#Sauron Defeated

[mattaytchtaylor]

Ribbons in her Hair

[dying-suffering-french-stalkers]

J.R.R. Tolkien, The History of Middle-earth vol. 9: Sauron Defeated - “The second version of the Epilogue” (p. 127–128)

[matiasthecamilion]

PLEASE YES, Finally someone talk about that

That draft make me feel so... Idk how put it

But it's clear as day that Sam, despite everything, is still attached to the quest, still attached to Frodo.

Eleanor refers to Frodo throughout the writing as her da's "Treasure" and even goes so far as to compare Sam's feelings for Frodo to Celeborm's for Galadriel.

Sam tells Eleanor that, like Celeborm, he will leave Middle-Earth for Valinor when he feels ready. And the end, for God's sake.

His conversation with Rosie where he says that he is happy with his life, with her, with his family, but despite everything he continues to hear the murmur of the ocean wind calling him.

He feels Frodo calling him.

As I said in previous posts, I understand why it was not published since the message we have with the ending published is that, despite all the pain, we can move forward, Sam continues to move forward, but with this draft Sam continues to look back, towards Frodo. There are always consequences and Sam will never be whole again.

There's an old draft of the final part of Return of the King about Sam returning to the Shire after the Grey Havens that I would recommend reading that. It was dropped in favor of the publish version because of his friends comments (I think it was Lewis?). I and quite a few others actually prefer the draft version as it's more thematically and lore appropriate. While in the published version the story ends with Sam shutting the door and going inside to Rosie and his family, in the unpublished draft it ends with the West Wind blowing and Sam looking back. The West Wind representing Aman where Frodo has just departed to and where Sam eventually follows according so the appendixes. And so while the book ends Sam's story isn't over, his story doesn't end in the Shire it ends in the West.

[merrysithmas]

something something how Bilbo kept his last promise to Thorin, You're going to live

by immortalizing him in a Legend that would rival any of the fair tales of the Elves, he brings Thorin to life again and again and again, whenever he tells the story of Thorin Oakenshield and his Company, saviors of Erebor. Thorin, his friend, doomed by the same dark magick that lurked in the Ring inside his pocket. Thorin who threw off the crown of Thror and instead reached for Bilbo's hand as he died.

the King Under the Mountain who defeated Smaug and Morgoth's accursed gold within the mental labyrinth of heady greed which burned in his mind from a life of poverty and ostracization, and the horrors of being a refugee. the darkest evils meant to corrupt and damn good hearts.

Thorin, who achieved more, who knew more in those fleeting cold moments of his death than most rulers can ever hope to glean from vast fortunes and countless years

You're going to live, it becomes a threat and a curse to the gods, because if Bilbo can't have him then Death can't either, he thinks while scribbling and scribbling.

and so this is how Thorin Oakenshield passes into legend - by the hand of the hobbit he gripped in preference to gold.

[fatcatlittlebox]

From his point of view, she chose to do a lot of that stuff...it wasn't all my manipulation. It is within you. You want this." -- Charlie Vickers, (x)

[group-dynamic]

Very Minor Spoiler for Episode 7 (S2) of Rings of Power

Thinking casually about Galadriel's declaration earlier this season that caring for that which is most fragile and most dear is the duty entrusted to all elves and how Celebrimbor's gentle care in noticing and greeting that little mouse is what allowed him to see past Sauron's deception. :)

[sunflowerjune]

The Devil Went Down to Georgia and The Battle of Sauron and Finrod Felagund are opposites:

both include challenging the devil to a musical battle

which goes well for Johnny and poorly for Finrod

in this essay i will

[gamwisesamgeee]

You ever think about how as Frodo beheld Valinor for the first time and saw the land under a swift sunrise, Sam’s world slowly faded into darkness

“���the grey rain-curtain turned all to silver glass and was rolled back, and [Frodo] beheld white shores and beyond them a far green country under a swift sunrise.

But to Sam the evening deepened to darkness as he stood at the Haven; and as he looked at the grey sea he saw only a shadow on the waters that was soon lost in the West.”

Hey Tolkien, buddy, I’d like to have a few words about this contrast here :’)

[greenleaf4stuff]

TROP x tumblr text posts (screenshots via cap-that.com) (my other trop memes)

[rainintheevening]

It's nearly midnight and I am wide awake stewing over Legolas and Thranduil and all the question marks Tolkien leaves, send help.

