#and Orodreth is Gil-Galad’s dad | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

thelien-art · 1 year

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Have you ever drawn Gil-galad? I’d love to see him in your style!

Headcannon for his parentage and appearance under cut

Parentage:

I´m convinced that Ereinion was a child born in Angband and he someway escaped very young (haven't figured out how yet)

Maedhros found him on his way to visit Fingon and just picked him up when he saw him as it would take too long to return with him to Himring. When Fingon meets Ereinion he was quick to adopt him, first because he needed an heir and later because he loved him as a son. Before Fingon´s death, Ereinion was sent to Orodreth as Fingon thought of it as the safest and closest option, and two years before Orodreth´s death he was sent to Cirdan.

He always knew Fingon wasn´t his real dad even though they had a striking resemblance. The first years of his life were miserable in slavery most of it was a luxury which did show in his sometimes bratty and spoiled behavior, which could be excused in his first year of being free as a response to being free of Angbands holds. The first one to ever really say no to him was Cirdan which he didn´t take well.

He does think of Maedhros as an extra dad and bonds with him on a deeper level because of their shared experience in Angband even though he can´t remember much and doesn´t bear the same physical scarring because of his age when he was there.

He sees Fingon and Cirdan most as his dads as he always felt like Orodreth was distant and more of an uncle. He was used to being an only child and suddenly having to share a parent with a sibling was devastating, even if there were two parents.

Appearance:

He does grow his hair a little bit longer than what is normal for a Noldor because of his time in Angband and though he does use the Noldor braid system he only does it rarely. When he goes to battle he sets his hair up in a soldier braid bun but with his status braids visible too while braiding it in such a way that it looks like it´s more white than black, thus the elvers talking about his silver armor and silver hair as the helmet hid most of the black.

noldor hair braids system

Noldors, Vanyar, and Teleri are more prone to being born with discoloration, or physical, as well as mental, disabilities due to living so close to the Ainur in Valinor. It is seen in Doriath too a little, and in escaped thralls born in Angband a lot too as the Ainur there do it on purpose at times. In Angband, it´s also seen a few times in elvers born outside of the fortress, prime example are the orcs (an orc HC I have is that the first orcs were elvish tribes who came to Melkor and let themself be turned volunteer with the promises of power and protection (aka being able to survive as beleriand was hard to survive more then probably)) -taken from my Edrahil post-

#i love him #hes my baby #i have so many thoughts on him and one day ill maybe make a fic about him #tolkien #jrr tolkien #silmarillion #ereinion gil galad #gil galad #ereinion #digital art #silm art #my art #finaly made a design i actelly like

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yourlocalnetizen · 2 years

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Tolkien elves and who they trauma dump on

Finwe - His whole family but mostly Indis.

Ingwe - Doesn’t trauma dump. Manwe can tell when he needs to talk about his feelings though and offers to be his moral support.

Thingol - Melian.

Cirdan - Doesn’t trauma dump but managed just fine.

Miriel - Mandos and Vaire are her go too Valar if she needs to talk about her feelings but she rarely does.

Indis - Tries to avoid trauma dumping but she needs to every once in a while and uncle Ingwe is always there for her.

Feanor - Nerdanel and sometimes Mahtan. He refuses to talk about his feelings with the Valar. Manwe & Namo tried though. Nienna almost succeeded. In Mandos he trauma dumps on Finwe, like he should have a long time ago because no one else can get him open up about his feelings.

Nerdanel - Her dad.

Findis - Avoids trauma dumping but she goes to her mom when she needs too.

Fingolfin - His mom but after he goes to middle earth it’s Irime.

Irime - Fingolfin because he was her best friend from the start. She knew Indis was more reliable but thought her mom had enough to worry about already.

Finarfin - Doesn’t ever trauma dump but he’s always open about his feelings, including the negative ones, with Earwen, as is she with him.

Maedhros - Never had the need to trauma dump when he was in Valinor. In middle earth probably Maglor. I can’t see it being Fingon because the last time he got Fingon involved in his troubles, he turned Fingon into a kinslayer and I bet he felt very guilty about it.

