#sauron | interactions

[tathrin]

I saw a mention of Celebrimbor in third age AU in your tags and I deeply wish to hear more about it 👉👈

Ohhhh my goodness, okay!!

So, it's a canon-divergence whose pivot-point is set on the idea of Celebrimbor returning to life from the Halls of Mandos shortly before the War of the Ring, and—somehow—begging a boon of the Valar that allows him to return to Middle-earth to help in the struggle against Sauron.

(Is this plausible at this point in time? Probably not, no, no matter how badly they feel for Celebrimbor's pain and how proud they are of his defiance of Sauron before he died. I don't see anyone being allowed to sail back post-Istari, but it's plausible enough that I can build a fic off it if I want to lol.)

So, we pick up in Rivendell with the Council, except this time Celebrimbor isn't just a name in the story of the Rings of Power, he's there. With all his history and skill and knowledge.

(And his trauma and guilt and grief, but shhhh.)

So all of a sudden, there are three options for the Ring: throw it into the sea, throw it in the fire...or entrust the elf who helped make the Rings of Power to take it to a forge, and unmake it.

Of course, with Ost-in-Edhil in ruins, there aren't a lot of forges that are equipped for that kind of work. In fact, the various members of the Council can only think of two: Sauron's forge in Mordor...or Sauron's old forge in Mirkwood.

So that's where the Fellowship heads for.

But since "attacking Dol Guldur" is a lot less stealthy of a mission than "sneak into Mordor," this time the Council decides they have to be more active in providing distractions for Sauron than in the books. They have to have enough attacks going on in other places that the one on Dol Guldur can get lost in the noise. It's one of Sauron's places of power, sure, but it's not really one that matters a lot to him (they hope, probably) so they figure if they have enough battles going on elsewhere, that one will rank low on his priority-scale.

It's a fortress of last resort, a fall-back position he flees to when things are bad elsewhere. If he has to choose between Mordor and Mirkwood, he'll pick Mordor. If he has to choose between attacking the elven realms where the Bearers of the Three Rings are (no longer) hiding, he'll pick Lórien and Rivendell. Who cares about Mirkwood, with its silly flower-crowned king who doesn't even have a Ring?

And if he has to choose between conquering the Dwarves of Erebor and fending-off an assault by Gondor on the Black Gates, or protecting his old half-abandoned home in Mirkwood, he'll surely choose the former two and forget the latter. At the least, if they can split his forces enough that he has to prioritize where he sends his armies, the one he sends to Dol Guldur is sure to be the smallest and least powerful, right?

That's their hope, anyway! So they instigate war everywhere else they can, and hope that while they're keeping Sauron busy there, the Fellowship and the little army sent to help them can both take Dol Guldur and hold its walls against whatever force Sauron sends to take it back long enough for Celebrimbor to do his work.

And if you'd like to read it, here's where it all begins.

[minubell]

More Nyannatar sketches (The eye and/or crown are obviously not visible to anyone they're just fun to draw)

Celebrimbor: "Aww he's so cute!" Literally Everyone Else: "I'm scared to sleep near him."

[izalith-witch]

I wish in season 2 Galadriel had come to Eregion sooner before shit hit the fan and tried to tell everyone Annatar is Sauron (cause she would recognize his bitch ass anywhere-soulmatism) and nobody believed her and they played all the mind games through out the season of Sauron trying to do "good" and get the rings made and Galadriel cockblocking him and the rings being made.

It would have also been a good opportunity to show them have a manipulator-off and how they are alike and two sides of the same coin.

Hopefully season 3 puts these two together in scenes more than season 2 (I felt like in each of their narratives in s2, their echoes were felt by the characters tho not actually present) because I just love their interactions.

There's a reason Miv and Charlie had 3 chemistry test and passed with flying colors--I want these characters to interact! (even if it's not explicitly romantic though I would want that as well and/or read between the lines)

[greenleaf4stuff]

TROP x twitter text posts

(screenshots via cap-that.com) (my other trop memes)

[hikarielizabethbloom]

This is what J.D. Payne said about Sauron in the first season:

"There’s something in him that is sort of vaguely reminiscent of Gollum, when you watch it again, where you see these two forces driving within him. In some ways, Gollum is to Sauron as Sauron is to Morgoth, a little bit. The One Ring is operative on his consciousness at all times. And even maybe if he tried to turn away from it and be Mairon, the Maia, who, in the beginning, was good, there's this shadow that has operated upon his soul that he is enslaved to, that you always see, every decision he makes, takes him, in one way, towards the good, but it also takes him towards power. And power is his addiction. Watching back, with that in mind, it's fun to pick apart everything he says, or if he does retreat from the decision he makes."

