#King Tar Palantir

[i-dont-know-anything-anymore]

Lotr- Rings of Power + Text Posts

[tenth-sentence]

To him, Ar-Gimilzôr would have yielded the sceptre rather than to the elder son, if the laws had allowed.

"The Silmarillion" - J.R.R. Tolkien

[mahtariel-of-himring]

Long ago, when Elros was still building his Kingdom, and Númenor was young, he had his twin brother officially crown him, as a symbol of their bond.

After the first King died his son reached out to his uncle, and asked him if he would crown him as well.

From there on a tradition was begun.

Every time a King died a letter was send to Elrond, and in addition an invitation to the coronation of the next ruler, and the question to be the one to crown them.

Over centuries every King and Queen of Númenor was crown by Tar-Miniatur‘s brother, as a symbol of the bond between them and their half elven kinsman, who loved and cared for them dearly.

But as the centuries passed something changed. When in S.A. 2029 Tar-Atanamir first spoke out against the Valar relations slowly began to tense, though there was no one who greatly worried back then, except for Elrond.

In S.A. 2737 Elrond began to fear for his brother‘s people, as he noticed more and more how they drifted from the old ways with the coronation of the 18th King of Númenor, Ar-Belzagar, and the change in name.

In the year of S.A. 2899 the 20th King of Númenor was crowned, and for the first time in all its history, no letter to Elrond was send, and Ar-Adûnakhôr was crowned by another.

With the reign of Tar-Palantir Elrond felt a flicker of hope for the first time in decades, but it was quickly overshadowed as he realized his brother’s folk had already gone too far.

After the fall of Númenor the surviving faithful came to Middle Earth, and there, Lord Elrond welcomed them with open arm‘s. Their leader, Elendil, happily welcomed their estranged kinsman and was more than relieved that he was still receiving to them. And as he was crowned in S.A. 3320 Elrond was once again the one to set the crown atop a Númenorian‘s head, and the tradition was reawakened and continued ever on.

[elswing]

i'm super glad that they're finally establishing the king's men lusting for immortality as one of their main political principles. we got a little 🤏 hint of it last season even though the main civil strife seemed to be rooted in the mass "THE ELVES ARE TAKING OUR JOBS" hysteria, which was definitely questionable at the time, but in hindsight i think it was a reasonable place for the writers to start.

we were introduced to a lot of númenorians last season who will end up on different sides of the eventual civil war. i think it does make the most sense to let all these individual characters HAVE their individual motivations while the story is still developing, because while we know that eventually the conflict will bleed and blend into *two* distinct sides, that line hasn't been drawn yet. there needs to be more nuance before we reach that point of ultimate divide

and we can see that beginning to happen!

a lot of people are unhappy with míriel for "taking orders from an elf" which obviously comes from their dislike of galadriel, and then pharazôn nurturing those seeds into outright malice. that can very easily begin to weave into different reasons for them to resent the elves (jealousy over their immortality, then greed, then the eventual desire to take it for themselves).

that doesn't mean they can't also settle into that allegiance from a completely different angle. eärien, for example, hasn't yet shown any interest in the concept of immortality aside from a throwaway quip in S1E4 that could simply be read as narrative foreshadowing rather than a symptom of some current hidden obsession. she was introduced to it BY pharazôn when he was giving his little "we are only immortal in the statues carved for our tombs" speech over the dying king's body.

the only reason (confirmed this episode) that she's sided with the king's men is because of her grief for isildur's presumed death and her want for justice. in her eyes, pharazôn is the only person willing and capable of giving her that, which is why she was so easily susceptible to his manipulations. i don't think her throwing the palantir in míriel's face in the name of Elf Racism™ and causing the riot is a sign of inconsistent character motivations, but a way to really drive home just how skilled pharazôn is at preying on people's needs and steering them down *his* desired paths under the guise of achieving *their* goals.

it's actually not dissimilar to sauron's tactics. "find out what your opponent fears, and find a way of mastering it, so you can master them", so i'm VERY excited to see his next tar-mairon disguise. it's like dropping a barrel of gasoline smack in the middle of an active gunfight lol

[riding-with-the-wild-hunt]

"There was a lady Inzilbêth, renowned for her beauty, and her mother was Lindórië, sister of Eärendur, the Lord of Andúnië in the days of Ar-Sakalthôr father of Ar-Gimilzôr. Gimilzôr took her to wife, though this was little to her liking, for she was in heart one of the Faithful, being taught by her mother [...] No love was there between Ar-Gimilzôr and his queen, or between their sons. Inziladûn [later called Tar-Palantir], the elder, was like his mother in mind as in body; but Gimilkhâd, the younger, went with his father, unless he were yet prouder and more wilful. To him Ar-Gimilzôr would have yielded the sceptre rather than to the elder son, if the laws had allowed." - J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion, "Akallabêth"

@tolkienofcolourweek day 4: cultural identity + growing up || INZILBÊTH & INZILADÛN

[ID: an edit comprised of four posters in shades of teal and cool beige.

1: A rectangle image taking up most of the poster shows Advina Ratnaningsih, an indonesian model, sitting holding her young child in her lap. They both have brown skin and black hair, and are draped in variously patterned batik fabrics. The room is richly decorated with rugs and brocade hangings. Large teal text up the left side of the image reads "inzilbêth" in all caps, and small text in the bottom right corner reads "she was secretly of the Faithful, for her mother was Lindórië of the House of the Lords of Andúnië." Teal lines flush with the text frame the photo / 2: A small image of traditional indonesian stone carvings on a beige background. A thin teal frame surrounds the picture, with text at the top reading "mother & son," and text below reading "faithful to the valar," with "faithful" in a large gothic font / 3: Same format as Image 2, but the small image shows green mountains in mist, and the text reads "queen & king" and "flowers of númenórë" / 4: Same format as Image 1, but the picture is of a young indonesian man dressed in a patterned sarong with other pieces thrown over his shoulder and wrapped around his head. He is surrounded by green leaves and looks seriously at the viewer. Text on the right side reads "inziladûn" in all caps, and the smaller text reads "he took again a title in the Elven-tongue as of old, calling himself Tar-Palantir" //End ID]

[skylessknights]

Sea, I am like you, filled with broken voices by skylessknights

“Send…send for my maids.” she continued on, her voice slightly shaken, her composure diminishing by the second. “I wish to retire.” Elendil pressed forth. “I am at your behest.”

OR: Following the chaos that ensued during the funeral of the late king, Tar-Palantir, Míriel retires to her chambers with fresh wounds to tend to. Elendil tries his best to restore her faith but finds that it is easier said than done.

↳ READ ON AO3

[fantasyquests]

Rewatching Season 1: Some thoughts on episode 4

1. Adar(s). This episode seems to be dominated by fathers and father figures. We are introduced to Adar, Lord Father of the Uruks, to Durin's father, king Durin III, and to Miriel's father Tar-Palantir. Elrond talks about his father Earendil and even Galadriel's father Finarfin is mentioned by Miriel. It's possible that Miriel is familiar enough with the history of Elves to know that Finarfin never joined Feanor's expedition, and perhaps she mentions him to Galadriel to imply that this is what wise Elves do, and what her father would have done: stay away from MIddle Earth.

