My Fanfic About A Guinea Pig And Lord Celebrimbor Of Eregion:

Had to make another poll because I’ve seen some more weird takes about my boy:

Please reblog for a bigger sample!

BLWASE AMAZON PLEASEEEEEE NLEASEEEE

I for one am holding space for hot Celeborn

RINGS OF POWER S2 EP7 SPOILERS (And rant)

OH MY GOSH. NEW RINGS OF POWER EPISODE. I AM DYING. I HAVE PERISHED.

So it starts with this lovely scene of Celebrimbor hanging out in his forge, vibin, making some tea and making some rings. Hew put a spoon in the mithril powder and I thought it was cereal for a second, but that thought has been banished now.

But then, he starts to see things. His face in the mirror is covered in blood; the mouse keeps appearing in the same place and has the same movements; the candles never burn. He knows that something is wrong, but he can't place it.

And meanwhile, the city, Ost-in-Edhil, is under siege. Celebrimbor's people are dying, and he has no knowledge of it. The people of Eregion think that their lord has gone mad, just like his grandfather. They think that their lord is so consumed by his creation, that he doesn't care for their safety, and actively makes decisions that will get them killed.

But we, the viewers, know that this isn't true. We know that Celebrimbor has no knowledge of what's going on outside; he thinks that people are singing songs for their lovers and children are playing with kites outside. He doesn't know.

And then, we go to Adar, who is not living up to his name. "Adar" means father in Sindarin; he repeatedly calls the orcs---or the Uruk---his children, what he always wanted, even before the First Age. But then, we see him toss them into battle like he cares nothing for them. He is a hypocrite, and the worst kind; one delusioned by revenge. He wants so badly to kill Sauron for hurting him, and his "children", that he is blind to the Uruks' pleas. The orcs know that they will die in battle. Hell, one of them (I didn't catch his name) basically said, "But... you said that you loved us. Why are we going to battle?"

And Adar basically said, "I do. I love you will that my heart has left."

Which begs the question, how much of a heart does this person have? It looks like he faced the same torment as Maedhros---hung from a cliff, tortured. But Adar was shown mercy by Sauron, likely the same person who orchestrated his torment and pain.

After all of his pain and grief, being taken from Cuivienen, tortured, and likely forced to do horrible things under Morgoth's order, how much of a heart does Adar have left? Is he so blinded by his hatred and lust for revenge that he has grown apathetic to the deaths of his children? He claims that he cares for them, but does he? We see from Sauron that emotional manipulation can work on even the strongest of minds; I'm not saying that orcs were strong of mind, or weak, but if you had been mutilated beyond recognition, tortured and burned and scarred for too many years to count, wouldn't you want somebody to say, "My child, I am here for you. I will care for you."? You would be so desperate for a kind word, that you would believe whatever this person said. You would call him Father, because you couldn't remember yours. You call him father, because in this cruel world that Morgoth and Sauron have wrought, you are made to fight and to die. You call him Father because he says he cares.

But does he? Adar knows that if people like you, or if they care for you, they are more inclined do to as you say. Do children who love their parents not obey their wishes? Adar knows this. He could be manipulating these orcs into doing horrible deeds that will get them killed---just like his forebears.

And meanwhile, Sauron continues to spread hatred of Celebrimbor in Eregion; he says that their lord has gone mad, he cares not for the people, only for the rings. Mirdania believes him.

It's terrible to watch as Mirdania, someone who worked closely with Celebrimbor, was manipulated into believing Sauron. To be one of Celebrimbor's apprentices must have been a great accomplishment; to work with the grandson of Feanor had to be a marvel. To see such a prominent figure in history sweat and tire over the same anvil and the same fire as you. It must have been amazing.

But then Sauron, this conniving little cunt, wasn't done. He was not content with Celebrimbor's mind being his, he wanted another. Sauron wanted a fucking rebound. "Oh, you look so much like Galadriel", "You're such a good smith", "We just need to keep this secret from Lord Celebrimbor". MOTHERFUCKER. GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF HER.

But by the time the city is under siege, Mirdania has fallen for it. She makes a move, grabs him with kindness and hope.

