#Ainur being weird

[melkors-big-tits]

((When the two converse in the <<>> Aka Osanwë, they enter weird ainur space/time plane so the things that happen in Osanwë space may take a lot of time but in the plane where their Fana currently are only a second has passed. They can also move their fana and ëala in different ways simultaneously. Example; Melkors fana lifts his right hand but his ëala is using both of his hands to play air guitar. Also; I hope that you don’t mind me adding my “Eru is the worst dad/god ever” hc and “Melkor actually cares about his people and about arda” hc plus “the elves suck” hcs into the story))

<<Great again?>> Melkors chuckle is like honey- smooth and sweet- he gently nuzzles his forehead to the maias while smiling charmingly then suddenly the surface of both of his eyes crack and shatters and a plume of mist the color of pure gold pours out from them.

Leisurely like a predator playing with its prey, the mist swirls around them, the bigger gold particles sparkling mesmerizingly as they swim past Vanimòres vision. Melkor blinks slowly and fixes his now healed eyes back to gaze at Vanimòre, the smile never leaving his lips.

<<No, my dear Vanimòre, after you accept my power you will be Incredible.>>

The rumbling purr in Melkors voice sends a tremor like a seismic shock through the smaller ainu, he’s caught in the eye of the storm that is Melkor as the mightiest Vala of all of Eä delivers what he has promised;

His still smiling lips part and the first pulse of a song of pure undiluted Power alights the golden mist, completely halting its slow flow, it then coils around itself until it’s a tight whorling ball of brilliantly shining gold particles when it suddenly, like a tidal wave, surges at and penetrates into Vanimòres very fëa. <<Hold on to me if you wish, things will get—intense.>>

Melkors voice murmurs enigmatically inside Vanimòre- he wasn’t sure how to prepare his General to what was about to happen, but it’ll be okay, he’d done this many times before- so Melkor let his confidence play loudest in his song of power and fulfillment; It is but a fraction of the power that he sings to shape Arda yet the effect it has on Vanimòre is already incredibly overwhelming but it’s far from over as Melkor sings it ever more radiant, lets it grow wilder, climb higher until it reaches its highest peak only to dive into the sonorous deeps. That is when the devastation hits Vanimòre and it hits him full on with such force that the smaller ainu almost loses his footing when the fierce heat of blazing Ecstasy roars and ignites his fëa.

Melkor steadies him without missing a beat and kept holding him securely as the gold inside Vanimòre fizzes alive before starting to surge and fill all the cracks and penetrating every corner of the maias fëa, the sheer magnitude of the valas might simultaneously burning and chilling the maia into an almost delirious state.

<<I know-- it’s So intense-- like a goblet trying to hold in the entirety of the ocean-- but you can take it-- you are stronger than what those Valinor dwelling cowards gave you credit for-- that’s why you are my General-->>

Melkor coos soothingly, knowing that such words were a welcoming balm to counter the almost agonizing intensity of his might that threatened to swallow and carry away the smaller ainu. And just when Vanimòre composed himself enough to speak Melkor increased the power of his song, this time Vanimòre definitely sobbed but not out of pain, Melkor paid it no mind as his Generals reaction wasn’t anything out of the ordinary when getting filled with such potent puissance.

<<you’re doing so well-- we’re almost there-- just a little more-- You feel it, right? My gold, my might welling in you, enforcing you, protecting you-->> The gold was a liquid pool of heat bubbling just under where the maias rib cage started, until it rolled back to life like an avalanche when Melkors song found new, devastating euphoric heights and it continued to fill and to coat the maia until it suddenly stopped below his throat, as if there was a lid there that was preventing the gold from engulfing him whole, and when the gold came into contact with it all the wonderful exhilarating feelings stopped dead.

Melkor eyes the part of Vanimòres ëala where the ‘lid’ is with a look of pure hatred. <<This..>> Melkor starts as he ever so lightly glides the fingers of his fana across Vanimòres fanas neck, drawing an invisible line across it.

<<..is the collar that Eru forces all his creations to wear, to forever tether them to him, preventing them from truly being free as with it he ties people to fates he’s laid out for them with no way to stray once the path is set.>> The valas purple eyes focus on Vanimòres eye-patch, the low growl of his anger rumbles similarly to Thangorodrim when it’s just seconds away from erupting <<He did that to you as much as Namo. One of them controls the strings of fate, able to pull, to puppeteer them and the ones attached to them as he sees fit and the other one has the ability to see where their strings may guide them>>

But instead of a violent eruption a sharp, devious smile cuts across the valas lips and the eyes that previously burned with malice now sparkle with innovation and determination. <<..but I can Break that collar, to cut you off from Erus vile plan. That is why I filled you with my might. On your own you’re not strong enough to endure the ëala shattering Pain nor do you have the strength needed to cut the tether, my might will keep you safe and heal the damage as rapidly as it’s dealt-- but I’ve yet to come up with a solution to fully save anyone from the pain.>> Something akin to frustration and even shame passes in Melkors eyes but it’s soon gone as determination and absolute confidence sparks anew and his fëa glows in that odd, unique to him ultraviolet and he gives his Generals fanas forehead a light, reassuring bump with his own. <<Don’t worry tho, I’ll be taking the brunt of the pain. It’ll only last as long as the tether is intact, after it’s broken the pain stops and you will be forever free from Erus games and can finally tap into the full potential of your powers.>>

With the hand of his ëala Melkor reaches towards Vanimòres neck, eyeing it tensely, he halts to give the maiar one last rueful smile.

<<Here we go.>> He goes right in and grabs at the tether with both hands and immediately he’s met with such intense mix of stabbing/crushing/burning/suffocating pain that he lets out a piercing scream that he bets could be heard all the way in the timeless halls. Vision whiting out Melkor almost doubles over but catches himself so he won’t add to the hurt his General is already suffering from. Which he is; Vanimòre is in a state of misery that of which Melkor never wants to see his people to suffer through so he grits his teeth and takes a wider, more steady stance and fights through the power which holds the tether intact and the pain that is ripping him apart from the inside.

He gets a good grip and pulls until a thin string of unlight slowly starts to emerge from within Vanimòres ëalas neck and immediately it starts to leech Melkors light in an attempt to weaken him still. Now that it’s out he can concentrate all of his power to rip up the fucking parasite which is still burning him hotter and more painfully than the useless shiny rocks ever could even Dream. All he needs is one chip, one weak link in the string and Eru is again one piece short from playing his games.

In his agony filled concentration Melkor had forgotten to check in on his General -at this point he’s not sure if the anguished screams are coming from him or Vanimòre- and a glance down breaks the Valas heart which then renews his efforts and in his bolstered state he acts without thinking; he pulls Vanimòre fully into his arms and holds him close before he sinks his sharp, coal black teeth into the string in an attempt to bite through it.

The pain that hits him is almost identical to that when he, so long ago, was attempting to break off his own tether in the deep dark corners of the void, suffering eons in constant agony and utterly alone because the others shunned him for wanting what was promised to them; free will. If they had free will then why did Eru feel the need to shackle them?

“if Eru designed it then it is good” Manwë had said to him but every time he felt like the pain from the tether would utterly obliterate him he stopped believing in the ‘goodness’ of Eru.

The memory and the sheer abhor he feels towards his creator makes Melkor bite the tether with such vicious force that it finally snaps with little to no fanfare of his victory than a tiny wisp of dying unlight.

The worst being over Melkor lets out a shuddering breath and snuggles the smaller fana in his arms, happily nuzzling his face into the good smelling hair of his Ge- -oops, this isn’t Mairon, so no snuggles, why do all the maiar have to be the same size??- fairly embarrassed of his own lapse Melkor tries to save face by playing it cool; he clears his throat and very gently removes Vanimòre from his embrace with the excuse being; <<you need more room to breath after your ordeal>> Tho he continues to hold the Maia by the shoulders, just in case. After all his might is still inside the Maia, but for now it has settled into a gently hum.

Which reminds Melkor that he needs to also Remove his might from Vanimòre so he starts singing a lulling song that makes his might stir and then build into a gradual fizz inside the Maia.

<<It shouldn’t feel as intense anymore, I’ll start removing it now, just be patient.>> At the puzzled look that Vanimòre gives him Melkor lets out a good-natured snort <<yeah a General that can only moan and writhe helplessly on the floor from might induced ecstasy is Definitely what I need in my ranks. Not useless at all no, I can toss you at the elves to use as a distraction device. Nah I’m taking most of it back but I will leave enough to give you the boost that my very loyal General was promised and what he deserves>> He ends with a wink that is a bit too cheeky not to be flirty.

<<Speaking of elves, you should soon be able to see things similarly like that veil wearing weirdo does; Their strings of fate and where each option may lead them. With this power we can create more effective and perhaps even some long-term torture plans that could span for Generations.>> Melkor muses gleefully, happy that his plan would soon bare fruit and as his mind is still open Vanimòre is able to see glimpses of it flitting in his chaotically working mind, so Melkor decides that he might as well clue his General in on the plan;

<<The tethers, elves have them but I can’t break them like I just did yours, the fleshbags are far too fragile and not one of them has willingly invited me into their mind so-->> He shrugs his shoulders in a overly exaggerated way and lets out a dramatic huff before his gleaming eyes fix to Vanimòres again, eager to finally tell someone about his master plan.

<< But there Are other ways; we can chip away at the tethers with every torture, lie and war because that makes them question the Valar and more importantly; Eru. Their blind faith strengthens Erus hold on them but it can be shaken, Fëanor being a fine example, he was going to be my first successfully un-tethered elf but then Eru got to him before it could happen, setting him ablaze just before the tether broke. No way do elves just spontaneously combust. Hasn’t happened Once all this time we’ve had ‘em. No Eru did that to hinder my plans even tho he has no clue what they are because without the tether my mind, the orcs, Balrogs, dragons and now yours too, is off limits to him>> Melkor chuckled darkly, utterly delighted that he now has someone to plot his plan with and as he’s so pleased he decides to add a few sweet notes into his song that sends a cascade of cold shivers down his Generals back, as a treat.

He gets back to the task at hand, slowly draining the surplus of might out of Vanimòre - so as not to shock his system.

By the power of the soothing song that Melkor weaves his might slowly drains from the maia in a deep, full body ebb and flow, leaving him feeling hot and tingling- which causes the maias cheeks to flush in a delicate petal pink color. Melkor notices this and as a good and considerate leader decides to lighten the mood. <<I’ve heard that this part of the process actually feels even More like having sex compared to the the first part, even tho it’s more intense. What do you think?>>

@angbandsgeneral

Melkor has summoned Vanimore to the throneroom, the Valas broad back is to the Maia as he drawls out. "It came to my attention that the hot springs that provide hot water to the whole fortress were 'acting funny' and upon my investigation I came across traces of your magic. --Care to explain? And don't try to say that it was just a joke because I Am Not Laughing" The Vala grits out and turns sharply, brows furrowed, anger clear in his face that's stained in a lovely shade of petal pink

the rattling and clinking of decorative chains come to a halt as vanimóre stands before the vala. he already had a hunch on what this sudden summoning to the throne room entailed.

standing with his arms crossed over his chest, the maia keeps a straight expression. which was quite difficult when melkor spun around to look at him with such anger — he almost wished to burst out laughing then and there at the sight of pink across his face.

“I haven't any idea of what you speak, my lord.” lies. he was well aware that the waters now pooled with zombie frogs and stained crimson. he had attempted to simply prank mairon — he didn't expect it to affect the entire water supply.

“might you enlighten me?” it takes everything in him not to double over laughing when he spots one of those wonderful frogs creeping out of melkor's hair.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ─── ˙ ˖ ❖ ❜᭡ ( @melkors-big-tits )

[thesummerestsolstice]

Peredhel biology is interesting. They can become mortal or immortal; and it's not entirely clear what the "default" setting is. Is it even the same for all half-elves? What are the implications of being part-elf and part-man? And that's not even getting into the part-Maiarin or pseudo-Maiarin(? Earendil?) Peredhel. There are a lot of really interesting ideas and interpretations there, but I'd like to share a few I've been wanting to write about:

The Peredhel choice is a myth; whether half-elves become mortal or immortal is baked into their biology. Because of the nature of twins, one will always be mortal and one will always be immortal. (I'm mostly thinking about the implications for Elrond and Elros here because I don't even want to consider what that would mean for Elladan and Elrohir)

Peredhel have the strange ability to "mimic" those around them; they appear more elvish amongst elves and more mannish amongst men. No one really knows how they do this, but it's led to lots of stories about "changelings."

