#and arondir and bronwyn too

[galadriel-blue]

You know who is an absolutely underrated character in Rings of Power?

THEO

People need to be showing more appreciation for my SON-

He's such an important character but I feel like most people brush him over. Theo is brave and strong, and even though he's still just a kid, he understands the weight of the relic, the broken sword, that he found, and the evil it holds. He is impulsive, as many young boys are, but he learns and grows from it.

That's why the scenes where he's with Galadriel are some of my favorites. Because they are so similar to each other. Both are angry and confused, but also full of justice and a sense of what's right, even when they go about it in the wrong ways sometimes. Theo helps Galadriel see her actions for what they are, and Galadriel shows Theo how to make the right choices in the face of fear and stand up for light against the darkness. Without Theo, we wouldn't have those parallels.

Theo is a good kid who got wrapped up in a bad situation, a war against evil, but it brings him closer to his mother, and to Arondir, who he realizes is a part of his family too. It brings him closer to Galadriel, a new companion, a comrade in battle. And he allows Galadriel to process her emotions through the eyes of one much younger. It is almost like she sees a bit of herself in Theo. A bit of the small, young elf who made paper boats to sail in the stream and was so frustrated with the evil in the world, the evil in herself, even from the beginning. The one who made a grave mistake and now must face the consequences, as seen in their discussion about whether or not their current downfall is her fault. Theo doesn't believe she is the one to blame, even when she does. I don't know, there's just something so pure, so understanding about Theo when he speaks to Galadriel. He doesn't see her like everyone else does.

Theo makes mistakes, he is tempted by darkness like all humans are, but he stands up to it. He is brave, even though he's young, which is an important sentiment to me, especially in a world full of immortals, those with long lives. No matter how long you have been on the earth or how much experience you have in the world, you can see the darkness and either choose it or the light. I think Theo demonstrates this well and we need to show him appreciation for it. I really hope we get to see more of him in the coming seasons of The Rings of Power.

[wildwren]

Every Friend Group Needs + Numenoreans/Southlanders me 🤝 @aadmelioraa, refusing to let this meme die

[the-commonplace-book]

Day 1: OTP - Arondir/Bronwyn

for @ringsofpowervalentinesweek

[artbyhurricanyounot]

So 10 days ago I posted my silly little self-indulgent drawing of the headcanon Aronwyn child, Galandil, to my Instagram, because I liked how it turned out. I didn’t tag Ismael or Nazanin in it, but I did mention them in the caption, not at all expecting them to really see it or pay much mind, and I also used the hashtag #Aronwyn in there, too.

Well, uhm… last night, I get a notification that Ismael liked it! 🤩 he follows the #Aronwyn tag so I’m guessing that’s how he saw it. I only know this because I posted a sketch to my story and didn’t tag him, only used #Aronwyn. Sir is just out here the captain of his own ship, y’all.

Less than an hour later, I get a notification that Nazanin liked it, as well. She usually sees my stuff right away (she’s seen when I tag her in my stories when I’m working on art of her, and has shared stuff from me, as well, so I can see the words “seen just now” under her name in my messages list), and she’s been really (understandably) busy with advocating for Iran and doing interviews and attending protests and such, so I really don’t ever expect her to go back and look at my posts.

Either Nazanin took the time to glance at my profile in her spare time… or Ismael sent it to her. 🥺😭❤️

No matter what, seeing them both amongst the people who liked my self-indulgent “what if” post makes my heart sing.

[liptonrm]

Watching Rings of Power ep 5. Love Disa, love Durin, love everything Elrond and Durin have going on, but omg this mithril storyline is so stupid.

[incorrectringsofpower]

I wanted to make a tribute playlist to Bronwyn for Characters Week. I'll miss her character in Season 2 (hence making the playlist sad but heroic), and very much appreciate all that Nazanin Boniadi has done to make her a wonderful character for the series. I sincerely wish her the best of luck in her future work and activism!