But then, Celebrimbor finally escapes the forge and his people restrain him. He tells Mirdania about the mouse and the candle, and he sounds mad. He sounds crazy, even to us, who know what has happened.

Mirdania tried to get him back to the forge, pretty much, "Alright, grandpa its time to get you to bed", and Celebrimbor shoves her. Not a lot, not all that aggressive. But Sauron, the slimy cunt that he is, lets Mirdania fall to the battlefield over the wall of the city. She falls in the bloody mud, shocked, and she is killed. Mirdania, who had given Sauron a kind word, was killed by his hand, and didn't even know it. The soldiers around Celebrimbor thought that their lord had killed one of their people in a fit of rage.

Only after does Celebrimbor agree to make Sauron's nine rings., Because he now knows that if he doesn't, he will condemn all of his people to death. He will doom the city that he built for the people of the First Age.

Next, we go to the dwarves. Disa and Durin are still at the mines, preventing the miners and Narvi from getting through. In the end, Narvi agrees with them. He is tired of the king's taxes and insanity. He knew from the beginning that the king had gone cuckoo for coco-puffs. He stands with the prince and princess.

Elrond appears then, asking for Durin's ax. Durin will not abandon his friend. He will march with him to war, come hell or high water; not because of any promise, but because he cares (And because that means his kingdom is next, but still. The power of besties prevails!!!)

And Durin's speech of loyalty to the elves rallied the forces of Khazad-dum and the dwarves, who had been feuding with the elves since Doriath fell, wanted to help their fellows. They wanted to honor their promises with the elves and stand with them against the forces of Sauron.

But then. There's always a but in the Second Age. The King goes mad. He starts killing his own people who oppose him and follow his son. Narvi himself tell Durin.

This is obviously a red flag.

The dwarves obviously value their families and people; they are loyal and hold great love for their kin. And the king just mucked EVERYTHING UP! First, he did the whole taxing thing, and if you know the American school system, you'll know the phrase, "No taxation without representation". I don't think the king had any citizen representatives to tell him that taxing the people was stupid. He only had his son, whom he ignored.

Then, he told the miners to keep digging, even though he knew that there was a monster---the water creature that Disa saw, but not yet the balrog---in the caves. He placed his greed over his people. It seems that the Line of Durin is fraught with Gold Sickness.

So now, Durin has two choices: obey his father, who will kill his people if he doesn't get his way, or go and help his best friend win a battle that he is needed in. But he doesn't go. He can't Durin cannot abandon his people when their king has descended into madness. He cannot let his people be slaughtered.

Then, the elves. They charge through the forest, and Elrond is thrown from his horse. He kills two orcs while still on the ground (Such a slay of him), get right back up, only in time for an orc to kill his horse and lick the freaking sword after.

First off, gross. Second off, DID YOU SEE HIS FACE??? ELROND'S FACE???? He was raised by Maglor Feanorion, Lord of Maglor's Gap; the Gap was an open plain just east of Himring, and was essentially an open plain. Maglor had to have had horses and been close with them. Elrond and Elros had to have been close with Maglor's horses, amazing creatures who still lived in the desolate east of Beleriand. Maglor had likely taught Elrond and Elros that you respect the creatures that help you, that carry you to battle.

(We can also make parallels to Elros's line with this. Isildur and Berek, Aragorn and Brego, so forth and so on. Elros definitely was a horse girl, and gave this trait to his descendants.)

But wait. He kills that orc, but another appears. Elrond is thrown to the ground, and the orc says he's gonna kill him.

And what does Elrond do?

Does he... lick his sword?? What did I just see???? Is the Feanorian batshit insane trait coming through? Because I am all for Elrond going a little crazy. With all the bull-crap he's had to deal with in his life (Sirion, Feanorions, his brother's death, and other assorted things), I think he deserves to go a little crazy. As a treat. One who has gone through so much and is "kind as summer" gets to go a bit batshit on occasion.

But then, he spares a moment to stay with his horse as it dies, in the middle of battle. If that isn't elven, then I don't know what is.

The orcs have laid siege to Eregion and are hounding its walls. We see an amazing, empowering scene of the elven forces riding to aid the people of Eregion, but you know that something is wrong. The orcs aren't charging, and Adar is at the front of the legion. There is a covered cart in front, and something is in there. The elves keep charging, we see Gil-Galad (MY BOY MY BOY MOY BOY MY LITTLE GUY) and Elrond (AAAAAAHHHHHHHH LET THAT BABY GO TO WARRRRR) charging at the front.

