#Galadriel agrees see her going by a name her husband gave her

[aragornsrockcollection]

Tolkien: I’m going to make up a pretty language entirely based on my own aesthetic tastes.

Also Tolkien, revealing those tastes to be some kind of way: Finrod

[suzannahnatters]

I'm so obsessed with how SOFT Adar is to Galadriel, not just in ep6, but in 4 and 5 too. Like, when she captured him for interrogation, she tied him up, held a knife to his throat, threatened his children, and vowed to kill him. When he captured her for interrogation? He addressed her in Quenya by the name her husband gave her. He kept her safe from his men. He offered her roast rabbit and fresh berries. He promised her an alliance. When he DID chain her up, we even got some PRIDE AND PREJUDICE hand flex level tenderness. Adar didn't have to do any of that. He's an Uruk, for heaven's sake. He could have tortured her into giving him what he wanted.

Instead he chose to be soft. Why? Well, the Doylist explanation is that the writers of this show fully understand their assignment, to be kind and merciful and respectiful to their characters: if Adar is to get what he wants, it must be softly, not harshly. Bad things happen in the Tolkienverse, but we don't get dragged through it in explicit detail.

But the only Watsonian explanation my brain will tolerate right now is that he misses the flowers of Beleriand because he first met this woman dancing among them, and when they first joined hands they fell out of time while the stars counted out the centuries above them. And he's not that person anymore. He doesn't WANT to be that person anymore. He's chosen his new life and his new children and his new enemies.

But he still knows her better than anyone else ever could. More than ever now that Sauron has wormed his way into both their minds. And he can't resist the victory of showing her how much more alike they are than she's willing to accept.

A friend says that "there's tension, but it's not romantic tension". I agree that this doesn't HAVE to be romantic tension - but it is precisely what you would see if you WERE creating romantic tension. Because the fun of every enemies to lovers situation is this precise thing: a person who has every reason to want to hurt you instead chooses to show you tenderness, and that tenderness results in a trust far deeper than any hostility.

I don't know where this is going. After all, the tenderness in ep5 doesn't result in greater trust - it results in a betrayal, as Adar shows that his primary motivation was not an alliance, but information. Maybe he really did just want to show the elf that he was also a person, and not just a monster, and that's all there is to it. OR MAYBE HE'S REALLY CELEBORN. Because this Softness (TM) is exactly how I would be writing this season if he was.

I cannot WAIT to see where this is going.

[buffyfan145]

Hello! I've seen a lot of your takes about the relationship between Sauron and Galadriel, so I decided to ask you. Some people keep saying that the kiss that so much is being talked about will be between Gal and Cel, but like why? There's not a single hint that he's going to appear this season, no one even mentions his name, not to mention that he wasn't even cast. Usually in shows somehow try to prepare the viewer to the appearance of a new character or something. I mean it will be somehow out of nowhere, plus it's too early for him. And I think when they actually cast Cel actor, it won't be hidden and they'll say it directly. Anyway I'm Haladriel shipper, but I don't think the kiss will be between them, at least in the classical sense. Maybe Sauron kiss her hand or something like that? Also, I want to add about the kiss between Gal and Cel, let's say it's true, but why is the kiss described as shocking? Like they're husband and wife. And I also saw a couple of opinions that a kiss is possible between Gal and Elrond, which seems even more improbable to me. Like she put her hand on Elrond's chest and some considered it a romantic gesture… but she was literally thinking about Halbrand at that moment! And I have one more question for you, what do you think about the shot where Galadriel is wearing a hood at night and someone is standing behind her, maybe a random orc or Halbrand or someone else? I hope my message didn't scare you with its long :D

No worries about the ask being long. I've actually gotten longer. LOL 😀 I have posted about the kiss before and who it could be with her and it's not Celeborn. I think it's people hoping it's him but he hasn't been cast. The writers confirmed it at SD Comic Con but did say both him and Glorfindel will eventually be in the show. I agree with you when he is cast it will be announced separately as he will be a series regular. There is a chance he could show up in the finale as a surprise but I still kind of doubt it. They're going to have to choose the right actor too, especially with how Haladriel has been and the chemistry between Morfydd and Charlie, which makes me think it could be someone well known that already has a fanbase. I'm hoping for that too as we know she ends up with him and I want him to be likable (also would be great if it's someone I'm already a fan of LOL) and show that she loves him too. But again I'm certain he's not in season 2 at all.

Then I highly doubt it's Elrond, despite some "leaks" on 4Chan and Reddit saying it is, since Morfydd gave an interview at the s2 premiere in London back on the 20th that she loved filming their non-romantic friendship. Her saying that implying there's no kissing like that at all between them, and knowing he's her future son-in-law I can't see the show going there.

So that brings me back to Sauron. I can't see it being anyone else besides maybe Celebrimbor as he was in love with Galadriel in some 1st Age stories before she married Celeborn, but the show would have to get permission to use that from the estate and it seems a bit strange now to do that.

I agree too it could be a hand/ring kiss and I've thought this since the filming video came out for the music in the s2 finale. However, now the show in ep 2.2 showed she's in love with Halbrand/Sauron. Then yesterday we got confirmation from their main director in a podcast interview that by the end of the season she said the show will show that Sauron actually loves Galadriel too. So it's more of a tragic love story as they both are in love but they are enemies and we know it ends tragically and they can't be together. So it's starting to seem possible they do actually share a kiss. I don't want to get my hopes up too high but it does seem to be leaning that way, especially with it being "shocking" as me being a fan since the movies came out when I was in high school I never thought I'd ship them and some still don't see it as romantic, but this would actually prove it is.

So we'll see what happens and I'm sure we'll get more clues each week with the new episodes. And about that scene with the hood I think it's either an arc or Adar. We know she gets captured by them but also ends up working with him. So it could be when that happens.

[doodle-pops]

Hello! I'm back with a discovery I wanna share ˃̵͈̑ᴗ˂̵͈̑..

