to reach him, but maybe you two will have more luck with those long arms.”  “We’ll see about that, the rascal is pretty far in,” the dwarrow with the lamp grumbled.  Aragorn kneeled next to the opening. It ran parallel to the floor, only a couple of feet long and incredibly narrow. He studied it for a moment before looking up at Legolas. “I won’t fit in there. You’re thinner than me and have longer arms.” Legolas was not too happy with the idea of being even more underground than they already were, even when arguing with himself that it’d likely be an easier fit than old gnarly tree roots. But he was hardly one to leave a child in peril so he got on his stomach and looked into the hole. It continued much deeper than the oil lamp managed to light, but a good bit in he could see two dark eyes gleaming like a cats behind a messy nest of fiery hair. He smiled at the child.

Legolas is also the one with the most fleshed out backstory yet(unlike canon lol). His story goes that when his mom was pregnant with him she was attacked by orcs when walking through the forest. She was mortaly wounded, but managed to make it to one of the oldest trees in the forest and begged for her child to be saved. The tree responded by growing around her until she was burried under its roots. A few months later, around when the baby should have been born, the bark cracked open to reveal a little newborn elfling. Thranduil recognised the child as his son and named him Legolas.

It was in the middle of that solstice night, under the never setting midnight sun, that princess Lagoreth and her brother Thondaer would visit their modern tomb. And how fortunate that decision was, for as they stood there the wooden likeness of their mother began to move. The two siblings ran for the palace and their father, bodily dragging him from his throne and into the trees with most of the court on their heels.  Just as they reached the Old Ash a loud CRACK echoed through the woods. The bark of the tomb had split, right down the queen's stomach, still round with the child that would never be born. Or so they had thought! For the bark parted to reveal a small elfling child, sleeping soundly. A boy, with dirt on his nose and leaves stuck in his gold blond hair. And King Thranduil swept the babe into his cloak and his arms, for he recognised his son even as they met for the first time. For with her final breath Lannien had wished for nothing but the safety of her child, and the forest listened. They named the child Legolas, for no other name would have fit him. Legolas Forest-born, Legolas Ash-child, Legolas Greenleaf.

So Legolas is even more strongly connected to the forest than in canon(might have planed to have him get stuck in a cave in at some point. You know. For the angst :3)

[deheerkonijn]

“Tell me, which would she have you value more?”

For @thomasmxller, who asked me for Legolas returning to Mirkwood for the first time after the Ring War. :) This is one of my fave imagined scenarios for the Mirkboys ‘cause in my humble headcanon Thranduil is a sometimes-emotionally difficult but otherwise pretty good and supportive dad. If Legolas, say, makes a trip to Imladris to run basically a quick errand…………and ends up being MIA for a year while there is a very scary war on…………I think perhaps that’s the exact moment a father might realize he definitely hasn’t told his son that he loves him nearly enough. 

 Anyway - this topic is very dear to me – thank you for your support!! 😊💕

#lotr #lord of the rings #thranduil #legolas #squeeze the son #squeeze that son!!! #I'm real nasty I like a Thranduil who understands that if he gives Gimli the boot he gives Legolas the boot as well #and so wisely is not willing to sacrifice the love of his only son for anything #that's the real good stuff yeah #also humbly lays more secret headcanons into the tags #I like the idea that Legolas is the youngest elf we know of in LOTR canon #so yes he’s an adult and over two thousand years old but he’s also: everyone’s little brother #all elves treat him either like a bratty twerp or a precious baby boy #like ???????? you sent an infant on this dangerous quest Elrond look at him he’s a CHILD #Thranduil shows up in Rivendell like two months after the Fellowship leaves absolutely ready to throw hands with Elrond #dad fight of the age #place your bets #(it's a tough call cause elrond is elrond but Thranduil is basically a cryptid) #WHO WOULD WIN IN A DAD-FIGHT BETWEEN ELROND AND THRANDUIL LIKE COMMENT AND SUBSCRIBE

[theartofbeinganeldar]

The Art of Being An Eldar: Legolas x Reader Chapter 3

Summary: You, a fantasy-loving LARPing human from Earth, got dropped into a fantasy land that seems familiar to you, but you had no recollection of it. Lord Fabulous Elvenking gave you three days to find the portal that would take you home with the aide of Blue-Eyes and a host of Elves, but what you found instead was the portal was closed for another thousand years. On the way back, you saved Legolas's life, prompting Thranduil to grant you freedom, and after, you finally realized where you were; Middle-Earth. Thranduil summons the council, which is made up of powerful wizards and Elves, to decide what should be done with you...

Chapter No.: Chapter 3

Key: [Y/N]=Your Name [F/N]= Friend's Name [B/N]= Bro's Name [S/N]= Sis's Name [M/N]= Mom's Name [e/c]= eye color [h/c]= hair color [s/c]= skin color

Notes: I think Pippin's song matches the reader's situation very much, which is why I use it so often. I mean, your character fell from everything they know, their "home," and now they can't go back, but now they have this whole magical world and life ahead of them... Grief and sorrow, but things to look forward to in the future.

Warnings: Fluff, angst, graphic depictions of gore and violence (Cuz of orc battles y'know?), more angst, slow burn, some light depression in the first few chapters, some amnesia about Middle-Earth because the Valar say you're not supposed to have foresight, hard-core language, feels, lots and lots of feels, mentions of NSFW content, maybe some eventual NSFW content, LGTBQ+ characters, Thranduil being a jackass at first because he's fabulous, Legolas being a hot edgy prince that nobody can handle, Kili being an innocent bean, Hobbits being smol innocent beans, except for Bilbo 'cause he's been through some tough shit, Bard being dad of the year, Thorin being one dumbass boi, The fucking Silmarillion, awesome dragons, awesome Nazgul, awesome scenery, awesome stuff in general, Elrond isn't listened to by anybody, confused Aragorn is confused,  Denethor's a bitch as always, brace yourself for creepy as fuck Cream of Wormtongue Grima Wormtongue, Boromir lives, Gandalf. (yes these are all legit warnings don't judge me.)

