#best high king of the noldor

[thrillofhope]

Gil-galad, you’ve never looked better, babygirl.

[valacirya]

f you're still taking asks for the unusual headcanons ask game, would you do 🐅 and 🗡️ for Finarfin, please?

Sorry for the late reply!

🐅 - Characterization

He's as stubborn and proud and ambitious as the rest of his family, just in a very different way. His pride is not in his personality/skills/achievements but in his strength of character and in being part of a whole (i.e. the Amanyar). His ambition is not personal, but to make the Noldor and Valinor better than before. And he had to be pretty stubborn to resolutely stay out of his family's drama, not get caught up in Feanor's rabble-rousing, and turn back into darkness and uncertainty because it was the right thing to do.

🗡️ - Fighting style/combat

It's highly unlikely canon-wise, but I love the idea that he wielded Ringil, Fingolfin's sword (maybe Thorondor managed to bring it to Gondolin, and it passed down to Earendil who then gave it to Finarfin). I don't know much about fighting styles but I imagine he was very utilitarian and stony (not inclined to rage). He had centuries to sharpen his anger into steel.

[inthehouseoffinwe]

Crack idea: Elrond’s tired of elves constantly asking him to be king, and when they finally say ‘if not you, at least choose one of your sons!’ plonks the crown on Aragorn.

He has the training. The skills. Is well known and generally loved by the vast majority of elves anyway.

And if they don’t like it? Well. They should’ve been more specific.

It’s worth mentioning Thranduil finds the whole thing *hilarious* and doesn’t even try to hide that he’s sending his most problematic elves Aragorn’s way. Elrond and Galadriel start doing the same and we end up with Gondor filled with hardcore Doriathrim and Fëanorians.

The only reason they’re not throwing hands is the position of High King is cursed and no one wants to answer to Elrond if his youngest son gets so much as a paper cut on their watch. Especially since this whole thing is their fault. Aragorn ends up with a constant guard of Sindar and Noldor he can’t shake off no matter what he does.

[molteasee]

Silmarillion Noldor Kings summed up pretty accurately 😂

Fëanor

Maehdros

Fingon (imo the last of the great kings)

Fingolfin

Maglor

Finwë

Turgon

Gil-Galad

Elrond

[sesamenom]

maglor's second run as high king regent (while elrond tries to figure out who gil galad is even related to):

Elrond: Hey.

Maglor: What do you want?

Elrond: So, Gil-Galad died.

Maglor: And?

Elrond: We need a new king.

Maglor: Absolutely not.

[thesummerestsolstice]

A List of Very Convincing Reasons why Elrond Peredhel Cannot become Noldor High King after Gil-Galad, written by Dnorle Lehderep

He's like Finwe's great great great grandson; that's clearly too many generations away.

Also he's technically a Feanorian and they're like, super cursed and also dispossessed so maybe he shouldn't be in the line of succession.

No one can agree on whether his claim comes from the Nolofinwean or Feanorian lines. Clearly the best solution to this is for him to not be king.

Galadriel is right there.

He turns into a bird sometimes and everyone knows that birds can't be elf-kings that would be silly.

Yes, he does have one of the three rings "for elvish kings" but Cirdan also has one of those, and he's not an elvish king, so frankly it doesn't matter.

Gil-Galad's will, which states that Elrond inherits the crown, was clearly forged. I will not explain how. Trust me on this one.

C'mon guys he's not even technically an elf. Yes Melian was a queen over elves without being an elf. Yes Dior was a half-elf elf king. I don't see what that has to do with anything.

Do we really need a king?? Apparently some edain are experimenting with a new system called "democracy" and fraknly that sounds a lot better and cooler than having another king.

We'd have to get the crown resized again and that would be a lot of work.

He wears his hair partially down. In public. If that's not scandalous I don't konw what is.

I know his followers keep talking about how great of a leader he is, but they're mostly Feanorians, so clearly that doesn't count.

Galadriel. Is. Right. There.

He probably doesn't even speak Quenya. Don't ask anyone at court to confirm this.

He's very busy revolutionizing the field of medicine in Rivendell right now, please leave me him alone.

Clearly he doesn't wear enough jewelry to be a proper Noldor king.

[thelien-art]

Galadriel; Lady of the Woods of Lothlórien

I like to think she doesn't wear anything that can be confused with a crown in the third age, both because she doesn't want to be the high king and because I think she thinks she´s not worth it. Not going back to Valinor after the war of wrath was her way to cut ties with the royal family in a way, because she´s too restless and ambitious for Valinor. Also, she´s just not interested.

