#maglor is pretty much the same

[sesamenom]

was looking through some of my old art and found my original feanorion designs (minus parts of curufin and ambarussa)

[papita474]

Omg this so pretty,im crying,i love the facial expressions on every one of them

This got me so emotional :( but its so pretty

hug :D

I said in my last post that Maglor needed hugs and now he has a big hug!!!! :D

This drawing has me very emotional, I wanted it to be the 7 brothers hugging each other, Maglor in the center, after many years of him being alone and sad wandering the coasts. Is this a dream? A hallucination? Or is this a miracle and his brothers came back for him? :) ……I actually wrote a whole super silly fic about it but I don't think I'll finish it soon haha ​​mmm we'll see haha

It's 2am and I'm happy, I love this drawing, even though I had a bad time at some moments because of mistakes that were completely avoidable but because of who I am I decided to take the more complicated path hmmm….This whole drawing is on the same layer haha….that wasn't a good idea haha ​​but I love it anyway.

[somepinkthing]

AU where, in pain, maedhros initially rejects maglor when he first sees him post-rescue. Very publically too. In their grief and guilt, the other brothers then turn on maglor and cast him out, injuring him in the process. At first, when they can't find him again, they don't worry. He was ever the more level headed of them all, they figured. He knows he can't make it out there. He'll come crawling back and we'll accept him, we aren't the brother-abandoners after all. But as time drags on, it becomes more dire. Search party after search party is sent out but nothing turns up a trace. Eventually, they start edging closer to morgoth's lands. In a fit of irony, the remaining brothers soon decide they can't risk any more parties that far into enemy territory when three of them in a row are found ripped to pieces.

In the meantime, maedhros has also improved, mentally and physically, and has begun to ask about maglor. It seems... odd that he hasn't seen him. Maglor has never held a grudge against family this long, much less against his favorite brother. Maedhros himself hasn't let go of all his resentment entirely, but he regrets how it all went down all the same. Now recovered, he knows what maglor did was the best course of action and likely saved his remaining family from annihilation (no we can't all be named the valiant, findekano). He wants to reconcile. At the very least, he wants to see him.

None of the other brothers have the heart to tell him. Nor do they think it'd be a particularly good idea while he's still healing. They tell him maglor is busy, he's emotional, he's drowning in guilt, he's been hurt, he's still feeling hurt—anything to keep the truth under wraps.

Fingon, in a fit of indignation at his cousin's continued refusal to come see his ailing brother, comes personally to the feanorian camp to fetch him. When he finds out the truth, he first feels it's just. Then he just feels guilt ridden and cold. All of them agree it'd be for the best if maitimo were kept in the dark about it for now.

"Maybe he's just being stubborn," all of them tell themselves at some point, "he's always had a knack for the dramatic. He could still be coming back."

But when even maedhros makes it back to the feanorian camp before maglor does, they have to concede the point. They've lost their brother.

Maedhros is naturally distraught when the truth comes to light. Unable to personally go looking, he begins investigating what happened. It turns up nothing regarding maglor's whereabouts, but he finds out a very interesting rumor. A rumor that celegorm's hunters punished a traitor a few months back by hanging them in a tree.

They find no body in the end, just a cut rope. Relief and dread fill the brothers at the discovery. Maglor is alive! But it's likely someone else cut him down. Who? Why? After all, they now know there are fates worse than death.

Meanwhile, deep in the forests of nan elmoth, eöl curls around his mute lover. A pretty noldor he found left in the trees like some decoration by orcs, throat completely mangled from the ordeal. He's altogether rather mad and useless at any household chores, but he's pretty enough and his skill with a set of twin daggers grows every day. And, well, he certainly doesn't ask for much. Nor does he complain at all—even on days where eöl's mood is foul. And he plays the harp whenever asked, very well too. And it pleases eöl to have such a talented musician in his court. So the noldor stays. His fits of madness become easy enough to manage once eöl finds out solitude shuts him up like nothing else will. It's like he's never been alone before or something.

And that's the way it stays, even after eöl marries aredhel. Their trysts end but the little harpist has picked up enough skill by that point to be useful. Eöl notices at some point that his servant wears a mask and has a habit of avoiding his new wife, but he never lashes out at her in his jealousy so. It's well enough. He's fantastic with the boy too.

Eöl never regrets taking the noldor in.

That is, until it runs away with his wife and son. Right into the hands of the feanorians.

[inthehouseoffinwe]

What do you think would’ve happened if instead of the three Cs, Maedhros and Maglor had been the ones to fight Dior?

I mean we know they’re much more skilled and less bloodthirsty and rash than the rest of their brothers. So here’s an AU:

I think we’d see Mae and Mags come out on top, and assuming they’re out of the main hall, the rest of their brothers would probably make it out of Doriath alive. Elured and Elurin make it out with Elwing.

With all seven still around and watching each other’s backs, I imagine Sirion would be much the same, all all them surviving. The addition of Elwing’s brothers and their soldiers turning on them, *might* turn the tables just enough to kill a couple of Fëanorions, probably Celegorm and Curufin who are still bitter about Luthien and Dior. But I feel it’s more likely due to inexperience, Elured and Elurin are killed, not necessarily by the Fëanorions themselves.

The silmaril ends up with Elwing and we get the same situation of Maedhros and Maglor asking for it back and Elwing throwing herself off the cliff. Mae and Mags genuinely do not want to be here but the letters were refused and the Oath calls. Elwing probably knows her brothers were killed by word of mouth or seeing it herself and legged it.

Enter Elrond and Elros who’d have a more interesting (and fun) time of things with 5-7 sons of Fëanor around. Maedhros would back Maglor on caring for the twins though, less consumed by the oath with all his little brothers alive and kicking. And in canon he did go searching for Dior’s sons. Caranthir probably doesn’t really have an opinion on them, Amrod and Amras are willing to follow their brothers’ lead on things (also when are they ever gonna have a chance to see identical twins again. I think they’d get along pretty well.) I don’t see any of them being particularly hateful towards the kids. Celegorm and Curufin seem to be most susceptible to the Oath and giving in to their nastier sides might be a bit more of a problem, but there’s enough brothers to keep an eye on them. And I think they’d warm up eventually, reluctantly though it may be. Curufin was a father first, remember, it’s more natural for him to care than not.

Safe to say by the time Elrond and Elros go to Gil Galad, they’re very well trained in all manner of things 😂

As for the fate of the Fëanorions, they wouldn’t go for the last ditch attempt Mae and Mags did. From the eldest’s perspective, there’s too much to lose. I want to say the stones might be passed off to them, if only to prove a point, and whoever picks them up would no doubt be burned, but there’s no suicides. There’s no endless lamentation.

In reality though there’s probably still a battle by the chest, the oath awakened and clawing with the stones so close. There might be more of a push to bring them back to Valinor to stand trial, but they’re a force to be reckoned with and Eönwë knows they’d rather die than be dragged back. The Fëanorions are let go with the stones, but instead of being tossed away as the Valar expect, the chest is kept and they go on.