One of the aspects of The Rings of Power that I greatly appreciate (and consider an improvement in comparison to Jackson's movies) is that it gives us a portrayal of Orcs who are capable of commitment, of having feelings, even of love. Orcs address their leader not as Master or military commander, but as Father, which is an emotionally charged title. Adar has tears in his eyes when he stabs the dying Orc to put an end to his suffering. After this we witness some kind of simple burial rite, which suggests to us that they also have a culture of their own. They are just as vicious and terrifying as the Orcs in Jackson's movies, but their interactions make them more complex and real.

Arondir puts three questions to Adar (Who are you? What are you? and Why do they call you Father?). Adar does not reply to any of them, but he gives a speech on sage blossoms in Belleriand which reveals his gentler side. We know Belleriand sank at the end of the First Age, so it gives us a hint that Adar was a First Age Elf. The mouth of the river he mentions is possibly Sirion, where some important events took place, and I wonder if he was one of the major players back then.

Elrond's father is mentioned three times in this episode, first in a conversation with Celebrimbor. It's interesting that Earendil made a prophecy according to which Celebrimbor's future will one day depend on Elrond. At this point Celebrimbor, being ambitions, thinks this refers to his future as a famed elven smith (that this is the future that Elrond will help him achieve). However, it's also possible that the prophecy refers to the battle for Eregion in which Elrond will try (and fail) to save Celebrimbor's life. The second time Earendil is mentioned is when Elrond swears on his memory that he will keep Durin's secret. The final mention is the most emotional one, where Elrond draws a parallel between Durin's situation and his own, pointing to his friend how lucky he is to still have a father he can talk to (or even quarrel with).

2. Helping Elves. In this episode, both the dwarves of Khazad Dum and Numenoreans have to decide whether they will interact with Elves, or keep to their respective realms in peace and isolation and mind their own business. In both cases, the Elves come as agents of change: Galadriel to Numenor and Elrond to Khazad Dum. They disrupt the existing state of affairs and ask for help and involvement. Miriel had a vision in which Galadriel's arrival would start a chain of events ending with Numenor's downfall. Of course, we know that it is not the arrival of Galadriel, but the arrival of Sauron, that will eventually bring about the doom of Numenor. I wonder why the palantir didn't show her that Halbrand was really Sauron?

It's also interesting to consider Halbrand's advice and whether Galadriel utilizes it or not. He instructs her to be manipulative -- to "find out what it is they (the Numenoreans) fear most, and then give them a way to master it". Galadriel understands what Miriel fears, but she does not try to manipulate her. Instead, she encourages her to make a moral choice, forgo her fears and just do what feels right -- by helping save the Southlanders' lives. Finally, however, it is not Galadriel's power of persuasion that causes Miriel to change her mind, but the fact that the White Tree begins to shed its leaves. In Tolkien's universe, trees convey important messages to people (Nimloth to Miriel, Lindon tree to Gil Galad) and wise people listen to them.

Links to previous reviews: Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3

[eri-pl]

But how about

(TW Feanorian things: fire, torture, drowning - under the cut)

Maglor in Numenor?

Inspired by "why was Quenya the official language there?" post

Not initially, Osse wouldn't let him probably, but Maglor came a few years later

Because that's as close to home he can go

"no, don't make your son the king, your daughter is older" "shut up, kidnap great-grandpa"

They kept him out of the official history because he's not someone to be proud of, but initially very close to the kings

What if the mysterious remark of Maglor being wed is "I won't mention it to not spoil the history of Numenor but"

Not all elf-human romances are as glorious as B&L, some are just a kinslayer and his wife trying their best

Bonus points if his lineage mixes into one of the important lines (and later, Aragorn!)

Later more and more forced into hiding / disguises

Tar-Palantir invites him to the council again but not officially as an elf of course. Illusions and disguises ftw

Ar-Pharazon doesn't notice it's an elf, because he's an idiot (wise in ways of the world but)

Tar-Miriel knows of course

And then Sauron comes

Maglor runs away into hiding because he's a coward

Isildur find him and begs for help

Major tries to help gets caught by Sauron and it's due to be burned

Sauron doesn't watch him himself because he's busy intriguing

He's too busy angsting about Maedhros (because, you know, the idea of being burned) to escape

Isildur gets him out, or maybe Anarion, let him do something cool too

Runs away into hiding 2

The fleet sets sail

Maglor is conflicted because those guys are being idiots and go too far against the Valar for even a Feanorian to be ok with it, but on the other hand, Sauron

He decides to try again, and (as brilliant idea as it is original) goes and tries to fight Sauron... With singing

Not that that would help now because the fleet is gone already

But I guess he tries anyway

Of course loses and Sauron "has some fun" as he did with his brother

Jest as Sauron is ready to burn Maglor, tsunami

Everything drowns

Maglor finally drowns, as was his fate since long ago but he failed at it before

But

He drowns in the exactly one tsunami in the history that can wash away his idiotic oath

Pun intended

And yes it's idiotic

And no not because he deserves it or smth

But look at me and tell me that Sauron deserved being let free with nothing but an ugly face

So, cut to a visibly confused (sic!) Namo

Yes I'm too sympathetic to characters (unless I'm not) fight me

[myrtaceaae]

Not to discourse over ROP, but I think the main reason I felt frustrated at it, was because I had hoped for a show which showed the gradual change in Númenor, from early king's to the change that Aldarian wrought which his mariners guild. I wanted to see his friction with Tar-Melendur, and I wanted Erendis, and Tar-Ancilime, and then Tar-Minastir coming to Gil-Galad's aid against Sauron.

Give me Tar-Atanamir and his greed and his relationship (cruelty) towards the men of middle-earth and see the way that Númenorians began to dislike and mistrust the elves and the Valar, and the evolution and persecution of The Faithful.

I want Ar-Adûnakhôr, and the banning of Quenya and I wanted to see Tar-Palantir and how his people reacted to him. AND then. Finally I want to see Ar-Pharazôn usurping Tar-Míriel's throne. I want a full history of Númenor, instead of seeing a teensy weensy glimpse.

And I understand this would take a lot of different actors but like. I reckon you could make this into 2-3 neat little seasons, and include what is happening in middle-earth parallel to Númenor.

I want to see the breadth and change of the second age, rather than everything-happening-all-at-once. I want to linger on Gil-Galad's war with Sauron, and the Sack of Eregion, and Galadriel entering Lothlorion and what politics may have gone on, and the establishment of Rivendell as an refuge from war turned into a true refuge.

And seeing all this happen as the shadows lengthen across Númenor would be so much fun!!! I had hoped for so much. Instead I shall imagine this show that will not be.

[giallo4ver]

Gil-galad: don't mess with this shit

*They do and end up creating the rings and helping Sauron*

Durin III: don't mess with this shit

*They do and end up awakening a Balrog and helping Sauron*

Tar Palantir: don't mess with this shit

*They do and end up playing Sauron's game*

Rings of Power summary: old kings were right. Youngsters should have listened more carefully to them.

