#is my numenor tag

[thelien-art]

Made an OC I named Azruzimril, I hope you like her as much as I do :)

I have a weird relationship with OCs for some reason. Some of the reasons are that they don´t fill that much of my thoughts, and another is that I need to have thought everything out for them, which is why I find D&D characters more enjoyable. But oh well, I saw a documentary about pearl divers and drew a girl, so now I have an OC.

I did have a bit of a hard time naming her as I won´t use Quenya name for those in Numenor who are not high class so I settled for an Adûnaic name as that is the language spoken.

I named her Azruzimril as it means sea jewel with a feminine ending and her family are peal divers with her as the only daughter.

I have a surprising lot of thoughts about her...

[olessan]

a lingering glare in passing (ง'̀-'́)ง (ง'̀-'́)ง

[eri-pl]

The Feanorian heresy

Ok, now that I have your attention: There's a take I've seen that's not wholly unfounded in Tolkien's writings, but also is not true in the Silm version and also I don't like it (sorry!) so I thought "Hey, what if people in-world believed that? Wouldn't that be interesting?"

The take I mean is something a bit nebulous in the area of "Feanor was/became an Ainu (almost)" ( @insidethehalloftheflame-eyedking I'm exaggerating what you said, but it was the inspiration. I get what you said and it made sense, but it is the inspiration anyway) and "the Silmarils contained/were the Flame Imperishable" (my most beloathed thing in the Czech musicals, but also Tolkien's "round planet from the start" version at least suggested a strong connection here, so as I said, not wholly unfounded).

After the exile of the Noldor, they are upset at the Valar, Feanor dies in a weird way, and I wonder, maybe in time, among the most radical Feanorians, there would be gossip that he ascended in some way? Even if not, many would assume that his spirit lingers (considering Feanor's resentment at the Valar and forgetting his longing for his mother). And he was so powerful, maybe his spirit still has some way to influence the world? I can very much see some of them praying to Feanor. After all, the difference between a Maia and a powerful housless fëa isn't so big, is it?

And then it gets even more complex: we meet the Men. And some of them do serve the Feanorians (Bór!!! But I'm sure there were many others, even if not as warriors). And Men know very little about the world. And are awed by the Elves already. And based on how I see it, Men worshipping a random dude (ok, Féfe wasn't random. But you get the point.) are more of a problem than Elves doing it - I'm not sure what would happen, what are the symptoms of it being a problem, but it feels like a problem.

Also Men adapt quickly and their cultures change. There would be so many takes on this. Oh, and also the "Silmarils are the fire that created the world" thing. It would spread too.

I really want this in a fic, I want those Men being insanely loyal to the sons of Feanor because of it, even if (some of) the sons of Feanor say it's all not true. I want those Men in the after war situation, when the host of the Valar recovers the two Silmarils.

I want some of those Men not allowed (due to their weird beliefs or to plain racism or whatever) or not willing to go to Númenor, I want them staying in ME, telling legends about the Spirit of Fire who will one day return and (idk, probably give them light and blood and happiness), and yes, you guessed right, I want Sauron hijacking this cult into his own.

I want remnants of those beliefs in tales, in folklore, staying in early Númenorean culture even despite the education they got from Eonwe, and yes, they don't pray to Féfe, they're monotheists, but they do have some folklore. Some weird beliefs about Gil-Estel in particular, and many people later would conflate it with Feanor and/or see it as something at least as divine as Meneltarma.

Unrelated to Feanor, but there's also that early concept of Túrin and Nienor becoming Ainur after Turin kills Morgoth. It would be a folklore thing in mid to late Númenor, but Túrin is probably mixed with Earendil somehow. Hmmm, I can see Pharazôn using Túrin (and his assumed apotheosis, even if the Valar are now controversial, Túrin is not) as an argument to convince Miriel that marrying a cousin is fine if you're special and cool, and he is special and cool. It sounds stupid, but if you warp the story enough...

I love when people in the setting have some misconceptions about the setting. Or makes it feel more real.

