#and elu and his descendants!

[silvantransthranduiltrash]

The real tragedy of the kinslayings is that it’s just so fucking stupid. It’s about 3 shiny jewels. And that criticism goes for both sides.

[chaos-of-the-abyss]

someone could write pages and pages and pages and pages on elu thingol's life. he could be the protagonist of like five book trilogies each with 600 words per book. he was born in cuivienen where the first non-divine life awakened; he lived through morgoth's earlier attempts to corrupt the elves and very likely lost people he cared about to them; he witnessed the war of the powers; he was among the first of his people to see valinor, having visited it under the invitation of the deities who helped originate the universe; he was the sole flesh-and-blood being in all!! of!!! history!!!! who met, fell in love with, and married a goddess that was there before creation even existed; he and said goddess were the progenitors of a unique bloodline that produced some of the legendarium's most famous figures; he separated from his brother for a very very long time; he was so loved by his people that they refused paradise if he wasn't there with them; he fought battles against morgoth's forces and saw loss as well as triumph during those battles; he was one of the oldest beings and longest-reigning kings in all of beleriand, not to mention he ruled its most ancient and most mystical, otherworldly kingdom; he was the father of two of the most famous heroes in-verse, whose deeds and stories continued to be told millennia after their deaths; he was again the first!! and!!! only!!!! elf-king in all of history to adopt a human as his own son. and throughout it all, he has a cohesive character arc. he grows to respect a people whom he once distrusted and looked down on; he comes to accept the choices of those he cares about even if he doesn't agree with said choices; he has to learn to let go of his loved ones no matter how much it grieves him. if those five trilogies existed i would be reading and rereading every single one obsessively

[afanofmanyhats]

One of my favorite things about Tolkien's writing is that he has a very specific, recurring trope. For lack of a better term, I'm dubbing this the Tolkien Wife-Guy.

This is mainly obvious in the Silmarillion, but Tolkien loves to write couples where the man is a notable individual- nobility, commits a great deed, or both- but the wife is at least equally notable, if not more beloved or powerful. Manwe is the king of the Valar and Eru's main representative in Arda? Everyone loves Varda more, and Melkor fears her more than his own brother. Elu Thingol is the king of the Silvan Elves? His wife is Melian, whose Girdle is the magic that keeps Morgoth's forces at bay. Beren is a chief among the Edain, who befriends animals and survives one of the most nightmarish places in Beleriand? His wife is Luthien.

Even in Lord of the Rings we see this occur, though the couples are on more even footing. Tom Bombadil is... Tom Bombadil, but Goldberry is the River-daughter, and Tom adores her above everything else, and the hobbits are completely taken in with her when she's their host. Similarly, while Celeborn is a mighty lord among Elves, Galadriel is one of the only Noldor in Middle-earth who saw the Two Trees, and her hair inspired Feanor to make the Silmarils, not to mention her own accomplishments in the war against Morgoth. Aragorn is the king of Gondor and Arnor, but Arwen is the Evenstar of the Elves, the descendant of three(?) different royal Elven lines. And Faramir becomes the Steward of Gondor and is one of the noblest men alive, but Eowyn killed the Witch-king, so you know. She got the grander moment for the saga.

But with (most) of these couples, we never get the impression that the man views his wife as Less-Than, or as a junior partner. Thingol is the main exception to this in how he dismisses Melian's counsel, and that's made out to be his foolishness within the text. Otherwise, Manwe treats Varda as his co-ruler, Beren never tries to downplay Luthien's achievements, and I'm pretty sure most of Tom Bombadil's dialogue is about how gorgeous Goldberry is. It's really sweet.

All of these examples really testify to how much Tolkien loved his wife. People rightly point to Beren and Luthien as the prime example of that, but I think you can find it in these other couples too. Even though Edith is mainly known to history as Mrs. Tolkien, it's evident to me that Jirt saw her as a whole person worthy of admiration outside of being his wife.

[starsofarda]

So... Gossip Elves yeah? @erendur @peasant-player thank you for giving me so much rope for my ficlets!

Lately I have been thinking a lot about Elrond and Celebrian, and how much awkwardness there must have been between them, Galadriel and Celeborn!

So. Let me offer this one. Also, all I have in mind is "Sk8er boy" by Avril Lavigne, sorry not sorry.

Sooner than Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel expected, Celebrian, beloved daughter, became of courting age. The two parents could not be more proud and yet worried.

Celebrian, her long silver hair and her uncomparable beauty second only to Galadriel's, was their pride and their joy and they were hoping that she would choose a proper suitor amongst the Elves inn the court at Caras Galathon.

Of course any parent would love for their child to find happiness, but perhaps what happened next was utterly unexpected.

At the court there was Elrond Peredhel, Herald of the High King Gil-Galad, on a diplomatic mission - a feral half-Elf who had quite the illustrious ancestry, but somehow he reminded the whole court, many of whom still remembered Doriath, of things that were now unspoken.

Maybe it was the way he carried himself, or the thick accent he was speaking Sindarin with,or something else that no one really could pinpoint for certain.

And the moment Celebrian, on a walk around the court with her attendants saw Elrond - the sunlight among the leaves reflecting on his face and the pitch dark hair and his smile - the moment she laid eyes on Elrond time seemed to stop for a moment.

And in that moment Elrond turned around and saw her, her silver hair, her beautiful figure standing still in the light shade, her rosy cheeks and eyes like stars stolen from the sky itself.

And his words failed and he could not speak, and time stopped as he forgot how to breathe and stumbled lightly.

Time started again as they both were pulled away in opposite directions, but they had met and there would be no force on the entire Arda able to keep them apart.

---

"And he said nothing?"

"Nothing, I swear! I was there with Lady Celebrian and they were both silent until both of them were suddenly called back to their duties!"

So the maidservants were talking to each other in hushed voices and quick gestures - a good gossip could never be denied, especially in a kingdom quite secluded from the ouside world.

"And whomst might you be speaking of, instead of attending to your duties?" A calm and yet authoritative voice came from behind. Lady Galadriel herself had slowly stepped in the small area where the housemaids were gathered.

