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relaxing with pigeons

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Every time I read Tolkien lovingly describing a piece of jewellery or how his faves wore their best jewels "on their brows", I feel slightly sorry for him that he lived in one of the rare moments in Western History where it was not ok for men to be covered in expensive jewellery.

Thankfully for him he had his tweed waistcoats and academic regalia to make up for it, but don't tell me he wouldn't have loved wearing a tiara on at least a semi-regular basis.

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The joke here is that I mispronounced once Russandol as Russian Doll and @aspirinaeffervescente teases me since then Happy birthday to the most annoying yet the most wonderful best friend I could ever wish to have at my side 🎂❣️

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Caranthir: your polls are slipping, dad.

Celegorm: better get with it.

Fëanor: boys, being your dad isn't an elected position. I don't have to respond to polls.

Amras: not elected?

Amrod: you mean, you can govern with dictatorial impunity?

Fëanor: exactly.

Maedhros: in short, open revolt and exile is the only hope for change?

Fëanor: I don't like the direction this conversation is going.

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Who led the Union of Maeðros?

This might be a dumb thought, but those are my specialty.

Obviously, Maeðros was in charge, but I wonder who led the vanguard?

I don't think it was Nelyo - he's too valuable as the main brain behind everything, and he only has one hand.

I don't think it was Cáno - he was busy with the cavalry.

Moryo was likely with the Easterlings.

Amrod and Amras are out - they'd most likely be with the Laiquendi, as they had the best relationship with the Laiquendi out of the SoF.

I doubt Nelyo would let Curvo do it - with Telpë gone, Curvo is their best smith.

That leaves Tyelco.

.....

Yeah, that actually kinda tracks.

The vanguard's job was to scout and secure what they could before the rest of the army arrived. That's something Tyelco would do very well.

It could be argued that Nelyo would have the Laiquendi do that, and therefore the Ambarussar would be in the front, but I don't think he'd do that. The Laiquendi, while skilled, would make for better scouts, messengers, and archers than a vanguard.

It could also be argued that the Easterlings would be the vanguard, and therefore Moryo is at the front, but I disagree. There would almost definitely be more Men than Elves, more Easterlings than Noldor, if for no other reason than that "Elves don't have kids in wartime" stuff that I think is incredibly counterproductive. Also, since Nelyo would be closer to the back to monitor the field, and we know Uldor nearly made it to him before Cáno slew him, that would mean his Easterlings were in the main army part.

So Tyelco is "in the van", as they say. @erendur we can prove your "Tyelco is a better driver than Náro" hc!

I imagine his brothers would have to wrestle him into some heavy armor. Literally wrestle. And not even into much stuff. Just some greaves, sabatons, and maybe a gorget or pauldron. Tyelco is allergic to being safe.

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Calappa lophos

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Celegorm, Maedhros, and Curufin crossing a nameless river somewhere between Aglon and Dorthonion. They’re escorting him to see his Prince. 💞

The dogs are my own Siberian Husky and Treeing Walker Coonhound, a Redbone Coonhound, a Labrador, Huan, a Greyhound, and a Scottish Deerhound. I feel like Curufin is more of a hawks and horses kind of hunter, so he has a gyrfalcon.

[part 1] [part 3]

12 x 9" watercolor, inks, gouache, salt, metallic watercolors

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The Nolofinwëans see the moon rise for the first time. From left to right: Fingolfin, Argon, Aredhel, Idril, Turgon, Fingon. Turgon wants everyone to hold hands because this beautiful sky thingy seems like a blessed sign from the Valar (and oh fuck they can now see mountains so they must be close to actually land!) Also the sea-green cloak he has is for sure Finrod's. He saw his cousin wasn't caring for himself after Elenwë's death and wanted to keep him from freezing. Also I totally should have painted Lalwen with them, but forgot her until I was several layers in. Tolkien forgot her too though, so I guess it's okay?

Second pic to show size. Though it now looks like Argon is pointing out the most useless bit of American currency. Thanks dude!

12 x 9", watercolor, Komorebi metallic watercolors, gold and black ink, gouache

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Did Fingon rescue Maedhros and take him to Feanorion's camp or to his father's camp? I don't think I saw it clearly. It doesn't seem to be in the Silmarillion.

