#oropher of greenwood

[acornsandoaktrees]

Oropher’s death at the Battle of Dagorlad, circa SA. 3434

yeah.. lineage is a big deal with Sylvans after Dagorlad i think. your immortality lives on in generations.

[silvantransthranduiltrash]

What most elves thinks it’s like talking to the trees:

Silvan: mighty oak tree, is there some trouble of which you would like to warn us?

Tree: no, my kind silvan. There is no darkness of which that can cause you harm.

What a silvan talking to a tree is actually like:

Legolas, cackling, landing on a tree branch: babe, you’ll never believe what happened!

Tree, lighting up and shaking their leaves: Legolas, my good bitch! I got news!

[growingingreenwood]

Oropher: You don't have to go out of your way to be petty.

Thranduil: I've never once gone out of my way to be petty. It's directly on my route.

Thranduil: In fact, sometimes, it's the destination.

[ginger-and-all-things-spice]

Even kings need their parents sometimes, Thranduil and Oropher meet again.

[windrelyn]

I miss them-

[youmisguidedmartyr]

I think about Thranduil Oropherion in reference to Doriath A LOT

Do you think he sat with a sickening disappointment for all that time because no matter how hard he tried, his Greenwood/Mirkwood fortress couldn't compare to the Menegroth of his childhood?? Or are you normal about the Sindar

[sotwk]

apologies if you've answered this question before, but i was wondering about your take on Oropher? his role in Doriath, what his rule of Eryn Galen was like, how he was as a person, or anything you'd like to talk about!

Elvenking Oropher, Founder and Ruler of Eryn Galen 

25 SotWK AU Headcanon Facts

SotWK Fancast: Jason Isaacs as Oropher

Oropher’s grandfather was the brother of Elmo's wife, which makes Oropher and Celeborn second cousins. Oropher is therefore related to Elu Thingol, but not by blood.

Oropher was born in Y.T. 1345 in Doriath, soon after the completion of Menegroth.

Celeborn was born in the same Valian year as Oropher. Although 1 Valian year is ~10 Solar years (with Oropher being slightly older), this technically makes them “birthmates”.

Thus, Oropher and Celeborn grew up together and were very close friends from childhood to young adulthood.

Oropher had a younger sister named Ferinsil who had been in love with Celeborn her whole life. Unfortunately, Celeborn only ever saw her as a sister, despite Oropher’s attempts to encourage their match.

In FA 106, Oropher married Meluiel, the younger sister of Beleg Cúthalion and a trusted lady-in-waiting to Queen Melian.

Even in his youth, Oropher demonstrated the makings of a gifted politician. He was charming, diplomatic, eloquent, and had an easy way of making friends and gaining followers. In FA 25, just shy of 1,500 years old, Oropher was appointed the youngest member in the council of Thingol.

Oropher had a head for sums and trade, eventually leading to him being put in charge of the royal treasury.

Despite his significant rank and achievements, Oropher remained secretly envious of his friend Celeborn, who, in his status as a prince, was often shown special favor by the King and never seemed to have to work for his privileges.

Oropher did not like or trust the Noldor outsider, Galadriel, and his animosity towards her increased when it became evident that Celeborn loved her. Celeborn's love for Galadriel broke Ferinsil's heart and spirit, and Oropher never quite forgave his cousin for this.

Celeborn's decision to leave Doriath with Galadriel in FA 470, marked the end to the cousins’ friendship, as Oropher viewed this as abandonment of their people.

During the Sacking of Doriath by the Sons of Fëanor, Oropher went first to the rescue of his sister (whom he viewed as weaker and more defenseless), before his wife. Because Meluiel was killed without him at her side, this decision haunted Oropher forever and became a source of self-loathing.

Nonetheless, Oropher was one of the few surviving leaders of King Dior’s court who led the surviving refugees out of Doriath, and was remembered as a hero for it.

In the attacks, Oropher sustained a serious injury to his right leg that left him with a permanent limp even after it was healed. Eventually he started to use a staff to minimize the appearance of his limp. (The same staff Thranduil is seen with in movie promo pics.)

Oropher also witnessed and survived the Third Kinslaying at the Havens of Sirion, but had no significant involvement other than refusing to yield Elwing or the Silmaril.

Oropher’s first major falling out with Thranduil was over his son's decision to participate and fight in the War of Wrath, which he could not prevent. For years he lived in agonizing fear over losing his son, but thankfully Thranduil survived, and they were reunited and reconciled afterward.

After some centuries of living in Lindon (ruled by High King Gil-galad), Oropher and some other surviving families from Doriath, decided to seek a new home across the mountains.

Oropher immediately loved the great forests of Greenwood, as well as the native Silvan people. He was moved by their peaceful, simple lifestyle and pushed for assimilation wherein Silvan culture was upheld as dominant over Sindar.

Although there were a few Sindarin lords who put themselves forward as contenders for the role of King, Oropher was chosen by the overwhelming majority. This was due to his own popularity with the Silvans, and partly because of their admiration for his son, Thranduil.

