#BECAUSE HE LOVED HÚRIN AND HUOR LIKE HIS CHILDREN!!!!!!!!!!

[daeluin]

i did NOT see a bitch saying turgon abandoned his family. bitch shut up you're wrong you don't understand the text i will fight you

[finnritter]

Fingon or Húrin for the ask game?

-@outofangband

Ask Game:

Thank you for the ask @outofangband! Finally getting around to do this. I’ll gladly do both, Fingon is under the cut.

Húrin

one aspect about them i love

This is cheating a bit because it’s not really a character aspect and more like… plot, but. The ending of CoH with him wrecked me on a level not many books have managed. Not going into detail here in case someone reads this who hasn’t finished the book yet, but I’m sure everyone else knows what I’m talking about. Idk why this touched me so deeply (after all the pain the rest of this book was I would expect to be inured to the tragedy) and it’s such a short scene but I was not expecting that ending and the dialogue and then the book is just over and you’re left alone with all the pain and feels for Húrin.

one aspect i wish more people understood about them

Nothing really comes to mind here, I don’t think/know enough about him to have an informed opinion on this. But I always, always love posts that define the parallels between Húrin, Huor and their children, and how interconnected they are. Had they never found Gondolin, Húrin’s whole story had not happened. But neither had Tuor’s and in turn, Eärendil’s, which would mess up the whole timeline of Middle Earth. Húrin and Huor (and in turn Túrin and Tuor) are like two sides of the same coin and I love reading takes on this by people who have deeper thoughts about this whole topic than myself.

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

This is only gut-feeling, but I’d imagine him as a rather quiet type of person. Not in a brooding kind of way, and he is also not afraid to speak his mind when necessary, but he’s the “few words but silent comfort” kind of quiet. The “smiles and meaningful looks” kind of quiet. The “I’ll go on a hike alone, see you in five hours” kind of quiet. He also likes to be around louder/more easily excited people as well as equally quiet ones – which is why he clicks so well with Morwen. They can spend hours either apart or in the same room but not talking and never feel like they’re losing touch.

one character i love seeing them interact with

This kind of slips into the territory of the next question already, but to be fair, there are not really any characters we see Húrin interact with much, so: Huor and also Fingon. Honestly, Húrin is not a character I have many thoughts about, but I am super intrigued by the posts about Fingon and Húrin’s friendship I see sometimes, and the dynamic with his brother, albeit also not very popular in the fandom, interests me also!

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

Morwen! His children!! The people he did not ever get to spend enough time with. This is not necessarily a “I wish they would interact more” and more a “I wish they would get the chance to interact at all after his capture”. I’d love to see how they would work as a family, even though that obviously takes away all the meaning from the story. But on a slightly more realistic note, I would love for him to get the chance to just once talk to his children, the children that he knows so well, whose lives he sees in all of their details, why they never really get to know him. I’d be so interested in what he would say to them, if he could.

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

Okay okay okay I just read parts of his wiki page to check something and was reminded that Húrin and Huor were only 16 and 13 when they came to Gondolin??? I had somehow wrongly remembered/assumed that they had been young adults, but THIS CHANGES THINGS. So yeah, give me absolutely overprotective big brother Húrin, please. I mean, they obviously have been raised in a very harsh environment, they knew how to fight before they came to Gondolin and Húrin completely trusts his brother even at that age to stand his ground and make smart choices – in the forest they grew up in. Not in a strange, gigantic city full of elves that are probably all extremely curious about them. Huor, if he is at least half as chill as his son, is probably very happy to be there, explore everything and taste all the good food. Meanwhile Húrin, who has been cast into the role of the lone adult, frantically tries to keep him from wandering off, drills him into saying please and thank you All The Time because he is terrified of accidentally offending a super important elf-lord or something, and meanwhile also tries to stumble through conversations with an actual King (!!!) without embarrassing himself, his House and his whole species. He has a stressful couple of weeks before he finally manages to relax and enjoy his time there a bit more.

Fingon

one aspect about them i love

His presence!! He seems like a person who enters a room and everyone knows he’s there. He’s pretty social, confident and also knows how to carry himself and together with the sort of roguish charm he radiates, he always leaves a strong impression on people. This, obviously, are in-universe personality headcanons, but honestly, the very same thing happens just by reading the book. He doesn’t have an extremely huge role in it but he just manages to break his way into the memory of the readers. This guy just has +100 charisma and is just unhinged enough to be insanely likeable (if a little intimidating sometimes) imo.

one aspect i wish more people understood about them

I have the feeling that everyone who analyses him on an even slightly deeper level will say this but: He’s not only a happy-go-lucky guy who wants everyone to be friends. He’s honestly doesn’t seem carefree to me at all (if rather reckless at times), at least not as his main character trait, and especially not in Beleriand. Yes, what I just wrote above is (supposedly) all true, BUT, as I said, that’s mostly charisma. He seems more impulsive and at the same time very persistent to me, which seems to drive almost all of his big decisions, rather than him being a cheerful foil to Maedhros’ gloom. He’s probably easy to like (as a leader, king and acquaintance alike), but surprisingly hard to be close friends with.

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

Very random, but he loves flying. Which is a shame because elves don’t actually get to fly a lot and it’s not like you can just catch one of the great eagles and make them your pet. If you could, Fingon would have been the first one to do it. After Thangorodrim, when they were flying and Fingon could take off 1% of his attention off making sure Maedhros doesn’t die for the first time, he fell in love with the feeling instantly and was honestly a little bit sad that he never got to do it again under less stressful circumstances. He dreams about it a lot, though.

one character i love seeing them interact with

I know this is the boring answer, but Maedhros. I don’t actively read much about them, but even then, they are present in a lot of fanwork and their dynamic is usually super powerful, no matter if they’re a couple or not. I love the thought that they chose each other as best friends in childhood/youth and always felt like they had such an “against all odds”-relationship because of their family and because they were so different in a lot of things. And then everything up to Angband happened and, well, all of that seemed so simple in retrospect. I love that they’re both a little fucked up but in a way that works for each other. I can absolutely see them not getting along and being furious with each other at times, I can also imagine that there was still always a bit of unspoken baggage between them that they just didn’t want to deal with. But no matter what, they always relied on each other, always trusted the other to be there when it was important. (And now I’m sad about the Nirnaeth again.)

Also, honorary mention: Maglor. Just because I love it when they don’t actually like each other a lot/never really got close again after Maedhros’ rescue, but still have an unspoken agreement to make sure that Maedhros is safe and also that, if it comes to it, at least one of them should probably make sure to stay alive because Maedhros would be lonely otherwise. It’s the peak dynamic for the two of them, honestly.

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

Angrod and Aegnor. Their friendship is pretty underrated if you ask me, and I would love to know more about what the dynamic was like back in Aman – and then all the Helcaraxe angst later. I do think that Angrod and Aegnor forgave him after a while, but also that they never quite got as close as before. Still, the Bragollach was basically a triple gut punch for Fingon, who was basically on his own afterwards, except for the Feanorians. There are so many interesting stages of their friendship and their feelings towards each other, and I always love seeing this depicted!

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

While Fingon had always been close to his father, the Helcaraxe made them almost inseparable for a while. Fingon really grew to be Fingolfin’s right hand man on there, supporting him in his leadership but also trying to take as much load as possible off his shoulders. He felt like he was one of the few ones who could really grasp what Feanor’s betrayal meant to his father (because he felt almost exactly the same way about Maedhros) and the depth of how it had hurt him.

He also purposefully tried to throw himself into as much work and exertion as possible because it was a good way for him to keep moving and not be weighed down too much by his decisions and the doom resting on all of them.