[lesbiansforboromir]

Hello! I am here today to post an agonisingly long HC about Gondorian-Dunadain/Faithful held beliefs and philosophies on sex and marriage. As per Tolkienian necessity when trying to apply to canon, this is going to be incredibly catholic, homophobic, racist and sexist BUT we’re also subverting it later so... keep hanging on!

Firstly, to define the generally accepted in-world scholastic origin for a lot of these beliefs, some of which are metaphysically ‘true’ for the in-universe offered mechanics of souls. I will be initially stealing a few concepts from an ancient magnum opus fanfic called Hands of the King, namely that   Silmariën (daughter of Tar-Palantir in Numenor, ancestress to Elendil and essentially the mother of the Faithful Dunadain) had a massive and foundational impact on the culture of the Faithful. The Silmariën Discourses are a well reproduced and distributed collatation of all her writings on all aspects of living a ‘Faithful life’ that she wrote throughout her life. And whilst they touch on many diverse topics, sex and marriage is one of them. 

Of course, these ideas were heavily influenced by Numenorean understanding of elven traditions, hence LaCE is also an in-universe document in a manner of speaking, written by even earlier Numenorean scholars during the periods of great friendship between elves and Numenor. 

And then, whilst the Silmariën discourses serve as the basis for these customs in Gondor and Arnor and are still quite a common sight within Gondorian libraries and upperclass bookshelves, even taught in schools to a certain degree, other sages and scholars in both Arnor and Gondor have added too or debated their details for generations since then. Hence amongst the Southern and Northern Dunadain you will find differences of custom and perspective. 

And finally, whilst this is technically the attitude of the ‘dominant’ culture in Gondor, it is at the same time technically a culture belonging to an ethnic minority. Even if it is the widespread and reinforced perspective, taught to every citizen within Gondor, it is in no way the only perspective and opinions upon it are complex and diverse throughout the many people groups that make up the country itself. With all that in mind, here is the basic framework of the traditonal viewpoint;

- Obviously, the first major point; sex is for marriage and procreation alone. It is a joy, but only when it is shared between you and your 'one', your partner in body and soul. Otherwise it is a corruption and a symptom of your tragic fall from grace. - In Elves this concept is spiritually enforced, the Faithful (and elves themselves) believe that elves cannot have sex outside of marriage for sex to them is a matter of bonding souls in and of itself and to share that intimacy with anyone who wasn’t your bonded partner would cause harm to you. This is because elves interact with the world using their souls, their bodies are more like vessels, it is their souls that bind them to the world. - However, because humans are connected to the world by their bodies and when they die they leave the circles of Arda never to return, they have been allowed the clemency and mercy of a less restrictive and more fluid matter of choice. It is a grievous hurt to be separated from your soul’s partner, so the atani are allowed ‘lesser’ bonds of love and companionship as they pass through the world. - But this clemency has a downside, it allows room for corruption. This corruption appears in many forms, such as polygamy, queer attraction, promiscuity, marriage for anything but love and sexual violence, but each of them are all to be deeply pitied as signs of a weak and feeble mind and heart that has succumbed to the evil influences of Arda-marred. Such people can resist their corruptions, but they should not be allowed to influence others. - As Silmarien explains it; "If Men are made to be visitors of short passage, then it is right that they shall be loath to bind themselves to someone else and be sundered from that beloved; two wills are deprived of their choice and much grief must follow. Men could give their forms in marriage, yet withhold their full will, something the Elves simply could not do. While this might lessen their grief at the inevitable passing of their mate, it also left open the door for corruption by the Enemy, for Men were tempted very easily into bestial ways, abusing this grace by sharing their bodies promiscuously." - It is generally accepted amongst the Dunadain that, if you are 'a man of high race’, you are more protected against this corruption than those of less blessed lineages. And the truer the blood of Numenor runs in you, the more you are expected to lead a ‘blessed’ life and wed your heart’s true partner. But you are not exempt! Through life or evil thoughts, one might still become corrupted and be inspired to baser deeds and corrupted lifestyles, making you alike to the heretics of old Numenor. - But the Atani should not despair, for (uncorrupted) men are still capable of the same depths of devotion in marriage as elves. Those of high race can indeed experience similar aspects of soul-bonding, ‘willing’ their souls together and knowing that person on a more intimate and spiritual level, sensing their presence and so forth. And this is believed to be the ‘true nature’ of men. - And in combination with that, as a combat to this problem of corruption, marriage as a ceremony allows a more physical solution to the issue of men’s wills and partners, both as a public declaration of that will, as well as an aid to those averagely-corrupted men. Marriage creates an environment that will, hopefully, lead men towards their natural ‘willing’ and a blessed life. 

There is some division over one passage within Silmarien’s discourses;

"While Men may not be compelled to will their marriage in the manner of the Eldar, holding forever steadfast to a single choice, still they are capable of it and it is their proper nature. In marital congress are their wills given unity with their forms. It is known among the Dúnedain for some to will thusly from the start or all at once, and those who do are changed and never repent of their choice. Most who will, however, come slowly to this state; their willing is weaker and may sometimes be broken or relinquished. Even so, most Dúnedain will know this joy. To be pitied are those who, like lesser Men, cannot or will not fulfill their natures. They are corrupt."

In Gondor, in the later third age, it is no longer socially acceptable to speak the opinion that ‘lesser men’ are incapable of the same depth of love as the Dunadain. This does not mean none hold that opinion, only that society has enough middle men within it, even in the higher classes, that they have pushed social graces toward a less derogatory view. Though it still often influences the Southern Dunadain philosophy. 

However, within the northern dunadain, it is still a fully accepted wisdom and partly accounts for both their isolationism and the lack of Dunadain marrying into wider families in Eriador. Cautionary tales from Northern Dunadain to their sons and daughters run thus; it is tragic but you must not fall for the illusion of love in the eyes of these middle men, their devotion cannot be true, you are destined for a higher love.  

SO! That’s all the bigotry out of the way, now for my headcanoned ‘true’ mechanics of all this that I am holding as canon for my character and world interpretations on this blog. These hcs both semi-apply to the ideas of ‘fea’ as they are set out, but also allow gay people to exist and for elves to be able to sleep with who they want without canonically being a sickness of the soul or whatever. 

So, yes, Elves have souls that are more seperate from their bodies. They are immortal, as in they live so long it might as well be classed as forever within the confines of Aman. And their body is not what keeps them there, it is just the way they move around the world and interact with it physically. Whereas mortals,  (putting a pin in dwarves for the moment) such as humans and hobbits are bound to Arda by their bodies alone and when their bodies are killed so is their connection to this world and they leave to ‘somewhere else’. Unspecified. As such, elves and their bondmates will not suffer the sorrow of parting forever, whereas humans might. Hence, elven souls ‘bond’ during sex, whereas humans must ‘will’ for it to occur.

Which, in terms of morality, are all neutral facts until you include the machinations of the Valar and Eru and what they WANT it all to mean. I am galvanised by the idea that, whilst some technical aspects of these things are true, the actual meaning of them have been distorted, first by colonialist elves, who then encouraged colonialist humans, and whom were all inspired by Valar unwilling to believe themselves wrong in any way despite the fact that Morgoth also distorted their understanding of the world they had sung of to begin with. And meanwhile Eru does not care about any of it, he only cares if his 'right to the throne of the world’ is being challenged. 

