#fall of Eregion

[ardashitposting]

[celebrimbot]

Chapter 1 of the Fall of Eregion is coming soon :)

[hhimring]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: The Silmarillion and other histories of Middle-Earth - J. R. R. Tolkien, TOLKIEN J. R. R. - Works & Related Fandoms Rating: Not Rated Warnings: Major Character Death Relationships: Minor or Background Relationship(s) Characters: Elrond Peredhel, Original Female Character(s), Original Male Character(s), Noldo | Noldor, Sinda | Sindar Additional Tags: Warning: Sauron (Tolkien), Second Age of Arda (Tolkien), Eregion, Canon-Typical Violence, Inspired by Music, SWG Challenge (Tolkien) Summary:

A minor incident during the Fall of Eregion: no, this is not about the Gwaith-i-Mirdain or Celebrimbor, it is about the Dyers' Guild. Not one for the history books, but the Eldar remember...

[thelien-art]

Annatar; Lord of Gifts

I tried a new design for him, but I think I like my other better but now I have tried this too for him :)

Actually this looks a lot more like my Numenor design for him, but with a Noldor second age clothing style instead

[transmairon]

I can't be the only Celebrimbor lover that gets frustrated by the de-centering of Celebrimbor’s role in his own story by the larger fandom. And the misconception about the Eregion storyline that the various adaptations have created. I understand that the LOTR trilogy movies skip over the details, that the Ring Poem is misleading, and that TROP chose to make their own version of the Second Age.

But the original Eregion storyline is not some fringe part of the lore. What actually happened is mentioned in the trilogy books during the Council of Elrond, in the Appendices and also in the Silmarillion. We know that Sauron's original plan was to use the Rings to ensnare the elves(of Eregion). We know that most of the 16 were likely originally made for them and worn by them. We know that Celebrimbor and the other Eregion smith heard Sauron's black speech in their minds when he made the One Ring, making them realize that he wanted to "be master over them" and took off their Rings. We know that the Three Elven Rings were made last and by Celebrimbor alone and that Sauron had no knowledge of them until he made the One Ring. And we know that they were still in Eregion and not possessed by Galadriel, Gil-Galad or Cirdan until after Sauron made the One Ring, when Celebrimbor sent them away when Sauron's treachery was revealed and he began invading Eriador.

The way Celebrimbor and the Eregion elves keep getting sidelined honestly bothers me, and the fact that it's probably one of the most misinterpreted parts of the lore drives me insane sometimes. I'm ok with adaptations doing lore changes, but when people act like those changes are what actually happened in the original story or ignore the original story, it gets really frustrating. And the de-centering of Celebrimbor in those other versions genuinely makes me sad. He deserves better. The whole revelation about the One Ring centers around him and Eregion in the lore.

[merilles]

💫🤍💎Jewel of the Eldar 💎🤍💫

[sandwichmustbetasty]

NOT THIS SHOT IMMADIATELY AFTER

Some thing lost are lost forever

No matter how hard we fight

[group-dynamic]

Bartender: Hey, man, how's it going?

Me: Yeah, you know, it's good. Just thinking about how Gil Galad's kingship was haunted by Elrond. Like his first great failure after being crowned when he'd barely come of age was showing up too late to stop the destruction of Sirion. How he probably felt a deep personal responsibility to find Elwing's missing boys at least but couldn't even do that. Like, I know he probably got redirected by Cirdan toward all those refugees and stuff, but he probably really wanted a win, especially because he was kinda orphaned by then himself and knew how cruel fate was to the sons of greater destiny. Like all his family who'd been king before him died, like, horrifically? And then when Elrond returns all fine and he comes to Lindon and he's chosen the fate of the elves, Gil Galad's physically haunted by him again. See, but this time he chooses to be haunted by Elrond. Because I think he wants to fix what he sees as his first great failure by restoring a bright future for this kid which was robbed from him when Sirion fell--and it's probably like he wants better for him than what he got, too, because he got this kingship in exile thrust upon him when all he was doing was hanging out with Cirdan making ships or something with the other non-combatants and refugees like he and his mother who were fleeing war and violence and he was like fourth in line to the throne so he probably found out in one fell swoop that all his family's dead and oh, you're king and your destiny's out of your hands. So he's like, I'll make Elrond herald and give him all the experience and guidance on this leadership stuff I never got while also giving him better control of what kind of future he has. Then--get this--he never even marries or has kids and when his reign is coming to an end. . . Which, by the way, he probably foresaw his own death which is fucked-- because he gives Elrond his ring before the war of the last alliance, metaphorically making him his heir and also giving him the opportunity to shape his future. . .Yeah, yeah, cause Elrond wouldn't have been considered suitable to be a lord or a king or anything after he was raised by wolves the sons of Feanor. So when Gil made him herald it was like helping him gain political experience and any status he lost. So anyway, then Gil Galad dies, but in some ways he's spent a greater part of his life dedicated to the act of restoring Elrond to the path he should have been on in an alternate reality where he was raised as Earendil and Elwing's son and like correcting that first failure--but also changing Elrond's fate because Elrond has the ring, like, he literally has Gil Galad's legacy and power in his hands, something he wouldn't have had (or needed?) before. But he decides he won't be king. He'll use that power to guard the place that fulfills the legacies of both him and Gil Galad. He's rebuilt the home he lost, something Gil Galad was trying to give him, and then he makes it a place for all the orphans and the wounded and the refugees--like he even fosters a bunch of future orphan kings and like--