"Please, forgive us, Lady Galadriel! We are going back!"

"Answer my question first."

"We... We were talking about the High King's herald! We are sorry!"

Galadriel sighed. She had not properly looked at the High King's herald, he had so far been one of the many faces crowding the halls in Caras Galathon.

Of course she knew that her daughter had fallen in love by then, of course she was hellbent on discovering the Elf she chose and she hoped that as herald of the High King this Elrond would be apt.

Oh, her famous last words.

On the next meeting Galadriel properly looked at him. And she nearly jumped out of her seat.

Was that a Noldorian battle braid that Elrond was sporting? She had seen that specific braid and that was Maedhros Feanorian's trademark braid.

Did she spot a Feanorian star on his clothes?

Oh no, oh no.

And he did speak Sindarin, but was that Quenya she was catching underneath it all?

She gave her husband Celeborn a weary look.

Not long after, she had gathered enough information, not because of any chronicle, but because the gossips ran deep and ran wild.

Gil-Galad's herald was Elrond Peredhel, son of Earendil and Elwing, descended from both Elu Thingol and Luthien and Figolfin.

And also somehow both kidnapped, adopted and raised by Maedhros and Maglor sons of Feanor.

That explained a lot of things.

Elrond represented every single nightmare that Galadriel and Celeborn had had. It had to be a hard no.

And yet.

And yet she was seeing how her daughter was so distraught and it brought back memories of her first encounter with Celeborn - she knew love.

And she was also seeing how Elrond was constantly keeping his distance, respectfully, as if he was scared of something.

That was painful to watch and even though Galadriel was tough, she was not cold-hearted. Maybe she could look past all that nightmarish stuff.

No, she wouldn't. She would sit down her daughter and have a talk. There were countless and better Elves for her daughter, for sure.

She would not allow her daughter to be anywhere close a Feanorian-adjacent Elf.

She was stopped mid-way by her husband Celeborn - bless his kind heart. "The boy can't help his heritage. He has not committed sins. Please, my beloved, do not pull a Thingol and Beren issue. You know how it ended."

"You may be right, my beloved husband. And yet I worry."

"Should there be a dire time, we will be there for our daughter."

She sat on a nearby bench, still frowning. "Bless your kind and forgiving heart. Fine. I will concede this."

---

It would only be way later, when Celebrian fell in the hands of the Orcs, that Galadriel fully accepted Elrond, the Elf willing to bring down an entire army to bring back the most precious of all things in Arda back to him and to her parents, strong enough to heal her, and strong enough to let her go when all else failed.

Then Galadriel knew that Celebrian had chosen the right one and all lingering animosity disappeared, leaving space for respect and friendliness.

[that-angry-noldo]

When King Felagund arrives to Doriath, his face is grey with grief.

His figure is thin. Worn. Shuddered by occasional tremors, either from the wind and snow that do not cease, or from many scars his body wears. His rich, golden hair is now bland, thin, cut short and uneven; his face is tired and hollow as he steps, slowly, towards the enterance to the palace of Menegroth.

The guards dare not stop him. He spares them no glance.

Menegroth is quiet. Menegroth is a grave, with king Thingol sitting on his throne, hunched in grief, and queen Melian as cold as a marble statue. King Felagund does not stop once while making his way towards the hall where they grieve.

King Felagund has little sympathy for grieving people left. His own grief ate his heart out and settled in his gut. He makes his way to the throne room. His face gains purpose; he is a dead man dragging himself to his last mission.

There is a crowd behind him when he enters the cave. He stops before the throne. His chest rises and falls slowly, and his eyes burn with fell flame.

Thingol jerks, rises his head. His eyes focus on Felagund. He gasps.

"Finrod," he chokes, and almost rises from his throne.

Felagund does not move. His eyes are fixed on Thingol.

"Tell me, was it worth it?" he finally asks.

His voice is quiet. Dark. Menacing. Thingol wavers, his face changing into a fleeting confusion.

Felagund's hand is under his cloak. He takes it out.

Slowly.

It is clutched in a fist.

The crowd holds its breath. Felagund does not take his eyes off Thingol.

"Tell me," he repeats, louder, and his voice trembles. "Was it worth it?!"

His eyes are stained with tears. He trembles.

He cries.

"When I sent you my messages," he whispers, shaking, the sound echoing from the walls, "tell me: did you ever, in your stubborness, in your pride, in your selfishness - did you ever try to see the voice of reason within them? When you looked at your daughter, tell me: did you ever think of yourself, young and reckless, standing enchanted beneath the trees? When you looked at Beren, tell me: did you not see the hand that guarded you, a soul so worn and scarred and lonely?"

Thingol is shaking. Felagund lifts his head. His face is stained with tears. He rises his voice.

"Tell me!" his words echo from the walls, drum with grief, loss, power. "Tell me! When you named your price, have you ever - ever - regretted it? Have you ever wished to utter words of blessing instead, even if they were stained with sorrow? Have you ever," he screams in earnest now, and his hand trembles as he lifts it high, "looked back and thought the price was too high? Have you ever thought that you failed to pay it?"

Thingol sits pale. The halls shake with Felagund's cries.

"I had to watch them," he sobs, "I had to watch them die in darkness. I had to listen to my friend, the man I swore to protect, the last descendant of a man long gone - I had to listen as he was devoured, I had to trash and cry - and I did not even get a body!" he screams, tears springing from his eyes. "I had to look at your daughter, as she shook and wept, and I could not comfort her, because he was gone! Because he was gone, and she loved him, but he was gone! Tell me, when you dismissed my letters so angrily - tell me, have I not warned you against this exactly?! Your daughter, your Lúthien, your starlight - gone, gone as a withering ash under the touch of wind! In your desire to save her, have you ever thought you were signing her death sentence?! Tell me, Elu Thingol: was the price really worth it?!"

No, Thingol screams, no - but Felagund's hand is shaking, and the light coming from within it is all but blinding, and Finrod yells as he throws the Silmaril on the ground, and the walls shake with his grief.

