hellofeanor

[hellofeanor]

"But that show is [insert standard boring rehashed social media complaint]!"

Okay and have you considered the possibility that I just like seeing elves on the tv

"I'm surprised you like the Rings of Power show as a big LOTR Fan"

Well... *cracks knuckles*

Types a whole essay about how the show brought me back to tolkiens work, how I love the plot, characters, diverse casting, and gushing about all the lovely people I met through Rop and real friends I made❤️

[hellofeanor]

NOW COMPLETE: 16/16, Mirdania/Annatar, rated E, extremely problematic, dead dove etc.

In which some puzzle pieces fit together. Galadriel dispenses wisdom, Annatar dispenses villainous monologues, and Mirdania continues along with her track record of making choices.

On AO3 here.

~

“I should have known,” Mirdania mutters.  “About Annatar.  Sauron.  It was all too good to be true.  And also somehow... wrong.  It seems so obvious now.”

“No.”  Exhaling a sigh, Galadriel shifts to lean forward with her elbows on her knees.  “That is what he does.  How he deceives all who fall under his control.  He appears to you in the form of what you most need.  A friend, a mentor, an ally...  He sees your heart and he turns your desires and fears into a weapon he can wield against you.  He speaks promises so perfect you find yourself willing to believe them at any cost.  And he makes himself such an integral part of your path forward that by the time you realize the truth, it is far too late.  His plan is nearly complete.”

Mirdania stares down at the ground, willing herself not to cry.  She can guess what he saw in her heart: a desperate, juvenile need to feel special.  To be singled out and praised.  To be called pretty, and told rare secrets, and elevated above her more experienced peers with targeted attention.  It never would have worked on someone like Erylloth, whose life outside the forge was just as full as that within, leaving her with no lack of self-worth.  Nor would it have worked on Rídhring or Nephran, both of whom enjoyed the accomplishment of being designated as senior smiths, respected and admired.  No, Annatar chose her.  He saw her constant desire to please and aching need for validation, and gave her exactly what she wanted.

[hellofeanor]

NOW COMPLETE: 16/16, Mirdania/Annatar, rated E, extremely problematic, dead dove etc.

In which some puzzle pieces fit together. Galadriel dispenses wisdom, Annatar dispenses villainous monologues, and Mirdania continues along with her track record of making choices.

On AO3 here.

~

“I should have known,” Mirdania mutters.  “About Annatar.  Sauron.  It was all too good to be true.  And also somehow... wrong.  It seems so obvious now.”

“No.”  Exhaling a sigh, Galadriel shifts to lean forward with her elbows on her knees.  “That is what he does.  How he deceives all who fall under his control.  He appears to you in the form of what you most need.  A friend, a mentor, an ally...  He sees your heart and he turns your desires and fears into a weapon he can wield against you.  He speaks promises so perfect you find yourself willing to believe them at any cost.  And he makes himself such an integral part of your path forward that by the time you realize the truth, it is far too late.  His plan is nearly complete.”

Mirdania stares down at the ground, willing herself not to cry.  She can guess what he saw in her heart: a desperate, juvenile need to feel special.  To be singled out and praised.  To be called pretty, and told rare secrets, and elevated above her more experienced peers with targeted attention.  It never would have worked on someone like Erylloth, whose life outside the forge was just as full as that within, leaving her with no lack of self-worth.  Nor would it have worked on Rídhring or Nephran, both of whom enjoyed the accomplishment of being designated as senior smiths, respected and admired.  No, Annatar chose her.  He saw her constant desire to please and aching need for validation, and gave her exactly what she wanted.

[hellofeanor]

[hellofeanor]

[hellofeanor]

Fëanor, Lord of the Lights

[hellofeanor]

Everyone do yourselves a favor and click on this link to have a transformative media-based experience

[hellofeanor]

15/16, Mirdania/Annatar, rated E, extremely problematic, dead dove etc.

In which we finally reach the obviously canon-divergent portion of the canon divergence AU.

On AO3 here.

~

The sickness rising up from her stomach is not something she can swallow and force back down.  It burns up her throat and onto her tongue; she spits out a thin stream of yellow bile, tinged gray with ash and soot.  Everything is foul with ash.  In her mouth, on her skin, in her hair, staining her dress.  Her hands.  Her hands are smudged with black.  When did that even happen?  What did she touch, between leaving Annatar’s bedroom and staggering halfway to the forge tower?  With the backs of her hands?