This dynamic loosened a bit after the Ice, but he remained one of the closest advisors and confidants of Fingolfin up until his death.

[tanoraqui]

I still think about this sometimes. The Premise: AU in which the Nirnaeth wasn’t quite so much a rout—just, like, 90% as bad. Uldor & co did turn, Fingon did die, Turgon retreated and Húrin was captured… But 2-3 sons of Fëanor somehow made it through to the west, and retreated on some sort of order with a good portion of Hadorians led by Huor, and now they plus whoever else is still alive in the area are holding Hithlum by the skin of their teeth. They did lose Barad Eithel; it’s an ongoing guerrilla campaign to hold the mountainous borders.

Túrin, Lalaith and Nienor have grown/are growing up in the relatively safety of Dor-Lómin, where Morwen leads their people until Túrin is old enough. (She handles domestic affairs and Huor leads the armed forces; they have a good working partnership.) Their cousin, Tuor, has lived mostly in a series of camps with his parents and Annael (2iC and frequent babysitter). Now, however, Rian has brought him back to Dor-Lómin. Allegedly it’s to spend time with his cousins and get a bit of stable education…but everyone knows their forces are losing ground every day. The adults speak quietly about sending the children to the Falas for safety.

Then, while the kids are playing in the woods in which they’re definitely not supposed to be playing, they stumble across a mysterious blond Elvish princess, old enough to have Light in her eyes but physically/emotionally about 12 (human years) for Reasons. She’s very lost, and her home is far away and enchanted such that even one of royal blood can’t find the entrance unless they’re right on top of it, nor describe how to find it to anyone else…

Oh yeah, and the whole House of Húrin is still very cursed.

The Cast:

Turin (15): oldest, heir, sometimes avoids responsibility for fear of failing at it but he will look after his younger sibs&cousin or die trying. (He’s really a very good leader if he doesn’t stress about it). The Leader.

Lalaith (13): frail since childhood illness, cheerful by choice, channels Morwen terrifyingly when angry. A general family habit of spoiling her because she’s frail is balanced by the fact that all she really ever wants is for her loved ones and people to be 1. happy and 2. safe/well (and she will manipulate them toward that end if necessary). The Heart, sometimes Lancer (on family matters).

Tuor (11): 99% sure his father sent him away because the war is going worse; he’s not stupid. Wants to help, with the war and in general. More excited by the discovery of boats and sailing than by being specifically chosen by Ulmo to be His prophet (not that that's not exciting! and a bit terrifying! but also look at those floating things!). The Smart Guy.

Nienor (10): baby sister, standard ‘baby sibling wants to be involved, resents being treated as little, will perk up once given a sword and lessons on how to use it.' More the Mascot than the Heart; grows into being the Big Guy.

Idril (~500/12ish): runaway-then-lost princess, not grown up because (for the sake of this au) Elves kinda age at the rate they feel like aging (fëa > hröa!), and normally that goes smoothly but Idril is subconsciously terrified to grow up because when you grow up, people die. She hasn't aged since her mother's death. The Lancer.

Beleg (??): Marchwarden of Doriath, habitually wanders/scouts farther from its borders than is strictly (known in) canon, and so was friendly with Turgon et al when they lived in Nevrast. Should really be getting back to Doriath right now but oh sweet Tree-mother, why is little Idril here. Isn't Gondolin's secrecy kind of important. Why do all these children keep trying to get themselves killed; did nobody teach them woodscraft... The Mentor/Big Guy.

Bonus: Maeglin (~70/16ish): Sixth Ranger+ Came to find Idril and get her home safe, and definitely didn't get captured by the Enemy on the way.

The Plot:

In my heart, this is shaped like a series of slim paperback books in 14pt font written for 8-year-olds and released serially 2-3 times a year for a decade-plus, as The Gang hopscotches wildly around late First Age Beleriand and participates in every major historical event for [mumbletimelinemumble] years. OR MAYBE a less slim series in 12pt font written for 10-year-olds and released once a year or every other year for a decade or so, as The Gang hopscotches etc etc.

Events Include:

Finding Idril in the woods and teaming up to fight off the werewolf that's been tracking her. Idril reveals that Húrin and Huor were briefly in Gondolin in their youths, which they’d never told anyone.

The Ered Wethrin are breached! We must evacuate Dor-Lómin! Morwen and Rian firmly send the kids away, and they and Idril agree to mutually escort each other to safety with Cīrdan and her cousin Gil-galad on the Isle of Balar

Shortly into this journey (start of book 2 of the 14pt series) they meet Beleg, who reluctantly appoints himself babysitter/guardian/guide. Adventure on the road ensues, pursued by orcs!

Reach Balar and have court drama and/or adventure with teen High-King Gil-galad! (Elf!19-ish.) Fealty definitely happens. Reuniting with Rian and Morwen? Just Rian given that Morwen is very cursed? Obviously we should all stay on this island, or at least make a stronghold on the shore, maybe at the Sirion delta...

[btw I seriously considered having Fingon still alive, but Gil-galad being a teenage High King was too important. Adults can help, but all the most powerful people in this story, politically, magically or narratively, need to be teens or younger.]

But Ulmo comes to Tuor with a message for Gondolin and a promise to guide him to near its gates, and Idril's determination to get home has been renewed...so we leave a note on our pillow for Mom/Aunt Rian and sneak off into the night!

They travel up the Sirion, stealthy by the skill of Beleg and the aegis of Ulmo (though his power in the river grows weaker by the day, as Morgoth's minions pour poison into the captured spring...)

Nargothrond arc! Túrin convinces them to become more easily accessible to refugees! Lalaith has a romance with ellf!teen Finduilas?! (All elvish characters as whatever age is convenient to this young reader chapter books series.) Has Maeglin joined them yet? Idk! Nienor starts studying the blade.

Túrin's bridge idea backfires terribly, of course. Dragon. We're going to save Finduilas, though! (Though not Orodreth.) Nienor gets the killing blow on the dragon, which resolves her amnesia which it induced (she still knew in her heart who her family was). However, Nargothrond is still no longer safe, Finduilas must flee to the sea with her people while Lalaith continues with her family...to Doriath, just across the river!

Glaurung’s last words, or nearly last, are a taunt about Húrin being alive. This is new information to the kids!

[Do Túrin and Beleg have Bandit Adventures here, or earlier? They need to have Bandit Time at some point, for sure]

Doriath arc! The only thing The Gang manages to rescue of Nargothrond’s material treasure is the Nauglamir, unknowing that Glaurung has had time to curse it, so that backfires terribly. They end up helping Beren & co defeat the evil dwarves and get it back…

They also help Dior and Nimloth get together! This arc is all about interspecies romance, really. Thingol and Melian, Beren and Lúthien, Nimloth and Dior… Idril and Tuor looking at each other then looking away real fast while blushing bright red like the prepubescents with crushes that they are, and finally shyly kissing at Dior&Nimloth’s wedding party… Túrin and Beleg being distinctly more subtle but still exchanging covert glances while all conflicted about Differing Duties/Allegiances and Lifespans (and tentatively kissing after Dior&Nimloth’s wedding party—which happens after they regain the Silmaril, to be clear.)

[I don’t actually ship Beleg and Túrin romantically so much as…Life Partners/Forever Besties/mutually pointing at each other and going, “that’s My Guy; I’ll follow him to hell just to watch his back.” But they can kiss if they want to.]

This is a notable arc for Idril especially, due to her trauma about loved ones dying.

Hithlum arc? This isn’t Silm canon at all, idk if we’re going to successfully retake Hithlum. I just want to see Morwen’s weird detente with the Easterlings wherein she was thoroughly deposed but they were afraid to fuck with her personally because they thought she was a witch. Also the 2-3 aforementioned Fëanorions are here, because I don’t want to completely lose track of them. And Maeglin joins the party if he hasn’t already.