The concept I am running with is the idea that the true ultimate 'divine' aspect of the world comes from the Secret Fire, which Eru used to kindle life yes, but which is in fact a distinct entity from him, unknowable even to him. And in kindling life, it naturally diversified into it’s own aspects of life in completely neutral ways that were meant to coexist and collaborate to produce a harmonious world for the benefit of all. But, upon being placed into a world still ruled by Valar (whom are canonically flawed in actions, motives and understanding whilst also possessing great power) that world and the new life within it was subject to their influences and persuaded by their held beliefs of the ‘right’ way of life, that some of the diverse aspects the secret fire took that they did not understand were ‘corruptions’. Hence the elven faithful belief system was born.

Which, (completely and utterly whoops by accident and unbiased happenstance on my part) creates the situation where Boromir and all of Gondor can say 'I don't care what is divinely ordained to be right as god claims it and I do not care if it is for some great plan I could never understand, I know it to be wrong in my heart' and they are fundamentally correct for saying that, because they (and all other creatures in arda) ARE the secret fire and are therefore actually more divine than Eru is in the end.

They can be handed all of these truths about souls and bonding and death and all the works of the Valar and Morgoth's corruption and so forth that all SEEM to support these Valar-originated concepts and the elves and Eru's divine supremacy and ownership over all creation etc and still say I don't care, I don't care if I'm divinely wrong. I'm humanely right and I would rather hold to that mundane choice than be holy in the eyes of a divinity that claims these things.

Hence some ‘heretical’ elves can nod and agree, yes, elves bond, souls become entangled. I have bonded many times, I have shared my soul with many, both in the elven way, the dwarven way and the human way. I unlearned what I was taught and listened to what my soul told me, that elves can create their own realities, we can decide what things mean to us, what a soulbond of love looks like. The fact that I am more soulfully made up of all the pieces of many people who loved me is a beautiful strength not a corrupted weakness.

And Boromir, whom had in essentials been agnostic to the whole thing as a young man and was then confronted by the strange evidence of him being ‘of high race’ in his natural ‘willing’ to Theodred. He eventually acknowledges, yes, I am experiencing some of these things people talk about, which makes it seem like what the Faithful preach is true, and therefore I am corrupted and my love for Theodred is a corruption, despite my ‘willing’ to him. But I have decided I don't care. This is the life I lead, this is the love I have. If it is not acceptable to God then he should have given me a different life and made me a different man.

And Denethor who spends his whole life trying to negotiate with divinity, he cares, he does, he wants to be faithful, he wants to be good! But faith keeps failing him, failing everyone and everything he cares about, he has been abandoned by God in the midst of a holy way FOR God, and yet so many of these seemingly innocuous things are wrong? And eventually he is angry and betrayed and says fine, I will be what you believe me to be, this thing you call a great sin is far kinder and far more just than anything divinity has ever asked of me.

And all of them are right! Because the Secret Fire is divine, in and of itself, and what it wills is what is right for it’s own existence. 

THERE again so sorry, this is even longer than I thought it would be.

[brynnmclean]

Predictions re: ROP S2 Númenor & Elvish Eriador:

I'm still holding onto my theory that they'll move the "Númenórean Fleet Saves the Elves" event forward to this time period instead of with Tar-Minastir and Ciryatur.

So I'm thinking Lindon might get attacked while Eregion is sacked (OR I guess this could just be during Eregion), and Pharazôn will lead an armada to aid Eriador in general on Tar-Míriel's orders, perhaps after a messenger Eagle brings word of Sauron's reappearance???

(I guess Elendil could be the actual naval Admiral of this which would get him out of Pharazôn's way and separate him from Míriel + also could have Elendil reunite with Isildur in Middle-earth if Isildur makes his way north with Arondir)

More Númenóreans will die in service of bailing out the elves which will lead to (even more) unrest in Armenelos. We'll lean more heavily into the King's Men vs. Faithful divide.

Pharazôn will take advantage, seizing popular vote even more than he probably has as Tar-Míriel's right hand politically, and swiftly seizing the Sceptre (maybe at the close of the season which will set up s3 as Akallabêth maybe?).

Whether or not Pharazôn marries Míriel or is like "she is unfit to rule as her father was and I am their kin, so I have a right to the throne as next in line," I'm not sure. I like to think maybe they won't go with the marriage route, especially since they already set up precedent for the ruler of Númenor to get locked away in a tower if they are deemed "unfit" or if the population does not like their policies.

I am assuming Tar-Palantir got locked away due to him trying to get Faithful customs back vs. his mind becoming unstuck in time due to palantír usage... I DO like the idea of Míriel getting locked away there like she probably had to lock away her father. The parallels!

[thetempleofthemasaigoddess]

Drowning in his gaze (part 3)

Elendil x reader

This is mainly inspired by this post by @the-haven-of-fiction about Lloyd Owen’s character in Monarch of the Glen.

This is part three of three. This part Is dedicated to the lovely @montyc, whose support is more important than they know.

*****

The ship had been sighted from the city a few hours before docking, and a small but excited crowd has gathered at the pier, waiting to welcome the first of the thousands of soldiers coming back from more than five years at the front. You wait in a corner, wondering what exactly are you feeling, either eagerness or the desire that the next minutes would never pass, and among the couples, the families and the groups of friends celebrating the return of their loved ones, you see him, a tall and imposing figure wearing armor and cape, directing the others and making sure docking operations are carried out as they should. 

He sees you as well; it would be harder not to, since you are the only person present wearing a mourning dress, but even if you were not, in that very moment you know he would have found you all the same. 

He slowly moves towards you, as you meet halfway, and as you stand in front of each other for the first time in five years, you both spend a minute taking each other in. He is as handsome as you remembered or even more so, because the young man, full of bravery and hope you said goodbye to, is now a veteran who knows blood and violence and death; his blue eyes are brighter than ever, his smile brave but fragile. He whispers your name, and then you are holding each other in a hug, desperate and anguished, you are caressing his hair as you would do to console a child and he sobs softly, as if he were too ashamed to express his sadness where his men could see him.

“Let us go.” you say in the end “There is food and a bath waiting for you at home, but if you want we can go to him first.”

He nods quietly, as you were sure he would have, and after he has retrieved his satchel you accompany him to the cemetery. You walk unhurriedly next to each other, and you would be curious to know whether Elendil still recognizes the city he has grown up in or five years were enough to make him forget the streets and the buildings, but there will be time for pleasantry. 

“I am happy you are home.” you whisper in the end as you pass a small park the two of you often went playing in as children “I know it is for the saddest of reasons, but... I have missed you.”

“I have missed you as well, (name).” he is quick to answer, with a smile that can still make your heart beat twice as fast, even after all that has happened “I am so sorry you had to take care of everything alone.”

“It was no hassle, truly; you know how much I loved your father. And, I see you have been named captain! Congratulations.” 