Actually, lots of Peredhel have weird, vaguely mystical abilities. Think about the kind of things you'd read about in a fairytale- speaking to animals, unusual strength, preternatural charm. These things aren't unheard of amongst elves or men, but they're a lot more common amongst Peredhel. It's suspected to be some sort of Ainuric boon, or possibly a result of half-elven souls being more "flexible."

Because their souls are inherently kind of unstable, Peredhel fade more easily then elves. That being said, the "symptoms" of fading are different (elves will literally become translucent, while half-elves will lose weight, sleep for most of the day and still be tired, etc.), so it's often assumed to be a normal mortal illness until it becomes a life-threatening situation.

Ulmo has kind of adopted the Peredhel as his people. He's their patron, and he cares for them all. Many half-elves live or work near or on the ocean, and for those who are immortal, the desire to sail west generally manifests less as wanting to go to Valinor and more a literal desire to go to the sea. Half-elves who are inclined to pray usually do so to Ulmo. There's a reason that Rivendell is protected by a river. Also, yes, Earendil is still absolutely Ulmo's guy, he's just also Varda's guy. They have a very friendly custody agreement.

[cilil]

Fun times in Valinor feat. Melian and Dior

✦ I like to imagine that Dior did in fact receive the opportunity to choose his fate as well, chose immortality for the sake of his family and ended up in Valinor (may make a more detailed and less silly post about that in future).

✦ As soon as he gets out of Mandos he's practically ambushed by Melian who is overjoyed to have at least one of her descendants back, takes him under her wing and immediately adopts him as her replacement baby.

✦ She drags him around Valinor like a mother cat carrying her kitten (metaphorically speaking) to show him off to her Ainurin friends. Said friends, particularly those more concerned with spiritual matters and not at all familiar with incarnate procreation, are a bit weirded out by being presented the living, breathing offspring of a fellow spirit, said offspring being of rather ambiguous nature as well, but since the entire Ainurin race is based on everyone being a cryptid in their own right, they all warm up to him quickly.

✦ Melian teaches Dior to sing like a nightingale and other bird calls and he performs admirably, though causes confusion when he doesn't turn into a bird. She may also teach him Valarin so he knows when people are talking shit.

✦ Some Ainur are still confused by Dior being incarnate in general and try to encourage and help him shed his form. They need to be reminded that Dior was in fact born and raised incarnate, is happy and content being that way and that his incarnate state is not a symptom of being spiritually drained or otherwise unwell.

✦ Since Dior died young - even by mortal standards - Melian's Ainurin friends tend to erroneously assume that he's a literal baby. These discussions usually escalate when it comes to them refusing to give him Miruvórë and Dior wins arguments by reminding everyone that they have met his adult daughter.

✦ Wanting to befriend him and make Melian happy, other Ainur like to bring them gifts, usually something they think would be useful to an incarnate. Sometimes they're spot on, such as when they bring delicious treats and fresh food, sometimes their gifts are a clear reflection of their kind not quite understanding incarnates, such as half-torn-apart blood sacrifices and dangerous animals and substances. Melian doesn't react well to the latter.

✦ She's especially worried whenever Dior displays any sort of human behavior because part of her wonders if through some strange happenstance he will become mortal, in which case she assumes he might just fall over and die within the next 5 minutes (read: what her species of angels older than the universe sees as "5 minutes").

✦ Dior loves being taught "magic". Melian has no idea what he means by that, only knowing he picked up the word from Beren, but is happy that he's happy.

[eri-pl]

Doing the reread. @dfwbwfbbwfbwf: I think I have a solution to one of things you found weird: Melian did not remove the Girdle, or leave leading to the Girdle being removed! It just popped off when she was widowed! She "lost power over matter of Arda" when Thingollo died, because being married into the family material existence was the only reason she was able to do and keep the Girdle at all!

It's not my speculation, it's in the book. (Unless my reading comprehension it the Polish translation is really failing. Which sometimes happens.)

Now for some more speculative stuff (but still based on the text):

I guess that to do the Girdle now she would either have an explicit delegation of power from one of the Valar (impossible because lack of communication and general situation) or be evil. She was just not tied to the material world enough when she was widowed. (Yes, elves don't really die, but disembodied = not really married at the moment, sort of)

And quite possible not tied enough to the people of Doriath to rule them effectively. She only spoke to Mablung and left, and it feels like her way of thinking changed too, like... She would be as effective as a queen of Doriath, I suppose, as the Valar are effective at ruling Arda at their worst: she would not understand the Elves enough. By far.

Plus, the Ainur and ruling over a nation... Feels suspicious. She want supposed to do that, never did. Thingollo ruled them, she just gave advice.

Anyway she did not leave out of mourning. She mourned, yes, but she mourned both Thingollo and the fact that she had to leave Doriath. And the book gives a clear feeling of "she had to, that's How Things Work". (Might have something to do with Morgoth's power swirling all around too)

She didn't abandon them.

(if you want me to stop tagging you when I found something relevant, please tell me. I thought this knowledge might make you somewhat happy.)

[tar-thelien]

Explayining my Eöl is a Maia propaganda because @dfwbwfbbwfbwf told me to go for it and it made my head do a happy flip!!

Going to keep it to topics so it´s easier to read :)

Kin to Thingol & Residence/Friendship/Smith/Sorcery & Enchantments/Aredhel & Maeglin/Gondolin

Kin to Thingol & Residence:

We know Eöl is a dark elf who´s also a smith and kin to Thingol, who somehow knows a lot more sorcery than any other elf. That could be because he decided to live in an already enchanted forest but with that logic, Aredhel would become known in sorcery too so there got to be more to it.

He was said to be "restless and ill at ease in Doriath" when Melian raised the griddle, might be that Tolkien seems to have Maia be slightly territorial towards each other.

Kin can mean someone married into the family, and if Eöl and Melian is as close as they seem in the books they probably think of each other as some kind of siblings.

Friendship:

Eöl doesn't really seem to mind of the other races, he´s close friends with the dwarves, it only seems to be the Noldor he has beef with, for the kinslaying.

I think the note about the sun is important as a lot of the Sindir seem to like the stars better, although the comment about his servants strikes me, they are said to be similar in nature to him after him being described as a borderline evil wizard, which could either be, if you took a dark turn, that he enchanted them he pulled a Sauron or he somehow "blessed" them by sharing some of his Maia magic or them themself are some sorts of weaker Maiar.

Smith:

He was a smith and he created a new form of iron that was the strongest ever found - "as hard as the steel of the Dwarves", he was not messing around AND he made to TALKING swords out of a fallen star!! Tolkien never again mentioned stars as anything you could hold if you were not of the Ainur, and Aule had a tendency to lose his Maiar... just saying

Sorcery & Enchantments:

In some versions, Eöl is said to rape Aredhel which elvers die from just as a violation of their Hröa, yet she lives on, just as the orcs did when Melkor violated them.

Eöl seems to control Nan Elmoth to an absolute, and not only with what magic reminds from Melian, but he also seems to control growth light and roads as well as openings.

He can also hold stars and give metal it´s own soul.

Aredhel & Maeglin:

It could be he was evil or the Sindir/Avarin has other naming ritual (I do believe that and I have a page here I need to rewrite about it) but he seems to have no idea about elven costumes except from what he has observed Thingol doing.

When Aredhel nears Nan Elmoth Eöl commands the forest to separate her for her company luring her into his forest because he likes her look (maybe he´s just autistic??) where he shows himself and welcomes her to his home which she accepts and then chooses to stay, of her own will or under magic depends on the version, he later takes her as a wife and "they wandered far together under the stars or by the light of the sickle moon" even after he gets angry when she asks if she can see her kin again (not leave him just see her family) where he tell her to "shun sunlight" and after that, it sounds as if Nan Elmoth grows darker.

Note that Eöl too bans Quenya and only names Maeglin after 12 years, for his sharp eyes. And not sharp as in they see things, probably that too, but sharp as in "more piercing than his own" we know of two other characters with piercing eyes, and one of them is a Vala, Melkor, who if you look into the eyes of you go insane soooo...

When Maeglin near the years of an adult he requests to visit Celegorm and Curufin which sets Eöl off he threatends to "set him in bonds" if he does, and tells him he is the "house of Eöl", not Thingol, which seems a bit weird when he does a lot of other things alike to Thingol, as if he´s almost worshipping him, or looking at him to know how to act. If he was as loyal to Thingol as his action is (he lives in the place where Thingol first went on a date at) he would probably had said house of Thingol, as again he is KIN to Thingol.

We also know that Maeglin is really skilled in sorcery and Ósanwë, which some of the Valinor elvers are too, namely Idril, and his skill seems to be hinted to come from Nan Elmoth, a Maia-

Gondolin:

We know no one could find Gondolin, yet Eöl does it by tracking his wife and kid who left a week before him if not more?? there has to have been magic in over that, also he convinces Curufin to let him go - note that Curufin did tell that he thought Eöl was trying to deceive him by magic or just words we know not, I also think it funny that Eöl briefly calls Curufin kin because of Aredhel, but it makes me feel like it´s more to honor a smith than marriage.

Note that Eöl did not find his way into Gondolin, as it likely had enchantments on it, but he knew the way at first guess, and he´s fast enough to catch up to Aredhel and Maeglin when they are entering, even if Aredhel and Maeglin left before him and likely with the fastest horses and wasn´t stopped like he was.

When he cosses death for him and Maeglin he makes it seems as if he´s convinced they will survive, as if he dosne´t care for Aredhel here or that he wants her to live on, but he cares for Maeglin in a corrupt way and wants his son to die with him or he simply knows they will serve where Aredhel will not.

All in all I think it would make perfect sense if he was a Maia of Aule who either followed Melian to Beleriand or Melkor - if he followed Melkor who would later decide he wanted to go solo

[lassieposting]

Lassie's Fic Prompts: Tolkien Edition

Usually I haunt mutuals or the prompt channels of Discord communities but the Tolkien ones are all massive and I have anxiety, so I'm gonna shove them in the tag instead! Fic concepts from your friendly local prompt goblin, because god knows my ass will never get around to writing them. This post will get updated as ideas occur to me. Tags are mostly to help express The Vibe™. Anyway feel free to come talk to me about this shit I have feelings.

Bagginshield

T+ || Fluffy || Post-Canon, Reunion Fic

When the ringbearers arrive in the Blessed Realm, as a reward for the great peril they have suffered on behalf of all of Middle Earth, they are granted a single boon by the Valar.

Bilbo Baggins knows that elves, dwarves and men go to different realms after death. But Mahal's halls are vast and grand, and he is only a very small Hobbit. Surely room can be found for a single burglar in the dwarven afterlife?

Barduil

G+ || Angsty || Post-Canon, Loss, Closure, Bonus Points For Bard's Memorial Surviving To Be Unearthed In The Modern Day

Before leaving Middle Earth, Thranduil pays a final visit to the memorial he had carved for Bard.

Saurondriel

T+ || || Debates & Bickering, Sauron Drawing Parallels Between His Life & 'Halbrand's', Sauron As A Calming Influence On Morgoth's Genocidal Tendencies, Galadriel's Black & White Thinking, Small Moments Of Goodness

Halbrand takes Galadriel out to eat with his first week's wages from the forge in Armenelos, but the puppetry performance going on in the plaza - in which she is the heroine and he one of the villains - proves a distraction from their definitely-not-a-date.

When Halbrand admits that he's never seen the Sauron/Morgoth duo portrayed as utterly evil before, coming as he does from a land of their allies, Galadriel asks him what kind of stories the Southlanders tell. Sensing an opportunity to humanise himself in her mind, Halbrand dredges up some painful memories to introduce her to Mairon, Melkor and the path to hell paved with twisted love and good intentions.