THIS

https://youtu.be/9PyDbAh1qBI

I'm not really a supporter of annatar x celebrimbor ship coz I'm still angry for what that bish did to my baby.. But this.. This cover.. This reminded me of them but while listening to this cover on repeat gave me an idea.. The troupe is kinda cliché but hear me out..

A bit of a backstory....

Sauron in a guise of a very beautiful elf/maiar named Annatar had his eyes on both Lindon and Eregion with a goal on earning the trust of those who reside there and their leaders, but much to his dismay, it did not go well to his plan as the King of Lindon, Gil galad himself had become wary of him so he moved onto his next target.. Eregion. Not only this place is full of talented smiths and a gifted lord who rules them all but what he also sought in this place is non other than the Lady of Eregion(insert reader), celebrimbor's wife who was known despite of her gentle eyes and pure bright aura, is a smart lady who also have a temper that can rival her husband's fallen grandfather has, she is also a seasoned warrior who fought during the first age. He had always wanted to corrupt this light that the lady has and take her from the start but for the lady, the mere thought of her betraying her kin for power and darkness that she believes will soon be extinguished by the light made her guilty, but what made him more angry is that a certain lowly elf who came from a family of kinslayer managed to crawl his way into her heart

"What a shame" he thinks as the lady had given up on all the fame, reputation, position she has to be a wife of someone who is lower than her. On his mind he can't erase the thoughts on the what ifs that could happen if only she had agreed his proposal and what could they have done with her wits and skills.

The moment he stepped into the beautiful city of Eregion, the lady already had a bad feeling about this so-called "Lord of the Gifts" that despite his bright aura and kind natured persona, something doesn't feel right but couldn't express it to her husband who is delighted and very pleased on this said visitor for what knowledge he would give them so she decided to keep silent and just observe at first..

But she would oh so regret not telling him that..

As the years went on quickly their friendship also grew, This Annatar is the one that he needs, the one who would give him knowledge and power tp craft something new, something much greater that will surpass his grandfather's beautiful gems and will bring greater good to everyone but because of his thirst for knowledge he unknowingly shut the people who deeply cares about him.. Galadriel, Celeborn, even his own wife. He is so focused on what he was doing that he missed all those stares that Annatar had given her.

Until he finally did, Celebrimbor finally opened his eyes on what is happening. The regret and self loathe he had felt for shutting them out and trusting a demon. But it was too late, yes he managed to apologize and fix things between him and his wife/friends, he also managed to make and distribute the three great elven rings to their respective owners. But he is not ready for this war.. To witness the fall of the city he built, his pride and people, but he chose to stand amongst them and defend but was caught, tortured and slaughtered in a inhumane way..

Sorry for that long intro so here we are...

She was angry, mad.. No.. She was enraged and depressed to see the state her husband is in. The soldiers of Eregion(also with the help of their dwarve friends) dragged their lady out despite showing her unwillingness under Celebrimbor's command to protect her. Now she was staying in imladris drowning in her sorrows and the image of her poor husband on her mind. Her friends tries so hard to comfort her and be her solace but despite all of this, it just can't erase this madness inside of her, this anger that she worries that would just erupt if she won't do anything so she had a plan..

Being a (bad bitch and petty woman) smart and cunning woman she is, she wanted to give sauron the taste of his own medicine. So she went to Lindon and discussed with the king, but as she expected he openly and angrily turned her down as her being hurt and dying was the last thing his late friend/cousin wants. But for some reason she had managed to make him agree after some time as he is already worried of Sauron and his powers and this is his last resort for a higher chance of victory (she may or may have not made a powerpoint presentation of this and literally bugged gil galad everyday to listen for the pros of this plan)

(And as I said because she seeks vengeance and also petty) As a young girl, she had always believed the words "Do not do to others what you don't want to be done by you" and her plan is simple. She had always known Sauron's interest in her and used it to his downfall.. She pretended to be weak and drowned with madness and with the help of Gil galad, she managed to pretend that she was now a criminal who took the lives of her own kin out of madness because no one decided to be on her side and that she had no choice but to depend on Sauron which made him glad as not only he had the power that he wants but he also manages to corrupt this lady in front of him.. This went on for years, seducing him, showing that he is only devoted to him, Sauron really thinks that he already had her submit to him and that he has her in the palm of his hands (for some reason she really like playing with fire haha you get it? Fire cause celebrimbor's feänaro's grandchild and sauron is dangerous? Haha well no? Nvm) until the battle of last alliance came and Sauron himself decided to betray her and use her for the last time when she just uno reversed him and told him that she is the one that is being played all along.

In the end when the ring was taken away from him, he realized.. That from the start he was already defeated.. That he was the one who played with fire

OMG SORRY THIS WAS SO LONG AND I GOT LAZY AT THE END I'M SO SORRYYY BUT YEAH I HOPE YOU GOT MY POINT.. I'm not really good with vocabulary as english is not my first language but yeah...

❛ ᗜ❛ ฅ

Don't worry, I'm personally not a fan of the Annatar x Celebrimbor ship at all. I never liked the idea of pairing them, especially after what happened. It never sat well with me.

But I liked this, the whole manipulation game between Annatar and reader mostly. To even attempt to go against Annatar at his own game was such a risky move, but I liked it 💕. Don't worry about your English love, I understood everything >.<

[youareunbearable]

Headcannon that Celebrimbor and Thranduil were childhood Frenemies because I don't like how the Mirkwood Elves were left out of everything that happened so pls enjoy this fliclet

---

Once the Feanorians touched down in Hithlum, Thingol sent his younger brother's brother in law Oropher to be his ambassador. Oropher, of course, brings his son Thranduil along because this is a great chance for diplomatic training

Maedhros, this is during the time Morgoth is sending his own persistent ambassadors, thinks it would also be a great time to start Celebrimbor on diplomatic training, because before this he was just in the forge with Curufin and Feanor. And it doesn't look like the rest of the Sons of Feanor are going to have kids so he'll be inheriting the crown one day.