It's possible Sauron thought to do "good" for a time, but power is his addiction, his way to further corruption. I don't care about Charlotte Brandström's words about his 'love' for Galadriel because the way it was framed on screen? Was not 'love', especially not romantic love. It will always end up looking twisted and extremely dark, and I'm not sure we should casually call this 'love'. I agree with Charlie Vickers when he insists on not using that word, because he doesn't wish to 'romanticize' the merciless, obsessive, abusive and cruel feelings that Sauron, a fallen angel with a god complex, can have for someone.

I don't mind that people find haladriel interesting, but after season 2? I cannot see Galadriel willingly go to him, not even for the affection she had for Halbrand. Sauron may want to possess her, but she will not yield to him, she will not be a willing participant in this.

This is interesting.

In real life I wouldn't call this love. Absolutely.

In fiction I do because it make things more interesting. It raises the stakes. If you take away Sauron's capacity for love then somehow he is less accountable for his actions. Because if he can't love then he does not really understand the damage he is inflicting upon others.

But I NEED HIM TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR HIS ACTIONS.

If he does love and still acts the way he did/does, then it is worse. Because he knows what it means to love, to care, and he doesn't care at all. Hell, he punishes the people he loves and loves/ed him in return. He did to with Adar, Celebrimbor and Galadriel. He will do it to Numenor. He destroys the things he loves because his love his selfish. He takes something pure and twists it untill it's not even love anymore. It's obsession. It's revenge. But once upon a time the love was there.

But no, I don't see Galadriel as in love with what Sauron is now. Same goes for Sauron. He loves Galadriel's light as long as he can use it for his bidding. They're both hunted by ghost of the other but they will never yield.

I don't see their relationship as a 'love conquers all' type, more like a 'love was not enough' one.

I don't know if I'm can explain myself clearly when it comes to them. Because it's complicated. Because I want it to be complicated. Because I love their twisted love story but, in canon, I want Galadriel as far from him as she can get.

In fanfiction, that is a different story...

Edit: I want to add that by acknowledging his ability to love I want in no way excuse Sauron's actions. Quite the opposite. Because he cares, he understands the difference between good and evil and he still chooses evil. That is canon.

He's not doing bad things for good reasons. The 'I want to heal ME' is just the company tagline. He is doing horrible things for horrible reasons.

[malkaleh]

Listen I was reminded that people apparently hate rop!Elrond for coming between a ship and this saddens me because obviously Elrond is my darling but also as I said in the tags of an @verecunda post (apologies for tagging you in my thoughts I will stop if annoying - totally fine if it is! but you have such great thoughts and I get thoughts) Sauron can absolutely be obsessively possessive/in love with Celebrimbor, Galadriel & Elrond like HONESTLY. He can multitask!

[edennill]

Frankly, I vaguely want a Sauron Accepts Redemption After The War Of Wrath AU just for the potential interactions with a reborn Finrod

[winds-of-zephyr416]

Oh, oh, I'd love to see a snippet and/or read a summary or explanation of "Now They Are Everyone Else's Problem" ;D

Also, thanks for tagging me <3 <3 <3

No problem :D

“Now they’re everyone else’s problem” is the working title of another cracky angbang oneshot lol. It was one of those ideas that struck at 10 pm and kept me up til 12 writing it, as a lot of my other oneshots are

Basically, the fic is from Gothmog’s perspective as he and Thuringwethil pester torment help Melkor after he makes a fool of himself in front of Mairon. It’s self-indulgent memey crack to the highest degree, and Gothmog is not helping in the slightest :P

It’s like, a quarter finished at this point? Currently Melkor and Mairon’s inability to be normal about each other is pretty self-contained to Angband, but I’m debating on whether or not to extend “everybody else” to the good guys too. Something about Melkor and Mairon making Manwë cringe with the sheer level of their awkwardness gives me life xD

Hmmm, I don’t really have too many good snippets from it since it’s very incomplete, buuuuut….

This pretty much embodies it, I think.