[hobbitinnumenor]

NEIGH

https://archiveofourown.org/works/66510259/chapters/171535858

🐴🐎 Berek is speaking (or thinking, really)...new fic who dis?

[menelvagor]

Me waiting for the Cult of Melkor/Akallabêth stuff to happen in ROP.

[dalliansss]

Of course this was intentional. During the first days and months of Zigur’s arrival in court, his keen eyes noted that there was tension between Zimraphel and the king, and that the king had a harem of ten women and four men. Pharazon had six children from his concubines, but none from the queen, no legitimate child to validate his unlawful usurpation of Numenor’s throne. Zigur gleaned from the whispers of the noble court that as Pharazon marched onto Armenelos with his army to claim the Scepter, Tar-Miriel, as she was then known, drank a tonic that burned her womb, effectively killing Pharazon’s claim before he could enforce it. The old nursemaid who made that concoction for Tar-Miriel was summarily executed, and her bleached skull is still stuck on its spike, which was conveniently placed beneath the queen’s balcony. A daily reminder.

Zigur changed the finer details of the lower half of this fana accordingly. A plan to enthrall the king, not just of his counsel and the promise of Melkor, but bait him with the promise of a child. He is not Melian, and the logistics of Luthien’s conception is a mystery that may well never be repeated, but Zigur knows that Men are swayed either by Power, Gold, or Cunt. So he gave himself a Cunt.

[creation on AO3]

[numenorweek]

Welcome to the Numenor Week! Event created for fans of the tragic and beautiful story of the Land of the Gift, from its birth to its downfall.

The event will run from May 26 to June 1, and will accept all the type of fanworks (fanarts, fanfictions, edits, gifsets, remix, etc etc). please remember to tag @numenorweek and to add #numenorweek and #numenorweek2025 in the first 10 tags of your post. NSFW contents are welcomed, but mind to tag them or to put them under a cut. It's ok to submit Rings of Power contents because the show follows the events of the Akallabeth, but only if said content is about the Numenorean characters.

Numenor Week Prompts (those are just suggestions, you can follow them or either discard them completely)

Day 1: Elros Tar-Minyatur | The Line of Elros || Characters: Elros, Elwing, Eärendil, Vardamir Nólimon, Tindómiel, Manwendil, Atanalcar || Prompts: The Choice of the Peredhili - Mortality & Immortality - Rites at the Meneltarma - Kingship - The Legacy of Eärendil 

Day 2: The Mariner's Wife | Aldarion and Erendis || Characters: Tar-Aldarion, Erendis, Tar-Ancalimë, Hallacar, Tar-Meneldur, Almarian, Ailinel & Almiel || Prompts: Costumes and traditions of the Numenoreans, the Guild of the Venturers, laws of succession, expansion of the Numenoreans in Middle Earth, Uinen and the Uinendili

Day 3: Daughters of the Great | The Ruling Queens of Numenor || Characters: Tar-Ancalimë, Tar-Telperiën, Tar-Vanimeldë, Tar-Míriel, Silmariën || Prompts: the role of women in Númenor, usurpation, Queenship, the known and the forgotten women of the line of Elros

Day 4: The Faithful | Lords of Andunie || Characters: Inzilbeth, Amandil, Elendil, Tar-Palantir, Eärendur, Lindórië || Prompts: Secrecy, worship of the Valar, the White Tree, Pelargir, Strife between kin

Day 5: The King's Men | The Ban of the Valar || Characters: Tar- Atanamir the Great, Ar-Adûnakhôr, Ar-Gimilzôr, Gimilkhâd, the Witch King of Angmar || Prompts: Cult of the Dead, Fear of the unknown, Umbar, Pride, Ban of the Quenya, Nazgûl

Day 6: Akallabeth | The Downfall || Characters: Tar-Míriel, Ar-Pharazôn, Sauron, Amandil, Elendil, Elentir, Sauron/Tar-Mairon. || Prompts: Hybris, the cutting of the White Tree, the imprisonment of Sauron, Worship of Melkor, War against the Valar

Day 7: The Realms in Exile | The Line of Isildur and Anarion ||Characters: Elendil, Isildur, Anarion, Valandil, Meneldil, Ohtar ||Prompts: Exile, Gondor and Arnor, the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, Estel

If you have any questions, feel free to send an ask in my askbox!