But the curtain falls. There is Galadriel caged in the enemy's ranks, a sword to her throat, already leaking blood. Elrond sees this. He keeps charging until the last minute (Rude), and Adar calls forth a meeting.

The first thing I noticed: Adar did not have a lovely feast prepared for Elrond, which was very rude of him. He had one for Galadriel, but not Elrond. I'm guessing his chef had been in the first wave heading for Eregion, so he couldn't get any feast.

And during the entire scene, Elrond is seething. He looks very dashing in his armor, ready for war, prepared for everything, but seething with rage. He is angry. One of his best friends is right behind him, imprisoned, and can only be let free if he does an impossible task: give Adar Nenya, the ring. But he can't. Not only can he betray Galadriel like that, he has to keep the ring safe. He can't let it fall into the Enemy's hands.

He refuses to deal. And Adar gives a NAME DROPPP!!!!!!

He mentions Melian (MY QUEEN, ICON, AMAZING) and her wisdom, Elrond's ancestor. Now, it's likely that Elrond is pretty sensitive about his family; as a person who values the kidnap fam idea, I think that just means that his family is even more complicated. All of these people, mentioning family members that he never knew---or didn't know well---must be painful for him. After so many years of hearing, "Oh, I bet your father is so proud", "You honor your mother", "You look so much like Luthien!", and other ways to compare him to these noble figures of history, don't you think he's tired of it? Don't you think he's tired of being the Herald, the Scion of Kings, the last of Luthien's line? If all anybody said about me was that, "Oh, that's ______ daughter", and I was a pretty important person with my own titles, then I would be angry about it too! He was Gil-Galad's herald, his right hand, and his cousin, no matter who you think Gil's father is (Just about everybody is related here, I tend to ignore it; it only makes things messier). While I am happy for the name drop, I think Elrond is getting tired of being the "scion of kings". In the Second Age, he is related, by blood, to the first three elven kings---Elwe (Thingol) by Luthien, Finwe by Turgon, and then Ingwe through Turgon as well (Indis).

And I bet this mention of Melian only makes him angrier. In the scene, you see that his jaw is clenched, he is on guard. And while he sounds relatively calm, you know that his words hold a bite to them.

After his final refusal of Adar's deal and cementing Galadriel's death, he asks for a moment with her.

Alright, legit, bestie saying a final farewell to a bestie (And probably doing something to help her escape).

Elrond does the hand-to-face-in-a-loving-way many times in the series to many people; he's done it to Galadriel, too. But this time.

THIS TIME HE KISSES HER.

MY BROTHER IN CHRIST.

WHAT THE FUCK.

THAT IS YOUR FUTURE MOTHER-IN-LAW.

However.

This is a distraction.

If you get so distraught about Elrond kissing his best friend and future mother-in-law, you won't notice that he took off the pin from his cloak and slipped it to Galadriel during the unfortunate circumstance that he had to put them through.

As he and his fellow soldier? Friend? Some Dude? I dunno, but as he's leaving, he explains to the guy that the dwarves are coming, and the orcs don't know. This sets the scene for for something ominous; with so much pressure put on the dwarves to fight with the elves, so many people saying they will, it's like they jinxed it.

Back my baby Brimby.

Celebrimbor knows something's up. Never let it be said that the House of Feanor were not wise. They were stupid, but not wise. Celebrimbor sees what has happened to his city, and he weeps.

How many ruined cities has he fled in the First Age? How many people has he had to leave behind in the rubble, still calling for help that he couldn't give? How often did he fight for peace, only to be met with overwhelming violence and darkness?

And this is no difference. The futility of Celebrimbor is heartbreaking. He knows that he cannot do anything to help. He cannot free his city from Sauron's grasp. His people think he is mad. He is lost. Celebrimbor weeps.

And then, he knows that he has been deceived. He knows that his mind has been twisted with a fork like angel hair pasta at Olive Garden for Sauron's Saturday Night Out. He is angry. He is so angry, he throws Feanor's hammer out of the window---probably his last physical connection to his family.

