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#oropher headcanon
growingingreenwood · 2 months
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Hii!! I was reading your stories and the thought came to me: did thranduil, ferdan, galion and oropher took part in the war of wrath in your stories? if they did, I would love to hear what part each of them took in it!
Hello!! Thank you for reading and for reaching out!   Tolkien never tells us if any of the surviving Sindar from Doriath take part in the War of Wrath (at least not that I could find) but in my little headcanons they absolutely 100000% took part in the War of Wrath, I just have never written anything about it tbh. (Although, Galion would not have ‘fought’ in the War of Wrath at all. He’s adamant that he is not, and will never be a soldier. But I’m sure he found a plethora of other helpful duties to keep himself occupied with.)
Thingol dies and Melian flee’s to Valinor in F.A 503, the Second Kinslaying and Fall of Menegroth happens in F.A 506, the bulk of the survivors escaped to Sirion. Which is the site of the Third Kinslaying in 538. By the time the War of Wrath is ready to start in F.A 545, Oropher and his boys had just gone through such relentless loss that: 
Revenge in any capacity probably seemed mighty attractive. 
What else did they have to lose at this point?  
If they survived thus far, they might as well die trying to actually make some sort of difference. And if by some miracle they happened to survive the War of Wrath too, well, then that was the world's problem. 
I also think that Oropher & thus Thranduil, Ferdan, and Galion would have felt compelled to join the fight among Círdan’s host out of remaining love, friendship, and loyalty to him. As Círdan was one of the awakened elves alongside Thingol (Elwe) and in my personal headcanons, Oropher. Even though Círdan developed a fairly close relationship with the Noldor, he remained loyal to Thingol until his death in F.A 503, even going so far as to warn Thingol about the dishonesty surrounding the reason why the Noldor had arrived back to Middle Earth. It’s likely that especially Oropher and Thranduil (but perhaps to a lesser extent those that followed them) would have seen supporting Círdan in the War of Wrath as one final way to serve and honor King Thingol. 
Lastly, all of those reasons aside, sitting by in leisure and letting everybody else try and do something about the evil threatening to destroy the entire world simply is not their style.
I hope this answered your question! :)
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meluiloth · 15 days
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Let's talk about Thranduil (and the Mirkwood Elves)
The Woodland Elves are well known for being a suspicious and reclusive people, Thranduil most of all - but they are also as merry and light-hearted as the other Elven civilizations when it comes to their own people.
So I want to talk about why that is, why Thranduil is so determined to remain isolated. The reason is actually pretty simple: he lost everything in the War of the Last Alliance.
The army of Greenwood joined forces with the Elves and Men against Mordor, though their army was smallest and their people less skilled with open war, led by Oropher, Thranduil's father. Thranduil himself was there as well (and though not much is known about his wife, I headcanon her as fighting alongside her husband and her people).
The Free Peoples won that war, but with a heavy cost - and the Silvan Elves suffered greatest of all. They lost two-thirds of their army and their King, and returned to Greenwood crippled and mourning. (I headcanon that's when Thranduil lost his wife, too). The Prince of Greenwood had to take the burden of the crown while his people were suffering and while his home was rapidly falling into decay, along with struggling through the grief of losing his father (and his wife).
To my knowledge, there is nothing in the lore about the Silvan Elves receiving help from their allies, so I assume that they were left to rebuild alone, and also to contend with the Necromancer who had taken up residence in their home, and who they were not strong enough to exorcize themselves. They were even forced to take refuge underground, which hurt their woodland and tree-loving souls.
Thranduil was alone. Of course he would become bitter and reclusive, wanting to focus on helping his own people while resenting the fact that, though they had sacrificed so much, no one came to their aid. He decided that he would lend no more aid, make no more sacrifices, and suffer no more losses on account of those who would not return the favor. That was the end of that.
And really, who can blame him?
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The thing about Thranduil and Legolas and their family is that, if it weren’t for their royal obligations, they would be in the wind 80% of the time, they’d wonder so far and wide it’d make Gandalf’s title of the gray pilgrim look like child’s play.
The only reason any of them stay in one place for more than a millennia at all is if they have people to take care off.
Many people and elves are under the impression that silvans are isolate and stationary, but the truth is that they are a largely free spirited group of elves that will come and go as they please, it’s just that Greenwood (later known as Mirkwood) happens to be their home base, and they later needed to put most of their effort into defending it.
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sotwk · 11 months
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The Fighting Abilities of Thranduil, his Sons, and Warriors of the Woodland Realm
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The following are all headcanons as written into the "Sons of the Woodland King" (SotWK) universe.
History of Warfare in the Woodland Realm
The First Age Silvan elves of Greenwood the Great developed systems of combat equivalent to "real world" martial arts, similar specifically to wushu (Chinese martial art).
Close-quarter combat is more efficient in tight spaces, and therefore well-suited for densely wooded areas in the Greenwood forest.
It is useful for one-on-one fighting and stealth attacks, which was usually all the Silvans needed to defend themselves, since they did not participate in warfare prior to the Second Age.
Before the arrival of their Sindarin overlords, the forest-dwelling Silvans used only weapons that might be considered "primitive" by the High Elves: bow and arrow, daggers, spears, and staffs, but they used these to great effect and in tandem with their unarmed fighting skills.
When Oropher, his son Thranduil, and their kin arrived, they helped the Silvans ward off attacks from rogue orcs and monsters that survived the War of Wrath and threatened to infest their lands (separate HC post about that here). In gratitude and admiration, they accepted Oropher as their king.
