#also: this is the last time elrond sees maedhros.

[sunnyshinesunshine]

Instead of Elrond looking like some vague Finwëan-Sindar combo

Elrond looks a little different to everyone that sees him

His face doesn’t change. He is still very much Elrond Peredhel, but his features will always remind whoever sees him of some form of a regret.

He supposes it is a combination of being a healer and the descendent of Maia but he tries not to dwell too hard on it.

(It is very uncomfortable to be the image of the deepest wounds of another’s heart)

Nonetheless, it is difficult to heal one’s own soul without facing the reasons for its damage.

Elros Tar-Minyatur was the only one to ever look at Elrond and see only Elrond.

If this was because his blood matched Elrond’s, or because Elrond was Elros’ deepest regret, Elrond doesn’t particularly want to know

Maedhros, utterly predictably, saw Fingon, and in doing so, found both comfort and misery.

Occasionally he would see in Elrond the ghosts of all his brothers, and he would again face the knowledge that he was not able to save them from their doom and the dark void.

Maglor sees Maedhros, and feels regret, not for the violence or the death, but for days in far off Valinor, under the light of the Trees. Days of running off with friends, to sing, to compose, to preform for adoring fans, to do anything but stay at home and help Maitimo take care of their small army of younger siblings.

(Maybe then the title of eldest brother would weigh less heavy on Mae’s shoulders. Maybe then the responsibility of care for them all would not have driven him so far, and to such a bitter end.)

If Glorfindel is to be asked, he’d tell you Elrond appears to him as the spitting image of Turgon

If you are Erestor, you know Glorfindel mostly sees Maeglin, Maeglin young and quiet, Maeglin older and scared, but sometimes also Aredhel, defiant and ready to disappear into the woods without a sound

Elwing once looked upon her son and saw naught but the visage of her little brothers

Galadriel sees Finrod, as does Celebrimbor, for very different reasons, but mostly because they share the same kind of kindness, and there is little that marks a person better than that

In quieter moments Galadriel will glimpse what her husband sees, Lúthien, as she was after Beren died, solemn, trapped, and entombed in misery.

During Bilbo’s final years, he can’t quite remember what he first thought upon looking on Elrond’s face (he’s sure it’s written down somewhere) but in those last days, he sometimes sees Frodo, wary and so very afraid. But mostly Elrond resembles Thorin and that is something Bilbo shall never set to paper

(Someday, in a time far beyond the counting of years, Fëanor will find himself staring at the face of his grandchild and seeing the eyes of Míriel Þerindë above the features Indis and will have a very small, very quiet meltdown.

[inthehouseoffinwe]

What do you think would’ve happened if instead of the three Cs, Maedhros and Maglor had been the ones to fight Dior?

I mean we know they’re much more skilled and less bloodthirsty and rash than the rest of their brothers. So here’s an AU:

I think we’d see Mae and Mags come out on top, and assuming they’re out of the main hall, the rest of their brothers would probably make it out of Doriath alive. Elured and Elurin make it out with Elwing.

With all seven still around and watching each other’s backs, I imagine Sirion would be much the same, all all them surviving. The addition of Elwing’s brothers and their soldiers turning on them, *might* turn the tables just enough to kill a couple of Fëanorions, probably Celegorm and Curufin who are still bitter about Luthien and Dior. But I feel it’s more likely due to inexperience, Elured and Elurin are killed, not necessarily by the Fëanorions themselves.

The silmaril ends up with Elwing and we get the same situation of Maedhros and Maglor asking for it back and Elwing throwing herself off the cliff. Mae and Mags genuinely do not want to be here but the letters were refused and the Oath calls. Elwing probably knows her brothers were killed by word of mouth or seeing it herself and legged it.

Enter Elrond and Elros who’d have a more interesting (and fun) time of things with 5-7 sons of Fëanor around. Maedhros would back Maglor on caring for the twins though, less consumed by the oath with all his little brothers alive and kicking. And in canon he did go searching for Dior’s sons. Caranthir probably doesn’t really have an opinion on them, Amrod and Amras are willing to follow their brothers’ lead on things (also when are they ever gonna have a chance to see identical twins again. I think they’d get along pretty well.) I don’t see any of them being particularly hateful towards the kids. Celegorm and Curufin seem to be most susceptible to the Oath and giving in to their nastier sides might be a bit more of a problem, but there’s enough brothers to keep an eye on them. And I think they’d warm up eventually, reluctantly though it may be. Curufin was a father first, remember, it’s more natural for him to care than not.

Safe to say by the time Elrond and Elros go to Gil Galad, they’re very well trained in all manner of things 😂

As for the fate of the Fëanorions, they wouldn’t go for the last ditch attempt Mae and Mags did. From the eldest’s perspective, there’s too much to lose. I want to say the stones might be passed off to them, if only to prove a point, and whoever picks them up would no doubt be burned, but there’s no suicides. There’s no endless lamentation.

In reality though there’s probably still a battle by the chest, the oath awakened and clawing with the stones so close. There might be more of a push to bring them back to Valinor to stand trial, but they’re a force to be reckoned with and Eönwë knows they’d rather die than be dragged back. The Fëanorions are let go with the stones, but instead of being tossed away as the Valar expect, the chest is kept and they go on.

With the oath mostly fulfilled much of the weight across their fëa is gone, and Curufin and Celegorm head out to keep an eye on Celebrimbor. Elros might have a temporary tagalong in Maedhros and Caranthir (new kingdom needs someone with experience to get the economy up and running.) Maglor and both Ambarussa keep their distant eye on Elrond.

(Annatar didn’t expect the seven biggest pains in his Master’s back to greet him at Eregion’s gate, two Silmarils in tow, burning him to the core. Celebrimbor doesn’t know whether to be horrified or thankful. Back in Lindon, Elrond - the one who tipped them off - is cackling and Gil Galad is Concerned TM but decides he’s better off not knowing. His cousins are insane on the best of days.)

Alternatively, Elured and Elurin perhaps remembering how reluctant Maedhros and Maglor were, how Maedhros pleaded with their father to just return the stone so this could all *end*, immediately send the silmaril back when the letter comes. Or maybe they’re just cooler headed and see the logic of returning the stone. Things settle. The Valar do eventually get involved. Silmaril two and three are regained then reclaimed by the brothers as mentioned above. They might burn. They might reject the holders. But the oath is fulfilled and that’s all that matters in the end.

[sweetteaanddragons]

I Could Not See to See

(Title taken from Emily Dickinson's "I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died," a poem about the transition between life and death. It felt appropriate.)

(Summary: Morgoth's darkness blots out even the stars. Maedhros loses hope that any of them can survive this.

Some six thousand years later, Elrond refuses to lose hope when it comes to bringing home everyone that he can.)

The last time Elrond saw a star in Beleriand was when he was thirteen. After that, the Enemy’s smog grew too thick; only the sun’s light was fierce enough to bleed through it, and that only weakly.

He was also thirteen the first time Maedhros turned to him around the campfire and said, “When you die - ”

Elrond was not sure precisely what his face did at that moment. He thought Elros would have gone for a weapon if their hands had not been so occupied with the first bowls of hot stew they had been able to risk for three fortnights.

It helped that the most threatening thing Maedhros was handling at the moment was the ladle for said stew. It helped, too, that it had been a very long time since Maedhros had been the most immediate threat to them. He had slain three wights for them only that day and taken a nasty slash to the leg in the bargain; Elrond did not think he would so lightly turn and slay them now, especially while the leg was not yet well, and Elrond, for all his youth, was already the best healer among them.

Still. It did not stop Elros’s grip from changing ever so slightly on the bowl of stew.

“If,” Maglor said hastily, sitting down between them and Maedhros and heavily stressing the word. "If you die.”

Maedhros - the greatest swordsman Elrond had ever seen - looked down at the cut on his leg that even he was not quick enough to stop. Not when surrounded by so many enemies; not when protecting two more vulnerable targets; not when so many plants have shriveled beneath the choking smoke and animals have grown so scarce. “If,” he said sardonically.

He did not complete his thought.

It was two years later before Maedhros turned to them again and said, “When you die.” He paused there for an interruption, but there wasn't one.

Around them, what remained of the Feanorian followers were doing their best to make camp as far back from the mouth of the cave as they could. Outside, the rain hissed down, and there was something evil hiding in its whispers.

There were fewer of them than there were before the rain began to fall.

Maglor was still there. Maglor was by the mouth of the cave, singing up a draft to push back against the winds greedily pushing the rain farther inward. His mouth grew tight at his brother’s words, but he didn't stop the song.

“When we die,” Elros prompted from where he was leaning against the rough stone, wincing as Elrond inspected his wrist, swollen from his fall in the desperate scramble up the mountain.

“I don’t know where you’ll go.” The words were flat, but Maedhros’s eyes were as worried as he ever let anyone see. “You might be counted Men; if you are, there is little I can do to advise you, save to say that if there is any danger where Men go, you should certainly seek your kin.”