Bartender: Like the ending of Hamilton?

Me: *mumbling into my empty glass* Yeah, exactly like the ending of Hamilton.

[themalhambird]

@malkaleh Sauron is happy, and possessive. It is not good.

(Finrod's arrival is swiftly followed by a series of other victories unfolding at Sauron's direction, and this culminates in a celebratory "family" meal)

CW for coercive behavoir, discussion of difficulties surrounding food, Eru Thingol's suppression of Quenya (and other aspects of Feonorian culture), implied rape

It is a quiet- even peaceful- morning. The early light is soft, but warming. Mairon did not come to any of them either last night or the night before. And the last few weeks in general have been...better. Mairon's visits less frequent, somehow, since Finrod's arrival. And Finrod- though it grieves all of them to have him here- Finrod himself is warm and reassuring as the star of high hope. For Galadriel in particular- when they are all in the shared living spaces together, she will abandon Celeborn with a kiss to his cheek, and climb on her brother, contented as a cat who has decided a particular person's lap is the only seat in existance.

So. The morning is a contented one, relatively speaking. Finrod is talking with Elrond, eager to continue to getting to know this sole unfamiliar fellow-prisoner. Galadrial is kneeling behind her brother, arms slung about his neck and chin on his shoulder and interjecting every so often with stories of Elrond as a "baby", which make Finrod laugh and Melian's child either poke out his tongue at her or pelt her with the berries he's snacking on, depending on how embarrassing he finds the story in question. Celebrimbor, whose spirit has is growing sharper with each of Mairon's lengthened absences, is talking Celeborn through dwarvish belt-weaving techniques at the same time as Celeborn is telling him of the dyers and weavers in Doriath- the skills and shades and techniques lost with Doriath- and both are somehow also keeping track of what Galadriel, Elrond, and Finrod are saying to each other because Finrod, apparently retaliating against his sister on Elrond's behalf, begins by saying "It's still not as bad as the time Galadriel came to visit me in Nargothrond and-" and Celeborn and Celebrimbor in unison and without looking up go: "No."

"Not in polite company," Celeborn adds.

"Not sober," Celebrimbor agrees.

"It wasn't that bad!" Galadriel protests, and now Celebrimbor looks up, fixing his kinswoman with a flat stare.

"Huan," he ennunciates, "Hound of Orme, Mauler of him, hid under my bed until you were gone."

A light kindles in Elrond's eyes, the shade of mischeivious grin spreading across his face, and Adar knows that the young one will not rest until he has every detail. It is a good morning.

And then Adar receives the message that Mairon expects his treasures to dine with him that evening. Adar is to serve, as usual.

***

The formal dinners are-

Mairon thinks it is a punishment for Adar to act as something between servant and steward- a reinforcement of the favour Adar has lost. In fact, it gives Adar an advantage- a measure of control which means for this one torment of his elvish children, Adar can make things easier to endure. He knows to switch between two different decanters: one pure wine, one cut with more water, and a juice to mantain the colour, than any actual alcohol. Elrond and Celeborn are both easier knowing that their minds will stay clear for whatever traps or pitfalls may occur over the meal. He knows that Galadriel prefers her plate piled high. if she is methodically working away at it, Mairon will be indulgent of short, even monosyllabic, answers to anything he has to say to her. On the other hand, these meals make Celebrimbor so anxious and upset that every mouthful has to be choked down. So Adar makes sure that there is at least one thing on the table that can be swallowed without much chewing- mashed roots, or fish that can flaked to almost nothing in ladlefulls of sauce. That, and as little of it as can stand without comment, lets the smith pick his way through the evening, and later Adar will bring him a proper plate and leave him be, knowing that Celebrimbor will eat as long as is not watched. And so it goes. Adar knows what will tempt his charges to eat, knows how to lavish his labour upon Mairon so that his mood is kept sweet. Can read the signs that means it is good time for his injured hand to cause him to drop something, so that Mairon's ire turns on him and not his children (not any of his children- even Sauron will not slay an uruk over a broken dish or spilled wine.)