-- banner artwork by Felix Sotomayor

[bamsywrites]

And Comes Dawn pt 14

Pairing: Sauron/Halbrand x reader

Summary: Two drabbles from the ship ride back to Middle Earth from Numenor.

Tags: spiders, talk of killing spiders, fluff

Notes: kinda shit. Kinda not edited. Life is just kicking my ass and I wanna write but can't do much so I'm sorry this is short/not the quality you're used to. This takes place on the ship to Middle Earth with the Numenorian army.

“Halbrand,” You shook him. He was sleeping deeply, it seemed, as he wasn't roused by your whispers. His arms crossed over his chest, and his hair fell into his face. He looked peaceful. But he was needed for more important purposes.

You shook him again, whispering his name with an urgency that he did not respond to. Finally, you climbed into his lap, holding his face in your hands and squeezing his cheeks together. “Halbrand! Wake up.”

He groaned. Finally, His hands moved to hold your hips. “You sure know how to wake a man.” His eyes still closed, but his lips twitched in a smirk.

“There's a spider.”

“Hmm?”

“A spider. I saw one.”

He chuckled, sitting up straighter and opening his eyes. “Yes, there's spiders. Probably a few rats. This is a ship, you know?”

He pushed some hair out of your face, his knuckles brushing against the skin of your cheek. He sighed as he noticed the expression on your face, “You really are concerned about this spider, aren't you?”

“It's so big, Halbrand.” you whispered, looking into his eyes.

He chuckled softly, a small smirk tugging at his features, but instead of any untoward comment, he pressed his lips to your forehead before resting his forehead against yours. “Tell me where this awful beast is.”

~

“I told you it was big.”

You looked at the spider, its web spread across the corner of the room, and its massive body sat at the center. Its body alone was as big as both your hands. Hands that were grasping onto Halbrands.

“I've seen bigger.”

“You have not.”

“I have so.”

“I do not believe you.”

“You do not have to believe me for it to be true,” he looked down at you with a smirk. He unsheathed his dagger, held it in his hand, and was about to strike before you cried out.

“What are you doing?” You pull him back and look at him as if he's grown another head.

Halbrand blinks a few times, mouth agape. “Killing the spider? Like you wanted?”

“I don't want you to kill it!”

“Should I befriend it?”

“No! Just…release it, perhaps.”

“Into the ocean?!”

“Halbrand, you are being ridiculous!”

He furrowed his eyebrows, watching you for a few moments. “Where else would I release it too? Perhaps if I throw it high enough in the air it will fly away.”

“Now you're just being cruel.”

“Well to be fair, you've put me in quite an impossible predicament.”

You furrowed your eyebrows, looking at the spider, and a sense of disgust overcame you. “It is horrible, and I hate to look at it. It frightens me.”

He cups your face and guides you to look at him, “And the dagger is still an option.”

“But those aren't reasons for it to be dead.”

“It is a massive fucking beast.” Halbrand looked up at it and shook his head.

“But you've seen bigger.”

“I have seen bigger.”

You sigh, “I can not sleep if I know it exists on the ship, but I do not wish it harm.”

He sighs, shaking his head, “You are going to be the death of me, sweet one.” He mumbles and kisses the top of your head.

“Go back to my cot. I will put the thing in a barrel and move it to the depths of the ship. Best I can do."

You sighed, “Fine.”

~

“Of course I would find you here.” You felt strong arms wrapped around your waist, and you were surrounded by Halbrands scent. He rested his chin on your shoulder and followed your gaze towards the stars. You relaxed back into him but didn't say a word.