But Sauron has him make the rings, because Celebrimbor has no choice.

Celebrimbor is chained to his desk in his smithy, watched over by Sauron. And Sauron still seeks to manipulate him.

He says that Celebrimbor's tortured is his own fault; Sauron's hand was forced by Celebrimbor. Celebrimbor brought this upon himself. He brought this upon his people. And Celebrimbor. Poor Telperinquar. His mind is already destroyed by guilt and self-loathing, that he looks close to believing Sauron.

But then, he tries to destroy the rings, in one final act of defiance. But he can't. Sauron's blood has been forged into them, and they cannot be destroyed. So he needs to escape.

He is only chained with one hand, and he tries his hardest to get his hand freed, but he can't.

Now let's list the family connections, shall we?

Connection to Feanor: he made three items of power, the items of power related to an evil being, he burned bridges while he made the items of power, those items of power led to his doom, shunned the people who wanted to help him in his madness.

Connection Maedhros: OH MY GOSH THE HAND HOLY FUCK THE HAND!!!!!!

Celebrimbor is chained to the desk by one hand. One thing tying him down. There is a close-up on Celebrimbor's struggles as he tries to free himself, but the shackles are too tight. But this time, instead of a loving cousin coming to free him like his uncle, Celebrimbor has no loving hand to help. He is alone. He has to do this himself.

But what prevented his hand from going through the shackles? He needed to drop something.

Celebrimbor, who had been told by Sauron that he had no power, he had no might, his fight was futile, had taken things into his own hands. He will make his own decisions. He will not be controlled. He cuts off his thumb to escape.

Sauron doesn't think that Celebrimbor would try to escape his clutches; he is so arrogant in his victory that he can't even conceive of the idea. But Celebrimbor knows sacrifice. He left his family in Aman, he left his father in Nargothrond. He might has well leave his craft. Cutting off his thumb is basically dooming him to no longer being able to work in the forge.

But this is his choice.

He decides that he will risk this. He will be a pawn no longer. He will help his people. In these last moments in Eregion, he will do good.

"Whose will is the mightier?"

Who will do good? Who will take power over their abuser? Who will fight to do the right thing?

Sauron had just been ranting about how Morgoth had forced him to do all those things, had tortured him. But still, Sauron chose to follow his master's footsteps. He knew the agony of torture, and the pain of mental abuse. But he still did it. He still inflicted that pain on others.

And I had to wonder why. Celebrimbor wonders why.

But Celebrimbor's will is mightier. It might seem insane, but this scene makes me so happy. Because Celebrimbor is rising from the ashes; he is winning against someone who wants him not to. He is winning with this small thing that seems so insignificant. He is cutting all connection from him and Sauron away from himself.

Galadriel finds him, and Celebrimbor gives her the rings after a very moving speech about darkness and light. Strength will help to win the fight, but you need light to keep the win.

Adar has strength, but he is not motivated by goodness. He is motivated by revenge.

Sauron has strength, but he is motivated by greed.

The elves have strength (Somewhat), and they are motivated by light. They want to help their own. They want to save Middle Earth. That is why, two Ages later, they have won.

But then, Back to Celebrimbor, and Sauron has killed his guards. Celebrimbor is alone.

We go to Elrond, on the battlefield, and he is SLAYYINGGGGGGG!!!!! Iconic!!!!! But that troll arrives, and he and Gil-Galad kill it. Gil-Galad is slaying in his armor, with the lance---"his lance was keen", love the reference.

And then, the light of dawn spills over the bloodied battlefield, and the orcs have retreated. There are only a handful of elves to be seen; Gil-Galad, Elrond, and a few soldiers, probably not even fifty.

On a hill, Elrond sees a rider. The dwarves have come. The soldiers are filled with hope, Elrond knows that his friend has come to his aid.

But the rider is alone. There is no army behind him, no battle-axes, and no fierce loyalty. Durin has not come.

The messenger, shot with an arrow, finds them and tells them that the west gate has been closed. The dwarves will not come to their aid. Elrond holds the elf while he dies, staring into the distance. More orcs are charging; Adar has rallied his forces once more.

"Durin will come," Elrond says. He cannot believe that his friend has abandoned him.