T+ || Comedy || 5+1 Fic, Sauron Doing His Best, He's Not Spectacular At Being A Human But He's Trying, Galadriel Is Suspicious But Doesn't Know Enough About Humans To Call Him Out, Entirely Normal Mannish Behaviour™, Galadriel Will See A Guy Leave Scorchmarks On The Bedsheets When He Comes & Be Like 'It's Fine They Probably All Do That'

Halbrand is quite possibly the most realistic fana Sauron has ever created. He's designed to be so believably human he'll fly completely under the radar. But ultimately, a disguise is only ever as good as the actor wearing it. Halbrand is a fire spirit piloting an exquisitely crafted meat suit, and Sauron's idea of Totally Normal Mannish Behaviour is sometimes...slightly off base.

Galadriel is beginning to suspect the truth: her new significant annoyance is many things, but human is not one of them. But that's a terrifying prospect. And - and she hasn't spent all that much time around the race of Men herself, really. She's used to other elves. So it's probably fine. It's totally fine. Men are just Like That, is all.

AKA, five times Galadriel notices Halbrand's weird-as-fuck Maia traits/behaviours, but deliberately excuses them as Just Human Stuff because she doesn't want to deal with who and what he really is.

And one time where she already knows who and what he is. Many years into their marriage, Galadriel is mostly accustomed to her king's more unusual quirks. But sometimes, Mairon can be so human it almost breaks her heart.

T+ || Future Fic || Redemption Arc, Sort Of, Ainur Family Drama, Where Is Celeborn? Who Knows, Sauron Slouching Less Into The Light Of Goodness & More Into The Mist Of Moral Ambiguity, For Galadriel™, Dagor Dagorath

At the close of the Third Age, the last of Arda's elves take ship for Valinor, leaving Middle Earth - and the disembodied spirit of its former Dark Lord - to the race of Men. For thousands upon thousands of years, the Undying Lands enjoy a hard-won peace.

But when Morgoth manages to escape the Void, that peace is shattered, and with Valinor itself under threat, Ossë is dispatched to the world left behind to find the one soul who knows the enemy as well as Morgoth knows himself. He tracks Sauron to the deep south, where he's managed to claw back a physical form and has been living out his powerless exile as Hal Brand, old-timey blacksmith to the local ranchers.

When Ossë appears on his doorstep with news of Morgoth's escape, offering clemency in exchange for information, Sauron suspects a trap, and turns the offer down, intending to go into hiding rather than face his old master's rage at what's become of his dark kingdom and faithful servants. To sweeten the pot, Ossë leverages Sauron's greatest regret: the knowledge that Galadriel is in Valinor, and the implication that she'd like to see her old enemy again. Unable to resist the opportunity to reconcile with her, Sauron agrees to finally go home and share what he knows of Morgoth's plans and likely next moves with the Valar.

But with age-old grudges and rivalries causing trouble in Valinor, and Morgoth determined to retrieve his wayward lieutenant at any cost, can Sauron really turn back from the darkness long enough to hand victory to the Valar in the Last Battle?

T+ || Hurt/Comfort || Trauma, Nightmares, Identity Reveal, Sauron Has Seen Some Shit, He Probably Has Impressive Telepathy Defenses Most Of The Time But Shh, He Loves Her & He Wants To Be The Person She Thinks He Is,

Fighting for his life on the road to Eregion, Halbrand slowly succumbs to a murky world of fever dreams and infection-addled hallucinations. Trying to ease his restless sleep, Galadriel reaches out to to touch his mind...and finds herself dragged into a disjointed maelstrom of her most hated enemy's worst moments and greatest fears: Morgoth's bitter rage, the judgment of the Valar, the agony of bleeding out in the snow at Adar's feet, the inevitable pain of her own rejection if ever he's discovered.

Too weak to repel her or even really realise what he's sharing, Sauron lets her in, taking comfort from her presence. Presented with an opportunity she never thought she'd have - to look through the mind of her enemy unhindered - Galadriel stays her hand long enough to look for closure, for confirmation that he is the monster she's been hunting, that he's been manipulating her all along. Instead, she might just find something worth saving.

T+ || AU || Enemies To Lovers To Enemies To Friends To Lovers Again, Yelling At Sauron As Therapy, Halbrand!Mairon, Probably Because He Feels The Most Himself With Her Or Something, Aulë Knows Whats Up, He 100% Lets Slip On Purpose, Healing

After the destruction of the One Ring, what's left of Sauron's spirit is rounded up by the Valar and imprisoned in Valinor.

Galadriel does not find peace in the Undying Lands. After everything she has seen and done, she struggles to settle back into the realm of winterless spring. When a slip of the tongue from Aulë gives her the location of Sauron's prison, her restless nighttime wanderings begin to take her there to see him.

Sometimes, she is incandescent with rage and betrayal, and she vents her age-old anger on him without expecting any answers. Sometimes, she comes for information, and her questions are cold, cruel, demanding things flung through the bars. Sometimes, she is just sad and tired, and her questions are quiet things passed between them as they sit either side of the door. At first, there is no fight left in him: he takes what she throws at him in defeated silence. But the more she visits - to berate him, to needle him, to call him names, to ask him why, to reminisce - the more he starts to respond to her. And as her anger finally begins to die out, and their time together is increasingly spent remembering, and talking, and getting to know one another anew, the more the broken, amorphous creature in the cell begins to resemble the Man she once thought she knew.

M+ || Shameless Smut || Romance, Sauron's Complicated Relationship With Sexuality, Service Top Galadriel, Maybe Grayspec Maiar, The Mortifying Ordeal Of Emotional Intimacy, He Thinks She Wants To Subjugate Her Enemy, She Actually Wants To Love Her Idiot

Millennia ago, Mairon learned the value of sex as a bargaining chip, and he's been using it to get what he wants from the Incarnates - and Melkor - ever since. It's become a well-honed staple of his negotiation toolkit, a performance so well-rehearsed he barely needs to think about it. It's almost unheard of for anyone to notice that he tends to zone out partway through.

Almost.

Halbrand's tendency to seduce his way out of the doghouse hasn't gone unnoticed by his new queen, and nor has the way his eyes glaze over just as things start to get interesting. She's beginning to wonder whether anyone ever actually told him that intimacy is supposed to be fun. Determined to keep him in the moment with her, she decides she'll just have to teach him that herself.

AKA, Galadriel notices that Halbrand tends to dissociate and put on the act he thinks she wants from him in the bedroom. Concerned, she makes it her mission to show him he's safe to relax and enjoy himself with her - and absolutely wrecks him to make her point.

T+ || Canon Divergence || Galadriel Says Yes, Ainur Family Drama, Mairon's Aulë-Shaped Daddy Issues, Arondir & Theo, Could Be 5+1, Angst & Fluff, Maybe Comedy, Lucifer-Style Therapeutic Breakthrough, Aulë & Mairon Have Different Love Languages/Communication Styles, Galadriel Eyeing Sauron Suspiciously: What Are You Scheming Now, Meanwhile Sauron To Arondir: IDK Man I Just Never Felt Like I Was Good Enough YK? Why Wasn't I Good Enough?, Arondir Just: Your Majesty Have You Considered Therapy

Galadriel names Bronwyn advisor to the newly-restored crown of the Southlands, which means the new king and queen start seeing a lot of her husband and child. Mairon seems fascinated by the little family, and the pseudo-paternal relationship developing between Arondir and Theo - suddenly, he's full of questions about family dynamics for humans and elves. Gradually, the advice of his new wife and friends helps Mairon realise a few things about his own relationship with Aulë.

Alternatively, five times watching Arondir and Theo interact recontextualises a memory for Mairon, and one time he makes a parenting choice with Celebrían and saltily realises Aulë had a point in doing the same thing to him

T+ || Time Travel/Time Loop || Sauron Fucks Up The Timeline, Then Tries To Fix It Without Killing Finrod, Bonus Points If Halbrand Finds He Begrudgingly Likes Finrod, Alternate Meeting, Maybe She's Still A Soldier But Doesn't Remember Him, Maybe He Has To Go Back To Valinor To Even Meet Her, IDK Lots Of Options

The thing about Galadriel's rejection is that it all goes back to the death of her brother.

Either by his own power, or by the power of a Vala who wants to teach him a lesson, Sauron finds himself transported back to shortly before everything fell apart, and realises that, as Halbrand, he has an opportunity to fix everything...by breaking Finrod Felagund out of his own dungeon.

But he's surrounded by dangers, not least of which is his own former self, and time travel is tricky. Saving Felagund's life may have unexpected consequences - without her quest for vengeance, would he ever have met Galadriel at all?

T+ || Canon Divergence || Body-Sharing, The Equivalent Of Having Your Shitty Ex Crashing On Your Couch, Road Trip, There Was Only One Body

Ever since their falling out on the banks of the Glanduin, Sauron has been trying to get into Galadriel's head. One night, furious at yet another invaded dream about a man who never existed, she lashes out. She channels all her power into shoving him off the raft, or stabbing him with Finrod's long-lost dagger - and wakes, shaken and convinced that she just felt Sauron die.

She's half-right. She's successfully caught him by surprise, and ripped him out of his body. Unfortunately for her, since they were connected at the time, she's failed to leave him formless and impotent.

She's dragged him into her own head.

When he awakens, psychological warfare erupts as they battle for control of her body and mind, a twisted back and forth - she tries to drown him in his nightmares, and he tortures her with her broken heart. Eventually, as it becomes clear that the only way to evict him from her brain is to bring him back into proximity with his own body, they reach a tentative, fragile truce. They can hold off on killing each other for as long as it takes to journey across Middle Earth. They hope.

But it's a long way from the Shipwright's home in the Grey Havens to the half-finished tower of Barad-Dur, and a long time to get to grips with someone else's pain. When Halbrand reawakens in Mordor, Galadriel might find she's not so keen to kill him after all.

T+ || AU || Kidfic, Single Mom Galadriel, Halbrand Has A Dog And He's Gonna Make It Everyone's Problem, Step-Sauron, Romcom Vibes, Quite Wholesome Actually, Modern AU

Galadriel's marriage has been hanging by a thread for years, but when her estranged husband Celeborn is confirmed KIA overseas, she unexpectedly finds herself utterly lost in the world. Now a single mother to their heartbroken six-year-old daughter Celebrían, she takes a job offer that moves her little family halfway across the country and finds herself struggling to adjust to her new normal as she tries to settle in to a new area while transitioning from stay-at-home mom to…well. Putting a roof over her daughter's head and making sure Celebrían can see the play therapist a couple times a month.

Lonely, struggling and beginning to wonder if she fucked up by moving away for a fresh start, if she ought to just go home to her parents with her tail between her legs, Galadriel is delighted when Celebrían announces she's made a friend in the next garden over, and goes to introduce herself to her neighbours and invite their child to dinner.

The man who answers the door has tattoos, no kids, and is very happy to introduce her to the new friend Celebrían has been playing catch with over the fence: Carcharoth, an absurdly oversized shepherd mix.

While Galadriel is initially wary of her child getting friendly with a strange man and his rowdy dog, it's nice to have someone her own age to talk to. Someone who looks at her like he sees her, and doesn't find her wanting. Someone who supports her, and lets her support him in turn.

As their lives begin to twine together and they figure out how to fit their jagged edges together in a way that works, Galadriel starts to think she might just want to stay here after all.

AKA: Halbrand kept the dog in his messy breakup with Melkor. Carcharoth learns to play fetch…and fetches Halbrand a whole-ass family

M+ || AU || Wrong Number, Text Fic, Modern AU, Romcom Vibes, Strangers To Friends To Lovers, But Also Strangers To Rivals To Lovers, Halbrand's A+ Flirting, Found Family, Halbrand Uses His Middle Name In His Personal Life I Guess, Tevildo Is Spoiled And Orange

When Galadriel is offered one of four coveted associate spots at a prestigious inner-city law firm, she barely stops to think before wrestling a lifetime's worth of belongings into the trunk of her sensible hatchback and exchanging her sprawling family home in Tirion for an overpriced one-bed apartment in Eregion, halfway across the country.

While she's settling in, she receives a text from an unknown number - a picture of the sender's cat. And although she's not usually the type to strike up a conversation with a stranger, she's feeling rather alone and isolated in a new city while she waits for her first day at work, and so she responds with both a 'wrong number' warning and a question about the cat.

Unexpectedly, Wrong Number Guy texts back.

And keeps texting.