1. Woman King by Iron & Wine:

Hundred years, hundred more Someday we may see a Woman king, bloodshot eye Thumb down and starting to weep, to weep To weep, to weep

2. Familiar by Agnes Obel:

And love is a ghost that the others can't see, it's a danger Every shade of us you fade down to keep (you know what you do to me) And in the dark (it's a danger), who we are, ooh Gonna be the death of me, it's a danger 'Cause our love is a ghost that the others can't see

3. Ghosts That We Knew by Mumford & Sons:

So give me hope in the darkness that I will see the light Cause oh they gave me such a fright But I will hold as long as you like (with all of my might) Just promise me we'll be all right

4. Hit Me With Your Best Shot by ADONA: (I'M SORRY! But also couldn't resist a meme. Y'all know me by now.)

You come on with it, come on, you don't fight fair But that's okay, see if I care Knock me down, it's all in vain I'll get right back on my feet again

5. I Will Never Die by Delta Rae:

Sycamore, ash, moss and loam Wrap your roots all around my bones And when they come for me When they call my name Cast my shadow from a bellow's flame

6. Work Song by Hozier: (Admittedly this one is more for Arondir's POV of Bronwyn and the overall tragic love vibes.)

When my time comes around Lay me gently in the cold, dark earth No grave can hold my body down I'll crawl home to her

7. Too Old to Die Young by Brother Dege

Now I have had some dear sweet friends I thought would never die Now the only thing that's left of them is the teardrops in my eyes If I could have one wish today and know it would be done Well, I would say everyone could stay till they're too old to die young

8. Mo Ghile Mear by The Choral Scholars of University College Dublin: (I've always liked this arrangement. It's a mourning song for Bonnie Prince Charlie and the failure of the Jacobites to gain their freedom. I thought it was fitting for Bronwyn and the Southlanders.)

’Sé mo laoch mo ghille mear ’Sé mo Shaesar, ghille mear, Ní fhuaras féin aon tsuan ná séan, Ó chuaigh i gcéin mo ghille mear.

Translation:

My dashing darling is my hero My dashing darling is my Caesar I have had neither sleep nor good fortune Since my dashing darling went far away

9. Don't Fear the Reaper by Denmark + Reaper:

Then the door was open and the wind appeared The candles blew and then disappeared The curtains flew and then he appeared Saying don't be afraid

10. Funeral Bell by PHILDEL:

Oh, mother, I'm scared to die Where, where do my good deeds lie? Oh, father, I'm scared to live Takes more than I've got to give Oh, sister, my voice is weak Oh, brother, I long for sleep Oh, hunger, I know you well My cruel friend is a funeral bell

[anghraine]

I decided to watch Rings of Power and I still like it! General thoughts on the first episode:

This episode does a lot of heavy lifting to introduce everything in a somewhat rough and often disconnected, but engaging enough way.

The voice-over exposition at the beginning is obviously echoing the PJ FOTR one, but it's more awkward and sort of generically high fantasy. I still like it better because a) no Númenóreans were harmed in the making of this voice-over, b) retaining the Finrod-Galadriel age gap while simultaneously leaning into their sibling bond is really cute, c) Finrod using a heavy-handed metaphor in which the greatness of SHIPS figures largely seems entirely in character and also very Telerin (Eärwen's son!!!), and d) the overall story of how Valinorean Elves ended up in Middle-earth is so highly editorialized that it feels like the self-serving Noldor version of the story, which amuses me.

I enjoyed the introduction of present-day Galadriel. She's clearly the most impressive and competent person in the company she's leading while also being kind of unhinged, which I appreciate in a female protagonist. Good for her.

And I like that she's clearly this ancient being and her fixation on FIGHTING EVIL FOREVER is, in part, a product of being old and immortal and stuck in a singular mode of being. However, she's also right and the comparatively young people around her are being condescending assholes (like Gil-galad, but especially that one guy who semi-mutinied against her and is prodding her on the ship).

(Oh, and she has great hair. I actually don't care if the entire wig budget went to her specifically.)

The only one who seems to really feel bad about their dismissive treatment of her is Elrond, which tracks. The hints that he isn't seen as quite an equal ("Elf-lords only") feels silly, but it's not a huge deal for me. And I like that he and Galadriel are bros alongside the tension in her relationships with basically everyone. S2 Celebrían plssss

I still think the complaints about costuming/hair, and incessant comparisons to costuming in PJ!LOTR/WOT/whatever are largely pretty absurd. I particularly liked Arondir's armor and how dissimilar it is from the aesthetic of the Lindon Elves, everything Galadriel wears, and the weirdness of the ritualistic armor removal as they approach Valinor. The Elves spontaneously bursting into unsettling song was odd but extremely on-brand for Tolkien, so it was fun to see it actually done onscreen.