“Tuor, Turin - ”

“Huor, Hurin - ”

“Nienor, Morwen - ”

“Yes,” Maedhros interrupted before Elrond and Elros could get too far into their game of seeing who could remember the most ancestors. “Though if it comes to it, I’d recommend more toward appealing to Beren and Luthien and less toward Turin. I know little of his curse, but from what little I did hear, you will not want to tangle with it if it still remains.”

Elros refrained from pointing out that at least hiding behind the edges of a curse would be a familiar state for them. Elrond suspected that even someone not half entwined with Elros’s mind could guess it, judging from Maedhros’s weary twitch of the lips.

“But if you are counted as elves, that is another matter. Mandos’s Halls will be safe; I cannot speak for what you will find when you are released from them.”

The part of Elrond that still remembered being six years old and watching as his father sailed away in desperate hope of Aman’s salvation wanted to protest. Aman was perfect; Aman was untouched.

But he was not six years old anymore, and he had heard enough speculative whispers by now to know that just because the fires of Alqualonde must have long since burned out and those first darkness-fueled riots long since ended, it did not at all mean that all in Aman must be at peace. Conflict would not have ended with the Noldor’s exit.

“Stick together and use your best judgment as to whether it is better to be Sindarin princes or Noldorin princes or anonymous children of nowhere in particular. But before that - ” Here, he broke off and with a sharp gesture summoned Farande over from the throng of people investigating the back of the cave for danger. “Before that, you must get there, and if the wraiths and spirits that have haunted us this past month are any indication, that may require more cunning than it once did.”

Farande saluted as she drew near. “My king,” she said, before turning to them and taking on a tone Elrond had never heard her use before; she sounded like Maglor when he was teaching. “Mandos’s call is loud, but even in the days when all there was to oppose it were some leftover traps, Melkor’s was tempting.”

It took Elrond a moment to process this. His hands paused in their gentle prodding of Elros’s wrist. “You’ve died before?”

Elros peered around him curiously as though the information would somehow make Farande look different than she ever has before.

“On the great journey to Aman,” she said. Her tone did not invite further questions. “After the final blow, your spirit will linger about your body for a few moments in confusion; already, you will begin to hear the calls. They will tug at you. When I fell, Mandos’s was by far the stronger.”

She said nothing about what she suspected about now.

The hissing whispers in the rain seemed to get louder.

“The Enemy is cunning,” Maedhros said. His eyes were suddenly very hard to look into. “He lies well. It is not surprising that some fëa may have become confused by him.”

“Can you teach us what Mandos’s sounds like?” Elros asked Farande. “So we don’t get confused?”

She grimaced. “I will sing up the best memory I can for the company,” she promised. “But it will not be perfect. And without knowing what form the Enemy’s lie takes, I cannot promise it will be close enough. Which is why, when you fall, you should keep your fëar as near as you can to your bodies until I can come find you.”

Elrond recoiled a little. “But houseless spirits - ”

“Not houseless,” she said. “Namo is too stubborn to give up the call so quickly. He will not cease calling for some time; certainly not so little as it will take for me to find you. I can guide you after that.”

Elrond supposed this might work; he had seen communication with the dead before.

But it had always been the Enemy’s dead, bound closer to the world through his magics, and the communication had always been on the order of as forcefully as possible shooing them away. He was not sure Farande would be able to find them to speak to him - unless she didn’t need to, he supposed; if she went to their bodies and assumed they yet lingered, she could speak well enough, although how she would hear them describe the sounds they heard -

Elros’s mind had already raced further ahead. “That will only work if you die in the same battle as us,” he pointed out. He didn’t bother asking what would happen if he and Elrond didn’t fall in the same battle; the idea was too unthinkable. “What if you don’t?”

She raised one scarred eyebrow, almost laughing. “You think you will outlast me, little prince?”

“No,” Elros confessed freely. Farande had been fighting since before elves first saw the light of the Trees; it was hard to credit the rumor he had heard that she was once a healer when her hands were so quick with her blades. “But what if we fall in a fight and you don’t?”

“I will,” she said, all laughter gone. “I swear it to you as I swore it to my king, little prince: I will. And I will lead you home.”

For just a moment, Elrond stared at her in blank incomprehension.

“It won’t take me long,” she promised, her hand, just for a moment, brushing up against her own neck. “You know how quick I am with a knife.”

Elros recovered quicker. “You can’t,” he protested. “Namo won’t let you out, not after - “

She laughed in earnest then, high and clear. “I will be twice slain and thrice a kinslayer. Namo will not let me out regardless, and I would not want him to; Aman was never for the likes of I. No, his Halls shall suit me fine, and I can think of no better mission to bring me there.” 

She bowed to Maedhros and went back to her work, still laughing as she went.

Elrond stared after her. He could not seem to swallow.

“If that was a ploy to get us to train harder,” Elros said from behind him. “Congratulations, it worked.”

Maedhros didn’t smile.

(It did not take someone as perceptive as Elrond to see that Farande had made no preparations to depart.

“Your sons yet linger,” she told him. “I would not leave them alone.”

“No,” he agreed. There were others who had said such, and he was glad of it. “I worry for them.”

“I will defend them to my last breath,” she promised.

“I have never doubted it! On these shores, you shall keep them safe if any can. But Elrohir . . . Elrohir, at least, will sail, I think. I am not sure about Elladan, but I think he will sail for his brother’s sake. They will sail, but the sea is wide, and my sons are not sailors. I do not know that any Cirdan’s folk will yet linger when they decide to try it.”

Farande said nothing.

There were many who had said they would linger a while longer. He worried for them all.

But there were few he thought as likely as Farande to let themselves fade to echoes beneath the trees.

“You promised once to guide Elros and I west if it came to it,” he said softly. “I ask no oaths, Farande; you know that. But is it so greater a thing to ask a different guidance home?”

She swayed forward - swayed back. Swallowed, as she looked down to the courtyard where Elladan and Elrohir played at fighting and laughed below.

“It was no home to me,” she said at last. “It - could be, for them.”

“It could be for you,” he said, softer still. “Surely there is yet some untenanted valley in Aman where our people can gather again.”

The laughter swelled louder below. It had been long since he heard it from them so light and so free.

She swayed forward.

“I will sail them west,” she promised. “If you ask it of me, my lord, then yes; I will get them home.”)

[meluiloth]

For @silmarillionepistolary day 7, Remembrance and New Beginnings! Artwork at the bottom.

Night has fallen. The lamps have been turned low, the house cleaned, the bedtime routine completed; all Maglor and Maedhros have left to do is tuck the twins and read them their customary story.

They look so small wrapped in the red wool blankets, like two little birds in a crimson nest. They are quiet, too, waiting patiently for Maglor to ask his routine question: “Now, what story would you like tonight? Or would you rather hear a song?”

“I want the one about the Sun and the Moon!” Elros pipes up, scrunching the blanket in his hands eagerly.

Maglor smiles. “Is that what you want as well, Elrond?”

Elrond, the quieter twin, looks bashfully down before murmuring, “I’d like to see the picture book…”

Maglor shares a confused look with Maedhros. They did not own any picture books. “What do you mean?” Maedhros asks.

Elrond tips his head. “The one in your study,” he says. “It’s got gold string around it and lots of pictures on every page.”

Maedhros frowns. “You know you are forbidden from entering my study,” he reproaches.

Elrond bites his lip. “Yes, I know … I just saw the pictures and thought they were pretty.”

Maglor sees the telltale signs of a lecture in Maedhros’s expression, so he swiftly says, “Perhaps we can excuse it this once, if you promise to ask before you touch our things.”

Both Elrond and Elros nod emphatically, and Maglor leaves the room to search for the ‘picture book’ in his brother’s study, which is packed with volumes, scrolls, and papers. Maglor thinks it will take him forever to find the book Elrond described, if it exists at all, but surprisingly he easily locates it in the first bookshelf: a worn book of red leather, tied with a fading gold ribbon. It is familiar to him, but he cannot recollect why until he brings it back into the twins’ room. Maedhros’s eyes widen when he sees it. “Grandfather’s sketchbook? I thought that was lost ages ago!”

“It was in a box in the back,” Elrond supplies.

Maglor looks down at it, a stab of nostalgia and old grief passing through him. “I thought we never even brought it,” he murmurs.

“Can we read it?” Elros asks, leaning forward curiously.

Maedhros frowns, his reluctance clear. There are many memories neither of them want to relive, the life and death of their grandfather among the most heartbreaking. But many of the memories Finwë recorded in his beloved sketchbook were his happiest, from both his life and the rest of his family’s. And the two young children looking up at Maglor are also Finwë’s family … and he wants to share something of his life that is not just the blood on his hands.

The spine of the book cracks softly as he opens it, and the yellowed paper releases a small puff of dust, but the artwork on the inside is still as lovely and life-filled as the day he penned them.

Maglor explains each piece as he showed it to the twins, and lets them look as long as they like. Even Maedhros sometimes asks him to wait a little longer on certain pages, the heavy, dark look in his eyes brightening when he remembers his childhood in Valinor.