The Sinda introduced other types of weaponry and styles/methods of warfare, including longsword, phalanx, and cavalry. They also promoted blacksmithing as a trade and art (albeit not as sophisticated as their Noldor counterparts), so real armor and stronger weapons were created.
Over many centuries, the fighting techniques of the Silvans and Sindar merged to develop the combat style that was practiced in the realm from the Third Age onward.
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Images above: Spear fighting is highly-utilized by Greenwood warriors, and every soldier excels in both one-on-one combat and fighting as a unit. Inspiration can be taken from the deadly style of Achilles from the film Troy (2004).
Thranduil the Warrior King
Thranduil is acknowledged and remains unsurpassed as the greatest warrior in the Woodland Realm's history.
In his role as Prince of Greenwood, he was instrumental in forming and enhancing the military forces of the Woodland Realm throughout the Second Age. A veteran of the War of Wrath, he understood that a strong army was vital for the protection of any kingdom.
Among his countless talents, combat is Thranduil's strongest and most favored, the one he takes great pride in honing and exercising. (In contrast with his father Oropher, who was an expert politician first and foremost.)
Young Thranduil was also passionate about sharing his knowledge, and devoted his time in both training his Silvan brethren and, more importantly, learning from them and absorbing their combat culture.
Thus, the distinctively flashy yet lethal hybrid fighting style that married Silvan martial arts with Sindar swordplay was developed and wielded perfectly by Thranduil.
Thranduil is also a brilliant tactician and field commander, who served as General of the realm's armed forces for many centuries (until his eldest son eventually succeeded him in the role).
He is known for always leading the charge in every single battle, stubbornly rejecting the use of his kingsguard on the field (much to father's chagrin and wife's anxiety). But for this, he is revered by his soldiers, all who would sacrifice their lives for him without hesitation.
Thranduil and Oropher were frequently at odds when it came to policies on managing their military forces and engaging in outside conflicts. Had it not been for Thranduil's push for more training and investing in better armor and weaponry, the realm's losses during the War of the Last Alliance would have been even greater.
After he ascended the throne, Thranduil made it an even greater priority to increase the strength of Greenwood's army, which fortuitously saved the realm from being caught off-guard and overwhelmed when the Necromancer began his assaults from Dol Guldur.
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Images above: Thranduil's sword-fighting style and battle prowess is very similar to that of Prince Nuada (also an elf-prince!) from the film Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008).
Thranduilions: The Warrior Princes
The Elvenking passed his combat knowledge onto his sons by training each one of them personally.
For centuries, the princes also trained alongside the rest of the realm's armed forces and gradually grew in skill, each according to his own unique talents.
Crown Prince Mirion, the king's eldest and heir, inherited leadership of Mirkwood's army around TA 1200, when he was named General and "Protector of the Realm", as he was a fierce defender of the Woodland people during the rise of Dol Guldur. (Upon his untimely death, the role reverted back to Thranduil.) He is physically the strongest of the princes, even stronger than his father.
Prince Gelir Thranduilion (fourth-born) is famed for being the realm's most talented archer and hunter, eventually becoming Captain of the Spider-hunters.
Prince Legolas Thranduilion (youngest) is the most acrobatic, creative, and "playful" fighter among his brothers, being the most naturally agile. He is also quick to learn just by observing, and so carries the fighting styles and tricks of his older brothers with him.
Prince Arvellas Thranduilion (third-born) is the least trained and and experienced in the fighting arts among the princes, not for lack of talent, but because (like the Elvenqueen), he chose early on to devote himself to academia and the healing arts instead.
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Five Princes of Mirkwood: Personal SotWK commission by hffhifjou (click to enlarge)
Prince Turhir: Born for Battle
While all the Thranduilion Princes are skilled warriors with their own styles, the most naturally gifted and the most like his father in martial strength, skill, and ferocity, is Prince Turhir Thranduilion (second-born).
Turhir can be described as the ultimate fighting machine: brutally strong, virtually inexhaustible, extremely fast (esp. for his 7'6 size), and possessing flawless battle instincts. He is also uniquely hard of body, and in the rare times he sustains injuries, he recovers with no help necessary from healers.
Over the entirety of Thranduil's kingship (Third Age), Turhir is the only one, anywhere in Middle-earth, to have ever bested the Elvenking in single combat--and he did so several times during the Third Age, proving he had the potential to surpass his father in fighting ability.
In TA 542, Turhir was granted the role of Master Trainer of the Greenwood armies, making him responsible for teaching many of the young soldiers that fought for Mirkwood in the wars of the Third Age.
But where was he during the Battle of the Five Armies and War of the Ring?? To be revealed in future HC discussions and/or SotWK fics.
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Images above: The spear is Turhir's favorite weapon, and his skill with it is best exhibited again by Prince Nuada from the film Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008), especially in this training scene.
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Thank you for reading!