With the oath mostly fulfilled much of the weight across their fëa is gone, and Curufin and Celegorm head out to keep an eye on Celebrimbor. Elros might have a temporary tagalong in Maedhros and Caranthir (new kingdom needs someone with experience to get the economy up and running.) Maglor and both Ambarussa keep their distant eye on Elrond.

(Annatar didn’t expect the seven biggest pains in his Master’s back to greet him at Eregion’s gate, two Silmarils in tow, burning him to the core. Celebrimbor doesn’t know whether to be horrified or thankful. Back in Lindon, Elrond - the one who tipped them off - is cackling and Gil Galad is Concerned TM but decides he’s better off not knowing. His cousins are insane on the best of days.)

Alternatively, Elured and Elurin perhaps remembering how reluctant Maedhros and Maglor were, how Maedhros pleaded with their father to just return the stone so this could all *end*, immediately send the silmaril back when the letter comes. Or maybe they’re just cooler headed and see the logic of returning the stone. Things settle. The Valar do eventually get involved. Silmaril two and three are regained then reclaimed by the brothers as mentioned above. They might burn. They might reject the holders. But the oath is fulfilled and that’s all that matters in the end.

[victorie552]

Ok, so Noldolantë, "The Fall of the Noldor" is a lament composed by Maglor about what happened before, during and after First Kinslaying at Alqualondë. It's such a good song that it's played regularly in Aman and Valar listen to it often (I swear, I swear it was in the Silmarillion I just can't find it now).

It's also a more or less common fanon that Maglor continues writing Noldolante through the whole First Age. Makes sense - it's about fall of the Noldor, and Noldor did a lot of falling back then.

Headcannon time: So my first thought was that Noldolante must a long, long, long epic of a song. So it probably has many parts, right? Iliad has 24 books/parts, somehow I think Noldolante would be at least just as long, and there are longer epics. And again, just like Iliad, unless you're a scholar, in the daily life you don't really listen to/read the whole thing, just reread and repeat the most dramatic fragments. What I'm trying to impress upon you all is that the story would have different segments, or chapters, if you will.

And if Maglor continues to write the story during the FA, there would absolutely be a moment in the lament where the OG Noldolante becomes Noldolante 2, and even Noldolante 3. There may be the same musical motif or something, I decided that Maglor IS that good of a bard to keep it all consistent enough so you know it's all the same story, but the style changes a lot - it's been 400 years in the making, let The Music Elf have fun!

So, Point 1: Many, Many Parts, basically Maglor's FA WIP

My second thought was that, while Feanor invented his alphabet, elves learned their history mostly through oral tradition aka songs and spoken stories. Noldolante is definitely a historical record, where a historical event was archived for future generations.

(It was a also a way to deal with grief, guilt and blame Maglor and all Noldor have faced regarding First Kinslaying - free therapy! But that's not what this post is about)

Archived.

My 2.5 thought was that Noldolante isn't just recallings of how pretty and horrified the beach looked during the murdering or how mad and sorrowful the sea was at everyone during the voyage or even how awesome and charismatic Feanor looked during his speeches that every single Noldo was ready to fight Morgoth barehanded in his name - no, this is a record of who killed who, who got killed by whom, and how.

Noldor and Teleri knew each other (were friends, even!) before the First Kinslaying, so I'm confident that after a lot of interviews, detective work, and cross-referencing, Maglor could and would create a very good... name list. Practically every Noldo and Teler present during First Kinslaying would get a stanza in a song, more if he killed someone, most if he killed many people. Killers and killed would show up twice, first in a fragment listing the killers and their victims, then in a part listing the victims and their murderers. Basically it's the same thing twice, but from different POVs. With when, where and how included.

(It was seen to be in bad taste to compare kills during Maglor's Regency, when most of his interview-part work happened. People did it anyway. There were a Saddest Kill, Funniest Kill, and Weirdest Kill discusions. There was a Tier List. These were weird times to be a Feanorian Noldo.)

(It WAS in Bad Taste, but at least people talked about it. I cannot stress enough how much free therapy this lament provided)

(Little did they know, when Teleri started getting reembodied in Aman, they had very similar discussions, but more in a "I can't believe he killed me like THAT" way. Long, long, long after the First Age. Noldolante is a gift that keeps giving)

So, Maglor had all the historical grith and no common shame to create a "We Killed All These People And We Feel Bad About It" banger of a song, and every Noldo had a very personal reason to at least remember the fragments they are in. It's a hit on a scale never seen before.

(I'm not sure how to tackle the issue of Nolofinweans and Arafinweans learning about Noldolante after crossing the Ice. But there were discussions. There was anger, there was "????", there was controversy. Basically, the song got bigger and bigger rep no matter what your opinion on it was. By the time of Mereth Aderthad it was an important cultural and political piece and at least Fingon's forces were included in the main song. It had parodies.)

Point 2: Archive Function/Kill count storage. Cultural phenomen, every Noldo included

This is where my personal nonsense begins: Main Noldolante was done, there was nothing more to say about First Kinslaying, all killings and deaths were well documented.

But the Siege started. And the Noldor kept dying.

It was less dramatic than it sounded - between the big battles the siege was maintained, but orc raids also happened and sometimes one to few Noldor died in skirmishes. The legal procedure was to document the death of a fellow elf and send a word to king Fingolfin. The cultural procedure, technically started by Feranorians but adapted by many more, was to send the name, common characteristics and cause of death to Maglor's Gap. After few months, King Fingolfin would send reinforcements, short condolences and financial compensation if they had family. After few months, family of an elf would also receive a personal lament for them and a place for them in a Noldolante.

Yes, every lament Maglor created in that time was technically part of the Noldolante. Noldolante 1.5, if you will. Laments make in that time were very customized, and simpler than Noldolante Main, but were still considered a part of the same song. Of course, nobody was expected to know and remember laments for every single Noldo, younger Noldor born in Beleriand could even only know fragments about their family members. Only Maglor would ever know Noldolante in full, but it was understood that everyone had their place in The Song.

The results of Great Battles were harder to document, but Maglor did that. Of course, Dagor Bragollach was hard on him personally, but he worked his way through.

(High King Fingon forbade creating laments for his father. There were no songs for Fingolfin. Apart from in Noldolante, of course. Of course. Maglor did not share the lament with anyone, but he sat long hours and many nights with a blank paper before him, looking at the candle flame and thinking of the past and the future. The song unsung, but there)

Nirnaeth was... Maglor was never more hated and more approached at the same time than then. Still, Noldolante grew and grew, as if people knew the end was near.

It was Second Kinslaying that destroyed the myth of Maglor's song. Feanorians didn't know the Sindar they killed, but surely, they couldn't just left their names unmentioned like they did with orcs? So, Noldor talked, but the battle happened in caves - it wasn't uncommon to find dead bodies in empty rooms, with no witnesses to what happened. Surviving Sindar didn't want to share any names, even when Maglor strong-armed some into talking with him, and good for them. Maglor made a big lament anyway. Maglor, wild, with no shame and dead brothers, with legacy crumbling around him. Noldolante, with holes.