There’s been a running almost-joke of people saying Morwen is Scary, could scare off orcs just by yelling at them, etc. Shortly after they reunite with her, she literally does scare off a few orcs, or at least make them hesitate long enough to be easily killable, by going full “how dare you touch my children; get out of my house.” Beleg, softly: Holy shit I thought you were joking. / Nienor: We never joke about Mother.

Save Huor and his few remaining people from what would’ve been a heroic last stand. Serious concern: if Huor is captured, Morgoth would try to find out where Gondolin is from him! …wait, what about Húrin?

This leads smoothly into #HúrinHeist501, aka Operation: Golden Eagle, aka Time to Rescue Dad[/Uncle Húrin/That Guy Who Stayed With Us For A Year Once], ft. Morwen and Huor because like hell are they letting the kids (and Beleg) do this alone

And they do! They do rescue him!! …because unbeknownst to them, Morgoth let them escape at the last second so they’d lead his spies to Gondolin!!

Gondolin arc! Can You Guess How This Goes?

Oh yeah, Maeglin. So, the thing about Maeglin is that he snuck out of Gondolin (to chase Idril? just to get some space?) and got captured by the Enemy and tortured a bit, manipulated a bit, until he agreed to find Idril and use her to reveal to Morgoth the route into Gondolin…because Maeglin himself doesn’t actually know it, because Turgon didn’t love him enough to loop him in on the magic royal bloodline secret passage awareness…which was a key part of Morgoth argument why Fuck Those Guys, and is in fact TRUE as far as Morgoth knows… Because right before he was captured, knowing he was about to be captured, Maeglin used a spell he knew from his father to yank out some of his most precious memories—anything about Gondolin’s location and entrances, the fact that he knows them, and a few particularly treasured moments with Aredhel and maybe even Turgon & Idril—and hid them in a gem he happened to be carrying, and dropped the gem down a crevasse. He did this to protect them, but then the lack of the memories meant he was less able to resist Morgoth… [sobs].

Our heroes actually figure this out, find the memory gem and make Maeglin whole again BEFORE finding Gondolin. There’s a climax to the arc during #HúrinHeist501. Morgoth IS irritated at how these kids keep ruining all his plans…but he has more plans.

Húrin informs his family that they’re all Literally Cursed for the purpose of tormenting him, and will bring doom wherever they go. Several of them immediately offer to leave Gondolin to keep it safe. Everyone else immediately says absolutely not, you’re our family. Turgon adds: “And you are safe here.” (Idril and Tuor exchange worried glances, and recruit the others to start building an escape tunnel.)

At least one parent dies in the Fall of Gondolin but dealer’s choice which one

Because this is still a fixit-ish children’s chapter book series, however, the timeline shakes out such that the evacuation from Gondolin to the coast puts The Gang in the right time and place to intercept the Fëanorian assault on Doriath. Being friendly with both Dior&Nimloth and [whichever Sons of Fëanor were holding the line in Hithlum for 1-2 decades), they manage to negotiate some sort of…timeshare? Mercenary contract? Everyone retreats to Sirion together and we build one last great (refugee) city in Beleriand, and hold out as long as possible, and that’s the closest this gets to a happy ending?

I’m sorry, I’m not good at fix-it fic, not for good tragedies. There can be a sequel series about Elwing and Eärendil mostly grown up and saving the world.

If nothing in canon went the way it did in canon, I feel like Turin, Lalaith, Nienor and Tuor would have off the charts kidlit protagonist squad energy growing up

[outofangband]

Inspired by a post of yours I've just reblogged, I'm wondering if you have any headcanons about the favorite toy or game of each Hurin's children (and whoever else's you want to share, Narn-related or not) --tolkien-feels

Yes!

@tolkien-feels

I did the main family and extended ones (Aerin, Rían, etc) Please feel free to send more for any, elves, humans, etc! 

-Túrin’s favorite toys are the little carved things Sador makes him especially a little wooden boat he likes to watch on the stream. Two weeks after he got it, it broke and he cried for an hour before asking Húrin to fix it because he couldn’t bear to admit to Sador that his gift was damaged. Húrin does his best but Morwen who is better at precision work manages to fix it in the end. (I headcanon that Bëorian children are usually taught wood carving regardless of gender. It’s more practical that way)

-Lalaith has a few dolls, some her father traded for or bought, some that were homemade. Also any of her big brother’s toys are automatically cool so she likes those too. And of course she loves ink! Finger painting! It’s the best!

-Niënor got Túrin’s old toys but there wasn’t really the resources to make her many new ones.As I’ve mentioned before, Niënor’s favorite toy is the assorted pieces left over from the chess like game belonging to her parents. She liked to invent her own games with them. 

-Morwen didn’t really play with toys as a kid. She had a few certainly, a cloth doll made by an aunt, tile games belonging to the family for example. But she typically just played with whatever objects caught her attention. She was a Weird Little Kid and I say that with the utmost affection as a former Weird Little Kid myself Morwen liked to sort things. A few times a year her father would let her sort all his letters. She likes to build stick houses, take them methodically apart and build them again. I also think she was a rather morbid child and would certainly pick up bones and make things with them. She didn’t really understand why others were alarmed by them. She understood the potential danger before they were cleaned but afterwards...

-Húrin has a stuffed horse that he loved as a kid and slept with every night. He gives it to his own children when they’re born. Lalaith plays with it more often.  Him and Huor also had wooden swords and shields they played with. 

-Huor had charcoal he used for drawing that he really loved. And any quills and ink he could use. 

-Aerin always loved being outside with horses and preferred that to any toys. 

-Rían liked musical instruments and she loved making flower crowns and pressing flowers and leaves. She also loved drawing with anything she could including just with her finger in dust or snow. She loves playing in the snow and making things. 

[undercat-overdog]

The children of the House of Finwe were not craven, nor cowards. Some chose not to fight in particular battles, but it was not because of physical fear. All quotes from the Silmarillion except for the one about Glamdring, which is from The Hobbit.

First off, all of the Noldor were brave, and the House of Finwe not the least. It was not cowardice that kept Finarfin in Aman, nor that kept Nerdanel nor Findis nor Anaire, nor any who stayed:

And of all the Noldor in Valinor, who were grown now to a great people, but one tithe refused to take the road: some for the love that they bore to the Valar (and to Aulë not least), some for the love of Tirion and the many things that they had made; none for fear of peril by the way.

Turgon is fierce and fearsome. He’s named next to Fingon as bold and committed:

Moreover Fingon and Turgon were bold and fiery of heart, and loath to abandon any task to which they had put their hands until the bitter end, if bitter it must be.

Turgon fought in the Nirnaeth, and did so with skill and courage, fighting at the vanguard of his forces:

For unsummoned and unlooked for Turgon had opened the leaguer of Gondolin, and was come with an army ten thousand strong, with bright mail and long swords and spears like a forest. [...] Now the phalanx of the guard of the King broke through the ranks of the Orcs, and Turgon hewed his way to the side of his brother; and it is told that the meeting of Turgon with Húrin, who stood beside Fingon, was glad in the midst of battle.

And he fights so fearsomely that the Orcs seven thousand years later remember his sword Glamdring and fear it, as they fear too the sword Orcrist, also of Gondolin:

The Great Goblin gave a truly awful howl of rage when he looked at it, and all his soldiers gnashed their teeth, clashed their shields, and stamped. They knew the sword at once. It had killed hundreds of goblins in its time, when the fair elves of Gondoli hunted htem in the hills or did battle before their walls. THey had called it Orcrist, Goblin-cleaver, but the goblins called it simply Biter. They hated it and hated worse any one that carried it. [... Gandalf] took out his sword again, and again it flashed in the dark by itself. It burned with a rage that made it gleam if goblins were about; now it was bright as blue flame for delight in the killing of the great lord of the cave. It made no trouble whatever of cutting through the goblin-chains and setting all the prisoners free as quickly as possible. This sword’s name was Glamdring the Foe-hammer, if you remember. The goblins just called it Beater, and hated it worse than Biter if possible.