"Here is thy prize, Elwë Singollo!" he screams, glowing and shaking and terrifying, speaking the tongue Elu long thought forgotten. "Here is thy prize, here is thy reward! Here is Tinúviel, weeping on her knees, for her lover is torn to shreds, his remains breathless in her hands! Here is Beren, young and weary, whose voice knew nothing but tenderness when he talked about his Nightingale! Here are my Faithful, dead for thy foolish whim, torn apart for the greed of a madman who thought himself a God! Here," he trembles, "am I, for I am dead, dead, dead, and dead I should have been, and dead will I become! Here is your prize, Elu Thingol! Die by it!"

And with those words, he flees, nothing but the light of now double-accursed stone remaining.

When someone picks it up and hands it to Thingol, the palace is pierced by a wail of horror and agony. The gem burns the Greycloak's hands.

[eri-pl]

AU where, instead of being a jerk for no reason, Celegorm does the more honorable trope of "I'll help you and then if you success I shall duel you for the Silmaril and kill you" and Beren is like "ok let's see what comes of it" and Curufin is like "that's stupid but on the other hand if it gets us the gem... Fine." And he makes Beren a Cool Sword but then nopes out of the adventure.

And Huan is like *follows both Luthien and Celegorm because they're allies now*

And Celegorm actually helps and does some cool stuff. Not as cool as Finrod... No wait. Let him do the kill-wolf-with-teeth, it fits him much more, and let Finrod survive. :) And with Finrod there, Celegorm might actually survive too.

And Beren gets the gem, gets his hand bitten off, tells Thingol his pun about the hand, marries Luthien. Oh, and Celegorm great healed from his wounds.

And Celegorm kills another wolf (without much damage, he shoots it) and gets the gem without having to kill Beren. And he is nice enough to conveniently forget that technically he should murder Beren anyway because the Oath, and Curufin... When Curufin reminds him, Celegorm says "we can split the work. I killed the wolf, you kill Beren" and Curufin doesn't talk about it again. (Because he fears Luthien. Sorry, I don't like Curufin too much) And anyway B&L are in Doriath, the girdle is on, and without a Silmaril to be stupid about, Elu Thingol won't die so soon.

So basically C&C get the gem, Finrod lives, Thingol lives, B&L live longer than otherwise, and other stuff is the same.

Well, ok, Earendil. We'll figure something out. I mean, it had to be a human-elf mix, right? Caranthir and Haleth instead of Tuor and Idril? Caranthir's descendent would be Feanor's kin, he could steal the thing from his uncle take the thing and sail with it and technically the sons of Feanor wouldn't have to kill him or even stop him.

Practically he would have a headstart and they aren't even good sailors. (We can keep Elwing as is, only without the kinslayings.)

(or, alternatively, just for the pure irony of it, hc Amarie out and have Finrod may a human woman. And look stupid. Finrod looking stupid but happy is great)

Probably some plot holes, it's just a quick thought late in the evening.

[serene-faerie]

Doriath Dashboard Simulator

🍃 leafyboi Follow

Oh to meet a Maia in Nan Elmoth and just get lost in her eyes for 200 years

#i want whatever thingol has with his wife

( 2,450 notes )

🌳 daily-doriath-pics Following

Neldoreth under the Stars

#doriath photos #sindar #neldoreth #beleriand #middle earth #my pics #night skies

( 600 notes )

🌺 queen-melyanna Follow

Baby girl is growing up quite well.

She's a very curious child, and she has a tendency to glow when she's playing with her toys.

I suppose having a child who is half-Elven and half-Maia can yield some interesting results.

#adventures in parenting

( 190 notes )

🌌 princess-tinuviel Following

Dark hair and rugged beards have got me acting rather.... unwise

#shut up tinuviel #do not rb

( 2 notes )

🌲 beech-girl Mutuals

ngl I did not have "Princess Lúthien falls in love with hairy mortal man in the forest" on my 465 bingo card lmao

#honestly??? good for her #go get that mortal dick!

( 1,569 notes )

🦌 king-elu Follow

Call-out for the Noldor

I cannot believe I am doing this. But it is my duty to inform the people of the deceivers we have been harboring in Doriath.

And yes, this is about Alqualondë and the kinslaying that has been wrought upon Olwë's people.

TW: Violence against Elves, kinslaying, theft and destruction of property, lying, deceit

Read More

#personal

( 350 notes )

🏹 strongestbow Following

Fellas is it gay to hold hands with your human best friend when hunting in the woods together???

( 2,600 notes )

🍁 maidenofneldoreth Mutuals

Just curious:

⭐️ feanors-second-wife Follow

Excuse me???? How are we "treacherous" when the Teleri literally wouldn't give us their ships when we asked???

If they didn't want to be slaughtered, they should've just given us their swanships when we told them to. Besides, the Teleri aren't even Thingol's people! And it's not like your king was there to watch us kill the Teleri! He was literally hiding behind his wife's skirt!

🦋 flutterby-of-nivrim Follow

Wow, what an entitled piece of work you are.

First of all, way to victim-blame the Teleri of Alqualondë. They had every right not to surrender their swanships to a bunch of entitled jerks like you. You guys just stormed their lands, slaughtered them for saying no, then took the ships anyways.

Second of all, I don't understand your logic. So because Thingol wasn't there to see the kinslaying, he shouldn't be angry about it??? Girl, we Sindar are literally descended from the Teleri! Some of us had relatives who were killed in Alqualondë! And King Olwë was Thingol's kinsman! Of course Thingol has every right to be upset about the kinslaying!

Thirdly, Thingol was not "hiding behind his wife's skirt". We were literally fighting Morgoth before you guys even left Aman. We're more familiar with the evils of Morgoth than you Noldorin Elves. The whole reason why the Girdle was put up was because we lost a good chunk of our army.

Lastly, why are you even on the Sindarin side of Tumblr? Shouldn't you be kissing up to the Fëanorian princes on your own blog???