I also think the show is quite beautiful in general and a pleasure to simply look at (no, not only because of the budget).

I don't like how heavily and visibly made-up the main female characters are, however, especially Bronwyn (who also has my least favorite costuming of any of the mains tbh). It reminds me a bit of how Padmé Amidala's heavy and perfect make-up in her death scene in Revenge of the Sith always distracts me from the pathos of the scene. God forbid she wasn't hot as she died, you know? I don't care about middle-aged and older men being cast as Elves, but I'd like to see more older actresses, too!

The Harfoot stuff has an interesting mixture of cuteness and underlying menace. It doesn't interest me as much as what's going on with Galadriel, Elrond, and Arondir/Bronwyn, but I like Nori quite a bit and the whole aesthetic they have going, so I don't mind spending time with them, even though it's kind of detached from what's going on everywhere else.

Speaking of Arondir, the Southlands stuff is interesting because there's so little to work with in terms of canon (even if they had rights to everything) and the canon that does exist wrt them is super racist. So having the textual racism towards Southrons actually be brought up in-story, and rejected by an Elf protagonist who is being played by a Black man, is like ... there's a lot going on there and other people are probably better equipped to talk about it.

Personally, I would have liked to see Arondir fall in love with Bronwyn rather than being presented with it as an established thing, especially with the conversation about how this almost never happens etc. His actor does a great job with what he's given, though, and I laughed at the other Elf who is like "do you know how rarely romances between Men and Elves ever happen? do you know they always END TRAGICALLY?!"

Arondir: mmhmm

Other Elf: THEY DIED, ARONDIR

Arondir gives off big "distracted by drawing hearts around Bronwyn's name in his Trapper Keeper" vibes in that conversation and, idk, it was just really entertaining to me.

Bronwyn herself is all right thus far. I did really like the moment when she's talking about how she's from the allegedly creepy village and the people there are her relatives and friends. By and large she seems the most normal person in the cast, honestly.

I also enjoyed how deeply ominous the "approaching Valinor" music was, lmao. A bit overkill by the end, but I rather like the idea of Valinor being scary if you're not supposed to be there.

ETA: cutting between the different plots via the Middle-earth map is a bit silly as well, but functional enough. Interesting to see Calenardhon on the map before Gondor even exists!

[verecunda]

aaaaaa I have a mighty need for Arondir meeting Aegnor and Andreth! <33333333 my HEART!

AAAAAAAAAHHH OKAY. THANK YOU. :DD

I, too, have a mighty need for this! There are certain streams which just beg to be crossed, ya know? X'D

Anyway, I haven't got any further than the first few paragraphs of scene-setting, but the idea is: Arondir was from Beleriand, so what if he spent some time in Dorthonion? As a Silvan (Green-elf?), he owes no particular allegiance to the Noldorin princes, but perhaps he and his friends offered to lend their strength to the northern defences.

So Arondir is in Dorthonion, he likes Angrod and Aegnor, and he gets to know some of the Bëorians, including Andreth. And at some point, he starts to notice the closeness between her and Aegnor: the glances, the chance touches that last just a fraction too long, etc. Does he just pick up on vibes? Or will he stumble on something more definite - a kiss, an embrace by Aeluin-side? I haven't decided. Either way, he realises here's something secret, something he's a bit startled by because, like probably most Elves at this period, he's never even considered this is something that could happen. But he likes them both, so he keeps their secret for them, never imagining that he just witnessed a whole lot of foreshadowing for his own future. :P

I'm toying with the idea that during the Bragollach, after Aegnor is killed, Arondir goes to help Andreth get to safety. I also want to end it with a scene of him and Bronwyn together, where he tells her A/A - the first time he's ever told anyone. I also love the idea that Bronwyn has heard of Andreth - maybe she knows some obscure herb-lore that was first put down by Andreth? idk - and we end on some soft, possibly quite bittersweet note.

I do want to get this one done before S2 comes out, before we inevitably end up going into mourning... >.>

WIP Game!