He received the promotion one month ago, he tells you, a few days after sending his last letter to his father; he wanted to surprise him, in his next message or, since it was apparent among the soldiers that the enemy King and Tar-Palantir would soon begin peace negotiations, to tell him in person, when he came back.

But things have gone differently; he does not utter the words, but you know you are both thinking about it, and there is so much you would ask him, about his experiences as a soldier, his plans for the future, and you, but you cannot, not now, not before he has said farewell to his father... and not three days after Merendur has brought you the marriage contract for the two of you, to sign and that will become effective as soon as you are married. 

You have lost him. It does not matter that he is walking next to you, so close your hands almost touch; you are very happy to see him, and to know he has survived the war, but essentially, he could be at the other end of the Sea, and it would change nothing: he will never be yours, and you will never be his.

Never.

You tell him to take his time, and he spends a few minutes in front of the tomb of his father, his head bowed and his lips barely moving in a prayer - or maybe a conversation. You keep your distance, allowing them the peace they need, and in the meantime, under a quickly darkening sky as the night approaches, you wonder how you will tell him the truth. 

In the end you just do it. You have returned home, Elendil has taken off his boots -Eru, my feet hurt so much!- left his satchel in his room, that you have prepared for him, and washed away grime and sweat in a basin; desperately trying to delay the inevitable, you ask him whether he wants to take a bath, or, or, a nap, or to eat something...

“(name), please.” he stops you, taking your hand gently in his and making you sit next to him at the table where you, he and your father have shared countless meals  “Everything is all right, and the thing I want the most is talk; with you. I... I think we really need to.”

You could not agree more. You nod, silently inviting him to go on, but Elendil, the most determined and steadfast person you know, for once appears to hesitate, as if he does not know what you need to talk about... or does not have the words, or the courage, to broach the subject. In the end...

“My father and I had spoken about what would happen once he passed away; I do not think he expected it to happen so soon, but since we had no other relatives, and I was a soldier, it was important that I was aware of his will, and he of mine.”

You remain silent as he stops to drink avidly from the cup you have put in his hands; you have no idea what he is talking about, but certainly it is not the topic you thought, and wished, he would consider most important, and you can barely hide the disappointment in your heart. 

“My father has made a bequest for you. I am his only heir, and he knew you would be taken care of thanks to your parents’ estate, but he wanted to show how much he cared for you, and how he considered you a part of our family. Because of this, he wished for you to have my mother’s jewels. All of them.”

Despite everything, you have to press a hand to your mouth to suffocate a shout. No one better than you knows how important the memory of his wife was for Amandil, and gifting you her jewelry, even though he has no daughters -or daughters in law...- who could rightfully inherit them, is a beautiful, loving gesture, much more important that the actual, and not insignificant, value of the ornaments themselves. With that bequest, Amandil is saying that you are part of his family, the child he did not beget but raised and loved and cared for as if she were. 

Elendil smiles softly as he sees you drying tears from your eyes.

“I do not deserve it...”

“Of course you do. My father loved you, and I know you loved him as well. Take them, I will be glad seeing you wearing my mother’s things.”

You smile as well, touched, and then the silence falls between the two of you, a silence full of so much unsaid that it is physically painful to bear it; you look at your friend, praying that those five years of separation made him realize he cared for you as more than, or differently from, a friend, and you will finally have a chance to live what you, perhaps presumptuously, have always felt was destined to happen between you...

“Did you have to pay a death duty for the house? Or any other tax after my father’s death?”

You look at him. You could be honest, of course, because Elendil is the last person in Númenor you would have to hide your feelings from to avoid humiliation, but the truth is you already did! Five years ago, you told him what you felt, and he rejected you; if his feelings have changed, or he realized he had made a mistake, how could he expect you to take the first step once more? You are too old, and your friendship too important, to care about petty mistakes or to resent each other, but he has had five years to think about it, he left and never even wrote to you, and now... 

Maybe nothing has changed for him; maybe he still considers you nothing more than a friend, now as then, and the feelings you think he is simply too shy to express actually only exist in your mind. In that case you have to accept it, find a way to move on, and there is only one way to do it...

“Elendil.”

He looks at you as he prepares to talk again; had you waited just for ten more seconds, the following conversation would have been completely different, and happier, and concluded by a kiss that was five years in the making. “Yes?”

“I am going to be married.”

*****

Elendil meets Merendur two days later, as your intended joins the two of you for dinner; Merendur is friendly and respectful, happy to meet and determined to make a good impression on the man he only knows as your oldest friend and foster brother. They shake hands, make small talk and discuss about your impending nuptials, that you and Merendur have agreed will take place at Varda’s temple.

“We have decided (name) will move with me in our family home until we have found a place of our own.” your intended explains as you pour wine in each of your cups, and then glance at Elendil, who is impassible, polite and at ease in his newfound role of master of the house, but completely inscrutable, thoughts and feelings hidden behind his beautiful blue eyes.

He has no idea your union to Merendur is just a marriage of convenience. You have spoken privately with your intended this morning, and he has accepted to pretend to be madly in love with you while Elendil is with you, just as you did when you met Merendur’s relatives a few weeks ago. Since no one expected you to kiss in public or declare your undying love for each other that dinner was easy and even pleasant enough, and you got along well with your future parents-in-law; tonight, instead... tonight is proving to be a real torture, even though you cannot exactly know why. Elendil is not being rude, or offensive, nor is he opposing your wedding, but still after five years you know him well enough to perceive he is tense, a disquiet barely hidden in his heart as he laughs at Merendur’s jokes or tells him about his enlistment in the Sea Guard. You have nothing to be afraid of, since he cannot forbid you from getting married -his father could have, but only until you came of age- and in any case, you are determined to put some distance between the two of you from now on, cherishing him as a friend but focusing on your work and other interests to try and forget your feelings for him, but...

Curse you! Why can I not see what your heart is hiding?

“Will you be all right by yourself, Elendil?” Merendur asks as you all eat “I know you have lost your father, and soon (name) will move away; it will be quite a change, to live by yourself for the first time.”

The question is maybe too personal to ask to someone he has just met, but sincere in its empathy, and Elendil forces himself to smile: you will never know how ashamed he is in that moment, for the completely unreasonable hate that fills his heart for the man who is going to become your husband in less than ten days. 

“It will; but I do not think I will stay long in Armenelos in any case.”

The fork almost falls from your hand. “... what?” you ask, calmly -you force yourself- and your friend explains that as a result of his bravery during the war he has been offered a prestigious post in Andustar, as deputy commander of a recently built Sea Guard garrison, and he is inclined to accept.

“That seems quite a task.” Merendul states courteously.

“It is. But it would be an important advancement for my career and...” Elendil looks straight in front of him; he has barely touched his wine “... now that my father has passed away, I do not have much to keep me in the city.”

The dinner comes to an end somewhat earlier than you expected, but peacefully enough; Merendur and Elendil shake hands once more as they bid each other goodnight.

“And you will be walking her, of course.”

“Excuse me?”