🌼 bloomingblossoms Following

🦋 flutterby-of-nivrim Follow

Lmao they blocked me

Guess I scared 'em good

#typical noldor #they can dish it out but they can't take it #finrod doesn't count tho #he's a sweetie and we all love him

( 8,901 notes )

🕊️ dior-of-doriath Following

Reblog if you think the Fëanorians are gutless, craven cowards

🌿 lord-0roph3r Follow

Damn you just woke up and chose violence today huh?

🕊️ dior-of-doriath Following

Damn right I did

There's two more Silmarils in Morgoth's crown

They can go and steal those for all I care

#no way am i giving up the one that my parents risked their own lives to get #you want em so badly #go on and fight morgoth for the other two you cowards

( 750 notes )

🌸 flowermaidenofmenegroth Follow

Did anyone else have "Thingol gets killed by Dwarves" and "Melian's girdle fails" on their bingo card this year???

#got a bad feeling about doriath's future

( 1,500 notes )

🌱 thr4nduil-the-fair Mutuals

It's been a long journey, but at last, we made it to the Havens of Sirion.

Unfortunately, our king and queen fell in battle, and Menegroth is in ruins. Even worse, we couldn't find the twin boys in the forest. Though I pray that they are alive, deep down, I know that the worst has come to pass.

Luckily, we managed to escort Elwing to safety, but my heart aches for her. She's still so young, and in only one day, she's lost her parents and brothers.

But though her family is gone, I will do my best to help in raising her. I feel that she will grow into a strong young lady one day.

For now, it's time for us to rest. Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers.

From tomorrow, we must start healing.

#personal #ruin of doriath

( 79 notes )

[cilil]

✧˖° Day 6: Melian & Dior | New Beginnings & Valinor ✧˖° Synopsis: As Melian mourns her daughter, she learns that not all of her descendants are gone. ✧˖° Warnings: References to loss of child ✧˖° Drabble

The loss of her daughter was like a wound marring her very spirit, a pain that would never fade. 

For years Melian had wandered the gardens of Lórien, lost like her beloved Elu had once been. 

"Grandmother?" 

The voice that awoke her from her trance was one she hadn't expected to hear within the circles of Arda again. Another loved one thought lost, now undeniably there. 

"Dior?" 

Melian turned. Indeed, it was her grandson reborn, looking as painfully similar to his mother as always. 

"I chose to remain." He smiled. 

With tears in her eyes, she rushed to embrace him. 

Yeah I like to hc that Dior received a choice as well and chose immortality :3 thanks for reading! ♡

taglist: @ainurweek @asianbutnotjapanese @elanna-elrondiel @eunoiaastralwings

@i-did-not-mean-to @just-little-human @urwendii @wandererindreams

[just--a--random--human--being]

Welcome to random Arda stuff:

I have decided to make a bunch of posts that explain some random Tolkien shit (ex. Elven names, Subgroups, Species in Arda, etc.) Masterlist Starting off with Elven subgroups:

Primary Division

When the Elves awoke by the waters of Cuiviénen, they were all one people. However, they were later divided based on whether they chose to follow the summons of the Valar to Aman (the Undying Lands):

Eldar: Those who accepted the summons of the Valar.

They undertook the Great Journey westward toward Aman.

Subdivided based on how far they traveled.

Avari: Those who refused the summons.

They remained in Middle-earth and never saw the light of the Two Trees.

The Avari fragmented into various groups, and little is explicitly detailed about them.

Eldar Division

The Eldar themselves were further divided during and after the Great Journey:

1. Vanyar

Characteristics:

The first and smallest group to undertake the journey.

Closest in loyalty and proximity to the Valar.

Known for their golden hair and great spiritual insight.

Deeply associated with the light of Aman and the Valar.

Status:

They remained in Aman and rarely appeared in later events in Middle-earth.

2. Noldor

Characteristics:

Renowned for their craft, knowledge, and thirst for learning.

Skilled in smithing, gem-making, and lore.

Often ambitious and passionate, which led to both great achievements and great tragedies.

Key Figures:

Fëanor, creator of the Silmarils, and his sons.

Finwë, Fingolfin, and Galadriel.

Status:

Many followed Fëanor in rebellion to Middle-earth to recover the Silmarils after the Darkening of Valinor.

Played a central role in the events of the First Age.

3. Teleri

Characteristics:

The largest and most diverse group, often associated with the sea and music.

Many of them lingered during the journey west and splintered into subgroups.

Key Subgroups:

Falmari: Those who reached Aman and became the Sea-Elves of Alqualondë.

Sindar: Those who stopped in Beleriand, led by Thingol.

Nandor: Those who turned aside into the Vales of Anduin, later becoming Silvan Elves.

Elves Who Stayed in Middle-earth

Not all Teleri completed the journey. These groups are collectively referred to as Úmanyar, or "Those Who Did Not Reach Aman."

1. Sindar (Grey Elves)

Characteristics:

Lived in Beleriand, ruled by Thingol and Melian in Doriath.

Culturally rich and highly influential despite never seeing Aman.

Known for their craftsmanship and connections to the natural world.

Key Figures:

Thingol (Elu Thingol) and Melian.

Status:

Played a prominent role in the events of the First Age.

2. Nandor

Characteristics:

A subgroup of Teleri who turned aside during the Great Journey to settle in the Vales of Anduin.

Known for their woodland lifestyles and simplicity.

Key Subgroups:

Laiquendi (Green-Elves): Those who moved to Ossiriand in Beleriand.

Silvan Elves: Descendants of the Nandor in regions like Mirkwood and Lothlórien.

3. Avari

Characteristics:

The "Refusers," who never began the journey west.

Fragmented into many tribes and cultures, often fading into obscurity.

Status:

Generally less developed culturally than the Eldar.

[ardafanonarch]

Heirlooms of the Númenoreans: Aranrúth and Narsil

Swords of the First Age, Part 2 of 3

[This is a continuation of the response to this ask.]

Aranrúth

Meaning: King’s Ire. Sindarin.

Maker: Unknown. (See discussion.)

Owned/wielded by: Thingol, [Dior?], Elwing, Elros, the Kings of Númenor. (See discussion.)