[scriberated]

Instruments of Salvation Ch. 22

Chapter 22 | Ao3

Chapter Summary:

“You’re observant – for a Man,” Haldir said, though it sounded less like a compliment than it was phrased. “No doubt it is a skill that has played a great part in how far you have risen in rank.”

“Part of it,” Halbrand agreed, growing wary, and settled on offering an amiable smile. “Some consider me charming, too. But I’d like to think it’s the love and fealty I bear for my people that have given me such strength. It’s for them that I am here now.” Well-practiced half-truths slipped from his lips with ease, a second thought to the distraction that was the turmoil radiating from Galadriel’s side of the bond. 

“We shall see,” Haldir said, shrugging. “Bronwyn seems like a good woman. She and Arondir have done well to help your people acclimate in your absence. Both spoke well of you, for what it’s worth.”

“And is it?” he asked. “Worth anything, I mean? We have only just met but you do not seem to share their opinion, nor have you tried particularly hard to pretend otherwise.” Halbrand wondered how much damage control he would need to do before meeting with the High King. It did not sit well with him that he had barely set foot in the city and already suspicion was laid at his feet. There was too much at stake for any more of this to go wrong. 

Work Summary: It is Galadriel that is mortally wounded in the battle of the Southlands, not Halbrand. He weighs her life against the consequences of her death, and, with few options and less time, decides to save her. All magic comes with a price. Multiple POVs, alternating irregularly between Galadriel and Sauron. Rating: Explicit Warnings: Graphic Depictions of Violence Ships: Galadriel | Artanis/Halbrand (The Rings of Power), Galadriel | Artanis/Sauron | Mairon, Elrond Peredhel & Galadriel | Artanis, Elrond Peredhel & Durin IV, Elendil the Tall/Tar-Míriel, Disa (The Rings of Power)/Durin IV (Tolkien) Tags: Fuck Or Die, Cosmic Connection Taken Literally, All Magic Comes With a Price, Eventual Smut, Emotional Manipulation, Manipulation, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Canon-Typical Violence, Soul Bond, Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Slow Burn, Possessive Behavior, Possessive!Sauron, Vaginal Fingering, Cunnilingus, Oral Sex, Minor Character Death, Vaginal Sex, Soul Bond, Plot With Porn

[haladriel]

Do Sauron and Galadriel already have their own theme?

Alright my fellow Rings of Power soundtrack nerds, this one's for you. I noticed there's a beautiful, tragic motif that appears twice in the music behind two of Galadriel and Halbrand's major scenes, in suspiciously similar places in the narrative:

Firstly in the cells in Númenor, when Galadriel first encourages Halbrand to take up his crown, looking something like this in F minor*:

(soundtrack for Episode 3: Adar, Both Our Bloodlines, 00:36-00:52)

And secondly (you'll never guess where), during the log scene after the battle, developed further in Bb minor:

(soundtrack for Episode Six: Udûn, Transformed By Darkness, 05:34-06:09)

Knowing how fastidious Bear McCreary is with this score, which is filled to the brim with masterful uses of leitmotifs, and the immense care he took developing those melodies, I have a very strong (and hopeful) suspicion this is another. But what does this theme signify? Is it Galadriel and Halbrand/Sauron's present/future love theme? Does it refer to the tragedy of their partnership, in whatever form that partnership takes? Or is it Sauron's theme alone, colouring the tragedy of a fallen Maia trying desperately to seek peace and redeem himself?

In favour of being their theme in some way, there is:

Shape of the melody: the leaping 6th intervals closely resemble, or at least echo, Bronwyn and Arondir's wistful and moving love theme, with its longing and impossibility (for them, Human and Elf relationships; for Galadriel and Sauron...)

Timing: the first instance of this motif lands perfectly behind Galadriel's words 'for you are him' (a double entendre), followed by Halbrand's 'That's an odd thing to say to a man in a cage'. The second instance is even more strongly linked to their relationship, coming directly after the dialogue: 'If I could just hold onto that feeling, keep it with me always, bind it to my very being, then I...' 'I felt it too.' Or, only the most romantic (or cosmic) moment between them in the series.

