#The Hunt for Arwen's Personality

[torchwood-99]

Arwen Character Analysis

I'm fascinated by Arwen's character, and the hints of personality we get from her in the text. She's a largely off-page character, but with close examination, a personality does form.

The biggest indicators of Arwen's personality are revealed, naturally, through her love for Aragorn.

Brave, Loyal and Kind

We know that Arwen is willing to make great sacrifices for love. To make that choice definitely speaks of courage, and to have remained true to that choice during the years of their betrothal also speaks of the depths of her loyalty.

She is also kind. We know this because she gave Frodo passage to Valinor. That she knows he will appreciate this choice, and will need to go to Valinor to ease his suffering, also shows her to be insightful.

That Frodo is a Ring-Bearer, as her father and grandmother are, perhaps gave her additional insight into the trials of being a Ring-Bearer, and seeing the impact on them and their need to go to Valinor might have allowed her to make a reasonable conclusion as to Frodo's own needs.

Proud

While it is Elrond who states that Arwen will not give up her immortality for any man less than the King of Men, but in the same statement he says that her doom will be a bitter thing for her at the end, which we know to be true. This suggests to me less that Elrond was making conditions, and more that he knew his daughter's mind.

Of course, Aragorn being king is tied with Middle-Earth being saved, but the emphasis that is placed on Arwen's greater lineage indicates that this is a case of Aragorn needing to be worthy, as it is a matted of expediency. Aragorn needs to be king for more than practical reasons for Arwen to marry him.

When Arwen falls in love with Aragorn, it is after Galadriel dresses him in kingly clothes, and she sees Aragorn looking like a king in both dress and demeanour. From the text, it seems her choice was made there and then.

When she and Aragorn part, she acknowledges that the situation is grim. However, she says that her heart rejoices, because she knows Aragorn will be among the valiant men who will end the shadow. While Aragorn is gone, out of hope she makes a banner that will declare him to be king.

Arwen's love for Aragorn is tied intrinsically with how she views and appreciates his kingliness.

This is not to say that Arwen only loves Aragorn for a crown. Aragorn is a king, being a king is part of who he is, to not love Aragorn the King is to not love Aragorn. But it is to say that Arwen has standards. Arwen knows her heritage and the grandeur of her lineage, and no less than a King will do if she is to marry a mortal.

Luthien Come Again

Arwen is Luthien's spitting image, and people have mistaken her for Luthien. Arwen knows this, but makes a point of saying that Luthien's name is not hers, even if her fate might be.

Arwen is living under the shadow of Luthien's memory.

How does she feel about this? When she says she has been mistaken for Luthien before, she says so "gravely". Is this out of some frustration for being forever associated with Luthien, or is it because she recognises the gravitas of Luthien's choice?

Arwen makes the "choice of Luthien" and frames it so, so she clearly feels in marrying Aragorn she is following Luthien's footsteps, yet there are differences.

First, Luthien assisted Beren with his task directly. She set out and faced the same peril that Beren did, whereas Arwen remained in relative safety in Rivendell. Second, Luthien experienced Beren's death before she made her choice to accept mortality, and was the one to arrange his resurrection and their ability to live and die together. Arwen admits she did not fully comprehend the grief of mortality until long after she had made her choice, only as Aragorn lay dying. Third, it was Luthien's father who set the terms for Beren marrying her, Luthien did not give a damn. The lives Beren and Luthien lived after the quest also seem to be humbler and more removed than Aragorn and Arwen's, settling on Tol Galen.

From this, does it feel like Arwen tried to follow the path of Luthien, without going through the same journey that Luthien went on that lead to that choice?

Naïve

It seems strange that an elf who has lived for thousands of years could be naïve, but one the subject of mortality, someone who has spent centuries knowing themselves to be immortal, surrounded by immortals, would naturally be unaware of the true cost of mortality, and what it's like to live constantly under the knowledge that life will end and all that will be left is the unknown. Even those years as a mortal queen probably would not be enough to fully undo all those centuries of thinking and acting like an immortal.

It is Arwen's line about the Fall of Numenor that makes me believe that when she made the choice to marry and die with Aragorn, she did so not fully comprehending what that choice meant. She reveals she felt "scorn" for the people who caused Numenor's fall through their fear of death.

For a woman who generally seems peaceful, gentle and kind, the aggression of that word "scorn" is quite a departure from the perfect, passive image of Arwen we often have. She has deep feelings and not all of them pretty.

Here we might see that pride of hers rear it's head. You have to wonder if she compared her own courage in choosing to die, with man's "foolish" rejection of the Gift of Death, a gift that elves have been known to envy. Did she feel that the elves knew better than Men what was good for them?

Only now that she is facing Aragorn's death, and in due course, her own, she suddenly understands that terror and feels pity where once she felt scorn. And when Aragorn suggests she go to Valinor, she says no boat will take her now, whether she will it or no. That choice is beyond her, and she does not speak as someone entirely without regrets for her choice, nor does she die as one.

Among Men, but Not of Them

When Arwen dies, she dies alone.

Despite having children and possibly grandchildren, despite having been Queen of Gondor and living among mortal men for many blissful and glorious years, despite not yet wishing to die, Aragorn's death means her own. It seems Aragorn was the only thing tying her to Middle Earth, and when he goes, she does not remain in the land she was queen of for so many years, but goes to the ghost forest of Lothlorien, where she had lived with her elven kin, and dies there, alone, her grave unsung and one day to be forgotten.

She is not buried alongside Aragorn, to be remembered as a great queen who ruled alongside a great king (and indeed there's little indication of how much ruling she did, Tolkien wrote that when Aragorn went to war, that Faramir ruled in his place as Steward).

She died dwelling on a memory of the Age of Elves, instead of living on a while longer in the Age of Men.

It's worth noting that while Aragorn did spend time among mortal men, he was also raised by elves, and was as elvish as a mortal man can be. Losing Aragorn was losing that tie for Arwen. And unlike Aragorn, who went out and fought with the Gondorians and the Rohirrim and the Rangers and went to many lands ruled by mortal men, Arwen remained entirely in the lands of the elves, despite intending to become a Queen of Men.

She did not use this time as Aragorn did, seeking out mortal men and learning their ways and learning how to live with them and rule over them.

Galadriel taught Celebrian to bake Lembas bread, and Celebrian taught Arwen, but Arwen did not teach her daughters, and that art was lost.

That Arwen did not pass on this skill might indicate why her children did not give her cause enough to keep on living, they were less elvish than they were mortal, and it was the elves Arwen longed for.

Arwen is an emblem of a bygone age, and when she dies, that age ends too.

Conclusion

Arwen is kind, gracious and wise. She remained loyal and true to Aragorn through many years of waiting, and endured great heartbreak to be with him. She gave Frodo a priceless gift that no doubt spared him much suffering. She and Aragorn also invited Bilbo to their wedding, which we must respect.

Passionate, perhaps? She fell in love with Aragorn swiftly on sight after seeing his kingly qualities, and according to the text, made the decision to die for him there on the spot.

Steadfast. She made the choice quickly, but she never broke it, and did not seem to waver from that choice until Aragorn died, and the full pain of mortality hit her.

She is of a great and noble lineage and is aware of that, and shows both pride in her birth and pridefulness towards mortals. She was good to Men from what we can tell, but she never became fully one of them, and I think her pride must have played some part in that, she would condescend to be a good queen to men, but she would not be as one of them. At the same time, her years as a mortal queen would have been like seconds to her, being thousands of years old, and she perhaps did not expect them to pass as swiftly as they did.

So, Arwen, kind, proud, passionate, naïve and loyal.

[mushroomates]

the fellowship grocery shopping (modern au!):

frodo: has a list which he always loses halfway through shopping. tries to bring his own bags but they’re never enough, or he forgets them in the car and realizes mid checkout. does not like a lot of the name brand foods, goes for the knock offs- partly because he thinks they taste better and partly because he’s rooting for the underdog. (also they’re cheaper which means more money go towards buying treats for the neighborhood cats.) makes an exception for name brand strawberry poptarts, a pippin favorite. keeps his fridge stocked with snacks for his friends.

sam: grows a lot of his own produce and makes an effort to shop local. has his own chickens and a thriving herb garden. he often trades with neighbors-tomatoes for honey, basil for goats milk, etc. once a month he teams up with boromir and goes to costco for insane amounts of flour (he bakes his own bread) and a foot long hotdog. sam refuses to get his own membership.

merry: has a list of things to get that he has worked very hard to compile. this list stays on fridge, and whenever he runs out of something he adds it. this is always sabotaged by pippin who, in a port attempt to mimic merry’s handwriting, adds a copious amount of sweets and things only pippin likes. ends up buying them anyways only to not share with him- will gloat by snacking in front of pippin and not offering any to his cousin.

pippin: does not actually grocery shop. yes, he has food in his house but this is more because he just tags along whenever someone else is going. selectively copies whatever they get into his own basket. has eight jars of peanut butter because he loves peanut butter but does not consume it at the rate he believes he does. also for backup, incase he runs out mid sandwich and needs eight jars of the stuff. loves to ride in the shopping carts when no one’s watching. definitely scooters along isles. loves to hijack boromir’s shopping trips as boromir is the only one who will push him in the cart and give him a lil treat at the end.