Pairings/Ships: Legolas x Reader, Legolas x you, Aragorn x Arwen, Faramir x Eowyn, Thranduil x Elvenqueen, Galadriel x Celery Celeborn, Boromir x OC, Thorin x OC, Fili x OC, etc. general LoTR standard shippings plus some of my own cuz I can't stand my boys being lonely

Word Count: I try to keep my chapters short, under 2000 words.

Rating: Teen (14+) for now

When you woke up, you found yourself blinded by a stupidly bright light that singed your retinas off. "What the hell?" You shielded your eyes as you tried to find the source.

Oh.

It was Thranduil, and beside him, Legolas, the two so bright they could be hung on your porch as bug-zappers.

Ohhhh...

You were in Middle-Earth. Right. Without any memory of it except for bits and pieces. You did remember that you'd watched the movies so many times that you could've recited each line in your sleep and then some, but you couldn't remember anything but what pieces you randomly dreamed of or remembered, which were already starting to fade.

"Hi. Can I help you with something in my half-starved state?"

Blue-Eyes desperately fought a smirk. Thranduil was less impressed. "My son tells me you lost consciousness because of a lack of sustenance. What sort of repayment is that for my favor to you, may I ask?"

You cocked an eyebrow. "Excuse the fuck outta you, Thrandy, but I just learned about a week and a half ago I'd never see my family again. Forgive me if I got upset."

Blue-Eyes turned his head away, trying really hard not to laugh...

"Also," You went on with a forced cocky smile, "I just learned that I'm in Middle-Earth. Where I come from, all this-- the palace, the land, even your fancy Elven toilets-- were created by some old guy called J. R. R. Tolkien, collectively referred to as 'Jrrt.' Now, I don't remember a goddamn thing except for bits and pieces of dialogue and song, even though I knew the stories by heart."

Thranduil and Blue-Eyes-- who was no longer trying not to laugh-- eyed each other suspiciously. "You knew of this place in your world?"

You nodded. "It's very well-known. But, everybody thinks it's fiction. Unaccesible. And be glad about that, too, because if there were a well-known way to get here, there'd be lots of war, new diseases, and this place would be turned to shit, too."

Thranduil stared at you for a minute, before abruptly turning to Legolas. "Son, I am off to the throne room. I shall summon the council at once."

You waited until he left to ask what that meant.

Blue-Eyes smiled slightly. "Meaning, he is not quite certain what should be done with you. The council is made up of some of the oldest and wisest of Middle-Earth, including the wizards and those of my kin, Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn of Lothlorien, and Elrond Half-Elven of Rivendell. Do any of those names sound familiar to you?"

You shrugged. "It doesn't matter if they sound familiar or not. I never remember what anybody looks like. I just get an eerie sense of deja vu."

Blue-Eyes raised an eyebrow. "Deja... Vu?"

You sat up more, rolling your eyes. "It means having a sense of familiarity, like, really strongly. Whatever. Tell me who the wizards are."

Blue-Eyes sat at the end of your bed. "The most powerful of the wizards is Saruman the White, who resides in Isengard, on the edge of Fangorn Forest and the Gap of Rohan. The second is Mithrandir, who is most commonly known as Gandalf the Gray by most folk. The third is the much less-known-of and reclusive Radagast the Brown, but I doubt my father will request his presence; he dislikes his excessive behavior." He raised an eyebrow. "Have you heard of them?"

You nodded absentmindedly. "Yeah. So if I'm an Elf, do I like, have to learn how to act like an Elf, or should you let these really important people decide what to do after they've seen who I am?"

"The latter," Blue-Eyes specified, "But it would still be beneficial to learn Elvish. It should take them quite awhile to arrive; between now and then, you should learn as much of it as possible, after I've given you a tour of Mirkwood."

You made a wheel-like motion with your hands. "After I've eaten and taken a bath, I know."

Blue-Eyes patted your leg. A jolt of electricity shot from where he touched you. What the hell? "Good," He stood and started to leave the room. "I will leave you to your own; there is food on the nightstand, and after, a bath across the bridge there," He pointed, and as you looked across the way seen Elves.

Bathing.

Blushing, you looked to Blue-Eyes wildly. "I-I'm supposed to take a bath with other people."

Blue-Eyes frowned in confusion. "Do you not, from your world?"

"Um, no. We all bathe alone. Where I come from, one's own body is considered... Private, to everybody except your doctor or significant other."

"Oh, I see. I could have a private bath prepared for you, if you wish for it," He answered with a smile. "Even here, we may want to bathe on our own to relax. It would not be a problem." He sneered down at you. "I would not want you bathing in the shared springs anyway. You'd dirty the whole lot of them."

With a very childish glare, you stuck your tongue out at him, causing him to have the oddest look he'd had yet. You'd noticed something about him; he had the unique ability to create a range of dynamically comical expressions. "What are you doing?"

You took up a dramatically serious tone. "I am expressing the 'fuck you' gesture in an immature and childish manner used worldwide, even among the youngest." With that, you stuck your tongue out again.

Legolas rolled his eyes. "Very well, then, Sairen, your bath will be ready for you when you are finished with your meal. I will send someone for you in an hour, if that suits you."

"That suits me perfectly fine, but I beg your fucking pardon, was that 'fuck you' in Elvish?"

Legolas grinned. "Not at all, mellon. It means 'fiery' in our tongue."

"Okay." A wry smile spread across your face. "That I can deal with. But what does 'melon' mean? Both you and Tauriel have called me that so far."

Legolas smiled as he began to close the double-doors, though what they did to block you when the room had only two-foot tall walls, you had no idea. "Mellon. It means, 'my friend.'"

A warm feeling blossomed in your chest as he smiled-- for once, genuinely-- at you. You found yourself smiling back as he closed your doors. When he was gone, your smile toned down a bit, and you took a long, deep breath.

You were still upset. Very. On the inside, you felt torn to pieces. You figured it would be a long, long time before you grief lessened, if it ever did. But now that you knew where you were... It was different. You were sure of something. Where you were, and the fact that the Firemoon Portal would only open every thousand years. If you went back then, you'd already be connected to this world, and everyone in it. If time passed the same, your family would be gone, and you'd be mortal again, without a way to wait for the portal to reopen so that you could return to your new friends here.