Maglor - Maedhros, a very bad choice given how traumatized his elder bro is but M&M are clearly super codependent.

Celegorm - In Valinor, Orome. In Middle Earth, Huan and Maedhros. After Huan leaves him, no one because he doesn’t get along with Maedhros anymore and no way is he willing to push his feelings on his little brothers. (I think he always tried to be a dependable big bro to his little sibs because he looked up to Maedhros when he was younger and Maedhros was always a dependable big bro to him.)

Caranthir - He doesn’t trauma dump and he doesn’t have to. He does have trauma but he deals with it in healthy ways. Like screaming in his soundproof room.

Curufin - Feanor, back when Feanor was alive. It was not helpful since his dad was the most traumatized elf alive at that point. After Feanor dies, he goes to Mae & Mags. He never actually listens to their suggestions though.

Amrod & Amras - Each other. Who else?

Fingon - Fingolfin back when he was alive.

Turgon - Doesn’t ever talk about his feelings but it worked out for him because Glorfindel always knows what he’s feeling.

Glorfindel - Open about his feelings with everyone he’s close to.

Idril - Tuor.

Maeglin - Thanks to his dad and latter Turgon, he didn’t realize it was okay to talk about your feelings. Also if anyone knew about his feelings, they would be ultra judgmental.

Aredhel - Fingolfin. Later Turgon, who isn’t a great choice but she lives with him so her options are limited.

Luthien - Beren.

Finrod - His parents in Valinor. In middle earth, it’s Beor for a bit. After that, no one because he doesn’t have any more trauma to dump.

Angrod - His bros. Maybe his wife.

Aegnor - Finrod and Angrod.

Galadriel - Finrod, but she quickly grows out of the need of having to trauma dump.

Celeborn - His wife.

Celebrimbor - After he ditched his dad, probably Galadriel and Celeborn. Later Sauron, but that didn’t work out did it?

Gil-Galad - Cirdan. His true dad. (Not by blood since he’s Finwean obviously, but he did raise him.)

Finduilas - Her dad.

Orodreth - Whatever elder family member is emotionally available at the moment. It’s been Finrod, his parents, and Finarfin at some point.

Earendil - Elwing.

Elwing - Earendil.

Elros - Elrond.

Elrond - Elros initially but stopped trauma dumping after his twin died. Fortunately, it’s okay because Glorfindel knows what he’s feeling and knows how to help.

Celebrian - Her mom. Probably uncle Finrod in Valinor.

Thranduil - Doesn’t trauma dump. Oropher’s death probably traumatized him but I don’t think he had the chance to talk about his feelings being a king and all. Somehow he was able to overcome his grief though. (Maybe the birth of Legolas?)

Legolas - Gimli.

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elspethdixon · 8 months

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Has anyone considered the possibility that the reason nobody can agree on who Gil-galad the two-fathered ‘s Dad actually was is because he’s an Mpreg baby and Orodreth refused to admit who had actually knocked him up?

#silmarillion #hey orodreth was it fingon? shrug i mean could have been #orodreth was it cirdan? dunno maybe it’s possible #so orodreth was it celegorm or finrod i mean there aren’t many blonde noldor? could have been either really

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sesamenom · 2 years

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A solution to the Gil-Galad's schrodingers Dad problem:

Maglor, Fingon, and Orodreth all had a silver-haired kid (NoME says Gil-Galad has silver hair) at some point in time, all three kids being about the same age.

However, at a second point in time, all three decided that their current situations weren't safe to raise a kid. For Maglor, it makes sense that next door to Angband isn't a great place for a baby to grow up; for the others, maybe a battle happened or their wife died in Beleriand/the Ice and they couldn't take care of both their royal duty and a kid.

So of course, all three of them sent a silver haired Finwean-looking baby to Cirdan around the same time, not knowing that the other two did the same thing. And of course they didn't label them or anything, so 100 yrs later, nobody in-universe knows exactly who Erenion's father is, because there's three of them.