gandalf: kind of just. wanders around the store. gets lost in the bakery. buys the most random things, causing the clerks to conspire about what he’s doing with two packs of rubber gloves, a rosterseie chicken, and a tub of mayonnaise. is he a murderer? a professor? a single mother? what is he doing with this stuff?

aragorn: does a lot of trading with neighbors, like sam. likes to accompany arwen on errands and do the little things. she points at an item and he puts it in the basket. he bags at checkout. drives her home. unloads the car and put it away. real quality time and acts of service. yes, arwen is capable of doing these things herself, but he likes to do it for her: hunts so be always has a surplus of jerky, does need to buy more salt then the typical person.

boromir: also hunts. has a thing about using every part of the animal, will eat bone marrow straight out of the femur with a spoon for breakfast. eats a lot of protein. is real big about no food waste and will use everything he can. has his own compost bin and a humble herb garden. likes hosting barbecues for everyone, and makes the burgers and hotdogs from scratch. every other tuesday is grocery day. he goes to costco and buys his things in bulk. he’s the only one in the fellowship with a costco card and everyone loves to take advantage of it.

legolas: mainly just happens upon farmers markets and grabs what appeals to him in the moment. does not have any seasonings or cooking oil as it’s not something that’s ever really occurred to him to buy. will forget he has food in his fridge for weeks and when he finally does it’s gone bad. this, however, does not stop him from eating it. makes a lot of smoothies.

gimli: has a lot of preserved foods and a cupboard dedicated to emergencies. owns a lot of canned beans, fruits and vegetables- anything that will keep well. has a freezer filled with food in his garage with backup stock. is a very good with coupons- pippin likes going with him just to see the total (and the clerks jaw) drop. eats a lot of trail mix and jerky. enjoys fresh fruit when he can but doesn’t like to buy it because it doesn’t last.

gollum: sneaky little man. he hides in the bottom part of the carts meant for heavy items and parties his way across the store with his hands, scooting along tile and grabbing anything with reach, tossing it back up to the cart and continuing on his journey. then he just rolls right out the door. no one can stop him.

[emmathefanficgal]

LOTR and Hobbit characters and cats -

Absurd headcanon

Warning : this is not serious. this was made out of whim, late at night. not editing done. Just for fun. And not all of them are funny anyway. You've been warned! - Feel free to add characters and headcanon. I forgot a few : Haldir, Hama, Theoden, Saruman, Treebeard and so on. I hope you will all have fun and play with this! (OC welcome - thinking of my moots with awesome OC).

Cirdan The cats roam freely in the Grey Haven as if they owned the place. Cirdan find them amusing and charming when he gets to pet them. Of course, what he does not know is that they tolerate him because he’s a great fisherman. And a good back scratcher.

Galadriel While there are not many felines in the Golden Forest, each time she is somewhere where there’s one (or two, or three) the cats are drawn to her and vice-versa. As a matter of fact, the cats consider her to be one of their kind. She does not correct them.

Celeborn There is no cat in Lothlorien. On the other hand, when there are cats, he has to tolerate them for Galadriel’s sake. Although, the truth is that they tolerate him because Galadriel shares her bed with him.

Elrond Rivendell had been free of felines for a while. Then, and he never found out how, they began to suddenly appear all around. Mostly around supper. They’re discreet and great pest hunters which he appreciate for his books sake. Although he would never admit it, he kind of like when they come and sleep in his lap while he sips his tea.

Aragorn learned to admire and respect cats as they can survive pretty much everywhere. As king, admits that cats are useful. But he does not like to share their bed with one of them, even Arwen’s pet. On the other hand, he relishes when the pet come in his lap to nap while he is smoking his pipe.

Arwen Since in Minas Tirith, she has adopted a few. Arwen is terribly jealous of their affection. She does not like when she finds out they nap on Aragorn’s lap, pretexting they smell like smoke. Aragorn only smiles which infuriates her.

Imrahil Cats hunt pests in stable, in kitchen, protect grain. He will tolerates cats. But they belong outside. On the other hand, he is actively ignoring the ginger fur transgression living in Lothiriel’s room. Relieved she left with it.

Lothiriel Positively delighted to realize cats prefer her lap to Arwen’s. Brings her pet with her in Rohan. Finds hilarious that Eomer is taking personally its presence in the bed and is jealous of the poor thing.

Eomer Blasted animals. Should stay in the barn and stable to hunt rats and mouse. Not in a bed. And certainly not between him and his queen when he wants privacy. Eomer is convinced the thing is plotting his demise. Always trying to steal his side of the bed.

Eowyn Cats were great listener when she was young. Once, one of them clawed Grima. She was delighted to see her little hero flee alive. Since in Ithilien, she has begun feeding the strays. She considers a high honor if one of them chooses to nap at her side.

Faramir Admires their independent spirit and intelligence. Consider them like a good blade: useful and dangerous. Will never admit he is a bit afraid of them. But if Eowyn loves them, he will say nothing. He is just relieved she does not bring them in.

Denethor Never could stand the little buggers. Tolerated them when his wife was alive but that was the best he could do. While he recognizes their usefulness he is terribly allergic to them.

Boromir Does not seem to care about the furry things. Until he is home. Where an old stray is waiting for him. Gave him food and a warm place to stay. Melted the first time the old cat came to sleep with him. Will never admit the cat makes him happy.

Gandalf Keeps a safe distance between him and them. They tend to appear out of nowhere and they don’t even have magic. He can’t even buy them with food.

Bilbo Find them amusing when chasing his smoke rings, love to watch them sleep in the sunny spot in the garden. Chase them away when they hunt the butterflies.

Sam Stupid animals. They dig in the garden and poison the flowers. And they don’t even like potatoes.

Frodo Good reading companions. Not very trustworthy with food. Love to climb in trees with him. Really good nap companions.

Pippin Cats are the evilest things after the ringwraiths. Did you see their eyes when they follow you in the night? Did you hear them meow after you in the night? That and their claws…

Merry Fights hard not to laugh each time Pippin speak about cats. Got a few scars out of the whole adventure but well worth it when seeing Pippin’s terrified face.

Thorin There is only one king under the mountain. And it won’t be a cat!

Thranduil He is the only one with the right of being fabulous. And this is HIS throne! Cats are not welcome in his palace.

Gimli Dwarves hate pests. But wild cats roaming unchecked underground? Unacceptable. What do you mean, he has adopted one? Don’t be ridiculous, he only keeps it in his room to hunt the rats that would eat his bed linen!

Legolas Never really got close of cats while in Mirkwood. Can’t understand why people would want to sleep with them when they're doing such noises. What was the great idea for Gimli to call his cat like him anyway?

[balrogballs]

No hate, but do you ever think about what the Professor would think of your username?

Believe me when I say that in a universe where I, across my 5 months on this hellsite, am personally responsible for:

Elrond’s egg-timed breakfast blowjobs

Elladan wanting to stick Silmarils up his asshole so Maedhros could go hunting for them there

JRR Tolkien said that elves don’t shit + other fake citations

“Salaam, dogfucker” - Comrade Maedhros

Fëanor has a tail

Sauron is canonically constipated

mashallah sister arwen

Celebrían swallows eggs whole like a snake

“does this mean that during the Ring Quest, Mithrandir had to shit in the woods like a newly awakened bear in springtime?”

my username on Tumblr dot com is the very last item in the veritable graveyard of bones JRRT has to pick with Zara Balls

[live-laugh-legolas]

hi!! may I ask for some headcanons of the members of the Fellowship dealing with a puppy? or any pet, that is, whoever you think suits each of them :3

Omg so cute!!

The fellowship with a puppy

Aragorn:

-He probably found this puppy in a box in a town he was passing through

-He had no intention of getting a dog, but it was raining and he couldn’t leave this sweet thing out in the cold

-He’s really good with animals so he knows how to care for it

-Honestly I think he is good at not allowing himself to get attached, but puppies don’t have that skill

-The puppy adopts herself

-Seriously she won’t stop following him and cries when he tries to give her away

-And well, he’s a bit of a pushover sometimes

-Maybe Arwen would like her? Yeah, it will be a gift for Arwen

-He won’t want to take the puppy with him wherever because he doesn’t want her to get hurt

-Talks to the puppy like a person

Legolas:

-Ok this is kinda a story sort of thing, but he found a mom and her babies

-The mom isn’t doing well, so he promises to her that he will take care of her babies

-Does he know how, no, but he will die before he lets these puppies come to harm

-He has a quiet funeral for the mom and he takes the pups home

-His father is not impressed

-He finds homes for all but one

-Well he found a home for it, but it’s with him

-He fell in love with going out on runs with him and definitely goes hunting with him

-He lets his dog kinda roam wherever, kinda like a barn cat

Gimli:

-He was planning to get a dog

-A big fierce one to stand by his side

-But when he goes to the shelter he falls in love with a little guy

-I’m talking a tiny little yorkie

-He dresses her in the finest bows and gold incrusted collar

-Would kill for her

-I just love seeing big tough guys with their little dogs in bows

Boromir:

-He was looking to get a dog as a gift for Faramir

-He thought it might cheer his brother up to have a furry friend to take on patrols

-But he becomes attached to the puppy and refuses to give him up

-He says he is for both of them, but Faramir knows better

-He absolutely baby talks his puppy

-“He doesn’t understand I’m talking to him unless I speak to him like this”

Frodo:

-I think he would agree to foster a puppy to help someone out

-He takes very good care of it and trains it well

-He has every intention that he will adopt it out, but once someone says they are interested he realizes he can’t part with it

-I think he finds a lot of peace with the routine that comes with caring for a puppy

-Although I honestly see him as the type to have more unique pets like some sort of lizard

Sam:

-He didn’t really want a dog

-Rosie brought one home for their kids

-But it ends up being the situation where the dad doesn’t want the dog but then they become best friends

-The puppy tries to eat his flowers, and Sam tries to get it to pull weeds instead

-I imagine he would end up with a really lazy dog once it grows out of the puppy phase that just chills with him while he gardens

Merry:

-He literally squeals

-He’s such an animal lover

-How could something be so cute

-Absolutely the type to never shut up about his puppy (me too tho)

-Trains it to do tricks, possibly to steal…

-Would have an instagram for his dog in modern day

-Also side note, I think he would be the type to have birds, like parrots and such

Pippin:

-He just picked up a stray puppy once and was like “uhm you’re coming home with me”

-Dresses him up and takes him on lots of walks

-He doesn’t understand why everyone is scared of his little puppy

-He doesn’t realize until the puppy just keeps getting bigger that this is not a dog

-It’s a wolf

-But it’s his wolf and he loves him and he is his baby

PS: I mention giving puppies as gifts, but in general this isn’t something you should do unless it has been discussed prior :)

[spinningalbinoturtle]

Lotr characters and their dogs (and other pets)

Frodo

Canonically not a dog person but also just has cat person vibes

He has two cats one of them is a chubby gray kitty named Luthien and she is incredibly spoiled. A birthday present from Bilbo

His other cat is a stray who hates everyone but Frodo- its super scrangly and Sam calls it Gollum and it stuck

After the Quest Frodo gets a little beagle service dog that helps him with PTSD and other medical stuff

Sam

Pre Quest had an old basset hound named Fingon. His dad said they didn’t have room for it but Sam insisted on feeding it and when he moved in with Frodo it came along.

Post quest he has a border collie named Ellie (short for Galadriel) who helps him replant the shire

He also keeps chickens at Bag End and spoils them a bit. They are just for eggs

Also has a little dairy cow for fresh milk. Her name is Bell after his mom

Merry

The Brandybucks have a pack of mastiffs and they love Merry. Frodo is terrified of them

They also have several feral maine coones that lounge around their manor and also love Merry but hate everyone else

Has a full size horse post quest which he is very proud of and scares the other hobbits. Its name is Theoden

Pippin

Lets be honest with ourselves Pippin has a lab who has the exact same personality as him and they go everywhere together. Its name is something really basic like Buddy

He also keeps turtles and has a whole menagerie for them. They’re all named after different foods

Aragorn

Aragorn has a husky/malamute that he found on his travels north. He howls back and forth with it and is convinced he can understand it. When he becomes king it sits at the foot of his throne and occasionally will randomly howl in the middle of a meeting.

Horse girl all the way. Brego is his bestie. Man takes excellent care of his horse and buys all kinds of extraneous shit for it.

Boromir

Denethor has a pack of vicious looking dogs but Boromir has a Dalmatian that loves him so much

Faramir adopts it for a while after Boromir dies but Faramir is much more of a cat person, so ultimately its adopted by Aragorn and becomes mates with his husky. The puppies go to his and Arwens kids

Legolas

This could go one of two ways-either he has a super graceful hunting dog like a greyhound or whippet or he has a little pomeranian he dresses up and treats like a baby

He has tried to domesticate the spiders with little success maybe because he’s also killed a lot of them

Gimli

Gimli is a terrier person. He has a little Scottish terrier who sits on his lap all the time when he’s working. Gimli made it a little sweater and it hates Legolas (its jealous of Legolas stealing Gimli’s attention).

He also keeps canaries and they are very well cared for and all have names and he’s the only one who can tell them apart

Eowyn

Has a massive Rottweiler who is super intimidating to everyone except Eowyn. It has bitten Grima multiple times. Around Eowyn it acts like a little puppy.

She also loves her horse as all Rohirrim do.

I could also see her as raising ferrets or chinchilas as well

Faramir

Firmly a cat person

Doesn’t mind dogs but vastly prefers cats

Has six of them and they’re all rescues. Their names are : Mithrandir, Radagast, Varda, Melian, Beren, and Pippin.

Eowyn indulges her crazy cat husband even when their house is overrun with kittens

Arwen

Also firmly a cat person

She’s fine Aragorn’s dog but that’s just cause its well trained

Usually just has one or two cats at a time. They’re a special breed from Lothlorien and they’re really beautiful. They like to sit on her lap and purr. They’re also vicious mousers.

Eomer

Has a big great dane who hangs out in Edoras. Its super sweet and dorky. Everyone loves it.

[edges-of-night]

Hi hi💕 I was wondering if you could do how the characters would react to having a vampire partner? Like how they handle reader needing blood and unable to be in sunlight

Also I love your work so much💕

Thank you for your kind words ♡ This is such an interesting and spooky idea haha! I went with a classic vampire who’s still somewhat pre-Christianity, if that makes sense. I hope you enjoy your post!

CW: bloodsucking

･ﾟ✧ Aragorn.

Aragorn would treat you with the same respect he extends to any creature. He knows and appreciates your physical strength and special powers. Being a ranger, he’d have no trouble finding a gorgeous little cave for the two of you to stay in to avoid the sunlight. He would either help you hunt animals for blood or offer his own, depending on your preference. One thing is for certain: you won’t lack anything with someone as considerate as Aragorn.

･ﾟ✧ Arwen.

Arwen had read about vampiristic creatures in her books before and is brimming with excitement when you tell her your secret – previously, you’ve only visited her on her balcony at night. From now on, you’d share beautiful nights under the moonlight and playful games with your fangs. Arwen would also play games with you that include counting, to ease your thoughts toward that compulsion. You’d slip into a romantic relationship very easily.

･ﾟ✧ Boromir.

Boromir has great respect for your powers – sometimes, he is even a bit afraid of the things you can do. Though he is wary of monsters and struggles to understand your specific needs at first, your vampiristic nature would grow on him so much that he’d eventually ask you to turn him – sharing an immortal life with you is just too tempting. He’d also tease you with garlic, in a very playful way.

･ﾟ✧ Elrond.

Elrond is a man of rules and habits – and even having an untamable vampire as a partner doesn’t change that. When he learns of your vulnerability against sunlight, he reschedules his days to spend time with you by night instead. He also creates a bloodsucking routine for the two of you. Letting you drink from his neck or wrist is no big issue for him due to his healing powers. He always makes sure you feed on time and hides the bite marks with his long clothes.

･ﾟ✧ Éomer.

Éomer is very wary around you at first. However, your striking beauty, elegant demeanour and immense powers soon bewitch him. You two could communicate without a single word, as he’d read every wish straight from your eyes. He will steal you away for nightly horseback rides where the two of you can truly be free from everybody else’s expectations.

･ﾟ✧ Éowyn.

Éowyn strikes me as a person who would, upon first encountering a vampire, try to fight them. I feel like she would have an ‘enemies to lovers’ kind of thing with a vampire partner: learning of your incredible powers, helping you get through hard times, and eventually bonding over your similarities. Éowyn develops great empathy for your ‘monstrosity’ and that both of you simply want to live freely. Together, you can do just that!

･ﾟ✧ Faramir.

Faramir worships you no matter what – he is a stronghold for your self-esteem in a world that deems you monstrous. He is very weak for your fangs and practically begs you to drink his blood instead of settling for that of an animal, even if that poses no problem for you at all. He adores learning some of your vampiric magic and spells. He considers meeting you his greatest luck and would surely ask you to turn him eventually!

･ﾟ✧ Frodo.

Frodo would be extraordinarily mischievous when it comes to his vampire partner. He’d adore to plan pranks with you to scare unsuspecting Hobbits (and Merry and Pippin, too!), baring your fangs at them with a snarl and raised claws – and he’d also find your bloodlust amusing. With him, there is never any shortage of animal blood. And on special nights, he’ll let you drink some of him ♡

･ﾟ✧ Galadriel.

Galadriel would instantly bond over how similar you are in your demeanour, humour, and language. She is delighted to find her telepathy even more powerful when used with an immortal. By day, she’d have her best quarters ready for you, and by night, you two could hardly be seen separate. With the help of her magic mirror, you would finally be able to see your reflection again, which makes her very happy. She also has a huge weakness for your claws!

･ﾟ✧ Gandalf.

Gandalf doesn’t believe you at first when you tell him you’re a vampire. You’re his sweetheart – surely he would’ve noticed something so fundamental about you! He hasn’t, because he was so enamoured. So in the days after that, he’ll try and use several (mostly harmless) spells to ‘test’ that statement. He of course finds you were being truthful and is overjoyed – a magical creature, from before this age – he’d be incredibly happy to have an immortal being just like himself!