What do you think? What might these moments and this theme symbolise narratively? Is there anywhere else in the score you can hear it? (And Bear McCreary, if you happen to read my humble theorising and are at liberty to confirm either way, or to offer enlightening words of wisdom, please do. If not, keep it up. We love your work.) ________________________________________________ *I've done my best at transcribing the harmonies but do not claim perfection, and similarly the rhythms are indicative sketches only. Hopefully I'm right and Bear will give us the official version in a blog post some day. All copyright lies with the composer. I also may update this with more meta or thoughts later.

[galadriel-blue]

Thoughts on Galadriel with the bow and arrow??! We saw how skilled she is with swirds--do we think she's mastered this as well in her thousands of years of life or could another elf like Arondir maybe have given her some pointers????

Okay oh my goodness the fact that she has a bow and arrow is so cool!?! I was really excited when I saw that in the trailer!

I love the way your brain is working here with the idea that perhaps Arondir taught her how to use it or at least showed her how to use it better. One of my favorite parts of season 1 was in the last few episodes where Galadriel and Theo were interacting together, so I am really hoping we get an excuse to see her interact with Arondir and Bronwyn too. (Though I am worried about Bronwyn because from what I've seen she doesn't show up in the trailer). I think it would be a great insight into Galadriel's character to watch her attempt something she isn't as skilled in, and if Arondir (or another elf), were to show her how to go about it properly, it might help her connect with her elvish culture again, even if it isn't what she's used to. In season one we see how disconnected she is from what makes her an elf, but I am hoping to watch her reclaim, or rewrite, that part of her for herself.

If it turns out she already knows how to use a bow and arrow, I won't be upset by any means, but I love your idea here and I think it would be a great opportunity for Galadriel's character development to really shine through!

Also, seeing her with a bow and arrow keeps making me think about the scene where Galadriel is giving the Fellowship gifts, and she gives Legolas a bow of the Galadhrim. I think it would be cool if the show tried to tie in that fact by alluding to it or kind of foreshadowing it if that makes sense? If the elves she leads in the future use these specially crafted Galadhrim bows, then it would be interesting to see how that came to be. Maybe Arondir teaches her how to craft her own bow or perhaps it was a gift to her for protecting Theo which she uses as inspiration for her own weapons in the future? There are so many possibilities and I love diving deeper into the content of the trailer, even with the details that might seem small! Thanks for the ask I really enjoyed talking about this because Galadriel with a bow is something that makes me so happy!

[wildwren]

IN THE SOUTHLANDS: 1x01 - 1x04 // LOTR: TROP (2022)

[centrally-unplanned]

Rings of Power episode 6 absolutely eviscerated some of the tepid goodwill the show had slowly been building in 4 and 5, the chickens of the show’s slapdash worldbuilding have come home to roost.

The cavalry charge is the worst of it - poor townsfolk of the southlands losing to the orc army, All Hope Is Lost, and then at the last minute Galadriel & Numenorians ride in to save the day! Its just like the Rohirrim in ROTK, right? But none of the work has been put in to have it make a lick of sense. The townsfolk *never communicated with any outside party* about the orc raids. Galadriel has never been to the Southlands, has never met any of these people. She knows, and convinces the Numenorians, that ~something~ involving Sauron is happening down there. They know orcs are there and killed people in the past, but not, like, actively, right now. Where they would be? Who knows? What are they up to now? Who knows!

Yet the Numenorean expeditionary force of only 300-500 men lands in the Southlands somewhere (which btw is Gondor & Mordor combined, to get how large it is), and immediately hard ride, stampede tempo, off to save this town they have never heard of and have no contact with.  Absolutely ludicrous, there is never even an attempt to justify this. 

Its just one of many baffling decisions too - Halbrand, the exiled Southlands royalty, arrives as part of that army and everyone in the town goes All Hail Our Lost King and...they have literally never mentioned a king before. No “ah in the old days the kings would have stopped this” or “if only we had a true leader”, no nothing, they are an anarcho-syndicalist commune and always have been until discount Aragorn shows up and suddenly they are fookin kneelers. 