So Celebrimbor and Thranduil are pushed together on children "play dates"

They hate it, they always fight with each other and have competitions and as soon as they see each other they will throw down and scream new insults they learned since the last time they met. Sometimes they spent entire visits only speaking to each other in their own native tounges and mock the other for not properly understanding what they are saying. This particular game didn't last long, but Tyelpe did become the first of the Noldor to speak Sindarin fluently with no accent and Thranduil enjoys the annoyed tick in Galadriel's typical serene expression when she hears him speak flawless Quenya with a Feanorian lisp

Oropher is concerned, being the youngest of 4 he never had an antagonistic relationship with any of them. But Maglor (the new depressed Noldor High King) just gives a small smile and shrugs. He grew up with 6 brothers and even more half cousins. Little Tyelpe and Thrandy are just playing like boys and future best friends do

And they keep up this frenenimes relationship even after Curufin moves them to Himland. When it gets sacked during Dagor Bragollach and Curufin, Celegorm, and Celebrimbor all flee south to their cousins home, Thranduil sends them some relief supplies. When Celebrimbor disown his father, Thranduil comes to visit and generally be annoying until Celebrimbor can stop feeling like shit

When Thranduil, his parents, and their people leave eastward after Thingol's death but before the second Kinslaying (for Oropher is older then the Sun and Moon, he is not about to be led by a boy not even in his 30th year, Maiar blood or not, and many Sindar agree with him) Celebrimbor travels with them and secures them safe passage through the Blue Mountains.

They both grieve when they hear of the Second Kinslaying, then the Third, and then when the East sinks under the waves. Not many in Lindon support Celebrimbor wearing the eight pointed star again, but Thranduil just rolls his eyes and tells him red looks dreadful with his complexion

During the Second Age when Thranduil gets married, Celebrimbor is invited to the wedding and vis versa when Celebrimbor marries Narvi

(Both marriages involve lots of teasing over their partners of choice. Thranduil laughs over the fact that of course a Noldor would marry a Dwarf, they are basically the same, what with their love of rocks and metal work. Celebrimbor rolls his eyes and snorts that he's surprised Thranduil didn't end up marrying an Ent, what with his love of trees, but he supposes that marrying a lady named "tree maid" is close enough. What next? Will he name his children "sapling" or "twig" or "leaf"? Thranduil shoves him off his chair, spilling wine all over the table and floor and growls that at least his children will have original names, and not share a name with two of his forefathers like Men)

They visit each other a lot during the second age, and Thranduil tries to help him as best he can during the fallout of Narvi's death, and when Celebrimbor is designing his rings of Power with that suspicious Maiar of his (who Celebrimbor SWEARS is helping him craft to work through the grief he has no other intentions) he had Thranduil (or Oropher) in mind when he created Vilya

When Thranduil heard about what happened to his friend and his land during the War of Elves and Sauron he grieved deeply. The only thing he had to remember his friend by was some forgotten blueprints of unfinished jewelry, an Age worth of letters (mostly written in Quenya, he of course had replied in proper Sindarin), a clumsy eight pointed star he laughingly embroidered onto the breast of Thranduil's favourite robe, a set of Sindarin long knives overly embellished with Noldorian swirls, and a box of white gems Celebrimbor hand crafted and left with a promise to come back once he finished his rings and use them to make a matching crown set for Thranduil and his wife to wear whenever he inherited the crown

("There may be even enough left over for a third crown. For your 'little leaf' to grow into whenever you two get around making one." Thranduil's wife laughed with Celebrimbor and sent her husband a leer that set his ears ablaze and Tyelpe's laughter began anew)

And enough regrets to haunt him for Ages. It seemed like bad things always came in three. Celebrimbor, his father, his new homeland. Thranduil led his people north, away from everything he had loved, and kept what remained close to his chest. After his wife was slain shortly after the birth of his son, he refused to lose anyone else. Greenwood the Great began to mirror his grief and became Mirkwood

It was almost another another Age before he decided to commission the Dwarves of Erebor to turn those precious white gems into the crowns Celebrimbor intended. Not for him and his now dead wife, but maybe for Legolas and his future partner. (His little leaf, he could hear Celebrimbor's laughter every time Legolas calls himself "Legolas Greenleaf" with that cheeky grin of his) And if Celebrimbor couldn't make them himself, he would be happy to let his Dwarven friends do the job for him

Thranduil almost burned down the mountain himself when they withheld those gems and one of the last pieces of his dear friend from him

Under the bone deep fear of watching a dragon from his nightmares sack the kingdom, he was a little pleased. Jewel thieves get their due

(He knows that Celebrimbor never swore his grandfather's Oath, but sometimes late at night he wonders if he still carried the curse of it. If that Oath and the Curse of Feanor are the reason his dearest friend died that awful way he did)

It was the beginning of a forth age when those sparking white gems were finally turned into the crowns they were destined to be. And Thranduil could almost hear Celebrimbor's delighted laughter as he watched his only son and heir, his little leaf, marry a dwarf.

When it came time to sail, Thranduil stayed with his people, he has coveted them for so long he now refused to leave unless he was forced too. Legolas, who had somehow made a small boat that could barely withhold the waves of the Western Sea, was greeted with a welcoming and joyful embrace by the Elf he only heard stories about

"Hail Celebrimbor, Lord of Eregion, Crafter of the Rings Of Power, Husband of Narvi son of Vilarvi of Durin's Folk, and most importantly, the dearest friend of my father!" Legolas greeted in flawless Quenya with a very noticeable Feanorian lisp. The gathered crowd twitched a little and Elrond (who was hoping of news of his sons) gave a sigh. "I have much to say, and so does my husband Gimli, but first I must give you my father's message!"

Legolas cleared his throat, and then with mock superior expression, one that made him look just like Thranduil, he said: "Celebrimbor you Spider Spawn of the Shadow, if you worked on my crown instead of those thrice damned Rings like you said, my son would never have married a Dwarf. Once I am reborn you better start running because I am going to burry you in my forest and chop down the tree you become with my anger alone!"