When Turgon retreats, it’s not because of cowardice either: he’s prepared to stay and fight to the end, but Húrin convinces him - not to save Turgon’s own life, but to say that out of Gondolin will come the world’s hope (Earendil).

Then the field was lost; but still Húrin and Huor with the remnant of the House of Hador stood firm with Turgon of Gondolin, and the hosts of Morgoth could not win the Pass of Sirion. Then Húrin spoke to Turgon, saying: ‘Go now, lord, while time is! For in you lives the last hope of the Eldar’

I’ll add here that Turgon after this is proactive. He goes to Círdan and sends ships on an SOS mission to Valinor to ask for aid. 

Maeglin was not a coward either. The text is quick to point that out Maeglin was no craven in the same passage as it talks about betraying Gondolin to Morgoth:

Maeglin was no weakling or craven, but the torment wherewith he was threatened cowed his spirit, and he purchased his life and freedom by revealing to Morgoth the very place of Gondolin and the ways whereby it might be found and assailed

And Maeglin wanted and pleaded to fight with Turgon in the Nirnaeth, and fought valiantly:

Wise in counsel was Maeglin and wary, and yet hardy and valiant at need. And that was seen in after days: for when in the dread year of the Nirnaeth Arnoediad Turgon opened his leaguer and marched forth to the help of Fingon in the north, Maeglin would not remain in Gondolin as regent of the King, but went to the war and ought beside Turgon, and proved fell and fearless in battle.

Finwe alone of the people at Formenos did not flee in fear but faced Morgoth at the doors:

But Melkor also was there, and he came to the house of Feanor, and there he slew Finwe King of the Noldor before his doors, and spilled the first blood in the Blessed Realm; for Finwe alone had not fled from the horror of the Dark.

(Formenos is actually the one time I could find where Finweans (the sons of Feanor) act - here retreating - because of physical fear. I could find no other instances, aside from arguably Maeglin.) 

Orodreth did not fight in the Nirnaeth because of the acts of Celegorm and Curufin and so would not aid the Feanorians, but he did not forgo the battle because of fear. When the army of Nargothrond attacked Glaurung, he fought in the vanguard: 

On that day all the pride and host of Nargothrond withered away; and Orodreth was slain in the forefront of the battle, and Gwindor son of Guilin was wounded to the death.

Finarfin turned back, and frankly that took plenty of courage, though it wasn’t physical courage. But he did possess that too, since he fought in the War of Wrath - he was the only son of Finwe who participated in a battle that actually defeated Morgoth:

But the hosts of the Valar prepared for battle; and beneath their white banners marched the Vanyar, the people of Ingwe, and those also of the Noldor who never departed from Valinor, whose leader was Finarfin the son of Finwe.

Fingolfin shames Morgoth into facing him, calling him a craven lord of slaves, and I’m quoting the entire thing because it’s fantastic: 

Thus [Fingolfin] came alone to Angband’s gates, and he sounded his horn, and smote once more upon the brazen doors, and challenged Morgoth to ome forth in single combat. And Morgoth came.

That was the last time in those was that he passed the doors of his stronghold, and it is said that he took not the challenge willingly; for though his might was greatest of all things in this world, alone of the Valar he knew fear. But he could not now deny the challenge before the face of his captains; for the rocks rang with the shrill music of Fingolfin's horn, and his voice came keen and clear down into the depths of Angband; and Fingolfin named Morgoth craven, and lord of slaves. Therefore Morgoth came, climbing slowly from his subterranean throne, and the rumour of his feet was like thunder underground. And he issued forth clad in black armour; and he stood before the King like a tower, iron-crowned, and his vast shield, sable unblazoned, cast a shadow over him like a stormcloud. But Fingolfin gleamed beneath it as a star; for his mail was overlaid with silver, and his blue shield was set with crystals; and he drew his sword Ringil, that glittered like ice.

It is not just Felagund of the House of Finwe who knows no fear, and none are craven.

[iminye]

Characters:

Maedhros

Húrin

Fingolfin

Maeglin

-@outofangband

Ui that's a lot of characters! This post is going to be long but thank you for the ask @outofangband !

Maedhros - I have mentioned it somewhere before but I don't see Maedhros as someone who particularly likes social gatherings or talking to strangers, talking in front of a crowd, being vocal about things that he isn't really interested in. He likes being crown prince, he likes sitting in court and listening to debates, he likes debating when he knows he can contribute something useful but when he is forced to hold a speech on a topic he knows nothing about? He gets so nervous. Maglor has written most of his speeches and he always needs a lot of encouragement from Fingon before he steps on stage. After his capture he just doesn't care about stuff like this anymore, Maglor holds most of his speeches for him. He really hates the sound of his own voice and wants to hear himself speak as little as possible.

Húrin - Húrin tried to befriend Maeglin in Gondolin and he tried really hard. While Huor latched onto Idril and let her guide him through the elven city, being the best possible father-in-law without even knowing it, Húrin did his best to get closer to Maeglin. He saw a frightened, orphaned child with trust issues and he just wanted to adopt help him. He wanted to make Maeglin understand that there are people who wanted to be close to him as a person not as a prince and well he wanted to help him get over the traumas from his childhood. If they had more time with eachother I'm sure he would've succeeded. Húrin probably would've smuggled him out of Gondolin somehow and Maeglin would've become Turin's big brother or something.

Fingolfin - When Fingolfin was a young teen he visited Míriel in Lórien once. He just wanted to see the woman his half brother missed to this day and that still sometimes was the talk of castle gossip. Nothing happens during this first visit, he doesn't even find the energy to stay for long but from time to time he returns and talks to her. He just let's out all of his feelings and his frustration, talks about the things he would never mention in front of his parents and it really helps him. Míriel may not have been his mother but she is like an anchor for him when the world around him becomes too much. She waits for him in the halls when he dies and holds him for awhile, talks to him and answers all the questions he ever asked her while sitting by her side.

Maeglin - Maeglin doesn't love Idril in a romantic way, he doesn't want to marry her or have children with her, he just loves her. It's a very pure form of love, a child's love. Aredhel always portrayed Idril as the kindest and most wonderful person in the world in her stories and Maeglin wished as a child for her to be his friend. She was in his mind his best friend, his guiding star. In Gondolin however his behaviour around her, which was awestruck and just full of admiration, this was kind of misinterpreted as obsessive love. So when Idril rejects his attempts at becoming friend (which are very clumsy because HE NEVER HAD A FRIEND BEFORE) he slowly resents the real Idril. The story Idril remains the one he still wishes was his friend however.

[child-of-hurin]

Dark Narn AU

Recently I mentioned I had some ideas for a Dark Narn AU and @outofangband  expressed curiosity, so I decided to copypaste my notes here :)

The reason this AU was conceived was that I wanted Túrin and Nienor to get buddy buddy with Gothmog and Glaurung…. Literally my motivation for this lmao.

WORD OF WARNING:

1. This is almost 3 pages long on Gdocs 😭 2. This is actually dark, so mind yourself. CW for mentions of nonconsent, manipulation, murder, slavery, the whole nine yards and, of course, incest.

And btw, this relies on my headcanon/understanding that there were mortal slaves in Angband as well as elves.