For more Thranduil/Mirkwood headcanons: SotWK HC Masterlist
Tolkien Headcanon tag list (plus some others who have shown interest in this subject--thank you all!): @quickslvxr @laneynoir @auttumnsayshi @achromaticerebus @tamryniel @friendofthefellowshipsnerdblog @blueberryrock @aduialel @glassgulls @ladyweaslette @klytemnestra13 @jezzibee @creativity-of-death @heilith @fizzyxcustard @absentmindeduniverse @lathalea @tamurilofrivendell @jordie-your-local-halfling @laurfilijames @i-am-pinkie @ladyk8tie @princesschimchim1325 @kazimina @scyllas-revenge @asianbutnotjapanese @conversacomsmaug @lemonivall @ratsys
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madwomansapologist · 4 months
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Autumn Thunderstorm | Chapter 8 - A nightingale sang
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series synopsis: Thranduil thought the recent attack of spiders on a periphery village was the only thing deserving of his attencion. If he could've imagined what he would found there, who he would found there, the Elvenking would wait a millenia in front of that river so he could see her sooner. Or: how Gandalf managed to keep a secret for 14 months.
eigth chapter synopsis: A surprising invitation made you discover a different, incredible place hidden in Greenwood. You were glad that Thranduil showed you such a special place. But probably you were even more glad that he was there with you. [3K]
warnings: female!reader. pre-Smaug. cried writing this but this is apparently something that will happens with every chapter so... go hear a nightingale sang in berkeley square. look i am just a sensitive girl in a difficult world, this is straight up murdering you with love.
glossary: Idril: Treasure, sweetheart┆Ellon: Male elf┆
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Forests are secrets in themselves. They hide things. That is what they do, their primordial essense. A forest without a secret is a human without a soul, a planet without a star, a mother without her child. That is the real language of the woods.
You knew all the meadow’s secrets in Rivendell. You knew where the sprouts flourished, where the clearing started, where the trees fall after storms. You knew all its secrets, until you did not.
Because in kind places a forest hides wisteria and sage sprouts. In cruel ones it hides wargs and warm blood. And for those who are lucky enough it hides suspended gardens.
Stone pillars, embedded on gold, supported all seven floors. It would already be a beautiful sight, light reflecting in waves of warmth through Greenwood, but the ascending series of tiered gardens above each floor turned it into a paradise. Each specimen from the wide variet of trees, flowers and vines were part of this mountain constructed of golden bricks.
“I got goosebumps,” you whispered. Even the air was different there. It smelled like honey and daisies. If Thranduil told you that daylight comes from that place, you would have believed him. “Why did you hide this place from me!?”
Strangers had been born and buried and their lifetime would be nothing compared to all the time the Elvenking spend on the suspended gardens. And still, looking into your moist eyes, Thranduil discovered a new sort of beauty in this place.
The green of the vines, more verdant. The gold of the pillars, more golden. The pink of the flowers, more rosy. The whole world was brighter. Wind whispering against the autumn leaves, birds flocking, river crashing against stones: the world became a song. Such a beautiful, intricate symphony. One that he never noticed before.
It must be fate. That was meant to be. Since the world was first created and the stars were put into place. For what other reason did he survived this far, if not to admire you admiring the world his ancestors build? For what reason did Thranduil endure this far, if not to be alone in this world with you?
Your eyes glowed, and Thranduil wondered if Varda put her light into them. Into you.
The Elvenking gestured towards the gardens. “Shall we, idril?”
Thranduil watched as you prepared a raspberry pie in silence, which was better than when he tried to make you let someone else finish it. As if it was offensive for you to get your hands dirty. Your last job was to take care of horses. What is a pie compared to that?
Cleaning your hands, you almost could not believe your ears when the invitation came. It was strange of him to have free time during the day. He never had before, not once since you first got in his realm. But you were not the one to remind a king of his duties.
Not when that can take him away from you.
So this time, when Thranduil suggest you to let someone else bake it, you accept it.
“You really should stop doing that,” you continued along the paved way, and Thranduil followed your eager steps. Turning to look at him instead of facing the path, a delicate smile showed you did not meant what you were saying. “Calling me words I do not know.”
“Yet,” Thranduil completed. “Do not know yet.”
On the first floor, you understood that the construction did not matter. Its halls were simple, with long open arches and practically empty except for the occasional sculptures. Anyone there would only have eyes for the gardens, and whoever built it knew that no amount of gold or jewels would ever compete with nature.
Quince flowers draped over the walls, pears were almost to the point of crop. Thranduil showed you almond flowers, his long fingers brushing against the tiny buds. You did not even knew almonds came from flowers.
Climbing the stairs to the second floor, you brushed your hands against the rough trunk of a pistachio tree. “Do you fear birds?” Thranduil looked concerned.
“Definitely no.”
Following throught the halls, you could see the garden suspended over the first floor. Butterflies and bees flew around the almond flowers, which made you speed up the pace. You heard Thranduil laughing, and he only did not heard you complaining because you were too scared that maybe a bee would enter your mouth.
A swallow landed on your hair, and you tried your best to not move so Thranduil would see it too. When he stopped in front of you, Thranduil’s eyes seemed so… calm.
You knew he was tired and worried. That he had much to do, to understand, to protect. In Rivendell people believe that Sauron is gone, but here they have more than faith to prove the contrary. But now Thranduil look so peaceful.
As if nothing bad had ever happened to him.
“A little one mistook you by a tree,” Thranduil stretched a finger towards your hair. You felt the swallow moving, pulling your hair along, and saw it on his ring finger. Such a small thing, with greenish down.
Your smile went wider when you looked into his face.
“And you by a flower.” In his wood crown, butterflies found a new home. “If you pay attention, you really look like a sunflower kind of person,” you used your hands to cover your laugh. “Always smiling, never yelling at anyone.”
Thranduil’s response was to roll his eyes.
On the third floor, you passed through ebony, cedar and rosewood. You told Thranduil how most of the trees surrounding Aerin’s inn are ash trees, and how sad it is that most of the stories you read use them as metaphor for dead things. Thranduil shared a poem about a willow tree.
It surprised you how he recited it from memory.
Junipers were new for you. Never before you heard about them. But myrrh was not. You told Thranduil that Luthien gave you a bottle of its oil and practically ordered you to use it on your shoulder. His peacefulness oscilated for a second, but it appeared again.