[empathiie]

@mischiefxmuses | Sauron & Galadriel.

"Galadriel," Sauron smiles softly at his beloved, intertwining his fingers with hers. "It is a beautiful day outside, how about we take a stroll?" The weather was finally getting better in Washington -- and he would admire every second of the sunshine. He thought they should both enjoy it, together.

[uruuk]

sometimes I pretend like I have no gripes with rings of power but.. it’s glorified fanfiction, 85% of it doesn’t happen, the elf rings being made first is canon breaking and amazon bought the wrong story rights .. but like.. I like fan fiction 🥰 and I like the stuff they did try to tie into lore (surprise, like Adar). it also managed to be nostalgic as fuck, and sue me I’ve been waiting to see sauron in fair form on a screen my whole damn life it feels like.

[z2z-gaming-and-random-art-ai]

Handheld Fighting Games of 95/99 - Primal Rage (Game Boy)

The Game Boy version of Primal Rage was ported by Probe Software and released in North America and Europe on August 25, 1995. Due to the hardware limitations of the Game Boy, this port featured reduced character move sets and downgraded visuals. Notably, it omitted Vertigo from the roster, making it the only version of the game without the full set of playable characters.

Despite these limitations, the core gameplay remained intact, with players controlling prehistoric beasts battling for dominance in a post-apocalyptic world called "Urth." Unlike other versions, the Game Boy port had simplified mechanics and scaled-down animations to accommodate the handheld’s processing power. #gaming #videogames #fightinggames

Key Details: • Release Date: August 11, 1995 (Game Boy) • Developer: Atari Games Corporation • Publisher: Time Warner Interactive • Port By: Probe Entertainment • Genre: Fighting • Perspective: Side view, 2D scrolling • Modes: Single-player, Two-player (Game Link Cable) • ESRB Rating: Kids to Adults • ELSPA Rating: 11+ • Notable Characters: Sauron, Diablo, Blizzard, Armadon, Talon

1. Intro 00:00 2. Gameplay & Release Info 00:15 3. Gameplay & Dev/Pub Info 02:37 4. Gameplay & Critic Reception 05:02 5. Outro 08:09

For other Handheld Fighting games released between 1995 and 1999 check out this playlist https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFJOZYl1h1CGbhLZhrjW1N_y7vtR2i0se&si=4YyJFjqAEdeSvCNa

For other Handheld Fighting games released between 1989 and 1994 check out this playlist. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFJOZYl1h1CG_uI1-iafuDaV2LXRQTbZH&si=-pbwr-Ew1hIBi9ZJ

Don't forget to like or dislike and share all are very helpful and subscribe for more Video Game and AI art-related videos.

You can also follow me on Twitter for Video Games and AI Art Twitter (Gaming & AI Art) https://twitter.com/zero2zedGaming

Or follow me on Instagram for AI Art Instagram (AI Art) https://www.instagram.com/random_art_ai/

[witchblade]

that's so specific. i only fully registered the names after i posted.

[greenleaf4stuff]

A Thing Of Joy

(my other TROP fanfics)

Gen, pre-TROP. Celebrimbor and Mirdania for TROP Cozy Cuddle(s) Week 2025. Fluff. After decades of apprenticeship, Mirdania is ready to become a smith in her own right – and one of Celebrimbor’s assistants. But first, she has to complete three tasks to show her skill, knowledge and experience. Having worked towards this test for such a long time, Mirdania is rather nervous. Good thing Celebrimbor believes in her.

Another entry for Cozy Cuddle(s) Week 2025! :D After completing one for silverscars (A Rainy Night In Eregion), I thought it might be nice to stretch a bit creatively and try to write outside my usual box. Out of the ideas I had written down as 'prompts' for myself, this has popped into my mind several times, so it is the one I went with. Both Celebrimbor and Mirdania deserve all the hugs!

Another big Thank You to @rivendellwatch for organizing this lovely event, I hope everyone will enjoy this little entry! <3

For those that prefer reading the story on AO3, the story can also be found here. <3

This – this was what she had been working towards all these decades.

Being accepted as an apprentice by Lord Celebrimbor himself had always been a mark of pride for Mirdania, but even more so, it had been one of the most joyous and important days of her life until that point. Young and orphaned as she had been, she’d desperately sought for her place in Middle-earth, and in Eregion.