Over months, she develops a friendship with this stranger she's never met. Wrong Number Guy is apparently called Halbrand, has bizarre taste in music, can recommend an excellent restaurant for almost any cuisine, and should be jailed for excessive use of the smirk emoji. He sends her a good luck text on her first day at work, sends her pictures of Tevildo the cat to cheer her up when she's having a bad day, and once orders pizza to her apartment when she's having a really bad day. He also listens to her vent about her fellow associate and work archnemesis, Mairon, who's smug, shady as all hell, and gunning for the same promotion Galadriel wants, which naturally makes him the worst person alive.

As their relationship evolves, Galadriel starts trying to get Halbrand to meet her in real life. But he seems strangely hesitant for someone so charming and sociable, and it makes her wonder. Who is he, really? And what is he hiding from her?

M+ || AU || Modern AU, Sex Work, Accidental Voyeurism, Porn With Plot

Halbrand, being the fortunate owner of a Sexy Voice, has a nice little side gig doing audio porn on OF/Patreon/whatever, and he's Galadriel's go-to jill-off material. When her elderly neighbour transitions into a nursing home and the most obnoxious man alive moves in next door, she can't help feeling as though she's met him before. But it's not until she hears him getting off through their shared bedroom wall that she realises why his voice is so familiar.

G+ || Canon Compliant-ish || Half-Maia Celebrían, Werewolf!Sauron, Father-Daughter Bonding

When Celebrían is small and life is peaceful, Galadriel believes her lands to finally be safe, and the little princess of Lothlórien is free to wander the forest at will. Near the outskirts of her mother's realm, she befriends a strange wolfish creature with yellow eyes.

AKA: Galadriel has custody. Sauron, living as the Necromancer in Dol Guldur, risks sneaking into Lothlórien as a wolf or a warg for visitation.

M+ || AU || Modern AU, Sex Work, OnlyFans, Porn With Plot, Halbrand Is Loaded & Galadriel Is Making Bank, But Also Halbrand Is Interested In Her As A Person So That's A Plus, Online Flirting

Struggling to feel attractive and reclaim her sexuality after the breakdown of her marriage, Galadriel impulsively signs up for OnlyFans following a night out with Nori and one too many cocktails. It's fun and validating and boosts her confidence to get back into the dating scene. But the mediocre men she's meeting at bars and on dating apps quickly begin to pale in comparison to the lavish attentions of her most supportive follower, "darklordsauron", with whom she's beginning to feel an undeniable spark.

M+ || Canon Divergence || Dream Courtship, Prison Penpal, Trauma, Hurt/Comfort, Morally Questionable Valar, Reeducation, Attempted Brainwashing

The war is over. Morgoth, brought back to Aman in chains, has sued for clemency, but the Valar do not fall for the same trick twice: it will be the Void for him this time. Thousands of his Úmaiar have been imprisoned in Valinor. And Galadriel, her oath fulfilled, joins the legions of Eldar taking ship back to the Undying Lands.

As she struggles to pick up the threads of her old life, embroidering and baking and waiting for her brothers to return from Mandos, a figure begins to appear in her dreams - in the background at first, becoming increasingly prominent the more she notices him - and she comes to know him as Halbrand the blacksmith.

Galadriel is no fool: she knows "Halbrand" is a Maia, paying court to her through her dreams. And she knows well the Aulendili who worked the Smith's forge when she was apprenticed there: she is certain she can discern the identity of her admirer, with a little time and effort.

But her dreams, she will come to realise, are not coming from Aulë's forge, and her Halbrand is no simple worker.

AKA: The war ends with Morgoth's defeat. Imprisoned by the Valar, Sauron's only escape is osanwe. Galadriel, a powerful telepath in her own right, gets unwittingly signed up to a prison pen pal program.

T+ || Canon Compliant || Third Age Haladriel, Sauron Can Still Be Halbrand In The Mind Palace, Just Not In Real Life, Nightmares, Hurt/Comfort

In Caras Galadhon, Galadriel wakes up screaming from a horrifying PTSD nightmare. Instinctively, unintentionally, she reaches out for comfort, for safety, for understanding - not from her husband, sleeping soundly down the hall, but from an ancient evil she's been shutting out for centuries.

Hundreds of miles away in Barâd-Dur, Sauron answers the knock on the door to his mind -

-- and Halbrand does his best to give her what she needs.

M+ || Canon Divergence || Consensual But Neither Safe Nor Sane, Sauron Poking The Bear, Past Abuse, Past Torture, Deliberate Triggering, Halbrand's Morgoth Trauma, Galadriel's Finrod Trauma, Bad BDSM Etiquette, Aftercare In Both Directions, Galadriel Goes Too Far & Finds It Quite Upsetting, Halbrand's Shitty Coping Mechanisms

Sauron has spent hundreds of thousands of years devoted to Morgoth, in a relationship where every dynamic was characterised by power and domination - corrupter and corrupted, king and general, master and servant. In that time, he's learned that pain and punishment are unpleasant but essential components of absolution. When he fails or angers Melkor, he is punished for it, and then - eventually - forgiven.

Now, as Halbrand, he's not getting that same routine, and it's making him antsy and unsettled. Galadriel may have agreed to stay with him and bind him to her light, but he's painfully aware of her hatred for Sauron, the way her brother's corpse still lies between them. But she hasn't taken her retribution, and he hates waiting for the hammer to fall. He remembers all too well what happened the last time he failed to address this kind of resentment from an important ally. He wants her to get it over with.

At his invitation - and after a considerable amount of goading with which he manages to make her snap - she vents centuries of loathing and long-nurtured pain on the monster she's hunted for entire lifetimes - and, for reasons she cannot understand, he lets her. This makes Halbrand feel more stable, but she's horrified at her own loss of control. Together, they try to figure out a better way forward.

M+ || AU || Modern AU: Famous Musicians, Enemies To Lovers, Fake Dating, Romcom Vibes, He Makes Her A Little Bit Worse, She Makes Him A Little Bit Better, Writing Songs Together

Galadriel is a folk singer-songwriter with a squeaky-clean image, fighting to break out of obscurity. Halbrand is a trainwreck rock star on his third tabloid scandal of the year. Frantically attempting damage control, his long-suffering manager makes a deal with hers: a fake relationship. Being seen with her will make it look like he's finally getting his shit together, while being seen with him will give her much-needed exposure to a massive and passionate fanbase.

There's only one downside. She hates his guts.

G+ || Canon Divergence || Bronwyn Is Fine Guys, Comedy, King Of The Southlands Halbrand, Life Lessons, Romantic Cliches, Galadriel Just Wants A Little Bit Of Honesty Y'all

When Halbrand returns to the Southlands elfless and withdrawn, everyone seems to have Opinions on how he can win back Galadriel's affection.

Five times Halbrand follows the well-intentioned romantic advice offered by Bronwyn, Arondir, Theo, Celebrimbor (via letter, probably) and the newly-rescued Isildur, plus one time he finally gives up on the scheming and manipulation and gives Galadriel what she really wants from him: the truth.

G+ || Canon Divergence || Step-Sauron, Celebrían Has Balls Of Steel, Bonding

Halbrand doesn't really understand how to play. Celebrían attempts to bond in a way that will make sense to him.

AKA, Galadriel's eight year old challenges Morgoth's former right hand to a (play) swordfight

T+ || Canon Divergence || Lifespan Differences, Forgiveness In Mortals Vs Elves, King Of The Southlands Halbrand, The Southlanders Know, Bronwyn's A+ Ancient Immortal Entity-Wrangling Skills, Halbrand Goes Back To Pelargir With The Freed Southlanders

When baffling intelligence informs Galadriel that Halbrand has returned to what's left of the Southlands and taken up the crown she helped him steal, her conscience cannot allow her to sit idly by and leave those innocent people ignorant of the snake in their midst, vulnerable to whatever foul plan he's concocting for them. At the head of a train of humanitarian aid from Lindon, she rides for Pelargir to reveal Sauron's secret to his people.

As it turns out…they know. They've noticed. Several people saw him shield the village when the volcano erupted. Those who were imprisoned with him in Mordor have heard him use or understand Black Speech, or seen him calm the wargs. Bronwyn, who spends most of her time with him as Chief Advisor, is convinced that he doesn't sleep enough to be human, and he occasionally references events that happened long before he should've been born. But Sauron - an enemy most living elves have personally fought against - is a name from the very oldest of the Southlanders' stories to these people. A fairytale evil, defeated before their grandfathers' great-grandfathers were even thought of. They're more inclined to judge Halbrand based on what they've seen him do in person - save their lives, suffer for them, shield them from Adar - than on oral history from thousands of years ago, and as it stands, they're feeling considerably safer with their odd Maia king protecting them than they would feel without him. They're giving him a chance to prove he's changed for the better. So, shh, Commander. Let him pretend. He thinks nobody's noticed. There's a betting pool on when he'll figure out that they all know.

To Galadriel, this is…a rather alien viewpoint she has to wrestle with. Can someone really change that much in just a few thousand years?

T+ || Canon Divergence || Single Mom Galadriel, Teenage Celebrían, Step-Sauron, King Of The Southlands Halbrand, Mother-Daughter Relationships, Halbrand's Aule-Shaped Daddy Issues, Family Feelings, Bad Mom Galadriel Rights

Elves have immense lifespans and enjoy commensurably long childhoods; when Galadriel left her very young daughter in the care of distant relatives to go off and hunt down Sauron, she always assumed that she'd miss very little of Celebrían's youth in the grand scheme of things. But she's been gone a very long time, and when she finally sends for the newly-minted princess of the Southlands to join her in Pelargir, what arrives is not a sweet little girl but an angry, uprooted adolescent whose memories of her mother and father have gone fuzzy over centuries.

As mother and daughter struggle to reconnect and understand each other, Halbrand - poster child for parental abandonment issues - tries to bridge the gap.

T+ || Canon Divergence || Galadriel Said Yes, King Of The Southlands Halbrand, Power Couple, Kemen Being An Asshole, Political Manoeuvring, Halbrand Is An Incredibly Savvy Diplomat, Kemen Is Way Out Of His Depth, Kemen Trying To Sway Haladriel To Pharazon's Side, Possibly By Spouting The Lie That Míriel Has Allied With Sauron, Careful My Guy Or Sauron Might Just Decide To Uphold That So-Called 'Alliance' And Start Causing Problems, Galadriel's A+ Maia Wrangling Skills VS Her Friendship With Míriel FIGHT, Halbrand Getting To Go A Bit Feral

Kemen arrives in Pelargir to take control of the city, under the impression that no grubby, uneducated low man would dare challenge the new prince of Westernesse and his contingent of Númenorean guards.

But the king of the Southlands is not, in truth, a low man.

And neither is his new queen.

G+ || Canon Divergence || Pippin Took's A+ Life Choices, Butt Dialling The Dark Lord, Pippin Tries His Hand At Relationship Therapy, Outsider Perspective, Gandalf POV

In ROTK, Sauron answers the Palantír like he's really hoping it might be Galadriel this time. Pippin Took is not Galadriel, but he has recently met her, and - since he's not the brightest bulb and doesn't really cotton on that he's just accidentally facetimed the Dark Lord - he's perfectly happy to tell this complete stranger all about that experience in detail. Sauron, smart enough to realise that he might get some usable intel about Lothlorien out of this strange little creature, entertains the conversation for longer than he otherwise might have. Pippin is even pretty easy to talk to.

And when Gandalf bursts in, half-expecting the dear little soul to be driven mad with agony, he finds Pippin…very earnestly trying to talk Mairon through how to fix his relationship problems - an undertaking of such colossal stupidity that the entire West gave it up entire Ages ago.

And Mairon actually seems to be listening.

Angbang

T+ || Angsty || Outsider Perspective, Ainur Family Drama, Melkor Is A Mess But He's Mairon's Mess, Even Evil Has Loved Ones, The Valar Concept Of Love & Melkor's Concept Of Love As Very Different Things

Angband is a smoking ruin. The Enemy is a captive of the Valar. The war, it would seem, is over.

But the Ainur are uneasy. Not all of Morgoth's forces have been subdued. The Enemy's favourite servant has slipped the net, and getting information out of Melkor is like pulling teeth. Under questioning - and even the threat of the Void - in Valinor, he still refuses to tell them where his devoted lieutenant Sauron has gone into hiding.