It is well past midnight by the time they reach the last pages, and all of them are surprised to see that they are all in full color, when all the previous pages have been only graphite sketches.

“Who are they?” Elros breathes, tracing his finger delicately over the meticulously painted faces.

Maglor swallows, his throat and his eyes clogged with tears. His brother, too, is at a loss for words.

“It’s them,” Elrond says, looking up at the Fëanorians and then back down at thd drawings. “Maglor and Maedhros are right there … but Maedhros looks different …”

It was true. Maglor and Maedhros, along with all of their brothers - still alive and smiling radiantly - and their parents. On the other pages, their cousins and uncles and aunts, before any of them had suffered the horrors of Morgoth.

“That is us,” Maedhros murmurs. “That was us then. We were so happy..."

“What was it like … then?” Elros ventures.

Maglor smiles. “I will tell you.”

“Tomorrow night,” Maedhros interrupts. “It is very late, and if you are to understand a word we say, you must be well-rested.”

[echo-bleu]

Noldor Hair Headcanons (3/4)

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | On AO3

Some lighter Kidnap Fam content, after the downhill freefall that was the last chapter. With a dash of Finrod in Valinor.

Elrond and Elros have never had their hair braided when they end up with Maedhros and Maglor.

They don’t realize what they’re asking when Elros grabs a hairbrush and puts it in Maglor’s hand.

Maglor understands that, but decides that the twins need parental care, even though he has no right. He brushes their hair and leaves it loose at first.

But the twins have watched Maglor braid Maedhros’s hair and they soon start asking for more interesting hairstyles.

Eventually Maglor explains to them that it can only be done by family.

The twins have a whole silent conversation.

“What does it take to be family?” Elros asks eventually.

Well, braiding an unrelated child’s hair is pretty close to informal adoption.

Elros forces the brush into Maglor’s hand again.

Maglor stares.

Elrond shakes his head and runs out.

Of course, Elrond must hate them. He has every right. Sure, Elros has started to warm up to them, but that’s just because he’s affection-starved, probably. They’re still kidnappers.

Maglor is about to put down the brush and try to refuse when Elrond comes back.

He’s holding a second hairbrush.

He hands it to Maedhros expectantly.

Maedhros cries.

Maglor cries.

The twins’ hair really doesn’t hold braids very well, and they’re still kids who run around and play, but damn them if Maglor and Maedhros aren’t going to do their best.

Now all of their people can see that the twins are well-loved.

Maedhros and Maglor also proudly sport a few clumsy, wonky braids each.

They’re less wonky with time, and eventually the twins are doing their fathers’ (kidnappers’) hair as often as not.

Finrod is reembodied shortly before Eärendil and Elwing gets to Valinor. It’s too early and he’s Not Doing Well. While in Middle Earth, he was the one who let basically every one of his friends braid his hair, now he can’t stand the thought of someone touching him that way.

But Beleriandic battle braids feel wrong in Tirion. And he’s desperately trying to reckon with his trauma, with Sauron defeating him by singing about the kinslaying, so he can’t leave his hair loose like the Teleri.

And he can’t quite get the sight of Edrahil’s bloody braids spat out by a werewolf out of his head.

He wears nothing but the very strange-looking (to Amanyar) Mourning Braids he designed after Dagor Bragollach for a couple of years.

Then after an episode of really bad depression and nearly fading, he cuts his hair short.

No-braiding-possible kind of short.

While not unheard of in Beleriand (sometimes former thralls keep their hair very short, like Rog), it’s unthinkable in Valinor, especially for the Crown Prince of the Noldor.

He is stared at a lot, his reputation goes down the drain, but to Finrod it’s liberating.

He does let his hair grow out again eventually, but only when other Exiles start coming back and choose to keep the Beleriandic braid styles, and it becomes a fashion statement rather than a mark of shame.

Finarfin is Very Shocked arriving in Beleriand when he finds his (single remaining) child with her hair loose and everyone else with weird self-braided battle hairstyles.

After a battle or three where he ends up with his hair matted with blood and mud, he caves and gets Galadriel to give him battle braids.

By the end of the war he’s even learned to do them himself! Let it not be said that King Arafinwë Ñoldóran didn’t rise to his calling.

The night before sending the Elrond and Elros to Gil-galad, Maedhros and Maglor undo all of their braids. Everyone cries.

Maedhros and Maglor meant this to minimize the ‘taint’ their names would put on the twins, by making it look like they were still hostages to the end, but the twins stop on the way to do each other’s hair because one does not meet a king with their hair loose, they have manners (which the Fëanorians taught them, so they’re Very Specific Manners), so the effect is lost. Gil-galad has Questions. The twins refuse to lie.

Then, before going to steal the Silmarils, Maedhros and Maglor do each other’s hair, in a style of their father’s that they haven’t worn since the Oath.

Maglor braids a single golden ribbon into Maedhros’s hair.

They have very few pieces of hair jewellery left of their brothers’, but they use all of them.

They both know it’s the last time.

To be continued

I did some sketches for visual reference of a few of the hairstyles mentioned here, if you want to see what I'm imagining!

[victorie552]

I headcannon that after 3rd Kinslaying, and especially after Elrond and Elros left them in whatever fashion, Maedhros was a total dick to Maglor.

You know how sometimes old or sick people are nice to neighbours/nurses/strangers, but are horrible to their primal caretakers? That's them.

People aren't dicks to their caretakers just to be dicks - it's because they are often frustrated with themselves or their situation and don't know how else to deal with it or they can't deal with it the usual way. It also happens because, paradoxally, they feel safe around their caretakers - you can be a dick because you know they won't leave just because of that.

And boy, did Maglor cast himself in a role of caretaker (let's not kid ourselves, he wasn't qualified, and with his own problems to boot), and BOY, did Maedhros resent him for it. He did not NEED help, he did not DESERVE help, he's not another kidnapped child MAGLOR, I'M the older brother, I should take care of YOU YOU WRECK, WHY DO I ALWAYS HAVE TO BABYSIT YOU GROW UP ALREADY and leave me Nothing is EVER your fault, even when you left me to Angband as you should Why would you care now, it amounted to NOTHING before, it's WORTHLESS

And about half the time Maglor just takes it, actually likes it even. Mostly because of his guilt complex about how he deserves it, but also because Maedhros is only like this with him - he's trying his best to pretend to be fine and be a leader to few followers they have left, because they deserve better and that's the only thing he can give them now, and their brothers are all dead and would always be Too Little to act like that around them anyway. Maedhros would behave himself even around Fingon, to make him think rescuing him was worth something. So by being a dick to Maglor, Meadhros sees him as an equal, a safe haven. Maglor basks in that.

But obviously no one could just take such abuse like it's nothing, and Maglor is a Feanorian too, is prideful and stubborn, with his own laundry list of complains about Maedhros, and also unwell, and also thought of a new insult while lying awake at night and just wants to yell too. So half the time Maglor yells back and their yelling matches would bring orcs to tears, with hate and blame dripping from every word. I don't have enough imagination to picture it realistically, and actually I don't want to, it's too heartbreaking.

And sometimes, one or the other just starts crying. They don't talk about these times.

After some time, their arguments and insults are just a noise, something to repeat endlessly to the point of boredom.

By then, what actually hurts are the words that were not meant to harm.

Example 1:

Maedhros: 'did an all-night inspection of their stores cause he couldn't sleep' I found a herb you always liked to wash your hair with.

Maglor: 'doesn't remember last time he washed his hair, no less scented them'

Maglor: 'choked up' Appreciated.

Example 2:

Maedhros: 'feels like he's dragging Maglor to damnation with him' You could go with the twins, you know.

Maglor: 'doesn't want to upset Maedhros today so decides to pretend as if that was actually an option' Vanyar would probably like my singing but you know they would get mad at you for having better battle plans than them.

Maedhros: 'now KNOWS he's dragging Maglor to damnation with him'

Maedhros: 'dying inside' Of course they would.

When love hurts, it's easier to be a dick.

[silmkinkmeme]

Happy Holidays from Silmkinkmeme!

Belated, but still, happy holidays and thank you all for the amazing year. Let's see how we did in 2024.

The kinkmeme's Ao3 collection has 436 prompts at the moment, almost double the previous year's number. There are 192 works in the collection (some works were not posted to the collection, so the actual number is even higher), which means around 70(!) fics were written for the kinkmeme only in 2024. Our Prompt Post 1 has surpassed 1000 comments last year and now boasts 1114.

And now a stat that only the mod can see - the number of claims on Ao3. *drumroll* We have 590 CLAIMS, more claims than prompts, way more than we had this time last year (171). Of course, not all of these claims will become fills, but the number is still astonishing compared to 2024.

As you might know from previous posts, starting February, I will begin promoting prompts from 2022 on this blog. At some point during the year, I will also open a new collection because I can't keep making backup accounts to crosspost prompts and because it's been almost three years. Stay tuned for more info!

Once again, my thanks to every single person who has contributed to kinkmeme in any way. I hope to see you again this year.

Some other stats under the cut.