The floor with fruits were your favorite one. Thranduil split open a pomegranate, revealing clusters of seeds inside it. You both shared it, eating slowly while watching the sun reflecting upon Greenwood. You took a tangerine from its branch, and gave him half of it. With half of a fresh fig on your hands, you were more interest on plum flowers than on its fruit.
There is something about sharing a fruit with someone that just makes it feel holy. The way Thranduil cut the fig in half. How you cleaned the tangerine. Your fingers brushing against one another to take another seed. It just felt better than eating one alone.
You brushed your fingers against ferns and orchids. Cherry blossoms floated, washing you both upon pink petals. A few got stucked on your hair. A few that Thranduil did not warned you about.
On the last floor, there were tables and chairs made of wood, but what really mattered to you was the view. From up there, you could see everything. Greenwood, every floor and its suspended garden, a flowing river on distance. Once again, goosebumps explored your body.
“A step back,” said Thranduil when he saw you too close from the edge. It may have been a warning, it may have been an order, but you took one either. He sat, observing carefully. “Your fall is not worth the landscape.”
“Do not be affraid. That will not happen,” your eyes locked on a bird flying away. You think it was a nightingale. He was so small, and yet he knew a type of freedom you would never. How must it be to fly? It happened for you to fall from places that made you feel like you were flying, until you met the ground. Does it works the other way around? You imagine so. “You do not need to worry about me.”
“How could I not?” replied Thranduil. “You reign in my mind. It is my duty to worry about your safety and happiness.”
Your mouth went dry. “It was never my intention to make you worry about my safety or my happiness,” your voice was barely a whisper. “Or about me, at all.”
Words, when commonly used, tend to lose their initial meaning. It dissolves, disappears with each repetition, until the word is just a ghost of what it once was. Of what their meaning once was. So many man use love almost as a greeting, but not a ellon. Never a ellon.
Love for a elve is more than just a word. It is not something that happens several times. It happens once in a lifetime, and it last forever and evermore. Only one person can own a elve’s heart, just their half, and they will never trust it to someone else.
Thranduil never thought of himself as someone lucky, but now he knows he is. In such a dangerous world, Thranduil found you. His friend, his confidant, his love. His one and only. Your heart belong with his. Thranduil can wait however long it takes for you to believe in that too.
“I never said it was.”
The silence pierced your mind. His words… Why Thranduil keep on doing this? Why he keep on saying those sweet, toothaching sweet things? Thranduil is so beautiful, and everytime he opens his mouth you get more sure that his heart is just as pretty. If you could open his skull and study his brain, you would.
“Still,” you licked your lips. “I am not falling.”
Thranduil nodded. You came back to watch the sky, mostly because you did not knew what else to do. It was rosy. A breeze made chills go down your spine, and a petal fell from your hair right into your hands. Your caressed it, and moved it closer to your nose.
“Who created this place?” You sniffed it. “They must be so proud.”
Lost on you, Thranduil did not saw a reason to lie. “It was my father.”
That warm feeling spreading into you faded away. He never talked to you about his father before, but you knew that there was only one way for a prince to become a king. What you do not know is how much does it hurt. It must be a lot. Usually things that we love hurt way too much.
Without a ounce of shame, you walked towards Thranduil. The way he made your thoughts hazy did not matter anymore. You pulled yourself a chair, and dragged it until it was right beside him. Thranduil chuckled at the act.
“He must have been really creative,” you told him. “How was he?”
That surprised Thranduil. People never ask things about his father. They only say that they are sorry, that they feel so much, that it must be so difficult. They never talk about Oropher. They always remind Thranduil that he is dead, but they never talk about him.
“Wise,” said Thranduil. With just one word, he already felt that it was so easier to breath. Sometimes it feels like Oropher only lives on his memory. Like there is this unsurmountable weight on his shoulders, one that none can see or help to carry. It felt nice to share. “And ruthless. He was the strongest until the very end.”
You tried to picture Oropher. The king who died too soon. The warrior that led his people against Sauron, and saw his knights falling down. You picture someone that knew the weight of a sword dipped in blood, the sound of a last breath, the rotteness of a dying land. You pictured this person, and then imagined him daydreaming about suspended gardens. Architecting a palace, designing irrigation, choosing seeds.
Oropher sounds like someone that was worth knowing.
Your fingers dipped into your watery dress, and you bit back a smile. You imagine that Thranduil have the same effect on people. That they will heard how he protect his land and his people, and then get amazed about how he can recite poems about a willow tree. At least he has that effect on you.
“And how was him to you? Was he good?”
“Not ruthless,” Thranduil smiled at the memories in hindsight. You could not help but to do the same. “He was gentle and… When I was just a little ellon, I used to not understand when it was time to shut up. Now I see how awful I was, but he always listened to me. He never made me feel like I should remain silent.”
You held his hand, it was so cold. Stroking his delicate skin, you felt a warmth inside you. Something different from anything you ever felt. You felt… not alone.
“I bet Oropher would be proud of you,” the words escaped your mouth. “I know I am. You are good. You are also great, but you are good.”
Somehow, Thranduil understood exactly what you meant. There are so many great people in this world. So many great poets, great warriors, great rulers. But good… Oh, it appears that the world is always lacking people that are good.
People who will discuss with dragons because their friends deserve their home back. People that will cross a continent to destroy a ring simply because someone needs to. People that will lit beacons without permission, that will use helmets to hide the fact that they are a woman, that will fight even as arrows pierce their chest.
“You think I am good?” Thranduil felt his eyes burning. “You really do?”