･ﾟ✧ Gimli.

As a vampire, life in a Dwarven mountain city or a dark mine would suit you very well – no sunlight, no disrespectful outsiders, just you and Gimli living your best lives. He is very smitten with your regal beauty and mysterious demeanour. Gimli also clearly wins the award for ‘best vampire meet-cute’ when he accidentally digs into your cave: “Oh! Blasted bats! Argh – what? Are you…? Oh, just a cave of bats, lads! Nothing to see here!”

･ﾟ✧ Haldir.

Though he tries not to let it show, Haldir is immensely fascinated with your vampirism. He grants you shelter in the shadowy forests of Lórien and turns a blind eye to you sucking the blood of its animals. He connects to you on a deep level, relating to your outsider status in normal society. You bond over your perceived differences. Haldir also cherishes that you are both ageless and can be together forever, should you desire so!

･ﾟ✧ Legolas.

With his Elven healing powers, Legolas is very adamant about you sucking his blood. No second-class animal blood on his watch – only the best for you! He cherishes you very much and enjoys the intimacy bloodsucking provides, be it chaste and cuddly or exciting and spicy. But I think, as much as he loves your vampiristic qualities, he would not share your true identity with anyone – for that, you are far too special to him ♡

･ﾟ✧ Merry.

Though he is initially a bit careful around you, Merry is very enthusiastic about being your partner. He even is proud to have such a peculiar significant other – so much so that he brags about you being a “gorgeous, mysterious night predator”! He definitely has a thing for your white fangs and bat wings.

･ﾟ✧ Pippin.

Once Pippin finds out about you being a vampire, he cannot and will not shut up about you turning into a bat. Watching you transform and fly through the night sky is his biggest joy. In a quiet moment, he’d tell you how much he’d love to fly, too. He’d have absolutely no problem being turned into a vampire himself, though he isn’t blind to the disadvantages that come with it.

･ﾟ✧ Sam.

After his initial time of adjusting to your special needs, Sam would definitely win an award for being the best boyfriend to a vampire – he’d substitute garlic in his cooking, builds you a giant parasol (so that you can still partake in Hobbiton’s social life), and helps you getting ready before you despair about not being able to see yourself in the mirror. He’s incredibly considerate and always makes sure you’re comfortable!

[the-quiet-fire-of-defiance]

Melian and her Descendants as Native Aotearoa Birds

For day 4 @tolkienofcolourweek

A detailed image description is at the bottom of this post but I've listed the characters and their matching birds below.

Melian: hūia. A sacred bird, often considered to be one of the most beautiful birds in Aotearoa. Their feathers were traditionally only worn by people of high status.

Hūia were forest songbirds who paired for life and were utterly devoted to their partners. The pairs would fly and hunt together, caressing each other with their bills, singing duets back and forth. Often when a hūia died, its partner would die of grief a few days later (typically due to failing to eat or drink).

There was a sharp decline in the numbers of hūia after the arrival of European settlers in the 1840s. By the early 20th century, they had disappeared from our forests forever.

Lúthien: tūī. The most talented of our songbirds, a stunningly beautiful creature with iridescent blue-black feathers. Their double voicebox allows them to mimic almost any sound, including human speech. They often sing all day long.

Tūī are messengers to the gods. In Māori culture we might compliment a singer by saying that they have korokoro tūī, the throat of a tūī.

Also I'm feral about this quote:

Farmer and ornithologist Herbert Guthrie-Smith, writing in the early 20th century, observed of a female tui singing on the nest (tui are the only bird in the world to sing on the nest): “We were close to her, yet she sang as if her song could have no ending, as if the world was too full of the ecstasy of life for wrong and rapine to exist. The sun was shining above the flowing river, the leaves green, of every shape and shade; her great love had cast out fear.”

(Source)

Díor: kōtare, aka the sacred kingfisher. (Yes, okay, this is partially a joke about Dior being a sacred king.) Although kōtare are native to Aotearoa, they're also found in other countries. Most Eastern Polynesian cultures, including many Māori iwi, believe that kōtare have power over the ocean and waves.

Kōtare can sit motionless for hours while waiting for their prey, watching with perfect stillness. For this reason, a person who is alertly watching for enemies is sometimes compared to a kōtare.

Elured and Elurin: tara iti, aka fairy terns.

For Māori, terns in general are associated with people of high status. Tara iti are the smallest species of tern in Aotearoa, weighing in at about 70 grams (or 2.5 ounces). They're also our rarest breeding bird. Sadly, there are only about 40 individuals left.

Elwing: kōtuku - I expanded on this in another post

Elrond and Elros: North Island kōkako and South Island kōkako (respectively). Kōkako are blue-grey songbirds who often have a similar call to tūī, although with a slightly less extensive range of sounds. They love to sing duets; in fact, they sing the longest known duets of any bird in the world.

The North Island and South Island kōkakō are closely related but distinct sub-species. Although the North Island kōkako has been the subject of a successful conservation campaign, the South Island kōkako is considered possibly extinct. (The last two reliable sightings were in 2007 and 1967.) However, some people who walk the remote tracks of the South Island swear they've heard its song.

Elladan and Elrohir: tīeke, aka the North and South Island saddlebacks. The two species are very difficult to tell apart for all but the most trained eyes. They're close relatives of kōkako and hūia.

Tīeke are notoriously fearless. In Māori culture, they're guardians and guides.

Arwen: Chatham Islands tūī. While these birds look extremely alike to mainland tūī, they sing a very different song.

(Since this bird is from the Chatham Islands, the Arwen faceclaim is a Moriori woman. Moriori are the indigenous people of the Chathams.)

Image description below cut due to length.

A series of paired images. Each pair has one bird and one faceclaim. All of the faceclaims, except for Arwen, are Māori.

1: Hūia and Melian. The hūia is a black bird with an orange wattle, long curved beak, and white at the end of its tail feathers. Melian is a dignified woman with light brown skin, brown hair, and a traditional chin tattoo. She wears traditional clothing and a pounamu (greenstone) ornament around her neck.

2: tūī and Luthien. The tūī is in flight. The light has caught its wings and tail feathers, making them look a vivid blue. Luthien is a light-skinned (but distinctly Māori) woman with long dark hair. She wears a black dress and a pounamu necklace.

3: a kōtare and Dior. The kōtare is a blue/black bird with a white neck and underside. It's in flight, carrying something in its mouth. Dior has dark brown skin and facial tattoos that mark him as someone of high rank. He wears a carved bone ornament in his hair, a pounamu necklace, and a traditional feather cloak.

4: tara iti and Elured and Elurin. The tara iti is visible from behind, its white wings spread, either landing or taking off. Elured and Elurin are infants swaddled in blankets side by side.

5: Kōtuku and Elwing. The kōtuku is a gorgeous white bird with a long neck and stilt-like legs. This one standing on a tuft of grass surrounded by water, looking down at its reflection. Elwing is a light-skinned, dark haired pregnant woman wearing a white cloak and cradling her stomach.

6: North Island kōkako (kōkako o Te Ika a Māui) and Elrond. The kōkako is a blue-grey bird with a black beak and blue wattle. The Elromd faceclaim is Alex Aiono (Ngati Porou, Samoa), a man with light brown skin and dark curly hair. In this photo he's shirtless, holding a flower and facing the righthand side of the image.

7: South Island kōkako (kōkako o Te Waipounamu) and Elros. The kōkako looks very similar to the bird above except for its orange wattle. The Elros faceclaim is also Alex Aiono, but in this image he's standing on a beach in front of the sea, smiling.

8: North Island saddleback (tīeke o Te Ika a Māui) and Elladan. The tīeke is a medium sized bird with a red wattle and mixed black/red-orange plumage. My Elladan faceclaim is Jordi Webber (Te Atiawa, Ngāti Toa, Te Arawa, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Maniapoto). He's a young man with pale brown skin, wavy black hair, and grey eyes.

9: South Island saddleback (tīeke o Te Waipounamu) and Elrohir. He is also represented by Jordi Webber.

10: Chatham Islands tūī (tūī o Rēkohu) and Arwen. This tūī is sitting on a flax plant, but it looks very similar to the tūī photo from earlier. It has blue-black plumage, a white tuft at its throat and orange pollen on its head. The Arwen faceclaim is a smiling Moriori woman in front of trees. She has long brown hair, light brown skin and a white dress.]