The show is obviously unconcerned with the idea of things making sense, but i’ll take a stab at why its so bad on this front. Certainly the “surprise” factor plays in here - the show is obsessed with the idea of ‘twists’, thinking that if you know something is coming its not exciting. Its ironic that they tried to play that card for a cavalry charge, because their predecessor LOTR is the shining example of the opposite being true. The Ride of the Rohirrim is painstakingly built to, the mustering, the tactical planning, the personal emotional stakes, pre-battle speech, all of that builds up impact. They have learned every lesson wrong here.

But it does go deeper, to the ‘structure’ of a fantasy epic Rings of Power believes it has to align to, in particular having a “common folk” perspective. One of the really shoddy worldbuilding choices was for the Southlands to have no political organization whatsoever - no lord mayor, no council, no standing army, nothing. It makes no sense, until you realize the rules: the show must have some working-class folk who rise to power. Bronwyn the human villager and her guard elf lover Arondir serve that role, nobodies who lead peasants against the orcs. But them leading the peasants never made any sense; why didn’t they have existing leaders? Bronwyn in particular has absolutely no qualifications for the role whatsoever, besides inexplicably being the only townsperson to own dyed fabric and a dress with spaghetti straps, but she double-plus has to lead because Girlbosses Slay and her and Miriel needed to fistbump over their diversity wins. However, if the Southlands had an existing political structure, that would be hard to swing in six episodes...so it just doesn’t. Bronwyn leads by sheer inertia.

Which means the Southlands has no political org, which means it has no political ties, no connections, no infrastructure, no ambassadors. It can’t send out word to neighboring kingdoms requesting aid, Bronwyn doesn’t even know what those are. It can’t have a real strategy as its borders and assets don’t exist. Its an extremely foolish decision, its writing a political story (war is politics) without any political actors, to hit a storytelling quota, and it really really shows.

...also the black sword artifact, which Adar and everyone is fighting over due to its mystical properties, turns out to be a key for a dam lock that refloods a river leading to a volcano. Writers of this show, I don’t know how to tell you this, but dams? Are not magic? If you wanted to unlock a dam, you can just *do that with the dam unlocking mechanism*, you don’t need a magic black sword that sucks the blood of its wielder. Its completely useless, a total non sequitur, I cannot believe they wasted our time with that. Such a dropped ball. 

[buffyfan145]

Sad to see it confirmed that Nazanin Boniadi has left "Rings of Power" and will not be in season 2. A few weeks ago we noticed in her Instagram post about a movie she had just filmed that she took a 2 year acting break to focus on her activism. Now we've gotten confirmation that she told the writers and Amazon that she wasn't coming back before season 2 started filming in 2022. This was her decision and I fully wish her the best. The show is not recasting her and don't want to go too much into spoilers but it looks like the theory about those scenes of Arondir and Theo in it likely relate to this. I will miss Bronwyn and especially her relationships with her son and Arondir. Most of the human/elf ships always end tragically, so we knew this was coming but it's likely was fast tracked with her decision to happen earlier than planned, as well as Theo's storyline.

ETA: Nazanin posted an official statement now about her leaving and that she decided to leave the show before she decided to go more into activism. While we don't know for sure what made her decide to leave, there seems to be suggestions that the move of the show switching to filming in the UK now over New Zealand played a major factor, as well as rewriters the show did for the season 2 stories (this seems to apply more to Adar and that his character was expanded, which is why Joseph left). Be wary of people online though as they're already using this to say there's bad things happening behind the scenes of the show and attacking the cast/crew, fans, and the show again when it's normal for actors to leave shows for whatever reason at any time.

[rings-of-power-realm]

RopWek2023

Favourite Relationship

Durin and Elrond ♥

I wanted to make a fanvid for them but its taking so much longer so I'll have to upload that another time but I'm gonna gush about them now!

I love them because they established a rich history with them and you believe in their friendship and brotherhood. My ultimate jam is platonic love between people and Tolkien does this so well. The friendships he has portrayed have been the very essence of that platonic love and loyalty and abiding devotion and Elrond and Durin are just another two to add to that list. Their relationship is beautiful, they're completely different yet found a brother in one another. Don't even get me started on when Durin was going to tell him his real name that scene is one of my very favourites its so beautiful, you can see the depth of their love for each other.

I love how despite their differences and in times of struggle, they forgive each other, they understand each other and ultimately would never stray from each other. I could honestly watch an entire show just about their dynamic and I'm not even thinking of the future and what happens nope :):):)

I have to mention though I also adore Disa and this chaos trio are such a highlight in the show.