“Of course, my king.” You intertwined his fingers with yours. It felt right. Like they were made to complement eachother. A sly smirk replaced your genuine smile. “You think I would put up with you if I did not?
Thranduil looked at the horizon, hoping you would not notice the redness of his eyes. He reciprocated your touch, squeezing your hand lightly. Maybe it was the sunset, maybe it was the autumn leaves, but everything felt golden.
Everything felt just fine.
“You are good,” murmured Thranduil. “Is it because of your parents?”
You let go of his hand, and Thranduil felt the sky getting darker. Your colors also faded, as if it was robbed from your skin. “It is getting late,” you told him. You were quick to get up. Quick to lie. Badly. “I should come back.”
“I am sorry. I really am,” Thranduil ignored everything you said. There was no need for him to pretend to fall for your bad lies. He stand, just as fast as you. “But you are not a good liar, idril. I will not force you to say the truth, nor do I wish for you to speak when you do not want to, but you do not need to lie. Not to me. We are friends. You do not need to perform around me.”
You threw yourself onto the chair, without any energy to argue. You watched the horizon, the changing colors of the sky, and tried to ignore the pressure on your chest. “I am sorry.”
“No need to,” Thranduil sat too. He tried to be silent, but something told him that maybe you also had a unsurmountable weight on your shoulders. That maybe you also needed to share it. “Were they not good?”
“Maybe yes, maybe not,” you huffled. You responded right away, so Thranduil assumd he made the right decision. “That is the problem.”
With your eyelids closed, you turned your head to Thranduil. When courage made its way into your chest, you looked at him. Was he going to judge you? To see you as too much of a problem? A part of you feared that he would. The other half thought it was mean to think of him that way.
“I have no memories of them.”
He let you talk. About how you have no memories of parents, of any family, of growing or sharing meals or going to school or learning to read. About how for you it is like you were born during a thunderstorm, then wandered until you found Aerin. You told him everything.
After you rant, his silence came. He breathe in, and you could feel his body getting tense. “No one ever looked for you?” Thranduil finally said something.
You denied. “Do you think I am crazy?”
“I think…”
For Thranduil, now everything makes sense. The way you tend to pretend not to see when Aerin treated you badly. Or how people insisted on not calling you by your name. Why you would have felt bad if you did nothing. The gentleness of your heart. How your intelligence have a touch of naivety.
But it also made him even more intrigued about why you and Gandalf are friends. Does he have any interest on your memories coming back? Is he the reason why they faded? Can you really see him as a friend?
Thranduil never liked those pilgrim wizards, and Gandalf tend to be the one creating more problems for him. If he is right about who betrayed the free people, then maybe you have something to do with it.
He is glad you are away from him. Thranduil does not trust him.
Thranduil licked his lips. “I think you are so unlucky.”
That made you burst into laugh. For a whole minute. You belly hurt, your cheeks burned, your head spin. It was loud and ugly and true. “I… I agree.”
When silence came, it was natural. It was welcomed. You stared into his watery eyes, and decided that you would never try to hide things from Thranduil. It is just not worth the effort, now when he reacts this way. Not when he is so sweet.
“You still want to go back home?” Thranduil whispered. There was simply no need to, but he wanted to. It felt right to.
You inhale. “Not really,” you admitted. You turned your gaze to the sky, and it was on that marvelous moment when it is not day and it is not night. Thranduil did the same as you. “This place feels like a summer dream.”
A nightingale sang that night. Not that you both heard it, since your voices were louder. But it sang, and it still mattered.
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AUTUMN THUNDERSTORM: @ferns-fics @notanalienindisguiseblink @rayrlupin @elvyshiarieko @graniairish @whore-of-many-hot-men @h0ly-fire
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ilovetheelves · 2 months
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King Oropher of Greenwood.
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lucy-verse · 3 months
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Brown eyes are extremely rare amongst elves, particularly the Sindarin. The only elf Thranduil had ever known to have brown eyes was his father. Until Legolas was born.
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art-of-firefly · 1 year
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The fate of Eluréd and Elurín
My personal headcanon is that Nessa found them and brought them to Oropher and Amdír who were migrating to the east with the refugee of Doriath who didn’t got to Sirion.
To hide their identities and protect them they both adopted one of them as their son and gave them new names, Thranduil and Amroth.
1- They are both Sindar so it works
2- It means the three main locations of the refugee of Doriath (Sirion, Greenwood and Lothlorien) get a descendant of Thingol and Dior as their leader 
3- When Oropher and Amdír died at the Dagor Dagorlad Thranduil and Amroth became kings at the same time in canon which is a nice parallel if they are twins
4- Legolas is affected by Nimrodel and Amroth’s love story, that would be super cute if it turned out Amroth was his uncle
6- Amroth love story really have the vibes and intensity of his family
7- Thranduil has a powerful sleeping magic in the hobbit, which is super appropriate for a descendant of Luthien
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rosie-love98 · 1 month
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The Women Of Oropher's House:
Winduirost:
Wife of Oropher and mother of Thranduil.
Name means “Windy Rain” in Sindarin. She was called this due to her gray eyes.
Daughter of Tauraear (“Vast Ocean”) and Erinmidh (“Morning-Dew”).
Was sister to an elder brother named “Duinlung” (“Riverbend”) and a younger sister called “Loebnen” (“Fresh-Water). Along with their parents, both Duinlung and Loebnen would be killed during an Orc attack in the First Age 585. Winduirost was the sole survivor when Oropher had managed to rescue her.
Married Oropher in the First Age 588 and made the move to Mirkwood with him.