After Third Kinslaying, Noldor didn't want to talk. Lament for Sirion didn't have any names. Clearly, songs weren't a way to go anymore, it was always about live witnesses. And so Maglor raised the twins.

Lament for Maedhros was sung repeatedly. There was no one to hear it.

Point 3: Only Maglor knows Noldolante in full. But that doesn't matter, because everyone knows the important part: the Noldolante is finished. The Star of Hope rises in the West and the story goes on. The Fall has ended.

[katrina37973]

C&C Full sketch!

I’ve always headcannoned all Curufin’s to be shorter than average Noldor because it’s brings me so much joy just the idea of so much History and when you finally meet one of them they’re noticeably smaller than you but also somehow extremely terrifying/concerning at the same time.

It’s even more funny when they’re next to their taller-than-average Noldor family members - I headcannon Maedhros and Celegorm to be the same height while Maglor’s a tiny bit smaller but more noticeable becuase he has an absolutely horrible posture, the typical artist gremlin one. Maedhros is just Tall while Celegorm’s tall and buff as hell. Ambarussa are average while I can’t decide which one Caranthir should be.

On one hand, small and grumpy is an adorable combination and since I headcannon Haleth to be taller than most her people (which I think is smaller in stature than the other Men? will have to double check that), I’m imagining their first meeting having Haleth be like, okay, I know you saved a bunch of my people and myself and I’m greatful for that but also you’re tinier than I am- how on earth are you the leader? Like your second and third in command tower above you, you look like barely turned adult elf while Caranthir’s just dying on the inside because though his sibilings are not around he still getting the ‘you’re short’ talk and his commanders are audibly laughing. He’s also very impressed and wants to know this random woman better - very few people dare to insult him to his face and also direct communication is the best thing ever.

On the other, small(ish) and angry Haleth who will fuck you up is also a very compelling image, even more so when Caranthir can just lean down and dig his chin into the top of her head - it’s rare that Caranthir can just to that, he’s been on the recieving end of it more than enough - (You’re the perfect headrest Moryo - from one of his brother’s who swiftly was kicked in the shin). And people just watching are even more scared baffled at the elf acting like Haleth, scary do not piss her off ever Haleth, is as cute as a button. It’s the slightest bit condescending but all the elves are, unfortunately especially this batch, like that and they aren’t actively doing it on purpose so the Men just leave the matter be.

I’m a little annoyed at the clothes- I don’t know, it just doesn’t feel right but also I have no other ideas atm. I’m pretty happy with Celegorm in general, Curufin’s pose I think I might change, especially the leg position, something just looks off. We’ll see how well I render the dog out - I can’t draw animals for shit and so this will be the second(?) time I’m drawing one digitally so I’m expecting a lot of grim resignation of weird looking fur and anatomy.

The matching jellwery/motifs: armbands - created, surprisingly not by Curufin or Feanor but by Celebrimbor - hence a more simpler design in Valinor but they adore their youngest family member and so continue wearing it despite Celebrimbor actively trying to get them to wear better quality and prettier ones that he has made. They’re not bad per say but its very obvious a non-experienced elf did it. (When the whole Nagothrond incident happened, I have two timelines - one is the two leave still wearing Celebrimbor’s gift, the other is they take it off and throw it at his feet with harsh words - guess who’s trying not to cry).

Belts - I’m not quite happy with them because it has a distinctly western cowboy feel to it that is just not vibing with me personally but ah well.

Jewellery- smilar in style/shape necklaces that Curufin made but he knows his older brother likes feathers and bones and teeth so he makes special clasps designed specifically so that Celegorm can interchange whenever and whatever he feels like.

Another is one earring each, they were Feanor’s favourite - Curufin was absotuely distraught over his death and Celegorm was too but he wasn’t that distraught as to pick out the remaining stable jewellery and wear it. But his brother did it so he’s gonna stand in solidarity with his baby brother no matter what (unless it’s a matter of what face is pretty enough to die for).

Unseen/drawn - matching hunting knives.

[polutrope]

Ambarussa Appreciation

I have said before that I think Amrod and Amras have much untapped imaginative potential. But that's not to say there are no intrepid creators who have done marvellous work with the sixth and seventh sons of Fëanor. Here are some of them! Feel free to reblog this with additions of your own.

Fics

A Kind of Mercy by @aipilosse (T, 0.8k). Amras & Amrod. A haunting character study.

truth in a mirror by athenakarthagonensis (E, 4.4k). Amrod/OMC. Stunning prose and a dangerous lightly-toasted Amrod. The unique Green-elf POV is excellent.

The White Tower by Anna_Wing (not rated, 11.2k). Post-canon Elwing-focused fic (fascinating worldbuilding and musings on the nature of the Oath), but interesting and refreshing to see her interacting with the 'forgotten' Kinslayers.

Who By Fire by me (M, 4.9k). Amrod/Fingolfin. Two grief-raw souls connect at Mithrim. Lightly-toasted Amrod. cw: past attempted suicide, mental instability, injury, animal death.

The Same Blood by me (T, 1k). Amras and Amrod's relationship feels the strain of what they have been through. Follow-up to the previous fic.

as a mist of light, chapter 12 by @swanmaids (T, ficlet). Amras finds a way to cope after the fire. Crispy Amrod. cw: self harm.

We Shared Everything by @cuarthol (M, 2.2k). Amras and Amrod shared everything, until they didn't. Crispy Amrod. Fantastic use of first person (plural and singular).

Dénouement by @sallysavestheday (G, 0.9k). Amrod/Aredhel, post-canon. Two people who were killed by people they love find understanding in each other. Crispy Amrod.

A Name by @skyeventide (G, 1k). Beautiful and impactful musings on identity, pulling from the convoluted and complex names associated with these two. Lightly-toasted Amrod.

The Seven Trials of Fingon the Valiant, chapter 6 by me and @melestasflight (T, ~2k). Something lighter! The twins seduce Fingon.

Art

There is actually a pretty rich array of fanart of Amrod and Amras. Here are just a few of my favourites.

Amras and Amrod by @wisesnail

Amras and Amrod by @welcomingdisaster

Amrod threatens Elrond and Elros by @runawaymun, a chilling commission for my fic And Love Grew

Amrod by @myceliumelium

Amras and Maedhros by @redbootsindoriath

Amrod by @tabukomi

Ambarussa by @thelien-art

Ambarussa by @spvce-oddity

Maedhros, Celegorm, Amrod, Amras by @albuum

Any finally some HoMe quotes about the twins, who get so little in the published Silm.

325 [525] Torment fell upon Maidros and his brethren, because of their unfulfilled oath. Damrod and Díriel resolved to win the Silmaril, if Eärendel would not give it up willingly. […] 329 [529] Here Damrod and Díriel ravaged Sirion, and were slain. Maidros and Maglor were there, but they were sick at heart.  From 'The Later Annals of Beleriand' in The Lost Road

"The two twins were both red-haired. Nerdanel gave them both the name Ambarussa - for they were much alike and remained so while they lived. When Fëanor begged that their names should at least be different Nerdanel looked strange, and after a while said: 'Then let one be called [Ambarto >] Umbarto, but which, time will decide."