Her parents had always fostered her interest in metalwork and forging, back when they had still been alive. After their loss, Lord Celebrimbor had overseen that she would be able continue on her chosen path by taking her under his wing. She’d been the youngest apprentice he’d ever accepted, and she had been determined that he would not come to regret his decision.

Which was why this day was so important to her.

Today would hopefully see her completing her apprenticeship, and becoming a smith of her own right – as well as one of Celebrimbor’s assistants. Something she’d dreamt of ever since she’d first worked with him in the forge; peering over his shoulder as he worked on one of his creations, or having him explain to her various alloys and their properties, ever patient and kind, and more than willing to answer her questions or requests for help.

Despite his duties as Lord of Eregion, and his own studies in forgework, he had taken time out of his busy days to help her.

When she had studied old scrolls and memorized the various metals and their uses, he had often asked her questions to help determine which areas of expertise she would have to put more focus on, and encouraged her whenever she showed progress in them.

Whenever she had worked on her own projects, he would readily give her advice and gently critique her work, in a way that would allow her to come to the conclusions herself, with him merely guiding her towards recognizing what could yet be improved upon.

It had been him, in fact, who had one day turned to her with a bright smile on his face, laid a hand on her shoulder and said, "I think, Mirdania, that you are ready to take the exam, should you wish it," with a look of pride and utmost confidence on his face.

She had been rather nervous in the immediate aftermath, questioning whether or not she truly was ready, both eager to prove herself and make the attempt, but also scared that she might disappoint him. And herself.

But again, he had been patient, giving her the time to mull things over until one day, she was helping a younger smith with her work, instructing her and guiding her so she might figure out a small mistake she had made, when the blonde looked up and found the older elf look at her with a knowing expression.

That was when she had realized that she was at the point where she could help others the way he did with her. And that he was right – she was ready.

It had taken her another few years to prepare, however. Not for lack of conviction or opportunity, but because of the exams themselves. Long ago, during the founding of Ost-In-Edhil and the establishment of the smiths in the city, Celebrimbor had devised a series of tasks that an apprentice would have to undergo to be formally recognized as having finished their apprenticeship, and to become a smith in the eyes of their peers.

"Not because I don’t trust my people with their knowledge, or skill, or the quality of their work. But because I want them to have a good memory to look back onto. Something to always remind them that they have proven themselves before the other smiths in my employ, and the city at large," he’d explained. "I remember both my father and grandfather did similarly with me. They named a thing I had to make, gave me however much time I needed, and if my work proved adequate, they’d declare whether or not I had mastered that aspect of metalworking to their satisfaction. It was a mark of pride for me. Hopefully, it’ll be the same for you."

Mirdania had nodded so frantically she feared she might pull something in her neck in response.

The tasks were as follows: She would be questioned on various things first; metals and their properties, tools and their use, what materials to best use for what tool, weapon or trinket, and how the process of their creation would be performed. Then, those questioning her – two senior assistants, and Celebrimbor himself – would present her with scenarios of things going awry, and she would have to find solutions to the theoretical problems they described.

Once that part of the test was completed, they’d give her instructions on one or two things she should make, which could be everything from horseshoes, nails, door hinges, to jewelry, weapons, armor, tools big and small, to decorations and so forth. Sometimes they’d add a twist, asking the apprentice to work with an unusual metal and later explain their choice, for example.

The final task was the most extensive, and came before all others. It was the reason why it had taken her years to work up to the exam; the task given was to create something of her own, whatever she might like or want, and perfect it. She’d present her work, explain it, and have the senior smiths and Celebrimbor critically examine it.

If she managed to fulfill all three tasks to their satisfaction, she’d be declared a smith. And be accepted as Celebrimbor’s assistant.

Celebrimbor had been quick to tell most of the other apprentices that they could take the test as many times as they liked, until they were able to finally pass it.

In her case, he had not. As she questioned him on the reason why, he had given her another one of those kind, secretive smiles and said, "My dear Mirdania, I do not think you will require to take it a second time. I have full confidence that you can excel at whatever you put your mind to, and this will be no different."

Of course, such words were a great honor to receive. But they’d also done their part in twisting her belly into knots as she prepared for the exam. Who wouldn’t be nervous, if the Lord of Eregion and Fëanor’s heir, Celebrimbor Curufinion himself, put such trust in them, in an area that he had unique talent in?