She goes back to the Noldor braiding system somewhere in the third age after having loose hair like the Sindarin for the first and second.

Second Version;

I didn´t know which I liked best so here is another version of the same drawing

I think this one fits more with the woods since they are called "the golden woods" I just also think the first one has her pop out more., idk

Also a quick one without the halo cuz why not

[brynnmclean]

All right. Here's what I've been thinking about though (ETA: now cleaned up and on AO3):

Celeborn falling apart in the aftermath of the war. Beleriand literally crumbling down around everyone, the water pouring in. Everyone lost people in that desperate time-- and he was a soldier wounded in body and mind-- he was lost. He lost her. Galadriel. And he lost others, too, comrades and friends from Doriath, Sirion-- blood and bodies beneath the waves, so many ghosts.

There was a point where he just... it felt like he crawled through the years. Existing, wandering, lost, lost, lost. Eventually, he found other Sindar-- Oropher who had never liked him much, Amdír who liked him well enough. Amdír said, stay with me and help our people, and so Celeborn did. They go to Edhellond first, where Celeborn loses his voice again entirely, drawing inward and trying to shield himself from painful memories of Sirion-- and then Amdír leads them to Lórinand, which Celeborn likes better. He's always felt much more at home in forests than by the sea or under a hill.

There is a little girl with silver hair, an orphan of the war. He doesn't adopt her so much as she adopts him. One day, she marches up to him and puts her tiny hand in his and orders him to tell her about the flowers that cover the ground and the birds that roost in the trees. He does his best, though his voice is a little rough. He helps her climb up a very tall tree. When she scrapes her hands, he cleans the little cuts, kisses them better at her request. When she is tired, he carries her back to where the other motherless, fatherless children stay. She clutches the end of his long silver braid in her sleep.

She's so young, all her family gone. She doesn't remember what her parents called her beyond endearments, but something in her bearing reminds him of-- well. The first time she makes him laugh, he calls her a little queen. So it's rían. Celeborn's rían. Celebrían.

He and Galadriel were waiting to have children until the war was over. Until there was peace in the land and in their hearts. Sometimes there is something like peace in the rolling hills and the whispering trees. But not all the time. And not often in his heart.

He dreams about Galadriel dancing in starlight and sunlight before shadows creep across his vision and steal her away. There's a pull in his heart to the world beyond, but he doesn't leave. But he doesn't leave the forest.

He stays and raises Celebrían as his own. He stays where his daughter can always find him.

The settlement in Lórinand grows. Amdír and Celeborn argue about establishing ties with the high-king beyond the Hithaeglir. Amdír wants nothing to do with the Noldor, but Celeborn talks him into at least having scouts out in the world beyond their forest, to gather news if nothing else. Amdír puts Celeborn in charge of them and of the border guard.

Celeborn misses his friends, his fellow marchwardens, Mablung and Beleg, long dead now, their bones in the ocean. He weeps when he tells Celebrían stories of the home he can never show her. Doriath. Sirion.

Celebrían's hand is still small in his, even when she is grown. She takes up healing as a profession. When his voice fails him, she waits for him to find it again. She listens to all of his stories.

She is there when they first see the haze of smoke in the sky and feel the rumbling of the earth. There are people out there who need our help, she says, we should do what we can to aid them-- and so. They gather intelligence from the scouts, reluctant approval from Amdír, and a small force of Sindar and Silvan.

They march under the sun and stars and-- in Eregion, Celeborn and his daughter find a ghost. Galadriel, on the battlefield, no longer lost.

[fingolfinwiththesteelchair]

Mightiest Elf Fight Club Side B

Vote on side A HERE

These elves are competing in a tournament! I don't like brackets, so below, select the elf in this group that you think would come in LAST, I repeat, vote for the elf in LAST PLACE. The elf you vote for will be ELIMINATED from fight club

The sister poll with more options is located HERE

Find PROPAGANDA and MIGHTY DEEDS below the cut

Maglor: Maglor was one of the best bards in Middle Earth - which is very important in a world where Songs of Power exist. Maglor held a breech against Morgoth, known as Maglor's Gap, for four and a half centuries, and fought in countless battles against Morgoth. Weaknesses: Silmarils, oaths. Glorfindel: One of the few beings to successfully slay a Balrog, Glorfindel died and came back to life (he did it before Gandalf made it cool). He spent his time in The Fellowship of the Ring gleefully chasing down the ringwraiths, who were so scared of him that between the choice of Glorfindel and a magically- pissed off river, they chose the river. Weaknesses: needs a haircut