Had the unique trait of having golden-blonde hair. This may be the result of a Vanyar or Noldor ancestor.
Winduirost didn’t think highly of the Silvans of Mirkwood. This was why she was against Thranduil marrying her handmaiden, Lisselote.
When Oropher gave Thranduil and Lisselote his blessing to their engagement, a petty Winduirost gave Lisselote dozens of hard tasks to prove her worth.
When Oropher perished during the War Of The Last Alliance, Winduirost would soften her harsh judgment thanks to Lisslote’s kindness towards the grieving queen.
Sailed to the Undying Lands in the Third Age 87, shortly after the birth of her grandson, Legolas.
Despite (somewhat) softening her cold disposition, it still didn’t stop Winduirost’s initial objection to Legolas’s romance with the Wingildi, Nenselde. Though, in Winduirost’s defense, she had more legit reasons.
Lisselote:
Wife of Thranduil and mother of Legolas.
Name means “Honey-Blossom” due to having honey-blonde hair.
Daughter of Malinurin (“Yellow-Sun”) and Tuilevire (“Spring Rose”).
Had a younger sister named “Incadaisime” (“Small Daisy”).
Was a hand-maiden to Queen Winduirost when Lisselote became acquainted with Thranduil.
Married Thranduil in the Second Age 3500. They were engaged back in 3429 but they were forced to halt the wedding due to the War Of The Last Alliance breaking out.
Was given the White Gems Of Lasgalen as a wedding gift from Winduirost on the late Oropher’s behalf.
During an Orc attack on Mirkwood, Lisselote was kidnapped by the enemy and taken to Angmar where she’d be tortured to death. 
Her untimely demise was sacrificial as the Orcs were trying to find and kill the then-infant Legolas. Little did they know Lisselote had given Legolas to her maid-servants who were already protecting the other Mirkwood Elflings (including little Tauriel).
This Orc siege had also cost the lives of Tuileveire and Incadaisime. As for Malinurin, he had already died during the War Of The Last Alliance.
Nenselde:
Wife of Legolas and mother of Marillalote.
Is the very last of all the Wingildi (“Foam-Maidens”) to have been created. 
Name means “Sea-Child” in Sindarin.
Unlike the Wingildis, she was made with the tear of Nienna. As a result, she was made and grew as an Elf child rather than a grown adult like her sisters. Yet, the other side-effect was that Nenselde was prone to grief and depression.
When Nenselde was a small, Elf child, she was given to Osse and Uinen to raise along with Wingildis.
By the time she turned 200-years-old, the now adult Nenselde would be so overwhelmed with her depression that she left her family for seclusion within the Bay Of Belfalas.
As much as she loved her family, Nenselde forbade herself from returning to them. The likes of Gandalf and Cirdan even tried to talk with her but whenever that arrived at Belfalas, a nervous Nenselde would hide away from them.
For centuries, Nenselde would be all alone at the bay until the Fourth Age arrived. From the Fourth Age 190-220, she would have mysterious visions of Prince Legolas Of Mirkwood. From all of these shared visions, the two would grow romantically close.
Yet, as Nenselde longed to be with Legolas and his friends in the Undying Lands, she was still torn with the Bay Of Belfalas. 
To make matters worse, their shared dreams would be corrupted by an evil force, the Dark Tree Cult that also made both Legolas and Nenselde undergo a deadly coma.
Still, by the Fourth Age 221, Nenselde would finally leave the Bay Of Belfalas and wed Legolas to the joy of Gimli Gloinul, Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, Gandalf The White along with Thranduil and Winduirost.
Marillalote, Legolas and Nenselde’s daughter, would be born shortly after the wedding in the Fourth Age 225.
Marillalote:
Name means “Pearl-Blossom” in Quenya.
Was going to be called just "Marilla" but Legolas wanted to pay homage to his late mother.
Born in Tol Eressea, an island of the Undying Lands.
Thanks to having Gimli Gloinul as her godfather, she’s prone to having a Dwarf-like personality; adventurous, strong-willed, along with being able to forge and wield an ax. This is why she’s often called “Dwarf-Kin”.
Also, like a Dwarf, Marillalote is knowledgeable on mining and jewelry-making.
Godmother was Legolas’s childhood friend, Tauriel.
As a Wingildi on her mother’s side, Marillalote inherited the ability to sing wildly.
By the time Marillalote was 20 (seven in Elf years), Gimli, Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee would all pass on peacefully.
Would eventually marry Elenimir (“Star-Jewel"), grandson of Elboron (son of Faramir and Eowyn) and his wife, Alasse (daughter of Aragorn and Arwen) in the Fourth Age 500. 
Elenimir and Marillalote would later have two sons and two daughters.
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majestictolkienelves · 5 months
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Headcanon that Oropher's wife/Thranduil's mother is still kicking around Greenwood/Mirkwood
Like the imladris gang just pull up for some reason or another and are greated by this random ass Lady dressed in the fashion of Doriath
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carmisse · 1 month
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Eryn Galen Family Tree
Some headcanons on which I based this.
Before leaving Nelyafinwë and Findekano get married secretly due to the death of his grandfather.
Unfortunately, they are forced to separate for a long time before Fingon goes to look for his husband, rescuing him from the clutches of Morgoth and his servant. After a long healing process, the two finally unite their faiths and conceive a son. Ereinion Gil-Galad, whom they must let go to Círdan for his proper protection.
•••
Gil-Galad grows up without knowing much of his origin, however he manages to consolidate as a friend of the Sindar, under the tutelage of Círdan.