#silm #silmarillion #gil galad #gil galads father #maglor #fingon #orodreth

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ithrysslurks · 1 year

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The Fall of Gil-Galad: Bredlik version

his name was Gil and he was king, of him the har- pers sadly sing; his names mean 'prinse' and 'shiyning star' — but non know hu his parents ar.

hes Fingons son, haf many guessed, its sung in songs brot to the West, but theres much douwt he had a wiyfe, for Maedhros was his fren for liyfe.

the third age har- pers sing this some — from Orodreth he could haf come, but Gil was grayte, this elf, less sharp — of him the sing- ers rarely harp.

could Finrod fair haf been his dad? of this the har- pers think real sad, for Finrod lovd Amarië — and bak in Val- inor she stayd.

of Fëanor, some grasp for hints, or Sindarin: a long-lost prinse? a random elf got hipnotiyzed? or Findui- las, in disguiyse?

they call him Gil — Ereinion, ruld Lindon once, but now its gon; of sord, and lance, the harpers piyne, on shield and helm the stars did shiyne.

'but now hes ded!' cry harpers sad, not even El- rond knows Gils dad; unfinished til the Dagorath — the anchient tale of Gil-Galad.

#silmarillion #gil galad #bredlik #i lik the bred #ereinion gil galad #i don't know how sindarin or quenya syllables are stressed #i wrote this at 4 am in the morning before 2 finals #i have good time management skills #i wrote a thing #i hope you like #i stayed up way too late last night

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curufiin · 5 months

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Celebrimbor for the thought ask game?

coming right up anon thank you for waiting

one aspect about them i love

one does not simply disown curufin without gaining my eternal adoration and respect. literally THE power move of silmarillion as a whole imo. imagine telling off your dad who everyone says is most like feanor (y’know, the guy who decided to singlehandedly fight satan’s whole army and died in a burst of fire and was known to have a temper and also invented elf on elf murder), is also known to have a temper (curufin’s perilous moods my beloved), kidnapped a princess, invented usurpation, and might just kill you too. people don’t give him enough props for it

one aspect i wish more people understood about them

hmmmm idk i think people generally have a good grasp on tyelpe. but i did see one of my friends shit on him for being fooled by mini elf satan??? listen tyelpe comes from a line of LAME ASS SMITHING AND LINGUISTICS NERDS OF COURSE HE WOULD BE FOOLED BY A SERVANT OF AULE

one (or more) headcanon(s) i have about this character

tyelpe was definitely a mommy’s boy i don’t make the rules. he loooves his mom

one character i love seeing them interact with

sauron <333333

one character i wish they would interact with/interact with more

the rest of the feanorian fam in general honestly. and curufin. i need to see curufin’s crappy parenting skills on display

one (or more) headcanon(s) i have that involve them and one other character

honestly i think he got vaguely adopted by orodreth and then by gil galad (even though tyelpe is older but go figure) after the curufin ordeal. also he never talks about curufin and is probably quite pleased (if a bit sad) that curufin’s name is generally not very well known

#ask #mysterious anons

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winepresswrath · 1 year

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There is a sad lack of Orodreth/Celebrimbor. Really letting down the Gil-Galad's dads extended universe.

#no but while I do think the text points to both of them being adults at the time of the Finrod incident #I am compelled by the idea of them as very young adults just vibing #in a moderately toxic family environment until suddenly uncle cousins are being exiled and fed to wolves #and the situation just escalates so quickly. now they're furiously exiling the remaining adults #making out at the office throne room and forge #seizing control of the city #holding hands in the dark #playing house #refusing all calls to arms #crossing your fingers uncle thingol doesn't ask too many questions about who you're dating #watching your boyfriend set his uncles' letters on fire unopened #just dirtbag teen things