She knew, to some degree, that there was no way for her to disappoint him. He was insistent that mistakes did not mean failure, only a chance to learn, to better oneself and improve, and he had not given her his blessing in order to pressure her, or as a point of pride for himself, but because he believed in her abilities and wanted her to know it.

And yet, she could not help but pressure herself. She did want to make him proud. She did want to prove herself as worthy of all the time and effort he and other people had spent to teach her, help her, instruct her.

This was also something she had wanted for most of her life. And so, she desperately wanted to succeed in it.

She reminded herself that she had already made it this far. That she had taken her time to prepare, done what she could, and now, the day had come that she and all she had learned would be put to the test. As she sat in front of the three examiners, the young smith felt her hands tremble in her lap where she clenched them, felt the tension in her shoulders and neck due to her nervousness.

Only when she looked towards Celebrimbor, and saw the small, encouraging wink he gave her, did a small smile find its way onto her face, and she could relax – at least a little.

"Are you ready to begin?" One of the other smiths asked her. Mirdania took a deep breath, and nodded for the others to start with their questions.

"I am."

While the first two or three questions were a bit difficult to answer, the apprentice soon found her footing as she got more used to the situation at hand and more tension fell off of her. She knew the answers, even if she needed a bit to gather her thoughts at one or two points, and had an answer for every question she was asked. By the end of it, she had taken to gesturing and become more animated again, the tremble in her hands almost completely gone.

"Well, that was the final question. If none of the others disagree, we can continue on to the practical part of the exam," the third smith said, herself looking serious to the point of not giving away whether she thought Mirdania and succeeded or not.

It was again Celebrimbor, who gave Mirdania a small, decisive nod to indicate his approval. He, at least, thought that she had done well.

None of the three had any reservations about letting her continue.

The second part saw her go to the stables as expected, where she was tasked with making a new set of horseshoes. Not something she had done terribly often in practice, but something she had taken time and care to learn just in case. The horses themselves already knew her, and they’d thankfully chosen a mare that was known to be patient when it came those that cared for her.

Mirdania managed to make and change all four of the horseshoes without a problem, though she did require the help of a stablehand due to her own height and the handling of the horse itself. This was not seen as detrimental, however.

She was also tasked to make a knife, but with the added instructions to make it purely ornamental in nature. It might still serve to cut things if she chose as such, yes, but the focus was to be on its appearance. It also wasn’t meant to be too elaborately decorative, as that would have taken longer than a single day. She’d decided to approach it as she would a letter opener, and used some lesser-used metals and alloys that combined into a beautiful, final piece.

The questioning of her choice of materials by the three smiths had been rigurous and sharp, but again, the young elf had expected as much. She managed to remain calm and collected, and gave explanations that seemed to be to the other smiths’ satisfaction.

By the nods and slight smiles at the end of it, she had passed this part as well.

"Now, there is only one part of the exam left, as you know," Celebrimbor said with a slight glint in his eyes. His smile was encouraging, and as always, it grounded and calmed Mirdania instantly. "Would you like to show us what you have prepared? And give us some explanations on your chosen project?"

She smiled, and nodded, "Yes, of course. Let me go and retrieve it-"

This, this was the part she was most excited about. And the most nervous. It had taken her a long time just to settle on what she wanted to make, then on making it, and finally remaking that same piece over and over, until she found the result to be to her liking.

She only hoped the other smiths, and especially Celebrimbor, would like it the same way.

Nervously, she hurried over towards where she had her finished piece sitting underneath some linen cloth.

She’d made clasps, but not just any kind of clasp; she’d made them for Celebrimbor’s cloaks, specifically. Fashioned after the holly leaves that he so loved, and after which Eregion had been named, they were made out of gold and with green, delicate gemstones. Small chains hung from the two meant to be worn the cloak’s front, while those he might fasten to his upper arms were more simplistic.

Not incredibly impressive if looked at from afar, but she’d made those pieces with utmost precision, and looking closely would reveal smaller details that showed how much time and care had gone into their design and construction.

Celebrimbor often preferred to wear multiple layers, to the point that she usually only saw him wear a simpler robe with no additional cloaks, coats or layers whenever he worked in the forge. She wasn’t quite sure why that was; one of the other smiths had speculated that he tried to appear less imposing this way, as he seemed to have a...more complicated relationship with his family’s history and legacy.