He pressed a kiss to your shoulder, humming a song softly and swaying with you. It was calming, and you enjoyed it, your eyes falling shut. You felt safe in his arms, as you always did. As you always would.

“What was that song?”

“A song of the most beautiful of elves falling in love with a man. I heard it from one of the elves in my village and I think of it often when I'm with you.”

“Do you speak of Beren and Luthien? I've never heard the song, but my father told me the story.”

You could feel the surprise at your confession and hear it in his voice when he spoke, “It is them, but now you have me curious why your father would tell those stories.”

“I was scared. He would talk of the coming of Sauron and what it would bring and I cried because I would miss the beauty in the world. He told me that Sauron admired beauty too and that he had admired Luthien, the most beautiful of the elves.”

“It was only because he had never seen you.”

“Must you always jest.”

“This is no jest. You are so much more beautiful than anything out there. Luthien herself could never compare."

You laughed softly, shaking your head, "Have you noticed in those stories it is always the mortal men. Never mortal women. Handsome elves or powerful gods do not fall for mortal women. We aren't often even mentioned. We simply sharpen swords and wash clothes and have babies, but there is no great epic love story with a mortal woman.”

You looked up at him for a second before pressing your lips to his softly. “I love you.”

He turned you around in his arms, his eyebrows furrowed, “Where is this insecurity coming from?”

“Women such as I are not written about in song or made into stories. We simply are until we are not.”

His hands cupped your cheeks, pressing his forehead to yours. “You simply are so much more than you know. I may not be a handsome elf or powerful god, but I am yours. Always. And I wish you'd stop talking of yourself as if you are anything less than extraordinary.”

[thesummerestsolstice]

Unwritten Fics game

I was tagged by @runawaymun to talk about all my as-of-yet unwritten fic ideas! I have many, many of them. Here are a few. Feel free to send me asks about any of them, or to tell me which ones you'd most like to read in the tags!

Earendil-drinks-the-Silmail-AU: see Tumblr post here. Elwing gives Earendil the Silmaril's light to try and heal him from an illness, and both he (and later E&E) now have the light of the Silmaril within them. This causes problems for the Oath of Feanor. Can't decide whether to make it serious and heartbreaking or extremely silly.

Immortal Elros AU: definitely need to post about this one. In which Elros sees the mortals who will become the people of Numenor, loves them, and decides the best way to help them is to be immortal, to protect their descendants and maintain their legacy long after they're gone. He becomes Numenor's beloved guardian, caring for it's people for centuries. This all goes pretty well until Tar-Mairon shows up on the island.

Faustian Bargain AU: when both Gil-Galad and Celebrimbor are captured during Eregion's fall, Elrond makes a dangerous deal with Sauron to get them back. In exchange for their release, Elrond offers to become Sauron's captive, and to help him in his efforts to reach the Void and free Morgoth. Elrond, of course, has other plans. So do the now-free (and incredibly worried) Gil Galad and Celebrimbor.

Unexpected Problems: see Tumblr posts here and here. All about the issues Elrond runs into in Valinor– from people debating about whether or not he counts as an Ainur to Noldor being scandalized that he only wears a couple pounds of jewelry. Also his repeated attempts to stop Galadriel and Bilbo from completely destroying Valinorian society.

The Love of a Parent: Elrond's parents continue to look out for him, whether from beyond the circles of the world or from the stars above. Probably largely outsider POV. A chance for more eldritchry.

On Estel: In which Earendil goes into the void, searching for Maeglin's lost spirit. Slight AU in the sense that it's very Maeglin sympathetic, and has him having a good familial relationship with Turgon, Idril, and Earendil.

Ten Little Soldier Boys: my take on who Finrod's faithful ten were, why they were so loyal, and the moments they each decided they would give anything to keep Finrod safe. OC heavy but very dear to my heart.