Aulë, waiting for news of his wayward Maia, tries to make sense of how even the most corrupted of them all can be beholden to forces like love and loyalty, and how it can be that none of them ever saw this coming.

T+ || Fluff & Comedy || Epistolary Fic, Long-Distance Relationship, Leading Armies Means Being Apart A Lot, First Age, Love Letters, Complaint Letters As Well Lbh They Probably Bitch To Each Other A Lot About Everyone Else

Melkor's rise and fall, as told by the orders Melkor sends to Mairon, the reports Mairon sends back, and the informal postscripts attached to both.

M+ || PWP || Creative Use Of The Mind Palace, Telepathy, I Could Not Find A Mention On The Wiki Of Where Sauron Was During This Siege, So Let's Assume He Wasn't Like. Also Stuck In Angband

During the 400 year Siege of Angband, Melkor uses ósanwë to leave the surrounded fortress and spend some quality time with Mairon.

T+ || Angsty || Sanity Slippage, Hallucinations, Melkor Trying To Envision His Happily Ever After Even Though He Doesn't Know What Happily Ever After Looks Like

Sentenced to eternity in the Void, and slowly losing his mind to the isolation and sensory deprivation, Melkor comforts himself with visions of his little fire spirit.

Silvergifting

G+ || Fluffy || Celebrimbor Has A Crush, But He's Very Sweet About It, Possible Angst, Celebrimbor Probably Needs Closure Too, Halbrand Should Not Be Forging But He Can Still Hang Out

Celebrimbor likes to work late. Flattered by the admiration of a handsome young king, and delighted to have a fellow passionate smith to bounce ideas off, he takes to letting Halbrand join him in his workshop in the evenings while the latter is healing. One night, while swapping theories about the mithril and definitely not watching the candlelight catch on Halbrand's hair, he finds himself making a gift of his own. After all, a king should have a crown, and what better crown than one made by 'the Celebrimbor'?

(Possible angsty bonus scene: many thousands of years later, Galadriel seeks closure and a final goodbye in Mordor after Sauron's downfall. In the ruins of Barad-Dur she finds the crown that Celebrimbor made for a king who never existed, kept in Sauron's quarters as though treasured. Maybe she rescues it to take back to Valinor)

Poly/Multiple Ships

M+ || Saurondriel/Angbang || Past Abuse, Telepathy, The Mortifying Ordeal Of Learning To Make Better Romantic Choices, Sauron Loves & Fears Melkor Equally, Letting Go, Saurondriel Is Not Healthy But In This Case It Is HealthIER, So Like. That's Something

Sauron and Morgoth were still telepathically connected when Morgoth was thrown into the Void. A fragment of his consciousness remains in Sauron's mind, manifesting as a hallucination that only he can see and hear. At first, he is Melkor, the doting lover Sauron chooses to remember, amusing and affectionate and comforting and so, so missed. But, as rage and fear take over and the Void begins to drive Melkor mad, he increasingly behaves like Morgoth, the side of himself Sauron would rather forget - the cruel master whose wrath he fled after his defeat at Tol-in-Gaurhoth. With 'his' Melkor appearing less and less, Sauron becomes more and more burned out under the slew of criticism and mockery, and his confidence in his own ability to lead takes an additional battering when his subordinate turns on him at Forodwaith. When he happens to cross paths with Galadriel, he realises almost immediately that the light in her silences Morgoth's voice in his mind. As they grow closer, her unwavering belief in him - or, at least, in "Halbrand" - makes him want to do good, to please her and prove he's worthy of her support. But Morgoth is not the only voice silenced by proximity to Galadriel, and letting Melkor go is an agony he's not sure he can survive.

T+ || Angbang, Saurondriel, Galadriel/Celeborn || Having The Same Conversation While Thinking About Entirely Different People, She's Thinking About Celeborn, He's Thinking About Melkor, Halbrand's Species Has A Mayfly Lifespan & A Casual Approach To Intimacy So She Is Not Expecting Him To Understand At All, But He Really Really Does

When their flirty banter turns to their respective races' romantic customs, Galadriel finds herself opening up to Halbrand about elven marriage, about her long-lost husband, and about her feelings of guilt over her attraction to him.

Halbrand empathises. More than she ever thought he could.

M+ || AU || Saurondriel, Galadriel/Celeborn || Modern AU, Porn With Plot, Safe Sane & Consensual, Sex Work, Polyamory, Threesomes, Kink, Switch Halbrand, Galadriel & Celeborn Are Figuring Out What They Like So Who Knows, Halbrand Blacks Out & Has A Consensual Workplace Relationship

Galadriel's marriage has been going stale for years by the time her husband hesitantly comes out as bisexual. Secure in their relationship and trying to support him, she suggests a threesome to liven up their staid, predictable sex life - and, after some thought, Celeborn agrees. His one condition is that the third should be a professional, so that the situation won't get messy. Halbrand is the professional; they have a fantastic time with him and begin seeing him regularly. The first time they hire him, they all believe that this is the best way to avoid anyone catching feelings for anyone else. This, of course, goes really well for everyone involved.

M+ || AU || Saurondriel, Galadriel/Celebrimbor, Silvergifting ||Polyamory, Open Marriage, Copious Blacksmithing, Hurt/Comfort, Halbrand Recovering In Eregion, Relationship Miscommunications

A long time ago, Galadriel married Celebrimbor. They're fond of each other, but since circumstances so often keep them apart (Galadriel hunting Sauron for decades at a time, Celebrimbor inseparable from his forge), they've been quietly maintaining an open marriage for centuries, each occasionally seeking out discrete companionship when they feel the need.

This arrangement has worked well for them for hundreds of years. Neither of them expects it to ever change, or cause drama.

Enter Halbrand.

When Galadriel returns from Númenor with her wounded Southlander king, Celebrimbor is delighted to discover his wife's lover is a fellow smithing nerd. As Halbrand convalesces, Celebrimbor finds himself increasingly drawn to the charming young man and, in spending time with him, actually grows closer to his own wife.

When Halbrand's true identity comes to light, Galadriel is devastated, and Celebrimbor finds himself fighting to keep the three-way bond they've built from imploding.

M+ || Canon Divergence: Early S2 || Saurondriel, Silvergifting || Adar Frees The Southlanders & Creates A Problem, King Of The Southlands Halbrand, Aftermath Of Torture, Celebrimbor Rescues Halbrand From Mordor, Because He Has A Little Crush, Halbrand Recovering In Eregion AGAIN, Reunions

The Men of the Southlands have always been a stubborn, difficult people. Having waited over a thousand years for their royal line to reassert itself, and having seen control over their occupied lands ceded by no less than an elvish general, they're now proving very reluctant to give up on their shiny new king. When Halbrand trades his own surrender for his people's freedom, the displaced refugees descend upon the elven realms, petitioning Gil-Galad and Celebrimbor - Halbrand's apparent allies via Galadriel - to mount a rescue.

Although Galadriel's unsanctioned diplomatic manoeuvring has put him in a difficult position, Gil-Galad opts not to intervene; he thinks leaving Sauron and the orcs to duke it out between them will spare elven lives. For Galadriel herself - still reeling from the shock and betrayal of Halbrand's identity reveal, firmly in the doghouse with her High King, and demoted from her military station - this decision is a difficult one to stomach, as she struggles to reconcile her hatred for Sauron with the sudden fear and concern she feels for Halbrand, along with her own loss of her king's trust and inability to influence or counsel Gil-Galad to her advantage anymore. She's been cut out of the decision-making completely.

When she hears that Celebrimbor - for reasons she cannot begin to understand - has disobeyed Gil-Galad to send soldiers into Mordor to retrieve Halbrand, she rides for Eregion immediately, still not entirely sure whether she wants to see for herself that he's safe, or take the opportunity to kill him personally.

T+ || AU || Saurondriel, Silvergifting, Angbang || Goo Sauron, Sauron As The Rings, Maybe Being Split Into Three Rings Also Splits Him Into Three Personalities, So Galadriel Gets Halbrand/Repentant Mairon Who Is Smitten With Her, Celebrimbor Gets Annatar Who Grows To Be Fond Of Him, And Gil-Galad Gets Sauron Who Is Above All Things Fond Of Morgoth, The First Two Are Varying Degrees Of Tractable & Willing To Work/Compromise With Their Elven Bearers, But The Third One Is Manipulative And Wants Melkor Back, Which Is A Problem, And Now Sauron Is Attached To Possibly The Most Powerful King In Middle Earth At The Time

Galadriel does not find Sauron in Forodwaith, but she does find something that catches her attention: a strange ooze that moves almost like a living thing. Disturbed and suspicious, she catches it in a container and takes it back to Eregion with her, hoping one of the scholars there will be able to tell her what it is. Despite a few odd moments on the journey that make her wonder whether the goo might somehow be sentient, Eregion's scientists determine that the ooze is not an animal - it's a highly magically potent substance, probably leftover from Sauron's experiments.

Galadriel has some misgivings, but ultimately, Celebrimbor has some projects he thinks the goo might prove useful for, and she hands it over. He incorporates it into his Rings.

It's not until Galadriel slides Nenya onto her finger and begins having some strange dreams/hearing voices that she realises the truth: they've accidentally trapped a disincorporated Maia in there. Now they have to figure out how to free him.

And all Sauron has to do is not let on which Maia they've unwittingly imprisoned.

AKA: Mairon's ëala is in the Three, and he wants out. This has consequences (whether funny, romantic, horrifying, etc) for the ringbearers.

[doodle-pops]

Types of Simps | The Ainur

A/N: I have finally completed the entire series by writing for these lovely fellows. The others will just have to wait until I decide to post them :)

Types of Simps: Lords of Gondolin | House of Feanor | Imladris | House of Fingolfin

The Valar

Manwë – the ‘gentleman’ simp

· So I like to believe that Manwë has Avian traits, thus whenever he’s around his crush, he tends to chirp and ruffle his feathers in hopes of gaining their attention. You know, puff his chest out a bit subconsciously and fluff his wings so you can compliment how pretty they are (he melts).

· Not one for openly dancing like tropical birds when attracting their mate, but if there’s an event and you’re around, Manwë would quietly ask if you would like to dance while shuffling his feet from side to side attempting to impress you with his moves.

· He’ll hum and murmur some words whenever you’re around as he sings before he openly completes the song and whistles to have your eyes on him.

· Like birds, he’s always gifting you shiny objects, and I don’t mean rocks or pebbles he found around the palace, but actual shiny gifts that caught his eyes and he begged Aulё to craft for you.

· He loves to bring up conversations about the sky just so you could talk about how you wish to fly among the clouds or touch them, only for Manwe to spread his wings and offer you a flight.

· Loves to take you on flights just so he can have you in his arms and feel you curl into his embrace. If you fear heights, even better for him, you’re practically clinging to him.

· Gets jealous whenever other birds are around you and are quick to shoo them away because they tend to gain your attention. You love to feed the doves and parrots and watch as Manwë grumbles about it being unfair. If you comment on it, he’d turn red and shut up.

· You can count on him to sometimes break his code of conduct and find him appearing on your balcony at ungodly hours of the night to whisk you away to some field of flowers or mountaintop to watch the sunrise and listen to him make some comment about how beautiful you are.

Námo - the ‘tsundere’ simp

· Listen, this man isn’t going to crack a laugh far least than a smile in your presence because he doesn’t want to make a fool out of himself. He smiles and chuckles internally, but he’s even fearful of doing so because he almost got caught once.

· His brother chastises him for expressing his emotions and nearly got banned from visiting him for years because Irmo teased the living daylight out of him when his voice once cracked when you spoke to him.

· As much as he refuses to openly admit his feelings, he doesn’t run you whenever you decide to visit him or speak, he simply stays quiet and listens with a slightly bored look on his face – even though he’s not actually bored but elated on the inside. Only Irmo can see that he’s smiling.

· The funny thing about it is that if you cried to him or showed any signs that you were hurt or sad, Námo just wants to know who, what, when, and where. Why isn’t important. Just leave the rest to him and he’ll see to it that you’re never bothered again.

· Námo has the tendency to stare at you whether you’re looking or not, he sort of just stares into your soul but in truth, he’s panicking because you caught him and the only thing left to do is continue staring.