But now there is Finrod. Adar does not know how Finrod fits into the pattern. He does not know what he needs to do for it to be better, and he does not know how Mairon will act, he -

He does his best to prepare, and they all do their best to prepare Finrod for what the summons means.

***

Mairon takes his place at the head of the table. Yes, the table is round- still, Mairon is at the head of it, for he sits at the top of the room, opposite the door, and his chair of elaboratley carved wood is only not a throne because he choses not to call it so. The surface the table is groaning with beautiful, luxurious dishes, as usual- and as usual Mairon pays them little attention. He is too busy admiring his treasures as they arrive to take their established seats.

Galadriel at his right, Elrond at his left. Celebrimbor next to Galadriel, Celeborn next to Elrond- after all if Galadriel and Celeborn were sat together, they would have no eyes for anyone but each other and it would rather defeat the purpose of a family meal together. This means that Finrod -how Mairon's heart sings at having Finrod now to join them-slots nicely in directly opposite Mairon's own place.

Fitting. Finrod was a king, after all, and Mairon can admit he had been a worthy opponent. Besides, it is the place that Adar might have had, were he not a traitor, and Mairon is pleased he must see it filled.

They wait, his treasures, as Adar pulls Galadriel's chair back for her, and when she sits the rest sits, and the meal begins.

***

It ends. Without incident, for even though Mairon had insisted on Celebrimbor trying this or that, Galadriel had simply moved it from her cousin's plate to her own whenever Mairon's gaze moved across to the other side of the table, and when Mairon had upset Elrond by beggining the subject of Court Feasts at Lindon Celebrimbor had saved Melian's child the trouble of replying by describing, in exacting detail, the process of creating silverware- which had, apparently, been the first items forged in Eregion, with a great deal of the work being done by Celebrimbor himself and the rest by other highly skilled craftsmen and the group would go on to become the start of something Celebrimbor called the Mirdain-i-Gwaith.

"I recall you made my kinsman a set of goblets," Celeborn says. "They were beautiful. Four, were there not?"

Celebrimbor nods. "One for King. One for Lady Melian. One for- their daughter, and her husband," he winces. "They weren't well received. Thingol took one from the box to examine it and found it well enough- then realised the meaning of the count, and promptly threw it at my head."

"I hope you ducked," Finrod says with a teasing smile. (Adar is amazed by how unphazed he appears to be by the whole wretched farce of a meal; he sits opposite the creature that killed him and smiles as brightly as ever). "Your goblets hurt when they hit people- I remember the one you lobbed at my chest."

"I did not "lob it at your chest," Celebrimbor says haughtily. "You walked into a smith's workshop unnannounced. The room was empty when I hurled it from me in frustration, it is none of my doing the room did not remain empty once it left my hand-"

And so it goes, Mairon too entranced at this performance of his treasures' pasts, tangled together as they are, before him to needle Melian's child about his careless high king. And the meal ends, without incident.

And then Mairon invites them to join him in his living chambers, adjoined to the dining room, which is not an invation but a command, and Adar is dismissed and Mairon adds: "Do not wait for the return of your charges before sleeping, they will not need their own beds tonight."

***

Galadriel thinks she might faint. Sauron hands her coffee made with his own hands and she sips it and it is nothing but charcol and bitterness. Sauron's living chambers. And beyond that, she knows, his bedchamber, and this is not a new situation but yet it is because- because-

"Fingon, my beloved," Sauron says a while later, as though as he a right to speak Galadriel's brother's name. "Do you dance as sweetly as your sister?"