When teenage Húrin and Huor are cornered by orcs in Brethil, they are in a dense spot. Húrin stays behind to hold the orcs while Huor runs up the hill. Huor would never have left his brother behind, but it’s a mess and he doesn’t realize what happened until he’s being carried away by other soldiers/rescuers and screaming his lungs out for Húrin, who’s pulled back by the orcs and then taken captive to Angband.

There he undergoes some brainwashing by Melkor, who, true to the essence of their Narn interactions, sees he can profit more from corruption than from killing this agent. By this point Húrin is a teen and hasn’t met Turgon yet. He breaks eventually and becomes Melkor’s champion. 

We have Húrin, and now we need Morwen. To keep the chronology, I prefer having her be captured during a raid on Emeldir’s group of refugees, when they’re migrating west to escape the Battle of the Sudden Flame; that can also have Rian either being captured as well, or escaping and following canon and marrying Huor and mothering Tuor, which I prefer for this AU (also casts a shadow on them as… replacements for the true heirs, sort of! Both having dear family members, who are also the eldest and the legitimate heirs, captured by Morgoth). Either after his brainwashing is complete, or during it, she is given to Húrin to marry as a token of Melkor’s regard: Morwen the beauty, the heir of the House of Bëor, the only fitting consort for the heir to the house of Hador, etc. Túrin is born in 464.

Lalaith is born two years later, which is a weird year because that’s when Beren and Lúthien steal one of Melkor’s silms! Angband has never been more somber, but there is talk of hope among the slaves, of which Morwen hears some, as well as the name of Beren her kinsmen who she knows and loves. She’s fiercely proud of him. But then Húrin, who is head over hells smitten with her, but who’s still wary of her loyalties, casually mentions in bed at some point that Beren was killed by Carcharoth (a lie meant to shake her/destroy any hopes of rescue), and that despite the loss of the Silmaril, Melkor is somewhat satisfied that the whole ordeal ended up dividing the elven kingdoms further apart, and confides in her about some of the plans for the following war (Unnumbered Tears).

The very next day, Morwen kills Urwen. She knows how other female thralls fare, and she knows that as soon as Húrin is dead Melkor would have no more use for them. Like canon, better dead than a thrall. To her, killing Urwen is not only a mercy, but an act of love. I think Morwen was about to end her own life too, or maybe end Túrin’s, but they caught her before she did any more. Maybe she locked herself with her children in a bedroom, ready to off all of them, and someone intervened before she could.

This sends Húrin into a rage out of despair because he really dotes on Urwen no matter the AU, and Túrin takes it all pretty hard, as he adored his sister and feels betrayed and confused. Melkor ofc enjoys the opportunity to turn Húrin even more towards him, and encourages him to get another child from Morwen to make up for the one he lost, whether she wants it or not. 

In this AU Niënor is conceived (at least) nine months before the Unnumbered and not nine months later. During all the pregnancy Morwen is watched, to make sure she won’t do anything drastic. Túrin is one of the people keeping tabs on her. Morwen names her Niënor, lamentation, and instead of being offended, Húrin laughs and says it’s an appropriate name for a warrior that shall bring woe to her foes, who will lament upon seeing her. Morwen is forbidden to be alone with Niënor and they are closely watched; as a result, they aren’t very close in this hc, as opposed to canon.  Niënor grows up being reminded that her mother wants to kill her, never wanted to conceive her in the first place.

Both Túrin and Nienor have strong mommy issues. Túrin is always keeping Morwen company and they have a very similar temper, but he tries to keep his visits a secret from Nienor. Nienor loves Túrin enormously but confronts him when she learns he still visits Morwen; also I think she sees Morwen in Túrin a little, too, because they’re so similar. It drives her mad. There’s a lot going on here with sibling competition / possessiveness / jealousy; Nienor doesn’t want Túrin to get along with Morwen, against whom she has a big grudge; she also doesn’t like that Morwen gives to Túrin the love she has always denied Niënor (according to how Niënor perceives the situation). She wants Túrin to choose her but Túrin just evades the question or gets angry and they fight. 

I like the idea of Húrin heading the fight against mortals in the Unnumbered, and him and Huor meeting on the battlefield, and killing each other. 

Túrin is crazy about Nienor, though you wouldn’t guess it by looking. Not only they’re the only mortals around who are equals and thus relatable on any level, he projects a lot of his Urwen grief on her and is very protective and possessive. There’s a lot of unresolved tension that they don’t even acknowledge. When they’re together onlookers get a feeling like there isn’t space for anyone else - though Morwen is an always-felt presence and the only crack in their bond. Túrin is stoic and reserved and his canon obsession with fighting Melkor is changed into a type of family pride. Right now I think he’s really mad that Dor-Lómin was given to the Easterlings and his mistrust of Melkor grows. He’s also concerned with the hidden elf cities, especially Nargothrond and Doriath because of their ties to the Silmaril heist. 

In this AU Túrin (and Húrin before he dies) is buddies with Gothmog who is sort of a mentor to him, and Nienor has a great friendship with Glaurung, whom she rides on sometimes, maybe into battle. 

I had considered the idea of either Túrin or Nienor meeting Gwindor by accident on the woods and goading him and fooling him, following him until they got the path to Nargothrond, while the other sibling followed them from afar. One sibling goes into the town and the other comes with the army down on them, no need for bridges I guess. Or the bridge can be deliberate sabotage. Since I like Nienor riding Glaurung, it can be Túrin who goes in, as in canon - OTOH idk how good Túrin can be with deception no matter the AU, so maybe it is Nienor... though, really, is she any better? Also, would she have a voice in council? How sexist are they? Maybe if she got Gwindor’s ear somehow… idk, thoughts!

Anyway, Finduilas is captured and not killed, though I’m not sure how much better this is. Maybe both Túrin and Nienor take her for consort in a smoking hot, nonconsensual, incesty edain sandwich. 

I haven’t thought ahead of this yet, that’s all I have! They need to have a cool and tragic ending, though I’m still unsure how. I feel like they need to fall with Brethil, but then I’m unsure what happens. Also I really don’t want Túrin and Nienor to have a permanent falling out and dying hating each other, it’s not my thing. I feel like they need to die together, like in canon. 

Things to consider:

>> Tuor and Aerin as kin who are held captive. Do Túrin and Nienor know they exist and are there? If they do, how do they react?

>> Morwen + other mortal thralls, or maybe Morwen + having ELVISH thralls to serve her, which Melkor does to show Húrin how much he honors him bla bla. I love this concept.

>> Húrin and Gothmog banter, Gothmog warming up to the mortal once he sees him being an absolute savage in battle, Húrin and Gothmog competing to see who causes more havoc

>> Glaurung is super mean to Morwen once and that tickles Nienor so much she just gets attached to him. Nienor joking with Túrin that she rides a dragon (Glaurung) and he is ridden by one (the dragon helm of Dor-lómin)

>> Gurthang???? I think Túrin needs a black sword. I’m SUPER attached to the visuals of Nienor using an axe though.

[maitarussa-old]

Húrin for the character ask game?

-@outofangband

CHARACTER ASK GAME for Húrin

One aspect about them I love: His hopefulness. Crying “Aurë entúluva” amidst the Nirnaeth. Refusing to yield to Morgoth despite torture, still believing in his ultimate defeat. Refusing to accept Morgoth’s curse, believing that his kin would somehow overcome it. It’s incredibly tragic to think of how this hope was slowly eroded as the years went by of seeing through Morgoth’s eyes, but there is just something very beautiful about it that speaks to what kind of person he is.