· If you’re near him, he sometimes – most of the time – stares at your hands wishing he could be a bit braver and just hold them. Instead, he combusts and shuts down when you held his hand upon asking him to dance during an event. Irmo never lets it go.

· He’s the type to bite his tongue the first time he attempts to confess his feelings and then disappear right after he messed up because he’s planning to throw himself off Mandos. Námo believes that you think he’s weird, so he does his best to avoid you at all costs.

· He does have a strange way of speaking to you when he decides to. You have to squint to understand the hidden meanings behind every sentence because they sometimes come off mean. Irmo had given up on his brother at that stage and decided to shoot him with a love dart to speed the process along.

Irmo – the ‘sweetheart’ simp

· Yes, Lorien isn’t going to pass up the opportunity when presented to interact with you at any and all costs. He understands how he feels for you and is determined to make it clear in your eyes – no questioning his love for you, period.

· Lorien is only just a call away and he’s standing before you – literally, like a puff of smoke and he’s there. Always has a smile on his face and has an arm outstretched for you to take. Whenever he initiates physical contact, he prefers to let you make the first move.

· Stands close to you and charms you with poetry and compliments. They’re just as sweet as him and when he’s done, he flashes you this breathtaking smile to make you melt into a puddle.

· Sends you poems almost every day and when he can’t meet with you, he writes the longest apology letter the world has ever seen just because he couldn’t visit you one day out of the (25/8) entire week.

· Always has his eyes on you, not in a stalkerish manner, but adoring manner like, ‘that’s my lover, the love of my life, I’d do anything for them. I love them more than you do. They could do anything, and I’d still love them.’

· Loves to visit you in your dreams and creates only the best dreams for you and him to spend time together. He literally makes all your fantasies a reality in your dreams – strange.

· Lorien loves to sing for you, and he mostly does so whenever it’s just to two of you during private moments. You’re probably walking through his garden with him, and he couldn’t help but hum until he brings to sing – real smooth.

· Hates to see you sad and does everything in his power to make you happy even though he’s breaking the rules by interfering with your emotions. He knows it’s supposed to be a natural phenomenon, but he hates watching you wallow in sadness.

· His favourite thing to do is be as affectionate as possible before his brother just to show him what he should be like with his crush and how easy it is for him to make a move. You know the ‘this could be you, but you playing games.’

Melkor – the ‘seductive’ simp

· One word to describe him is S M O O T H. He’s really smooth with his actions, and if you’re not turned on or melting, everything is wrong with you.

· Always has a seductive compliment for you every time you meet. Sometimes, he doesn’t even wait on time to allow you to meet, he goes looking for you. Melkor would waltz right up to your smaller figure and corner you with one hand over your head, getting into your space and just silently staring with a smirk because he knows the effect of his presence.

· Brushes your hair out your face and then drags his fingers down you grip your chin and he forces you to look him in the eye. This man lives for EYE CONTACT and knows that you’re weak in your knees every time he stares into your soul.

· Loves to lick his lips whenever you’re speaking to him because he’s staring at how kissable yours look and he’s dying to lean in and have a taste. The most he’ll do is lean in to brush his lips against yours to leave you wanting more or kiss you just at the corner of your lips.

· His voice – holy fuck – his voice is finer than the sweetest wine and he uses that as his greatest weapon. Loves to whisper into your ear, while brushing his lips against the tip as he surprises you from behind.

· He normally waits for you to be the one to initiate the physical contact and when you do, for example, a hug, he pressed his entire body into yours so you could feel every ounce of muscle while chuckling and making some excuse about how you weren’t supposed to feel that. BOI.

· Listen, he’s seductive but he also has class, so black roses just for you accompanied by some onyx jewellery, because he thinks you look sexy in black.

· J E A L O U S Y to the highest degree. He wants to tear anyone, and everyone’s throat out who attempts to put their unworthy hands on you. On one but him gets that pleasure and opportunity. He has threatened to take someone’s hand off before.

· Melkor has this habit of sharing his wine with you from the bottle and not the glass. He’ll drink first, then cup you by your throat, tilting your head backwards and resting the head against your lips to pour the wine down your throat while whispering how good you’re doing. (I don’t even know how you haven’t choked and died from the contact because I would and combust). He wants to try kissing you and pouring the wine from his lips to yours, but he’s waiting till he has you officially.

The Maiar

Eonwë – the ‘enthusiastic’ simp

· At first, he doesn’t truly understand what’s happening and why he is feeling all these positive emotions surging through him, but then Manwë had to be a dad and explain to the poor birb that he is in love.

· Just like Manwë, Eonwë has Avian traits and does the whole singing and dancing fiasco to attract you to him. He’s a lot more open with expressing his feelings and is sort of like a love-sick bird.

· He’s always singing and pulling you in to dance with him. Humming some random tune and gently tugging you into his embrace, encasing his feathers around you both to shut out the rest of the world.

· Loves to take you on flights to give you tours or to look at the sunset or sunrise. More like a bird, he brings you little random trinkets he found while flying and hopes that you understand the hidden meaning and keep them – you do.

· He once saw a play with you and was amazed at the flowers falling from the sky which caused him to re-enact the scene. One morning you were in the gardens and Eonwë decided to fly up above and drop flowers upon your head – I want this to happen to me now.

· He loves when he has to clean his feathers, he’ll ask if you would like to assist him so you could spend the entire day grooming him. Eonwë simply sits and guides you on how to handle his feathers and leaves the rest to you because he’s in paradise when you touch his wings.

· Another jealous birb boy who hates when other birds get close, and you give them your attention. Before you met him, you had a dove you nursed back to health and it grew attached to you and saw you as its mate, was not the best thing for Eonwë to learn. He and the bird nearly had it out.

· Loves when you compliment him because he intentionally puffs up his feather and ruffles them to gain your attention and hope that you praise him. You call him your little songbird because he’s always whistling and singing around you because you’re his mate – got to impress.

· Always leaves behind a feather or more of his whenever he has to go away on trips so you could have a piece of him with you.

Mairon – the ‘tsundere and protective’ simp

· He’s the annoyed type of tsundere simp. One that constantly rolls his eyes at everything you do but is still overprotective. Contradicting in many ways isn’t it, I know.

· Quiet whenever you’re around and listen to everything you say, rolling his eyes in between or making some remark that comes off as him being disinteresting but it isn’t his intention. He doesn’t really talk much around you and opts to remain quiet, taking your voice and presence.

· Always H O V E R I N G. Always around – seems a tad bit stalkerish, but he wants to ensure you don’t do anything stupid because you’re clumsy. He’s always having to rush in to save you from some injury and then blow up about how it could have been worse. What a weird way to show you care Mairon.

· You could ask for help and he’s dropping whatever it is you’re doing with a scowl on his face and complaining about him having more important things to do while helping you. Newsflash, you simply asked for help and not him specifically.

· Subconsciously makes you gifts and leaves them on your doorstep or has them delivered to you with a mysterious note attached to it because he’s your secret admirer. How cliché and smooth.

· Always has a softer look – that still appears stern – on his face in your presence but the moment you leave him alone, he cracks, and a grin falls through. It spreads across his entire face and lights up his entire aura. He’d shake his head and give a small chuckle as he replays all your enthusiastic speeches from earlier making notes about all the things you like.

· Would never admit his feelings even though Eonwe probably has attempted to set up situations to get him to. The most that would happen is him staring you down with a blank look on his face while he’s screaming at himself to say something nice.

· J E A L O U S. He doesn’t like when someone breathes, look, talk, smile or glances in your direction. Even with Eonwe who attempts to help you understand your feelings, he gets absolutely jealous – like Hades from Hercules or maybe that’s Melkor.

· When he does get jealous, he attaches himself to your side the entire day and night wordlessly. He makes some comments about how ‘you’re not safe alone’ and shuts up after because he was about to admit the truth.

· Please, you once held his hand and he stiffened under your touch. It made you believe that he didn’t want you to touch him, but he was howling at the moon. Mairon spent a solid day and night staring at his hand. From then, he did everything he could to get you to touch his hand whether accidentally or not.

Bonus: I originally had Melkor as this

Melkor – the ‘denial/I don’t simp’ simp

· Boy, if everyone had a coin for the number of times Melkor admitted he doesn’t simp for you and then proceeds to simp, everyone would be rich because he contradicts his words to a fault before everyone's eyes.

· His brother would literally tell him that his crush is in the room, go talk to them and Melkor would make some dramatic statement about him not caring and then waltz over to his crush five minutes after to chat with them – bonus: he could never make proper eye contact.

· He denies every statement about him liking his crush which a huge blush on his stoic face and proceeds to make another statement about him not being a simp. It backfires because he’s always seen hovering around you hours later with some lost look in his eyes.

· You once spoke about your ideal type and the next day; he showed up acting and dressed like them. Tries his damn hardest to not make a fool out of himself but he fails. Melkor just believes that he’s tolerating you, nothing more, nothing less.

· The rest of the Valar and Maiar loves to tease him endlessly by making up rumours about seeing you with someone else just to make him blow a fuse and go back on his words about not being interested in you.

· When he does corner you, the first question you could ask him to shatter his brain is ‘do you like me or something?’ you can bet what his response was, let me give you a hint, ‘no – I simply tolerate your measly presence’ while fighting a smile.

· He’s almost like a tsundere but more expressive.

· His brother loves to tease him about how much of a softie you turn him into. Manwe once walked in and saw you putting flower crowns into his hair with the grumpiest look adorning his face. Melkor sat with you for hours without complaining because he enjoys your presence.

Masterlist

Taglist: @edensrose @spidergirla5 @eunoiaastralwings @someoneinthestars @aconstructofamind @mysticmoomin @lilmelily @ranhanabi777 @noldorinpainter @starborne0661

[urwendii]

It is time to reward the bravery of the Ring Bearers and Bilbo is summoned to the Forges of Aulë.

A little tribute to the @fellowshipofthefics discord, I'm not exactly a Hobbit girlie but writing Bilbo is always a delight and you guys are always so kind.

Some Bagginshield flavours. Taking some liberties with canon because I can.

Bilbo had a very confusing day. If one could say so. It all started after his second breakfast when the Lady Galadriel came to visit him and Frodo- oh and what a breakfast it had been, Bilbo could not prove it but the quality of food in the Undying Lands really was outstanding. Frodo had even said so last time when they had taken a stroll in their garden. It had been a beautiful day with a blue sky and a crisp autumn wind. Bilbo loved the golden trees so very much.

But he was saying, ah yes. A very confusing day indeed. The Lady Galadriel had been accompanied by her husband the Lord Celeborn, a kind fella who answered a lot of Bilbo's questions about the technicalities of one of his Sindarin translation of a poem he had found in the library in Rivendell. Bilbo might even finish his work on this before the moon came full again. The Lord and his Lady had drank tea with them but refused any food - elves were strange like that, even so he might have to clarify they were indeed less strange than the others inhabitants of said mystical Lands. And indeed Bilbo had met some of them, as strange as they were. Looking like Elves or Men for most but Bilbo was no fool and could see the very much established otherness shining through their raiments.

Oh he was very fond of Gandalf indeed, and so glad his friend was there even though he was called Olórin here and that sounded too strange to Bilbo and so he kept calling him Gandalf because that was what his friend's name was for him.

So well today he was meeting another ! Ah yes for it was the purpose of the Lady Galadriel's visit. He was told to meet in Valmar - the city of many bells! Oh Bilbo was very excited indeed, Tírion he had visited often and often remained in the Palace's library - so many books ! So much knowledge. He felt a young hobbit again. Looked like one for that purpose too. Strange Lands indeed.

It had been peculiar that Frodo's presence was - if welcomed - not strictly mandatory and his nephew informed he would not mind staying home. Sometimes Frodo would simply stay and sleep. Ah, Bilbo could not blame him.

So he had gone. With the Lady and the Lord. To Valmar. The city of Maiar. The beings that were like Gandalf. And like another one whose name was not to be said too much because it seemed to greatly vexed many. Bilbo still had questions about his ring though. Ah well. He had packed a healthy elevenses and lunch (as well as other snacks, one could not be too cautious after all.)

Valmar stood proud and glorious, even outshining his most anticipated imaginings. The Lady and her husband seemed to know their way and up they went to a hill where a large building stood, decorated with many banners Bilbo recognised as Manwë's heraldry. The Elder King. Bilbo had never met him in person.