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wyllzel · 2 years

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nct but i assign them a relatively obscure tolkien character

taeil: olwë, an elf king who mostly just chills and has a bunch of awesome ships. unfortunately these ships are stolen

johnny: elu thingol, an elf king who spends a good chunk of his life mutually staring a minor goddess and falling in love with her, and then spends the rest of his life being mildly stoic/fatherly and sending people (see: mark) on very dangerous quests. also he is literally the tallest elf ever

taeyong: maedhros, a very powerful elf who basically has the world on his shoulders rip 😟

yuta: finrod, an elf who is super sexy and charismatic and has sick jewelry and dies fighting a werewolf (for beren (see: mark) lol) which is pretty metal

kun: orodreth, an elf king who kinda just chills and leads a fairly quiet and prosperous life until this human dude (see: yangyang) fucks everything up :/

doyoung: maglor, an elf whose whole thing is being emo and singing songs and also his bff/older brother is maedhros (see: taeyong) so this just makes sense really

ten: fingon, an elf who was high-king for a while and sang a song to rescue maedhros (see: taeyong) from sauron’s evil boss. and that song was jopping :)

jaehyun: aegnor, an elf warrior whose personality is essentially just being mega cool and sexy. he falls in love with a human lady but alas, tragedy

winwin: mablung, an elf who’s beleg’s (see: renjun) bestie and co-worker and basically he’s an all-around good and valiant guy who ends up following túrin (see: yangyang) as he fails epically

jungwoo: tuor, a human who is essentially a really cool and heroic romantic lead and an all-around good guy. he’s túrin’s cousin (see: yangyang) and is basically like “what if túrin got to live a good life” LOL

mark: beren, a human who is tolkien’s self-insert.. he’s really just some guy who has it REALLY bad for this ultra powerful beautiful elf lady and he tries and fails at an insane quest for her. nice

xiaojun: ecthelion, an elf who is a major hottie and generally has elegant and noble vibes. great warrior. besties with glorfindel (see: hendery)

hendery: glorfindel, an elf who is known for having long hair (hint hint @ hdy) and being a cool warrior but also slightly goofy iirc. besties with ecthelion (see: xiaojun)

renjun: beleg, an archer elf (aka proto legolas) who is very well-liked and compassionate, brave, etc and is a good friend/mentor to túrin (see: yangyang)

jeno: gwindor, a very nice elf guy who was betrothed to orodreth’s daughter (see: taeil) but then he got kidnapped by Evil Forces and when he escaped w help from túrin (see: yangyang), túrin ended up stealing his girl. and then destroying his kingdom. oops

haechan: elros, a part-human part-elf who ended up choosing his humanity (and so become mortal) and becoming the first king of numenor, aka atlantis, aka he is super mega cool and very fascinating as a character. also he’s elrond’s twin lol

jaemin: eärendil, a part-human part-elf who’s elrond’s dad and also he’s kinda unhinged and crazy brave… his story is just generally pretty intense lol but he kinda has chill energy which feels very jaemin-ish

yangyang: túrin, a human who is basically described as the hottest guy ever but also he’s super emo and canonically doesn’t speak much at all. he is a warrior but shrewd/charismatic when needed. also he accidentally commits incest rip 😔

shotaro: bëor, a human leader guy who basically saves his people by making First Contact with the elves (aka finrod (see: yuta)), not much is known about him but overall seems like the hopeful leader type!

sungchan: gil-galad, an elf who becomes high-king but has a very mysterious/indeterminate origin story??? he’s cool tho, he does his best until he’s killed in battle against sauron rip </3

chenle: celegorm, an elf whose entire personality is being a jock and liking dogs and chenle plays basketball and has daegal. perfect

jisung: curufin, an elf who’s pretty crafty (origami legend) and is besties with celegorm (see: chenle) 😎 they sure do pull some fun pranks together.. lol… (they cause problems)

#chelle.txt #this is like my star trek post but worse 😎#it's reaching that point in the night where i have just convinced myself that markly is beren. very epic of me #i didn't want to assign yy turin but my hand was forced i couldnt think of anyone else :///#this was so much harder than i anticipated omg #if i were braver i would translate this to photoshop

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rivalsforlife · 2 years

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I usually subscribe to the “Gil-galad is the son of Orodreth” interpretation because that was Tolkien’s last word on the subject and it made more sense to me line-of-succession wise, but I have been warming up to the son of Fingon interpretation lately. Mostly because I like the idea of young High King Gil-galad trying to deal with the fact his dad’s best friend (who was a little intimidating looking but surprisingly good with kids) is now doing war crimes. and it’s kind of awkward for him. It would make for good bonding moments with Elrond later on too.