Fate: Did not survive the downfall of Númenor (Unfinished Tales, ‘A Description of Númenor’, note 2).

Aranrúth. ‘King’s Ire’, the name of Thingol’s sword. Aranrúth survived the ruin of Doriath and was possessed by the Kings of Númenor. Index of The Silmarillion

‘I ask then for a sword of worth,’ said Beleg; ‘for the Orcs come now too thick and close for a bow only, and such blade as I have is no match for their armour.’ ‘Choose from all that I have,’ said Thingol, ‘save only Aranrúth, my own.’ The Silmarillion, ‘Of Túrin Turambar’

Discussion

We do not know who made Aranrúth. We do, however, know that the Sindar’s first weapons were forged by the Dwarves:

Therefore Thingol took thought for arms, which before his people had not needed, and these at first the Naugrim smithied for him; for they were greatly skilled in such work, though none among them surpassed the craftsmen of Nogrod, of whom Telchar the smith was greatest in renown. The Silmarillion, ‘Of the Sindar’

So potentially Aranrúth was forged by Dwarves, perhaps even Telchar.

There is another curious passage about Thingol’s armouries in The Children of Húrin:

Now Thingol had in Menegroth deep armouries filled with great wealth of weapons: metal wrought like fishes' mail and shining like water in the moon; swords and axes, shields and helms, wrought by Telchar himself or by his master Gamil Zirak the old, or by elven-wrights more skilful still. For some things he had received in gift that came out of Valinor and were wrought by Fëanor in his mastery, than whom no craftsman was greater in all the days of the world. The Children of Húrin, ‘The Departure of Túrin’

Dwarven smiths, including Telchar and Gamil Zirak, are mentioned again; but according to this passage, at least, Thingol also possessed Noldorin weaponry, including objects wrought by Fëanor himself!

And, of course, we know Eöl, formerly Thingol’s subject, was a weaponsmith so it’s not like none of the Sindar possessed this skill. We also do not know when it was forged, save that Thingol definitely possessed it by the time Anglachel passed to Beleg. In sum, there are myriad possibilities for the maker of Aranrúth.

Was Aranrúth ever used in combat? Yes: While we do not see Thingol fight much in the Silmarillion, he was involved in combat in the First Battle (The Silmarillion, ‘Of the Sindar’). In an unwritten Canto of Lay of Leithian, Tolkien wrote the outline of a battle between Thingol’s army and Orcs who were searching for Lúthien on the borders of Doriath. It is said that “Thingol himself slays Boldog,” the Orc captain, in their victory (The Lays of Beleriand, The Lay of Leithian, ‘The Unwritten Cantos’ 12). So Thingol did engage in combat, and it’s reasonable to assume Aranrúth was his weapon in these battles.

Unfinished Tales (‘A Description of Númenor’, footnote 2) tells us:

The King’s sword was indeed Aranrúth, the sword of Elu Thingol of Doriath in Beleriand, that had descended to Elros from Elwing his mother.

This is one of those places with frustratingly, and tantalisingly, few details and gaps in the narrative. First of all, we do not know how Aranrúth passed from Thingol to Elwing (presumably via Dior, but not confirmed). Second, we don’t know how Aranrúth was saved from both the sack of Doriath and the sack of Sirion. This is complicated by the fact that Elwing was a child at the time of the former, and Elros her son was a child at the time of the latter. Surely an adult would have been involved in the transportation and transferral of this mighty weapon, but who? This is where you’ll find some interesting possibilities explored by fans: Was Oropher perhaps involved, the Iathren father of Thranduil never written into the Silmarillion? Or Galadriel, whose whereabouts at this time are inconclusive? Did Gil-galad find it in Sirion and pass it on to Elros later? Or did Maglor bring it with him out of Sirion and pass it on to his foster Elros? Up to you! Canon does not tell us.

Finally, all we know of Aranrúth’s fate is that it did not survive the Downfall. But if Ar-Pharazôn had it on him when he went ashore in Valinor, might it have been buried with him?

Narsil

Meaning: Red and White Flame (according to LotR index). Quenya.

Maker: Telchar

Owned/wielded by: Unknown; Elendil, who wielded it in the War of the Last Alliance; shards borne by Isildur, Valandil and his line; reforged as Andúril and wielded by Aragorn in the War of the Ring.

Notable for: cutting the Ring from Sauron’s hand.

Fate: broken in the War of the Last Alliance; shards borne by Elendil’s heirs through the Third Age and eventually reforged as Andúril.

But at the last the siege was so strait that Sauron himself came forth; and he wrestled with Gil-galad and Elendil, and they both were slain, and the sword of Elendil broke under him as he fell. But Sauron also was thrown down, and with the hilt-shard of Narsil Isildur cut the Ruling Ring from the hand of Sauron and took it for his own. The Silmarillion, ‘Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age' 'Here I set it,' he said, 'but I command you not to touch it, nor to permit any other to lay hand on it. In this elvish sheath dwells the Blade that was Broken and has been made again. Telchar first wrought it in the deeps of time. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, ‘Chapter 6: The King of the Golden Hall’

Discussion

Narsil is a fascinating sword of the “First Age” because the only reason we know it even existed that early is Aragorn’s one mention of Telchar in The Two Towers, quoted above. The problem is, Elendil is the first confirmed owner of Narsil — at the end of the Second Age! This leaves over three-and-a-half millennia of history unaccounted for. Nothing in canon tells us how Narsil got from the smithies of Nogrod to Elendil. (Until I did this research, even I was certain that Elros was confirmed to have owned Narsil; not so.)

This mention has led fans to do some imaginative mental gymnastics devising a history for the famous Blade that was Broken. One popular interpretation is that Elros received Narsil from Maedhros, and this is not without basis in canon. For one, we know that Elros was fostered by Maglor and presumably knew Maedhros also (in some versions, it is in fact Maedhros who fosters the half-elven twins). There is also a canonical link between Maedhros and Telchar, recounted in the Narn i hîn Húrin in Unfinished Tales (the story was not reproduced in the Children of Húrin): when Maedhros saves the life of Azaghâl lord of Belegost in an Orc raid on the Dwarf road, Azaghâl gives him the Dragon-helm of Dor-lómin — another work of Telchar — as guerdon. Could Azaghâl have given him Narsil at the same time? Of course, there are plenty of other ways Maedhros might have received Narsil besides, this is just one of the more direct links.