There was a startled gasp of silence on the shores of Valinor, before Celebrimbor burst into peels of joyful laughter. Legolas smiled at his honorary uncle and laughed with him

"As you can see, father missed you very much"

[gossip-girl-of-middleearth]

The Road Less Travelled (Legolas x Reader) (Part 2)

A/N: A continuation of my Fellowship x Pregnant! Reader story, in which you ended up choosing Legolas to help raise your unplanned child. Part 2 can be read without reading part 1 first.

Synopsis: Life with Legolas, your two daughters and your treehouse is perfect, until one night, parental instincts go on ignored, and things go deeply awry.

Warnings: I watched The Conjuring before bed tonight and was unfortunately inspired. Enjoy. Also Legolas is a cute adoptive father send tweet.

Pairings: Legolas x Reader

Word Count: 2610

Rain fell heavily outside, though yourself and your family did not feel said rain. Buried below glorious crowns of leaves, your treehouse was situated securely.

Built into the thick trunk of an Ithilien tree by Legolas’ own bare hands, your treehouse was set with two bedrooms, and resembled an elevated cottage more than anything else. Around the length of the cosy home, a rounded balcony lay.

Leading down from said balcony was an old rope your children used to climb to and from home. One broken ankle later from your youngest twin, however, and a winding set of stairs was built into the trunk below, too — leading up to your balcony.

And indeed, “twins” was right.

Learning on the Fellowship’s journey that you were pregnant with that no-good Brander’s child was shocking enough, let alone discovering at the actual birth that said little baby’s embryo had split into two, providing you with a set of beautiful daughters.

Fortunately, they were nothing alike their biological father in spirit — possessing kind hearts and noble souls instead. Even more fortunately, they garnered your looks. Regarding their appearances, although twins, they each held distinctive differences.

Perhaps the luckiest of all, your old Fellowship colleague, now turned husband, seemed to have the most influence on both Ivorwen and Tobrien — better known simply as “Ivy” and “Toby”.

Rabbit stew, a recipe sent from your Shire friends, was made for dinner that night, as the four of you sat around a wooden table and ate merrily, enjoying the lively atmosphere the warm candles provided.

“There is still hair on the meat!” Ivy insisted, though, the grin on her 9-year-old cheeks gave away her agenda.

“There is not!” Legolas urged back, sharing her grin.

You and Toby laughed brightly, passing a plate of rolls between one another. This argument had been going on since before any of you had even sat down.

Ivy made a show of stabbing a chunk of rabbit and holding it up. “Yes, there is! See? There’s hair on it! You’re a horrible cook after all!”

Legolas made a show of squinting his eyes and leaning across the table to inspect the chunk of rabbit, before settling back into his chair and pressing on.

“That’s most likely your own hair! How many times have I encouraged you to learn my version of braiding?” Legolas pointed out, gesturing to his own locks.

Your eyes crinkled with amusement and love, as you watched the dad and daughter exchange teasing words, even if none of those words were actually “dad”, “father” or even “ada”.

“You’re impossible, Varno,” Ivy shook her head, still smiling nonetheless. “Just admit your talent lies in hunting and not in cooking.”

“I resent that accusation,” Legolas playfully warned, pointing a fork at Ivy.

“Varno” was a name both you and Legolas had decided upon. “Ada” reminded him too much of his own father, and “uncle” simply felt too misplaced.

So, instead, “Varno” was decided upon — meaning “protector” in Legolas’ own language, which is exactly what he had been for you, ever since that fateful night by the campfire you’d learnt of your predicament.

Although many of your friends and colleagues that evening offered you their hand in marriage, you had felt a maternal stirring within you. Something told you to choose the best of the best for your unborn offspring, and who better than a steadfast elf to keep you safe?

You had been watching Legolas one night, a few evenings after learning of the life growing within you, with your hand over your stomach.

Although you still didn’t quite have the full comprehension of knowledge behind this, you truly believed, till this day, that both Ivy and Toby told you to “choose that one—he’s our dad”.

Resolute in your mind, you approached Legolas and accepted his offer of marriage. He was ecstatic and gleeful, and then a little boastful to the other suitors. Cockiness befell him for a short while, until your stomach grew and a paternal kick changed him.

He matured overnight and grew from a young archer into an awaiting father, despite the girls not being his. That never slowed him, though—he was a better father to Ivy and Toby than some real dads were to their own children.

He soon married you after the war, and the rest was history.

After you had to break Legolas and Ivy’s “fight” up with a laugh and a motherly warning, the table was cleared.

“All right, dishes to the kitchen, and then teeth,” Legolas announced, quirking a brow in Ivy’s direction as she walked past.

Legolas mouthed to her that their fight wasn’t over, and Ivy made a show of raising her brows once in challenge.

“She gets that from Gimli, I know it. Don’t ask me how,” Legolas whispered to you, as you too walked by.

“Intrusive visits and loud Yules,” you joked, grinning over your shoulder at your best friend.

Grimacing, Legolas winced his teeth with a hiss. “Do not speak of such holidays, let us just enjoy the autumn while it lasts.”

“You don’t want Yule to come soon?” Toby asked, appearing from behind Legolas, and peeking her head around his torso to gaze up in his direction. “What about toys?”

“Galadriel sends the best, and nothing has topped the bow she gave me in Lothlorien eight years ago,” Legolas replied. “Have you brushed your teeth yet, aranel?” (princess)

Toby made a prolonged noise, as she beamed brightly to show off her teeth.

“No, I don’t fall for pretty girls and pretty teeth, thank you very much,” said Legolas shaking his head. “Breath test.”

He bent down and allowed her to piggyback ride him. Standing swiftly, he looked over his shoulder and at her, where she then breathed loudly with an open mouth into his face.

Legolas scrunched his nose and recoiled. “Fee-fi-fo-fum, I smell someone with stinky gums. And I’ve been to Mordor.”

Toby’s eyes grew bright with excitement. “Will you tell us another Fellowship story tonight?”

“Only if you brush your teeth,” Legolas answered, nuzzling his nose with hers.