If it was for political reasons, he would have taken him to his brothers (it could paralyze the enemy leadership, and since Maedhros was still alive until he gave him, it wouldn't be Fingon's fault if Maedhros died later. But if he died in his father's camp… well, that's not something that can be kept secret, and it's possible for a conspiracy theory.) If it was for personal reasons, he would have taken him to his father's camp… I doubt Fingon would have been able to be there for Maedhros when he died if he had taken it to his brothers…The funeral is also questionable…..

If he couldn't think of such a thing and asked the eagle to go there once you saw, or if he instinctively told his father to go there, then this would also be evidence of a personal reason.

And, no matter how much I think about it, I am skeptical about the explanation that it was for political reasons. First of all, it is unlikely that Maedhros was alive. If Fingon had any sense, the most hopeful development he could hope for would be the return of the remains. So, if the ashes accidentally end up lying around in front of Fingon. And if the news of his death becomes certain, only Maglor's right to rule becomes certain. Considering that it is more advantageous to deal with the regent of the High King than with the High King, it is not good. In fact, the current situation, where Maedhros' life or death is uncertain, is the most politically advantageous situation for Fingolfin's camp. And even if Maedhros was alive, Fingon did not know that Maedhros did not burn the ship, so it is difficult to believe that Maedhros would be friendly to them even if they rescued him, and it is basically advantageous for the enemy's capable leaders to die. The political advantage was something that people added later, and Fingon basically attempted suicide.

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I think his biggest advantage is that he is a relative. I'm not joking, I mean seriously. He is the most complex bloodline in Middle-earth, and he is inevitably related to all sorts of powers in Middle-earth. Even if the force that Gil-galad decided to send the Herald to hates Gil-galad, if his relatives came from far away, they would most likely tell him to come in and rest. Also, the fact that he is a relative of Gil-galad is also a factor to consider. The Herald is the king's confidant, and it is this confidant who inevitably establishes relationships with allies. Gil-galad is a king without an heir. Coincidentally, he has distant relatives around him who are related to almost all the powers of Middle-earth. He is also very useful as a diplomat, and if something happens to Gil-galad…

My question is how the fuck did Elrond and Gil-Galad meet and how the fuck did the High King think “yes this is a good person I see great qualities in this elf I shall make him my herald :)” meanwhile Elrond is fucking feral

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me, staring down ao3: ok i’m desperate for fic about this pairing but like… how desperate

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Every Son of Feanor Deserves a Pet

If Celegorm gets a dog, then Caranthir should get a cat. Let him have Tevildo, the same way his brother got to have Huan!

Then every son of Feanor gets a pet!

Maedhros - Elros

Maglor - Elrond

Celegorm - Huan

Caranthir - Tevildo

Curufin - Celebrimbor

Amrod - Amras

Amras - Amrod

Perfect. Now they each have someone to snuggle between all the crimes against their kin.

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one of my favorite lotr facts is that gondorians speak sindarin as a first language and yet when faramir was talking to frodo and sam about cirith ungol he was like “we don’t know what’s in there.” like faramir. cirith ungol is sindarin for “pass of the spider.” do the math

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Fluffy Tevildo! 🐈‍⬛

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Sauron and Nyarlathotep seem similar. They are loyal, yet they despise their superior, and are like mad scientists… As masters of torture, the two of them, in a sense, truly study, understand, and love lower creatures…..and when they really try to understand their research topics, they become so absorbed in them that they turn out to be sadistic… or am I just misunderstanding something?

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I've come to realize that the wise, or so-called, decisions in The Silmarillion - Thingol, Melian, Galadriel, Turgon, Finrod - are all 'We can never defeat Morgoth so let us hide and prolong only our lives as long as possible.' It's amusing that this wisdom logically connects to the most insane decision of the sons of Fëanor in The Silmarillion after Nirnaeth Arnoediad: 'We can never be united, so we can never defeat Morgoth, so let us at least secure one Silmaril and keep our oaths.'

Come to think of it, Fingon died in Nirnaeth Arnoediad. Even if courage died, it's not wrong in the internal logic of the Silmarillion. How much cleverness can be combined with foolishness, and how recklessness can gain much and lose everything…