#listen I’m sorry but the only logical conjunction of ‘sauron maia of math’ and ‘still seeks world domination but is being polite about it’

[tanoraqui]

actually the best part of an AU where Annatar simply does not revert to evil, but does eventually admit to having been evil, is if he stays on good terms with Khazad-Dum forever and one day in the mid-Third Age the dwarves palantir-call him like, “Hey, Annatar, we think we found one of your old guys? Could you come get them out of our mineshaft?”

Celebrimbor, leaning over Annatar’s shoulder: ‘One of his old guys’ as in a Maia, or as in an evil monster?

Dwarves: Yes. That is, it killed Durin, and the survivors of his party say it was a nightmare of fire and darkness.

Annatar: We’ll be right there.

Annatar a couple days later, peering down a deep, deep mineshaft both physically and spiritually: Holy shit, it’s Dave. [to Celebrimbor] Star-gem, stand back. Everyone else, too. [leans further down the shaft] HEY, DAVE, KNOCK IT OFF! I’M TRYING TO RUN A FAIR AND STABLE GLOBAL ECONOMY UP HERE!

#lotr #second age shenaniganry #annatar #sauron #celebrimbor #listen I’m sorry but the only logical conjunction of ‘sauron maia of math’ and ‘still seeks world domination but is being polite about it’ #is 100% ‘sauron creates/encourages globalized economy controlled by him’ #though in that au that I haven’t finished writing I’m not actually sure they build a new ost-in-edhil or anything #traveling magicians inventors advisors to kings…and sometimes that thing baru did on that one island with shares in the local crop… #also a balrog now I guess