#but Maedhros and Maglor most of all

[carnethyne]

my little onion baby

[atlantablack]

Maglor who stayed in Middle Earth all the way through till present day, or close to it, and then for whatever reason finally ends up going back to Valinor, but he has enthusiastically picked up all the modern day curses and slang and sometimes when he talks he's so completely incomprehensible to his family that they're not sure if they want to cry or hit him

aka: Maglor comes back to Valinor and instead of getting a traumatized son/brother back like the expected, they find that Maglor did in fact get over his shit eventually but was just having a blast becoming an agent of chaos and now he's brought all that back with him <3

[storkofyore]

Just another Tuesday in the house of Feanor.

[fuckingfinwions]

Maitimo Nelyafinwe is the treasure of his grandfather's court

He sits there naked with no jewelry. His only role is to show the beauty and greatness of the one of whom he's but a reflection of a reflection.

Finwe was pissed about the name. It rather implies a lot of people (2) dying for Maitimo to be third on the throne. Instead he is "as third as well-made as the king"

Maitimo doesn't really like it, but he tries to do a good job anyway. Despite resenting how at majority he went from being his father's heir and second in court, to laying on a pillow decoratively and having his opinion completely ignored. Or how he doesn't see his immediate family much anymore. Or how the king and queen and high princes fuck him whenever they please in private.

Maitimo doesn't mind the nudity particularly. The palace is always kept at a pleasant temperature, and Maitimo has no shyness about his form. It would be nice if he could wear jewelry though, to show himself as part of Feanor or Finwe's household; rather than sitting here with no one's emblem at all, no braids or beads to show mastery at a craft. He's able to talk Finwe into letting him put his hair in a single braid, to keep it from blowing in his face or hiding his body, and ties it off with a simple black ribbon. Maitimo learns to adjust his pose only slowly, and no more than twice an hour, so he doesn't get told off later for fidgeting. He makes sure that his cock stays soft, his hair doesn't obscure any part of his face, the red marks from laying on one leg are not prominent in the next pose, and that any bruises or scrapes from the night before are hidden. The image of the king should be perfect, a sign of grace and nobility rather than sexuality.

Maitimo also wishes his father wasn't disgusted by him, but he tells himself he shouldn't be surprised. Feanor has long hated Indis for marrying King Finwe; of course he'd disapprove of Maitimo being the king's lover. Not to mention that Maitimo is committing incest - an abomination, though surely nothing the king wishes can be a crime. Feanor initially made eye contact with Maitimo sometimes across the hall, and would even rest a hand on his shoulder or murmur a greeting on his way to the throne. But since Feanor walked in on Maitimo kneeling taking Nolofinwe's cock, he hasn't even glanced at Matimo.

Maitimo has not asked if the right to his body is only granted to Finwe's younger sons, or also to the crown prince. He doesn't want to have sex his father, and whether Feanor is staying away because he's forbidden or disgusted makes little difference, surely. If Finwe has simply forgotten to make the offer however, Maitimo doesn't want to remind him. Though he does wonder sometimes, if Feanor would be allowed to visit and hold him and do nothing more.

(Feanor is horrified, at his father and himself. He loves Finwe so much, and has never thought of holding anything back from his father - but he had thought he was giving Maitimo up to a dull role of standing looking pretty with no power, not anything worse. He doesn't want to believe Finwe approves of this - but Feanor confronted him and confirmed it. Feanor is caught between love for his father and his son, and thinks himself weak for not exposing his father's deeds in court, or ripping Maitimo away and moving to Tol Eressea, or being able to trust Finwe that this is best.)

Feanor doesn't speak about having an heir anymore. He occasionally has one of his sons stand in for him at court, but Maitimo listens carefully and they're always introduced as "Feanor's representative for this session", nothing permanent. Who attends rotates as well, with Maglor of course being the first to stand in as the only one old enough, and then in time Caranthir argues the more detailed economic opinions, or Curufin speaks on matters of interest to smiths that don't need the full persuasion of Feanor. Maitimo wonders sometimes if he would have been friends with Caranthir and Curufin, who were only children when Finwe took him. He wonders too what the youngest twins are like, as they never attend council sessions and he can only recognize them at court events by the hair. It makes sense of course that Celegorm doesn't represent Feanor; he would hate sitting through council meetings, and can't be trusted to parrot someone else's words.