"The twins called each other Ambarussa. The name Ambarto/Umbarto was used by [?no one]. The twins remained alike, but the elder grew darker in hair, and was more dear to his father. After childhood they [?were not to be] confused…" From 'The Shibboleth of Fëanor' in The Peoples of Middle-earth

[chaos-of-the-abyss]

How would you envision Elrond and Elwing's reunion in Valinor 🥺? I can already imagine they would hug for a lonnngggg time to make up for the years of being forcefully separated from each other. Also, Elrond would be ecstatic to know that Celebrian and Elwing (in my head, lol) have bonded and become close to each other.

yesssss i too believe they would hug and cry for a very long time, like they'd just fall into each other's arms <3<3<3 and elrond can finally break down embraced by his mother the way he never had the chance to for literal thousands of years. a tangent, but i don't think elrond ever felt comfortable showing such extreme, uncontrollable vulnerability in front of others -- having been kidnapped as a child by the people who murdered most of his community and as good as forced his mother to suicide, he pretty much came to hide anything that could be perceived as "weakness" for fear of how maedhros and maglor would react to it. and even though he does grow more emotionally healthy once he finds people with whom he can truly have a good relationship, he still finds it difficult to so entirely let down his guard around people. but with elwing -- it's like he's a child again. as soon as he sees his mother's face, the exact same face that he remembers from his memories and his dreams, the exact same face he associates with strength and love and bravery ever since he was young -- everything all comes rushing out. it's like all the tears of pain and fear at her being taken from him are finally flowing after being reined in for millennia.

i can't imagine how utterly cathartic their reunion, at long last, would be to both of them. they wouldn't let go of each other for a while, that's for sure, and they would probably spend hours and hours and hours learning everything they can about each other. i doubt they'd be willing to be apart for at least several days after that. they are going EVERYWHERE together for the next month. joined at the hip. elwing at some point introduces him to all her friends and kin that she's met and connected with since she came to valinor, and elrond finds a litany of relatives who are delighted and proud and awed. lots of teleri especially are so heartened, particularly the ones who knew thingol from before they came west. that's the great-great-grandson of their king's beloved brother. and speaking of thingol -- elwing has already grown close to him since she came to valinor, she and elrond go to visit him together, and thingol cries once again and adopts yet another descendant. tbh he adopts every single descendant of his that sails west. spoils them rotten like they're children even though they're all grown adults who've seen some shit. what do you mean he can't shower them in every single gift that catches his eye or comes to mind. they're his descendants, he can do what he wants!! he will coddle them, and elrond is by no means an exception.

it's also my hc that elwing and celebrian meet when celebrian arrives in valinor! celebrian tells her mother-in-law all about elrond and all about elladan, elrohir, and arwen. elwing adores her daughter-in-law and celebrian is one of the few people who she'll regularly hang out with. they visit each other and everything, elwing is there with her when celebrian meets her telerin relatives (who already all know and love elwing). suffice to say you're right, elrond is absolutely delighted to learn how close his mother and wife have become. they all spend heaps of time with each other -- with earendil, too, when he comes home. it won't take away the injustice of elwing losing so much of her son's life, and elrond losing his mother at such a young age -- but it's good. at last they're the family they couldn't be long ago, and they're all very very happy together

[ceescedasticity]

Another Unforsaken sneak peak

(Still deciding on the details of interweaving with the Warden backstory, but I've got, like, the first half of the fight scene:)

They're expecting fire — the ghâsh in Ghâsh-bagronk. And when they emerge from shelter (with some ungainly scrambling from the horses) they do see the tail end of a spout of flames from the new hole.

But the flames recede, and there's light.

The Warden rises out of the Crucible in a wave of cold. It's wearing a tall, slender fána with shimmering white skin and hair, robed in immaculate white. If not for the aura of malevolence it would not look out of place on Taniquetil.

"Well that's not at all what I was expecting," Glorfindel says, mostly to Asfaloth.

Maglor has his fingers on the battle-harp, ready to start Singing resolve and steadiness, but Celegorm moves before he can begin — charging at the Warden with a shout of "Go to the Void you piece of shit!"

The Warden doesn't move as he tries to stab it in the belly, which is about as high as he can reach. The strike doesn't have any obvious effect. Celegorm backs up himself for more leverage and tries a slash. The stupid shimmering robes tear, at least.

Turgon is right on Celegorm's heels. He goes directly for the Warden's legs — and maybe he is thinking about his father, why wouldn't he be. He sees the dwarven steel — deflect, maybe a quarter-inch from the Warden's skin, so he doesn't make much of an impact.

But the most important thing is — there is no compulsion to revere or respect the Warden. Turgon isn't sure he could have raised a sword against Sauron even at the best of times, but no problems here.

Maglor moves again to start playing, but Sharlinnu taps his boot. "Wait just a minute — let me—"

She starts a quick, sharp beat on her improvised drum, drawing Celegorm and Turgon into rhythm — goblins' war-drumming. Which isn't so different from any other sort of drumming, really, so it's no trouble for Maglor to weave his own Song around it, to bring the non-orcs into the same rhythm.

—And also to steady the horses. Asfaloth and the two other horses at hand are all great elven-steeds, but even Asfaloth is rattled by the explosions and deeply unhappy with the uneven, possibly unstable rocky ground.

Asfaloth is making a pretty good show of not being at all uncertain as Glorfindel moves in. With Asfaloth's additional height Glorfindel can actually reach all of the Warden's torso.

He's wielding Glamdring. He strikes for the heart.

The Warden takes a step back and deflects the blade — initially with its hand, and then with a burst of cold light when Glamdring cuts.

(When you cut a balrog it bled fire. The Warden bleeds frost, a wave of glittering crystals creeping across its skin.)

"Not invulnerable!" Glorfindel calls to the others.

Celeborn aims for the eye. The Warden bats the arrow away. The following shots to the torso hit, and stick, so it seems like they must have struck true — but the Warden just looks… mildly annoyed, possibly. Celeborn is very annoyed.

Celegorm is also very annoyed, and also not making much of an impact, despite a flurry of strikes.

(Turgon on the other hand has given up on his sword and is sprinting back to cover to retrieve a mace. —Two maces.)

The Warden seems to sense something, and looks up right before Alphsîr and Alphlîn strike with six thousand years of pent-up grief and worry and a howl of fury that doesn't belong in the throat of a swan.

That definitely has an impact. The Warden bends under the onslaught, raising a hand to shield its face. The blow reddens its skin and shreds through one sleeve, leaving it in tatters. Instead of making any move to retaliate the Warden keeps looking up at the circling swans with what appears to be great interest.

Turgon gets back. "Reckless, catch!"

Celegorm slams his newly acquired mace into the Warden's hip before shouting "You're being attacked down here too, idiot!" The mace doesn't deflect like the sword did — he feels the impact, more like hitting packed earth than hitting a living being.