But it had not been the King awaiting him but his Herald. Standing tall and proud, Eönwë always seemed vexed, to Bilbo's humble opinion, there was a solemn expression on his face but the corners of his eyes had that tightness that Gandalf sometimes had with him in their younger years, when he seemed particularly exasperated by something Bilbo would do or say. Which was unfair because Bilbo had always been a delight. According to his good opinion of himself at least.

Eönwë was slightly intimidating though, in the way Ainur were - well aside Gandalf, but he was weird. He had been the one welcoming Frodo and Bilbo when they had reached the White Shores, making a grand speech with fancy words Bilbo had tried to pay attention too - he had been very hungry at that time! Now Bilbo wanted to ask him all sorts of questions.

This time and because he had been chewing on one of his snacks just before, he heard the words said and nodded when he was asked if he understood.

Well Bilbo was not stupid thank you very much. He was told to go with Eönwë to Aulë's forges - the Elder King had ruled on a decree, it was to be a formal thank you to the Ring Bearers, Frodo and Bilbo and Bilbo's award was different than his nephew and so he had to go to the Forges.

Why? He asked and asked again but every answer was similar to the way Gandalf would sometimes answer his queries, riddles that only made sense if you were a strange wizard.

Eönwë said not much actually, he monotously told Bilbo he would fly them here, the Lady and Lord were met with a polite bow and to pass his greeting to the Lady's father. And then off they went.

Flying! Oh Bilbo had once flew on the back of a Great Eagle! How amazing it had been. Ah. He missed these times. Now gone with the long years of his life but never regretted once.

He inquired on the method of transportation, to which the Herald wordlessly replied by opening large silver wings attached to his back. Bilbo had seen many wonders in his life but being carried by a winged person - not a great Eagle! Oh what a joy to be alive! The trip did not take long but it certainly made Bilbo hungry again and he told Eönwë so when they landed in front of a towering building where a cacophony of hammers hiting metal could he heard.

That seemed to confuse the Maia as he stood awkwardly by Bilbo's side while he sat down on the stair to unpack a loaf of bread, some honey, nuts, cheese and berries.

All better he decided after finishing eating. The polite thing to do had been to offer some to Eönwë but that seemed to make the Maia even less at ease. Strange strange creatures indeed. Ah well. More for him then.

Eönwë informed him they didn't eat - there was no need apparently and Bilbo thought that maybe that was why he looked not exactly really happy. Maybe Sauron would have been less evil if he too had some food once in a while. Bilbo could not imagine living his life without and would have certainly shared some of his snacks in exchange for seeing his ring once more.

The Halls were immense, even by a tall person standard but Bilbo could not help but stare at everything, there were wonders hung on the walls, resplendent armours exhibited, swords of ancient times, mundane objects, fountains, ingenious mechanism, clocks. What a lively place!

An imposing shape came to them, bushy red beard and golden eyes, a sturdy leather apron tied around his waist. Aulë welcomed both of them, his voice booming in the high ceiling.

"Welcome!" And said other things to them to Eönwë in what he learned to be Valarin. What a delightful language to try learning! So complicated and challenging. The Lady Galadriel had told him only one Elve ever mastered it and Bilbo was confused to learn he was not there. Oh yes he needed to finish the records of the First Age about the House of Fëanor and his sons.

That reminded him Frodo had mentioned something interesting the other evening during dinner. They had had a delicious potage from the gardens' vegetables - carrots, butternut, potatoes and garlic.

Oh, but he should focus on the conversation.

He asked Lord Aulë - or Lord Mahal if he knew the engineering behind Sting, his and Frodo's beloved sword.

"It grew blue when orcs were near."

Aulë seemed delighted with Bilbo's following questions, so many new things to learn that Bilbo did not immediately register when they entered a smithy, and another person was standing there.

A discreet cough had been what refocused him on his surroundings, finding Eönwë standing near...a dwarf.

Bilbo blinked. Once. Twice. Oh. Almost swoon.

Oh.

"I see you haven't lost your constant chatter." Thorin remarked and Bilbo would possibly need a seat soon if he could have one, yes thank you, ah.

"A prerogative of mine own creations." Aulë said. Eönwë explained this was Bilbo's gift. From the King.

Bilbo possibly would have said something if he had not been busy gaping and then sniffling and then- ah a hug felt nice, very nice indeed. He hadn't had such a nice hug in so long.

"You need to meet Frodo." He said amongst other things and "Oh Gandalf will be joyful to see you again." And "I need to tell you about the Ring I found." And "I'm so happy." And so many words that would take too long to record in pages for some feelings could only be felt. He would write them down though.

There and back again. Ah yes, very nice indeed.

[legendariium]

Of course, the elf’s first instinct was to run. He couldn’t exactly place the voice carrying through the wind, but he had a solid guess or two for who was responsible for it — and none of them were favorable. The only one of his brothers with such command of their voice was Kano, and he knew such games were below the elder.

And yet, despite all the signs pointing to danger, Carnistir’s feet remained strongly planted. The suggestion for him to flee was taken as a challenge, and the dark Feanorion’s gaze hardened like steel. He took up a defensive stance, one he learned from training with Tulkas in his youth.

“Last I heard, my father is only banished from Tirion, not the Pelóri,” The elf sneered. Of course this one would bring up such a technicality. “So I think I will stay. Besides, I have nothing to fear from a coward who hides in the shadows.”

for  a  manipulative  starter . // from melko to cranberry 👀👀

Things at Formenos had been tense the last few days and Carnistir couldn’t bear it any longer, so he left to hike north along the Pelori mountains with enough food and supplies to last him a day or two. After a long day of climbing, the elf was laying on his bedroll with his thoughts racing this way and that, when he could’ve sworn he heard the sound of a twig snapping and rocks shuffling around nearby. Carnistir wanted to believe it was an animal, but he knew that it wasn’t so; the air was still, and it was much too quiet. He thought he saw a brief flicker of light in the distance, almost beckoning him to follow.

“Tyelko?” The Feanorian called out, peering into the darkness. His hand gripped his hunting knife as he stood up, deciding fearlessly to investigate. “Is that you? I swear, if you followed me again…”

{ @voidtamer }

[radioactive-earthshine]

I don't know if this is a weird question, but have you ever thought about how konbart would fit into a lord of the rings or more fantasy setting

I have thought about Kon and Bart (and DC in general) in a strict Tolkien AU and the thing is, it got so wildly different from DC canon I was basically making OC Tolkien characters by that point because there are some things that just fundamentally don't mesh well.

I did however settle that Kon was absolutely some sort of critter created by Melkor - he's Melkor's attempt to try and create one of the Ainur from scratch via fantasy-esque science that we already have in Tolkien. Naturally, he couldn't do it exactly how he wanted and he needed to borrow material to start with (Clark's Tolkien equivalent which I have noted being a special kind of Ainur that had perished somehow except for him).

Kon's origins to start are a pretty big unknown, I'm not entirely sure if he was made in Utumno or Angband but he was 100% created. I couldn't work in his exploitation really but his personhood is always questioned because "can anything Melkor have made really be alive?"

Clark shut that down damn fast and he's respected enough people listen, but still Kon is sort of held at arm's length and has to frequently 'prove' himself.

I feel like in any 'fantasy' setting Kon would have some sort of origin like that in that he is a being that was created from magic or science, alchemy or necromancy so it leaves a wide range of origins to play around with.

For Bart specifically in Tolkien it gets a little hazy because Bart's comic origins involve time travel. The Lord of the Rings are not strict staunch fantasy stories, particularly not the Silmarillion where there are a lot of science fiction elements - Tolkien was a fan of science fiction and he had a delightful way of interpreting science fiction themes or blending them within fantasy elements.

For Bart... He is 100% from the future, but he's like, from more than 1000 years in the future, he's from more like 100,000+ years in the future because the time difference between ages in Tolkien already can be several thousand years old.

Bart is the same sort of critter that Luthien was but leaned heavily on his Ainur side - he's more Ainur than whatever his second half is (I am undecided) but he really can move like the wind and he dances like light on water.

Ainur do not know what to do with him.

As for his back story I have it scribbled down (tentatively) that he was born just before the end of days in an age where Valinor (for whatever reason) was reintegrated with the physical world. It was an age of peace and unity where technology and nature existed in harmony and unity and all sentient beings worked with each and loved each other - where Quendi that had long since faded due to life wariness now found comfort and joy in life and the Ainur were content to see that what they helped create so long ago really was that beautiful.

Then Melkor came back back out of the void walking around on his stupid little stump legs (<- that's in my notes) and decided to fuck things up.

I don't know how it happened or why but Bart was sent back in time by [redacted] because he's a special boy that Melkor would either kill outright the moment he got ahold of him or would try and manipulate him. So naturally the most logical solution was to send him back in time to the... (checks notes).... First Age... where Melkor is alive???

To be fair they didn't want to send him the First Age, they wanted to send him back only maybe 1000 years but they hadn't really tested this technology and perhaps there are other forces at play and poor Bart ended up in the First Age with his mind a little bit scrambled from the trip.

Max does end up taking him in in this, he's one of the quendi that refused to leave Cuivienen period or go West, he's one of the Avari. He's unsure what to do with Bart really at first but Bart's still a teen when he shows up, and he's in need, so he resigns himself to helping him and they bond. I have a note here about an agreement with Nessa allowing Bart to stay with Max only IF Bart stays there and doesn't leave, there's an implication that they also fear Melkor getting a hold of him.

In a basic more generic fantasy setting Bart can be fun to play with I think but I believe him being something distinctly not human is a must - the more impish the better and I personally think leaning on him being a refugee and being lonely is a plus. ANYWAY how KonBart happen in this AU that is turning more into just an original story at this point because we've broken so many rules and stretched canon thin - Bart doesn't meet Kon until he's actually a few centuries old, which means little to most everyone at this time.

How they meet is Bart decides to, impulsively, go West anyway breaking the agreement Max made with Nessa because he got tired of being there and he wanted to see his kin. Bart doesn't have any context for Kon and just thinks he's amazing and fascinating and he makes him feel less alone.

I don't have anything else for this Tolkien AU kjfnjkrbfe

As for a more generic fantasy setting I haven't gone too far because fantasy can be such a broad range I would need like, a world bible FIRST then build from that; what species exist, is magic a thing, what are the fundamental rules etc etc etc.

I'm not sure if any of this makes sense or is what you were looking for but this is all I have and all subject to change.

[legitimatesatanspawn]

I just realized that every time I answer a LotR Silmarillion lore question or make a lore dump post, the way I talk about the setting low key implies I lived through all the events and am struggling to remember every last detail when spitballing the facts.

Which does fit since LotR's metalore is that the books are being translated from Hobbitish/Westron and Quenyan/Sindarin/whatever into English by JRR Tolkien. Except I'm not an long-lived species be it elf or ainur.

I know I've seen a lot of people talk about Elrond or Galadriel, or Legolas or straight up Gandalf just breaking the minds of the shorter lived species with weird historical facts.

Elrond actually did it in canon. Just... straight up dropped the fact that he remembered the final fight with Morgoth at the end of the First Age - the destruction of Thangorodrim and thus so too Ancalagon.

On a related note Elrond seeing Isildur look at the One Ring... you know he would've been groaning. Because I'm sure he's seen that exact sort of face before. And Elrond knows exactly how much obsession with a mystical artifact can warp the mind and twist common sense. Hell, the fact that no one even knew that the Ring was taken...

Look, Boromir said that no one knew what happened to the Ring. That the men of Gondor thought it was destroyed with Sauron's domain. And the 'few' who knew what happened with Isildur and the Ring was as Elrond put it "He alone stood by his father in that last mortal contest; and by Gil-galad only Círdan stood, and I." Implying that the other fighters were too far away or slain by Sauron. Also? Elrond was serving as Gil-galad's herald. Which is a job, and to my understanding a mix of messenger, diplomat, and knight tournament referee.