There are also countless other ways Narsil could have come to Elendil. Another equally plausible explanation would be that it was one of the weapons in Thingol’s armouries, saved, like Aranrúth, from the sack of Doriath. And we don’t even know that Narsil was ever in Númenor! Could it have been Elrond’s sword, that he gave to his cousin many-times-removed when he came to Middle-earth? There are many, many tantalising possibilities.

Part 1 | Part 3

[menelvagor]

❛ i am at your mercy, your grace. ❜ -✧- @fallensmith

Elu Thingol stood before his throne, positioned now between it and the captive that had been brought to him by his wardens of the West march. The guards had told him they caught the younger elf spying, sneaking about the borders of the Girdle in hope to find entry. If he was any other elf, human, or spirit they might have left him to get lost in the enchantment of the land. However, this was a descendant of Fëanor. This was an enemy of the Sindar, the Teleri, and of Doriath.

He glared at Celebrimbor who was knelt before him, stating he was at the King's mercy.

"Why have thou come to the Kingdom of Doriath, Fëanorian?" Thingol asked, voice dripping with venom as the name was uttered. Despite his dislike though, ideas were forming in his mind. Perhaps Celebrimbor could be used to threaten Curufin and his brother, who were causing many a headache for the King.

If they could kidnap his precious daughter, why could he not take one of their own children? Not that he would seek to harm him, however the thread of his plot continued to unravel.

[ladysternchen]

Putting all my head canons concerning the royal house of Doriath together here in one post so as not to flood @sindarweek with them xD (sorry about that. But they are my family within Arda and I do love them all very very very much and have just as much to say about them)

-My headcanon about Elmo's wife (whom I at last decided to name Thônwen)

-little fluffy Lúthien headcanon (I'm still going to write my full hc about her)- @lycheesodas brought that headcanon to life for me with her gorgeous art

-my headcanon on Sindarin burial rites -Elmo (my most beloved obscure character) -about Elwë and Elmo as brothers part one and part two and part three -on Galadhon and his family/descendants -and our beloved Queen, my female mc through almost all my works, the one part of my favourite characters... part one, part two, part three & part four -how I think the Girdle might have worked -and, with my 'headcanon-explained' yet unfinished, my <put in many words here>, Elu Thingol, part one, part two & part three (to be continued)

[chaos-of-the-abyss]

guys guys guysssssss how touched do we think thingol was when he learned that dior and nimloth named their sons after him.......

[tinnictheguardian]

Maedhros & Fingon vs Maedhros's Brothers?

As mentioned in my last post, I do think it was possible for Maedhros and Fingon to escape their dooms through acts of humility. Acts neither would be willing to perform as they would have to let go of their prides as Princes of the Noldo. But let's assume for a moment they do let to of their pride and try to make amends.

At the point when Fingon rescue's Maedhros and Maedhros gives over the kingship of the Noldo to Fingolfin, Maedhros and Fingon are: 1) Slayers of the Teleri of Aman, and 2) Maedhros also had the oath of Feanor.

Nothing much can be done about the Oath of Feanor except for Maedhros to declare that he's abandoning the oath and accepts the void as his punishment if Elu Iluvatar wills it. Now there is an argument you can make that the oath was always null and void because the oath was essentially a sin and you cannot swear to commit a sin. I.e. the only reason the oath had any power because the Sons of Feanor gave it power/it was an excuse for them to do what they wanted. But not that it was a mind control spell that made them do terrible things.

Even if you assume that oath is like a magic spell that controls the Sons of Feanor like the one ring, Maedhros declaring he accepts his fate as an oathbreaker, I think, still gets him "free" from the oath and it becomes a thing he has to deal with after he dies.

However, both Fingon and Maedhros are under the Doom of the Noldo which was specifically laid on them because they killed the Teleri and only because they killed the Teleri and stole their swan ships.

IF they had all crossed the Helkaraxe together, an act that might have been done a bit safer if Feanor was with them and using his intellect to create better equipment to survive the ice better. There would be no Doom of the Noldo.

More importantly, once they got to Middle-Earth, they tried to hide what they had done and made no attempts to make reparations. Something they could potentially do to Elu Thingol because technically, Elu Thingol was the High King of all Teleri. I.e. King Olwe would be subordinate to Elu Thingol if/once the former arrives in Aman.

So Fingon and Maedhros could have gone to Elu Thingol and confessed everything before, as in canon, rumours started by Morgoth forced the children of Finarfin to reveal the truth. But confession alone doesn't do anything and if Fingon and Maedhros wants to start making reparations, they would have to offer their services to Elu Thingol.

Now it would not be a pleasant placement for them because Elu Thingol is many things but he's not endlessly kind. Also, the rank and file of the Sindar are unlikely to be too kind to two princes who potentially killed their kin. Kin who they thought were safe because they were across the sea.

However, committing to the act of humility of serving Elu Thingol as penance would, I think, get Fingon and Maedhros as out of the Doom of the Noldo as it is possible while still living in Middle-Earth.

Of course, this raises the question, what happens after? So Maedhros and Fingon commit to serving Elu Thingol as penance. How long do they do that? Even Melkor couldn't be held in bondage forever. Tolkien makes it clear in his letters that Manwe couldn't keep Melkor imprisoned forever without becoming corrupt himself. Thingol would fall earlier if he tried to keep Maedhros and Fingon in servitude indefinitely.

So is it that he takes a 100 years from them and send them back? Or does he let Maedhros and Fingon go back from the start and do what they did in canon but only after getting them to swear fealty to him and NOT Fingolfin? Certainly I think Thingol would get Fingon to renounce the crown in favour of descendants of Finwe who didn't kill their kin. Making Turgon the second in-line after Fingolfin.