Ivy walked past again, done with her dishes, and scoffed at Legolas. “Don’t listen to him, Toby. It’s bribery!”

Legolas gently kicked her ankle as she walked by, although, a feather could’ve done more damage—your “gentle giant”, you called him.

“Very well then, tonight I’ll tell you all about the Mouth of Sauron, and why brushing your teeth is important,” Legolas said again, turning around to watch the eldest twin head for the bathroom down the hall.

She waved him off over her shoulder, before disappearing to brush her teeth.

Toby swiftly kissed Legolas’ cheek, before dismounting from the piggyback ride and skipping after her sister.

You watched from the kitchen sink with a warm smile, and wiped a bowl with a dry rag. You observed the ardent love in Legolas’ eyes, as he watched the hall for a minute, where Toby and Ivy could be heard giggling over their dad’s cooking skills.

He finally shook his head and turned to you, wearing a content smile of his own. Catching your warm expression, he walked towards you with a sly question on his tongue.

“What?”

“Nothing,” you replied, returning to the dishes. “But have I ever thanked you for marrying me and helping me to raise those two ladies?”

“Ladies is a stretching term,” said Legolas, coming up behind you with a wrapping of your torso and a burying of his cheek in your hair, as he hugged you from behind, “but no—I don’t think the few thousand times is enough. Could you perhaps tell me once more?”

You melted into his hug, laughed like bright bells, and turned around. Wrapping your own arms around him, you buried your head into his shoulder and embraced him tightly.

“Well, thank you,” you emphasised, teasing him slightly.

Rocking the hug a little, he kissed the top of your head, and responded after a moment. “Actually, it is you all the thanks is owed to—I never assumed a life like this would be possible for me, but here we are.”

“Here we are,” you agreed, squeezing the hug once more.

You both stayed like that for a moment, before he kissed the top of your head again and let go. “You can ready the girls for bed if you’d like, I’ll finish up here.”

You lifted his hand and kissed the back of it, before walking away. Your hands remained held until the distance you walked grew too much, and Legolas had to let go to stay in front of the sink.

He smiled after you, as you disappeared around the wall.

Sighing in tranquillity, as the rain grew outside, Legolas looked out the glass window to his side. All he could make out were tree trunks through the rain and moonlight, and the prince basked in the sense of home for a few seconds.

However, the placid state could only last for so long. Unsure if the girls teasing him all day on their rabbit hunt had just worn him down, or if his eyes were indeed working correctly, a sway of trees exposed a trunk in the distance, where Legolas could have sworn he saw a body scaling.

Narrowing his eyes and knitting his brows, the archer moved closer to the glass window. As his breath fogged up the glass, Legolas moved as close as he dared to the window, observing the distant trunk.

Peering harder and harder, Legolas prayed for the wind to sway the leaves again, so he could view the tree. However, before he had the chance to do so, a quick voice from behind startled him.

“C’mon, Varno!” Toby urged, waving her dad to follow. “Me and Ivy are ready for the bedtime story!”

Legolas jumped on his feet, most unlike an elf indeed, and snapped his eyes over his shoulder to his daughter. Meeting her young gaze, he calmed.

Although, with the odd anomaly on the distant trunk still on his mind, Legolas turned back to the window. The leaves swayed again, and Legolas saw the tree once more. However, this time, no beings scaled the side of it.

He swallowed his nerves and shook his head, as his daughter called him once more.

“Varno?” Her voice was slow and unsure.

Meeting her eyes again, he beamed brightly and ran forwards. Scooping her loudly laughing self into his arms, he spun around and lifted her high—all whilst heading down the hall.

Toby’s laughs and Legolas’ eagle noises alerted you first, as they flew into the bedroom. “Eagle Attack” was a game he’d played with the girls since birth, where he’d lift them high, making them “fly”, and screech obnoxiously.

It usually ended with him gently throwing them down onto a bed or couch, in an effort to tire them out before slumber. Tonight, apparently, was no different.

“Aren’t we a little too old for Eagle Attack, Varno?” Ivy taunted, already sitting cross-legged on her bed, as you brushed her hair beside her.

“I’m over two thousand-years-old, and I still find it fun,” Legolas taunted back. He collapsed onto Toby’s bed with her backwards, leaving the younger twin a laughing mess.

“I do not think that tires them out as much as you believe,” you advised, shaking your head with a smile in your husband and daughter’s direction, who asked for the ride again.

“That’s why I have stories hidden up my sleeve,” Legolas replied. He sat up on his elbows, and smirked at you.

You gave him a playful frown, before finishing Ivy’s hair. Kissing your daughter’s cheek, you began tucking her in.

Legolas readied one candle, and dimmed all the other lanterns, so sleep would find the girls swiftly. Soon, as you tended to Ivy and he to Toby, Legolas’ story began.

It was one you remembered well, and one you also didn’t want to. You appreciated how comical Legolas delivered the story, in a way accessible to children, for there was nothing child-friendly about that war.

It wasn’t long after that, that soft snores from the girls filled the room.

Bringing the woollen blanket up to each daughter’s chin, and kissing their temples, you and Legolas bid them a soft goodnight from the door.

Closing it behind yourselves, you both began the small journey down the hall back to your shared room. He wrapped one arm around your back, and led you safely to the door.

Upon entering the room, you each made your way to your own beds. You had only shared a few kisses on the lips throughout your marriage, usually in times of great emotion, like the birth of your daughters, or the wedding itself.

Yours and Legolas’ marriage was almost entirely platonic, but he loved you more than any other, and you him. Only Ivy and Toby were counted among his other greatest loves, with you sitting safe right beside them.

Although nothing physical or lustful of nature took place between you, your relationship was one of deep devotion, and you had, in your own way, each pledged yourselves entirely to one another.

It was simply the most beautiful friendship, and one neither of you forsook.

Fluffing up your pillow, you rearranged your bed, which was only a metre away from Legolas’ own. He did the same, and hummed to himself slightly over the rain outside.

“This weather is a little intense, isn’t it?” you spoke up, looking at the roof above once in gesture.