Plus there’s extremely depressed Maedhros being driven by the Oath to do things he’s ashamed of like kinslayings and is desperately also trying to avoid the last living remnant of his best friend, and why NOT make Maedhros’s life more miserable than it strictly has to be at this point, that’s half the fun

#silmarillion #I can't articulate WHY I think this would be funny. but I do think it is #gil-galad coming up on the ruins of sirion: what the fuck uncle maedhros

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warthoong · 2 years

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Okay, it’s time for a long #meta?.. headcanon?.. Silm post.

It will be… very historical and full of pedigrees, but it will explain the weird situation with multiple elven kings and Turgon being the High King of Noldor after Fingon. Seriously, it’s a long post, but I promise, it all works out in the end.

Let’s star from the very beginning. I had a nice talk with @quixoticanarchy and @nereb-and-dungalef about the Lay of Leithian rock-opera translation, and they mentioned the word, that we translated as “prince”, because it was the best substitute we could find. The original word is “князь”(knyaz’) and it’s a very specific historical term. It is used for Russian rulers in a period of feudalism. Here begins the historical part.

I bet you know about feudalism in Europe - Middle Ages, knights, vassal relationship, liege lords, fortresses, the Hundred Years’ War, Richard the Lionheard, and so on, and so forth. The same(kinda) situation(only without knights, vassal relationship, liege lords, the Hundred Years’ War andRichard the Lionheard) was in Eastern Europe. There were A LOT OF small principalities and even more people who ruled or could be rulers there(in fact, every principality was like a small country, with its own laws, army, everything). Now, among all these principalities, was one, being the ruler of which was considered the coolest and the most prestigious thing possible(if you’re this ruler, you are called “the great knyaz’”, everyone else obeys you). No wonder all rulers were fighting to be the ruler of this #1 land(Kyiv, later Vladimir, later Tver’, later Moscow). Not everything this simple though. There was an official order of succession: if the ruler of the land #1 dies, the ruler of the land #2 takes his place(the rules #3 takes the place of the ruler #2, #4 takes the place of #3, etc). Now begins the pedigrees part.

All rulers belonged to one dynasty(so you can’t be one if you’re not related to them). And there was the order of succession(you can call it a rating): dad ->oldest brother(dad’s son) -> second brother -> third brother -> oldest brother’s oldest son -> oldest brother’s second son -> second brother’s oldest son -> … -> oldest brother’s oldest son’s oldest son -> etc.. Dad rules in the land #1, his oldest son - in the land #2, second son - land #3, etc.(I believe it's called "rota system", at least, it's what my dictionary says, but I could be wrong).

Sounds pretty logical, and also VERY complex. Well, let me tell you about three aspects that make this system easier. The first aspect: if your dad didn’t manage to become the great knyaz’, you, your brothers, your and their descendants lose your right to be the great knyaz’(forever). You can rule only in lands your father ruled in. The second aspect: only legitimate children(sons) can rule(no children from the second, third, fifth, etc. marriage). The third aspect: as it often happens, women don’t count, as well as you can’t rule if your mother, not father is from this ruler’s dynasty.

At this stage, the whole situation finally becomes clear and we can dive into Silm meta part. I suggest Noldor had the same order of succession. So in theory it should have been like this: Finwe -> Feanor -> Maedhros -> Maglor -> the rest of the sons -> Celebrimbor -> the end of the dynasty, with no Fingolfin, Finarfin and others, because they are descendants of Indis(second marriage!). And it was like this until Maedhros waived his claim to kingship. So Fingolfin became the High King, and the order of succession changed to Fingolfin -> Fingon -> Turgon -> Finrod -> (Orodreth) -> Angrod -> Aegnor -> Gil-Galad -> Maeglin -> Earendil -> Elrond, with no Feanorians, possibly no Arafinweans(Finarfin is High King in Valinor, not in Beleriand), possibly no Maeglin, Earendil and his descendants(no matriheritage).