Oropher was a much beloved and successful ruler of Eryn Galen throughout the Second Age, building the kingdom from the ground up with the help of well-chosen advisors. He was a conciliator who balanced the interests of the Sindar and Silvan sides, until the lines between the two groups grew indistinguishable.

War never touched the lands of Eryn Galen, from outside or within, during Oropher's reign. He had no intention of partaking in the War of the Last Alliance until Thranduil convinced him to do so.

Oropher actually respected Gil-galad and considered him a friend, despite carrying a general grudge and dislike for the Noldor. Although not in the inner circle, he held a position in the royal court as a representative of the Sindarin citizens in Lindon.

Oropher’s alleged refusal to take orders from Gil-galad and his generals, as recorded in historical accounts, was much more nuanced than just being a result of stubbornness and pride. (I would need a separate essay to explain this one.)

A lifelong courtier, Oropher was unapologetically fancy, and had high standards for his personal appearance. This did not mean he had to have luxurious clothing, but he believed that “cleanliness is next to godliness”. He was always polished and unwrinkled, and carried himself with refined manners and bearing. His hair was meticulously braided in the traditional style of the Iathrim and the House of Elmo. Thranduil's wilder, more uncouth ways when he was a child and a young prince, was a point of contention between them. But as Thranduil matured and especially when he ascended the throne himself, he emulated his father's grace and regality.

Alcohol (esp. wine) does not have an inebriating effect on Oropher. In fact, the more he drinks, the sharper his mind gets. He could effortlessly drink his own son under the table.

Thank you for the Ask, @toasterdrake! I've fallen shamefully behind in my development of Oropher's character, and your question gave me the nudge I needed to beef up my notes! <3 I appreciate you so much!

For more Thranduil/Silvan Elf/Mirkwood headcanons: SotWK HC Masterlist

Other useful links:

Introduction to SotWK

Fanfiction Masterlist

[allbycharles]

Of course Tolkien not mentioning Thranduil ´s wife does not mean that there is not one very much alive elleth by his side

But

Listen

Tolkien says nothing about Thranduil ´s mother and Oropher ´s wife either

Soooooooo

Technically there could be not only wife of Thranduil and mum of Legolas but also Legolas ´s grandma telling everyone in the palace what to do

Which would be hilarious

Mainly if you imagine the cocky movie Thranduil being completely arogant and all

UNTIL HIS MUM COMES TO THE ROOM

[the-silmarillioning]

Prince Thranduil son of Oropher on patrol duty in the forest of Greenwood

[thelandswemadeofpaper]

My favorite headcanons for Silvan Elf Kingdoms:

Silvans don't really have kings, but they DO have chosen leaders that - a few times - end up passing down to a relative of the anterior leader and the other elves just assumed its kingship

Oropher was a Prince from Doriath, Kinsman of Thingol. He sought refuge in greenwoods with few of the survivors and he became the King CONSORT of Greenwood, his wife was a Silvan Queen and its rightful ruler

Yeah, they are not compatible

[acornsandoaktrees]

Tuior's fancasts for...

the Parriarchs of Eryn Galen:

[S.A.]

Elvenking Oropher (Emil Andersson)

[T.A.]

Elvenking Thranduil (Lee Pace)

Elvenqueen Thalanes (Vanessa Axente)

[Fo.A.]

Elvenqueen Alphes (Ellie Bamber)

both Thranduil and Alphes are specifically depictions the actors have played of certain characters. for Thranduil -- well, that's obvious. Alphes is Ellie Bamber's role as Elora Danan in Willow.

[silvantransthranduiltrash]

Snort

What if oropher didn’t die in the battle of the last alliance but just used the opportunity to fake his death and escape with his wife and go on an extended honeymoon and leave all the damn paperwork and diplomacy with the noldor/sindar to his poor son.

Thranduil, when his father is finally waking up after getting many fatal injuries during battle: Ada!! Everyone thought you were gonna die!

Oropher, pausing when his son’s words registered: Everyone?

Thranduil, as he watches in disbelief as Oropher bolts away from him with a few supplies: Ada WAIT! DON’T LEAVE ME TO DEEL WITH THEM!

Oropher: don’t worry son, i’m sure you’ll do great!

————————————

Gil-galad: where is king oropher?

Thranduil, a petty lil bitch that will get back at his father: unfortunately, my my father king passed after suffering many grievous injuries during the last battle.

———————————-

Oropher, coming back from his long vacation in the third age: i’m dead? Nobody told me.

Thranduil: that’s what you get for abandoning me to those elves.

Thranduil: suffer

[ginger-and-all-things-spice]

Oropher and Thranduil’s last moment.

A really really really rough sketch.

[windrelyn]

A song of ocean and forest/Lindon and Greenwood

I'm so glad to hear you like my Gil-Galad/Oropher ❤️ In my headcanon, Gil-Galad can play harp (Maglor taught him)

[anragaire]

Gil Galad: Most of the elven race has been destroyed!! 😤 Who will we turn to? What will we do? We are alone. 😔

Arondir: What about Oroph—

Gil Galad: ALONE! We are all ALONE!

[souredfigs]

ARONDIR OF WHAT NEOW?