One aspect I wish more people understood about them: The parallels between Húrin’s steadfastness and Uldor/Ulfang’s treachery. The fact that Húrin’s refusal to yield resulted in, for a time at least, the survival of Gondolin— the greatest stronghold against Morgoth that still survived, and out of which came the hope to defeat him— even though the treachery of Uldor caused the defeat at the Nirnaeth. I love narrative parallels, and I may just be connecting the two dots here without actually connecting anything, but I think there’s something poetic about the contrast between the strength and weakness of men. Húrin’s resistance despite everything was not only for himself, but for all Men (and ultimately all of the Children of Ilúvatar).

One (or more) headcanons I have about this character: He’s a bit of a cultural scholar, and enjoys learning about the customs of other lands— cultural norms, slang, cuisine, etc. He especially likes to learn about Elven cultures, but this also applies to Mannish cultures as well.

One character I love seeing them interact with: Aside from his family, I like to see him (and Huor) interacting with Turgon. I’m really very fond of Elven/Human friendships, and I feel like the fact that they were accepted into Gondolin, dwelt there for long, and were then permitted to go their way— along with the reunion at the Nirnaeth— is very characteristic of the relationship between the first and second-born Children as it should be.

One character I wish they would interact with/Interact with more: Yet again I’m going to say Maeglin, and yet again I’m going to talk about parallels. Because ultimately, Húrin and Maeglin had the same “choice” offered to them by Morgoth— and Húrin rejected it, while Maeglin accepted. But I would like to see them interact during Húrin’s time in Gondolin. I doubt they would have been best friends or anything, but I do think that Maeglin, as someone who was always interested in the goings-on outside of Gondolin, might have taken interest in Húrin, who enjoyed telling stories about such things.

One (or more) headcanons I have that involve them and one other character: I like to think of him as being a major family man despite being a lord of the Edain. He played games with little Túrin, such as acting out the stories he would tell him. He did a lot of cooking for the family, either by himself or with Morwen (cooking together was something the couple did often). He would take Túrin and Lalaith on walks and teach them all about the nature of Dor-lómin, as well as of other places he had been.

[gurguliare]

omg, huor/rian? -vardasvapors

It was sometimes difficult to know that his brother was angry. Happily, Huor put an end to all doubts by flinging himself on the hearthrug with a cry.

“Ha!” went the cry.

“Ha,” agreed Húrin. He set down his penknife, and after a little thought his pen. Huor was drawing moon-letters in the ashes. “I was right, you look better in blue. Did she make that for you?”—meaning the wreath around Huor’s neck.

“Yes, she was all posies today,” Huor said, slowly. He removed his hat, which had irises tucked in the chin-band, and set about abusing it. There were wildflowers clinging to his beard. “She could do nothing but pick flowers and plant them.”

“You’re not good for much.”

“If I’m not, I lay it at her door…” He caught Húrin’s eye and frowned, dogged by his own unfairness, and launched on a long explanation: her mother thought them young to wed; she wouldn’t say so, for respect of Húrin, but she thought it, and they were. And Rían said, yes, of course, and spent a day dismantling turf…

Húrin had heard as much before, though never, it was true, from Rían’s mother. Morwen behind the portiere had neither changed nor lost the limping rhythm of the loom; but she was listening, anyway, for he was listening.

He had married her the autumn after his father died, and he had been four years younger than Huor now, and lord of Dor-lómin. Neither he nor his young wife had parents to give warnings. “Why is Rían in haste?”

The tail of Huor’s braid lay coiled on his back from many heartsore shrugs. “I don’t know.”

So saying, he folded his hat in two and let it flop back to its proper shape. The brim stayed pinned beneath one palm, like a dog submitting to have its paw held. He had a tender way with hounds and birds, but Húrin thought this had made him rather proud; he could be impatient, not with the animals, but with beast-tamers less patient than he. At times he turned the same unkindness on himself: why can I not be gentle, and bring my blood to heel? And so on. Húrin understood better, now he was father to two children, one living. Still such stern sight had no place in his brother.

“Let us say that she loves you, and waiting’s a grief to her. I can just conceive of it. But you wait out of love for her which warns you to feign wisdom, like an old man. I see no harm in that. Shall I speak to Rían?”

“Showing me for a youth, unfit to court her?”

“Isn’t that the object?”

“Yes!” A glare. Huor looked afraid to laugh, as if it might do his lady dishonor; his lip did tremble. “She’s young,” he said to himself, “and it falls to me to practice wisdom, if she must be so brave.” Very soft, he said, “I think of them, and their ladies who made a game of the mountain’s face… from green to red, and sparkling with frost. For them it was never wrong to wait.”

“Never and never. I hope that in a hundred years, when we are dead, our enemy all crushed beneath our weight, they may descend and gaze around. A new untarnished land, with green things growing.” He smiled at Huor, saying to himself that the future wasn’t so far off: but their sunlight was less than this sunlight, and the white cities they might raise less gorgeous than this low-timbered hall. “Is that what you have in mind for Rían?”

“It sounds as if you’d have me marry.”

“Brother, I must thrust you from my house. All means else failing—”

“What would you do with me gone?” said Huor, seriously. Then: “I have her lute. I forgot it was still on my horse when I rode off, I’m afraid in a hurry.” If he heard Húrin’s hand strike his brow, he gave no sign of it, except to stiffen a little. “Will you bring it back to her? Tell Rían we have your blessing. It makes no matter, but maybe she’ll taste the bitter less.”

Through spread fingers, Húrin considered his poor inventory—more often abandoned than taken up—and the ink now drying on the reed.

*

Rían’s mother greeted him warmly and, after he spoke her fair, tasted her beer and let her exclaim over his handsome mule, directed him to the creek bottom that dipped between the homestead and the fields. If she had asked why he had come in place of a servant, he would have said, the men are dead of weariness from threshing-season, or if not from the harvest then the raids; I of all of them can best be spared. But she was circumspect in everything.

Rían sat in a ring of toppled cups, and she was writing something down. At the sight of her, stylus in hand, he felt a jolt of guilt, having thrown over his own clerk-work for a leisure-errand—although it was his business to pay calls to malcontents. With her back to a birch slenderer than her back—with knees drawn up, feet planted, and hair curling from its net—while her maid lay snoring on a bead-fringed sheepskin, she rather than he had the air of a lady holding court; but her head snapped up at his coming, and she stared straight ahead, and almost past him, so that he felt he headed a host. “At ease, cousin,” he tried. Then her eyes found his. She nodded and rose in a bow before he could prevent her, and smiled broadly when she left it, remembering her charm.

Pretty Rían, a child in long skirts; he could guess what his brother meant, that she had begun some work and not finished it yet.

“‘Mistress cousin,’” she quoted, and showed him where to set down the lute. “‘Lady sister.’ But name me sister, if we must choose degrees.”

“You’ve disowned Morwen?”

She was losing interest. “Why come tonight? Huor—”

“Huor is hale,” he said lightly, dismayed by her insistence. “I thought I had better return the thief’s spoils for him.”

“Ha! foes!” snapped the serving-girl, and rolled over; it was no serving-girl at all, but his kinswoman Aerin. She must have crept late from Indor’s house for a drinking party, although, as Húrin had cause to know, she was not much charmed by songs of old. She narrowed her eyes, shook the sandy hair from her face, tugged the veil from her hair, and thrust a plump finger at him: then lay back down, doubtless to gather strength. Not yet dusk, but in a sky like fallen clouds, the leaves on the bough had lost color, and patterned themselves after the fox’s gray beard; the gurgling from the creek should have drowned all frogs and nightjars, but that their singing carried, bounded higher on the stream. His daughter’s laughter never sounded louder than near water; but already he had forgotten the laws that made her life.

Because he had no better plan, he lay down beside Aerin, on his back. “But do I have a case to judge between you and sir thief?”