Unfortunately we don’t know if this system worked with lands, because mostly elven kingdoms fell with their lords(you can’t rule in Barad Eithel if there’s no Barad Eithel). But in my honest opinion, it would be fun to see Finrod packing all his jewels and moving to Gondolin after Turgon became High King and moved to Barad Eithel.

The End :)

#silmarillion #meta?.. headcanon?..#high king of noldor #silm meta #history #I won't name here all mentioned characters #I'm too lazy for that #thank you for reading all these words

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emese-of-void · 1 year

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Gil-Galad son of plothole

Silmarillion hyperfixation is making my brain go brr, so I decided to make a list of all the Gil-Galad dad theories I've come across, ranked by my completely subjective sense of their narrative potential. Does it make the characters more complex? Does it make everything even more tragic, or alternatively funny? Or happier for Elrond, also a significant criteria.

Son of Orodreth. The most canon version. This is fine? There could be something there with Finrod being so against having children in wartime, and Orodreth being the only one of his siblings to go against him. But personally I can't find that much to work with here.

Son of Fingon. As in with an unnamed wife. Almost sort of canon. I'm not a fan of this - reading this relationship with Maedhros as romantic makes it so much more complex and interesting, to take that away and replace it with a romantic relationship that is unconnected to his arc just doesn't work for me.

Gil Galad is Maglor/ the reincarnation of Fëanor/ is Fingon with amnesia - I've grouped these together because they don't work for me for the same reason: this is not their redemption arc. Being a heroic and great leader is not a substitute for reckoning with damage they had caused in their lives. Plus the personalities don't track, except for Fingon maybe. Star tree is something I can see Fingon naming himself if he had amnesia. I do think his sword was long, his lance was keen sounds like Maglor, so maybe it was someone he knew? Or, if Elrond was in relationship with Gil-Galad maybe he was teasing Elrond.

He is his own father, through time travel. It is pretty funny to think of Gil-Galad showing up in Valinor, trying to figure out his parentage, and eventually throwing his hands up in the air, like, do I have to do everything myself?

Son of Aegnor and Andreth. It would be nice to think that they were secretly happy, but I feel like this doesn't add very much to Gil-Galad himself.

Father of no importance - the most likely (in story) explanation for why none of the paternities really fit is that Gil-Galad is Noldo on his mother's side. I don't know enough yet to weigh in on that debate though.

The Middle Earth equivalent of a test tube baby. A magical genetic combination of Finrod, Fingon and Maedhros, as they realised succession is going to be an issue, and also had no idea yet how things were going to play out, as in which one of them it would be beneficial for an heir to be related to, so they went with all of them. There is something uncanny about Gil-Galad and all the blank spaces in his story, and him being created for a purpose instead of born would sort of play into that. It's also very sad for him, even if he was also loved and wanted by his many fathers. From scion by arraviste https://archiveofourown.org/works/19936252

Literally just some guy. Sometimes a con man, sometimes ending up as high king through a series of misunderstandings. Sometimes there is no one who wants the job, and everyone is happy for someone, anyone to step in. I like this, because I feel like in the second age there is a paradigm shift in the elves' relationship to previous structures of power and this plays into that - it's not abolishing kingships altogether, but it's sort of a step in that direction?

Galadriel - I've not actually seen this suggested, I just don't really get why. She is ambitious above all others, she is in the line of succession, she clearly thinks she could do better (and definitely could). I think maybe I just don't have a handle on her, and why she wants to rule but specifically not the Noldor. It wouldn't work thematically, either for her personally as her arc is a towards a rejection of ambition and power, or for the kingship as her rule would be carrying on the tradition of the previous kings. But logistically I feel like it would make sense for her to at least be considered?