He followed your gaze and agreed from behind his concerned frown. “I was almost worried earlier that the roof would collapse, with the leaves now falling and such.”

“For its seventh autumn, it isn’t doing too bad,” you decided, now sliding into bed.

“Agreed,” Legolas smiled, commending himself and his handiwork.

As he slipped into his own sheets, Legolas thought of what he saw earlier scaling the trunk. You were just about to reach over, wish your best friend a goodnight, before turning the candle out, until Legolas’ voice stopped you.

“Actually, meleth nîn—” he called, earning a blinking back of your eyes.

Conflicted over his own words, that same paternal feeling that kicked within him eight years ago drove his instincts. Sucking on his lower lip in thought, Legolas decided to trust whatever his gut was telling him, and lifted his blankets over to the side.

He beckoned you to slide into the covers with him. It was nothing unusual for you both, for many nights you had spent sleeping in the same bed with him. It first started in those early winter days, when your teeth chattered and your bones shivered.

His body warmth provided both solace and security, until you each grew so comfortable around one another that hugging in your sleep seemed as casual as a pat on the shoulder.

You almost went to tease him about being touch-starved or something of the likes, until you saw the look behind his eyes. They were the eyes of a concerned patriarch, and you knew better than to disagree with him.

After all, you knew to trust your own maternal instincts. His were no different.

Without saying a word, you slipped out from your bed and climbed into his, relishing in the warmth of his arms. He kissed the top of your head goodnight, before turning the candle off.

Only a small percentage of the fear within his stomach subsided, but he tried hard to fight it away. Nonetheless, the rain lulled him to sleep, where he then fell into a light slumber alongside you.

That is, until the bloodcurdling screaming of the girls started.

[stormxpadme]

Vandrin

Vandrin (Elvish: “daughter of fire”) is a Noldorian healer elf who lived on Middle-earth from the First to the third Age before sailing west. His daughter should later become the Princess of Eryn Lasgalen and Lady of Cair Andros, and together with her husband, lead the last elves willing to go to Valinor at the beginning of the Fourth Age. Born in F.A. 555, into a time of war, Vandrin was used to battle and death from an early age on. Despite being trained at battle and never running from it when every armed elf was needed to defend life and safety, Vandrin loathed violence. He knew early that he wanted to be a healer instead. Though Vandrin was being roughly the same age as Lord Elrond, and the two of them often were part of the same healer circles, they never got along well as Vandrin incorporated some spells into his healing techniques that many elves, Elrond included, called dangerous and tempting, seeing them as being too close to dark magic. Vandrin found a home in Lórien soon after he’d come of age. Becoming a more talented healer with every year and never shying away from any kind of work he was being needed at, Lórien realm leaders were always happy to reach out for the young elf’s support. With his very tall figure and striking voice, he could easily make himself heard even in times of turmoil. Vandrin became especially close with Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel after they had taken over leadership, and they often asked for his council in realm matters. Vandrin was a frequent guest in Imladris after its founding, having many friends there. On one of his visits, he met a she-elf named Nestradyl there who was on a long journey away from her temporary home Mirkwood at that time, and the two of them fell in love. Nestradyl followed Vandrin back to Lórien and they got married. In T.A. 2000, Nestradyl gave birth to twins. The delivery was so physically challenging and exhausting though that she didn’t survive it. Vandrin never forgave himself that he couldn’t save his wife and never talked to anyone about her again, even only rarely to his children. He was often tempted to leave Middle-earth behind, hoping to see his beloved again in the west, but Nestradyl had asked him never to do that only for her sake, but to only leave Middle-earth when he was truly ready for it. Vandrin soon realized that his daughter Tarisilya had inherited his talent for healing and trained her from a very early age on in the art, discouraging her from her battle ambitions. When Tarisilya started to disappear from the woods a few times in secret in T.A. 2070, Vandrin followed her one day, not overly enthusiastic to learn that his daughter had fallen in love with the Prince of Eryn Lasgalen of all people. Vandrin loved his children way too much though, to be in the way of their happiness in any regard. Vandrin only asked Legolas to give Tarisilya some more time to grow up before courting her, to which his daughter’s suitor agreed. As the shadow of war at the end of the Third Age drew closer, Vandrin realized that he did not want to live through another conflict like that on Middle-earth and told Lady Galadriel and his children that he would soon be leaving. He left the decision, if they would accompany him, solely to his long grown-up children. Shortly before the War of the Ring, after Legolas’ and Tarisilya’s relationship had finally started, Vandrin and him met again, and Vandrin agreed quickly when Legolas asked him for Tarisilya’s hand in marriage. Since Tarisilya didn’t want to leave as long as Legolas would be staying on Middle-earth, her brother Tegiend begrudgingly decided to stay with her to take care of her. With that reassurance in mind, Vandrin could finally leave his old home, with both grief but also anticipation to finally see Valinor in his heart. Upon arrival, he set up a new place on a remote hill close to the harbors where he would stand for a while everyday, waiting for the moment when his children would join him. That Nestradyl, contrary to his hopes, had not been reborn yet, he processed with sadness but respect of her decision, since she had promised before her death that she would be looking out for their children from the Halls as long as they were exposed to the dangers of Middle-earth. When Tegiend then joined Vandrin during the War of the Ring, Vandrin was worried and devastated at first to learn that his daughter was still across the sea. But he relied on Tarisilya’s betrothed to take care of her. He also tried to help Tegiend with his own grief and bitterness about his sister’s decision as well as he could. Shortly before the Third Age would end at last, Lord Glorfindel arrived at the shores, and to Tegiend’s and Vandrin’s endless surprise, revealed himself to them as an extended part of their family. They lived close to each other from that day on and often supported each other in their grief about the people they had left behind or lost. Only when Galadriel and Elrond reached the shores though, and Vandrin and Tegiend were delivered drawings of Tarisilya’s and Legolas’ wedding and their firstborn child, they could truly be at peace in their waiting for their missing family member. With Galadriel, Tegiend’s best friend and secret crush Haldir had come from Middle-earth, and Vandrin who had known about their feelings for many centuries, played a significant part in them finally being united in love and getting married, continuously inviting Haldir for dinners and healing sessions. It was in that time also when Galadriel and Elrond started to build a loose city of houses and telain for the last elves who had left Middle-earth or were still to come, so they could be among them for a while after arrival, and decide without pressure where they would set up their new home. Again, Galadriel gladly and often required Vandrin’s help in building and organizing matters. Tegiend and him moved their home to the settlement, and Vandrin became a trusted member of the leading council. When a few years later, the now former King of Eryn Lasgalen arrived at the shores with his people and retired into solitude, Vandrin often reached out to Thranduil, so he wouldn’t completely lose contact to life, seeing as they were now family. Vandrin’s leniency and forgiveness, his endless patience and big heart would be rewarded in Fo.A. 120 then, when Tarisilya and Legolas with their children and the last elves of their former settlement in Ithilien, would arrive at the shores. Now their new life, reunited as a family who had grown a lot in number and trust, could finally begin, and they would now gladly wait, together, for Nestradyl to rejoin them as well. * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * (Tales Untold - a “The Lord of the Rings” series "Tales Untold" aesthetics | "Tales Untold" glossary) * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