Fingon's mask of political cheerfulness is strained, though Galadriel thinks she may be the only one who can tell. "We danced together often as children," he says, and Galadriel wants to scream, or to weep, as Sauron says,

"I would see you dance together now." His eyes glitter, greedy as a dragon's. Galadriel is going to see him dead- "All of you. My nightingale, Finrod, dances beautifully as well-"

"I am not suprised- his foremother Luthian did," Finrod says evenly, his gaze sharp on Sauron's face-

"Celebrimbor," Sauron says, turning away from Finrod and Galadriel as though the former had not spoken, to where Celebrimbor sits. "My jewel, you dance, do you not?"

"No." Celebrimbor says. The room stills. In that single word, Galdriel hears, almost, the Lord of Eregion saying- you wlil not move me; the discussion is at an end. Continue and it is at your peril, not mine.

"All elves dance," Sauron cajoules, his own tone turning dangerous. "I know you, Tylepe- I know you undervalue your worth where you see less than perfection. A little misstep here or there will not make me think less of your grace, my dear one-"

"And I thank you, my lord, but it does not change the fact I have no dances for you," Celebrimbor's voice is clipped: angry and mournful and merely exhausted all at once. "The ones I learnt, were forbidden before the dawn of this age, and their steps are now beyond my recalling; I learnt no new ones at Nargothrond or at Doriath for Sindarian already had my tongue; I would not give it my feet. I have no dances," he repeats, "And if you would not hurt me, my lord, you will not ask me to learn- for there is no one now who can reteach what I was taught by the sons of Feonor."

For a moment, Sauron seems to simmer. And then, horribly gentle-

"My jewel. Sit upon my lap, then, dear one, and watch with me."

"I thank you, my lord," Celebrimbor murmers, and moves as he has been bid.

"I will give music," Sauron declares, wrapping his arms around Celebrimbor's waist. Without further command, he begins to Sing. And Galadriel cannot tell if her legs rise by her will, or by his.

[sesamenom]

@general-illyrin @tar-thelien @who-needs-words I think you all mentioned being interested in the reverse gondolin au - is anyone interested in helping with wrangling the timelines, especially the second age stuff? Here's the current outline:

(Edit: anyone feel free to help out if you're interested!)

YT 14365 - Birth of Lomion

YT 14373/FA 1 - Death of Argon

FA

2 - Aredhel adopts Lomion

300 - Birth of Idril

316 - Turgon & Idril kidnapped by Eol

400 - Turgon & Idril rescued. Death of Eol

465 - Finrod more-peacefully passes throne to orodreth while on Quest. Everyone except beren still dies

472 - Nirnaeth. Turgon named High King of the Noldor.

476 - Turgon abdicates official title. Aredhel named High King of the Noldor.

496 - Tuor comes to Gondolin

502 - Wedding of Idril and Tuor

503 - Births of Earendil and Elwing. Idril begins to have foresight dreams about the Fall.

506 - Second Kinslaying. C^3 dead, celebrimbor stays in gondolin. Aredhel denounces the oath/kinslaying and disowns C^3

Elwing survives & is found by Oropher & Thranduil // Galadriel & Celeborn. oropher, thranduil, oropher's wife, and thranduil's then-gf // galadriel & celeborn take Elwing to Gondolin as refugees. The Silmaril is left hidden in the woods of melian's domain.

507 - Elwing comes to Gondolin.

509 - Idril captured by Morgoth. Idril reveals the location of Gondolin in exchange for an Oath to not harm her family (Turgon, Tuor, and Earendil). Idril rescued.

510 - Gondolin prepares for war with Morgoth.

513-522 - Siege of Gondolin. Deaths of Duilin and Rog. Gothmog slain by Aredhel the Huntress. First use of the Three Rings by Lomion and Celebrimbor in defense of Gondolin. House of the Hammer of Wrath destroyed.

523 - Maedhros believes a Silmaril is with Elwing at Gondolin.

525 - Earendil weds Elwing. Lomion weds ???. Adoption of Gil-Galad

532 - Births of Elrond and Elros.

538 - Third Kinslaying at Gondolin. Death of Amras. Elrond and Elros kidnapped by Maglor. Deaths of Elwing and Turgon. Second use of the Three Rings by Lomion and Celebrimbor. Deaths of Maedhros and Aredhel. Lomion named King of Gondolin and High King of the Noldor. Deaths of Salgant, Penlod, and Tuor. Earendil named Lord of the House of the Wing.

540-549 - War declared between Gondolin and the Feanorians of Himring over the Third Kinslaying and kidnapping of Princes Elrond and Elros.

549 - Elrond and Elros recovered. Feanorians and Gondolin severely weakened. Celebrimbor // Gil-Galad declared heir to the High Kingship.