When Turgon gets back in range he aims for a knee. Fána aren't always put together with the same kinds of structure and joints as people, but sometimes they are, and—

Oh, that's a bad knee sound.

For the owner of the knee, that is, Turgon's feeling pretty good about it.

One might expect the knee damage to be attention-catching, but the Warden is apparently still preoccupied with Alphsîr and Alphlîn. Either way, it doesn't notice Glorfindel's next attack until Glamdring is sinking into its back in what would be a probably fatal blow to an elf or an orc. Fortunately he's not expecting the Warden to go down so easy, because while it does seem displeased as it pulls away, it's not acting seriously injured.

Also of note: the sheer cold that runs down Glamdring once it pierces the Warden's skin leaves Glorfindel glad he's wearing gloves. He isn't sure bare skin wouldn't adhere to the hilt at that temperature.

The Warden swats at Glorfindel, or at least in Glorfindel's direction; Asfaloth gets neatly out of the way, and Glorfindel goes in for another attack.

As the fight continues, it becomes apparent that the Warden either has no idea how to fight with a fána or really doesn't want to. It swats them away, but it doesn't hit with the force any maia is capable of. It nicks them with the claws it apparently has, but it doesn't claw them. It knocks them down but never steps on them. It seems most interested in Alphsîr and Alphlîn, possibly because their attacks have the most impact.

(It says something in a form of Valarin, probably talking to itself — Glorfindel catches the number eight and a word associated with incarnate reproduction, and wonders if maybe it's not because they're having the most impact.)

Celeborn returns, without his horse, and pauses as he draws even with Maglor. "That is not the kind of combat ability I expect from an umaia."

Maglor keeps playing, but pauses his singing long enough to say, "I suppose it didn't get much practice while hiding in the Crucible all this time."

"It doesn't look like it learned to begin with."

"Not like it needed to fight," Sharlinnu says. "—What have you got there?"

"An idea," Celeborn says. "I'll go to the opposite side, this will be loud."

Celeborn's arrows aren't doing enough damage for the Warden to care? Fine. He'll deal more physical damage.

He's shot arrows with message tubes plenty of times, and fire arrows even more. An arrow with a lit stick of Wizard's Clay is basically just combining those.

His first shot gets a reaction from the Warden — it recoils and the explosion leaves a mark — a shriek of "What the fuck, Celeborn!" from Glorfindel, and unfortunately a whoop of approval from Celegorm.

Oh, well. Damaging the Warden is probably worth the embarrassment of Celegorm's approval.

The fight goes on.

They're tired, but none of them have been taking a lot of damage, and between the swans and the maces and Glamdring and the Wizard's-clay-arrows (what the fuck Celeborn), the Warden is looking less immaculate.

It looks, in fact, like it might be planning on pulling back, which could be an issue, since no one is really equipped to follow it into the Crucible.

This is when Maglor starts Singing properly.

[I know more or less what I want to do with this, but I still need to write it. And then sort out how to mix it with the backstory.]

[balrogballs]

Appreciators of my Maedhros/Elwing desert island “fuck around and find out” story will be pleased to hear that a second instalment of the series will be on its way pretty soon, and you’re never going to guess what object our two burgeoning kinksters repurpose in their pursuit of public debauchery 😇

ngl the “ha ha this ship will make everyone mad” genre of fic tends to me as a rule, but for some reason these two feral freaks and their fwb-for-memes is so compelling to me

Snippet under the cut, obviously M rating (although the instalment itself is like 80% porn and a solid E+).

For all his irritating self-exceptionalism and effortless androgyny, Maedhros is still often sabotaged by the most Fëanor of masculine neuroses: the incessant need to be better, faster, harder, more wanted. There are days when his competitive restlessness turns into madness and paranoia: he would develop a single-minded fixation with the idea of turning Elwing upside down and inside out with pleasure, add up the "results" themselves after the deed—the number of orgasms she has each time, calculate their frequency and magnitude like a seismologist, his preoccupation with how much of her being had been sated by the fucking he gives her—could at times distract him from the pleasure of the act itself, defeating the singular reason for their liaison.

And so, he had handed over control almost entirely to Elwing, and control had come in the shape of the old Nauglamir, of course empty of its Silmaril, it having been sent up with Eärendil. The ornament now lives clasped around his neck, fastened tight, the gap where the gem once sat now exposing the hollow between his collarbones. When they lie together, she threads a thin, golden chain through the hole. A reminder, she calls it. Of the way you and I are tethered. These days, there is an attitude of devotion, an almost humble servitude to the way Maedhros touches Elwing, a surreally penitent quality to his motions as he fucks her, like someone asking for both adoration and forgiveness at the same time, begging to be re-consecrated.

Obviously, because they are Maedhros and Elwing, they also make it a point to argue after every orgasm.

“Calm down, I’m so pent up you don’t need to worry about me being done after a single round,” he grins, rising on his elbows to look across at her. “We haven’t fucked for a week. And you didn’t let me touch myself for all that time.”

“Didn’t I?” Elwing looks up at him through her lashes, supremely sensual until she rolls her eyes and makes a rude gesture with her fingers. She sits up, stretches out on the decking to catch the sun, appreciating the awed look blooming across his face every time his eyes revisit her nakedness. “How tragic. Should I send a letter to Maglor and ask him to prepare a working sequel to the Noldolantë because I dared to object to you touching yourself standing bare-arsed on the prow facing the open sea, in full sight of poor Lord Ulmo, not to mention Eärendil? Clearly, it is the fourth and worst kinslaying.”

[runawaymun]

i'm very obsessed with your depiction of Song in and the stars shine the same. you write it with such a different feel for each character, if that makes sense? especially since it's always been to me such a difficult concept to portray well in fic. i've been wondering, what do you think everyone's Singing is like, if you've thought about it? whether just as like the general feel to it to a bystander/listener, or just purely sound qualities, like i seem to remember glorfindel's baritone singing voice as a thing a lot of people would write.

i'm very sorry if this was asked/discussed before however i am...well not *new* but it's been years since i was active around lotr/silm tumblr. i am rapidly getting pulled back in to fan spaces it would seem. anyways. <3

Ahhhh oh wow! What a cool ask this is! Thank you so much. Playing with Song and Music and Themes in my fics is one of my favorite things to do. Songs of Power are just soooo damn cool I can't help myself. I'm sorry it's taken me so long to respond to this, I've just been trying to compile my thoughts! Buckle up cause this is gonna get kind of long.

Elrond is easiest for me to nail down for obvious reasons. I've dug into his Music the most out of everyone, but it feels different to different people. For a lot of elves it can be very overwhelming because there is just SO much going on in his Theme. A lot of syncopation and dissonance (in the best possible way. Just super fun note combinations). Usually his Music is quite steady and calming. Generally I think of his actual singing voice to sound like Colin O'Malley does in Thomas Bergensen's Sonera. Strong and open-sounding and just....the slight rasp but like it's still so gorgeous and hngggggg. Though, with Rings of Power (or just a younger) Elrond specifically I imagine more like Reeve Carney's voice -- especially as Orpheus in Hadestown. Again you get that bright, open sort of voice but there's a sweetness and a vibrato to Reeve's voice that I just adore for a young Elrond!