Thus, during a visit to Doriarth, Eldarion meets Prince Oropher, the young son of Elmo, and nephew of King Thingol. Who also turns out to be a candidate to be his spouse; to the displeasure of both, since at the beginning they do not tolerate each other at all. However, and after a time in which they put their laziness behind them after their lives were put in danger due to an incident outside Melian's belt, they decide to continue with the courtship between them, concluding that they will go at their own pace with it.
As it turns out, they get married.
Living in a fairly stable and happy marriage, they decide to wait a while before even considering having children. Although they enjoy taking care of their nephew, Celeborn, son of Oropher's brother, Galadhon.
The two enjoy their time together very much, Oropher still works in his uncle's court and Ereinion continues to apprentice with Círdan.
During the eighth year of their marriage, they finally have an only son, Thranduil.
Gondolin falls, and with it Ereinion is summoned to the island of Balar where he is told of his origin, who his parents are and the death of his uncle Turgon, for which he was now to be named High King.
Shortly after the third murder of relatives. Gil-Galad founds the city of Lindon which he rules with the help of Oropher. At the same time they see Thranduil grow up more. Being that when the latter reaches adolescence, his ada founds Eryn Galen, Oropher is appointed king by the wood elves and much to his regret he must leave to lead what remains of his family's village, Thranduil stays with Ereinion for seasons, especially because he wishes to continue seeing his cousin, Celeborn, although he also visits his ada.
The last alliance arrives, Gil-Galad has decided to create an army to attack Sauron in an attempt to quell the evil he spreads throughout Middle-earth.
Oropher is captured by the dark lord, his husband and son believe him dead, Thranduil is crowned king in the midst of battle and his Atar guides him as best he can given the current circumstances.
(I know Thingol banned Quenya, but Erenion, Oropher and Thranduil probably spoke it at home).
It is not until the climax of the war that Glorfindel gives his help to Oropher who manages to flee from Sauron because the latter finally came out to give battle to Gil-Galad.
(Fuck the canon, Oropher and Ereinion are alive when it ends.)
•••
Thranduil and Glorfindel met during the last alliance, because of young Elrond.
Thranduil felt a great admiration for the lord of the house of the golden flower, while Glorfindel decided to give himself a chance to fall in love again if he and the prince of Eryn Galen could get out of the war.
Being so, both spoke towards the fourth year of the conflict, confessing their desire towards the culmination of what they are living. Since by tradition the elves do not marry during the war and much less have children. During that time, only once in the fifth year of the last alliance, the two share a single kiss that turns out to be nothing more than a brush of lips. The war ends, thanks to the Valar they can now breathe without fear that this is their last day in the same land.
Glorfindel decides to court Thranduil this under the blessing of Gil-Galad and Oropher.
(Celeborn and Elrond organize the betrothal dinner)
They however, decide to marry with the trees as witnesses before having a larger celebration as expected by the elves. Ten years pass before Prince Legolas is born.
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Version 0.2
Aragorn and Legolas already have a relationship when they join the Fellowship of the Ring. Gandalf knows it and Frodo is very suspicious since despite their many attempts, they do not disguise it as well as they think.
Frodo is aware of the looks they give each other when they think no one sees them.
Boromir has seen them flirting, they use the sindarin but it is clear what is flirting.
Gimli also found them sharing his watch. Aragorn had his head resting on Legolas' lap while Legolas hummed to him and stroked his dark locks, both looking up at the stars.
It is Pippin who in his boredom asks to please tell them how they met, how long they have been together and also asks if those rings they wear themselves mean they are married.
It is Legolas who just resigns himself and tells the story, Sam finds it quite romantic and Gimli just says that Legolas charmed him with his singing, which makes everyone laugh.
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Extra headcanons :
- Fingon is trans.
- Sindar have both gender.
- Glorfindel was very afraid of falling in love after losing Ecthelion, however Thranduil came as a bucket of cold water. He makes amends with his relationship with Ecthelion and decides to follow his feelings.
- Glorfindel is sworn to Elrond being this descendant of Turgon to whom he was sworn before. For which he lives in Imladris, Thranduil understands it because his parents also lived separated in spite of being married because they had their own duties. However, Elrond sends Glorfindel away until Legolas is the equivalent of sixteen human years old. It is then that he is finally allowed to return.
- Legolas has honey-colored hair, a combination of his parents'. His eyes are also warm like Glorfindel's even if the color of them is similar to Thranduil's.
- If Aragorn and Legolas had a daughter she would be named Miriel.
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Remember don’t think about the fact that Thranduil started to mourn Legolas when he found he fell in love with a mortal. Don’t think about the fact that one of the reasons Thranduil was so hesitant to accept Gigolas was because he knew that Gimli would take his son with him when he died. Don’t think about the fact that Legolas died of grief after Gimli died and Thranduil’s worse nightmare came true. Don’t think about the fact that Thranduil lost everyone he loved after Legolas died. Don’t think about the fact that Thranduil is now all alone and the last part of his heart died with Legolas.
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Thranduil is Miriel’s brother and it changes nothing but it’s funny af (not-canon)
Idk man, i personally think that the idea of Thranduil being Miriel’s brother would be hilarious bc everyone sees these noldor kinslaying monsters and screams bloodymurder, but Thranduil looks at what is his nephew and grandnephew and goes “goddamn it Miriel, they had to get your personality”
When Oropher gets re-embodied in Valinor alongside Finwe he will spend entire meetings glaring bloody murder at Finwe for Miriel’s predicament, much to everyone’s confusion.
Finwe: making my way down town, walking fast-
Messenger: Your Majesty, King Oropher’s here to see you!
Finwe: walking faster
Oropher: Finwe!!