Is Eluréd or Elurín. I kind of like this? Two boys who disappeared from all stories, and a hero who appeared from seemingly nowhere. And the tragedy isn't lost given that, well, there's only one of him.

Is Celebrían. Ok, this has the potential for some romantic comedy shenanigans in the middle of a long stretch of tragedy, and I'm all for Elrond and Celebrían having all the dorky ridicilous joy they can have. Like, maybe Elrond has feelings for both Celebrían and the great political mind of Gil-Galad he gets to know through letters. There's low stakes romantic angst and mistaken identities. Logistically though Celebrían outlived Gil-Galad, and I feel like death on a battlefield by Sauron would be hard to fake. Plus I have a general preference against Gil-Galad didn't really exist theories: there are so few elves already in that generation, don't want to lose any more. Let Elrond have both a devoted friend/ yet another father figure AND an adorable wife. Or boyfriend and wife, either way.

Gil-Galad is a fiction. No one wanted to be king and no wanted wanted to have a king. Not surprising given the mess of the last age. But sometimes diplomatic relations required a king, so they had a fictional one that different elves would impersonate as needed. Which is why his name is kingly king star tree. Someone may have come up with that on that spot. And then someone died while being Gil-Galad so the character had to be retired. I am all for this! Shenenigans AND a paradigm shift in the structures of power.

Son of Fingon and Maedhros - this is quite popular and I can see why. It would explain why Gil-Galad is the scion of kings plural. Why everyone is so certain of his claim, even though his heritage is obfuscated - being associated with Maedhros would not be a positive, but the scion of Fëanor AND Fingolfin would definitely have a strong claim. And Fingon the Valiant, who dives into danger without thinking with a harp and a prayer, Fingon who had hope, I can see him having a child in wartime even if it was not the custom of the elves. And Maedhros, oldest brother of the biggest family, I'm sure would want to have children, even if he wouldn't let himself.

There are a variety of options for baby acquisition; one of them is trans, or Maedhros is altered by Sauron, they adopt, or just acquire a baby without an explanation. (There are bound to be some orphans around in wartime.) My personal preference is for adoption, because it means Maedhros can think of Gil-Galad as Fingon's child and angst over how much of a parent he can allow himself to be, while the entire rest of the world is just like, yup this child is Maedhros' child.

I think the circumstances are different enough that it doesn't feel like a repeat of the adoption of Elrond and Elros. Maedhros is in a very different place in those two times, and they would have had very different experiences of being parented (or not, really) by him.

Same as above but Gil-Galad is a baby orc, ranked above the other options because extra cute. The Storc Brought Him, by LiveOakWithMoss and the TheLionInMyBed https://archiveofourown.org/works/11358261/chapters/25422936

Gil-Galad is Elladan - oh this has so much potential! Elladan is related to literally everyone, his relationships with the various characters has so much depth and resonance. He is both the hope of survival and a better world to come, and the inevitability of fate. Lovely stuff. The Long Road by Kaz https://archiveofourown.org/works/16522163/chapters/38701289

Son of Sauron (genetic experiment of Sauron). This is such a crack theory, I’m surprised that it ended up so high on the list, but the more I thought about it the more pieces clicked into place for me.

He would be a mix of Noldor and Maiar (specifically Sauron himself). Biological experimentation and warfare was definitely something Morgoth and Sauron were engaged in - dragons, orcs, thralls, werewolves - they definitely had the means and the inclanation.

It would have been clear for a very long time that there were going to be be a lack of good options for the next high king after Fingon. If there happened to be someone who by his looks clearly had a strong claim to the throne but had unverifiable heritage, it would at the very least be a flame to the powder keg of Noldorin succession, and at best, Sauron's creature might end up on the throne.

Sauron would have intended Gil-Galad to be a kind of antichrist figure to the Noldor; an extremely competent and charismatic leader, with a sense of (maiar) power about him, someone who started out with genuinely good intentions, someone that everyone rallied around. Until he was inevitably corrupted, betrayed all who trusted him, and delivered the Noldor into the hands of their enemy.