Gil-Galad is another character whose music I have thought about a whole bunch (mostly in contrast to Elrond's, due to To Partake), and he has a very even quarter-time beat and just. Idk he sounds and feels so orderly and steady and kind of brassy to me. I don't have headcannons on his singing voice, though.

Celebrimbor also has an even quarter-time beat but his music is more relaxed and there's room in it for play. Like it has a swing beat every once in a while, and in general he just has this very big, open, echoing feeling. Like he is just huge idk. Music that just thunders around your ears in the best possible way. I also don't have a headcannoned sound for his singing voice yet but in general I think it would be pretty low.

Maglor is different for me depending on pre or post Oath, in terms of his actual Theme. Pre Oath there is a lot of interest and complexity, and post Oath that sort of gets drowned out by the overlaying Theme of the Oath (which feels horribly loud, with this plodding sort of beat that gets faster and faster the more Oath-madness is upon the Feanorians). His singing voice is like Joey Batey from The Amazing Devil. The way that Joey is capable of singing with this gorgeous, soulful, sweet voice and then he can turn on a dime to sound like he's about to tear someone to shreds and you're pretty sure that nobody should be able to sing THAT fucking loud without breaking their vocal chords? The RANGE? The way his voice just sends shivers up your spine? Yeah. Maglor.

Galadriel I don't have much on because she is kind of an enigma to me. But I think there would definitely be an aspect of her Theme that would put you on edge. As far as her singing voice go, I actually wrote Convergence I while listening to "Sonera" and yeah the male voice in Sonera I headcannon as Elrond, and the female voice I headcannon as Galadriel for that specific scene. In general though, I tend to hear her voice as sounding like Kate St. Pierre in Hurt by Thomas Bergensen.

Celebrian has a lot of strings and flutes in her theme to me. It's orderly but more like a 3/4 time signature. The kind of thing you want to dance to or listen to while you're taking a long walk. Mostly high notes. Her singing voice sounds like the the female part in Sun and Moon (which I would like to find out who that is but unfortunately I can not seem to find her credited anywhere). Like it's pretty but there's this sort of untamed edge to her voice, just a bit. (Also I am a big fat nerd about Sun and Moon because a) Cel and Elrond are sun and moon coded to me and b) the male voice which is actually the song's composer sounds CLOSE enough to my headcannoned Elrond singing voice that I can sit back and imagine they're singing a duet haha)

Arwen is like a mix between her parents. She's got that 3/4 beat like Cel but there IS a bit of syncopation from Elrond in there, but similar sort of harps/strings vibes. Purple, to me. I do not know how to explain what purple even means or sounds like in this context asdlkgh. But her voice sounds like Eurielle - very much thinking about Luthien's Lament, specifically.

I unfortunately do not have a lot of headcannons for Elladan and Elrohir yet but we'll get there quite shortly with boundless sky.

Luthien has the sort of voice that will just fucking blow your socks off. I know she sang Morgoth to sleep blah blah but girl has power in that voice and the world's most ridiculous range. I am thinking specifically of ghost love score. And yes, her Theme sounds like orchestral metal. Sauron fucking hates it.

Morgoth is jazz. That is all I have to say on that.

That's all of the people I have nailed down as to what they sound like! Thank you SO much for this ask. It was so much fun to respond to!

[thecryofthegulls]

On Elwing's Bird Forms

In the educated opinion of me, a slightly wine-drunk semi-professional seabird specialist with a Tolkien hyperfixation, procrastinating from a work presentation I should be preparing let's gooooo.

Too many people think of Elwing in the form of a random bird thing, when there are so many interesting species!

First, the source text (emphasis by me):

"... they told that Elros and Elrond were taken captive, but Elwing with the Silmaril upon her breast had cast herself into the sea. Thus Maedhros and Maglor gained not the jewel; but it was not lost. For Ulmo bore up Elwing out of the waves, and he gave her the likeness of a great white bird, and upon her breast there shone as a star the Silmaril, as she flew over the water to seek Ëarendil her beloved. On a time of night Ëarendil at the helm of his ship saw her come towards him, as a white cloud exceeding swift beneath the moon, as a star over the sea moving in strange course, a pale flame on wings of storm. And it is sung that she fell from the air upon the timbers of Vingilot, in a swoon, nigh unto death for the urgency of her speed, and Ëarendil took her to his bosom; but in the morning with marvelling eyes he beheld his wife in her own form beside him with her hair upon his face, and she slept."

"On those journeys Elwing did not go, for she might not endure the cold and the pathless voids, and she loved rather the earth and the sweet winds that blow on sea and hill. Therefore there was built for her a white tower northward upon the borders of the Sundering Seas; and thither at times all the sea-birds of the earth repaired. And it is said that Elwing learned the tongues of birds, who herself had once worn their shape; and they taught her the craft of flight, and her wings were of white and silver-grey. And at times, when Ëarendil returning drew near again to Arda, she would fly to meet him, even as she had flown long ago, when she was rescued from the sea. Then the far-sighted among the Elves that dwelt in the Lonely Isle would see her like a white bird, shining, rose-stained in the sunset, as she soared in joy to greet the coming of Vingilot to haven."

The Silmarillion CHAPTER 24 OF THE VOYAGE OF EARENDIL AND THE WAR OF WRATH

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)

Right out of the gate, a swan is a popular choice for Elwing. Makes sense, they are beautiful, regal birds with a graceful baring on the water. There is a strong association between mute swans and England, they are indeed an old world bird and as part of Tolkien's worldview as oak trees. They are also vicious and brave defenders of their young. A tough bird, symbol of the Teleri Elwing's elven clan. However, not the best for Elwing. They are not sea birds, and while powerful fliers, do not fly particularly high or far. Mute swans are heavy, needing a lengthy run on the water to take off with a clacking of their wings. Not the ideal shape to fly across the ocean undetected to find your mariner husband, or meet said husband in the morning sky when he comes back from being a star.

Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus)

No, not a Great White Pelican, but a Dalmatian Pelican. More silvery than its pale African cousin, the Dalmatian Pelican has the advantage of being present in more Mediterranean climes, which might be representative of what Sirion was like (thank you @outofangband). Pretty much the largest freshwater bird, this choice for Elwing suffers the same problem as the mute swan. Not a sea bird, doesn't really do long-distance flights. Though I could imagine this large silvery-grey bird being mistaken for a cloud in the night, and you KNOW that the Silmaril is tucked nice and safe in that big pouch!

Wandering Albatross (Diomedea exulans)

Now that's a sea bird! Another popular choice for Elwing, this graceful soaring beauty is essentially the biggest flying bird in the world by wingspan, with a sweeping 11 feet/3.5 meters. The older they are, the whiter they become, with only bit of dark plumage on the wing tips and tail. The wandering albatross is the textbook example of a great white bird. Albatross adore storms, and can use strong (storm) wings to carry them over vast distances very quickly. They nest on steep hills, because they need the sweet winds to give them lift to take off. All in all, like the others above, large enough to carry a Silmaril without affecting flight capabilities. Though I really can't imagine Ëarendil cradling an albatross to his bosom, long wings flopping down on both sides of him. (Elros and Elrond are definitely albatross chicks muppets, as per @swanmaids' point).

Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)

A gull! Yes, of course, but which gull? There are 54 gull species, and so many of them are herring gulls. But for Elwing? Ulmo would transform her into a Black-legged Kittiwake. A graceful, almost dove-like gull, Kittiwakes are bright white with wings topped in silver-grey. They fly like they are playing in the wind, and spend most of their lives at sea. Gorgeous sea bird. Ëarendil would hug. Am I biased because I love them? Maybe.

Ross's Gull (Rhodostethia rosea)

You want a more white and daintier gull? I was going to write about the Ivory Gull (Pagophila eburnea) but if we are going with a rare Arctic species, there are many good things about the Ross's Gull. I mean look at it! White and silver-grey with a rosy blush like it is continuously bathed in sunset, a black collar like Elwing is still wearing the memory of the Nauglamír. I also prefer to go with Ross's gull because every time I have seen an ivory gull in the wild it was slightly blood-stained (they feed off polar bear kills) which has very unfortunate implications in Elwing's case really...

But really, if you want a pure-white dove that actually goes sea for your Elwing imagery, go with ivory gull instead!

Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii)

Terns are gorgeous sea birds with impressive flight capacity, and pack an absolutely ridiculous amount of fight and spite in 100 g. I have a scar on the top of my head from a tern chasing me off a beach where it was nesting. That beak sure pinches. Roseate Tern are particularly pretty, and if you subscribed to raven-haired Elwing, that cap is an excellent match. The adults also gain a pink sunset stain on their underparts, so you get that poetic match again. Terns would absolutely yell at Manwë, and probably have.

Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus)

Now if you think Elwing was pale-haired and blue-eyed, a Northern Gannet would be more for you. Northern Gannets are sea birds of great size, swift and fearless. They quite literally launch themselves into the sea. They are powerful enough fliers to evoke thoughts of storm-wings and clouds under moon. Gannets also follow boats, which works nicely with the imagery of bird-Elwing meeting Vingilot.

White-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus)

Look at this beautiful thing, is she not fitting of a daughter of Dior, of Lúthien's line? I hope I see one for real one day. These long-tailed sea birds are excellent, graceful in flight, easy to see at a distance due to their tail. More active in the morning and in the evening, more to catch the morning and evening star. White-tailed Tropicbirds also come in a spectacular 'golden' variety. Absolutely fitting for someone named Star-Spray.

Snow Petrel (Pagodroma nivea)

When I first read the Silmarillion years ago, and I read "... as a white cloud exceeding swift beneath the moon, as a star over the sea moving in strange course, a pale flame on wings of storm" I immediately imagined a glowing white creature that I eventually witness in real life: the gloriously beautiful snow petrel. And while Elwing might not endure the cold and pathless void like a snow petrel would around Antarctica, I think she would revel in the shining feathers, the swift, fleet wings, and, as a feature of being a petrel, the tube nose that would allow her to smell and find Ëarendil anywhere at sea or in the sky. They soar with such joy. Perfect hold-to-your-bosom sized. Snow petrels are one of my favourite sea birds, and you should know more about them!

Like how they have the most hilarious defence mechanism:

...

Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta)

No absolutely not.

[verecunda]

Misc. "Beren and Lúthien" thoughts

Honestly, fair play to Christopher Tolkien for his efforts in producing these standalone volumes, especially in tracing the development of the stories, because the way he describes his dad's multifarious drafts, notebooks, bits of scribble on the backs of envelope etc... Jesus Christ. X'D

I found so much interesting stuff in the Beren and Lúthien book! I'm not even going to try and put them all down here, but in the early versions especially, there are so many odd wee details that seem to me to shed light on certain ambiguous details in the version that appears in the published Silmarillion (whether these were Tolkien's final thoughts on the matter or not).

One of the most interesting things, particularly in the earliest versions, is the stress laid on the fact that Thingol/Tinwelint's order to Beren to fetch a Silmaril is actually meant sarcastically. It's a joke; he doesn't actually expect Beren to go and do it. It struck me because that's exactly how I read it in the Silmarillion: it's Thingol's way of scoffing at Beren and getting him to fuck off. I don't think Thingol had any particular desire for a Silmaril himself (at least, not until it actually came into his hands). That was how I read it, at least, but I was surprised that in the early versions, it's made pretty explicit. It also gives an added resonance to Beren's "lololol the Silmaril is in my hand!" line: the quest that began with a poor-taste joke is brought to fruition with a poor-taste joke. :D

Also quite interesting that Beren's father was originally called Egnor. Clearly not meant to be the same figure as Aegnor son of Finarfin, but it is an early version of the same name. Interesting just because it's a name that always seems to be floating about the fringes of these tales of love between mortals and Elves... ;___;

The version where Felagund first encounters Men while he was a "guest of Celegorm in the East" (as opposed to Maedhros and Maglor in the published Silm). This, I thought, was interesting, because it might serve to explain why Celegorm and Curufin wind up in Nargothrond after the Bragollach, if Tolkien had - at least at one stage - envisioned a friendship between them. There's definitely versions where C&C are friends with Angrod and Aegnor; I wonder if that was meant to extend to all the sons of Finarfin at one point.

[amethysttribble]

I'm rereading Everlasting Song in honor of the new chapter update (love it great job!!!) and thing I never noticed before: Do people assume that Maglor and Maedhros are lovers? Like Oberyn/Doran and others? As the explanation for why they are so close/devoted to each other? And, I really should have noticed this earlier, are the boys like well known for being super attractive since they are reborn elves which makes them hot and honorable? (With an approx least honorable elf = most honorable man in westeros metric) Is Varys considering this in his hot talented men who have show no interest in women conspiracy??????? (Curufins cute crush aside)

Thank you so much for this ask! It made me laugh so hard, sorry for the late reply.

Haha, yes; quite a few people think Maedhros Tully and Maglor Sand are lovers. I'm not surprised you didn't notice as it's a joke I play with very quietly, but it's there.

It's kinda a common rumor/salacious bit of gossip that's spread around, especially in Renly and Loras's circles and then also Edmure's circle.

Renly tells everyone that they're together (he has no proof of this), Loras maintains that 'perfect lord and knight Maedhros' hasn't 'realized' but does subconsciously return Maglor's feelings, while poor Mags is being strung along.

Littlefinger is also a hateful little gossip, and he actually refutes the rumor, saying he has a DIRECT line to Maedhros, there's no way he has a lover, he'd KNOW. Maedhros would come to him first if he was looking to dally. No no, he's much too uptight.

Meanwhile, Edmure HATES Maglor, because he has a general beef with singers and he's jealous that this random bastard is stealing his brother's time. He also thinks his brother could do much better, Edmure knows very accomplished knights of similar 'inclinations', what's so special about Maglor, anyway?