But... You knew your family. They'd never forget you, and never stop grieving your loss. But, if they thought you might be somewhere better than Earth, and there was no way back... They'd want you to be happy. They'd want you to make a new life. They wouldn't want you to waste your life starving yourself.

You'd miss them... More than anything...

But for now...

You moved the silver platter on your nightstand to your lap, and started eating.

Home is behind...

The world ahead...

And there are many paths to tread...

***

"No, no," Tauriel corrected you. "Mae govannen."

"Mae govAHnnen."

Tauriel bit back an exasperated sigh. "Well... You're close enough."

You'd been in Mirkwood for nearly a month now, not counting the days of your imprisonment and searching for the portal. You wondered what made Thranduil (Who you still called 'Lord Fabulous' on occassion.) release you and treat you as an Elf, and as it turns out, it was Blue-Eyes himself.

Speaking of, you hadn't seen him in days... He kind of... Disappeared. There was still talk of him, and no one seemed to be worried, so you weren't; for Elves that lived forever, you bet anything that he had princely exploring and regular adventuring to do to keep him occupied.

Around the time he left, Tauriel approached you and asked if you knew any Elvish. Aside from sairen and mellon, you knew less than zero. Apparently, it was considered good Elven manners to at least speak a greeting to guests in their own language, despite what Leggy had said. Meaning, to different members of the council, you had to speak a greeting in Quenyan-- which was different from Sindarin, the most common Elvish language-- Common, and Sindarin. You'd memorized the lines, but it was the pronunciation that really befuddled your non-billingual ass.

Now, you'd pretty much gotten the Quenyan greeting: Mae govannen. It meant well met or something along those lines, but you had to add Lord Elrond Half-Elven of Rivendell. I am at your service. Which was much longer and much more complicated. All in all, it pretty much came out to, Mae govannen, Cundo Elrond Peresta-Elda mi Arcimbele. Nanye ketya veume.

English (Common.) was equally as long: Greetings, Gandalf the Gray, Mithrandir, and Saruman the White of Isengard. Welcome to these halls. I am at your service as well, should you need it.

And lastly, to Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn, you had to say the most: And ana lye, Heri Galadriel and Cundo Celeborn, elen sila lumenn omentielvo. Nanye aistana et ketya toled.

And to you, Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn, a star shines upon the hour of our meeting. I am blessed from your coming.

It was all a mouthful. A regal, elegant mouthful, but a mouthful that your tongue had trouble forming. In addition to all the greetings, you had to address them each in order; first Elrond, then the wizards, then Galadriel and Celeborn at once.

They'd arrived a few days ago, but you hadn't actually been summoned yet. You wondered what Thranduil had told them about you so far. He seemed like the type to exaggerate and make shit up: They're nothing but an abomination! They almost killed Legolas! They tried to kill me! They're dangerous and should be restrained! They toilet-papered my throne room!

The elaborate horns blowing signaled something evidently important; Tauriel's face lit up. "Mellon, it is Legolas! He has returned!"

Despite yourself, your heart jumped like a schoolgirl's. Blue-Eyes was back! "Really?! How do I look? Does it look like I've been taking care of myself?" Legolas would kill you if you weren't. Over the weeks, the blue hair dye had left your hair, returning it to its [h/c] color, even if you did still spike it up-- you'd been an outcast your whole life, so having short spiky hair when everybody else had long, flowing hair made you feel at home. You were dressed in dark browns, nearly blacks, in an outfit very similar to a tunic over leggings, knee-high boots, and all finished up with a long jacket, closed with Elven buckles.

"You look fine, [Y/N]," Tauriel assured you absentmindedly, and the two of you trotted down the many, many stairs and bridges to get to the massive front doors of the palace.

Thranduil and a host of other Elves were greeting Legolas, who looked as if he'd been in Sparkle Land for the last couple weeks. His clothes were in prestine condition. His hair was perfectly plaited away from his face. He wore a faint smile, as if whatever he'd been doing hadn't been stressful at all.

You and Tauriel arrived just as Thranduil finished speaking. "And you failed to locate them?"

Legolas held himself regally. "My apologies, my king. It will not happen again."

Thranduil glared down at him. "I should hope not. You will leave again in three days' time, after you have properly greeted our guests." As Thranduil spun on his heel to leave, Blue-Eyes bowed, rising up again as he seen you and Tauriel.

"Tauriel," He said, his face lighting up. She bowed slightly; apparently Elves didn't hug. He grinned snarkily when he seen you. "And [Y/N]. Last I saw you, your hair was strangely sky-hued."

You scoffed. "You can't even say sky-colored? You have to say sky-hued? Stupid Elves and their fancy ways. Good to see ya anyway, Blue-Eyes, even if you're a priss."

"I believe you mean prince."

You laughed, but it faded when he turned to Tauriel and started speaking in Elvish. He lead her away, talking, leaving you on your own. Your face fell. You wanted to tell him that you knew some greetings. You wanted to say you wanted to go with him when he left again. And the fact that you were already alone here only amplified the feeling of... Jealousy? Disappointment?

You watched them leave for a minute, before deciding you'd take a walk in the Mirkwood-- maybe it'd clear your mind. You nearly rammed into an Elf in turning around. "Whoops."

"Nothing to apologize for," the Elf said; thankfully, they'd caught on to Earth slang and understood you most of the time, instead of just assuming you were insulting them. "Thranduil Elvenking has summoned you to his councilroom. The council awaits you."

Your mouth went dry. All the feelings about Legolas ignoring you vanished in an instant. Oh shit. "I-I don't know where that is. You'll take me there, right?"

"Of course," Said the Elf, and lead the way through the twisting halls. He stopped before the one room of the palace that was actually sealed off from the rest besides the dungeons, with doors almost as big as the ones that lead out of the palace. "Here you are. They're waiting for you." He smiled slightly. "A word of advice for the introductions: let King Thranduil introduce you to them before you say your greetings." You bowed slightly in the Elven way as you thanked him.

You'd be lying if you said you weren't nervous as hell. Meeting a bunch of people, really important people... You'd met some important people before: soldiers were the main ones you'd met, aside from a couple of astronauts. Other than that...