Rog: One of Tolkien's earlier characters, Rog was the chief of the Hammer of Wrath, Rog led his people against the forces of the enemy during the Fall of Gondolin. He was said to the strongest of Noldoli. Weaknesses: getting cornered, but who isn't

Gil-Galad: The elf so cool no one knows who his parents are. The Last High King of the Noldor, Gil-Galad held the ring Vilya. He fought against Sauron's armies in the second age, and then again during the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, where he engaged Sauron in single combat and won, driving him back. Weakness: fiery hands

Maedhros: Maedhros has fought in countless battles against Morgoth, including orchestrating the Union of Maedhros. He's known for his ferocity with the sword. He held the fort of Himring against the tides of Morgoth's forces for nearly all of the First Age. Weaknesses: Silmarils, oaths.

Galadriel: A Noldor straight from Aman, Galadriel is said to be the greatest of elven-women. The bearer of the ring Nenya and a member of the White Council, Galadriel aided in the Battle of the Field of Celebrant and helped drive the shadows of Sauron from Dol Guldur. Weaknesses: temptation

Finrod: Finrod has fought in the Dagor Bragollach, and later joined Beren in his quest against Morgoth and Sauron. Finrod got into an epic rap battle with Sauron, and then, completely naked, Finrod killed a werewolf with his bare hands and his teeth. Weaknesses: Beren

Fingolfin: A High King of the Noldor, Fingolfin braved the Helcaraxe, fought in the Battle of Sudden Flame, and then rode out alone to Actually demigod-Satan's house, knocked on his door, and told him to come out and fight him one on one. And then he almost killed Actually demigod-Satan, dealing seven devastating blows that would never heal. Weaknesses: Hammers

Beleg: A great captain of the Sindar, and considered to be the best archer. He was one of the few Sindar to join in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, and took part in the hunting of the werewolf Carcharoth. He managed to withstand Turin's terrible fucking luck for several adventures before succumbing. Weaknesses: Friendship

[warrioreowynofrohan]

I’m really struck by this bit from the Nirnaeth Arnoediad:

Now Morgoth, who knew much of what was done and designed by his enemies, chose his hour, and trusting in his treacherous servants to hold back Maedhros and prevent the union of his foes he sent a force seeming great (and yet but a part of all that he had made ready) towards Hithlum; and they were clad all in dun raiment and showed no naked steel, and thus were already far over the sands of Anfauglith before their approach was seen.

Then the hearts of the Noldor grew hot, and their captains wished to assail their foes upon the plain; but Húrin spoke against it, and bade them beware of the guile of Morgoth, whose strength was always greater than it seemed, and his purpose other than revealed. And though the signal of the approach of Maedhros came not, and the host grew impatient, Húrin urged them still to await it, and to let the Orcs break themselves in assault upon the hills.

Húrin in this scene is 31 years old. He’s already been leading his people for ten years, ever since his father died in one of the follow-up assaults to the Dagor Bragollach. And he’s more self-controlled and cannier than elven-lords who are centuries to millinnia old. Not only that, he has the self-confidence to argue this point with the High King of the Noldor and all of his commanders, repeatedly, and is convincing enough that they listen to him, up until the gruesome killing of Gelmir, and Gwindor’s attack. He’s doing what a good general should be doing in this situation: urging them to maintain their advantage of cover and the high ground, and not be baited.

(This is the thing that you’d want the leader/general of your army to be doing, but prudence, caution, and levelheadedness are not exactly Fingon’s hallmarks. I’m amusing myself by imaging a parting conversation between Turgon and Húrin when Húrin leaves Gondolin. “Take care of my brother,” Turgon says to the 17-year-old. “Don’t let him do do anything stupid.” “Do my best!” Húrin promises.)

But it doesn’t last, and Gwindor launches his attack, and Fingon leads them all out to follow him and rides straight to Angband, and Morgoth springs his trap. And it all ends with Húrin being captured and the tragedy of everything that Morgoth does to his family - Húrin, who knew better, and warned them all that Morgoth was playing them.