I can see Sauron believing that the child inheriting his nature would be sufficient for him to be inevitably corrupted.

I think this has all the hallmarks of a second age Sauron plan: it is extremely long term even by elven standards, it relies on him being perceptive about his opponents' needs and wants and exploiting it. It is cruel and aims for maximum emotional devastation.

Even the name, King Excellent the Lord of Gifts does tend to choose the labelliest of names. Here is Ereinion, gift wrapped for you.

Except things don't work out that way. Because Elrond who was heir to the entire world refused the crown of the Noldor, and stopped the cycle of violence that came with disputed successions. Because inheriting Mairon's nature doesn't inevitably lead to corruption. Because Gil-Galad made different choices.

In this context Elrond refusing the throne also means, I know what you are and I trust you anyway.

And Gil-Galad making him his herald also means, I need you close because I don't always trust myself, but I trust you. And if need be, you have the best chance of killing me.

Plus they have shared Maiar heritage they can bond over.

He could also bond with Celebrimbor over living with a messed up family heritage.

Gil-Galad canonically takes the threat of Sauron seriously early on. Because he knows what he is capable of. What he himself is capable of.

In this context his death at the hands of Sauron is a victory, of never giving in, not even at the worst. Plus, it's a whole lot more personal for both.

Annatar may have been intended as a last ditch effor to 'activate' Gil-Galad.

Maybe he didn't meet with Annatar because unlike Elrond his Maiar heritage wasn't common knowledge, though in this world he would have strong reason to suspect Annatar of being Sauron, so that's a plothole that would need to be filled

For an extra twist of the knife: Gil-Galad defying Sauron's intentions for him leads to Sauron coming up with alternate plans - so Gil-Galad feels directly responsible for Celebrimbor's fate.

And combining son of Sauron with a Maedhros/ Fingon adoption piles on the tragedy

So assuming Sauron created Gil-Galad out of a combination of himself, Maedhros and Fingon:

He would have a strong claim to the throne based on his looks, without it being clear what exactly his heritage was, as a biological child of Maedhros and Fingon would be unlikely

Maedhros is possibly the only person in this age who truly knew who Sauron was and what he was capable of and lived to tell (Beren and Luthien lived, but they went off to do their own thing). He would understand what Sauron intended when he left this child at his doorstep

Sauron counted on Maedhros not being able to kill the child despite knowing his intentions for it (definitely not if Gil was partially Fingon's). He also counted on Maedhros hating the child, as he hated Sauron and as he hated himself. This wounded upbringing would set Gil-Galad on the path Sauron intended for him. Function and cruel, very Sauron.

Except once again that is not what happens. Because Maedhros more than anyone knows what makes someone a monster. And while he would never extend himself grace, he would not consider Gil a monster just because of the circumstances of his birth.

In fact, he would be the best parent Gil could have for understanding himself, where he came from and what he can be.

And his other father would be Fingon, who had hope and courage.

This does kind of double up on the Fëanorian adoptions, but I think it's different enough from Elrond and Elros for the two to play off each other in interesting ways. For Gil Maedhros is a present if conflicted father, by the time Elrond and Elros come around he is broken and checked out. Whereas Maglor's breakdown leads him to parenthood.

It is less funny for Elrond to be a the high king's herald and yet a Fëanorian supporter if the high king is also sympathetic to them, but perhaps he isn't by that point, or perhaps he is just more diplomatic about it.

So yeah, it's not where I expected to end up, but that's my current favourite Gil-Galad theory: the antichrist of Middle Earth who wasn't. I feel like it links Elrond and Celebrimbor and Gil-Galad thematically as the new generation of elves in the second age, who all contend with complicated heritages (they're not literally the same generation, elves are weird, but thematically they feel like the same generation). The scion of Fëanor who wasn't, the king of the world who made a home instead, the antichrist who refused his destiny. None of them avoided tragedy, but they didn't repeat their ancestors mistakes, and they created a new and better world.

#silmarillion #gil galad #sauron #maedhros #fingon #elrond #tolkien

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