Maitimo does get the chance to occasionally speak with Maglor, for a few minutes at a time. Maglor is an expert musician, and at times will perform before the court. Maglor performs from the steps below the the throne, mere feet away from where Maitimo sits. Sometimes Finwe is in the middle of a conversation when Maglor is ready, and then Maglor and Matimo can chat as long they're ready for Finwe to cut them off mid-sentence for Maglor to perform. So Maitimo does learn a little bit more about his family than is announced for the whole court to hear, but not much.

[eri-pl]

TIL Feanor and his sons are all female.

“well maybe I’d like this character better if they made more logical decisions in highly emotional moments” what if I hunt you for sport 

[thesummerestsolstice]

Notes on Keeping the Children Alive, by Maedhros Feanorian

One of them tried to bite me yesterday. A spirited effort, but doomed to failure. I will teach them how to do it better– their teeth are certainly sharp enough for it.

Woke up with flowers growing through the crack in my bedroom window. I suspect this is their doing. They are not very good liars.

Letting them climb on me has proved an effective bribe for good behavior.

They appear to like being tall. (possibly related to being descended from Turgon and Thingol??)

They stopped being afraid of me faster than most adults. Am I losing my touch???

Disregard previous note. Eldritch monsters recognize each other.

Am teaching them how to make the most of their shapeshifting abilities for political intimidation. They are shaping up to be menaces. Good.

Twins are old enough to begin swordfighting, and clearly eager, regardless of what Maglor says.

I have taught the children to argue with Maglor. I am certain they will eventually wear him down.

Gave the children more blankets so they would stop using my cloak as a blanket. New blankets have been resolutely ignored.

I am sure they'll stop commandeering my coat if I ask them.

I have decided not to ask them. (They are very cute when they are asleep)

Children are now attempting to negotiate their way out of bedtime.

Small animals appear to like the children. Especially birds.

They found a kitten in the stables yesterday. They would like to keep it.

Teaching the children to argue may have been an error.

Children asked whether it was possible to have three fathers. I am uncertain why. (Thingol homophobic??)

One of the children called me "Atar" today. Definitely did not cry about it. Not even a little bit.

It appears the children were asking about three fathers because they would like to be adopted.

I informed them that two fathers was the limit, but that Maglor could be their second mother, if they like.

Kano was too stunned at being acknowledged as the children's parent to correct them about calling him "Amme." Another successful plan.

(Kano, if you're reading this, then yes, this is payback for referring to me as a "brooding drama queen" for patrolling Himring's walls, in a very un-dramatic way, like a normal, responsible lord)

(Also, you of all people do not get to criticize me for being dramatic)

The children's Quenya is finally good enough for them to start reading higher level diplomacy treatises. I couldn't be prouder.

The children have never done anything wrong, ever, in their lives. I know this and I love them.

[thetiredprometheus]

Ranking characters by how funny they find jokes about Maedhros' missing hand

8. Maglor HATES them. He feels incredibly guilty everytime any topic close to Maedhros' imprisonment gets brought up.

7. Same with Fingon. He feels less guilty about the whole situation, but still wishes he could have found a different way to free him (eventhough nobody blames him for it, least of all Maedhros)

6. Caranthir has stopped feeling guilty and has started feeling annoyed

5. Same with Turgon, he doesn't feel guilty, he just thinks the jokes are pretty bad

4. Finrod felt bad at the beginning, but when he saw that Maedhros didn't mind the jokes he started to find them funny and make them himself

3. Maedhros. He is the person that makes those jokes the most, but he always keeps a straight face so nobody is sure if he even is joking. Internally he's laughing his ass off tho

2. Elrond and Elros. After getting over their initial fear, these jokes became one of their biggest bonding moments with Maedhros. Sometimes they can even get him to smile at one and it makes their whole day

1.Celegorm. He thinks they're HILARIOUS. Exactly his type of humour. When Maedhros is returned to them Maglor asks if he's alright, and Maedhros looks down at his stump, answers "no, I fear I'm all left" and promptly passes out. There's a moment of silence in the tent before Celegorm begins to cackle. Then he's on the floor, crying and howling for laughter. His brother's just kinda stand awkwardly by the side.

[inthehouseoffinwe]

I sometimes think about Fingolfin being the sole Uncle looking after all his nephews/niece/kids. Like, there’s 16 children. Before taking the Helcaraxë he no doubt promised Finarfin that he would take care of them. And I feel like once he found out about Fëanor, and especially saw the state of Maedhros, he silently promised his half brother he’d do his best to look after them too. Not that he wasn’t going to anyway.