Misfits, Outcasts, and other Characters of Ill-Repute: a series of oneshots about the various people who end up in Rivendell and how they got there. Includes canon characters (Glorfindel, Erestor, Lindir, etc.) and some OCs (including an old Feanorian diehard and one of Thingol's bodyguards, and, of course, Garthaglir the Library Orc)

No pressure, but I'm going to second Runawaymun's tagging of @jaz-the-bard (I don't think they've done the game yet but I might've missed it on their blog)

[malkaleh]

Okay this Gold Cages ‘the night before Sauron leaves for Numenor’ is Heavy so I’m not going to tag people because it’s A Lot and I’m processing some stuff and I don’t want anyone to feel obligated to read that.

Serious TW: rape, possessive abusive behavior, torture references, probably dissociation, Sauron is Really Sauroning.

Elronds first dangerous thought is anger. Bone deep anger and worry - his brothers kingdom, the land where he lay, where his descendants yet lived - isolated from the eldar they might be now and it had hurt, that they would so forget Elros but it was his brothers beloved land. For a moment he wishes to snap back.

He cannot so he makes himself turn from the tower window as Sauron comes fully into the room, schooling his expression.

“My nightingale, in your perch. Sweet one, do you feed the birds?”

Valar help him, not the birds, Elrond thinks. He must give truth for for all that there are not spies within the towers at all times, he can feel them sometimes and he cannot take the chance.

“I do my Lord - but if it pleases you not, I will stop - I merely wished to learn so I might sing for you better.”

“It does please me. My littlest bird, making such a beautiful scene for me - peaceful in his tower tree, singing by the window in such a pretty way so I might hear.”

Sauron grips him too tightly.

“You will not sing when I am gone, my dearest for I will not have others hear your sweet voice.”

(Elrond vows he is going to recite every filthy drinking song and laugh at the dark lord song he knows instead. He’s sure it will make Adar laugh if nothing else and he’s sure the others know more).

On the outside he only nods.

Sauron bites his lip so he draws blood. Leaves the marks of teeth upon his neck and Valar help him, Elrond cannot bear it, this gentle possessiveness the way Sauron calls him ‘mine’ and ‘my little nightingale, my little bird, my little star, my jewel’ (his naneth had called him and Elros little stars and later Maglor and Maedhros had called them ‘our brightest stars’ and it hurts, it hurts because that was what those who loved him had called Elrond. Gil-Galad still called him little hope star betimes, though not for a long time - Elrond wonders if the High King still hates him)

Sauron oh so gently has Elrond stroke him as he sits upon the bed and I can’t, I can’t Elrond thinks.

He does. Somehow, perhaps he does think of all the people he loves all the places he has loved or merely the list of the last tasks he had undertaken as a Herald.

There are bruises and it hurts when Sauron takes him, as though the Dark Lord wishes to imprint himself into Elrond and he does it twice. The second time he traces his sigil into Elronds thigh.

“It will fade dearest, but not until I return.”

-

Celebrimbor knows exactly how this will be when Sauron takes him to the fur by the fire and simply wills their clothes away. So he takes it. And Sauron wishes him to be as he was before so he tries to be, to make sure he is sweet and looking to Sauron for approval and it turns out he loves Celebrimbors curls.

It hurts still. Sauron clearly wishes to imprint himself into his possessions and it hurts.

-

“I should do this with all of you at once, so I might see your sweetness”

I cannot bear it Celeborn thinks but he merely manages to smile from his place upon the bed, between Saurons legs.

“Ah but is not sweet to have us solely - so we might be as we should with you - I hope I have done well?”

He makes himself sound worried and it is not entirely feigned. A part of him only wishes it would be over.

“You could never do less my sweet silver prince”

-

“Do not go to him Galadriel - my two treasures should not so fall into each other. You may be in company of course but not together. Not until I might enjoy you both.”

[eri-pl]

I managed to make myself sad about yet another awful character.

So… When Pharazôn was a kid (also: how do the kings' names work? He *was* called Pharazôn as a kid, right??? And his family on that one side would call him Callion but we'll get there) he was friends with Amandil. And we're talking real, actual friends. That is in the Fall of Numenor book, even if not fully in the Silm.