Her stomach twists and she retches again, bracing herself against a shattered half-wall, though all that comes up is more sickly, yellow-gray bile.  When did she eat last?  Can she even remember?  Why can she not remember?

She needs to get to the tower.  She needs...

“Annatar...” she sobs.

And from somewhere to her left, a voice speaks her name in return.

“Mirdania!”

Not Annatar.  Not his voice.  But someone just as familiar.  She clenches her teeth, struggling not to retch again on the taste of ashen sickness on her tongue, and raises her head.

“Lord Celebrimbor.”

[hellofeanor]

(Sound on.) Bonus clip today: Penguins navigating stairs.

[hellofeanor]

15/16, Mirdania/Annatar, rated E, extremely problematic, dead dove etc.

In which we finally reach the obviously canon-divergent portion of the canon divergence AU.

On AO3 here.

~

The sickness rising up from her stomach is not something she can swallow and force back down.  It burns up her throat and onto her tongue; she spits out a thin stream of yellow bile, tinged gray with ash and soot.  Everything is foul with ash.  In her mouth, on her skin, in her hair, staining her dress.  Her hands.  Her hands are smudged with black.  When did that even happen?  What did she touch, between leaving Annatar’s bedroom and staggering halfway to the forge tower?  With the backs of her hands?

Her stomach twists and she retches again, bracing herself against a shattered half-wall, though all that comes up is more sickly, yellow-gray bile.  When did she eat last?  Can she even remember?  Why can she not remember?

She needs to get to the tower.  She needs...

“Annatar...” she sobs.

And from somewhere to her left, a voice speaks her name in return.

“Mirdania!”

Not Annatar.  Not his voice.  But someone just as familiar.  She clenches her teeth, struggling not to retch again on the taste of ashen sickness on her tongue, and raises her head.

“Lord Celebrimbor.”

[hellofeanor]

Joseph Mawle as Adar.

[hellofeanor]

Elves are just SO Extra 😭 I love it!!

Source: Reddit (I suggest that if you haven't, check out OP's whole profile on there.. full of BTS from the show!)

[hellofeanor]

EREGION

[hellofeanor]

14/16, Mirdania/Annatar, rated E, extremely problematic, dead dove etc.

In which Mirdania is so close to figuring out the truth, but none of the answers make any sense.

On AO3 here.

~

“I’m thinking of what you told me,” she says.  “Before you left.  About how you found the remains of Sauron’s spirit in the Southlands, and how you must face him.  And I also thought...  I remembered that night in the forge, when the ring we were making gave me a vision of the Unseen world.  You told me then that the figure I saw, of flame and death, was a manifestation of Celebrimbor’s mental anguish.  But it wasn’t, was it?  You were only saying that because you didn’t want to tell me the truth.  Maybe you thought I was... I was too easily frightened, or wouldn’t understand.  But I think I understand now.”

“Oh?” Annatar asks, almost too quiet to hear over the boiling water.  “What do you understand?”

“You.  Sauron.  You’re the same.  Aren’t you?”

[hellofeanor]

"If I were a better artist I'd draw stupid scenes of Mirdania trying to make the best of life with Sauron" Actually I'm going to embrace the fact that I'm a crap artist and draw shitty stuff anyway. So here we have a dumb sketch I did on scrap paper during a work meeting, of Mirdania happily toasting a marshmallow over Sauron's ambient heat while he does his evil plotting.

[hellofeanor]

Elrond and Celebrían

[hellofeanor]

14/16, Mirdania/Annatar, rated E, extremely problematic, dead dove etc.

In which Mirdania is so close to figuring out the truth, but none of the answers make any sense.

On AO3 here.

~

“I’m thinking of what you told me,” she says.  “Before you left.  About how you found the remains of Sauron’s spirit in the Southlands, and how you must face him.  And I also thought...  I remembered that night in the forge, when the ring we were making gave me a vision of the Unseen world.  You told me then that the figure I saw, of flame and death, was a manifestation of Celebrimbor’s mental anguish.  But it wasn’t, was it?  You were only saying that because you didn’t want to tell me the truth.  Maybe you thought I was... I was too easily frightened, or wouldn’t understand.  But I think I understand now.”

“Oh?” Annatar asks, almost too quiet to hear over the boiling water.  “What do you understand?”

“You.  Sauron.  You’re the same.  Aren’t you?”