[syrenki]

lilac— is there anyone you currently miss right now? if so, who?

crocus— do you have any significant dreams that you remember? what were they about?

tulip— do you wear makeup? if so, how do you like to wear/style it?

marigold— do you wear any kind of jewelry on a regular basis? if so, what kind?

cherry blossom— how do you feel about perfume or cologne? do you personally wear it or do you prefer not to?

sunflower— in your opinion, what is the best photo on your phone of? (serious or non-serious answers)

that's so many, thank you endlessly!!!<3 and my responses are so lengthy, forgive me, i like to rant, you don't have to read through everything

lilac - i have a strange relationship with missing. i spend so much time thinking about people that i forget we haven't been in touch for years or even that our last conversation ended coldly, though i try to avoid that. it's like i'm always looking at the world from a very distant future where nothing earthly matters anymore and our moments fall around us like snow instead of in a line that only goes in one direction. this sounds mystical, what i'm trying to say is if someone exists, i mean truly exists in my mind, then as soon as i take a dip in it they will always be there holding my hand. and they don't get to escape that. so either i don't miss or i've just grown so used to the feeling that i forgot there even is another way to feel and this doesn't register as missing anymore, the way hunger works. but yes, yes, it gets hard some nights and i wish they were actually there, so most prominently i miss my best friend of around 15 years and a uni friend i grew ridiculously close to over just 2. i don't have the strength to reach out to either right now.

crocus - so many!!! so trigger warning for a lot of graphic stuff here. recently i dreamed of my mother hunting me like an animal, before, it was something about singing, i think i was with my professor and i couldn't make a sound despite knowing my exam repertoire very well, i think they expelled me from school or something. oh, and also recent, murdering a bunch of people with a chainsaw and then having the same chainsaw pushed into the base of my skull through the mouth. and about mouths - i dreamt i had to hide a razor blade from my mother, but didn't know where, so i quickly stashed it in my mouth, but then i realized there were hundreds of them in there and if i made the slightest move or if my throat constricted in an effort to swallow, i would be dead. some time ago, i dreamt of that close friend of two years yelling at me about how he's angry about everything but his face was covered in deep slashes, another time i dreamt it was midwinter and another distant uni friend asked me whether i'd like a dead body, of course i agreed, but then i didn't know what to do with it and had to hide it around from my family. it was emaciated and headless. my first dreams were of chimps with empty eye sockets staring at me from some tombstones and also of being buried alive, that last one over and over again. christ i do have a lot of nightmares, don't i? but i kissed somebody in a dream recently, not to worry.

tulip - yes! i usually like to do a very glowy look with not much contour, i avoid blush like the plague, but use a lot of very glacial highlighter, it goes on the eyes and on the cheekbones and under the eyes on the eyebag which i don't put any foundation on because i like the worn out just-cried look. and i don't like to elongate the eyes but i like to enlarge and open them so white eye pencil in the waterline and clumpy and long eyelashes with little volume. also aegyosal. high arch rather thin eyebrows, lips that are a little overlined in the center but the outer corners are erased for a baby doll vibe with a nivea blackberry shine/clinique black honey kind of shade. all this for an arwen lotr / porcelain doll kind of look with not one single warm hue to find.

marigold - i'm so particular about jewellery, i cannot leave the house until it's in place, even if my outfit sucks and i have no makeup on. usually i wear a simple silver and pearl set (i'm 100% a silver girl) orrr a zircon set, but very classic, timeless, everything has to match. there's gotta be a ring on each hand, a smaller one on the hand that gets the bracelet, this depends on whether i'll be playing the piano or handwriting a lot that day. now that i'm writing this, it sounds like Exhibiting Obsessive Symptoms, jesus.

cherry blossom - PERFUME i love perfume<3 i could trade all the fashion of the world for perfume, smell is my second favourite sense. i wear it 24/7 depending on my mood and my idea of what the coming day should feel like, my daily signature is a milky water lily perfume with some rotten plums on top, it's all very abandoned murky pond, kind of like married in mount airy by nicole dollanganger, and there's also some softness at the base from the musk, coconut and the slightest bit of vanilla, but not enough to overpower the water lily. for the nights when i feel like a real person, it's angel by mugler. but also so so many others that i pick and choose from freely. this also depends on how i want the person i meet to see me.

sunflower - but the thing is, i can't look at them for too long because i start tearing up knowing i fucked up and i'll most likely never have this again

and then there are also some like these, that i cradle close to my heart for no good reason

anyway oh my dear god that was so much. i apologize but again, thank you so much for asking and for letting me ramble for so long. kisses

[emofairyprincessofarkansas]

OTP March Madness: Pairing #7

We are approaching the end of March, but we're gonna keep going! Time for round 7.

*Please keep in mind while voting that these couples are based on books that I have personally read and these match-ups are random. I am not comparing the couples in any way.

[anya-royce]

A Song Of Golden Fire And Black Blood: Favourite Room Challenge - Anya

The benches in the Red Keep's godswood were always quite grimy, forgotten just beyond the tree line and claimed by moss, mouldering leaves and dirt. Anya always wiped them thoroughly before sitting down, missing the well-kept seating back at Runestone.

Back at home, prayers were said regularly, Ryella calling her children insistently to the godswood at the hour of prayer, becoming irritable if they were late (or out hunting, as Alester and Arwen often were). Even after prayers were over, Anya had liked to linger, trailing a hand over the textured stone of the benches, watching the ribbons flutter on the tree branches.

No ribbons fluttered here, there was only the rustle of the leaves and the sighing creak of the branches.

However, the Red Keep's benches had one advantage over Runestone's; they were hidden, out of sight. As such, Anya had heard and seen a lot, while lingering after prayers. She would take it all to her grave of course, prayers were sacred and to share them without the person's permission was a terrible breech of trust. And yet, Anya still liked listening to them, just as she liked listening to the birds when they were around. They were funny little things, very shy but oh so adorable as they hopped and fluttered around, singing all the while.

The little stone borders where grass gave way to earth were nice as well. The boundary was already visible, but someone thinking to mark it anyway was very… Very human of them.

Yes, Anya did like the Red Keep's godswood. It was, quite possibly one of her favourite places in the castle, and she would miss it when she left, she decided.

[lordgrimwing]

First Meetings #08 / At The Park #02

Heavy clouds hung over the park as Celebrían parked the minivan in the dirt lot dotted with a handful of other vehicles. The clouds rolled in about an hour ago, contrary to the very optimistic weather report that morning of sunny skies and highs in the low eighties. Despite the threat of rain, Elladan and Elrohir insisted they still wanted to go to a park, so here they were: picnic basket packed and dressed for a potentially wet adventure. 

(sixteen-year-old Arwen declined the invitation to the soggy outing, citing hanging out with friends later as a reason to not risk getting muddied)

“Here we are,” she said to the twins as she turned off the van.

“Woohoo,” Elladan cheered as they undid their seatbelts and scrambled out of the vehicle. 

Oh, for the enthusiasm of ten-year-olds, Celebrían thought with a shake of her head. She got out of the car, retrieved the picnic basket, and headed for the covered pavilion. The boys could run off some energy in the field or on the playset before lunch and before the rain started, with any luck. She’d reassess the situation after eating to see if they should head home yet. 

The park was nearly deserted, not surprising with the gloomy weather. The only other person she could see was a guy with long pale hair sitting on a bench near the hill that went down to the duck pond. She picked a table under the empty pavilion and sat down. Reaching into the basket, she retrieved her computer. She would put it away when the rain started, but until then she wanted to review the family’s budgets. The kids teamed up earlier in the week to ask their parents to please let them go on a fun trip before school started again. Elrond and she were currently in the phase of discussing what was feasible, both financially and logistically.  

The wind picked up slowly, prompting her to zip up the light coat she brought with her. Looking up, she saw the twins on the swings, seeing who could go the highest. 

The first fat drops of rain plunked against the aluminum roof as she finished and put the computer away. The wind blew the drops sideways as they fell, but her spot in the middle of the covered area wasn’t at risk of getting wet provided the wind didn’t get much fiercer. Looking up again, she didn’t see the twins (they probably went down to the duck pond), but the guy reading on the bench was walking toward the pavilion, shoulders hunched against the elements, book tucked under one arm. 

“Hello,” she said with a polite smile as the elf (she hadn’t been sure before but she was now) settled at the other table that wasn’t starting to accumulate little puddles on the bench.

“Hi. I suppose the brown-haired boys are yours,” he said, voice lightly accented.

“Yes,” she said, unsure where this was going. Conversations with strangers at parks were usually about mundane things, but sometimes someone (usually an elf) had opinions about her family based on her children’s ears. This guy, with so much hair he must spend at least half an hour on it every morning, looked like he might be one of those who wanted to air their narrow view on interracial marriage. 

He continued, oblivious to her thoughts. “They’ve joined my kid hunting for frogs in the pond. If he has his way, they won’t be back until they're soaked, but maybe yours will be a moderating influence.” He laughed a little to himself.

“They don’t mind the rain,” she said, relaxing. “Lunch is waiting, though, so that might sway them.”

“Ah, stratagem.” He set the book on the table, giving up any pretenses of going back to reading rather than talking. He pivoted on the bench to look at her better. She noticed opaque scarring in his left eye. It was a little surprising but she didn’t stare. “Should never go on an outing with kids without a way to entice them to come back when it’s time to go.”

“I guess so.” She suddenly imagined making a snack trail back to the car like some kind of fairytale. 

There was a pause in the conversation as she brushed the ridiculous thought aside and he looked out through the rain toward the hidden pond.

When her thoughts were mostly called back from their fanciful trip, she asked, “Where in Doriath are you from?”

He looked at her, mild surprise showing on his face. 

Oh, was she wrong? She’d spent enough time in the country while growing up that she was fairly confident in her ability to recognize the regional accents, even if she couldn’t quite place where each was from anymore. But maybe she was wrong this time. She opened her mouth to apologize for assuming—it wasn’t any of her business, anyway.