Taking a hugely amplified deep breath, you opened the door.

Inside was a wide winding staircase lit  by gorgeously-crafted Elven wall sconces of stained glass and copper metalwork shaped into vines. Every step seemed to echo, and when you reached the top of the staircase, your breath was ripped from you. It was a pavilion. A pavilion in the one place you loved above all else: the sky.

Rails kept anybody from falling off, and it was roofed, so that you could come up here even in the rain. Birds chirped melodiously, and from here, you felt as if you could see all of Middle-Earth. Behind you was a huge mountain range-- you'd never seen mountains before. They were beautiful, snow-capped, and gigantic; the Misty Mountains, obviously. All around you, stretching as far as you could see south and a long way east and west and north, was the Mirkwood, and to the west and north were vast plains, hills, and valleys. Leaves, gold and copper, swirled around the pavilion, giving it an ethereal look. To the west, where you were facing, was a silver lake, wide and glittering in the midday sun. Standing tall and proud beside it was Erebor, home to the King Under the Mountain; currently, Thror. You didn't know why that name seemed so important, though.

You must've turned around in at least a dozen three-sixties, trying to take in what you were seeing. Even if you didn't remember most of it, here you were. You were seeing it, for real and for true, in person, in the home of one of the most revered Elves of Middle-Earth. It seemed unreal, like at any moment, you'd wake up.

A bird, queerly tame, flitted up by your face and up into the rafters; she carried food for her young, and you watched them with a smile, still in disbelief of the views.

A long sigh snapped you out of your trance. Shit. Thranduil waved at you absentmindedly. "Are you daft, vermin? I just introduced you to the council."

"O-oh--"

"Now, now, Thranduil," A wizard chuckled warmly; he wore blue and gray robes, with an immense beard and long hair. Gandalf. "If they really are of another world, then they are obviously stunned by the land. Have you not shown them their new home properly?"

Thranduil nobly facepalmed.

Meanwhile, you realized that it wasn't just Gandalf sitting there smoking his pipe.

Another wizard, this one with long, straight white hair and an equally perfect white beard, in blinding white robes with a white staff: Saruman the White. You didn't know why you got bad vibes from this guy. Beside him sat another Elf, casually, an ankle on his knee and an elbow resting on his higher leg to hold up his head with two fingers. He wore robes of brown and purple, and his long brown hair was held back with a silver Elvish circlet. That had to be Elrond; he looked amused, so you felt kind of relieved. On his left sat a guy who practically glowed, with long blonde hair and white and blue robes. Celeborn. Standing off to the side, with a kind smile like Gandalf, in a billowy white dress with a beautiful Elven circlet made of fine chains and teardrop jewels was a woman, a she-Elf, putting off wisdom-vibes stronger than Gandalf's. Her curling golden hair went well past her waist, and she held herself regally. Out of everyone in this room, she seemed to be the oldest, and the most knowledgeable.

Your Elvish greetings flew right out of your head for a minute, before Thranduil reintroduced you. "This is the council. With us are wizards Saruman the White and Gandalf the Gray, Lord Elrond of House Rivendell, and Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn of Lothlorien. Councilmembers, this is [Y/N], the one who appeared from a portal we knew nothing of-- and if I must repeat this once more, I swear to the Valar, I shall throw you off of this pavilion."

Gandalf actually chuckled at that, as did Elrond, while Celeborn cracked a smile. Galadriel seemed to find this all regally amusing. You bowed like Tauriel had showed you. At least, you'd mastered that part. "Mae govannen, Cundo Elrond Peresta-Elda mi Arcimbele. Nanye ketya veume. Greetings, Gandalf the Gray, Mithrandir, and Saruman the White of Isengard. Welcome to these halls. I am at your service as well, should you need it. And ana lye, Heri Galadriel and Cundo Celeborn, elen sila lumenn omentielvo. Nanye aistana et ketya toled."

Elrond looked impressed. "Well, Thranduil, you have certainly trained them well." Thranduil watched you with wide eyes. He hadn't known of your lessons. Suck it, Lord fucking Fabulous.

Celeborn bowed his head. "Your pronunciation is nearly perfect. Well done, young one. However, I doubt you know much else of our tongue yet, so for your sake, we shall converse in Common, if that suits you."

You almost said, It does. Thanks! But that sounded too disrespectful. "Thank you very much." You smiled, and took a seat when Thranduil waved you to the only empty one aside from Galadriel's.

Saruman started off with a wary tone. "Thranduil tells us you come from another world. Is this true?"

Out of the corner of your eyes, you seen Thranduil roll his eyes. "Yes, sir. I come from a place called Earth."

The councilmembers exchanged glances. "That sounds strikingly similar to Middle-Earth," Said Gandalf, and raised an eyebrow. "Are there any similarities between this world, and yours?"

You shook your head sadly. "Not anymore. My people ruined it. There aren't many places like this anymore."

Saruman stiffened. "Then what happens if your people find the portal? Surely, they will try to ruin this, as well?"

You made a face. "They would, yeah, but my people are also really stupid. It'd take a stupid accident and a lot of chance to fall through that portal again, and Legolas said that it only opened once every time a Firemoon happens."

"Legolas?" Elrond asked, curiously, as if this hadn’t been mentioned before. Of course it hadn’t.

You nodded, unsure of why you suddenly had to fight a flush at the mention of his name. "He helped me find the portal with some of his Elven friends when I first got here. We found writing-- he said it was used before the time of even Gondolin. I don't know when that is; is that a long time ago?"

"Very," Replied Gandalf. "Odd... A portal of that magnitude would have to be created by wizards of some sort, especially at such a time..."

A thought suddenly popped into your head. "Some people think we have magic," You piped up, and all eyes were suddenly on you. "But it never works. Not effectively. Just standard hocus-pocus and the power of suggestion. But hundreds of years ago, there was this really mysterious guy who they say really did have magic, which he used to help others. His name was Merlin; he looked kinda like you, Gandalf. But he was in another country, where I come from; where I was when I fell wasn't anywhere near where he traveled."