[nin-varisse]

I think since Tolkien named the first high king of the Noldor "hair-guy", instead of the next heir inheriting the title, there should be a "Who has the best hair?" contest everytime a high king dies to decide the succession.

[theivorybilledwoodpecker]

I feel like people who think ROP is sexist for portraying Galadriel as aggressive and a bit arrogant only focus on certain parts of the Legendarium. In all fairness, they might genuinely not know all the lore. I certainly haven't read it all.

But while they always talk about how Galadriel's portrayal doesn't match Tolkien's works, there are definitely things that support the ROP interpretation.

Galadriel wanted to go to Middle Earth to rule over an area of land. Now, even if she had the best of intentions, this isn't the desire of a wise and even-tempered person. It's one thing to say you want to be queen as a kid. But most people don't grow up to go into politics. I find that ROP's Galadriel reflects this character trait. The whole first season, she wants people to shut up and do what she says. She sees those who don't as either foolish or traitorous. And while she rejects Sauron's offer to make her queen, in the second season she also displays a desire for people to obey her unquestioningly.

Not only does she want to go to Middle Earth to be a ruler, but in some versions of her backstory, she follows Feanor and Fingolfin in defiance of the Valar. She doesn't take part in the kinslaying, and she doesn't fully agree with Feanor...but despite knowing the Noldor's are on a bad path, she's willing to at least go along for the ride to get what she wants. And we see this trait in ROP in how Galadriel is so focused on her quest to find Sauron that she disobeys the high king, flouts Miriel's (her host!) authority, does mental gymnastics to overlook the possibility Halbrand isn't king, and eventually lies to Celebrimbor and Elrond because she thinks these will help her goal.

Yes, in the canon she never trusts Sauron as Annatar. But this isn't the canon. And while she's tricked by him as Halbrand at first, she realizes the truth and rejects him. She then leads the fight to overcome him, seeing that they need to go to Eregion, not Mordor. And she makes a lot of mistakes or at least asshole decisions along the way, but no one can question her resolve to hunt him down.

As for whether this is sexist...I just don't see it that way. To me, it would be sexist if she's portrayed this way to make her an unlikeable woman or if she's portrayed negatively for these traits while male characters with the same traits are portrayed positively. While ROP Galadriel is very flawed, never once do I get the feeling the audience is supposed to hate or dislike her. Sure, we can see her flaws and criticize her. Maybe some audience members hate her. But she's written very sympathetically so that while we might not like what she does, we still like her.

[lya-dustin]

Like a father would

some spoilers for my Gil-galad x oc fic I sang of leaves of gold. no real knowledge of the fic is needed for this one shot.

this is the au where gil galad jumps after elrond(like we had hoped he'd do in the series)

gif by @lasaraconor

He loves Elrond like a son, despite his behavior towards his herald these past moons, Elrond will always be a son to him.

There was no need to think of his own safety as he threw off his cloak, crown and the guards seeking to stop him from jumping after him.

They wouldn’t die, the tide had risen enough to keep them from hurting themselves on the cliff as they dived into the Lhûn. It was not a difficult swim to Mithlond and once both reached Círdan, he would explain to his herald and former ward why they needed those rings.

If Elrond had seen the condition Gil-galad’s wife was, he would have not done what he did.

Erinti, so full of life and capable of raising entire forests with her hands, going mad from her fever with her hands as black as the rot in eating away the Great Tree. Her condition had been weakened by childbirth and then Sauron entered her girdle and poisoned her through the blight of the Great Tree. She would perish before they even reached Valinor for all the healing arts they have are of little use to an Ainur.

The rings were her only hope. The mithril had shielded the sapling and its kingdom from the balrog’s darkness in Khazad-Dûm and would surely cure her along with the tree and keep their kind from having to leave Middle Earth in Sauron’s hands.

“Why did you come after me?” Elrond asks panting as they reach the beach by Círdan’s home. They are tired from the swim, in his desperation to reach the boy Gil-galad had barely noticed how spent he was until he tackled the boy into the wet sand. “Do you want these blasted things so badly you risked your own life for them?”

“I came for you!” the king doesn’t take the rings to prove he put his foster son’s life over the fucking rings. “Did you think I would simply let you jump off a fucking waterfall when I swore to your father I would never let any harm come to you?”