Explicit works still form the greatest part of kinkmeme fills (114) while fandom leader Gen is only in the fourth place with 19 works.

Kinkmeme warnings mostly align with the general fandom (No Archive Warnings, followed by Chose Not To Warn), except apparently kinkmeme writers aren't fans of Major Character Death, which is in the fifth place in the kinkmeme and in the third in the Silmarillion tag. No Underage tag in the kinkmeme.

The Gen category is unsurprisingly in the first place for the general fandom, while M/M leads kinkmeme (97 works) with Gen only in the third place (30 works). F/M is the second with 47 works and F/F shares the fourth place with Multi (20 works each).

In 2024, we had two Rings of Power fills! We also had two interesting crossovers - Chronicles of Narnia and Pride and Prejudice.

No surprises in the leading character. Maedhros is and will most likely remain a fan favorite in the kinkmeme and the fandom in general. He's appeared in 86 works. Maglor sits firmly in the second place with 68. (There's a joke about these numbers somewhere.) Now the third place is Fingon's in the kinkmeme (44 works) unlike the general tag where he is the fourth and Elrond who is only the tenth in the kinkmeme is the third. Finrod who is placed tenth in the general tag is the fourth in the kinkmeme (23 works). Kinkmeme writers continue ignoring Sauron, Celebrimbor and Glorfindel who are respectively numbers five, eight and nine in the general tag. Instead, we have Curufin, Aredhel and Fingolfin in the top ten. Unfortunately, Aredhel is the only woman left while last year there were four ladies among the most popular characters. It's still one more than the general fandom.

It was probably inevitable as the kinkmeme got more popular, but Fingon/Maedhros is now leading the top ten (34 works) in the relationship tag. Last year's leader Maedhros/Maglor is now in the second place (26 works). I'd still count it as a win because the ship doesn't appear in the general fandom's top ten at all. Now Maedhros & Maglor is in the fourth place in the general tag and in the kinkmeme (last year, the gen version of their relationship wasn't in the kinkmeme's top ten). Feanor/Nerdanel is steadily the third in both places. Morgoth/Sauron, Erestor/Glorfindel, Celebrian/Elrond. Celebrimbor/Sauron, Feanor/Fingolfin and Elrond & Maglor, all very popular in the general fandom (Angbang is in the second place after Russingon), are absent from the kinkmeme's top ten. Instead we have Galadriel/Melian, Galadriel/Luthien (no femslash fics in the general top ten), Elrond & Elros and Fingon/Maglor (new to the top ten!).

As for the additional tags, we start from Anal Sex (30 works) and end with Cunnilingus (9 works), making stops at PWP, Oral Sex, Sibling Incest, First Time and Dubious Consent. No Fluff, Humor or Grief/Mourning for the kinkmeme and not even AU, all in the general top ten. But Angst and Hurt/Comfort are of course among the most popular tags in the kinkmeme and in the general fandom. Angst is still the most popular in the general tag and third in the kinkmeme. No sex-related tags in the general fandom's top ten, while seven of top ten additional tags in the kinkmeme are E-rated.

That's all for last year. Thank you if you've read to the end. We'll see how trends change this year.

[runawaymun]

Ask me about my not-yet-written-fics from this list

@linesofreturninggeese

Okay, so this is something I was talking over with @metatomatoes because I wanted Celebrimbor to survive so badly but like, I just could not see how it was possible, and then we got to talking and fucking around with Elvish biology and I think I can make it work.

this is all based on the foundation that Elrond and Celebrimbor were very close in the second age, and/or it piggybacks on the To Partake universe. Either way, they have an Osanwe bond. Not quite a marriage bond. It's a bit weaker than that, but a bond nonetheless.

there are human burn victims who have lost a tremendous amount of skin with medical care and survived, right?

and obviously the greatest risks here are blood loss, infection, and hypothermia

It's reasonable to me to assume that elves have pretty good blood clotting.

We also know from canon that they're better at regulating their temp than we are

If elves are pretty much immune to infection, we can knock that out.

With some sketchy research the general consensus is that a human IRL could, after being flayed, last 36 hours, or perhaps up to a week (if given fluids and semi cared for).

Reasonable to me to assume because Sauron is Sauron that he might continue to toy with Celebrimbor post-flaying, which means he has a vested interest in keeping him alive a bit longer.

Also reasonable to assume that elvish bodies can withstand quite a lot, considering Maedhros survived torture and being hung off a mountainside for a really long time while captured by Morgoth.

So, the final kicker here IIRC was @metatomatoes' idea - which is, what if elves are essentially able to drop into a stasis state? Like where everything slowly shuts down to minimal functions in order to survive extreme conditions? Explains a lot of things, really.

With that, what if rather than dying, Celebrimbor drops into stasis.

Stasis is no fun for Sauron :( Celebrimbor's not making fun noises anymore when he gets hurt.

So at this point Sauron has him shot full of arrows (assuming that he'll be dead soon) and hangs him up to taunt Elrond and Gil-Galad, per the canon events.

Everyone at this point is pretty confident that Celebrimbor is dead as a doornail,

EXCEPT ELROND.

Because he can absolutely feel through their Osanwe bond that there's something left there, and post-siege of Eregion when they finally recapture everything and pull Celebrimbor down, everyone is like "Elrond he's dead, we promise he's dead" and Elrond is like "I promise he's not!!!!!!!!! he's in stasis!!!!!!!!!!!!"

And Elrond by now has Vilya, which enhances his already incredibly strong healing.

Also I have already established within my own universe that Elrond is a bit of a necromancer, so long as someone is only mostly dead (re Princess Bride hehe).

SO, he manages to bring Celebrimbor back from the grave.

And granted, Celebrimbor is like, severely fucked up and perhaps does not even want to continue living, but Elrond is determined.

Once Celebrimbor has recovered (it is a long, slow road) he winds up just living with Elrond in Rivendell, possibly under an alias idk. But hey everyone talks about that weirdly good smith in Rivendell. Like uncannily good smith.

I like to imagine that he's the one who reforged Anduril :3

[balrogballs]

Piecemeal Palace

A sketch made for SWG Potluck Bingo prompt ‘storied places’ featuring Maglor and Maedhros’ architecturally chaotic hot mess “potluck” house in Himring, which combines design influences from all its inhabitants and is also where Elrond and Elros grew up.

Accompanying writing below is mainly adapted from my Imladris fic Cast in Stone.

The first time six-year old Elrond and Elros set eyes on Maedhros and Maglor’s house in Himring, Maglor asked them which rooms they’d like to take, said you can choose any that you like, see, the manor is even bigger than your own so you can have your pick. Maybe a room with a balcony? Don’t you like how pretty the light looks when it catches the white-gold house?

Elros had kicked him in the shin, said no, it’s not bigger, you blind bat! And it’s ugly! I don’t want to live in your shite-old house!

But when the twins leave the house for the last time however, it breaks their heart (they were still one heart in those days, just about). You can't blame them for it; really, it’s only nature. Once you’ve stepped beyond the threshold of a childhood home, you never truly stop leaving it. And as you walk through life, you’ll want to hold tight to others who’ve left behind pieces of themselves in houses like your own.

And then, when you build your own home, you put that childhood home within it too. Some try to replicate it, for the joys they knew there, and others build it in inverse, in opposition to a place they found despair. With any home you build, you try to create a semblance of belonging, make it a refuge for the missing parts of you and others, the parts left behind at that old threshold. From the Shire to Minas Tirith — every house in Middle Earth contains remnants of lost homes, flickers of lives outlived.

It is the same in Imladris. Elrond carves memory into his valley, into its very halls, not a tomb but a monument. Gilt chairs like Lindon, crimson stars like his own childhood ceiling. He cups Imladris in gentle hands and within it builds Celebrían into the buds rising from soil; and Maglor in birdsong at dawn. Maedhros in the training field, Himring in its slanted roofs, Gil-galad in a solid gold and completely pointless tea table, a hundred ways in which the ground remembers.

And in every spray-soaked white cliff lives a little boy named for his love of playing in waterfalls. In every guardian wall lives a six year old on a bloodstained night, saying, "you can kill me if you want, but my brother’s so scared. See, he’s crying. Please, please don’t scare him, I’ll do anything you say, I’ll eat a worm, I’ll, I’ll go away, I’ll be good, I’ll bring your stone back!”

It is Elros, more than anything, who wholly encompasses Imladris; it is Elros who breathes in every stone. Elros planting seashells in the garden. Elros walking about on tiptoes, wanting to be taller than his twin. Elros red-cheeked over a skipping rope. Elros painting a rooftop bright green. Elros laughing. Elros running. Elros in a shite-old house.