“(name)” your intended clarifies, as if it were obvious “You are her... adoptive brother; since both her father and guardian have passed away, and she has no other close male relative, you should take their place during the ceremony, walking her to the altar. Did the two of you not talk about it? Of course, if you would rather not...” 

Your friend cannot see you in that moment, since you are standing behind him, a few steps away, but you could swear on your life that he knows you are there, and that when he answers, he is you he is talking about, not your intended.

“Of course. I will be glad to give her away.”

Later, you and your friend find yourself together in the living room, while the governess is in the kitchen cleaning. Elendil is writing a letter to the family of a comrade  who died in service, while you are focused on your embrodery.

“He seems like a good man.” he states in the end, and there is no mockery or spite in his voice, he is too noble and good-hearted to speak ill of someone because of a personal antipathy, but that comment upsets you nonetheless.

Why is that? Would you have preferred that he hated Merendur with every fiber of his body?

“He is. He is clever and kind and... and he cares for me.” you react.

“Of course he does. I am sure.”

He remains focused on his letter, but when you stand from your chair he lifts his face, suddenly alarmed. “Where are you going?”

“To my room. I... I am tired...”

“(name).” he calls softly, and that works better than any order or commanding tone; you stop, giving him time to reach you and take your hand.

“Do you love him?” he asks, looking you in the eyes and flinches “I know I have no right to ask you...”

“Exactly. You do not. Leave me alone, Elendil, please. The way I decide to live my life has nothing to do with you; I will marry Merendur, you will move at the other side of the island, and you will forget even meeting me.”

You spoke out of spite, and it works, because Elendil reacts as if you slapped him; for a moment it is like he is seeing you for the first time. “I could never forget you. You know how much I care about you.”

“You do? You seem to have completely forgotten about me, even though you found the time to write to your father regularly. I know you were fighting in a war, not on vacation, but did I not even deserve a short note?”

“I...”

“You, Elendil. You know it has always been you.” you state turning to face him, and sigh, because it has never been so hard to admit something that was so clear in your heart; it is as if you had taken a huge weight off your shoulders, and felt the pain only once you were free from it ���I told you how I felt, and you rejected me. Which of course is not a crime, you are free to do what you deem right, but you cannot expect to come back after five years of silence, and find nothing to have changed. Merendur is a good man; he does not love me, but he cares for me, he respects me, and he made an honest proposal, speking clearly of his feelings and desires, unlike..."

“Unlike me. This is what you are saying.”

Elendil is looking at you, thunder in his eyes and rage in his heart. “You are marrying a man you do not love because... you want to get married? Since when do you care about such things? Since when do you care about the status, and what other women your age are doing? Since when you accept people’s help to reach objectives that are well within your reach? Where is your independence? Where is your confidence in yourself?” 

“Be quiet! You... you...”

“I love you, (name).

Silence.

“I always have, maybe since I was too young to understand those feelings, and when you told me that my father had started thinking about your marriage it was... as if a candle had lit in my mind where before there was only dark. I love you more than anything else in the world, and being away from you for five years was... a torture. I have thought about you every day, every moment...”

“But you never told me; not in person, when you could, or in writing.” you point out. He has just told you what you had hoped to hear for five years, but instead of delighted and ecstatic, you feel shattered, as if you had spent your life running towards a prize you now discover to be worthless “You have kept me in the dark, as if I did not deserve to know the truth because... what? You expected me to keep loving you, to remain faithful while you traveled far away, maybe never to return? You left me without even expressing your feelings because you were... taking mine for granted? You thought that you could live your life as you pleased, and then come back once you had reached your goals, and I would be here ready waiting for you, to marry or simply to take to bed?”

It is a terrible, unfair accusation, for one who knows him well as you do, and Elendil’s eyes are full not of rage, which would be hurtful enough, but of sadness and disappointment, as if he had been betrayed by his closest and loyalest ally.

“If I left without telling you what I felt, without telling you I wanted to share my life with you, without asking for your hand, it was because I wanted to be worthy of you.” he explains, and his voice is more than sad, more than angry or disappointed; it is resigned “Because I wanted you to be proud to be my wife, and to be able to take care of you. What did I have to offer you five years ago? I was just the son of a noble family without a position or properties of his own, who still depended on his father for everything he owned, a simple seaman like so many others. It is not unheard for young soldiers to obtain promotions during a war mission, so I thought... I could come into my own, and become a man, a son, and a husband, you could be proud of. It has been the hardest thing I have ever done, as if I were leaving a part of me, but I thought it were for the best; I hoped... I hoped that if your feelings were as strong and steadfast as I thought, you would have waited for me.”

He laughs, full of sadness, and shakes his head. “Mark me, I am not accusing you; but I feel so foolish... My heart was so full of hope when I left, and when I was away I lost both my father and you. I am alone, and the fault is all mine.”

“Elendil...”

“I am sorry. I never wished... I only thought about myself, and you are right, I took you for granted, as if you could find no better than me. I... I hope you will be happy with your husband, and I swear, I will be your friend forever...”

You stand there for a while, face to face, so close you could touch each other just lifting your hand, but at the same time it is as if you were standing at the opposite ends of the world. Suddenly you remember Merendur’s words, that once married you would not be bound by the duty of loyalty as most wives are, but you could never propose something like that to Elendil: the mere idea would horrify him, and what exists between you, your love, deserves better than being reduced to a sordid extra-marital affair. 

This is the end, the end of everything, and it is all your fault, because he is right, you have allowed your ambition and your insecurities to make you forget the trust you always had in your abilities and self-assurance, as well as the trust and the respect for your friend. If only you had waited... if only you had not let fear and solitude govern you...

“I am sorry.” you whisper; what else could you say? Another sad smile opens Elendil’s mouth, a chaste, sweet kiss touches your forehead, and then you are alone.

*****

The day of your wedding is beautiful, sunny and warm after a whole week of pouring rain, as if, an older neighbour suggests, the Valar themselves wanted to express their approval on your and Merendur’s union. You bite your tongue, not wanting to sound disrespectful or blasphemous, but you strongly doubt someone is watching over you in that moment, and that while you have only yourself to blame for your predicament, clearly none of the Valar deemed appropriate to give you a sign you were going to make the worst mistake of your life.

As tradition dictates, your female friends come early in the morning to help you get ready for the ceremony. Elendil has disappeared since the previous night, but reappears exactly when he is needed; he is more handsome than ever -and sober, you realize with a touch of surprise- in full uniform, the bitter but determined look of a man ready to do his duty, no matter how painful.

He does not speak as he looks at you, already wearing the bridal dress you have inherited from your mother, your hair for the first time covered by the veil only married women have the right to use, as a sign of chastity and virtuosity - two characteristics you feel you are solely lacking. Your friends have suggested you wear some of the jewels you have inherited from Amandil, and while you are sure it would have made him happy -and some of the pieces are absolutely gorgeous- you knew it would have broken Elendil’s heart, and because of this you wore a simple pendant you had had for years, and earrings bought for the occasion. 

“You look...” he starts, and then he looks unable to continue, as if he could not find the words to describe your appearance, or the emotion had blocked the voice in his throat “... like a real bride.”

“I am a real bride.” you sadly remind him. 