552-554 - Second Siege & Fall of Gondolin. Third use of the Three Rings by Lomion and Celebrimbor. Deaths of Ecthelion, Glorfindel, Egalmoth, and Turgon. Idril and Celebrimbor lead survivors through the Secret Way.

555 - Gondolithlim refugees arrive at Sirion.

556 - Idril departs for Valinor.

558 - Earendil searches for Valinor.

560 - Havens of Sirion destroyed by Morgoth. Gondolithlim/Doriathrim survivors scattered. Elrond and Elros rescued (as adults) by Maglor.

572 - Morgoth controls Beleriand. Earendil and reembodied Elwing come to Valinor and rally the Host.

575-617 - War of Wrath

618 - Maglor claims the Silmaril from Eonwe's camp and casts himself into the Sea. Death of Maglor.

620 - End of the First Age.

SA

1 - Founding of the Grey Havens and Lindon under High King Lomion

2 - Elros becomes the first King of Numenor

c. 500 - Sauron returns to Middle-Earth in the East.

650 - Eregion is founded

1000 - Galadriel is given Vilya; Lomion wields Nenya

1170 - Annatar comes to Lindon and Lomion turns him away. Lomion warns Celebrimbor of Eregion of his suspicions.

1200 - Annatar comes to Eregion. Celebrimbor takes him in to monitor.

1250 - Celebrimbor creates the Seven; Lomion creates the Nine.

1410 - Annatar is kicked out of Eregion.

1600 - The One Ring is forged. Sauron remains in hiding.

1610 - Sauron begins to gather and prepare armies in the East.

1673 - War of the Elves and Sauron begins.

1675 - Sauron invades Eriador.

1677 - Fall of Ost-in-Edhil. Celebrimbor and Lomion remain at the House of the Mirdain. Death of Celebrimbor in battle // Fourth use of the Three in battle. Sauron does not learn of the Seven. Founding of Imladris.

1678 - Sauron defeated by the Numenoreans and the Elves of Lindon.

1679 - Sauron flees to Mordor. First White Council held.

3147 - Civil war in Numenor.

3225 - Ar-Pharazon seizes the Sceptre.

3228 - Elrond claims the Sceptre. Ar-Pharazon disowned. Tar-Miriel named Ruling Queen.

3232 - Sauron taken to Numenor as a prisoner.

3274 - Elrond kicks Sauron out of Numenor and outlaws the morgoth cult.

3310 - Morgoth cult publicly reappears.

3319 - Downfall of Numenor. Tar-Miriel leads a greater force of the Faithful away.

(green // blue means two main options, red means i need to think about it more)

The main details I'm figuring out right now are

does Celebrimbor still die at Eregion - I don't think he's getting captured/tortured, but he could still die in the battle. On the other hand, he could probably survive by using Narya & Lomion using Nenya, but that would definitely have repercussions further down the line

how does Idril's deal work - I'm currently thinking of Idril exchanging the location of Gondolin for her family's guaranteed safety, because it seems in character for Reverse Idril? But on the other hand, even if I limit it to immediate family at the time of the oath (tuor, turgon, earendil) then idk where turgon dies? Maybe Maglor can kill him but that seems kind of random

where and how does Turgon die

how does Prince Elrond's character even work

how does Numenor still fall when factoring in Prince Elrond - I'm thinking that the morgoth death cult gained enough traction during the time sauron was there that even after Elrond kicks him out, the cult still sticks around and reemerges later? The Fall still happens, but they never go to attack valinor and there's a good deal more Faithful (maybe 40-60%?)

[ardashitposting]

[edennill-archived]

Nothing except how Sauron instructing the Eldar in Eregion is literally the exact thing he was made for... except for everything

[90shaladriel]

Eregion Fallen

Ost-in-Edhil, Eregion in the Second Age of Middle Earth

[dustmusings]

ahem.

[poetry-draws]

For a time, the Hollin Gate remains open... For a time, refugees of Eregion have somewhere to run.....

But what will become of them? What does Durin III have to say about all this? Tune in for the epic fic reveal in September for @cycas's answer to these questions!

One of my pieces for this year's Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang (@tolkienrsb)

[transmairon]

Things that live rent-free in my head forever: the near 100 years between Sauron trying and failing to enslave the Eregion elves with the One Ring and the actual invasion of Eregion.

What were Sauron and Celebrimbor doing besides building up their armies during all that time? Did they keep exchanging angry and passive-aggressive letters to each other?