[whovianofmidgard]

WIP Wednesday

I know I haven't posted a fic in some time, but that's because I'm working on Maedhros & Maglor week prompts. And to prove that I have been writing indeed, here are some snippets of what I've been working on:

For Day 1: Children, using the prompts Valinor and Innocence

Maitimo sang adorably to his sibling inside Nerdanel, his voice as pretty as an untrained elfing's. And just as an untrained elfing, he was not perfect at hitting all the notes. He struggled especially at a particularly high note, sounding off, coming out more as a breathless squeak. The baby, making sure their opinion was known of their brother's ability to sing, kicked her mother in the side. "Oof," Nerdanel grunted, just as Maitimo hopped up from her lap and excitedly shouted to the whole room his delight over the event. "Someone is a music critic," she muttered, rubbing her belly. All the while Maitimo ran up to Fëanáro, tugging on his father's sleeve in delight and bouncing on his tippy-toes. "Atya, Atya! I felt the baby! The baby moved!"

For Day 4: Strategists, using the prompt Mereth Aderthad

Maedhros watched as his younger brother padded over to his pack, humming a little tune all the way, and unfurled three different outfits, spreading them over his bed. Maglor surveyed all three with a careful eye, the carefree mood of the air shifting as he let the last bars of his melody trail off. “So, what’s the plan?” he asked Maedhros. “I know you have been plotting all throughout the ride here.” He did not dispute Maglor’s words, for he did indeed spend most of their journey to their uncle’s feast making plans of the diplomatic and reconnaissance kind. “I shall stay close to Uncle Nolo and ascertain his future plans. I will also approach the other elven ambassadors in the hopes of initiating further diplomatic relations, perhaps make some alliances, and I will prod around to see what the general opinion among the lords are,” Maedhros outlined. “You, Káno, should make nice with our Arafinwëan cousins and listen out for the usual things.” “Rumour, gossip, our current reputation, news of the Enemy, and any secrets that pass drunken loose lips,” Maglor listed by rote and discarded the stuffiest, most stately ensemble from his three clothing options, narrowing his eyes at the other two.

For the Day 6 prompt Reputation and Legend

Subject: Itemised Record of the Elven Relics Sold from the Elrond Peredhel Collection Date: Fourth Age 2100, the 7th of Nárië Location: The Restored Halls of the historical sight known as The Last Homely House, Rivendell, Eriador Auctioneer: Master Eadric, son of Wermund, representative of the Royal Preservation and Storage Houses Attendance: A total of 53 persons, of which 11 were representatives of cultural establishments, and 42 private collectors About the Collection: Entrusted in the keeping of King Elessar Telcontar by Lord Elrond Peredhel at the turning of the Ages (FO 1.), these elven relics were kept and preserved as per Lord Elrond Peredhel’s last will made upon the shores of Middle-earth (Royal Archive, sect. 15, E.01.). As outlined by said will, the Elrond Peredhel Collection was to be held within the King’s Storage Houses for the minimum of 2000 years, and the maximum of an additional century, or if within that timeframe should such an event come to pass that an elf of black hair and shining silver eyes with a hand possessing a burn scar, and may possibly give any combination of the names: Kanafinwë, Makalaurë, Maglor, or Fëanorion, should he seek out the Collection, any and all items of his choosing must be released into his care. Since no elf of such description has come forward to claim these relics in the past 2100 years, the Royal Preservation and Storage Houses put the items of the Elrond Peredhel Collection up for auction for the display of both public establishments and private collectors for historical and educational consumption as per the wishes of Lord Elrond Peredhel’s will. Note: In the past several centuries there has been no sighting of any elvish presence in Middle-earth, and their continued existence are put to question and is largely debated. However, in light of the myths and superstitions surrounding elvish contracts and oaths, experts of both the Royal Historians and the foremost scholarly circles in Eriador, Rhovanion and Gondor have agreed to honour the maximum deadline appointed in the will for fear of invoking some curse or Doom for accidentally breaking the terms early.

And finally for Day 7: Partners

Maitimo started small and simple with his first gift, if it could be even called one. He timed it right and came upon Makalaurë in the woodworking shed from behind, where his brother worked on mending the snapped neck of a broken lute, and tapping him on the shoulder Maitimo played his hand.  The minstrel looked up from his project, all covered in dust and wood shavings, frazzled dark curls escaping his braid. It was an endearing look that Maitimo had caught him in, and he greatly regretted not bringing paper and charcoal to capture his brother's image to keep.  Then Makalaurë noticed the gift in Maitimo's hand and all but pounced on it.  "Yes, this is exactly what I need," he cried and took the bundle of silver strings, immediately restringing the newly fixed lute. He just as soon all but forgot about his elder brother's presence, turning the pegs with a single-minded focus, until Maitimo pointedly cleared his throat.  Makalaurë's gaze snapped up at Maitimo's face and aimed him a crooked smile, slightly embarrassed for being so absorbed in his project.   "Thank you, Nelyo. I do appreciate the strings." 

[chaos-of-the-abyss]

How would you envision Elrond and Elwing's reunion in Valinor 🥺? I can already imagine they would hug for a lonnngggg time to make up for the years of being forcefully separated from each other. Also, Elrond would be ecstatic to know that Celebrian and Elwing (in my head, lol) have bonded and become close to each other.

yesssss i too believe they would hug and cry for a very long time, like they'd just fall into each other's arms <3<3<3 and elrond can finally break down embraced by his mother the way he never had the chance to for literal thousands of years. a tangent, but i don't think elrond ever felt comfortable showing such extreme, uncontrollable vulnerability in front of others -- having been kidnapped as a child by the people who murdered most of his community and as good as forced his mother to suicide, he pretty much came to hide anything that could be perceived as "weakness" for fear of how maedhros and maglor would react to it. and even though he does grow more emotionally healthy once he finds people with whom he can truly have a good relationship, he still finds it difficult to so entirely let down his guard around people. but with elwing -- it's like he's a child again. as soon as he sees his mother's face, the exact same face that he remembers from his memories and his dreams, the exact same face he associates with strength and love and bravery ever since he was young -- everything all comes rushing out. it's like all the tears of pain and fear at her being taken from him are finally flowing after being reined in for millennia.

i can't imagine how utterly cathartic their reunion, at long last, would be to both of them. they wouldn't let go of each other for a while, that's for sure, and they would probably spend hours and hours and hours learning everything they can about each other. i doubt they'd be willing to be apart for at least several days after that. they are going EVERYWHERE together for the next month. joined at the hip. elwing at some point introduces him to all her friends and kin that she's met and connected with since she came to valinor, and elrond finds a litany of relatives who are delighted and proud and awed. lots of teleri especially are so heartened, particularly the ones who knew thingol from before they came west. that's the great-great-grandson of their king's beloved brother. and speaking of thingol -- elwing has already grown close to him since she came to valinor, she and elrond go to visit him together, and thingol cries once again and adopts yet another descendant. tbh he adopts every single descendant of his that sails west. spoils them rotten like they're children even though they're all grown adults who've seen some shit. what do you mean he can't shower them in every single gift that catches his eye or comes to mind. they're his descendants, he can do what he wants!! he will coddle them, and elrond is by no means an exception.

it's also my hc that elwing and celebrian meet when celebrian arrives in valinor! celebrian tells her mother-in-law all about elrond and all about elladan, elrohir, and arwen. elwing adores her daughter-in-law and celebrian is one of the few people who she'll regularly hang out with. they visit each other and everything, elwing is there with her when celebrian meets her telerin relatives (who already all know and love elwing). suffice to say you're right, elrond is absolutely delighted to learn how close his mother and wife have become. they all spend heaps of time with each other -- with earendil, too, when he comes home. it won't take away the injustice of elwing losing so much of her son's life, and elrond losing his mother at such a young age -- but it's good. at last they're the family they couldn't be long ago, and they're all very very happy together

[sunnyshinesunshine]

A Tolkien Fic Rec

let the gods look down on this and wonder by @dialux & rainforezt - Aredhel-centric, 22.5k, rated T (complete)

This post canon Valinor fic has everything. Aredhel being a flawed badass. Nolofinwean drama. Complex mother-daughter relationships. Come for female-focused Silm Fics, stay for Aredhel breaking Valinor while dealing with her family. Cannot recommend enough.

A Boy, A Girl, And a Dog: The Leithian Script posted to Ao3 by GammaCavy (originally by Philosopher At Large) - Lúthien/Beren, 593k, rated G (complete)

A retelling of the Lúthien and Beren in script form based vaguely on Ol’ Will Shakes. I rarely read true canon compliant works, but this is worth every heart wrenching second. It’s funny, poignant, and deserves to be produced as an actual production. I would pay money to see it.

Aurë entuluva - series by @theheirofashandfire - multi pairing mainly Fingon/Maedhros, 589.5k over 17 installments, rated G-M (ongoing)

THIS. This is The Silm Fix-It. Begins with A Thread Unraveled, a Nirnaeth Arnoediad Ground-Hog day style fix-it centered on Maedhros, then expands. The author does a great job with the politics and the fallout of the Nirnaeth being a success and how that changes the rest of the events of the Silm. I especially love her characterizations of Melian, Finduilas, Turgon, and all the Brothers Fëanor.