[edennill]

@eri-pl

So, you asked me about my interpretation of Varda on Ao3, and I actually wanted to reply in an ask, but decided maybe it's better to have it here. At the same time, I'm afraid... I do have a fairly strong idea of her, but it's mostly focused on the early days of Arda, and maybe a little nebulous (and perhaps doesn't really add anything to what I've already said). Still:

One of the most specific headcanons that influence the way I see her is that, well, she was the fourth being in existence, thus had by necessity been fairly close with Melkor before he went bad, and consequently she has a very keen sense of betrayal later on. I think the few who came directly 'after' (...I have no idea what time before time even is, but never mind) were some of the Ainur who did not enter Eä, and so, the Valar who came next (probably Ulmo, Namo, Yavanna and Vairë, in some order) did not necessarily have this experience, and certainly not to such extent. This later period would have also been the time during which Melkor started really disappearing into "the Void where he once walked alone"... and from some point on he was hiding a lot of wrath and resentment whenever he returned among the others — so ultimately, I think a lot of the Ainur actually only came to really know him when he started disrupting the Music. Which. makes for a very different sort of disappointment than Varda's.

The second thing (and I'm sorry for always circling back to Morgoth here, though on the other hand you find him interesting so maybe you won't mind), is that well, canonically she's the person he fears the most. Now, she's not actually more powerful than Manwë, but her power is more... focused, I'd say, if you know what I mean (I don't entirely lolll). And since he usually hates in proportion to fearing, she often bears the burnt of his sabotage efforts in those early days, which again, leads to a lot of anger on her side.

...You might think it strange how much I focus on anger for someone who's among the morally purest characters in the Legendarium, and well, I'd call it righteous wrath in her case, but your mileage may vary. Certainly, it's not only (or even mostly) that she's disturbed by his wrongs towards her in particular, but she's not allowed to forget by the circumstances.

On the other hand, I don't particularly like the theory that she rejected him romantically, I think it's reading too much into a phrase that's very ambiguous and likely wasn't intended to mean this, given Tolkien's track record with similar phrasings.

But yes, she's this kind of dichotomy in which... on the one hand, she's beauty, she's art, she's gentle... but stars burn, and she can be sharp at other junctions. Sorry, I keep using words in some weird abstract sense, I might not be able to explain it better.

She would have — in time — forgiven Melkor if he had ever given her reason to think that he regretted his actions rather than the fact that he lost the war, which he never really did. There was nothing especially damning in whatever he said in hearing after his release, but none of it was reassuring either, and I think she believed the knowledge of his defeat would keep him from acting up, but nothing much more conclusive.

[mirkwood]

Wip snippet

I was tagged by @queerofthedagger thank you sooo much !! 🫶🏻

I am actually so excited for this one since it's my first feanormelkor fic. Basically this one is all about Melkor being obsessed with Feanor and how badly he wants him. Cue Melkor being Melkor ❤

I don't have an actual title just yet but im calling this one "3 times Melkor wanted to taste Feanor and one time he actually did". I think it's self explanatory, isn't it?

Here's the first part of the 4th time, just be warned about a bit of blood mention and Melkor being Weird :

Gothmog, Lord of the Balrogs, is standing in front of him, all fire and flame. He brings with him a stench of blood and ash and despair.  So huge is he that even he, Morgoth, the foe of the World, the darkest and most formidable of the Ainur, has to lift his head to meet his gaze. Truly, one of his greatest creations.  “He is gone,” Gothmog announces, his deep voice thundering through the vast chamber. The echo of it is the only thing that can be heard. Every creature is silent, watching and waiting for their Lord to speak.  But that is exactly what he did not want to hear.  Something new comes to the surface. Another feeling, strange and foreign, one that makes itself known in the back of his throat.  Regret. Disappointment. It almost tastes like defeat. It tastes like the night Feanor denied him. “What of the body?” asks Morgoth, his focus abruptly shifting to the blood dripping from Gothmog's whip. The droplets collect into a small puddle around him, and then slowly dissipate from the heat radiating from the Balrog’s body. His jaw clenches with such a force that for just a moment he thinks it’s going to break from the strain. His loose grip tightens on the armrests of the throne, as he struggles to restrain himself. His fingers dig deeper into the material and the dull pain of his burns surges back stronger than ever.  He doesn’t care. All he craves is to taste him.

Tagging @sauronpilled @afaramir @elvain and anyone else who wants to share their writing!!! Please consider yourselves tagged fr

[cilil]

Day 3: Ulmo | Timeless Halls, Almaren, Valinor, Romance

✧˖° Characters: Ulmo, Manwë, Eru, Varda, Melkor ✧˖° Pairings: Ulmo x Manwë (possibly onesided), Manwë x Varda (background) ✧˖° Headcanons

› Ulmo was created shortly after Melkor, Manwë and Varda and was therefore 4th Ainu overall to come into existence.

› The truth about his birth is that, aside from his element being important for the making and shaping of Arda, Eru made Ulmo specifically to serve as a companion to Manwë; the same applies to Varda.

› This is why Ulmo has always felt a great connection to and love for Manwë and possesses a keen eye for Melkor's evil, as does Varda. They're both needed to protect Manwë from his brother abusing his lack of comprehension regarding evil to influence him.

› Ulmo being made this way has come with the unfortunate side effect of him loving Manwë deeply, unconditionally and perhaps more than he should. While Eru made both him and Varda as companions, he decreed that Ainur can only have one spouse, and Manwë ended up with Varda, leaving Ulmo by himself.

› He's still as loyal as he's always been and does his best not to be jealous, but sometimes can't help it. Ulmo has at times found himself getting irritated at Varda for what he perceives as her not being gentle or caring enough with Manwë, but out of respect he's never voiced such concerns.

› The first ages of Arda is the time Ulmo remembers most fondly. While Varda was working in space and occasionally fending off or distracting Melkor, he was helping Aulë shape Arda together with Manwë and had his beloved by his side. His favorite creations are the clouds and rain they made together, being as close and intimate as two Ainur can be without being lovers or married. Yavanna may or may not have seen this, but chose not to comment.

› After Melkor arrived in Arda and caused trouble, Ulmo was among the first to rush to Manwë's side to help him, as did Varda soon after. Unfortunately for both of them, they were no match for Melkor and could do very little whenever he decided he wanted to hurt his brother.

› When their labors concluded and the Ainur made their first home on Almaren, Ulmo quickly realized that the (mostly) happy times he spent with Manwë were over, since Manwë was going to live together with Varda and among their kin on the island, while Ulmo sensed that his home would always be in the waters of Arda. He doesn't feel comfortable on land for too long.

› Little has changed in that regard ever since Almaren was destroyed and the Valar moved to Aman. Ulmo rarely joins councils and instead prefers to occasionally appear on the shores near Taniquetil or in the pools of Ilmarin to meet Manwë.

› He has never lied about his efforts to help the Children, even when the council had officially said not to, and Manwë is in tacit agreement with him. As the Elder King, he has to "behave" on the outside, but is glad that Ulmo sees himself as more free in his role and does what they think is right and could be helpful.

› Ulmo is not sure whether Varda is aware of or has ever suspected how he secretly feels about Manwë, but hasn't said anything to her and neither has she to him. He feels that he's been a faithful friend despite the longing sometimes plaguing him and should therefore not be denied Manwë's company.

› Unfortunately for Ulmo, Melkor has become aware of his feelings and misses no chance to taunt and belittle him. He may have even offered Ulmo to "give" him his brother if he agrees to serve him and help him become King of Arda, which Ulmo has furiously declined.

› Ulmo has had little success with and interest in finding other partners and companions (if you want me to put a label on it, I'd say I see Ulmo as demiromantic and/or demisexual).

› He maintains good relationships with his Maiar - with the possible exception of Úmaiar who have defected for various reasons - and the Vala/Maiar relationship in his household can be summed up as "my weird but nice and funny uncle".

Thanks for reading! ♡

taglist: @a-world-of-whimsy-5 @blauerregen @bluezenzennie @edensrose @elanna-elrondiel

@i-did-not-mean-to @just-little-human @stormchaser819 @urwendii @wandererindreams

@ainurweek

[eri-pl]

Re: Gandalf and Melkor

(idea: Gandalf was originally a Maia of Melkor. But now with more canon)

So from what I understand, initially the Ainur didn't have a hierarchy. The Maiar and Valar became a thing after Ea was made, which is after the Music, which is after Melkor's initial problematic behavior (I won't say "evil" yet, as this is arguable).

The beings that were Melkor's Maiar from the start are the Balrogs (and maybe possibly some other evil beings?). Already fallen.

And Olorin (the guy known as Gandalf) is not.

So, what is he?

I think that initially, even before the Music, the Ainur had certain resonances. Some just match some others better. And later, when some of them descended into Ea, this had an impact on which Maiar served which Valar.

Impact, but not 100% correlation. They have free will, after all. And they can serve more than one Vala, I assume it means one at a time, but they can change whom they serve.

And we know the case of Arien. She was a spirit of fire, like Balrogs were, but she chose to serve Varda instead of Melkor. And I don't want to believe that it was because she naturally resonated with Melkor less than the others.

They have free will.

She chose to not be evil. They did not. Not because they were made like this. They choose.

So, if Arien could not go with her just natural choice, because this choice was Melkor, why not other Maiar?

Olorin has qualities (mostly mentioned in linked post) that are similar to Melkor: likes to play with fire, likes to meddle, likes to show off his intelligence and be sarcastic, word puns, natural affinity to humans, too smart for his own good (mellon)...

(Melkor: rules over fire, likes to meddle, prideful and with insane language skills even for a Vala (that's canon), had an insanely steering emotional reaction to humans (hates them), too smart for his own good.)

I know Olorin's name is linked to Irmo (it means "dream / fantasy" more or less) but he took a name when language was already a thing, so of course it's like that, he served Irmo at that time I guess.

So the Maiar I see as naturally Melkor-vibed:

Arien (as said before)

Olorin (as said before)

Melian: she is weird. So odd that she must be reasonant with Melkor. Nobody remotely normal would marry an elf. Yes, that's opposite of what Melkor would do, but... He is the opposite of what he should be. So it makes sense. Just... she's just this exact "this idea hasn't existed before and warps the reality, let's do it!!" kind of weird. Also, see: Melkor's reaction to Luthien. Both in the sense of "he feels the resonance" and "Melkor and Melian were the only Ainur in the canon who wanted to marry an incarnate"

Curumo: proud, craftsy, proud, didn't seem to need much work to be corrupted TBH

"Not particularly Melkor-vibed, even though you might they are" think include:

Sauron (lawful, needed much effort to be corrupted, I don't see him as fire-aspected before the Ring, ymmv)

Radagast (not all Istari have to be in the list, and he has no reason to be on it)

Probably Osse too? I think he just has temper issues.

Other thoughts:

As I said in one earlier post, many elves and at least a few humans also have a discernable resonance to a particular Vala (Eol and Feanor to Melkor (maybe mixed with Aule), Maglor and Tour to Ulmo, Maedhros also to Melkor, Celegorm to Orome) but with Maiar it's more visible.

Also, for a non-Melkorian example of a mixed resonance, I would say that Tilion (or how do you spell the moon guy) is not only Varda, but also Irmo-vibed.

I'm not sure if this basic resonance is a thing that can change, but I doubt it. Olorin after countless years of serving the good Valar is still recognizable as odd.

It's like instruments.

When you play a trumpet with the violins a lot, the player and the audience get accustomed to it and hear it as more natural combo, but it's still a brass.

Maybe when Sauron got Numenored, and/ or when he forged the Ring. Those were big events.

Also, the Valar aren't a linearly independent base. Nienna and aule are closer to Melkor than, say, Varda or Ulmo. Still, this says nothing about their morality.

He chose to be evil. They did not.

[nighttimepatrons]

🐉 A lot of figures in the Silm have weird Eldritch powers or possibly biology. Tell us about your headcanons for one.

And, also, do other characters know about the eldritchness?

man you knoooowwww you know I love spot of Eldritch Elrond. It's iconic, it slays 💅

I love Celebrian being like "This his my husband Elrond, most of the time he's an elf, and sometimes he's an earthquake that can look at things. :) "

like put that eldritch peredhel under the earth where they belong.

And not to always bring Glorfindel into everything but :)))) literally just this morning I was thinking about the Valar keep having him go do stuff for them and they're like "Here's extra ainur juice to get it done, see you in 78 years, bye bye" And Glorfindel's just like "Damn, okay." anyway my point being surely there is only so much godly power you can be gifted before you just stop being an elf. I don't know if that would make him Eldritch but that's what I've been thinking about ^^