She and the other smiths, and the people of Eregion as a whole, knew that he was perhaps one of the kindest rulers there were, but she had seen those from outside sometimes regard him with suspicion and less than favorable opinions about his father, or even grandfather.

It pained her, the way his face would freeze into a polite smile during such occasions, the way he would look almost haunted in the aftermath.

She couldn’t hope to convince him that none of his own subjects feared him, and that he did not need to hide himself away – it wasn’t her place. And while she desperately wanted to openly curse those dignitaries and heralds, if only because it might bring a smile to her Lord’s face, she refrained from that, too.

So, the best thing she could do, in her opinion, was to try and help him a little instead. If he insisted on wearing heavy robes, they should at least have some beautiful pieces on them. These ones would hopefully keep the upper layers in place, or help to keep them closed at the front, while looking quite decorative.

And, hopefully, while being considered worthy of a Lord.

To her relief and joy, Celebrimbor beheld the clasps with surprise, then curiosity, and finally, with yet another one of his smiles. This one appreciative.

The first question he asked was gentle. "Did you have a specific person in mind for these?"

She grinned and moved back and forth on the soles of her feet as she squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. "I did, in fact. I made them for you."

She would never forget how touched he’d looked in that moment, how he held the pieces as if they were something so utterly precious as nothing he’d beheld before. Considering that his grandfather had created the Simaril, this was truly memorable, and to her, quite special.

The questions and remarks from the other two smiths seemed to pass her by in a blur after that, as Mirdania could only really focus on Celebrimbor’s reactions. The way he turned the pieces over in his hands, the look of awe he carried. The surprise on his face when he made to give them back to her and she gently shook her head, and lifted her hands to close his own around them.

"As I said. I made them for you. They are a gift."

Perhaps it was a trick of the light, but she thought she saw the hint of a tear in his eye for a moment immediately after, before he blinked a few times and cleared his throat.

And then, finally, the exam was over. Mirdania stood and wrung her hands, suddenly tense again, as the three smiths moved over to the other side of the room to talk among themselves. She had excellent hearing, like all elves did, but she refused to focus on their words, and instead chose to step outside as they discussed her test and its results.

The next moments seemed incredibly drawn out, to the point of feeling like they might never end. She barely kept from gnawing at her nails, but could not keep from pacing back and forth, or fiddling with some of the embroidery on her robe – green, as she often wore – until the thread began to fray under her fingers and she had to stop herself.

Her hair was next, with her turning it around her fingers as she changed direction once again.

"Mirdania," a soft voice came from the entrance to the forge. She startled and turned around with wide eyes. Celebrimbor looked apologetic, and motioned her over with his hand, head tilted towards the interior, posture inviting – and encouraging. "Please, come back inside. We’re ready."

She took a deep breath and nodded. As she stepped inside, he briefly placed a steadying hand between her shoulder blades, and then closed the door after them.

As she stepped in front of the three smiths, all of them wore delighted expressions, though none so much as Celebrimbor himself. Before they even opened their mouths, she knew what they’d say:

She’d passed.

And she had. They congratulated her on her knowledge, her abilities, her problem solving skills. Gave some advice on some minor mistakes, yes, but the important parts were all done to their utmost satisfaction.

"The piece you created by yourself, especially," the female smith said, to nods from the other two. "It might not be the most intricate or elaborate work, but it was made with great skill. And with heart. It’s clear you knew the person you had in mind, and put much thought and time into making these pieces, which is what a smith should do. Not just use their abilities, but also, their intuition."

Mirdania felt like her smile would split her face in two, with how wide it was as they finally declared her a smith in her own right. And even more so when Celebrimbor added that he would gladly take her as his assistant.

"I’d love to work as your assistant. It’s all I ever wanted. Thank you," she said, and now, it was she who felt excess moisture in her eyes.

She felt ready to burst with how elated she was. Seeing the elf she had so admired all her life nod at her and welcome her as his assistant was the fulfilment of so many of her dreams.

The other two smiths were quick to leave after, both of them having other obligations to fulfill. Or maybe they wanted to give the two of them some time alone.

Celebrimbor stepped close to her as the others left. Both he and Mirdania smiled at each other. The older elf looked incredibly fond, and once again, so very proud of her. "Congratulations. I am most glad to count you among my assistants now – I think Eregion will greatly benefit from your skill and dedication," then he stopped, and his voice became soft. "And I am glad to continue having you work in my forge as well. It is a joy to work with you."