“Yes. I know. But you are not mine, and this breaks my heart.”

There is nothing more to say. You leave the house together, and a carriage is there waiting to carry you to the temple. You do not speak, but Elendil is taking advantage of the solitude you are probably enjoying for the last time in your life to hold your hand, his thumb caressing the back.

“I will always be there for you.” he quietly swears “From today until the end of times. Whatever happens, whatever problem you will have to face, you can count on me.”

“Even after you have moved to Andustar?” you ask with the hint of a smile.

“Even after I have moved to Andustar. I promise.”

He told you two days ago; he is almost sure he will accept the proposal of his commander, and move far away from the city, never to return. You are not sure how that makes you feel: it will be impossible to maintain your friendship as you have done until five years ago, and you do not know what would be more heart-breaking: to never see him again, or to to cross his path, maybe in the streets or under the roof o a mutual friend, and to have to pretend... 

After what could have been only a few minutes, or a few hours, the carriage stops. You and Elendil share a look; there is no reason to talk again. He kisses the hand he is still holding in his, and uses the other to push the carriage’s door open. 

A small crowd of friends and well-wishers has gathered in front of Varda's temple; women toss flower petals on your path, the sweet song of a minstrel’s lyre reaches your ears. And standing at the entrance there is he, your intended, the man who is going to become your husband in less than half an hour; Merendur, who you like and respect and trust, but who will never make you happy, nor you him, and marrying whom will maybe raise people’s esteem for you, or earn you new work opportunities -but do you really need them? Or is Elendil right, and you are clever and hard-working enough to make it on your own, without letting difficulties discourage you?- but it will not be worthy what you are doing, because as much as you love your job, you are losing a part of you too great and precious to be replaced... or to make without.

Merendur, very handsome in his groom tunic and cape, looks vaguely ill as he looks at you and attempts to smile, and you force yourself to smile back as you take Elendil’s arm -this could be the last time you touch him, a voice whispers in your ear; and suddenly a single tear rolls down your cheek- and begin slowly walking between two wings of the crowd, hoping the people all around you mistake your reluctance for the dignified walk of a bride. All the eyes are on you, people chanting, clapping, and every single person looks happier than you feel.

I do not want this. I do not want him. Please, I want to go, I do not want to do it...

You are twenty steps from the entrance of the temple. Fifteen steps. Ten steps, close enough to see the decorations inside, and to smell the incense burning; seven... four... and then you are passing through the archway, walking on the white and blue tiles of the tessellated pavement until you have reached the altar, where Merendur is now waiting for you, next to an elder priest wearing rich vestments. No one is speaking; even the music has ceased. Then...

“Who presents this woman to be married to this man?” the priest formally asks.

“I do.” Elendil answers; his voice is firm, but full of sadness. You feel your hand shaking in your friend’s gentle grasp as he puts it in Merendur’s hand, and when he leaves it, suddenly you are cold. 

The next minutes pass as in a dream; the ceremony begins, and you move and speak as it is expected from you but without actually meaning it, like a marionette whose strings are moved by the puppeteer, and finally it is time for the exchange of the nuptial vows.

“(name), do you promise...?”

“Wait.”

He spoke without raising his voice, but there is such strenght in it, the quiet authority of someone used to command; all the eyes, including yours, move on the source of that single word... but he is only looking at you.

“Do not do it.” Elendil states; he is begging, and ordering, you at the same time “Do not marry him; come away with me.”

The whole room gasps; Merendur’s mother, sitting in the forefront, lets out a scream. Everyone is back looking at you, but not to admire your beauty and elegance or offer their congratulations; they wait avidly for your reaction, and you... you do not disappoint. You cannot speak, nor communicate your assent with a nod, but Elendil sees the truth in your eyes, and with a grin grabs your hand... and a moment later you are running down the corridor, and no one tries to stop you as you reach the great door at all speed, and then you are out...

It is an exhilarating, liberating run, away from the temple, away from the chaos you must have left behind you, away from what you have known for weeks would have been the worst mistake of your life; you run like you have never run before, not so much from but towards something, and you barely notice the fact that you are out of breath, or that your feet hurt -the delicate slippers you are wearing are not the appropriate footwear for a sprint- because you are free, finally and when you dared to hope no longer, and you are with him, and this is enough to make you happy.

You are laughing out loud, and Elendil is lauging with you, as the streets of the city pass you by, until you have reached a small circular square, surrounded by a marble parapet, opening on a breath-taking view on the city harbour. You are alone as you finally stop, both struggling to breathe, and it is only when Elendil turns to look at you expectantly that the reality of what you have done comes crashing down, and you cannot believe it has happened, cannot believe you went along with it.

Elendil looks at you. “Changing your mind, are you?” he inquires as he passes an hand in his dark hair, and you shake your head, still dazed and euphoric.

“Of course not. But I cannot believe it, you... you had just given me away...”

“I did.” he agrees as he encircles your waist with his arm, and a smile of pure happiness opens on his mouth “And now I am taking repossession.”

Again, you move towards each other and your lips meet in the middle. You kiss him after having torn the veil from your hair and let it fall on the ground; you kiss him throwing your arms around him, and pressing your mouth on his as if your life depended on it; you kiss him not caring that you are still dressed for your wedding to another man, and that within an hour the whole city will know what you have done, and will be happy to gossip about it for the next century. You think about Merendur, and yes, about him you do care, and are ashamed of the situation you put him in, the embarassment of being abandoned at the altar, and the breaking of the pact you had made -even though, you suspect, he was having his own afterthoughts on the whole matter- and you would not be surprised if he decides never to talk to you again. You will be saddened by it, truly... but, and even though it means you are the most egotistical person in Númenor, you cannot really focus on that guilt, let alone walk back to the temple to beg your friend’s forgiveness and offer to conclude the rite and marry him. You will never let fear and doubt rule your life again, you vow to yourself, and you will never part from the man you love, now that he has come back to you.

“I think my standing in the city has just been destroyed.” you murmur as your mouth just barely parts from Elendil’s, your kisses multiplying and each hungrier and more eager than the latter; his hands have started moving on your body just like you have always dreamed, his touch sensual and worshipful at once “I think I should search for a new home. Is there place for me, on your ship to Andustar?”

“It is a splendid idea.” Elendil answers right away; he is holding you as if he never wants to let you go “I am sure you will do splendidly. As a wise man once said, there is always work for a capable scribe.” 

You laugh, and you exchange promises and kisses holding each other tight, oblivious to everything that is not the two of you, and the radiant future opening in front of your eyes. 

Tagging @starlady66 and @elvenenby .

[irisseireth]

One thing that really bothers me is that they have made Elendil a "petty lord", seemingly a nobody who is swept up by the story.

First of all, if Amandil is dead, Elendil is the Lord of Andúnië, a cadet branch of the Royal Family via Silmariën, daughter of Tar-Palantir, fourth king of Númenor. And then he's also related to Míriel and Pharazôn. The latter was said to be close with Amandil in his youth, so him not knowing who Elendil is just doesn't track for me.

Besides, the Lord of Andúnië was supposed to be the most senior member of the King's Council, and the chief adviser. They are the most important aristocrats after the Royal Family. It is a plot point that they are the leaders of the Faithful.