The boy is taken aback by his words, Gil-galad hardly curses, tries his best not to let his temper get the best of him and yet he’s frayed at the seams because a thousand years of peace is not enough. Why couldn’t the orcs finish Sauron off? Why couldn’t Ulmo just drown him in his mortal form instead of letting Galadriel of all people find him?

“I am sorry, I did not know what else to do.” Elrond apologizes as they gathered their bearings and hesitantly reached to take the rings from where he’d tossed them away from his king and foster father.

“I am sorry I pushed you to your limit.” The king tears off the outer layers of court clothes that he hadn’t even had time to remove as he swam after his errant ward. “If you had allowed me to explain, you would understand why I know those rings are our salvation.”

Círdan’s guards would come soon enough along with the Lord of the Gray Havens and something to dry off with. As a young boy, Gil-galad had not cared about ruined clothes or his hair out of place, but the moment they placed that crown on his head he ceased to be Rodnor son of Orodreth and Gilher of the Falathrim and became Ereinion Gil-galad, the High King of the Noldor.

“And still now you refuse to even consider they may be tainted with the Deceiver’s evil. I should let Ulmo decide their fate.” Elrond grumbled, still covered in wet sand and yet he agreed to hear his reasoning.

“Celebrimbor promised me he would keep him away from his forge while he and his most trusted smiths crafted them in secret. He, like I, know a mortal cannot survive an injury like that after several days on horseback.” Gil-galad tried his best to assure the half-elf the rings could not contain any of Sauron’s evil because the fiend has no idea how many rings were made or even how they look like.

But the young man was not convinced, so the king brought up the effect Sauron had on the things he touched. The older elf knew far too much of the nature of the Maiar through his wife and having shared his some of his youth with Elwing as well as Eärendil. “You have Maiar and human blood; you would have become his thrall before you even left Eregion if he had been involved in their making.”

Or worse, died from the exposure if he had not chosen the fate of the Eldar.

Gil-galad had sensed it in the air when he arrived in Eregion, something amiss and then when he was brought Halbrand he knew that thing had served Morgoth from the faint smell of rot around him. And then he arrived home to find his wife’s fair face flushed with a fever hotter than flame and muttering in Black Speech as the Master Artificers did their best to control the rot the tree had infected her with. Gil-galad refused to leave her side unless he had to and now her life rested in Elrond's hands.

“You said it is a risk you need to take.” Elrond does not agree with his reasoning but does not say anything against it. “That they could be our last hope.”

“She is dying. If the mithril healed the rot from the leaves, it will heal her.” At last he admits how dire it truly was. The king had tried to shield everyone, especially Elrond, from the truth even when Erinti counseled him against it time and time again. “She tried to heal the tree once more and the Blight poisoned her. They tell me she will not survive the journey to Valinor even if we left tonight.”

The young elf is silent as he tries to wrack his mind for the right answer to this. There was too much risk, too much at stake if the rings contained any drop of Sauron’s essence in them, but there was no other choice for them.

“Her life is in your hands.” The king doesn’t wish to guilt him into setting aside his distrust of the things, and yet he resorts to this last method. It has worked when he’s needed Elrond to care for himself especially after Elros died in his advanced age. As terrible as he will feel for doing this, they truly have no other options left.

“What if---” Elrond cannot make the words leave his mouth and swallows that question they both fear the answer to.

What if it does not work?

“Then I will remain in Middle-Earth and hunt down Sauron myself before I fade and join her in Mandos.” He understands Galadriel’s need for revenge, Gil-galad has never forgiven the Enemy nor its minions for the destruction of his family and his people. The last King of the Noldor would use the last strength of his body to avenge his beloved Lothíriel.

“The dwarves are not the only ones known for their stubbornness. Finwë’s line is cursed with it too.” Círdan arrives with his retainers and receives them warmly.

Both Noldor relax and even smile as they greet their beloved mentor. A change of clothes, advice and perhaps a meal would be welcome before he returns to Lindon, Elrond could stay if he wishes, he’s merited a reprieve away from the chaos Galadriel has brought to them.

The Lord of the Havens had raised Gil-galad when he was just a boy who had not wished to leave his elder sister in Nargothrond, he was a father to him the way Orodreth barely had the time to be. He had taken Elrond in during the War when the sons of Fëanor had no choice but to put them out of harm’s way despite their Oath.

The wisest of the elves even if Galadriel believes her husband to be greater than his kinsman.