The Last Spring by clothonono on ao3 - Finwëan fam + background Fingon/Maedhros, 26.2k, rated G (complete)

This right here is how I imagine the Family Finwë pre-canon. Fëanor brings his children to visit Tirion for the first time. The tension between the children of Finwë is delicious. The characterization of Fëanor is delicious. The foreboding ending, also delicious. This could be an entire six course meal if it was edible. Also baby Galadriel is amazing and terrifying.

As a Star Upon a Hill by @mynameisjessejk - Lúthien/Beren & Fingon/Maedhros, 11.9k, rated T (complete)

A fix-it au where Celegorm and Curufin decide to not be assholes, Beren and Lúthien steal all three Silmarils, and everyone agrees that dads kinda suck. Borderline crack, but such a feel good fic ugh it makes me happy.

Light Touched by whovianhiddlestoner on ao3 - kidnap + peredhel fams, 48.9k, rated T (complete)

Another (relatively) lighthearted fic where everyone who touches the Silmarils get to be Eldritch and Elrond has a lot of family reunions. Mainly set in the third age, ending in Valinor. Beautiful language all around, and also Maedhros’ hair is on fire. Which is awesome.

The Iron Ring by lulumiche on ao3 - Glorfindel/Maeglin, 39.2k, rated M (ongoing)

Post-canon in Valinor. Maeglin was actually in love with Glorfindel, which no one but Idril knows. Come for the discussions of homophobie in elf society, stay for some of the realest feeling characterizations I have ever read. Seriously, I don’t really like Maglor as Lindir but I ate it up here. Also lots of interesting magic.

The Silver Rule by SpaceWall on ao3 - Celebrían/Elrond/Gil-galad, 70.4k, rated T (complete)

More post-canon Valinor shenanigans. This time, Celebrían argues law, makes friends, and wants her husband back. I love breaking Valinor, and I especially love when Tolkien women do it. And let’s be honest, the Statute of Finwë and Míriel is utter balogney.

I Do; I Will by @littlewhitemouseagain - Fingon/Maedhros, 22.8k, rated M (complete)

The one in which everyone is on their worst behavior and the sons of Fëanor challenge Fingon to duels over his crown. I cannot emphasize enough how this is The Fingon Fic. His flaws are exposed and addressed in such a way that I’ve never seen before. The insights into the Fëanorians, especially Mae, are also really super poignant. This deserves so much attention.

Across The Table by Tuginda on ao3 - Gimli/Legolas & Glorfindel/Erestor, 9.5k, rated G (complete)

A conversation between two couples at Aragorn and Arwen’s wedding. Beautiful, sweet, and containing one of my favorite things: crotchety old Fëanorian Erestor. Somehow feels like both a conversation about dwarves and elves, and a lovely tribute to the Noldor.

+ 1

of drowning men by bimmyou on ao3 - Isildur/Valandil, 26.5k, rated E (complete)

The best Rings of Power fic I’ve read so far. Nails all of Isildur’s character flaws and gives such an incredible depth to Valandil.

[thelordofgifs]

Friday Fic Recs: Long WIP edition

I’ve been thinking a little bit about the (very arduous) process of writing longfic, and how much of a difference support and cheerleading can make on that particular journey; so, although it’s been a while since I’ve made a Friday rec list, I thought I’d put one together celebrating all the incredible in-progress longfics in the Tolkien fandom I’m keeping up with at the moment!

Atandil series by @eilinelsghost. Such a gorgeous graceful moving exploration of Finrod and his relationship with Men, and the slowest and most sensual of slow burns in his romance with Bëor. The amount this series has made me THINK – about love, and hope, and memory, and Taliska grammar – is off the charts, and to top it off it’s written in the loveliest most Tolkienesque prose.

we will make this place our home by @leucisticpuffin. Ohh this AU is just like a warm gentle hug after a long day. The “kidnap fam but make it a classic children’s novel” concept is so so inspired, all the characterisations are so nuanced and moving (Maglor my beloved!!) and the OCs will steal your heart.

And Love Grew by @polutrope. On the other end of the kidnap fam spectrum, this complex and careful examination of the time after the Third Kinslaying is SO brilliant. Incredible characterisations of all the key players, some truly fascinating OCs (Dornil!!) and of course beautiful graceful prose.

tongues of the sky series by @welcomingdisaster. The first fic in this series, seabird, was written for me and I can be SO obnoxious about this :) but also it’s a wonderful moving ultimately hopeful fix-it AU with note-perfect russingon and m&m dynamics. The sequel, sparrowhawk, is currently in progress and soooo good.

ashes, ashes, dust to dust — the devil’s after both of us by @that-angry-noldo. This is SUCH an original and fascinating take on an AU where Maedhros and Maglor take Finarfin captive to bargain for the Silmarils, featuring incredible character dynamics and a terrifyingly eldritch Eönwë.

and all his towers cast down by @actual-bill-potts. What if Finrod survived the events of the Leithian? Well, angst and trauma, to start off with. And also beautiful beautiful writing, impeccable characterisation and a Maglor-Lúthien teamup!! I adore this AU.

All That Glitters Gold Rush AU series by @allthatglittersisnotgoldrush. This one is LONG LONG LONG, but also SO worth it. Ever wanted to see the entire Silmarillion retold as a western, complete with a terribly tragic and complicated Maedhros, Morgoth the terrifying slave-owner, and a beautifully multicultural Doriath? The authors have you covered.

And the Stars Shine the Same series by @runawaymun. OC-centric fic is such a rare delight and this series set in early Third Age Rivendell is just wonderful, tender and complicated and with a truly incredible Elrond.

Retelling the Hobbit comic by @retellingthehobbit. Something a little different, but I binged all of this comic retelling of The Hobbit on a plane recently and GOD it’s so so beautiful. A truly gorgeous art style, and slowly converting me from a Bilbo/Thorin sceptic into an enjoyer!

In Heart by @tanoraqui. An AU where Fëanor takes the Doom of the Noldor as a what-not-to-do manual and ends up making better choices! Featuring incredible worldbuilding and fantastic characterisation.

Please add on the longfics you love in the reblogs! Let’s get some love going for these difficult beasts!

(Couple of incest recs under the cut.)

naught green upon the oak series by @welcomingdisaster. A CoH-inspired Maedhros/Maglor AU in which Maglor winds up with amnesia after his encounter with Glaurung. I’m SO insane about this series that I can’t be coherent but it is fantastic and chilling and devastating with the most beautiful prose aahhh.

Strange Currencies by @jouissants. Maedhros is re-embodied at last only to learn that he is married to Maglor: a touching and painful post-canon fic interleaved with incredible flashbacks to the First Age.

[fandomsandfairytales]

Fic Recs for Elrond Week 2024

Hello! Here’s a last-minute handful of Elrond-centric fic recs to wrap up Elrond Week 2024. (Time got away from me this week!)

These fics are all rated G or T, and I’ve loosely categorized them into groups so it’s a bit easier to parse through them. I also noted ones I recc’d in my 2023 Fic Recs list, which I posted on my main blog, @awwyeah107. I'm tagging each author in this list once (if they have a Tumblr account), although there may be more than one story from an author in the list.

Also, to clarify, none of these were written *for* Elrond Week—these are all simply fics about our beloved peredhel that I've enjoyed and wanted to share/recommend.

Massive shoutout to @meluiloth for putting on Elrond Week! I’ve greatly enjoyed seeing all the posts this week cross my dash. Also, thank you to all of the fic authors, fan artists, and meta writers out there who celebrate Elrond ❤️

Elrond & [Biological or Married] Family

The Complexities of Avian Biology by @runawaymun Celebrían takes on a charity case. Elrond helps, because of course he does. Some Celrond fluff by request. (Oneshot, G, 776 words)

Without depth or bound by waitingfover Love is never an easy emotion to navigate, particularly if you also hate the other person's guts. or Elrond doesn’t like Celebrían’s attitude, Celebrían hates Elrond’s guts, Gil-Galad is determined to play matchmaker, and Celebrimbor just wants to be left out of this drama. (23 chapters, complete! T, 29k words)

Wealth Enough of Joy by @starspray Elladan and Elrohir are born at twilight in summer. (Oneshot, G, 1.6k words. Recc’d this in my 2023 Fic Recs list)

Athelas by erulisse_starchild Estel gets a lesson in herb-lore from Elrond. (Oneshot, G, 831 words)

Hiding Places by @sweetteaanddragons (Drag0nst0rm on AO3) It had been a long time since Elrond was last under a bed. The novelty was probably good for him. (Oneshot, G, 437 words)

Kind as Summer by @arofili (starlightwalking on AO3) Elrond and his family, after the First Age. A collection of ficlets from tumblr prompts, loosely related to one another. (8 chapters, complete! G, 2.1k words)

More than the Stars Above by sweetteaanddragons (Drag0nst0rm on AO3) Elrond had lived without his parents for this long. He could certainly continue to do so if they proved to be indifferent. That didn't stop his hand from shaking when he reached out to knock on the door. (2 chapters, complete! G, 5.6k words. Recc’d this in my 2023 Fic Recs list)

Blossoming Red by @bralesscommie Snapshots of Elrond throughout his life. A character study. Elrond dealing with his trauma, and finding his rare moments of joy. (Oneshot, T, 4.9k words)

Elrond & Friends

Demons by @theheirofashandfire (ScribeofArda on AO3) On a dark night in Imladris, with the Watchful Peace having come to a bloody end, one elf finds that the darkness brings back unwanted memories of flames and fear. And Glorfindel can remember all of the fall of Gondolin. (Oneshot, T, 4.5k words)

Old Swords by StarSpray Elrond and Gandalf chat about Glamdring. (Oneshot, G, 661 words)

Primary Sources by @cycas (bunn on AO3) Bilbo Baggins, now living in Rivendell is working on his Translations from the Elvish and needs some help. He learns a few things about Elven board games, plumbing and housework in Rivendell, a little bit about the War of Wrath, and something about Elrond's family. It might just be that making songs about Eärendil in the House of Elrond was not something that Elrond himself considered to be over Bilbo's head. (Oneshot, G, 4.4k words)

Kidnap Fam

Note: All of the Kidnap Fam fics here are Elrond-centric—either they are from his perspective, or they primarily focus on Elrond and Maglor and/or Maedhros.