Saruman narrowed his bird-like eyes. "Then what relevance is this?"

"Because if there was one wizard like you guys in the past," You pointed out, "Why couldn't there be others? There's so much we don't know about history-- we're more intent on wiping out what we don't understand. What if the wizards traveled between worlds and time? Hell, they could be you guys from the future, and it just hasn't happened yet."

"They have a point, Saruman," Gandalf agreed, much to your relief. You didn't think they'd understand the concept of time travel.

"There is nothing we can do about the portal now," Elrond said decisively. "It is closed, and if we tried to destroy it, we could only do damage. It is an easy enough position to defend; should an army come through, they'd have only one entryway."

"Says who?" Saruman challenged. "There could be other portals we do not know of, some that people have not had the misfortune of falling into yet. How do we know that this invader is not a spy to seek out these portals and prepare them for war?"

You fought a sigh. Damn this small-minded son of  a bitch... You tried to think of something smart ass to say, but nothing fit the situation.

"They are not, Saruman." Lady Galadriel's voice was sudden, light, and smooth, like honey. It radiated outward with an undeniable power that could make anybody listen to her. "Their thoughts do not lead there." Shit. I mean crap. I mean dang. Mind reader. "They are afraid, and worried... They miss the family they left behind, but they are willing to make a life here, since they have no way of returning."

You nodded. "My thanks, my lady."

Lady Galadriel bowed her head in response.

"Build a life?" Saruman inspected you carefully from where he sat. "You are nothing but an infiltrator. Why should we allow you a place among the citizens of Middle-Earth?"

"It does not have to be here," Thranduil pointed out, and your heart shot to your ankles. "You have an unfortunate habit of collecting needy strays, Elrond; why don't you take them with you when you return to Rivendell?"

Elrond shot him a glare.

Um, I think the fuck not. Lady Galadriel, tell them I say no! Tell them I want to stay here! You thought of the views, and of... of Blue-Eyes...

"Perhaps they should be isolated," Saruman said. "Somewhere they cannot concoct any mischief. Rohan is quite strict, as Gondor is watchful. Either would suffice. Perhaps centuries of isolation in Isengard itself would keep them in line."

"Maybe the Shire would be good for them," Gandalf said. "The hobbits are quite peaceful little creatures. Then again, if isolation is what we are looking for, then Laketown couldn't be better. Or Dale; the dwarves don't let anyone commit any mischief from Erebor."

I don't want to leave...

"Lothlorien would perhaps be suitable," Celeborn added. "Or, maybe even the mines of Moria. I do not have much love for dwarves, but they would be kind enough to them."

"What," Interrupted Galadriel, "Does the subject of our conversation think of this?"

Silence fell. You took a deep breath. "I... I'd like to stay here." You seen Thranduil's head turn slowly to look at you, and you could hear him thinking, the fuck did you just say? "Please, my lord."

A tense silence fell over the room. Finally, Thranduil sighed. "I do not want you here, invader. You would have to prove your loyalty and skill beyond a shadow of a doubt."

You perked up. "Legolas is going on some super-secret missions, right? Maybe I could go with him. You trust him of all people to tell you the truth about me, right? So maybe I could prove myself then."

Thranduil thought about this for a moment. "Legolas is hunting for the orcs who are trying to overtake our borders. He found them, but he let them escape, even though they were a small group. He is leaving in three days with reinforcements; you may join him."

You almost visibly sagged with relief. Almost.

"However," Thranduil added, "If I find his report unsatisfactory, you will go with one of the councilmembers and leave Mirkwood. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good."

Elrond nodded to you. "You would have a home in Rivendell. It is the last safe haven of the Elves in Middle-Earth." He gave Thranduil a pointed sideways glance. "My people are welcoming and kind. They would be glad to have you." With a slight roll of his eyes, he gestured to Gandalf. "And of course, Mithrandir..."

Gandalf looked excited. "I would take you on my journeys with me, if you so desired. First, I would take you to the Shire. Very nice people, those hobbits. And of course, dwarves would be next."

"I thank you both," You smiled slightly, and you truly were grateful, but... "Then it is settled," Thranduil said authoritively. "Elrond, Gandalf, you are welcome to stay here until Legolas returns."

"I would be grateful," Elrond said, but Gandalf defiantly snorted. "I, dear Elvenking, already have arranged for lodgings in Laketown. Send for me once they arrive, so that I may know what I must do."

You felt buoyed a little. Gandalf didn't one-hundred-percent think you'd fail. And you wouldn't. You'd kick ass. You'd save Blue-Eyes's ass again. You'd come back triumphant, and Thranduil would have to let you stay.

Wouldn't he?

Thranduil left first with Elrond and Celeborn, followed by Gandalf and Saruman closely. Galadriel looked out over to the lake, all shiny and pretty and with her hair billowing majestically. "Why do you wish to stay among those who do not wish for your presence?"

You were stunned by the question. "I-I don't know... I've lived all my life an outcast... The hated one... I've just grown used to it. Being somewhere where people would be nice to me makes me uncomfortable. But there are a couple of people nice to me, and that's enough."

Galadriel was silent for a moment. "You think of him."

"Uhhh..."

"The prince."

You did blush this time. "I-I don't--"

"You are one of the Eldar now, mellon," Galadriel stated slowly. "Eldar only fall in love once. I have known many who have been broken by that which is unrequited. Do not be one of them."

You thought about her words for a second. "I don't love him... I don't even have like a crush on him or anything..." I've only known him for a couple days, overall.

Galadriel nodded slightly into the breeze. "Sieze it, if the chance arises. But if it does not, or if you do not think it will... I advise you to seek for a home elsewhere." You got the gist. If I do fall for him on my mission, and I know it won't go anywhere... Leave, even if I succeed.

Your heart was heavy at that thought, but you knew she was right. "Thank you, my lady."

"You need not thank a friend for giving advice." She smiled at you, and you left the pavilion with a deep bow, trying desperately not to let your heartstrings fall apart.