In most other moments, Mirdania would have refrained from doing anything unexpected. As it was, she was filled to the brim with happiness, and with nowhere for it to go, she overcame her usual sense of propriety and simply stepped forward and wrapped her arms around the other elf to hug him close.

Some distant part of her was questioning whether this was alright, whether the other even wished to be embraced, especially by one of his subjects, but the rest of her did not care. She was happier than she’d ever been, and she wanted to share that feeling. "Thank you, thank you, thank you-," she repeated, face pressed to his chest.

She was almost certain that she was, in fact, crying now, if only a little.

Celebrimbor stilled for only a moment, before she heard a gentle chuckle, and then he lifted his own arms and wrapped them around her as well, one arm around her shoulders and one at the back of her head.

"There, there," he soothed, voice warm and welcoming, "You did really well today. I am proud of you. And I am very delighted about your gift, it is very beautiful."

She only tightened her arms around him in response as she continued to hold onto him. He kept her in his arms, rubbing a hand between her shoulderblades as she let her joy spread through her.

The other remained kind and patient as she knew him to be while he held her, a steady presence as he had always been in her life. When she finally drew back, after what had to be a very long moment, and looked at him with a bit of excess moisture in her eyes, he looked down at her and smiled kindly.

She did not know it yet, but this would only be the first of many hugs they would give each other going forward. Now that they had done so once, the Lord of Eregion would gladly greet the younger elf with a hug whenever he came back from travelling outside of Ost-In-Edhil, and she would often embrace him similarly, whenever she was the last to leave the forge in the late evening and bade him goodnight.

She also didn’t know it yet, but he would wear the clasps she had made him often over the following years and decades, only exchanging them when he had to, or they did not fit with the colors of his robes. But whenever he wore multiple layers or a cloak, her pieces were what adorned them.

And every single time, without fail, Mirdania would see the gold-and-green holly leaves and smile to herself, thinking back to the day she had given them to him.

Celebrimbor really had a point about how the exam would give those who took it fond memories to look back onto, it seemed. She certainly had some she held very, very dear. And she thought Celebrimbor might just do so as well.

[mvndrvke]

@admirableringmaker ( continued )

Celeborn has grown used to the darkness. He has no memory of how long he has been here as a captive, but amid the cruelty and fear and darkness, Celeborn has forged a resolve of his own. They would've let him die by now if they thought him useless. It would be easy to do here, and yet he's still alive. Or, at least, he's not dead. Life in this place is more survival.

The harsh glow of eyes gave him a direction to focus on, and he glares at the source of the voice with disgust and hatred.

"I know more than you," he shoots back. He is a prince of Doriath, the blood of kings burns in his veins. "No power can justifiably excuse such needless cruelty. You're a coward. I pity you."

[face--the--strange]

If I were a Rings of Power character, I'd be like the target audience for Sauron propaganda, literally just because his godsdamn FACE looks like Quentin Coldwater and Jaskier had a baby together. He wouldn't even have to pretend to be a king or anything, I'd just be like "I already filed you under Beautiful Marshmallow Who Has Never Done Anything Wrong, carry on".

[savingthrcw]

also I finally watched The Hobbit trilogy and I'm furious at the fandom for letting me believe for years that Tauriel was such a horrible character, like she was everywhere solving all problems and too perfect?? meanwhile she doesn't have a super special amount of screentime, she's as good of a fighter as you'd expect an elf to be (if I read one more bullshit Mary Sue too perfect when fighting comment after Legolas did more than the Black Widow and run up a FALLING A BRIDGE jumping from falling stone to falling stone, I swear), had a nice personality and personal beliefs, didn't want to think only of elves nor obey blindly, and really the only problem for me was that she supposedly fell in love with a stranger after a ten minutes talk which I just can't suspend my belief for, I thought she and Kili knew each other as rivals or something before the movie when I saw talks about the ship, but the only thing I can buy is that Kili would be swept off his feet because elves have that effect in canon (Galadriel hello)

so I might actually add her just because she works well with the team of hated female characters, and her canon divergence would be that she cares for Kili because why not, he's a good dwarf, and also why shouldn't she go after orcs even when told not to, she clearly doesn't feel at home and all lives matter to her regardless of them being elves, but she's not in love with Kili (but open to love in general)