I'm okay with Míriel having more agency, because what happened to her in canon is horrible and reeks of misogyny, but I'm bothered by this meaning Elendil and his family have diminished political power.

[wizardheart83]

Rings of Power Analysis part #3

Significant differences between Celebrimbor and Pharazôn within the Númenor and Khazad Dum plots

Celebrimbor is loyal to his king. He is actively concerned about what Gil-Galad wants and he’s doing things with and in service of the high king. ( the Khazad Dum plot has two kings, ish. Harmony not unison, it’s fine, but I guess the Numenor plot seems to have two kings in it too….. not what we’re talking about right now). He has his own goals but he’s coloring within the lines and it’s working for him.

We see the craftsman …craftself and hear about the politician. We don’t really see him influencing anyone but Elrond. No scenes of him addressing crowds in Eregion.

Pharazôn is, at minimum, real comfortable with preparing for the death of the king of Númenor. He seems to have helped put his royal majesty in the tower and he’s actively against everything Tar-Palantir tried to do. He’d painting over lines of that coloring book in black like a bored child who wanted to be at recess before art class even started. Is it working for him? He seems to think so. He might be right.

We see the politician not the craftsman. We know he’s in a lot of guilds and we’ve seen his hands but no forging shots of Pharazôn and no connection to a lineage of crafters.

Celebrimbor loves making and loves what he makes. Pharazôn seems to use his skill as a political tool.

And yet…

Pharazôn leans into the elf ban that his ancestors set up and upheld, ostensibly for love of Númenor. Celebrimbor can’t help but admire the work of Fëanor and defends him to Elrond. Their families’ pasts are with them still, and what they do with those legacies will likely be important.

Ok, compromise if you want to talk spoilers start a conversation in the replies.

Disa and Elendil are next. (tomorrow) I promise I’m not just paralleling them because I’d read elendil/miriel fic most days of most weeks. This is a classy analysis.

[elrondsscribe]

So, an inevitable side effect of being obsessed with RoP is that I went and did a skim of the Akallabêth, which I hadn’t read for a while.

Buckle in cuz we’re going for a RIDE.

So first off, yes, I’m aware this is Tolkien’s Atlantis. Doom and drowning were always going to be involved. But can I just say that the Downfall of Númenor makes a pretty good case for the Valar being unfit rulers? Their handling of the situation is abysmal from the word go.

They start off by giving the Edain and Elros an archipelago away from Middle-Earth. Sweet. It’s also within sailing distance of Avallónë, the edge of Aman. In theory that’s nice, cuz the Elves can come visit relatively easily, but it also means that Aman is technically visible from Númenor at all times.

Also, Elves from Avallónë visit the Númenoreans (at least initially), but the Númenoreans are banned from going to Avallónë.

So. Not only can they actually see this place they’re not allowed to go to, they also REGULARLY GET VISITORS from there? Whose bright idea was this??

The text tries to frame the Númenoreans as ungrateful, but why wouldn’t they start resenting death? Especially given their proximity to immortal people and lands.

And I’m super unimpressed with the Valar’s response, which is basically “it’s over our heads but we still rule you so you have to obey us 😠”

And the Númenorean King makes a solid point — framing death as a Gift is bullshit. Dying permanently from a world that you’re naturally inclined to love is a shit deal. It just is. And the deathless Valar are the ones who make the rules, and then get to say “well u just gotta accept it cuz we say so, obey and have Faith 😇”

And then, later on when Númenor starts dividing, the Valar-faithful faction tell the Elves what’s up, and they tell Manwë. So he gets all mad at Númenor at large for their lack of worship and just. Stops sending messengers and ships. The Elves just stop coming.

To recap. The Valar saddle the Númenoreans with a situation built to breed envy, get mad when the envy happens, and just up and abandon their Faithful right when they’re getting pinned to the fucking wall?!

Because as the generations go by, Númenor starts coming down hard on ‘the Faithful’ — the ppl who still revere the Valar and their teachings. The later Kings, and the majority of the people they rule, get increasingly Faithful-hostile. Yeah, Ar-Inziladûn/Tar-Palantir is Faithful, but Míriel gets usurped* by Pharazon, who goes right back to anti-Valar rule.

So Ar-Pharazon goes off to Middle-Earth in a colonialist kinda mood (forgot to mention that the Kings of Númenor have started doing settler colonialism in ME while they’re turning away from the Valar), and Sauron comes tripping in. Yippee, doom has arrived.

Sauron comes to Númenor ostensibly as a vassal to Ar-Pharazon, but of course he’s there to do mischief. He gets everybody high on Númenorean exceptionalism, but also tells them negative stuff about the Valar … and the text wants to make out that he’s lying, but would he have had to lie that much to get the anti-Faithful, anti-Valar sentiment going?

So they start doing human sacrifice to Melkor (their colonialism escalated to the point of ACTUAL ENSLAVEMENT!), and the Faithful start getting even more pressed. And again, no fucking help from the Valar or any of their messengers. Just radio silence from the Powers of the World while their worshippers and unwilling slaves get tossed on sacrificial altars.

And so finally, feeling the end of his lifespan coming up, Ar-Pharazon decides he maybe wants to go do some war on Valinor … and NOW the Valar wanna show up! NOW they wanna send storm birds with lightning and thunder under their wings! And to be clear, the Valar are striking first! Ar-Pharazon only sets out for Valinor in all his colonizer entitlement after the Valar show real force!

So Ar-Pharazon gets to Valinor with a host, and that’s when the Valar really start going to town. The world gets broken, the other ships get sucked into the falling sea, Ar-Pharazon and his men get trapped in the caves, and Númenor drowns (except for the Faithful remnant).

And while all this rebellion shit has been stewing, the Faithful leader Amandil has also sneakily set sail to try and see if he can get the Valar to spare at least some of the Númenoreans. And he fully expects the Valar might kill him for going to Aman!

To recap: Amandil has to sneak out of Númenor because leaving makes him a traitor, and he’s risking the Valar’s wrath because he’s breaking their ban to plead for the lives of Faithful Valar-worshippers!

Yes, the Valar end up sparing Elendil and the Faithful, but it’s the LEAST they could’ve done.

The text doesn’t even confirm if Amandil got through or not! It just says ‘no one ever saw him or his ship again.’ Usually I like mysterious fates. But the implication here is that, faced with one of their last Faithful worshippers who’s risking his life to plead for the lives of the others, they might not have punished him.

Fucking hell—

Isn’t this the kind of behavior you’d expect from gods worshipped by colonizers? Quick to punish insubordination harshly, while slow to reward (or even protect) their most faithful worshippers? How ironic, then, that Númenor does colonialism while falling away from the Valar.

Actually, that’s where I wanna end: my final disgust with the fact that the people from Middle-Earth, whom the Númenoreans enslaved and brought to across the sea by force, all got the exact same Doom as their enslavers. Ar-Pharazon’s ship was rowed by slaves who disembarked with his army at Valinor, and guess what? They got buried alive too.

… the justice of the Valar, everyone!