But the burden that must have been, especially with how volatile and independant all these kids are. Oh they might be grown. But he’ll never see them as such. Even now he remembers Nelyo’s birth and how the baby would toddle after him, crying when it was time to leave. Curvo going through all his mechanical devices, Turukano right behind him as Fingolfin explained where each came from and listened to the children tell him all about the workings. Carnistir carefully running little hands over the embroidery of his cloak, Anairë laughing quietly and explaining the techniques that went into it. Ambarussa and all the chaos they caused, enough so that Fëanor and Nerdanel would dump them at his house for days at a time, usually a couple of brothers tagging along. Tyelko and Irissë wrestling in the mud, neither group of parents knowing what to do when they trudged in, a sticky trail behind them.

Findekáno’s duets with Makalaurë, the little musician quietly asking to play before his uncle and cousin to make sure it was perfect before he showed his father. Finno, Nelyo, and Findarato encouraging him with whoops, Fingolfin and Anairë applauding with wide smiles at the end as he was swarmed by his cousins and brother. The four’s ‘secret’ sleepovers whenever they were in the same place. Aikanaro and Angamaitë raiding his kitchens, Fingolfin joining in with a finger on his lips, helping steal pastries in the middle of the night. Artanis insisting she could join in whatever game his boys were playing, Ireth backing her with a scowl until they were let in. Little Orodreth and his own Arakano, friends since birth. The screams of delight whenever they saw each other.

Despite everything, or maybe because of everything, he doesn’t know. All of them are now his children. He couldn’t stop the Fëanorions from taking the most dangerous lands because he had no argument to give. He can’t stop Turno and Ingo from making hidden kingdoms and taking Ireth and Artaresto with them. He couldn’t save little Arakano. He can’t stop Artanis hiding in Doriath, although he’s grateful at least one of his kids is safe… even if that safety comes with disowning the rest of her family.

He can’t even protect little Tyelpë and Itarillë who never asked for any of this.

So when the Dagor Bragollach comes and he hears Aegnor and Angrod are definitely dead, Curufin, Celegorm, and Celebrimbor might as well be for the trail of bodies leading to Doriath and the mass murder at the Girdle, Maglor’s land has been burned so far beyond recognition, they can’t even *find* bodies, Turgon, Idril, and Aredhel he wouldn’t even know if they were killed, and he hasn’t heard from Finrod in months-

He can’t.

So he makes a last ditch attempt because maybe, just maybe, he can make their battle the slightest bit easier. Give his kids if any of them survive a weakness to exploit. A slight advantage to turn the tables…

A stab to the foot does the trick. Morgoth will be limping on that one for millennia.

He hopes his brothers can forgive him.

[inthehouseoffinwe]

Ooooo love this!!! Adding on and agreeing to this and your tags op! Listen, I love a politically smart Maglor as much as the next person, as the son of the Crown Prince you kinda have to be. But I love the idea that his songs didn’t really cross his mind as a political tool until several years into Beleriand.

Even then it remained a passion. Sure, he’ll make a piece for certain occasions if it’s called for, but even his brothers don’t push him into that. Maedhros has only asked him to do so maybe two or three times? Because it’s one of the few things left from a time they can never go back to, and it’s something so *Maglor* they don’t want to turn that part of him into a weapon too.

Like with my siblings, there are certain things they do that I’d never ask them to turn into a rigid job, because it’s something that brings them joy and I don’t want to take that away from them. Especially during difficult times.

So yeah, the Fëanorions could do with him being a little more aware to the ramifications of some of his compositions, but everyone has their vices. The comfort from seeing him do something purely from his heart is worth more than anything else.

Moving into Maglor as a person, he’s good at violence, had to be to survive an Age of high stress battles. But it doesn’t seem to be as deeply rooted in him as his brothers, and singing is something he does on the daily without thinking too deeply on general impact. Including songs for battle. It’s just. What he does.

He thinks on the emotional power but not specifically as a weapon, but as a ‘what tune/words/etc work best for this moment. What seems right.’ Get me?

The Noldolantë was probably one such work. Created as a release for his and his people’s pain, a way to process everything that’s happened. Probably what helped him stick around for longer than Mae in the end. He’d already accepted everything he’d done, good and bad, long before we got to the end of the Age.