“We have come to seek your council, old friend.” Elrond rises, dusts himself off and offers the king a hand. At least things were more or less good between them once again.

“A matter of great urgency, I am afraid.” The king is relieved to know that Círdan would not need to bring up his Daeron was a twat and Rúmil a drunkard speech Gil-galad had heard enough times as a boy.

Elrond had his heart in the right place and would come around even without that speech, the king knew the young man just as well Círdan knew him. Knew him like a father would.

[inthehouseoffinwe]

Hear me out. Maedhros would make an incredible high king not only for his own skill, but because he has six brothers keeping a close eye on everything.

Maedhros: The Leader. Inspiring. Strong. The strategist unbeaten. The one who survived what no other elf has. An incredibly strong personality that can bring even the most stubborn into his command. Undefeated in battle, feared by Morgoth himself. The diplomat who can bring together groups of people who hate each other to a common goal. A King in every sense of the word with a presence that sends the enemy scattering and elves thinking several times before daring to cross him. 

Maglor: PR and Media. Songs that can turn stupid costly mistakes into tragic tales of heroism and strength spread far a wide until no one can remember a version of events other than what he says. A great right hand able to take over when needed. Commanding, responsible, charming, can get anyone to tell him anything and great at establishing diplomatic connections. The people person. Loud and powerful or the quiet shadow at Mae’s back, always watching. Reading the court before the elves even know what they think and exposing them with deceptively soft words.  

Celegorm: The Hunter. Keeps the lands safe. Keeps them fed. Keeps an eye on the hunters and the army in general. You can’t escape him. You can’t hide from him. And with all the languages and tongues of birds and beats he speaks, he hears all. 

Caranthir: The Tradesman. The money man. Keeps everything running, keeps an eye on the economy, great at establishing trade routes that leave the Noldor in the best position. Good with materials and knows exactly what they need when. For what time of year. When to trade it. Smart and shrewd, you can’t double cross him, and he’ll always get you the best prices. 

Curufin: The forge master. The armourer. The architect. Nothing beats his work, and Mae’s armour especially is literally impenetrable. He’s the one who keeps the city at its peak, no stone at anything but perfect condition and weapons unlike any other. Hidden passages and secret stores. But he’s also a silver tongue like his eldest two brothers and he’s *very* good at convincing people, but also tearing them down and making sure they’ll never be a threat again. He can and will destroy your life before your eyes and you’ll never recover.

Ambarussa: The Spies. You don’t see them coming. You think Amrod’s gone only for Amras to take his place. Light footed and underestimated, they route out any schemes. They’re also the best connected to the green elves, so easily overlooked but smarter than most give them credit for. They’re the resident healers, and can make a poultice out of anything.

Celebrimbor: The Inventor. The one whose creativity knows no bounds. The creator of incredible Power infused devices like the rings to keep his people and family safe. A leader in his own right trained by his father and uncles who Maedhros is proud to call his heir. 

Feel free to add your own thoughts!

[the-elusive-soleil]

Some things that might have happened if the Valar had gone to war with Morgoth immediately after the Silmaril theft, and evacuated the Sindar, Avari, and very first Men to Aman to escape the continental destruction:

Nobody swears any Oaths. Feanor doesn't get the chance to, because the Valar go after Morgoth before he can.

He would have liked to go help with the war, but the Valar have made it clear that the Eruhini need to keep out from underfoot, and Ulmo is actually enforcing this one.

Feanor does contribute weapon designs in exchange for the promise of the Silmarils being returned to him ASAP.

(We have the sun and moon, I feel like I should say. The Valar made them when they needed light sources for the war and it was clear they weren't getting the Silmarils back all that soon.)

There's a lot of excitement when the new arrivals show up. Olwe is ecstatic to see his brother again - with a Maiarin wife and a daughter, too!

Thingol is upset about losing his realm and also grieving his friend FInwe, but cautiously intrigued to meet Finwe's family.

Feanor has become High King of the Noldor at least in name, but in practice what's developed is that Fingolfin and Maedhros and Caranthir and Turgon handle a lot of the day-to-day and Feanor is so busy crafting that he never noticed the shift. No one is super interested in telling him.

Thingol very nearly breaks it all open by accident, but they avoid a crisis just in time.

The Avari disappear into the outlands and forests and assimilate as little as possible.

Thingol and Melian start up a new city, but it's...not quite the same.