And Love Repaid by sweetteaanddragons (Drag0nst0rm on AO3) It was never about owing. (Oneshot, G, 2.3k words)

See How They Grow by @grundyscribbling (Grundy on AO3) Elrond wasn't born a great healer. Some would have said living among Feanorians was an unlikely place to start that journey. (Maglor probably would have agreed with them.) (Oneshot, G, 11.7k words)

Rosemary, Fennel, & Rue by grundyscribbling (Grundy on AO3) Maedhros stumbles onto an unhealthy secret Elrond has been keeping. Elrond is surprised to find Maedhros has experience in these matters. (Oneshot, G, 5.7k words)

Once They Were Wolves by @elentarial (BaccaratBlack on AO3) After receiving an unexpected Midwinter gift, Elrond learns something new about one of his captors fathers. (2 chapters, complete! G, 2.4k words)

Quiet by sweetteaanddragons (Drag0nst0rm on AO3) Dust blanketed Maglor’s harp where it sat undisturbed in the corner. (Oneshot, G, 566 words)

Series

On Elrond Peredhel by @elvinye (leodesic on AO3) A series examining Elrond's kidnap-adoption [and Elrond himself] from a variety of different perspectives. (In-progress series of 13 works, each between 1-2 chapters, all rated T or G. Only AO3 users can read this fic.) (Note: For anyone who does not ship Russingon—like me—the series does contain it, but it is minor and can be skipped over fairly easily.)

Return to Aman by cycas (bunn on AO3) A series of stories about Elrond's return to Aman at the end of the Third Age. All these assume that Maglor son of Fëanor was one of the other unnamed Elves who accompanied Elrond, Galadriel, Gandalf, Frodo and Bilbo on the ship when they left Middle-earth. Point of view is usually either Maglor or Elrond, but occasionally someone else (Celebrian, Lalwen, Nerdanel...) (Complete series of 15 works, each between 1-5 chapters, all rated G. Recc’d this in my 2023 Fic Recs list)

AUs

The Last Homely Hostel by sweetteaanddragons (Drag0nst0rm on AO3) Barin was nearly entirely sure this hostel wasn't supposed to be here. It won't be the last unexpected appearance of the night. (Oneshot, G, 5k words)

we will make this place our home by @leucisticpuffin Elrond and Elros are sent to live with their distant cousins in a house that is crumbling slowly to pieces. They aren't especially happy about this. For Maedhros and Maglor, the twins are a rare chance to start living again. It will take a lot of work to turn a house full of ghosts into anything resembling a home. (70 chapters, in-progress! G, 259.5k words. Only AO3 users can read this fic. Recc’d this in my 2023 Fic Recs list)

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@elrondweek

Other Fic Rec Lists: 2023 Fic Recs (on my main blog) 2024 Fic Recs (on my main blog)

[cycas]

Numenor and Quenya

Elros was, presumably, captain of the Edain during the War of Wrath.

That's when the Edain took revenge for all their fallen leaders, and their efforts during the War of Wrath were the reason for the Valar giving them their own special island and extended lives.

By the end of the War of Wrath, Elros (and Elrond) were 53: considerably older than their parents were when they were ruling the Havens. Definitely not children. It's difficult to see how Elros could have become leader of the Edain if he had sat the war out, and since we know Elrond was there to see Thangorodrim broken (he mentions it in LOTR) there's no reason to suppose Elrond and Elros were not there leading Men in the War of Wrath as soon as they were old enough. So regardless of how Elros felt about Maedhros and Maglor (I like him to be fond of them myself), Elros probably decided on Quenya as his Royal Language because he'd spent the last 20-30 years fighting side by side with Finarfin and his Noldor host, who came to fight the War of Wrath, then spent years after that settled beside them after the war while everyone was building ships to go West: whether that was to a new home, or an old one.

Early Numenor, Elros-era Numenor, was regularly visited by Elves bringing gifts from Valinor.

Some of them might be Teleri, or members of the Vanyar host that also fought in the war visiting old friends and their families. But the Teleri have nothing against Quenya. They provided the fleet to take Finarfin's Noldor and Ingwion's Vanyar to the war. But Elros is not only the heir to Doriath, he's also Idril's grandson. Turgon's particular friend was Finrod Felagund, and even if you don't think Finrod was re-born in time to visit the heir of Beren, you can see that Finrod's parents would have a great interest in Turgon's descendants. So many children of their family have been lost! Turgon was their eldest son's best friend, born in the same year!

The Noldor of Aman were never banned from speaking Quenya, never switched to Sindarin. Quenya is a living language, in Valinor. So I think the use of Quenya in Numenor is a remnant of that early time when Numenor felt culturally more part of Valinor than it did Middle-earth.

[starsofarda]

Hi hello this is @starsofarda and @astral-aromance . Welcome to our brainrot 💖

This specifically involves my OC Molinde, @astral-aromance 's OC Siryawe Telpea and Maglor.

Yes, they are living their best lives in polyamorous bliss.

They still look meh, but I will keep drawing, maybe, so I will improve.

Before I delve into the entire drama of it, I will point out some details in what I bravely call my drawing. I know I have written on the paper, but my chicken scratches are - well - chicken scratches.

In my head all couples (in this case it's a throuple) each have something specific from their other half.

So Maglor, Siryawe and Molinde all have on each other: the Feanorian star, Siryawe's family crest and Molinde's embroidery/needlework.

In this specific little scene Molinde is infodumping on a brand new kind of fabric. Siryawe does not understand a single word, but she is enamoured and listening to Mol's passionate speech. Maglor is already composing an elegy dedicated to both his wives, Molye and Sirya. The cat is judging Maglor SO DAMN HARD.

Pls DO NOT ask me to color anything, I DO NOT like doing that.

Maglor's outfit is inspired by Indian fashion (see my post on him in my Silm fashion series). Sirya gives me mediterranean vibes, also she has a prosthetic leg and the split is a must. Molinde is living in her cottagecore vibe bliss.

Now, how did these three ended up in polyamorous bliss, you might ask. Well, @astral-aromance and I took an honestly crack concept and pulled out the most heartwrenching story ever. We may draw/write more about it, but I will put under cut the main points.

IDK how to title this, but here you go. @astral-aromance pls let me know if I have missed anything :)

Molinde finds Maglor in his eternal seashores hike and convinces him to go to Imladris, cue Elrond welcoming back with open arms his adoptive father and all.

Mags starts hanging out with Molinde - she did kind of save him after all, so now he is properly curious about this Elf who followed Feanorian shenanigans and somehow is still alive to tell the stories.

This pleases Elrond, who thinks that maybe having Mags around Mol will make Mags heal faster.

And indeed he heals better and also he starts reminiscing his actual wife Siryawe Telpea who basically divorced from him the moment he was exiled with dad and brothers and even more after the whole Flight of the Noldor/burning of the ships/Oath/everything.

So Maglor takes for granted that she will NEVER want to do anything with him anymore, the divorce is final, not even the Valar can fix it.

And Molinde is there to listen to him and console him - she has developed a proper crush, nothing like she ever had before. And yet she keeps her distance, because by now she is resigned to spend eternity alone with her cat(s) and she has accepted the fact that she will love, but she will never be loved by anyone.

And in the meantime,as Maglor spends more time in Molinde's cottage, he has the "Oh. Oh." moment and realizes that he is crushing hard on Molinde, who has been nothing but a sweet and gentle host and a really good listener and friend.

So stuff happens (unclear in my head what happens yet, summoning here everyone's imagination), but Mags confesses his love for her, she panic cries and confesses too. Elrond is happy to hear the news, when Mol and Mag decide to tie the knot he officiates the wedding in Imadris.

IMPORTANT: MAGLOR HAS TAKEN AS A GIVEN THAT HIS FIRST WIFE HAS DIVORCED FROM HIM COMPLETELY, this is going to be important later.