Maglor ultimately became a villain in the story and made some pretty messed up choices. But he’s not inherently evil, is specifically pulled out the narrative for his compassion and the redeemable aspects (as you mentioned in your tags) and that’s what makes makes him so interesting.

Especially when you consider Pengolodh as an in-universe narrator who highlights this softer more redeemable side, when Maglor should be despised the most as the survivor who partly led four kinslayings, without the saving grace of military victories against Morgoth that Maedhros had.

But yeah, Maglor’s such a fascinating character because we know so little about him. He exists silently in the background until very specific moments and it’s fun to play around with who he actually might be.

(Also, agreed. The only real similarly I see between Fëanor and Maglor is their passion for their craft. But specifically the passion a young Fëanor had, inventing for the sake of inventing.)

TBH my ‘vision’ of Maglor is more of a music nerd than any kind of drama queen fanon makes him out to be sometimes.

Like someone who just doesn’t see the political ramifications other people saw in his songs, when it really was just a good metaphor. Someone with messy hair and pulls it back without even brushing it before going to a royal festival. The geeky, melancholic version of Finrod in his own family. A Maglor so obsessed with music and words he thinks about the sheer art of the Oath’s words rather than the context within itself or what it entails. Someone who wasn’t aware of how the Noldolantë could have been taken the wrong way and didn’t even finish it before he vanished from history (or, who knows, he probably forgot to bring the lyrics written with him when the Gap burned), probably had a meltdown when he realized that he had lost it. Someone who loves music so much that, after all is finished, he fades while singing, because it was all he had left.

Someone who once had a joyful, innocent spirit which was brutally killed after he did.

[somepinkthing]

I actually like the idea that maglor was very much against all the kinslayings before they happened, each time fighting against it as hard as he could before capitulating in the face of his brothers' determination. I think his tendency towards despair and his avoidance of death actually helped him out at that point, the oath couldn't pull at him as hard because he was fully convinced there was no chance anyways and he didn't want to die.

I like to think each of the brothers had their own reasons driving them forward actually (yknow beyond the soul binding oath and the looming threat of the super-void and all). Maedhros did it because he couldn't see any other way out after fingon. He had played every card in his deck and it all turned to dust, now he was simply in too deep. The sunk ship fallacy at its finest. Celegorm was the most genuinely consumed by the oath towards the end, giving himself over to it entirely like an animal becomes consumed when rabid. Curufin wanted to save their father and the more the others started resenting feanor, the more he felt it was up to him to stay loyal and true. Caranthir was the most like maglor, but also had a closer connection to life and feared what would come if they didn't succeed. Ambarussa wanted to protect each other—the others too ofc but each other most of all.

And maglor? A lifetime of being someone else's second, of playing the caretaker, of repeated attempts of leadership that were ultimately miserable experiences—he gave himself over. Not willing to lose more, he clung onto what he had left no matter what. I think maglor represents how sometimes compliance and loyalty are violent—that standing aside and letting others dictate your life is ultimately also a choice you make with consequences attached.

I also don't think this side of him softens his character at all. Because the crux of the matter is, he still did them. Yes, the first one was out of confusion and loyalty towards his father. Yes, the others were commited only for the sake of his brothers. Yes, it was all because he refused to betray his family. But do any of his victims know that? Do they care? Did he kill any less because of it? Or did loyalty drive him to fight even harder? The act of it remains, even if his reasons were different and even if he was reluctant. And no matter what their reasons were, senseless slaughter is the act all the sons of feanor commited. I think giving them individualized reasons just sweetens the pot and brings more color to his later actions

[welcomingdisaster]

Coronations of the High Kings of the Noldor, ranked from best to worst

Finwë: The perfectly jovial ceremony was held on the hill of Túna, and consisted of eight uninterrupted hours of dancing, artistic performances from each of the three peoples of the Eldar. Dinner included salmon served with rice, spiced crab, baked leek-pie, herb and garlic bread, green tea mousse, candied flower preserves, and, most memorably of all, a scale-model recreation of the blessed isles made out of strawberry cake with sweet cream and real gold dust.

Gil-galad: the last king of the Noldor had no official coronation ceremony until after the War of Wrath, though he held political power in the area long before. This, perhaps, contributes to some confusion about his origins. Regardless I am pleased to report the ceremony was gorgeous. Most notable were the flower-arches, made in the Sindar style. Strong Falathrim brandy was served, and the party continued for nearly three days. Dinner included stuffed mussels, Nargothrond-style garlic mushroom bake, rice-stuffed squash, sugar-bread, apple and pear pie. One wedding spontaneously occurred during the after-party reception.