Rían knelt in the heather and said, “Please forgive me if I am churlish, which I must be, to have driven off everyone but Aerin.” (“Thank you!”) “I’ve had evil dreams.”

Húrin bit his tongue. “Of Huor?” he said after a time, trying to be grave, and to restrain the bitter feeling, so common since Lalaith, that all this was a waste; her terror like his cheer, poured out on stone, because neither of them knew what would come.

“Huor! No, god forbid! Of you.” She touched her brow, kneaded the skin, and bent her head. Had she been his sister in truth, he would have pinched her. And she was right that it was wearisome and hurt to hold off from things which were needful; he was glad at some hour or another every day, but it was hard, to go from his house to his friends’, his house to his brother’s, from Dor-lómin to the fortress of the elves, and back again to make friends with his son.

“That’s strange,” he began. “Though I were the fondest of brothers, I couldn’t begrudge him to you. I wish you every happiness. When your mother consents, we will set a day in spring, when the trees vie with the flowers of the earth, and there are showers enough to dress the thatch with jewels. If it should snow, we’ll hold the dancing indoors, and burn the great hall down.”

Rían nodded. As he talked on she grew thoughtful: she tapped her stylus to the tablet, and said, “In my dream, you sit in a great chair.”

“There. I am presiding at the feast. Sador is carving me the very chair. If I seem grave, he has left me a long splinter.”

“I’ll marry Rían,” Aerin announced. “All the unwedded maids of Dor-lómin; I’ll marry them and keep them, when you ride off to war.” She spoke almost without moving her lips, her chest rising and falling in starts, her cold fair face impassive. “What do you say?”

Rían whispered something in her ear; Aerin convulsed in laughter. Húrin pretended to avert his eyes and said, “Now, tell me. Is there something my brother should know?”

“That I beg his pardon,” said Rían; “I am sorry for him. Every year he must fight, facing what I know nothing of, though he has you and God, my lord, bespeaking him. I think of him often—I hope he’s not too afraid. I don’t remember a moment of my journey here, from Ladros. So maybe it’s the same for him, that he goes to fight and doesn’t remember. I wish he were younger! Then indeed I could wait happily, while we would play at being children.” She bit her knuckle.

If he could only see all, from sea to sea, and rule over a land that answered him: he thought he would have ordered it better. That would have been best, to know that wherever his kin went, he could follow them in mind, and understand their passing. Here she was before him, and he strove to follow her. Did she think she wasn’t a child, or that the girl had died in the wastes, driven forth from her home? She sounded, it was true, older than her years, not like a woman grown but like a daughter of elves, clear-spoken before the milky eyes could see.

“He pities you as well,” Húrin said. He got up in a crouch, for the dew was creeping down his back, and he wished too to take her hands.

Rían gave him a glad mistrustful look: face red in the cheeks from talk of Huor, and teeth bared by her drawn-up lip. She put her hands on his, saying, “Feel how cold. I have drunk too much, even with Aerin here to warn me. If I sleep early, will I still have a headache tomorrow? Will you tell Huor not to expect me before noon? My turn to visit, but alas—”

“I’ll tell him.” He might have said, grandly: Don’t punish him too much for loving your mother, but she had nothing of the kind in view. Without knowing it she took a step back and another. She was drunk, and proud enough after her fashion, and had grown used to the new wealth of time, now that Huor was home; that she feared Huor’s death in war had little to do with how they spent their days together. She picked up the lute and put together a bare chord; she played just well enough to scaffold her towering voice. If he had had the sense to bring his harp, they might have made music together, although his mount would have been overburdened, and his knees ached from bending in the cold.

“You may as well escort me home,” Aerin said, standing more steadily, by leaning on his back. “If you have what you came for, lord?”

“Maybe,” he said. “Anyway I’m the better for having come; for it’s not every day I hear a song from Rían, bard of Dor-lómin.”

[snapdragonroar]

Me: boy i do love Tolkien but i have to admit i’ve never been able to read all of the silmarillion

Me: i always get bogged down in the human bits there’s like a million of them and i can’t keep all the names and family trees and locations straight without the wiki open 

Me: let’s be honest when people say the silmarillion is the tolkien bible it’s because of the lists of words and the begats

The Internet: The Children of Húrin is a novelized version of one of the main stories! you already know most of the main characters! read the tragedy of Túrin but in story form!

Me: that sounds perfect!

The Internet: and Christopher Lee narrates the audio book!

Me: YES GOOD

The Children of Húrin Audio Book: *orchestral intro*

Me: nice

The Children of Húrin Audio Book: Narn i Chîn Húrin. The Tale of the Children of Húrin, by J. R. R. Tolkien. Edited by Christopher Tolkien, and read by Christopher Lee. 

The Children of Hurin Audio Book: *breath*

The Children of Hurin Audio Book: Hador Goldenhead was a lord of the Edain and well-beloved by the Eldar he dwelt while his days lasted under the lordship of Fingolfin, who gave to him wide lands in that region of Hithlum which was called Dor-lómin his daughter Gloredhel wedded Haldir son of Halmir, lord of the Men of Brethil; and at the same feast his son Galdor the Tall wedded Hareth, the daughter of Halmir, Galdor and Hareth had two sons, Húrin and Huor, Húrin was by three years the elder-

Me: tolkien no

[undercat-overdog]

Húrin for the character ask?-@outofangband

Oh noooo, I’m sorry @outofangband / @main-to-outofangband! I found this in my drafts and can’t believe I hadn’t posted it!

How I feel about this character

He’s so great and it’s all so sad, and I love Hurin and his family. I love how the story of the Children of Hurin is one of the main stories of the Silm, equal to Beren and Luthien. The Narn is terrible, terrible, not a speck of hope in the story and nothing good comes out of it, and it ends with Hurin casting himself into the sea and it’s perfect. (Which - is Hurin’s family associated with water at all till Nienor and Hurin jump into it as a means of suicide? I’m suddenly curious about the connection to Ulmo that Tuor had.) But Hurin’s defiance till the very end, how he never once gives into Morgoth and yet how he contributes unwillingly to the fall of two great kingdoms and the ruin of Beleriand - and yet how that does not take away his existential victory in never surrendering. He was not conquered either, and he too is one of the great heroes of the First Age, worthy of song.

All the people I ship romantically with this character

Morwen! And I actively ship them. I adore their relationship. They are such different people with different orientations to the world and they disagree at times on the best course of action and yet they have such respect and trust for each other; they are on the same team. "She was not conquered" may well be my favorite line in the Silmarillion, and just *flail* Morwen is not an easy person and she is very flawed but Hurin loves and respects her and they really do have a good, equal relationship.

My non-romantic OTP for this character

Huor, adventure bros! I like Turgon too (a guy who inspires a lot of loyalty). 

My unpopular opinion about this character

Idk, wish he received more attention? 

And hmm. The Narn is as bleak as Tolkien ever gets. There is no hope whatsoever in it; all the characters have is their defiance and their selves. More a possibly unpopular opinion about Tolkien and fantasy, but the story of the Children of Hurin is far more grim and dark than ASoIaF. It’s too grim to be made into a TV series, though I think it would be easier to adapt that any other story (it’s even neatly divided into seasons!), because there is no victory and no hope, no happy survivor, no one who’s life is better, no one who lives. 

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon.

I wish he and Nienor had met. Hurin would have loved her. Of course he would have loved her, but she’s his daughter as Turin is Morwen’s son. In a kinder world they would laugh and joke together as Turin and Morwen look on in quiet happiness. 

Unsolicited fic rec: Hurin and Morwen get a happy ending in Adlanth’s Glas Arnoediad, one of my favorite fics. 