Tag List:

@tesserphantom​ @thedragonghostofmordor​ @hauntedsiriel​ @reclusive-chicken-nugget​ @naryamirie​ @legolasdeserveslove​ @escapingthoughtsandsecrets​ @sagabriar​ @brushwood-souls​  @taurlel​

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#legolas x reader #legolas x you #au #LARP #LoTr #The Hobbit #legolas greenleaf #orlando bloom #orcs #wargs #elves #eldar #chapter 3 #theartofbenganeldar #fanfiction #romance #angst #fluff #gender-nuetral reader #wild #misfit #reader-insert #forest #mirkwood #middle-earth #ronanstolkienfam

[red-winters]

Random Word Vomit About Stuff I Watched Growing Up

sometimes I remember that I was introduced to Monty Python and the Holy Grail through a complete misunderstanding as a little kid and have been plagued by half-remembered scenes of it for years having no idea what it was I had watched

My mom thought it was some sort of serious/dramatized Arthurian film about King Arthur and his knights and that it’d be educational, so she borrowed it from the library for me—now, this was several years before I had regular access to the internet, so my days were filled with listening to the same Kelly Clarkson songs over and over again and messing around on MS Paint for hours—so when the library had anything new, not-boring, and family-friendly (it was a hit and miss when you only had covers to go on) we got it. Oh, I was really young then, too. Six or so, maybe? Just arrived in the US or something and knew absolutely nothing about King Arthur/Arthurian Legends.

I could barely remember the plot years after, but little!me hated it because the completely opposite genre expectations + actual movie + confused tiny immigrant child = memories that feel like a really confusing and head-ache inducing fever dream

and OH that’s not even talking about that time we marathoned the 10th Kingdom like crazy people because we thought it was a really, really, really long film and hadn’t realized it was actually a series. I was sooo sick of it after that, I basically stayed away from any fantasy movies in the library for who-knows-how-long. In fact, if I recall correctly, that’s how mini-me instead started borrowing as many documentaries on String Theory and Astronomy as I could get my hands on.

(I completely forgot I had a String Theory phase as a kid until now. I wonder if I actually understood any of it back then??? In my timeline of Phases I Went Through as A Child, this was slightly before my Ancient Egypt and Egyptian Book of the Dead phase)

I only returned to fantasy when I first saw Princess Bride (which is why I will love that movie forever) and then got into historical/romance with Ever After (still a favorite!), Little House on the Prairie, and Anne of Green Gables. Then it was several years of pretty good movies like that, including Matilda, The Secret Garden, A Little Princess (which I still LOVE!), Mary Poppins, and the Sound of Music. Also, it was around this time I finally got into Cable Television, I think, which made things better.

Also, I actually saw LotR when I was really young, but I was too young to understand what was going on and basically thought it was a horror movie for years because all I could remember from the film was Gollum. My mom convinced me to re-watch it when I was fourteen, which I’m sure she deeply regretted when it was all I would watch for almost an entire year. I watched the trilogy at least once a day, several days of the week, every week for months. She had also given me a portable DVD player for a present that year, so even when we went out of the house, my family couldn’t get away from it.

Then the movies weren’t enough, so I dove into the Silmarillion for More Elf Content looking for elves like Orlando Bloom’s “Amazing, Fantastical, Regal, Pretty” Legolas and instead got the Hot Mess That Was the Feanorians and All the Elves of the First Age, basically, which was both hilarious and eye-opening. And these days, what makes it funnier is when I remember those posts on tumblr about Legolas basically being one of the youngest elves in Middle Earth and also some elf-equivalent of a country bumpkin.

Let me tell you, I was not prepared for the Silmarillion at all, but boy do I still love that book.

#just remembering stuff #it started out as a Monty Python post...which I still haven't rewatched just seen gifs of it btw...and then turned into a trip down memory #lane #and then wandered over to LotR and the COMPLETE SURPRISE THAT WAS THE SILMARILLION

[fandom--desires]

Run To Me (Pt. 1/3)

Fandom: The Hobbit/LOTR

Rating: T Character(s): Legolas Word Count: 1116 Prompt: Hi! Looooove your blog, it's perfection! Could you do a Legolas x reader where the reader is a elf princess and are forced to marry Legolas but they don't know each other and don't want to marry a stranger so they run away but meet by accident and fall in love anyways. Sorry that was really long but if you do this I just say thank you now:D Requested by: Anonymous Part 2

You are a young, independent elf princess, fearless on the battle field and firm in court. You lead legions of elves to war and lead them home safely again. You have faces Orcs, raiders, Goblins and giant spiders. You have bested your brothers and sisters in combat and stand shoulder to shoulder with you father.

So why must you marry?

The very notion is insulting. You would be more than capable to be queen upon your father’s death and rule his people by yourself. By no. You must marry and prince, leave your home and live under his thumb like a little play thing. 

You refuse.

You took the news with a blank expression and a hard stance. What with five siblings, secrets are never secrets for long. Your youngest sister, Thenidiel, had overheard your father agreeing the terms of your marriage with the father of your future spouse two weeks before you had been told. 

Your father planned to marry you on your 300th name day, to Prince Legolas of Greenwood, who by that time would be nearing his 565th name day. You had heard of this Legolas before but had never seen him. Other visiting dignitaries told tales of a strict King which ruled with an iron fist and a shy prince too scared to stand up to his father. That was not the type of person you were going to marry. 

So you pulled your siblings together and informed them of your decision; you were leaving.

None of them were overly thrilled with the idea, but none of them were going to stop you. When your father learned of your betrayal there would be hell to pay and it may likely cause problems with Greenwood, but there was no other way. You had begged and pleaded with your father but he would have none of it. You would marry and that was that. End of story. 

So you packed a bag with the essentials, saddled your horse and, under the blessing of your siblings, fled into the night. It was the cowards way out, but you couldn’t marry someone you didn’t love. How could you be free like that? 

You rode for three days, eventually coming to rest in a small cluster of woods just West of the Misty Mountains. Here you let your horse rest and set about setting up a tent and a small fire. You would rest here for a few days before pushing on to Bree where you could get lost amongst the people there. 

The sun is beating down on the treetops unforgivingly by your second morning in the woods. Summer is rapidly approaching and it promises to be a harsh one. You feel a brief pang of longing for the cool halls of your home as you dress ready for the day, but you quickly chase it away. You needn’t think of home any longer. 