Fingolfin: this coronation symbolized the reunion of a broken people and the successful journey of the Noldor, and so the rather lackluster decor was saved, in part, by good mood. However, Feanorian heckling was somewhat disruptive during the main ceremony. Dinner: herb-roasted venison, root-stew, a dish made of wild spring plants that would later become known as 'crown salad;' raspberry and rhubarb pie. Maglor the bard performed Rumil's "Ode to the Stars of the Sea" and "Sparrow Waltz," which was his own composition.

Turgon: Those in attendance report that the ceremony was lovely and somber; your humble writer, however, was not at the time a resident of Gondolin, and must thus rely on second-hand accounts. Dinner, from those reports, included pearled barley with mushrooms; the last bottles of wine grown in Vinyamar were served. No one could remember the music.

Fingon: though the ceremony was otherwise beautiful, the king's speech set an unhappy mood. After the flautists and harpers quieted, he rose to give a toast in the name of Aegnor and Angrod, his cousins. After uttering their names the king began to weep, and could not master himself in time to finish his words, sitting for some time with his head buried in his hands. Dinner: wine-roasted lamb, herb-bread, potato-flour patties, fish-soup with rice, honey-cake and strawberry preserves. Much wine was served, but for the most part brought little merriment, and I admit I cannot recall its quality.

Maedhros: the coronation of Maedhros, the eldest son of Fëanor, was a quick affair. In attendance were his brothers, and their followers, and though Maglor the bard sang it was a song of sorrow, the words of which have never been put to the page. Dinner: salt-meat, waybread, local herbs, and the last of the spirits.

Fëanor: rather eclipsed by the oath sworn later the same afternoon. No dinner nor reception was held, which I fear was in very poor taste.

[thelien-art]

The Sons of Fëanáro

Latest portraits - Beleriand portraits.

Fëanor, Nerdanel & Celebrimbor - Children of Ñolofinwë - Ñolofinwë, Anairë & Grandchildren - Children of Arafinwë - Arafinwë, Eärwen, & Grandchildren - Finwë, Míriel, Indis & Findis, Írimë

HC:

Maedhros: While Maedhros cared much more for braids and jewelry in Valinor I don´t think he ever really stopped caring, still dressing up before that as a fine rich lord, until after the Nirnaeth Arnoediad where all hope seemed lost to him, and his sole goal was to get the Silmarils, thus saving his brothers from being unmade in the void.

Maglor: I think Maglor always wanted as much power as possible, and one of those ways to get it was to stick out, therefor always choosing silver and Mithril over gold even as it was more seen in Beleriand than Valinor it was rare to see on a noldor, thus giving him the attention and ears he wanted. While I think he was far from the pretties of the brothers his words easily made up for it, as well as his talent to talk down a situation, making him look like the calmest and most civil of the brothers even if he wasn´t.

Celegorm: While being seen as the wildest of the brothers I do not doubt that Celegorm enjoyed rishes and wine when possible, showing of as much as possible, not minding heavy jewelry gifted by Curufin, and mixing them with what he got from his fellow hunters, much to his brothers distress.

Caranthir: I think Caranthir was excellent with money and the riches elf at least at some point, and he was never afraid to show it, dressing himself in rich heavy fabrics and jewelry by his brother.

Curufin: Curufin is the most fashionable Feanorian out there - always up with the latest trends one thing he at least shared with Finrod. Curufin admired Celegorm for his independence as a child and saw it as a way to rebel against his own name and the expectations it carried with him. While he always loved Feanor an unhealthy amount I also think he despised his parents and yearned for his own identity, and not a copy of his father, which he could only get by being extreme, therefore early leaning on Celegorm for his own will.

Amras & Amrod: I always like the idea that while Amrod was burned when Feanor set fire to the ships, he never died despite having burnt most of his function in the left side of his body away as well as his speech, making Amras invent a sign langue for him and translate for others, this also meaning they were closer than ever in their time in Beleriand - therefor also HC him as the youngest, despite the later changes. As both twins are called hunters, I believe Amras was the one living most up to it, never caring much for finery, while Amrod himself was a scholar but after the fire chose to join his brother in all, although he still liked jewelry in such.

Other HC: Numenor´s crown is inspired by Maedhros´ cobber circlet, much to Maglor´s irritation he finds it charming non the less even if he would rather it was his own that was used as a reference

[pollkien]

CELEBRIMBOR PROPAGANDA:

CELEBRIMBOR PROPAGANDA:

Curufin’s special little son!