[arofili]

Beneath the Stars Chapter 24

After the battle, Tauriel struggles to find a place in the world. With the War of the Ring on the horizon and her past haunting her footsteps, she must find a way to keep her hope even in these dark hours and find a home where she truly belongs. Characters: Tauriel, Midhel (OC), Thranduil, Galadriel, Glandir (OC), Urphen (OC)

AO3; Masterpost

The war was won. Sauron was vanquished, and peace reigned throughout Middle-earth. The walls of Dol Guldur had been thrown down by Lady Galadriel, and the forest was cleansed. Tauriel was shocked by the changes around her. The forest she loved so dearly became even more beautiful and wondrous than before, truly becoming the Greenwood instead of Mirkwood, as outsiders called it.

Elves stepped lighter now, and the forest was no longer dark and treacherous. The spiders and orcs and other foul creatures she had fought against so bitterly her entire life were gone. Tauriel was astonished by these changes. Being so young, barely seven hundred, she had never seen the forest in its uncorrupted glory. Her whole life she had lamented against the common name “Mirkwood”, but now that the curse of Sauron was lifted, she found that compared to the glory of this new forest, the old truly had been a place of darkness.

The wounds of battle and centuries of evil had not healed entirely. The people of the forest were changed, but still felt the repercussions of such a long curse. Tauriel had been raised in this forest, but the light of this new wood made it seem a different place entirely. She stepped along familiar paths as if she had never walked there before. Even the stars shone brighter, and she wished Kíli could have wandered the paths of this new Greenwood with her.

The forest was not the only thing that had begun to heal. Midhel’s injury, though severe, healed quickly. Within a month, she was back up on her feet, though not quite healed enough to rejoin the Guard. For the time being, Tauriel was welcomed back in her old position as Captain, though there was much less to worry about, now that the forest was restored.

The elves of the Woodland Realm quickly accepted her return, and only the occasional rumors were spread about her absence. Though to Tauriel, her wanderings had seemed to consume ages, the elves of her home had felt the years pass by much more quickly, as little had changed for them.

They buried Gwelonir in the depths of the forest, returning his body to the land that had supported and nurtured him for so long. Tauriel missed her foster father very dearly, and hoped that his spirit rested in the Halls of Mandos. If anyone deserved peace, Gwelonir did.

“Are you ready to go?” Midhel asked her.

Tauriel sighed. “Yes, I suppose,” she said. It was the beginning of spring. She, Úrphen, and their warriors were to be escorting Thranduil, traveling south to the Mountains of Mirkwood to meet with Galadriel and Celeborn. The fate of the forest in the coming Age was to be decided there.

“I wish I could come,” Midhel said ruefully. She was still too weak to travel so far. “You and Úrphen are captains, so of course you’re going, but so are Orelon and Glándir. I’ll be all alone here!”

“Iesteth and Hithwen are staying, they’ll keep you company,” Tauriel pointed out.

“I know, and I’m grateful for it, but I wish I could meet Lady Galadriel.” Midhel sighed.

“She’s very wise,” Tauriel said. “I met her while I was…gone. She’s everything the stories say, and more.”

Midhel’s eyes widened. “You never mentioned that!”

“I’ve not even been back a month, Midhel!” Tauriel exclaimed. “That’s not nearly enough time to catch up over sixty years of travels!”

“Well, I knew you’d met Lord Elrond,” Midhel said. “You lived in Rivendell for so long, of course you did. And I knew you’d gone to Lothlórien, but not that you’d met Galadriel!”

“I’ll have to tell the story when I get back,” Tauriel said.

Midhel nodded. “I’ve got a few stories to tell you, too,” she said. “Iesteth and I had quite the honeymoon! And there was that time Glándir and Orelon got drunk and fell in the fountain—Úrphen and I had to pull them out!”

Tauriel laughed. “I’m excited to hear it all,” she said.

Midhel’s eyes sparkled, but after a few moments, she sighed and looked down. “I wish I wasn’t so injured,” she said softly. “I’m tired, Tauriel. My body hurts. I’m healing, but I don’t want to hurt like this anymore.”

“You’ll be back to normal in no time,” Tauriel assured her.

“Yes…” Midhel sighed again. “But that’s not what I meant, Tauriel. I don’t want to fight anymore. There’s peace in these lands. The evil is defeated, and we don’t need as many warriors now.”

“Midhel…” Tauriel stared at her, full of sympathy.

“I’ve been thinking about this,” she said firmly, “and I’ve made up my mind. Even when my body heals all the way, I’ll carry the damage inside. I almost died, Tauriel. I’m tired of fighting, especially when there’s nothing to fight anymore. I’m quitting the Guard.”

“But Midhel—” Tauriel broke off. She bowed her head. “I’ll miss you.”

“It’s not like I’m leaving the forest,” Midhel said, smiling a little. “I’ll still be here. I’m still your family. I’m not leaving anywhere.”