So the last ship sails, Mags and Mol sail as well to Aman expecting absolutely NO ONE to wait for them in Valinor.

Oh boy. Last famous words.

Now Sirya stayed in Valinor and enough millennia have passed so she has found it in her heart to fully forgive Maglor and start again.

In the meantime everyone except Finwe has been re-embodied, yes, Feanor is there too and everyone eagerly awaits for Maglor to arrive.

Maedhros has pre-emptively explained the whole Elrond situation,so everyone is on board.

So the ship arrives, Elrond arrives, Galadriel arrives, yes, Finarfin is there too. BUT.

Maglor steps down the ship holding Molinde in blissful oblivion, unaware of the fact that his entire family is there, Sirya is there, Molinde's parents are there.

And Maglor and Molinde have each a brand new wedding ring.

ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE.

Sirya: MAGLOR!!! MAKALAURE KANAFINWE YOU ABSOLUTE COCKROACH! YOU MANWHORE!"

Maglor is absolutely gobsmacked. As mentioned, he was expecting just dust balls and sadness at his arrival and he is now painfully aware that EVERYONE is there and everyone is JUDGING.

Molinde is just there behind Maglor - she is indeed blameless, she only fell in love, furthermore Maglor discussed things with her, and she only had Maglor's words saying that his ex wife was absolutely over him and hating him.

And FEANOR is there, reliving EVERY SINGLE MOMENT OF THE FINWE/MIRIEL/INDIS SITUATION and also he's just come back from Mandos, he knew he had carved his ideas into his sons properly and yet Maglor DOES THE SAME FUCKING THING FINWE DID.

Nerdanel is gobsmacked too, what is she supposed to do now?

Molinde's parents are calling their daughter "homewrecker" and other names.

So Sirya is rage crying because she feels betrayed, Molinde is holding her cat and crying because "imsososososorryididnotmeanforthistohappen". Elrond is suddenly VERY worried about Maglor's mental health, Celeborn is probably the only one trying to console Molinde, Galadriel is there trying to calm down the situation, FINARFIN LOATHES BEING THE KING and nopes out fairly soon.

Miriel and Indis arrive, see the situation, ask someone, aka ask Celeborn what happened, they get filled in and sigh. Yep, been there done that.

But what about Maglor's brothers? Eh.

Maedhros is silently judging. Celegorm is basically the only one defending Maglor, bc "I married Aredhel! She was previously married to Eol! It's not different!". Curufin calls Mags an "ungrateful son of a witch, you wanted to forsake the Oath too, I knew you were horrible" etc. Caranthir is LIVID, he doesn't GET TO SEE HALETH AGAIN EVER, so he is RAGING. The Ambarussa just roll their eyes.

Celebrimbor is there too, Molinde is to him basically his surrogate mother and he is pissed at the Feanorian bullshit ongoing there, but also choosing to stay with Molinde. Molisse ( @astral-aromance other OC and Molinde's best friend is kind of torn, but she knows Molinde and she will take her side even threatening Curufin with Holy Divorce.

Molisse is so conflicted, because her whole life she believed Fëanor's every word about remarriage and Indis, but that's Molinde! That's her sister-friend! The one who cared for her baby when he was left orphaned! The one who always loved, but never got loved in return. But Curufinwe was really testing her here, and that made her side with Molinde. But not with Maglor.

And Molinde too, she feels so much betrayal from Maglor's family! It's like how long are you willing to follow a person when that same person is treating your friend/sister like shit? And for Molinde it's painful, she followed the Feanorians out of faith, and being treated like that by the people she had faith in.

Plus Maglor is afraid that either Sirya or Molyë will be condemned to death because "no one can have two living spouses"

Molinde probably had doubts about being a second wife from the start, but she, too, truly believed Sirya and Maglor were over.

Nothing happens yet.

Everyone leaves, except for Maglor and Molinde, Miriel and Indis. In the Great Drama Maglor did not even go to Sirya, but sat right next to Mol holding her and letting her cry her eyes out.

Mags and Mol have nowhere to go, so Miriel and Indis let them stay with them, because they DO understand. They DO open up on what ACTUALLY happened with Finwe.

And Maglor goes back being all gloomy and depressing, Molinde lets herself waste away and risks dying of grief for the THIRD time.

She doesn't just because Miriel and Indis are there. And Celegorm and Aredhel regularly visit them so.

For their own sake, Mags and Mol go live in a cottge near the place where Miriel and Indis live and also close to where Celegorm and Aredhel live.

Mol slowly gets back to not health, but at least she can move. And so, against better judgement, she seeks out Siryawe to try and have a talk without the family drama happening.

And Mol and Sirya talk and talk and talk and they sort out some things. It's not yet okay, but it's alright at the moment.

And then Mags gets introduced into their conversation and he tells the two most important people in that moment that he still loves deeply Siryawe, and that he equally loves deeply Molinde too and that if he has to choose, he will choose both, because he loves them equally and they are equally important in his life. He can't help his feelings. He loves them both and he accepted this.

Things go slowly, but they get better. And both Mol and Sirya now don't see themselves as different, they both become friends and friendhip develops into love. So now Molinde, Sirya and Maglor reconfess and profess eternal love for each other.

And they all move into the cottage and acquire two more cats to give some friends to Molinde's cat.

BUT NOW.

They all definitely need some help from someone higher, like the Valar, because "no one can have two living spouses".

Maglor tries appealing saying that there was no way for Molinde to know that Sirya was not over Mags, she only had Mags' words as reassurance.

Namo then informs him that that was what Finwë had said during his trial…

And indeed the Valar put Maglor on trial. when Maglor is cornered and says "I choose both", Syria and Molinde both say "And we choose Maglor", bringing a brand new conundrum.

And yet no one dies yet.

Feanor is sad. He is not angry, but he is sad. He is not approving, but Maglor is indeed his son. And he looks so happy with two wives and three cats. How can something so wrong bring such happiness?

And so he studies: behold Feanor's behaviour in all of this.

In the meantime CeleDhel have become parents and have given siblings to Maeglin, so Fefe is feeling soft.

And by this time Siryawe gets pregnant with TWINS. Fraternal twins, a boy and a girl, and they have both Mags and Mol and Sirya's fea. Mol gets to name the twins.

By then Feanor has decided that whatever his son and his wives have going on is actually very positive, consideting all happiness and kids that have come out of it.

So he petitions the Valar to release Finwe from Mandos as a nice surprise for his mum Miriel and a peace offering for Indis.

Molinde's parents are unfortunately a lot less understanding, but she has acquired a whole new family who loves her and she loves.

The Valar are in a good mood, because Sauron is dead, Morgoth is in the void and all is good and fine on Arda.

So Manwe declares that the throuple is fine and maybe it's time to give a new chance (ofc Eru approves).

Eventually Maglor's other brothers make their peace with it and apologize for their initial shitty behaviour.

Celegorm and Aredhel are going around saying "WE TOLD YOU".

HOWEVER.

it takes Curufin a pretty long time to come around, but his peace-offer is a set of three handmade matching bracelets, which he gave them on the eve of their wedding. And no one of them knew that he actually got over it until the bracelets were gifted

Because it's all now Manwe approved, also Fefe is having success with his petition to let Finwe be re-embodied.

Feanor made their engagement rings and wedding rings. (Celebrimbor made them something too, of course, but he doesn't do rings anymore)

And Nerdanel now that all is good is delighted at the idea/inspiration to sculpt a statue of three lovers, those damn prickly Vanyar on their holy mountain would piss themselves of the sheer scandal of such a work! (Nerdanel loves provoking people with her art)

Molisse is the maid of honor

Miriel, finding that Molinde is a seamstress/embroiderer too, absolutely ADORES her and takes Molinde's skills to the next level. Caranthir gets around too.

Sirya coregraphed the wedding dance.

Mags: "darling beloved, can't I just PLAY music?" Mol: "Light of my eyes, I will just stay here and watch the kids!" Sirya: "NOPE."

Sirya: Maedhros can watch the kids, isn't watching after other people's kids what he was born to do? Mae: No way, I'm gonna dance. Finno: Babe, you suck at dancing Mae: I am NOT watching Maglor's kids! No way! Twins: 🥺🥺 Mae: …Who wants to get ice-cream with uncle Mae-mae? Look at these good twins!!!

And then the throuple is blessed once again with another kid, a boy. This time it is Mol the pregnant one. Sirya kind of said no because whilst she loves children she also loves dancing and pregnancy makes dancing hard. Mol is more than happy to carry a child, their child.

I figure Sirya tries learning how to sew, but she doesn't have the patience to sit still for long hours. Mol has a quiet and calm voice that is perfect for silly songs and lullabyes, even if she is a bit tone-deaf. Maglor finds them both endearing.

Sirya can sew a hole shut, she's a fisherman and sailor after all, but actual needle work? Who has time for all that?? I imagine the twins loving the voices of their parents, even those less musically gifted than their father… Maglor's voice can just be a little much for their tiny little ears!!

Maglor, Molinde and Siryawe love each other so so much. And they have cats. And kids. All is good on Arda.