So there is a lot of things that would be different if Maedhros and Fingon had made the decision to try and make reparations and take accountability for their actions during the 1st Kinslaying. But what interests me the most is, would Maedhros turn on his brothers if events still end with a Silmaril in Doriath and the Girdle of Melian falls due to the death of Thingol?

I would argue that the part of the tragedy of the Feanor and his Sons is that they were all loyal to each other. The tragedy being that they shouldn't have been. They were wrong to keep following the oath and doing horrible things. Celebrimbor should not have been the only member of House Feanor to break with House Feanor.

Also, I don't know how to point this out without it coming across as if I think Noldo lives are worth more then Teleri lives. So let me start by saying, all elves matter. However, the 1st and the 2nd kinslaying was Noldo vs Teleri. But by the time of the 3rd kinslaying, the sons of Feanor were killing survivors of Gondolin. Turgon's people. It was Noldo vs Noldo, making it extra close kinslaying.

However, if Maedhros is committed to make amends. It may well lead to a situation where it's him vs his brothers with Teleri at his back. I.e. him defending Teleri from his brothers.

Certainly, if I ever write a fic about "Maedhros the repentant", it would end with Maedhros being killed by Curufin while Curufin rages about how HE should have been born Nelyfinwe. But Maedhros actually dies happy because he bought enough time for Fingon to lead the Teleri to safety, and he's ready to embrace the void. But Elu Illuvatar isn't that cruel. So <insert sort of happy ending>

Anyway, I just wanted to muse a bit more on the whole concept of Maedhros (and Fingon) repenting. I have been thinking about how I often see Feanor's sins and the intention of the valar being misunderstood by fanfiction writers. But it was only when I started writing my last post that I thought of the question: what if Maedhros and Fingon could swallow their pride enough to try and repent for their sins and I just wanted to post about it a bit more!

[englishlotusflower]

Update with new generations:

Celebrimbor, funnily enough, looks more like his mum than his dad. He has her cool remove and a lot of her features (like a lot a lot of her features). However, he also has his grandfather's temper and colouring, and his father's mouth (which twists into sneers so easily even when he's trying not to), so the resemblance to the Curufinwë line kind of overpowers the rest. Like his father, whenever he's deep in Crafting Mode, he looks more like his mother than anyone else. 

Glorfindel has his father's bone structure and the Vanyarin hair from both his parents, but his eyes are Finwë's, and he has the drama to back it up. His mannerisms mostly come from his mum (Findis) and from Varda (who Findis has dedicated her service to), and the combination pisses Fëanor off even more than Findis did. He's kinder to Glorfindel about it though, because Fëanor is weak to children, especially children looking up at him with his father's eyes.

Gil-Galad is about a hair taller than his father (Fingon), and absolutely delights in it. He has his father's black hair and grey eyes, making him very much a Finwëan to look at. However, his bone structure and his build very much comes from his quick, brash Huntress mother. Thankfully, he inherited his grandfather's diplomatic nature rather than either of his parent's...lack of diplomacy. Oh, and he inherited his grandmother's icy temper.

Idril is 100% Vanyarin until you get her into a temper and then you notice her grey eyes and realise she's actually very much a Noldo. She has Finwë's hot temper by the way, not Turgon's.

Eärendil looks more like the House of Hador than any of the elven houses. He's got his mother's bearing though, and her temper and the Finwëan drama. His dad is disappointed he didn't get the deep, intense grey eyes, but his mum is very happy he got the bright, clear blue of Hador's descendants. 

Elros is like his dad if he had black hair and grey eyes. Oh, and even more drama and the Ainurin propensity to change a little bit according to his situation. It can get very weird if he's in the right mood.

Elrond is very, very, very tall. This is 100% a choice, but also 100% genetics seeing as the Finwëans and the Elwëans have a history of super tall kids (Elu, Turgon, Maedhros etc). He's more like Melian and Lúthien and Dior and Elwing than any of his Noldorin kin, but his manner is entirely Noldorin, as is his drama penchant. His share of the temper went entirely to Elros.

Elladan looks more like Turgon than like anyone else. He has Turgon's resting bitch face, icy temper, height, the list goes on. Weirdly enough, this means that he has the most resemblance to Indis out of Elrond's children. Which also means Elladan is the one who looks most like his mum. Genetics in this family are weird.

Elrohir is the one who looks most like Finwë out of his latest descendants. He is also the shortest of Elrond's children, by like two mm, which makes him very annoyed a lot of the time, and has the Vanyarin build (shorter and more slender than the Noldor or Sindar/Teleri). It comes out to looking weirdly like Fëanor (especially when he's in a temper) and everyone hates it. He thinks its hilarious.

Arwen is hailed as Lúthien reborn for her entire life, but really she looks like her dad. And by this I mean that she has all of the Nelyarin genes from both of her parents, except it comes with a dash of Finwëan drama and temper on top, so she's her dad but more dramatic. That kind of evens out to everyone thinking Lúthien but she would like them all to know that they are wrong and she is a mini-dad.  

Maeglin did not inherit his mother's height, which he doesn't mind because it means he can still tuck under her chin for hugs. He has his father's black eyes and sly mouth, but in everything else he's a mini-Aredhel. This is perfectly fine with him, because he adores his mother.

Finduilas did get the Finwëan drama gene, much to her father's despair. She has a very Sindarin/Telerin look to her thanks to her Sindarin mother, in her features and her build and almost everything else. However, she has the grey eyes and the fire of Finwë's house, also known as the drama gene.

Celebrían has the height from both of her parents, so she's guaranteed to be taller than almost anyone she meets. She is very happy with this. She has her father's colouring, but her mother's beauty and build, and her temper (unfortunately). From both of her parents, she has the competence of the Nelyarin royal house. Oh, and she has the pride from...well, all of her forebears. 

Inglor has his father's (Círdan) silver hair, and calm temperament and his sturdy (by elven standards) frame, though he is forever grateful that he did not inherit the beard. He got his mother's (Lalwen) charisma though, and her eyes and a lot of her bone structure. The drama mostly (mostly) passed him over.