[redrosesandcharmingsouls]

Galadriel looking at Elrond Like this in 1.1 /2.4/ 2.7

[sesamenom]

@general-illyrin @tar-thelien @who-needs-words I think you all mentioned being interested in the reverse gondolin au - is anyone interested in helping with wrangling the timelines, especially the second age stuff? Here's the current outline:

(Edit: anyone feel free to help out if you're interested!)

YT 14365 - Birth of Lomion

YT 14373/FA 1 - Death of Argon

FA

2 - Aredhel adopts Lomion

300 - Birth of Idril

316 - Turgon & Idril kidnapped by Eol

400 - Turgon & Idril rescued. Death of Eol

465 - Finrod more-peacefully passes throne to orodreth while on Quest. Everyone except beren still dies

472 - Nirnaeth. Turgon named High King of the Noldor.

476 - Turgon abdicates official title. Aredhel named High King of the Noldor.

496 - Tuor comes to Gondolin

502 - Wedding of Idril and Tuor

503 - Births of Earendil and Elwing. Idril begins to have foresight dreams about the Fall.

506 - Second Kinslaying. C^3 dead, celebrimbor stays in gondolin. Aredhel denounces the oath/kinslaying and disowns C^3

Elwing survives & is found by Oropher & Thranduil // Galadriel & Celeborn. oropher, thranduil, oropher's wife, and thranduil's then-gf // galadriel & celeborn take Elwing to Gondolin as refugees. The Silmaril is left hidden in the woods of melian's domain.

507 - Elwing comes to Gondolin.

509 - Idril captured by Morgoth. Idril reveals the location of Gondolin in exchange for an Oath to not harm her family (Turgon, Tuor, and Earendil). Idril rescued.

510 - Gondolin prepares for war with Morgoth.

513-522 - Siege of Gondolin. Deaths of Duilin and Rog. Gothmog slain by Aredhel the Huntress. First use of the Three Rings by Lomion and Celebrimbor in defense of Gondolin. House of the Hammer of Wrath destroyed.

523 - Maedhros believes a Silmaril is with Elwing at Gondolin.

525 - Earendil weds Elwing. Lomion weds ???. Adoption of Gil-Galad

532 - Births of Elrond and Elros.

538 - Third Kinslaying at Gondolin. Death of Amras. Elrond and Elros kidnapped by Maglor. Deaths of Elwing and Turgon. Second use of the Three Rings by Lomion and Celebrimbor. Deaths of Maedhros and Aredhel. Lomion named King of Gondolin and High King of the Noldor. Deaths of Salgant, Penlod, and Tuor. Earendil named Lord of the House of the Wing.

540-549 - War declared between Gondolin and the Feanorians of Himring over the Third Kinslaying and kidnapping of Princes Elrond and Elros.

549 - Elrond and Elros recovered. Feanorians and Gondolin severely weakened. Celebrimbor // Gil-Galad declared heir to the High Kingship.

552-554 - Second Siege & Fall of Gondolin. Third use of the Three Rings by Lomion and Celebrimbor. Deaths of Ecthelion, Glorfindel, Egalmoth, and Turgon. Idril and Celebrimbor lead survivors through the Secret Way.

555 - Gondolithlim refugees arrive at Sirion.

556 - Idril departs for Valinor.

558 - Earendil searches for Valinor.

560 - Havens of Sirion destroyed by Morgoth. Gondolithlim/Doriathrim survivors scattered. Elrond and Elros rescued (as adults) by Maglor.

572 - Morgoth controls Beleriand. Earendil and reembodied Elwing come to Valinor and rally the Host.

575-617 - War of Wrath

618 - Maglor claims the Silmaril from Eonwe's camp and casts himself into the Sea. Death of Maglor.

620 - End of the First Age.

SA

1 - Founding of the Grey Havens and Lindon under High King Lomion

2 - Elros becomes the first King of Numenor

c. 500 - Sauron returns to Middle-Earth in the East.

650 - Eregion is founded

1000 - Galadriel is given Vilya; Lomion wields Nenya

1170 - Annatar comes to Lindon and Lomion turns him away. Lomion warns Celebrimbor of Eregion of his suspicions.

1200 - Annatar comes to Eregion. Celebrimbor takes him in to monitor.

1250 - Celebrimbor creates the Seven; Lomion creates the Nine.

1410 - Annatar is kicked out of Eregion.

1600 - The One Ring is forged. Sauron remains in hiding.

1610 - Sauron begins to gather and prepare armies in the East.

1673 - War of the Elves and Sauron begins.

1675 - Sauron invades Eriador.