Finwe: -fucking sprinting!!
The Noldor of Valinor get to spectate as their high king is running full speed away from this feral silvan king while screaming bloody murder.
What, you thought Feanor got his attitude from Finwe? No way, that was all Miriel.
(PS, this is all in an AU where Oropher is a silvan, and thus was not in Doriath or in Beriland at all when the first age shit went down, (though he feels the need to point out that, just bc they weren’t involved with the noldor drama, that doesn’t mean they didn’t fight against Morgoth, they were just not geographically close enough to be apart of the armies in Beriland)
Oropher, Thranduil, Legolas and other family and friends would all know, but they’re all collectively ignoring the Feanorian mess bc that bunch has been labeled “the insane half of the family” (completely ignoring their own feralness, as you do)
But, can you imagine:
Elrond: -look, they might have kidnapped me and Elros, but they were the best parents anyone could ask for-
Thranduil, drowning in his wine to hide his expresion: hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
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sotwk · 7 months
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Hi, I was just wondering if you have any thoughts on Oropher’s wife/Thranduil’s mum? Is she dead? If so, how did she die? If she’s alive, is she still in the Greenwood or is she kicking about elsewhere? I have my own half-baked ideas but I wondered what yours were
Oooh thank you for asking for my thoughts on this! I got thoughts on everything, like a good Thranduil-obssessor. *pulls out my Notes folder* This dear, sweet lady never gets any attention, but she is certainly not forgotten by me!
I mentioned Thranduil's mother in this headcanon post about his birth, as well as my one-shot fic The Crown, but I am happy to provide more info below!
Thranduil's Mother in the SotWK AU
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Oropher's wife was Lady Meluiel of Doriath, a Sinda from the same clan of Teleri that migrated into Beleriand, following Elu Thingol.
Apart from being Thranduil’s mother, she was also the younger sister of the great Beleg Cúthalion, which made Beleg Thranduil's uncle and mentor. (more HC info on their relationship here)
Meluiel was a trusted handmaiden to Queen Melian, and for a time also helped raise Lúthien Tinúviel during her childhood.
She was known for her sweet and cheerful disposition, contrasting with Oropher's more somber personality, but Oropher loved her so very deeply.
Thranduil was a bit of a rebellious child, with a wilder spirit than Lord Oropher would have preferred, so it was not uncommon for Meluiel to have to play mediator between father and son.
She would often encourage Thranduil to pursue the interests Oropher disliked, and behave according to his true self, rather than adjust his personality to please his father. Thranduil took this to heart and developed a fierce independence from his father (and his like-minded kinsmen) early on.
Sadly, Meluiel was among the many Elves of Doriath who perished in the Second Kinslaying. At the time, she was a lady in Queen Nimloth's court and was with her at the time of the attack. Meluiel was slain in a final stand trying to protect the young princes, Eluréd and Elurín.
For this reason, Oropher developed an unforgiving prejudice and hatred for the Noldor, which he carried with him for the rest of his life. This is also why he fought against Thranduil's love for Maereth (of direct Fëanorian descent--the horror!) for centuries before he finally (and reluctantly) consented to their union.
Thranduil was only 54 years old when his mother died; enough to have memories of her and to miss her terribly. As a result, he too was angry at the Noldor, and remained biased against them.
However, his bias was not strong enough to prevent him from fighting alongside Noldorin warriors during the War of Wrath. During this war, Thranduil befriended a few Noldor, some of whom he continued to associate with in the Second Age while he lived in Lindon. The most notable of these friends is Ivenil (a SotWK OC, appears in "Greenleaf's Day Out"), who followed Thranduil and his Sindarin kin to Greenwood. He eventually became an important member of King Thranduil's council.
Thranduil's openness of mind and ability to see past his own hate and prejudices in effect made him a stronger ruler than his father, since it allowed him to foster relationships with the other Elf-lords and peoples of Middle-earth--even the Dwarves!
His beloved mother would have been proud. <3
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For more Thranduil/Mirkwood headcanons: SotWK HC Masterlist
Elves HC Tag List: @a-world-of-whimsy-5 @achromaticerebus @aduialel @asianbutnotjapanese @auttumnsayshi @blueberryrock @conversacomsmaug @elan-ho-detto-elan-15 @entishramblings @freshalmondpandadonut @friendofthefellowshipsnerdblog @glassgulls @heranintomyknife23times @ladyweaslette @laneynoir @lathalea @lemonivall @LiliDurin @quickslvxrr @ratsys @scyllas-revenge @stormchaser819 @talkdifferently6 @tamryniel @tamurilofrivendell
Other useful links:
Introduction to SotWK
Fanfiction Masterlist
Fanfiction Request Guidelines
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Gil Galad : OH MY GOD GALADRIEL! CELEBORN IS ON THE GATE!
Oropher : we have to distract him
Galadriel : and how?
Oropher : *thinking*
Oropher : show him your boobs!
Galadriel : WHAT THE FUCK?!
Oropher : he has a crush on you, if you show him your boobs, you'll make his brain stop for a while, and we can sneak ou-
*that night Oropher ended up with two bruises eyes, and bleeding nose*
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ilovetheelves · 5 months
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OK. That's my best idea. I can explain the "Princess of Lindon" in the picture of Thranduil's mother. My headcanon is that she is Gil-Galad's sister and that they (Gil-galad and Míriel) had a Sindarin mother, that's why she has white hair (but their father is Fingon). Anyway... This image is just part of a future fanfic project of mine, anyway, I only decided to post it here because I don't have anyone to put up with my outbreaks 🙃
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