[outofangband]

Hello! I have a minor surgery in about half an hour and am very nervous so I thought I’d share some random Silm and Narn headcanons that have been in my head lately!

Requests and asks are definitely open and welcome though I might not be able to complete them today, I’d still love them for a distraction

1. Húrin and Huor were terrified when they were first dropped into Gondolin. The adrenaline rush of the initial attack still hadn’t entirely left them and Húrin in canon tells Turgon he’s afraid of heights and was really overwhelmed on the flight there. So their first few days there they are pretty frantic and upset, not knowing if they would ever see their family again, etc. 

Glorfindel and a few of the other lords of Gondolin attempt to cheer them up before realizing they have absolutely no idea what Edain children like. Glorfindel eventually admits this to them and it becomes something of a joke between them. For example Glorfindel will bring Húrin a stick and say “Human children like these, right?” as though he’s very proud of himself. 

2. Tulkas is rather shy among the other Valar especially at first. He came last to Arda and found himself among his kin who had already formed or been given connections between them. Despite being the champion of the Valar, the others have a sort of protectiveness over him, though of course prior to the confrontation at Utumno, the most they had to protect him from was mild teasing from one of the others. 

3. One elven ability perceived as magic to others is Object memory, particularly/primarily from organically made objects: The telepathic abilities of elves seems to be present throughout Tolkien’s writings but just how powerful these are or what forms they take isn’t always clear. I propose that one form they take is from the ability to get flashes of memory (usually sense or emotional memory rather than a coherent picture) from objects that are made from organic objects. 

4. Like many human cultures, the elves of Valinor and Middle Earth view bathing not only as a necessity but also as a bonding experience. Though buckets of water, streams and in some places, pumps, are used for short cleansing rituals, Valinor also has warm springs and bath houses. Though views on nudity vary from people to people, nudity regarding bathing is unremarkable and elves frequently bathe together. 

Darker ones (mostly just under a cut for length to be honest) (blanket Angband warning for captivity, mentions of torture. These are mostly about either Húrin or Maedhros but contain some general Angband HCs too!) 

1. Húrin and Maedhros have the same scars on their shoulders from being bitten. 

2. Gothmog got so irritated at Húrin during his initial capture he ended up losing a bet with another higher up about if/when Húrin would give up Gondolin because he refused to bet in his favor. (Even if he didn’t know precisely what Húrin was being interrogated for he knew that he was being interrogated for something) These sort of bets and challenges are common among the crueler captains and generals who have more knowledge of Melkor’s plans. They also definitely have ratings/rankings about the various captives in their charge, same with the overseers in the mines and who are in charge of groups of slaves. Somewhere I have Gothmog’s review of Maedhros versus Húrin, I’ll find that if there’s interest 

edit: read this fic ann-stoicdefiantwhumpee wrote for this!!

3. (some more information here) Knowing any elven language is not a requirement for being in charge of slaves in Angband (except in cases where prisoners are used for specific or precise enough work that instructions are clearly needed). Sometimes prisoners who have been there for a long time are given permission to speak to newer captives to inform them of rules or give them instructions. For the most part conversation in the mines is heavily policed but plenty of the slaves there have worked out systems of how to avoid detection if they choose to risk it, the overseer to elf ratio is pretty large. (as in many elves per overseer) These older prisoners are both loved and hated by their kin. 

[outofangband]

Hurin’s story hits so hard imo because he seemed like such a cheerful guy when he was younger. I feel like he was this fun guy who was best friends with his little brother and loved his wife more than life itself and made dad jokes to his kids, and everything that happened to him after that hurts so much more when I think about how happy he used to be

Yeah definitely agree. He loses everything and it’s so beyond unfair and like, there’s little to no catharsis! He’s never avenged and he’s never able to avenge his children.

Sure he doesn’t reveal Gondolin but Melkor finds it anyways and despite this incredible resilience he still dies feeling complicit in Melkor’s plan which for me at least is one of the more depressing aspects and also makes me have to try not to think about yet more Maedhros connections

Only tangentially related but @redbootsindoriath has this amazing art of Turgon with Húrin and Huor in Gondolin! It’s so far the only art I’ve ever seen of him in childhood and I love him

Only good thing going for him is

A, my AU with @whumpingwithaquestionableauthor where Húrin gets to adopt an angry demon child

B, at least since my Cursed Húrin HC from two weeks ago my Angband content has mostly gone back to Maedhros centric with one exception

[child-of-hurin]

top 5 lines of dialogue in the silm spoken by edain

top 8, surely?

1

“a man that flies from his fear may find that he has only taken a short cut to meet it.” (...) ‘It may be that we fled from the fear of the Dark, only to find it here before us, and nowhere else to fly to but the Sea.’

‘We are not afraid any longer,’ said Túrin, ‘not all of us. My father is not afraid, and I will not be; or at least, as my mother, I will be afraid and not show it.’

- Sador Labadal and Túrin in the CoH

Sorry sorry im not crying there is just a little Estel in my eye

2.

‘For little price,’ Beren said, ‘do Elven-kings sell their daughters: for gems, and things made by craft.’

- Beren in the Silmarillion

Bla bla bla ble ble ble bli bli bli Beren is problematic objetifying women bla bla zzz I don’t give a FUCK I LOVE my boy Beren dishing it out to high and mighty elven lords!!!!!! Fukin tell him

3

‘You lie,’ said Niënor. ‘The children of Húrin at least are not craven. We fear you not.’

- Nienor in the CoH

#ICONIC

3.5

‘Mourning you named me, but I will not mourn alone’

EVERYTHING NIENOR SAYS IS #ICONIC

4

”Lord, we are but mortal Men, and unlike the Eldar. They may endure for long years awaiting battle with their enemies in some far distant day; but for us the time is short, and our hope and strength soon wither.”

- Húrin to Turgon when he and Huor are in Gondolin.

While this is not as #iconic as the others, I like it because it’s the same logic that Túrin comes up with in Nargothrond, years later. The Eldar can afford to wait and see, but the Edain can’t. 

5

‘Fare free,’ said Túrin. ‘That wish Mablung gave me at our parting. The grace of Thingol will not stretch to receive these companions of my fall, I think; but I will not part with them now, if they do not wish to part with me. I love them in my way, even the worst a little. They are of my own kind, and there is some good in each that might grow.

- Túrin to Beleg on the CohH

hahahaha I’m not crying I just got some major edain feels in my eye

6

“Now the sword shall come from under the cloak. I will risk death for mastery of that fire, and even the meat of Orcs would be a prize.” 

- Tuor in the Unfinished Tales legit considering eating Orcs (Voronwe is the only reason he doesn’t) (also, in case you needed more fodder for the “Beren ate Orc meat” headcanons)

7

‘Húrin Thalion,’ said Morwen, ‘this I judge truer to say: that you look high, but I fear to fall low.’

Morwen has so many good quotes I didn’t know which one to pick, but this one is just perfect.

(also I choose to read this whole exchange as happening in their bed, húrin’s head on morwen’s lap while she plays with his hair, you’re welcome)

8

'I also, Níniel, had my darkness, in which dear things were lost; but now I have overcome it, I deem.’

‘And did you also flee from it, running, until you came to these fair woods?’ she said. ‘And when did you escape, Turambar?’

‘Yes,’ he answered. ‘I fled for many years. And I escaped when you did so. For it was dark when you came, Níniel, but ever since it has been light. And it seems to me that what I long sought in vain has come to me.

hahaha I love Suffering!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love Irony!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!! I love Túrin trying to be figurative but thanks to cruel narrative irony everything that comes out of his mouth has a literal meaning!!!!!!!!!!! !!!! Kill Me!!!!

Honorable mentions: 

the whole CoH