But after he finds Maedhros weeping on the floor about Maglor's 'death', he's extremely kind and sympathetic. He's goes to Cat and is like, "Here's the deal, sis, our brother's boytoy is dead and he's devasted as only two men bonded homoerotically can be, it’s a warrior’s bond” and Cat's trying to calculate all that in her head with everything she just learned about Maedhros's 'Fin', and suffice to say the two of them have had QUITE the background conversation about Maedhros's love life.

Oberyn and the Sand Snakes USED to think that Maglor was massively in love with Maedhros. Oberyn has tried to have a few conversations with him about it, to say nothing of his sisters, who were annoying about it, haha. But eventually they all got the hint that Maglor isn't lying, he's serious when he says he loves Maedhros as a brother, it's not like that, and also he's not interested in a relationship with anyone, actually.

This was a hard pill for Oberyn to swallow, lol. I think he's still doing the mental calculus about it, actually, but he's reached the 'if you say so' stage of acceptance, where he doesn't get it, but he's not questioning it.

And yes, the boys are all considered quite tall for Westerosi men (tho they certainly aren't their Elven heights) and pretty damn good looking (tho, again, not in an Elven way - their features have been adjusted. If you were to put portraits of the elf boys and the westeros boys next to each other, there'd be a pretty stark difference, even if it would still be obvious they're the same people). I do think the hotness is scaled, tho.

Celegorm 'the Fair' and Maedhros 'Well-Made' were the hot ones in Valinor, and remain such here (once Celegorm was older and knighted and the two of them were traipsing around the Riverlands together, they must have been a dangerous pair to look at, haha), while the rest of the boys are generally above average. But it's not like they're all a bunch of super models.

But Varys is kinda like ??? about the whole thing, because it is a pattern. I don't think he pays too much attention to the women thing, because his notes look like this-

Maedhros - Gay. Sad.

Maglor - ??? Sneaky. Visits brothels but does not buy. (His spy methods remind Varys of himself, so he doesn't think its weird)

Celegorm - Has the Ned Stark Raised Bastard Trauma, is terrified of conceiving.

Caranthir - Slut (Caranthir is interested in women! As mentioned in his last North to South chapter, he's had a handful of 'friends w/ benefits' in the Red Keep who he's gone to third base with; he was really hoping Arianne would take his 'virginity' lol, since there was no threat to her reputation, but alas. Politics.)

Curufin - Crush on Lady Sansa

Amras and Amrod - Nine Years Old

But they do all still clock as weird, as not one of them does the typical Westerosi man thing of going to brothels or participate in that culture. Not even Caranthir. He has consensual relationships with lower status women with clearly communicated boundaries and expectations. I think he might be the most suspicious one all, actually.

Thanks again for this ask!!

[fictionfordays]

Maedhros HC

CW: Mentions of anxiety, but otherwise no real warnings here!

A/N: I started these a while ago, just wanted to throw together some of my personal hc for dear Maitimo<3 as a side note, these are all in Valinor!

Back to Main Masterlist | Tolkien Masterlist

❀ This boy has a sweet tooth. Fruit, sweet cream, cookies, cakes, you name it

❀ He is so nurturing !!! He helped his parents raise all of his brothers and was even the go-to babysitter to watch all of his cousins as well. He loves spending time with kids and seeing their imaginations unfold

❀ The go-to for story time. He loves telling stories and reading books

❀ Tall boy. The first tall boy of all his cousins. If anyone needed help hiding something high up, getting something down, or hanging something on the wall, they called him

❀ He is unrealistically pretty. Dark, curly red hair, pale emerald eyes, a few freckles speckled across his cheeks and nose, well built from all of the combat training and athletic events he participates in (despite the sweets he’s constantly sneaking and all the wine he drinks out of frustration of his family’s bickering)

❀ I like the headcanon that he’s artistic, enjoying making sculptures with his amme and creating beautiful paintings. He probably enjoys painting landscapes of his family’s garden the most, having a collection of paintings he’s done of almost every inch of the garden so far! He struggles the most with moving water, the water fountain being the only thing in the garden he hasn’t captured on canvas yet.

❀ He is very anxious about the possibility of inheriting the throne. He takes it all in stride and he knows he’s prepared and has all of the tools necessary to be successful but… he really does NOT want that responsibility. He would rather have a simple life: painting and gardening, spending time with his s/o, raising a couple of kids…

❀ I feel like he does like debating. Debating and arguing. If he ever needs to practice, he turns to Celegorm and Caranthir. Celegorm is really stubborn and hard to argue with. Caranthir is an excellent haggler and also hard to argue with. To be fair, ALL of his brothers are stubborn and have silver tongues, but these two are the hardest to win over in debates.

❀ Nerdanel gives really good advice, but in like a roundabout sensei kinda way yk? Like, gives advice but it doesn’t sound like advice until days later when it finally clicks. Maitimo appreciates this very much and strives to do the same. Unfortunately, his metaphors and life lessons tend to go right over everyone’s heads so he resorts to speaking plainly or directing their questions to his mother (or Maglor, he usually has pretty words to spare)

❀ He tends to be the organizer of the family. I love the hc of Feanorian Game Night!!! (I believe that was @unipork22 !) He’s the one that puts it together. He picks out the game, makes sure his brothers (ALL OF THEM) and his parents are there, (and little Celebrimbor when he’s old enough). It gets pretty rowdy

❀ Horseback riding is one of his favourite activities. He usually goes alone and uses this time to really relax. He usually packs a snack or two, an empty flask, and a book that he’s been meaning to read. He’ll ride to a top secret spot near the freshwater creek. The sound of the trickling water is so calming, plus the birds overhead. The air is fresh, the sun is warm… He may even fall asleep laying in the grass before he gets the chance to read a chapter of his book!

Tags: @a-contemplation-upon-flowers @wandererindreams @asianbutnotjapanese @nanamis-wifey-reye

If you want to be added to my taglist, leave a comment or dm!  

I do not own these characters. All rights to the original creators. All content—created rights are reserved to Wallabypirate©2023.  

[independence1776]

🍒🍊

(Meme questions here, if anyone wants to ask me some.)

🍒 What’s your favorite character dynamic to write? (Can be romantic or platonic, specific or general!) 

Found family! Not the type the replicates "traditional family structures" by assigning parent/child roles but actual found family: the messiness, the love, the coming together and realizing they're family.

Yes, some of them do have a parental dynamic (Maglor & Elrond, for example) but I prefer writing them when Elrond is an adult. Same for Depa & Caleb-Kanan: despite fandom loving to portray Depa as a mother, it's a far different dynamic, more of a teacher-student/master-apprentice that is nonetheless a type of chosen family.

🍊 Who’s a character you don’t write for that often, but keep meaning to write for more? (They’re so interesting! But maybe you have trouble pinning them down, or keep getting distracted by another blorbo…) 

I had to think for a bit to come up with a Tolkien fandom answer. Given that I'm pretty much not writing Tolkienfic at the moment, this was hard. Celebrían definitely (all the timelines in HoME keep confusing me), Nerdanel maybe?

For my other fandom, Mace Windu.