He was hanging out with the Faithful in Andunie, even as a young man (teenager at least) he and Miriel kinda fell for each other. He was a great guy, I suppose. Or at least a Boromir-like guy (brave, hot headed, but a great friend).

But his father messed him up and then he doubled down himself on "I'll make myself a great Numenorian who never listens to any of my good impulses because that's what being a Numenorean is".

Also, if he was named "the golden" as a child, I'm sure ha had gold hair. You know, like Earendil (and Tuor). Numenoreans were an ethnic mix, he could have had golden hair.

So, the list of idiots extends.

[hobbitinnumenor]

The start of Aldarion and Erendis' story, via "Fall of Númenor", lfg.

Holyyy the drama. It'd make a killer movie, amirite. One of those "there's love, or at least lust, but irreconcilable differences so...oof." 😬😮‍💨As always, ty for reading if you can/want, & I'd love to hear any of your thoughts!

1. Meneldur's warning to Aldarion pretty much coming true is really sticking with me. Later pretty much stated, in so many words, that Aldarion was one to do something if he was told not to. There are no perfect heroes in this story. Imo they could all use some therapy. Individual & family 🤪😅

2. "To what purpose is the gracing of our ships...if they sail to no shores, and may seek nothing not seen before?" ~Aldarion...a true wanderlust, a desire to discover. His mom, the Queen, thought that love could tame it, thus tried to matchmake: nope. Not if he had already fallen in love with the 🌊.

3. Indeed, this idea of marrying the sea, it becomes a theme. Meneldur says it, that in Númenor he can't be married twice over, as does Erendis ("I'm not gonna share you, sorry"). Is Erendis just as married to the forests? Arguably. And there lies the struggle. Again, unbridgeable differences. Oof.

4. As always with JRRT, imho, strong imagery and theme keeps all of that clear and visceral. Aldarion: 🌊, Erendis: 🌳...her 💎, the oiolaire 🌿 on the bow that shrivels in the cold. Imo there's an implication of connection w/ her & the 🌿: ..."it is not yet chilled to the death, Aldarion", there's still hope for their love. "How can I dismiss you, when I look on you again, returning as fair as the sun after winter!", she continues. They agree in hope that it really is their spring. But lust isn't enough for that...compatibility matters.

5. "...we cannot dwell in the time that it to come, lest we lose our now for a phantom of our own design."...dayum. Presence. In context, it's also tied to the Secondborn fear and confusion over death and the afterlife. But the quote aline...powerful. wow.

Ty again!! Excited to keep going with their story.

[youwearfinethingswellwriter]

Works By You_Wear_Fine_Things_Well

Last updated: 16 March 2025

Fics

Haladriel Multichaps ✒️

The Games We Play - Haladriel etl slow burn | 320k | M | 63/63

One Last Dance - TGWP sequel | 250k | M | 50/50

TGWP Bonus Scenes - | G - E | 10/10

Seven Days in May - modern publishing AU | 24k | M | 7/7

Our Rings Mean Death - pirate AU | 60k+ | E | 13/20 | OFMD x ROP x POTC crossover

All Shall Love Me and Despair - post season 2 AU | 7k | E | 2/4

Haladriel One Shots ✨

Season 2 Predictions - series of 6 works | G - T

What Happened on that Raft - missing scene on the raft | 4k | M

What Happens in Numenor - missing scene in Numenor | 3.7k | G

and they were roommates - college AU | 6k | T | Fun fact: I have no recollection of ever writing this

I am Nothing; You are Everything - a one shot in verse form | 500 | G

@nenyabusiness turned the poem into a song and recorded it! Check it out here! 😍

Ultimate Desire - An explicit rewriting of the season 2 finale fight | 3.8k | E

Non-Haladriel 😱

Distracted - Halbrand/Sauron tries to help reader with their anxiety | one shot | 4.3k | T | Fun fact: I tried writing/reading this to reduce anxiety. It didn't work.🙂

I also write for Winterbaron, check out my masterlist for the fandom here.