“Most people don’t guess with that much confidence,” he said mildly.

“My father’s from Menegroth. I spent a lot of time there on and off when I was young,” she explained, hoping he wasn’t offended by her assumption. She really shouldn’t have phrased it like that or asked at all really. Growing up, she’d moved to so many different countries to follow her mother’s career that she was inured to asking and answering questions about where people were from. It wasn’t like that for everyone, of course—her experience was a bit unique. 

“Sorry, I should have at least introduced myself before asking that,” she said as the rain began pelting down harder. “Hi, I’m Celebrían.”

“Hello, Celebrían.” He pronounced her name in the same way as her father did. “I’m Thranduil. It’s nice to meet you.”

“It’s nice to meet you, too.”

“How familiar are you with the country outside the capital?” He asked, apparently willing to go back to her original question.

“A bit. I spent a summer in Nan Elmoth.”

He contemplated her for a moment. “I lived in West Region. More recently, I’m from a few miles south of here.”

She’d been to East Region once to see the eponymous holly trees blanketed in snow (Celeborn later said he never would have forgiven himself if she’d missed out on the classic Doriadhrim childhood experience of hiding in the natural snow forts formed under the trees’ low branches), but the holly was probably what the region was best known for outside of Doriath so she wasn’t going to blurt that out.

“Oh, nice,” she said instead. “I think I have a great-aunt who lives there.” Then, because he’d pointed the conversation to where he was currently from, “it was a bit of a drive out here for me, but the boys wanted to come here again.”

“It’s a nice park,” Thranduil agreed. “There’s a trail, about a mile long, from here to an artificial wetland full of frogs and bugs. Legolas is a fan.”

Legolas must be his son. “Thanks, that’s nice to know. I had no idea.” That could come in handy when it came time for the twins to make bug collections for school.

Just then, a blond head peaked over the hill from the duck pond. A small boy came into view, soaking wet, with mud plastered to his shoes and bare shins and what looked like pond weed in his hair. Elladan and Elrohir came just behind him, windbreakers zipped and hoods up against the rain. They were also wet but clearly from the rain and not from playing in the muck of the shallow pond.

“Legolas,” Thranduil called to the little boy, who couldn’t have been much older than seven or eight. Despite his youth, he had long hair like his father (though more wavy than straight) that would take a considerable amount of time to get clean again. “Where’s your backpack?”

His hands came up as he spoke, and Celebrían realized he was signing. Was his child deaf?

Legolas pointed a muddy finger at Elrohir, who did have the strap of a red backpack flung over one shoulder. His hand then came up to wiggle in front of his face.

Thranduil snorted. “No, you’re silly,” he said, repeating the sign.

Celebrían stood up and unpacked the picnic basket as the three children arrived at the pavilion. They’d made lunch meat and cabbage sandwiches before leaving, Arwen pitching in too lest her brothers create some horrid combination (and so she could eat the pickle slices). There were carrots and apple slices, too.

“How was the pond?” She asked as Elladan and Elrohir plopped down on the bench.

“Super fun,” Elrohir reported. “We saw a lot of frogs and minnows.”

Elladan nodded in vigorous agreement as he bit into a sandwich. “Legolas knows all kinds of stuff about frogs. Don’t you?” He said through a mouthful of bread, good-naturedly nudging Legolas (who’d sat down between the twins instead of going over to his dad) with an elbow.

“Frogs,” the little elf murmured, his hands coming up to form more signs.  

“Frogs are his favorite,” Thranduil said, scooting to the end of his table so he could see his son better. He watched his hands move. “He likes the sounds they make and how they swim.”

“Did you catch any?” Celebrían asked. 

Her sons shook their heads, mouths full. Legolas’s eyes widened and then he shook his head vigorously and looked at his dad.

Smiling, Thranduil said, “We don’t touch frogs. We could make them sick or hurt them if we aren’t careful.”

A little bemused, she unwrapped her own sandwich as Legolas waved Elladan and Elrohir down to his level to whisper in their ears. The rest of lunch continued in a similar manner, part in signs and part in whispered conversations. She offered food to Thranduil—who politely declined—and Legolas—who shook his head and dug around in his flimsy backpack to retrieve a battered peanut butter sandwich.

The rain let up while they ate and talked, the sun suddenly peeking out bravely from behind the clouds. Thrilled, Elladan and Elrohir cleaned up their trash so they could go play again. Legolas jumped up to join them.

“Wait,” Thranduil said, snagging a dangling strap on the backpack that his son had put back on after eating his lunch so he couldn’t run away. “It’s about time to go.”

The child’s face fell. He raised his hands. Celebrían tried not to stare at the signing, but it was interesting to see how expressive the boy’s face was. He was plainly asking a question, even when there was no tone of voice to listen to.

“We can go now or stay ten more minutes, but if we stay then we won’t have time for the library today. Which do you want?”

Staying won out, and Legolas ran off after the twins who’d stopped halfway to the playground when they realized he wasn’t following them.

 Celebrían watch them go together to play. “Well,” she said, starting to put away the leftovers. “Your son is sweet.”

“He has his moments.” Thranduil’s tone suggested ‘moments’ meant ‘every moment of the day’. “What are your boys’ names, again?”

She’d said their names during lunch but wasn’t surprised he hadn’t caught which was which. “The one in the blue coat is Elladan. The one in green is Elrohir.”

“Elladan and Elrohir. Legolas likes them,” he said with a contemplative expression. “He doesn’t normally use his voice this much, especially with strangers.” 

She didn’t say anything to that. During lunch, she realized the child wasn’t deaf, but she felt like she’d risked putting her foot in her mouth enough today so she didn’t ask about it. She was curious, but that didn’t give her leave to ask personal questions. Elrond got so frustrated when strangers kept asking questions about his parents because he was visibly mixed-race. Even if questions were asked innocently, it wasn’t anyone’s responsibility to explain their existence. 

The ten-minute limit drew close.

Thranduil pulled a notebook and pen out of his pants pocket. He tore out a page and wrote a series of numbers down before offering it to her. “This is my cell number,” he explained. “I think Legs would really like to play with your kids again.”

She took the paper and slipped it into her coat pocket. “Sounds possible. I’m always looking for excuses to get them outside.”

He stood and dusted off his pants. “Right. I’d better go, or we will end up being late. I look forward to hearing from you, Celebrían.”

“Have a good day,” she said by way of good-bye as he picked up his book and headed for the playset where the kids were racing up and down the slides. 

She would talk to Elladan and Elrohir on the drive home and find out how they felt about setting up a time to play with Legolas again.

[edgessunflower]

Welcome to our prompt list! @romanthereigns 🫶🏻

⚠️ Give us credits if you use any prompts! ⚠️

✧ “Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies”- Andy Dufresne, Shawshank Redemption

✧ "You'll have bad times, but that'll wake you up to the good stuff you weren't paying attention to" - Sean Maguire, Good Will Hunting

✧ “I’ve just had the best summer of my life and now I have to go away, it isn’t fair” – Sandy, Grease

✧ "They say when you meet the love of your life, time stops, and that's true. What they don't tell you is that when it starts again, it moves extra fast to catch up" - Edward Bloom, Big Fish

✧ “So it’s not gonna be easy, it’s gonna be really hard. We’re gonna have to work at this every day, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever, you and me everyday” - Noah, The Notebook

✧ "We accept the love we think we deserve" - Mr Anderson, Perks of being a wallflower

✧ “And sometimes you love a person just because they feel like home” - Bridget Jones, Bridget Jones��� Diary

✧ "Something better than you? there isn't anything better than you" - Forney Hull, Where the heart is

✧ “I vow to love you, and no matter what challenges might carry us apart, we will always find a way back to each other”-Leo, The Vow

✧ "I love you, I've always loved you" - Jenna Rink, 13 going on 30

✧ “But mostly I hate the way I don't hate you, not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all”- Kat Stratford, 10 Things I Hate About You

✧ "You were born into a family that doesn't always appreciate you, but one day things are gonna be very different" - Miss Honey, Matilda

✧ “I want to wake up with you beside me in the mornings, I want to spend my evenings looking at you across the dinner table, I want to share every mundane detail of my day with you and hear every detail of yours, I want to laugh with you and fall asleep with you in my arms”- Dawson Cole, The Best Of Me

✧ "I would rather share one lifetime with you than face all the ages of this world alone" - Arwen, Lord of the rings

✧ “You know the smallest thing can change a life. In the blink of an eye, something happens by chance-and when you least expect it-since we’re on a course that you could have never planned, into a future you never imagined”- Logan Thibault, The Lucky One

✧ "We get to choose who we let into our weird little worlds" - Sean Maguire, Good Will Hunting

✧ “Since the invention of the kiss, there have only been 5 kisses that were rated the most passionate-the most pure. This one left them all behind”- William Goldman, The Princess Bride

✧ "You deserve a guy who says I can't imagine a world without you in it" - Drew Baylor, Elizabethtown

✧ “You want the moon? Just say the word and I’ll throw a lasso around it and pull it down”- George Bailey, It’s A Wonderful Life

✧ "You is kind, you is smart, you is important" - Aibileen Clark, The Help

[evilpixieoffluff]

Through shadow, cloud, and shade: Intro

Boromir x OC (Mae) 

Not certain how to begin this.  Characters belong to their creators. Cannon Typical Violence. Slow burn. Cannon divergence (But I won’t tell you where to keep things interesting). Some addition to events and switching narrative perspectives but focuses mostly on Boromir and Mae. 3rd person. Future smut, will add specific warnings as we get closer. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed creating a character to adventure with. Approx. 3,000 words. 