Have you seen his Shadow of Mordor elven model. He’s SO cute.

Dwarf friend like his dad <3 I’m sure he and Narvi were getting it on…

He made the three rings. I mean. Even Sauron thought he was hot let’s be honest. So hot he got Celebrimbannered. Unfortunate

His story is literally such a tragedy and if you think that’s hot he is The guy ever

Tyelpërinquar is such a cute name also

Disowned his dad. He doesn’t deal with toxicity. Fuck yeah Brimbor

A craftsman so great he was second only to Fëanor himself. Sorry Curufin.

Established Eregion.

Got tortured to death. Very hot.

He had so many different backstories there was one where he was from Gondolin. Also another one where he was a Teler I think? Or a Sinda, I don't remember. And then Tolkien wanted him to be related to Fëanor so he had no choice but to make Celebrimbor Curufin's son

Arm thick from smithing...

He is just so sad and wet and filled with immense trauma. Did I mention he disowned his dad. Actually Celebrimbor could've very well met Curufin again in Doriath, because the survivors of Nargothrond went to Doriath, so maybe Celebrimbor as also permitted to enter... and then the kinslaying >:)

Not racist <3

MAEDHROS PROPAGANDA:

Feen’s first son. Probably very hot given how hot his dad was

Actually tried to be a decent guy in Beleriand unlike most of his brothers

Tall and ginger

Named Fingon the valiant and did not forget his friendship even when the ships were burned :’( and he “alone stood to the side”!!

Unfortunately got gotted by Morgoth. Hung from his wrist for like 20 years.

“for the fire of life was hot within him, and his strength was of the ancient world, such as those possessed who were nurtured in Valinor. His body recovered from his torment and became hale, but the shadow of his pain was in his heart; and he lived to wield his sword with left hand more deadly than his right had been.” Cute

Tragic! So tragic!

nvented Active Elf Suicide by jumping into a volcano. Yay.

“Maedhros did deeds of surpassing valour, and the Orcs fled before his face; for since his torment upon Thangorodrim his spirit burned like a white fire within, and he was as one that returns from the dead” slaydhros!

Moved his bros out of Hithlum so they wouldn’t bitch

March of Maedhros, Union of Maedhros, all named after him

He just seems like a big purring cat :)

Himring alone stood among the Dagor Bragollach! In fact Tol Himring is still around in the third age!

Searched for Eluréd and Elurín after the second kinslaying :(

Stole the two remaining Silmarils with Maglor

“But Maedhros and Maglor would not hearken, and they prepared, though now with weariness and loathing, to attempt in despair the fulfilment of their oath; for they would have given battle for the Silmarils, were they withheld, even against the victorious host of Valinor, even though they stood alone against all the world.” This is so hot

I guess he also is hot because he died in a fiery chasm.

Was noted for his bodily comeliness and was named Maitimo for it ;)

Shared Beren’s epesse

[sun-snatcher]

Elrond has a conch shell.

Not one of the prettier ones you would imagine, with the spikes and spots— No, this is a weathered and lumpy one; Sandy coloured and boring, for lack of a better word, only offset by the fact there’s a weird star-shaped hole you can peek through.

He brings it everywhere he travels.

Theory goes that it’s a magical trumpet gifted to him. Or, that he keeps secret messages in it for safekeeping. And his favourite: that he’s bound to the shell by oath, and if he steps a mere pace away from it, Ulmo would transform him into foam like a cursed sea-nymph. (You can imagine that one was debunked quite easily.)

No matter; the most important thing the Elves have come to learn about its peculiar existence is that above all: You do not touch it. (One of the younger elven recruits of a party learns this the hard way mid-travel, when he’d— bless him— grabbed the shell and suggested the idea to cast it aside, in exchange for more space to fit a spare skin of water.

It’s the first they’d ever seen Elrond snap like a whip.

Nobody dares question it since.)

That is, until young Estel had found it.

They can hardly blame the little child. Idle hands and curious trinkets never mix well, after all, much less with that of a 6-year-old who’s come to learn his bright-eyes and daisy-face lent him the ability to get away with almost anything.

“Look, Atya!” He’s skipped his way up to one of the open galleries of Imladris, hefting the coveted conch over his head as he peers at the night sky. “I can see the Evening Star through this hole!”