📽 Video Edits 📽

🖌 Fanart 🖌

Tagged as "my art" on my posts.

Highlights:

[readinginithilien]

Presumably a lot of people have already thought about what would happen if Faramir instead of Boromir went to Rivendell, but I can't stop thinking about it, so here's my two cents without looking anything else up:

The dream was sent (presumably by Irmo) to both Faramir and Boromir, and more often to Faramir. That could be just because Faramir is more receptive, being much closer to the blood of Numenor, but anyway it implies that both could have gone and given a chance of success; and even that Faramir would have been better.

Until Lothlorien, nothing changes. Boromir was pretty much fine until then, and anyway not that much involved in the decision-making, and Faramir would follow both Gandalf (whom he adores) and Aragorn (who he would immediately recognise as his rightful king) without question. Now, after Lothlorien, Faramir would try to involve himself. Other than Boromir, he's of the same opinion as Aragorn: they need to split up. The ring needs to go to Mordor, the rest of people needs to go to Gondor. How many and who goes, and also from where, is the big question.

Merry and Pippin are just tagging along, Gimli and Legolas are basically here for the vibes, Sam will go where Frodo goes and Frodo wants to go to Mordor alone without burdening anyone, but keeps his council to himself. Faramir being less suspicious than Boromir might open him up a bit.

I have no idea what is most realistic for them to decide, but what would be the best case scenario (in hindsight) is them deciding that Faramir goes with Frodo and Sam for maximum stealth and because he both knows Ithilien extremely well and can hope for friends and supplies on the way, while the whole rest all go to Gondor - which should then deviate to get them to Rohan somehow.

Maybe they all help Faramir carry down one of the boats besides Rauros, so he, Frodo and Sam can take it to Cair Andros (where they will meet some Gondorians and sent a message to Denethor), walk from there to the Morannon. As expected that way is barred, but Faramir does know of Cirith Ungol, though he really doesn't like it, he might suggest it. On the way they can stock up supplies in Ithilien (and send another message to Denethor). They might also meet Boromir (though I think he would stay in Osgiliath. I am also not sure if that's a good thing because Boromir would not let his baby brother go to Cirith Ungol. No way.) Gollum would still follow them, increasingly worried, but probably not make contact. Now when they get to Cirith Ungol, I am not sure what would happen. Faramir is definitely the most appealing meal to Shelob, and maybe he would remember the star glass earlier? From this point on it's mostly speculation, allthough they have a chance.

What needs to be taken into account however is the timing. Frodo and Sam were extremely lucky that Sauron got distracted by thinking Pippin got the ring and Aragorn was going to use it. In the best case, this is still going to happen, because the ents need to be roused, and so does Theoden, and Aragorn needs to come by the path of the dead, not via ship down the Anduin, which at this point seems most likely. Maybe the uruk hai and orcs we know are nearby manage to catch Merry and Pippin while they hang back, not planning to go with Frodo and unable to carry a boat?

Then things would happen pretty much as in canon on the west side of Anduin, allthough they don't bury Boromir, obviously. They might still take longer, starting from the foot of Rauros, but in the long term it should not make any difference.

However, Faramir, Frodo and Sam will be much faster without going through the swamps and with Faramir's lead, and they will arrive before Sauron get distracted. That might prove fatal.

And once action happens in Gondor, with Boromir alive and cryptic messages from Faramir, who knows what Denethor will do...

[conundrumoftime]

'The End of the Wine'

I'm convinced that the phial Halbrand wears around his neck in season 1 beside the Southlands seal is inspired by this C S Lewis poem, written when JRRT was still playing around with the idea of Númenor but hadn't yet incorporated it into the Silm-Hobbit-LOTR part of his legendarium:

Lewis also mentions Numenor in one of his space trilogy books, and gives credit to JRRT in the foreword: "Those who would like to learn further about Numinor and the True West must (alas!) await the publication of much that still exists only in the MSS. of my friend, Professor J. R. R. Tolkien." Early version of tagging your bestie who was kicking an idea around in a Sprints channel.