I also love Elrond and Galadriel's relationship, again the love they have for one another is so pure, full of respect and deep loyalty too. There's just something inherently special about Lord of the Rings and Rings of Power that highlights this pure devotion people different characters where they are friends but also so much more, kind of like soulmates but platonically.

Special Mentions:

Arondir and Bronwyn

Elendil and Isilldur

Galadriel and Halbrand

Poppy and Nori

Nori and The Stranger

[vakarians-babe]

Songfic Tag Game

Rules: Pick a song to accompany each of your fics or as many as you like. This might be the fic's inspiration or just pure vibes that you'd like to share with readers. Tag as many people as fics you feature (or do as you please!)

I was tagged by the lovely @shivunin! I really enjoyed this one. Tagging @bitchesofostwick @isayashai @zevrn @creaking-skull @ghostwise @shahrazade but as always, there is absolutely zero pressure.

I have 34 fics posted in total over on my AO3 page, so I'm not going to do all of them, but I will be doing more recent ones and some of my favorites. I will also say the songs and their connections to the fics are a mix of vibes and lyrics.

Not My Type: Darmas Pollaran, inveterate womanizer and expert sabacc player, is not Corso's favorite person--especially when it comes to his attitude towards a certain Smuggler Captain. (SWTOR, rated T, 1.5k)

Paper Planes by M.I.A.

What a Smuggler Deserves: Corso can't stand Taris, and that bottle of liquor isn't going to drink itself. If only he were better at not spilling his feelings the moment he's tipsy. (SWTOR, rated G, 1.7k)

Mona Lisa by Dominic Fike

Wayward Jedi: Talira Virali has been hiding on Nar Shaddaa since the Purge, but ten years is a long time to stay hidden, and time is about to be up, thanks to a certain Bracca scrapper turned Jedi. (J:FO, rated T, 1k)

Dear Dictator by Saint Motel

Remembered: Cal asks Lira why they still have their padawan braid, after all these years. The answer is complicated. (J:FO, rated T, 1.4k)

The War by SYML

Salving Touch: After Mizora's punishment, Wyll cannot sleep. Luckily enough, neither can Dearbhla. (BG3, rated G, 1.2k)

Final Days by Ben Thornewill

Frail Hope: A discovery on the road to the Harpers' ambush shakes Dearbhla. (BG3, rated T, 1.3k)

Small Hands by Radical Face

Waterproof: Things do not go as planned during Duke Ravengard's rescue mission. (BG3, rated T, 1.8k)

Cover Me in Roses by Holden Laurence

Lipstick: Iona Shepard wears lipstick, and it's an oh-so familiar shade of red. (ME, rated T, 1.3k)

Weights & Measures by Dry the River

What to Do: While Iona recovers, Garrus waits. (ME, rated G, 1k)

Siúil, a Rún by Clannad

Dancing Beneath the Holly Trees: Narmeleth likes to tease her lover. Lathuilas likes to watch her dance. (LOTRO, rated G, 0.5k)

Rilke Song by aeseaes

Whither Thou Goest: Lathuilas is bound to Narmeleth, by love and by promise, but even she cannot follow her into the west. (LOTRO, rated T, 0.8k)

Tears of Nimrodel by Chance Thomas

The Lions of House Cousland: As cousins, the future of House Cousland rests upon Talvinder and Savreen. Now, with their family and their home in ashes, they must fight both the Darkspawn and their grief in order to find that which they once thought a certainty: a future. (DA:O, rated M, 250k)

Masters of War by Judy Collins

Love Me Sweet: Varric wants Elodie. He wants them unreservedly, unashamedly, and unremittingly. (DA:2, rated E, 2.6k)

Love Me Tender by Elvis Presley

Elfroot and Tears: Both Cullen and La'ara are afraid of what the Arbor Wilds hold for them. (DA:I, rated T, 1.5k)

Bronwyn and Arondir by Bear McCreary

The Calling: Alistair may be king, but he is still a Grey Warden. And when the others begin to hear the Calling, he does too. (DA:O and DA:I, rated T, 1.2k)

Panic Attack by Liza Anne