 “I cannot wait any longer,” Mae whispers as she continues packing her bags.

 “Mae…”. 

“No, Eowyn,” she replies, “Every day our king, my father, fades further and further away. We need help. Grima has gotten his claws into him and our kingdom, our people are suffering. I will not sit idly any longer”. 

“Where will you go?” 

“Imladris,” she replies quickly, “The elves will know what to do. Maybe help me find Gandalf the grey”. She tucks her brother's white tunic into her riding breeches. 

Eowyn hands her a leather corset, “I’ll do what I can here in your stead. My brother and yours won’t be happy when they hear you’ve gone alone”. 

“Why do you think I waited until they were both out of the castle?” Mae replies with a mischievous smile. Eowyn smiles back at her as Mae finishes buckling the leather. She looks around quickly, grabbing her dark mustard cloak and tying it around her shoulders. Eowyn hands her sword which Mae is quick to belt around her waist. 

“Promise you’ll be safe?” Eowyn whispers. 

Mae is quick to wrap her arms around her little cousin's waist, “I promise, I’ll be back as soon as I can”. Mae grabs her bags and sneaks out of the palace, saddling up her horse and is gone long before dawn. 

It takes her a little over two fortnights to travel to Imladris. She keeps to herself and travels as fast as she can. She meets some on the road and luckily has no run-ins with any unsavoury people. She’s spent much of her childhood adventuring around the plains of Rohan. She travelled with her brother and father when her father was in his right mind. She’s always been stubborn so when they'd travel she’d always insist on being with her brother while hunting and preparing food. It’s honestly refreshing, being on her own, out in the wilds. All her life people have held expectations of who she should be and how she should act. Out here she is entirely herself. But she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t relieved to finally arrive in Rivendell. Being greeted by Lord Elrond and shown to a guest room to bathe is a blessing. Bathing properly for the first time in over a month is a luxury. She changes into the gown the elves left for her, the silky dark blue gown floating around her feet and her hair pinned up in an elegant updo. She dines with Lord Elrond and his daughter, Arwen. They discuss the darkness unfolding in the world, Mae agrees to stay and await Gandalf in the hopes that he’ll be able to help her with her father. Elrond says he should be back soon. So Mae waits. She enjoys exploring the library and grounds. She also meets an older sassy gentleman called Bilbo. Mae had never met a hobbit before but she finds his company pleasant. It’s only a few days later that she hears a large amount of commotion, Arwen arrives carrying another hobbit, gravely injured to her father. Gandalf arrives, looking significantly more ragged then she recalls, and finally a few days later three more hobbits arrive with a man. She learns from Arwen that Aragon is a dear friend to the elves. Her and Arwen grow closer as they await news of the hobbit, Frodo’s condition. More men arrive from all across the land. Rivendell is full of guests from far and wide. She brings flowers to Frodo’s room and after he awakes she is finally able to speak to Gandalf. 

“My dear, I am sorry to hear about your father, unfortunately there are more pressing matters at hand,” he explains, his voice ancient and exhausted, as they sit in Frodo’s rooms drinking tea. 

“I know these are dark times,” Mae replies, “I admit I was unaware of these events before your arrival but knowing what my people have been struggling with for months… it does make sense”. 

“We are having a meeting tomorrow,” Gandalf begins, “I would like you to attend. Represent your kingdom as its heir in these important discussions”.

 “Are you certain that’s wise? You know as well as I do that my opinions will be valued less because of my sex. Though I have worked hard in my own kingdom to be heard, I don’t know these people”. 

“I think, my dear, that you arrived here at this time for a reason,” Gandalf replies, “What that reason is yet, I do not know”. 

She nods, thoughtfully, “Very well. I trust you, Gandalf”. 

Mae walks into the meeting the next evening, her head held high. She dresses as she has since she arrived in borrowed gowns. Today the deep red gives a striking appearance. She leaves her hair braided loosely down her back, a borrowed circlet of gold upon her head, and her signet ring upon her right thumb, the larger ring previously only worn by male heirs rests coolly against her skin. 

“Are you certain--”. 

“Arwen, they are already going to see me as a woman, and value my input less because of it. Reminding them that I am heir to the throne of Rohan may provide me more sway”. 

She walks into the room, ignoring the questioning gazes of the men. She pauses to greet Lord Elrond with a small curtsy, “My lord”. 

Elrond bows his head formally, “Lady Mae, welcome to our counsel”. 

She nods with a kind smile before she finds a seat beside Gandalf. She winks at Frodo as she passes, gaining a small smile from the lad as she does. She sits upon the wooden chair and looks around the gathered group of men. To her left sits a few elves, all with long silky hair and sharp eyes. Beyond them sits a group of three dwarves, their hair braided and their facial hair impressive. The human men are next. Some older men who murmur behind their hands and their greedy eyes rake along her figure. She catches the curious gaze of one of the men, younger than the rest with light brown hair hanging around his shoulders and piercing blue eyes. He frowns thoughtfully as though he carries a large burden. His gaze, older than perhaps his body. She wonders if he were to smile, would his eyes brighten? His neatly trimmed beard accentuates his square jaw and highlights his defined cheekbones. She’d go so far as to say he’s rather handsome, even with the cool concern darkening his eyes, working as a shield against his true self as he watches her and the rest of the group. She’s always been good at reading people and this man is not different. Beneath the strategic concern in his eyes she finds more, fear, yes but bravery, loyalty, and kindness as well. She finally tears her gaze away from his to look at the rest of the gathering, finding Arwen’s love just beyond the broad stranger.

 Boromir waits for the meeting to begin, assessing the gathered men for potential allies or enemies when a woman walks into the room. She is greeted formally by Lord Elrond before taking her seat just across from him. He’s caught off guard by her appearance. Who would send a woman to a gathering such as this? Mae, that is what he called her. The name is familiar but with so much on his mind he cannot recall where from. Is she meant to distract them? She’s certainly beautiful enough to distract. He watches her as she scans the gathered group, her blue-grey eyes like the sea after a storm, meet his own. And, for just a moment Boromir forgets why they are gathered. As he looks into her eyes he feels as though he is peering into her very soul and she into his. Honest, playful, and strong. She is no mere distraction, her eyes, far too intelligent and knowing. He holds her gaze pondering who she might be and why she is present until her eyes slide from his own to continue looking around the group. His heart hammers in his chest as he is finally freed from her searching gaze and Lord Elrond stands to speak. 

“Strangers from distant lands, friends of old, you have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor. Middle earth stands upon the brink of destruction. You will unite or you will fall. Each race is bound to this fate, this one doom. Bring forth the ring, Frodo”. Frodo stands slowly and moves to where Elrond gestures, carefully placing the one ring onto the center of the stone pillar. Gasps and murmurs break out amongst the gathered men. 

“So it is true,” Boromir whispers as he stares at the gold ring before them all. She listens as with a heavy sigh he gets to his feet, his words eloquent and clever, “I had a dream,” he begins as he looks at all those before him, “I saw the eastern sky grow dark. But in the west a pale light lingered. A voice was crying, ‘Doom is near at hand, Isuldir’s bane is found’,” he says as he walks toward the ring. 

Mae looks cautiously between the man, his hand inching closer to the ring and Gandalf. 

“Boromir!” Lord Elrond calls as he gets to his own feet before Gandalf interrupts. The sky darkens and the sounds of thunder crack as he rumbles in a tongue unfamiliar to her ears. The man, Boromir, withdraws his hand as though coming out of a daze, stumbling back toward his seat. A number of the elves in the circle close their eyes at the pain the black speech elicits as Gandalf rises to his feet. The warm evening light comes back as Gandalf finishes. 

“Never before has anyone uttered the words of that tongue here in Imladris,” Elrond says pointedly. 

“I do not ask your pardon, Master Elrond,” Gandalf replies as Elrond sits back in his chair, “For the black speech of Mordor may yet be heard in every corner of the west. The ring is altogether evil,” he finishes firmly staring at Boromir before walking back toward his seat by Mae’s side. 

“It is a gift,” Boromir says, leaning forward in his seat and rising once more, “A gift to the foes of Mordor. Why not use this ring? Long has my father, the steward of Gondor, kept the forces of Mordor at bay, by the blood of our people, are your lands kept safe,” he monologues passionately, “Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy. Let us use it against him”.

 “You cannot wield it,” Aargorn cuts in, his voice a low rumble, “No one can”.

 “The ring was made by the dark lord,” Mae adds seriously, “And only by him can it be wielded. It has no other master”. 

“And what,” Boromir replies, glancing between the two, “Would a ranger and a woman know of this matter?” 