Luthien is restless. Her parents' new city might not have a girdle, but she feels fenced in anyway - partially with her parents not wanting her to stray too far in this strange new place, and partially because she's the one and only half-Maia and stunningly beautiful and everyone wants a piece of her, so to speak.

Funnily enough, certain of the Feanorians know exactly how those itchy feet feel, and her father doesn't hate them in this timeline.

She's not into hunting to kill things, really, but Celegorm teaches her this neat trick that sometimes you can just say you're 'going hunting' and head off to the woods to do whatever you want, like running just for the sake of it or dancing without anyone watching you, and no one will ask any questions.

She ends up spending a lot of time with him and the twins and Aredhel.

(Celegorm and Luthien eventually get married, because why not.)

(Melian gives her blessing on the condition that their firstborn son marries Nimloth, who goes along with it because she trusts Melian's foresight. Or, alternatively, they might have a daughter who marries Beren when he comes along; that'd be a fun twist.)

(The point is that Elrond and Elros eventually exist. They aren't in need of adoption, but they develop a surprising bond with their uncle Maglor.)

Almost forgot, the dwarves got brought over, too.

Caranthir does a lot of the negotiation with them, since his bluntness meshes best with their ways.

They and the Men keep having new generations be born and die, and it's...an adjustment for the elves.

Finrod, nonetheless, becomes great friends with a Man called Balan and his folk.

Caranthir encounters a Haladin woman named Haleth when she comes to court to arrange for greater independence for her people. He's in love at first sight. It takes her a little longer.

None of Caranthir's family understands why he'd choose to go through the eventual heartbreak of losing a spouse, but he ignores them all, and gets married anyway.

They have an astounding number of children. This is partially because they have better proximity and aren't in survival mode, partially because it takes them a sec to figure out how human conception works, and partially because Caranthir wants there to be as much Haleth in the world as possible before she's inevitably gone.

Hurin Thalion and Morwen have three lovely children. Nienor probably has a different name. Lalaith lives to an astoundingly old age, healthy as a horse.

Tuor and Idril, of course, get together. Turgon is a bit less enthusiastic about it this time, what with Tuor just being A Guy and not Ulmo's champion, but when would that ever stop Idril. Tuor does die eventually, but they have a good life till then.

Feanor ends up liking the Men and dwarves a lot more than anyone thought he would. He learns All The Languages, and loves to swap techniques with the dwarves and bounce off Men's ingenuity.

Also, the Sindar introduce a radical notion called marriage counseling, which is apparently something you invent if you're coping with Arda Marred instead of trying to maintain an assumption of perfection. They've also invented family therapy. Feanor and Nerdanel, and really the whole House of Finwe, benefit hugely from this.

Oh, and elf/dwarf relationships become hugely popular among the Noldor, because when your dwarf spouse dies you can literally go see them at Aule's house still as long as you're discreet about it, so no one bats an eye when Celebrimbor announces his engagement to the craftswoman Narvi some time down the line.

[cilil]

Something neat about... Finarfin

Finarfin has always been so relatable to me, being the youngest in a family unit (as far as the Finwëans are concerned) and just trying his absolute best to stay out of the family drama and toxicity other people are causing - sometimes successfully, sometimes not so much. I wonder if becoming High King of the Noldor in Valinor was, in a way, kingship coming back to haunt him. He probably never expected to be king.

I also love how he found his "own niche" so to speak and how he participates in his wife's culture, instead of the typical patriarchal "the wife joins the husband's household and family and that's her entire world now". Yes, many of us do like to interpret and imagine the Silmarillion in a less sexist way, but that's sadly how things often were in the time period and society Tolkien based his tales on as well as in his own time.

Finarfin earns the "sane person" and "wife guy" seal of approval from me.

 ˚ ੈ✧̣̇·˖ 　˚ .　　　✶ ˚　　✦　. 　 ˚　.　　 . ★⋆. ࿐࿔　.  ˚　

@just-little-human this one's for you, as well as the unofficial year of Finarfin :D

“Something Neat About” (SNA) is a mini series on my blog where I say something I like/find cool/interesting/neat about various Tolkien (right now mostly Silmarillion) characters. 

Please feel free to add your own thoughts/ideas/headcanons about the character in the comments/tags, link fanworks you or others made, show pictures of your pet you named after them, whatever you want to share; my only request is to keep it positive.

More of SNA for your perusal here. You’re also welcome to message me/send asks about characters you’d like to hear about :)