1677 - Fall of Ost-in-Edhil. Celebrimbor and Lomion remain at the House of the Mirdain. Death of Celebrimbor in battle // Fourth use of the Three in battle. Sauron does not learn of the Seven. Founding of Imladris.

1678 - Sauron defeated by the Numenoreans and the Elves of Lindon.

1679 - Sauron flees to Mordor. First White Council held.

3147 - Civil war in Numenor.

3225 - Ar-Pharazon seizes the Sceptre.

3228 - Elrond claims the Sceptre. Ar-Pharazon disowned. Tar-Miriel named Ruling Queen.

3232 - Sauron taken to Numenor as a prisoner.

3274 - Elrond kicks Sauron out of Numenor and outlaws the morgoth cult.

3310 - Morgoth cult publicly reappears.

3319 - Downfall of Numenor. Tar-Miriel leads a greater force of the Faithful away.

(green // blue means two main options, red means i need to think about it more)

The main details I'm figuring out right now are

does Celebrimbor still die at Eregion - I don't think he's getting captured/tortured, but he could still die in the battle. On the other hand, he could probably survive by using Narya & Lomion using Nenya, but that would definitely have repercussions further down the line

how does Idril's deal work - I'm currently thinking of Idril exchanging the location of Gondolin for her family's guaranteed safety, because it seems in character for Reverse Idril? But on the other hand, even if I limit it to immediate family at the time of the oath (tuor, turgon, earendil) then idk where turgon dies? Maybe Maglor can kill him but that seems kind of random

where and how does Turgon die

how does Prince Elrond's character even work

how does Numenor still fall when factoring in Prince Elrond - I'm thinking that the morgoth death cult gained enough traction during the time sauron was there that even after Elrond kicks him out, the cult still sticks around and reemerges later? The Fall still happens, but they never go to attack valinor and there's a good deal more Faithful (maybe 40-60%?)

[eri-pl]

You know, what else would be hilarious?

You know, in AtLA the "Ember Island" episode? The one with theather? Imagine: After Doriath, the remaining Feanorians (M&M, A& maybe A depending on what you prefer) go spying among the refugees in one or another city (no, IDK how Maedhros is not recognizeable, elven illusions, ok? Maglor does it) and there is a theatre and it does a play about Feanor and his sons (mostly about the sons) and it has the budget of a Czech musical and historical accuracy of the Amazon series.

Most of the men are played by girls (because boys and adults are mostly dead or fighting), Maglor is the main character, portrayed as weeping all the time and talkieng about hope (see: Katara in the episode) and hating his brothers (also, a strong suggestion that he's actually Fingolfin's son). Maedhros is portrayed as an orc-like monster but also has a lot of evidently artifical muscles which he flexes all the time in a flirty way. Celegorm is shown eating people, beating his dog, and still somehow is a comic relief. Curufin is played by the same actor as Feanor, only wearing heels (yes, they do the "short Feanor" thing) and is basically the same character, only he screams less and speaks in whole sentences (yes, they somehow make Feanor dumb). Caranthir is somehow turned human to marry Haleth (who is an evil witch). Amrod and Amras are one character.

Oh, and the actor playing Maglor cannot sing well (for an Elf at least).

And they need to sit there unnoticed in order to gather information about the Silmaril later, or something.

[themalhambird]

Given the Shakespearean bent of some Rings of Power scenes, particularly with Charles Edwards as Celebrimbor and Adar's entire arc in general, which I'm convinced could be worked into a five act tragedy of the early modern wheel of fortune variety, I would just die of the narrative satisfaction if, the night before the last battle in Season 5, Sauron gets Richard 3 before Bosworth Treatment. I want him walking through the camps being belligerent at the Uruks .. .and then he's face to face with Adar telling him, essentially, that he sucks and he's going to lose. I want him beset by Miriel (because I'm assuming he will either directly or indirectly cause her death); by the old man who's flask Halbrand stole; I want there to be glimpses of uruk he's killed in anger (Glûg, my beloved!) and when he's finally back to what he thinks is going to be the safety of his tent I want us to Celebrimbor over his shoulder.

Sauron: well? What have you to say to me?

Celebrimbor: I've said it already.

And Sauron whips round to look at him but he's not there. Sauron is alone

[mai-komagata]

the wave in the palantir

if halbrand's intentions were good at first, tar miriel would not have seen a wave consume numenor as soon as he landed on her shores.

the tree would not have cried petals insisting she take him away from her.

[lsd-astronaut]

HELP???!??!?