“I know, but it’ll be—different,” Tauriel said. “I’ll miss fighting alongside you. There are still dangers out there.”

“Yes, who knows when the next troupe of dwarves will trespass?” Midhel joked.

Tauriel raised an eyebrow. “Very funny, Midhel.” She paused, then asked, “Does this mean that I’m staying Captain of the Guard?”

“If Thranduil agrees,” Midhel said. “I have no opposition to it—you’d be my first choice as successor.” She smiled. “This is funny—I succeeded you, and now you’re succeeding me!”

Tauriel laughed. “It is! A hundred years ago, I would never have imagined it!”

“A hundred years ago, a lot of things were different,” Midhel said. Her gaze turned distant as she remembered. “Those were good days.”

“But you and Iesteth weren’t married then,” Tauriel pointed out, “and for all the heartbreak I’ve had…I think the next hundred years will be good days, too.”

Midhel smiled and clapped Tauriel on the shoulder. “Here’s to the next hundred years.”

Tauriel pulled her into an embrace, echoing her words: “Here’s to the next hundred years…”

The Mountains of Mirkwood were small compared to some of the other mountains Tauriel had seen in her time, but they were full of life. Trees and flowers and other green things surrounded her and the others as they approached the meeting place, and she breathed in the crisp mountain air appreciatively.

Thranduil wore his finest kingly robes and a crown of leaves. Tauriel and Úrphen stood side by side behind as his two most trusted captains.

Across the clearing from him were the elves of Lothlórien. Galadriel was as serene and beautiful as ever, and her husband Celeborn matched her glory. Behind them stood their own captains: Rúmil and Orophin.

Tauriel smiled to them, and they each nodded back. She would speak with them later, after the meeting had finished. Seeing them side by side, she felt a sharp pang of grief. Haldir ought to be there.

“Thranduil,” Galadriel greeted him.

Thranduil bowed. “Lady Galadriel. Lord Celeborn. I am honored to speak with you.”

His voice was, for the most part, sincere. Tauriel vividly remembered him complaining about the Noldo lady several times in the past, mostly based on principles passed down from his father and from his own isolationist beliefs. But for now, he seemed to have put his dislike behind him in favor of appreciation and respect. Galadriel was a high noble elf, and besides that, she was incredibly powerful and had been instrumental in the war.

“We are as well,” Celeborn said.

Tauriel watched as they exchanged further pleasantries and extolled each others’ great deeds in the war. Tauriel grew bored: though hearing these stories was interesting, they would be far more interesting if they did not have political connotations. Relations between Lothlórien and the Woodland Realm had always been a bit strained (or else nonexistent), and though they came together for great events such as the War of the Ring, they still didn’t quite get along.

She made eye contact with Úrphen and raised an eyebrow as subtly as she could. They seemed impassive, but she caught their lips twitching upward as they fought a smile. She quickly averted her gaze before a smile crept upon her own lips.

At last, the rulers got down to business and came to the real reason they were gathered together: the division of the forest.

“We are entering a new age,” Thranduil proclaimed, “and the Woodland Realm is not as large as it once was. Even I can feel the call of the sea, and though I know there are many among my people who wish to dwell in Middle-earth forever, there are still those who wish to depart for Valinor.”

Tauriel took a deep breath. She knew this, of course. Elves left for Valinor even in her childhood, but it was not a common occurrence. After this war, even more had left, and she knew that the time of the elves was coming to a close. It pained her to see her friends leaving, especially as she felt no desire to leave just after she returned at last to her home.

“We do not need the entire forest as our territory,” Thranduil said. “This land south of these mountains is rarely traversed even by my people.”

“There are others who live in this forest with an equal claim,” Celeborn said.

“Yes,” Thranduil agreed. “The Beornings.”

On they discussed. Tauriel listened attentively, concerned by the fate of her forest home. She had rarely traveled south of the mountains, it was true, but she would miss this beauty if Thranduil gave it up. She could see the stars clearly from the heights of these mountains, and in the distance, the solitary peak of the Lonely Mountain.

Eventually, it was decided. The Woodland Realm gave up all claims to the forest south of the mountains. Tauriel sighed at this pronouncement, but she agreed with Thranduil’s decision. Besides, this meant less land for her to patrol.

The land south of the mountains to the Narrows, the thinnest strip of the forest, would be given to the Beornings. They did not have a diplomat present, but they had never been a people to be involved in politics of any kind. They took what they needed even before this division, though technically it had not been their land until now.

The remaining forest south of the Narrows went to Lothlórien, becoming East Lórien. Tauriel wasn’t quite sure what Galadriel and Celeborn needed with this extra land, but she was sure they would put it to good use.

“This forest is no longer ours alone,” Thranduil announced. “The Woodland Realm has all we need, and we are glad to have it.”

“This forest has been called by the name of Mirkwood for centuries,” Celeborn said, “but after its cleansing, that name is no longer fitting.”

“It was once known as Eryn Galen, the Greenwood,” Galadriel continued, “but a new age is dawning, and that name is of the past.”

“From henceforth, in this new year of the elves and in this new age, this forest shall be known as Eryn Lasgalen, the Wood of Green Leaves,” Thranduil proclaimed.

“Eryn Lasgalen!” a voice called out in the crowd. Tauriel smiled as she recognized the speaker: it was Glándir.

“Eryn Lasgalen!” another elf cried. The chant was brought up by everyone in the crowd, until even Tauriel and Úrphen were shouting out, “Eryn Lasgalen! Eryn Lasgalen!”

Tauriel grinned as she felt the forest and her people around her. Even Galadriel raised her voice in joy, followed by Celeborn and Thranduil. Tauriel wished Midhel were here, though she was comforted by the fact that she would see her again soon.

Eryn Lasgalen was a good name for her home: much like Eryn Galen, the Greenwood, but different and new. She smiled and paused in her chanting.

“Here’s to the next hundred years,” she murmured again.

Chapter 1; Chapter 23; Chapter 25