“This is no mere ranger,” an elven man gets to his feet, his voice smooth and delicate, his blond hair swaying as he addresses Boromir, “He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn, you owe him your allegiance. And this is princess Mae, daughter of Theoden, heir to his throne of Rohan”. 

Boromir spares a surprised glance at Mae, finally placing her lilting accent and name before turning his attention toward Aragorn, “Aragorn? This is Isidur’s heir?” 

“And heir to the throne of Gondor,” Legolas adds sternly. 

“[Sit down, Legolas],” Aragons orders softly. 

Legolas turns to Mae, “My lady,” he murmurs with a small nod before sitting. Mae nods back at him before looking at the changed faces in the room. With her introduction, many of the men peer at her with further interest as Boromir walks back to his seat. 

“Gondor has no king. Gondor needs no king,” he stares at Aragorn with contempt. 

“Aragorn and Lady Mae are right,” Gandalf cuts in, “We cannot use it”. 

Elrond gets to his feet, “You have only one choice. The ring must be destroyed”. Mae watches the varying emotions across the room. Some look skeptical, others annoyed, Boromir looks both disappointed and relieved, which she finds curious. 

“Well then what are we waiting for,” A dwarf growls, his voice rough like an anvil against steel, as he gets to his feet. He grabs a nearby axe and with a mighty roar lands a blow upon the circle of gold. Mae gasps as the axe shatters, sending the dwarf flying onto his back. Frodo gasps with a wince, his hand moving to his forehead. Mae and Gandalf send him a concerned look as Elrond speaks. 

“The ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli son of Gloin by any craft we here process. The ring was made in the fires of mount doom. Only there can it be unmade. It must be taken deep into Mordor and cast back into the fiery chasm from whence it came. One of you must do this”. Mae leans her elbow on the armrest thoughtfully. 

“One does not simply walk into Mordor,” Boromir says with a sigh, “Its black gates are guarded by more than just orcs. There is evil there that does not sleep. And the great eye is ever watchful. Tis’ a barren wasteland riddled with fire and ash and dust. The very air you breathe is a poisonous fume. Not with ten thousand men could you do this. This is folly”. 

Legolas jumps to his feet, “Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said! The ring must be destroyed!” 

“And I suppose you think you’re the one to do it!” Gimli growls. 

“And if we fail, what then?” Boromir asks as he gets to his feet, “What happens when Suaron takes back what is his?” 

“I will be dead,” Gimli continues as he gets to his feet, “Before I see the ring in the hands of an elf!” 

Mae leans back in her seat, watching as most of the gathered group get to their feet, shouting and arguing over who should be the one to carry the ring. She watches as Gandalf gets to his feet, arguing with Boromir. She looks at Frodo, noticing the distress on his face, as the shouting gets louder. She gets up from her chair, intending to move toward his side when he jumps to his own feet. 

 “I will take it!” he shouts with determination over the voices of the men, “I will take it!” The voices of the men die down as Frodo strides forward, “I will take the ring to Mordor”. Gandalf turns to look back at him as Mae moves forward as well. She watches him, feeling the air shift, it feels right that Frodo should be the one to carry the ring. “Though,” Frodo adds seriously, “I do not know the way”. 

Mae’s feet carry her to his side, her hand going to his shoulder as she squats down to meet his eyes, “Frodo, are you certain?” she asks kindly. 

He nods firmly, “I am, my lady”. 

Gandalf walks over to Frodo as well, “I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bear”. 

Mae gets to her feet, keeping her hand on Frodo’s shoulder, “As will I,” she says firmly, “You have my shield and my protection, so long as you have need of them”. 

Aragorn stands and walks toward Frodo, “If by my life or death I can protect you, I will,” he walks quickly and kneels before Frodo to look him in the eye, “You have my sword,” he vows before he moves to Mae’s side. 

“And you have my bow,” Legolas declares as he walks to stand beside Gandalf.

 “And my axe,” Gimli adds, moving toward the group. 

Boromir walks forward, “You carry the fate of us all, little one. If this is indeed the will of the counsel,” he glances around once more before stating, “Gondor will see it done”. 

“Hey!” a voice calls before rustling is heard and Samwise rushes from the bushes, “Mister Frodo is not going anywhere without me,” he states as he stands by Frodo’s side. 

“No, indeed it is hardly possible to separate you,” Elrond says with a sigh, “even when he is summoned to a secret counsel and you are not”. 

Mae smirks watching Sam throw a sheepish smile at Frodo before another voice is heard, “Oi! We’re coming too!” Merridoc shouts as he and Peregrine rush from the pillars, “You’ll have to send us home tied in a sack, to stop us”.

 Mae bites back a laugh as the two other hobbits rush to Frodo’s side. “Anyway, you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission...quest… thing,” Pippin defends as Mae’s shoulders shake with suppressed mirth. 

“That rules you out, Pip,” Merry teases. 

“Ten companions,” Elrond declares looking at the gathered group, “So be it. You shall be the fellowship of the ring”. Mae feels a sense of ease and purpose settle on her shoulders much as it did on her 21st name day and she was named heir. 

“Great,” Pippin says, looking around, “Where are we going?” 

Mae laughs, loudly, her hand clutching Gandalf’s elbow as her head falls back. Gandalf chuckles along with her as she tries to get a hold of herself. “Sorry, sorry,” she says between laughter as she uses her other hand to wipe tears of mirth from her eyes. Her laughter fades into sparse giggles as the group disburses to pack and get a good night's rest. Pippin looks up at her as she giggles, “Oh aye, I like you, laddie,” she says fondly. Pippin preens under her praise before she walks off with a final squeeze to Gandalf’s arm and Frodo’s shoulder, shaking her head fondly.

[balrogballs]

not lying , that post about yours vs mr balls reaction to Elrond in the Hobbit movies going around in armour is what happens in my mind every single time i do think about that scene. "Ok but It doesn't make sense that Elrond goes around chasing Orcs ESPECIALLY when he's a healer" "ok but he did look hot doing it..." But it's always me the whole time 😭😭

This is also my last two braincells arguing with each other every time movie Elrond does literally anything tbh because he’ll do something like glare into the garden at A&A like he wants to personally set fire to the world and roast his beloved foster son on the flames and then my other braincell would be sat there like “mmm look how sexy those crinkly frown lines make him”.

Guy is yelling at Isildur in the cavern instead of kicking his ass or doing literally anything else? Mmm sweaty, dusty and depressed, a divine trifecta 👅

Buddy boy prancing into Arwen’s room just to cosplay Nostradamus from hell and straight up spout poetry, dramatised metaphors and all, about his daughter’s depressing death and then go “okay but do you love me or nah?” His five-o-clock shadow carries that scene. Carries it right into my [redacted].

Elrond having two different colours of the same armour in the Hobbit, running around riding like a ranger just to hunt down random orc groups? Elrond giving the most Marvel movie quip before going after the Nazgul? Okay but look at that ass perfectly coated in unecessarily colourful steel. Like a Fererro Rocher made personally for me 😇

[stellaluna33]

I also wonder if some of her understanding of Frodo's suffering is related to what happened to her mother, Celebrian. Because Celebrian had been kidnapped and tortured by orcs, and while she was eventually rescued, she was never the same afterwards. She was unable to recover from her trauma and went early to the Undying Lands (while Arwen's brothers spent the rest of their time in Middle Earth hunting orcs in vengeance). All this is to say, Arwen knows personally, better than many, what Frodo might have gone through and that sometimes "the memory of the fear and darkness" is too much to bear. She wants Frodo to have the healing her mother needed.

What’s your favorite underrated Lord of the Rings friendship? Right now mine is Arwen and Frodo. They have no scene in the movies and only one scene in the book but fortunately that scene’s a banger, especially when you read what Tolkien said about it in Letter 246 (the part involving Arwen starts in the last paragraph of page 3).

Arwen in her grief for her father is the first one to notice the signs of Frodo’s lingering trauma, and she knows it’s only a little while before he goes home and then Elsewhere while she stays in Gondor, but she determines to do her best to help this little fellow mortal and fellow mourner. She gives him a jewel (classic Arwen) that she hopes will remind Frodo of her and Aragorn and comfort him “when the memory of the fear and darkness troubles you.” When. Aragorn has been well-meaningly trying to talk around it, but Arwen is the first to acknowledge that the memory will keep troubling Frodo; she knows, as a fellow sufferer, and by not euphemizing she connects with him.

And then:

“A gift I will give you. For I am the daughter of Elrond. I shall not go with him now when he departs to the Havens; for mine is the choice of Lúthien, and as she so have I chosen, both the sweet and the bitter. But in my stead you shall go, Ring-bearer, when the time comes, and if you then desire it. If your hurts grieve you still and the memory of your burden is heavy, then you may pass into the West, until all your wounds and weariness are healed.”

This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment gift. In letter 246 Tolkien says she consulted with Gandalf and Elrond, because a place in Valinor isn’t something you can just decide to give. She had to have thought deeply about it, and realized that though her and Frodo’s sufferings were parallel they were also complementary, and that what she’d given up, Frodo could have for his healing.

Arwen’s barely in the book, yet I’ve fallen in love with the little Tolkien shows of her. The way she deals with her own grief is by helping out fellow grievers, and I feel so sad for her and admire her so much.