The Elves pale. They wait for the tongue-lashing, but the storm never comes.

“Not like that, Estel,” corrects Elrond patiently, bending to lower the child’s arms. “Put it to your ear, and close your eyes. Yes, now tell me, what do you hear?”

“…The sea!” he exclaims, after a focused minute. Then Estel lights up, and so Elrond lights up, and suddenly there’s a laughter in the air akin to a musical ring of bells, so high and sunny it dispels the witnessing Elves’ tension from the air.

“But how? We’re too far from the shores, and I can’t hear as well as you. Do you hear it too? Listen, Atya, listen!”

“Yes, yes,” Elrond laughs, and holds his hand over his son’s to bring the shell to his ears. And yes, indeed, if he closes his eyes, he could almost see it: The great rushing shores of Sirion, the pitter patter of Elros’ feet splashing at the rolling tides, the salt-winds carrying Maglor’s distant singing and Maedhros’ disgruntlement over grains of sand in his hair.

Elros had had a Conch of his own. His was bright and ivory-coloured, long since laid to rest alongside him in Númenor. When they were younger, they used to believe they could communicate with each other through the shells no matter their space apart— some imaginary fancy planted by Maedhros (“You two are twins. That’s a magic no force nor distance in the world can unmake.”) which was inevitably nurtured by their child-like wonder.

Years after Númenor had sunken, Celebrían caught Elrond once or twice, speaking to the old conch, and bringing it up to his ear in hopes of a reply.

“What do you hear, Atya?”

“My brother,” he says. “Amidst the heart of the sea.”

[the-freckle-on-feanors-butt]

What drives me mad about the Silmarillion is the endless potential these guys have. Fëanor has soooo much potential to be the kind of protagonist who wins in the end, gets everything he ever wanted, and everyone treats him like a hero, but at what cost??? First time around you expect this guy is going to have to lose everything in order to stand on top of the world, but no, he has to get to Beleriand, win once-- and DIE. Leaving his sons to sift through the ashes. What is this trope called cuz it makes me insane.

They all. Had. So. Much. Potential.

Maedhros could have been a hero, in every sense

Maglor could have been the most beloved musician in all of Arda

Celegorm could have actually tried to help the Fëanorians' relationship with all of Doriath instead of destroying any and all hope they had

Caranthir could have also helped solidify the union

Curufin could have chosen to be like his father still but without his father's mistakes

Amrod and Amras could have made a better name for themselves and be known as something other than kinslayers

They had it all, they had each other, their lands, they were a family, they had so much good in them before… this. But no, as soon as the rocks became more important than everybody beating Morgoth, they chose their fate and lost everything.

[lscullzthegreat]

Celegorm Headcanons because he interests me

He's never had a plan ever, he's pure impulse and instinct which leads to most of the problems he's had.

He and Aredhel were good friends in Valinor, he taught her how to shoot, she taught him about horses. they had a treehouse they built together that supposedly no one else knew about (both of their mothers visit it when they start to miss them too much)

He was a leash kid, Fëanor tried the whole we aren't putting my child on a leash speech, but it became pretty clear it was the only way to keep track of him in a crowd.

He raised tadpoles, bunnies, little birds, anything that he felt had been abandoned by it's caretaker, he raised them with a patience and a tenderness otherwise out of character.

He met Orome when he was ten, he'd wandered out into the forest and been lost there for three days, the Vala had handed him a bow and placed him on the back of a massive hound. when the search party had returned exhausted and defeated, they had found the little boy fast asleep curled around the bow the way another child might cuddle a toy, his head cushioned on an equally asleep absolutely giant dog.

He kept Maglor moving when he was regent, he had neither the patience or sympathy to let him drown, he needed to stay alive, their people needed to stay alive, they had no room for grief or failure.

After the oath the place in his heart that had once served Oromë became a hole, it grew and grew, until it completely consumed him, all of his brothers felt the loss of the connection to the Valar overtime but he felt it first, it drove him mad first.

Maedhros didn't let him out of his reach after Luthien, everything he did was monitored everything he said reported, this the confinement, being back on a leash pushed him over the edge.

He's actually awful at swordsmanship, every bit as bad with a sword as he is good with a bow and arrow, he can never figure out where to put his feet.

He was still alive when Maedhros found him after Doriath, he told him the about his people taking Elured and Elurin with his last breath. Maedhros held him a little longer than he should've given the situation (Maglor sat with him until long past him going fully cold)