Your horse sleeps peacefully besides your tent as you set about preparing your breakfast and sleeps until you wake him once everything has been packed away.

“Time to move.” you smile, gently patting his nose. He huffs indignantly. “You know we can’t stay long here. How long do you think it will be before father catches up to us? Do you want to face him?” Your horse shakes his head and rises to his feet, waiting patiently for you to load your gear onto him. “Tomorrow we shall push for Bree.” You reassure him as the two of you pick your way towards the edge of the woods. “From there we should be in the clear.” 

The two of you walk in silence for a while, listening to the sound of the birds singing in the trees above. As you near the edge of the woods you notice that another sound has joined the sound of the birds. 

Whistling.

You motion for your horse to wait before pushing forwards to the edge of the treeline. Dropping into a crouch you peer through the bushes to see a tall, lean, blond elf frying two eggs with his own horse resting nearby. He hasn’t noticed you. 

His bow and arrow rest nearby and dual daggers sit on his lap. He might not know you’re there but you don’t appear to be at an advantage. You thumb your hip dagger before taking a deep breath and standing up. “’Quel amrun!” you call out. 

The stranger jumps, hands flying for his daggers. You raise your hands and he seems to relax a little. “’Quel amrun.” he repeats a little wearily. “Can I help you?” 

“I am merely passing through on my way to Bree. I’ve stumbled across your camp entirely by accident.” 

The stranger smiles, relinquishing his hold on his daggers. “Bree you say? We appear to be heading in the same direction. Is it just you?” 

“Indeed. Other than my mount.” 

The stranger’s smile grows wider and his blue eyes twinkle in the morning sun. “We appear to be in the same boat then. Will you sit with me?” 

You take a second to weigh him up, but it’s clear that he’s not too much of a threat now that the two of you are on level ground. He’s not much taller than you and doesn’t seem any stronger. His blond hair is pulled back in two simple braids to perfectly frame his narrow face and he altogether seems quite handsome. 

You lead your horse into the clearing and take a seat opposite the stranger. “I assume, as you are heading to Bree by yourself, that you don’t wish to be found?” 

“Much like yourself I imagine.” the stranger says as he pokes an egg. 

“I shan’t ask you your name then.” 

The stranger nods. “And I shall not ask yours. I will, however, ask when you planned to travel to Bree.” 

“Tomorrow. It should only be one more night until I get there.” 

The stranger looks surprised. “Why not make for it today? You’ll have to rest in the  South Downs anyway. It makes more sense to leave now and shave some time of your journey.” 

“You believe that we could make it in that time?” 

The stranger nods. “Indeed. Certainly if we push on as soon as I’m done eating.” 

You raise an eyebrow in amusement. “’We’? I didn’t realise I’d gained a travelling partner.” 

“You’re more than welcome to join me on my journey. I daresay that I could use someone like you to watch my back.” 

You laugh. “Well in that case, I daren’t leave a struggling gentle-elf in distress!” 

The stranger flashes a dazzling smile and you feel your heart jump a little. Yes, this was defiantly the right choice. 

#Legolas/reader #the hobbit #lord of the rings #lotr #reader insert #legolas #legolasmp

[caithyra]

Rewriting Tauriel... And other Elves

Soooo... Tauriel was a good idea: Increase the number of female characters, and perhaps add a bit of story since we’re making three films from a book and extra material that only warrant two films at the most.

Then it went... yeah. It went wrong (or at least clumsily executed). When it could have gone right so easily that it’s frustrating.

Now, I’m not claiming that my way is right, but eh, it’s my attempt at an idea that doesn’t make Thranduil racist against his people and give Tauriel a greater grounding in the Legendarium (while discarding parts of the love triangle, Kili can still crush on her and say cringe-y stuff, but it’s funnier if Tauriel has no interest whatsoever in him IMO).

Okay, so the Silm is off-limits but clearly allusions to it aren’t (Hallo thar glittering gems of light in a dispute between Dwarves and a Sindarin king). So yeah, here we have a red-haired elf living among Nandorin-descended elves while being disliked by their Sindarin king (who loves Silvan elves and their culture, like his father, to the point of assimilation) when his son started to pay a bit more attention to her than is proper of platonic friends.

I repeat: A red-haired elf among Silvan elves disliked by a Sindarin king when she might end up marrying into the family.

Once upon a time, the Nandor weren’t ruled by Sindarin kings or Noldorin ladies. They had their own king, Lenwë (or Dan, as he was known to them), who had a son, Denethor (who is probably the namesake of Steward Denethor I of Gondor, and subsequently Denethor II, father of Boromir and Faramir, because Elven Denethor was an up-standing and loyal person, which a steward would need to be).

Anyway, the Nandor (valley elves) were named such because they refused to go to the West because they wouldn’t cross mountains. But in the First Age (LotR and Hobbit takes place in the Third Age), Denethor took a bunch of Nandor over the mountains to settle in the lands of Ossiriand, the Easternmost part of the Westernmost land (Beleriand) of Middle-earth.

So, the Nandor, who were the precursors to the Silvan Elves, are in Ossiriand.

Then a bunch of mass-murdering Elves came from the West and integrated themselves in the greatest Elven realm on Middle-earth, Doriath (which was ruled from a cave palace in a forest, sounds familiar?), the Sindarin kingdom of King Thingol (remember? Also there are theories that Thranduil might have been a kinsman of Thingol, since they are both Sindarin nobility). Of course, they kept mum on the whole mass-murdering Thingol’s brother’s kingdom on their way until Thingol found out on his own, so yeah.

Anyway, they were lead by Fëanor and his sons (and the mass-murder was to get one of Fëanor’s shiny jewels back). And while much have been written (the Silmarillion, for example), of him and most his sons. His youngest sons, a pair of twins, was very little written of.

We do know, however, that while in Middle-earth, the Ambarussa (High Elven for “redhead” which was a name they shared) twins lived in East Beleriand.

Yeah. They were neighbours with Ossiriand and the Nandorin elves.