Gildor gives thanks every day that he can pass for your average non-Finwëan elf. His colouring and build and mannerisms are all very much solid, sea-faring, respectable Falathrim. He's like a mini version of his grandfather. However, he did inherit the restlesness and a bit of the drama, and so he doesn't stay in the Havens much (to Círdan's dismay), but wanders all over Middle Earth, giving his poor grandfather a heart attack. So that probably makes him a stealth Noldo, but he's in denial because the Noldor are always waiting to put responsibility on the shoulders of poor, innocent elves who had no say in their ancestors. 

Who Looks Like Who(for Plot and also Angst purposes in some cases, but mostly based off vibes)

Fëanor has Míriel's expressions, her short slight frame, and her elegant nimble hands, but his colouring, his charisma, everything else comes from Finwë

Maedhros looks like Nerdanel, but with a bit of Finwë in him. You can tell from a glance that he's Nerdanel's son, equally so that he's Finwë's grandson. It's much hard to tell that he's Fëanor's son (unless he's in a temper). He has Nerdanel's level head and pragmatism combined with the Finwëan charisma, intensity and general OP-ness, all of which he inherited in spades. It's very dangerous - to others.

Maglor has Nerdanel's nose and eyes, and her vibes of quiet serenity until the breaking point and then quiet pointed fury, but also he looks like Fëanor otherwise. Especially wrt his charisma.

Celegorm looks like Míriel. He has Nerdanel's more solid frame, but otherwise could pass for Míriel's twin. Everyone who knew Míriel is always commenting on how he has her hair, her eyes, her rebelliousness, her restlesness, her temper etc. Part of the reason he spends so much time in the woods is because no one there compares him to a woman who died before he was born.

Caranthir looks like Nerdanel with dark hair, and he has her pragmatism. He does have his father's temper, but he also has A Lot of Indis' mannerisms that he has no idea where they came from Atar. (Indis is a genius with maths, economics, trade - Caranthir learnt everything from her. She isn't proud of much that anyone does in Beleriand, but she is very proud of Caranthir's trade empire.)

Curufin looks exactly like Fëanor, except when he's deep in Crafting Mode - then he looks weirdly like Nerdanel. He has Nerdanel's clear head and her insight, and Fëanor's short temper. He's cruel when he's angry, unlike his dad who rampages indiscriminately, but very much like his mum who always knows how to make it hurt.

Ambarussa are identical, with Nerdanel's colouring and frame, but Fëanor's face. Lightly toasted (or crispy or whatever) has more Fëanor vibes and raw has more Nerdanel vibes. Can't explain it, its just Like That. And also the vibes of Fëanor accidentally toasting the twin more like himself. Delicious

Findis has her mother's golden hair, her father's eyes, and an uncanny likeness to Míriel in her mannerisms that can only come from copying Fëanor. (Does this piss Fëanor off? Absolutely. Will she ever stop? Absolutely not.)

Fingolfin has his mother's eyes and her height, but just like Fëanor his colouring, his charisma, everything comes from Finwë.

Fingon did not inherit his father's height and he will never not be sore about it. He looks more like Anairë than anyone else, but his eyes are indubitably Fingolfin's. His habit of braiding ribbons in his hair comes from Findis - she tends to use bright colours but he prefers only gold.

Turgon DID inherit Fingolfin's height, and just like Fingolfin he will never let his elder brother forget it. HE looks a lot like Indis, if she had Noldorin colouring, and everyone says his more...settled temperament comes from her. It doesn't - Indis is calm and controlled, Turgon has his mother's resting bitch face and icy temper. Everyone just thinks he doesn't because his temper is quiet rather than explosive.

Aredhel also inherited Fingolfin's height. She looks like Anairë if Anairë had the Finwëan dramatic tendencies and charisma. Her idols are Cousin Celegorm and Aunt Lalwen (in that order) and it shows.

Argon is taller than Aredhel. By like...a hair. When he discovers that, it becomes his entire personality for a good week. He is the only one who looks mostly like Fingolfin, but he has Anairë's quiet, deadly iciness rather than the Finwëan over the topness.

Finarfin has his mother's colouring and her calm facade, but in all else he is Finwë writ blond. He also hides a temper under the calm facade, but because he controls it better everyone assumes his dad's temper passed him by.

Finrod has the Telerin chill/friendly factor mixed with the Noldorin dramatic intensity, which leaves him aggressively and pointedly friendly. He looks like his mum if Eärwen were blonde and constantly wore as much jewellery as Fëanor made in a particularly inspired month.

Orodreth got Indis' calm facade, and the Finwëan drama gene skipped him for which he is eternally thankful. He has Eärwen's colouring, and Finwë's bone structure, but everything is softer with Orodreth. He's just very shy and quiet and adorable.

Angrod looks very much like his dad, if his dad had blue eyes. He also got Indis' calm facade, but the difference between him and Orodreth is that for Angrod it is just a facade. He's got stubborness in spades from Finwë, and a backbone of mithril from his mum. She also gave him a healthy dose of common sense. Oh and he got a bunch of mannerisms off Findis that really annoy his uncle Fëanor.

Aegnor...well. People make jokes that he's Fëanor but blond. He's got the charisma, the intensity, the impulsiveness, the propensity for bad life choices, the list goes on. Thankfully, he also has Angrod to keep him from anything too awful.

Galadriel has Indis' height, her strength, her colouring and beauty, and a temper that wouldn't look out of place on Fëanor himself. She also has her mother's competency (which comes from the same place as Lúthien's ability to take down the two biggest bads without breaking a sweat). It's a rather dangerous combination.

Lalwen is...herself. She's got her mother's height, her father's charisma and his colouring, but mostly she's just Lalwen. Bold and laughing and utterly done with her family's drama.

[armenelols]

Thingol: Into Doriath shall no Man come while my realm lasts, not even those of the House of Bëor who serve Finrod the beloved

Beren: Watch me

Túrin: ...