And then the sons of Fëanor committed mass-murder a few more times, including completely destroying Doriath, for a couple of shiny jewels (though the death of Thingol was at Dwarven hands <-Reason why Thranduil and Celeborn [Thingol’s great-nephew] hold grudges towards dwarves and probably why Gimli was to be blind-folded in Lothlórien).

And Thranduil’s family subsumed themselves in the culture of the Silvan Elves, finding it more “natural” than the ways of the Western Elves.

So...

What if Tauriel was descended from an Ambarussa twin (alluded to, at least) and a Nandorin lady? What if instead of “lowly Silvan elf” it is “you are allowed to dwell among us for your late mother’s sake, but I will not tolerate the daughter of my family’s mass-murderers to marry into my family (playing up on the Thranduil being Thingol’s kinsman fan-theories and separating it a bit from the Silm)!”.

What if Tauriel beseeches Thranduil to aid the dwarves in taking back Erebor, and alludes to them being generous in gratitude? And Thranduil alludes to thinking that she believes the Arkenstone being a Silmaril (which he explicitly says is not what she thinks it is), and how Thingol died for it and how his kingdom was destroyed, while refusing because he does not want the same fate for his own people and kingdom.

What if Thranduil saves the White Council at Dol Guldur (it is, after all, the former capital of his kingdom)? And we learn of some tension (also, he doesn’t need magical rings, thankyouverymuch, it’s not like it helped Isildur y’know, also Galadriel is a creepy af colonialist who may one day betray them if she gets her hands on a greater power *winkwink* because she is related to the same family as Tauriel), and he and Gandalf argues about the dwarves, and Elrond steps in defense of his mother-in-law (Galadriel, for those who didn’t know), and tells Thranduil that he will destroy everything he loves if he keeps holding onto past pains like this (and Thranduil allows this only because it is hinted that Elrond helped him with his grief over his wife, which is non-canon, but eh, Elrond is a famous healer and Thranduil can’t die while his people needs him, and we need to keep this from being too accurate to the Silm because no film rights, so yeah). Also, while Thranduil is away, the Dwarves having their daring barrel escape.

What if Thranduil, as much as it pains him, Exiles Tauriel and Legolas when they leave? Alluding to the Exile of the Noldor, in order to protect his kingdom against jewel-lust (btw, it is more clear that this whole backstory is why he locked up the dwarves, and he and Thorin had their own allusions about that, a bit clearer than earlier shown).

What if Tauriel was never in love with anyone? What if her whole story is to prove that a child cannot pay for the sins of her father? That she has good intentions and acts on them? What if she nearly dies proving it? But in return she convinces Thranduil that some battles are worth fighting? What if Thranduil and Legolas have a chat about how Thranduil nearly died from grief (as elves do) when Legolas’ mother died (thus alluding to the problem with Aragorn/Arwen)? And how he cannot ask his people to go through that when it wont tangibly benefit them.

What if Tauriel was shown as a liked and respected captain among the Silvans? And that a soldier overhears Thranduil saying that to Legolas, and that soldier in turn is shown going to speak with other soldiers? What if Thranduil is convinced of Tauriel’s convictions, but still wont ask his soldiers to sacrifice, and then Tauriel’s friends step in and volunteers?

What if Tauriel dies instead of nearly dying? (Yes, killing one of the few female characters is iffy, but at least she would die for her convictions and to save the world instead of for romance, heck, have her do something ridiculously heroic while at it) And instead of sending Legolas to Aragorn, Thranduil sends Legolas to Elrond Half-elven to learn of mortality and grief? In a desperate attempt to save Legolas’ life as Legolas is in pain and almost starts fading? What if Thranduil’s soldiers (who will have had scenes showing that they like and respect their captain, dammit!) overhears the “this is why I don’t want to go to war, it is not just one soldier that dies when one dies on the battlefield”-talk, and then go “with all due respect, lord and sire, but Tauriel was fucking right and even if you are our king, that question should be answered by your individual subjects and not by you, if we didn’t think it worth the fight, we wouldn’t have taken up arms to begin with”, and then Thranduil meets Bilbo who will fight even when scared and likely to die, who hands him the Arkenstone in the hopes of saving the dwarves, and Thranduil is completely convinced.

Gandalf doesn’t notice at first, however (still being stuck with the argument at Dol Guldur, that’s what you get for disappearing to secret council meetings all the time!), and they have a bit of a spat in miscommunication, but beside that, the elves eventually ends up having a Big Damn Heroes Entrance moment in the Battle of the Five Armies.

If Tauriel survives, she gently explains to Legolas that she does not feel the same but that she will always loyally serve his family. This causes Legolas to be uncomfortable and want to leave, and Thranduil wishes him well and advises him to learn the ways of mortals, for the Ages of Elves are ending and if they are to survive in the Age of Men, the future King of Mirkwood needs to know them. Legolas decides to learn from Elrond Half-elven and the Dúnedain and leaves (and thus wont see his father’s new friendship with the dwarves, setting up his rivalry with Gimli as they both act as their fathers used to do before they shook hands).

The denouement of this side-plot would be Thranduil striking up a sort of friendship with Dáin and Balin (and Balin mentioning that with Erebor freed, Moria would be next *winkwink* and asking if Thranduil will attempt to stop that from happening like with Erebor, and Thranduil instead sincerely wishing them luck, but warns, with scenes of Dol Guldur, still overrun by spiders, that the Shadow is moving again and it is not so easy to reclaim what was once lost. Also, Glóin should be especially prominent in this scene, possibly standing beside Gandalf and Bilbo, in an outfit reminiscent of the one he wore in Rivendell in LotR), as well as agreeing to a military alliance with Dale and Erebor.

#the hobbit #the silmarillion #tauriel #legolas #thranduil #elves #an unexpected journey #the desolation of smaug #the battle of the five armies #random fandom rambling #I had such high hopes for Tauriel #even with the love triangle #and then they were shattered #random post is random #basically tauriel's main narrative relationship is with thranduil #it's just not a romantic relationship #oh and fëanor keeps ruining everything in middle-earth #even when he can't be mentioned due to copyright reasons lol #also foreshadowing to the lotr films to the max #this post is too long #but maybe someone will like my aimless ramblings?