Gil-Galad looks down at him; he knows that no other force will come. He knows that they go to their doom. The Noldor elven kings have all died in gruesome ways, and I bet he has accepted his time has come. He orders his remaining men into ranks, and they charge the orcs.

Arondir falls by the hands of Adar; Arondir, whose beloved had died by orc hands, who wanted a family so badly, who wanted to have peace. Who is going to tell Theo that his semi-father figure has died in battle? Will he think that Arondir simply never thought to go back?

And Elrond. "Durin will come."

How many times had he said this?

"Father will come." Earendil never came back.

"Mother will come." Elwing never went back for her sons; she couldn't, by the will of the Valar.

"They'll come back." Maedhros and Maglor both went their own ways; Maedhros committed suicide and Maglor wandered the shores of Middle Earth forever.

How many times had Elrond said this? How many people had never come back?

Adar found him, in the end, and took the ring. It was for nothing. All of the lives lost, the cities taken, were for nothing.

They had failed.

If you know anything about the Second Age, you know that most of it is for naught. Sauron still comes back, Celebrimbor still dies, Lindon, Eregion, and Khazad-dum still fall. I know that this series will be nothing but heartbreak and sorrow, but boy, do I enjoy seeing it.

TROP SEASON FINALE SPOILERS!!!!!

Elrond, my baby, my little guy, my poor soul.

DWARF RANT:

King Durin, may you rest in the Halls of Aule with honor.

I've seen a common theme in this series: people who had lost their minds, but found them in the last moment of shocking clarity that was (almost) their last noble act.

Celebrimbor, cutting off his thumb to escape (Which was very "I'm honoring my Uncle Maedhros" core, which I very much appreciate) and saying, "Whose will is the mightier?"

I can go on another rant about that phrase and the implications, but that was last episode.

King Durin III awoke the balrog, literally Durin's Bane.

Prince Durin and Disa's kiss was iconic, fyi.

Prince Durin tried so hard to help his father, but in the end, he couldn't stop him. Well, he alone couldn't stop his father; what truly set King Durin over the edge was the knowledge that his son might die. King Durin saw the balrog, something that he had willingly called forth, and went, "Holy shit, get the boy OUT". And how did King Durin get his boy out of the balrog's fire? He sacrificed himself.

Throughout this entire season, I have seen nothing but poor parenting from King Durin; he never listened to his son's advice; he literally shoved him away, and into a wall (My first thought was, "CHILD ABUSE!!! CHILD ABUSE!!!! GO GET DWARF DFCS!!!"). But here, we see the true affection King Durin had for his son.

The cataclysm that brought King Durin clarity was not anything his son could have done by himself, but the knowledge that his son was helpless. King Durin was not going to let his son suffer something of his own making, so he charged the balrog.

And then died.

HUMAN RANT:

Okay, so Kemen (I finally learned his name, unfortunately) needs to get off of his swampy ass and tumble into a grave. It'd be so simple; Isildur just needs to *grab by lapels* *shift three spaces to the right* *drop in hole*. Simple! Easy solution! Would the Valar be very happy? Probably not, but hey! We'd get rid of Kemen!

And I do appreciate Earien's technically treasonous act for her father; by now, she is a pretty prominent figure in Numenorean politics; the right hand of the king's right hand.

And you know what confused me?

The way Pharazon---I'm not calling him Ar-Pharazon, he doesn't deserve that---gathered up all of the RELIGIOUS LEADERS of the Faithful and said, "Yeah, sorry you're conspiring with Sauron, aka the DEVIL so you and all of the Faithful are to be arrested. Sorry."

One of the main things that always strikes a cord for me is religious freedom; when these wrongs are shown in this show, it makes me SO angry, because people should be able to practice their faith freely, regardless of whatever religion the government favors.

The sacking of Nienna's temple, the prosecution of the Faithful in earlier episodes, and now the legit imprisoning of people who are Faithful.

Recently, I have been reading "The Crucible" in class, and we have been discussing the causes and effects of mass hysteria, one of the contributing factors of the Salem Witch Hunts. I feel like there might be bought of mass hysteria going around Numenor now; the king/queen-ship is a major dispute, the Faithful are being arrested, major political and social leaders of the community have been imprisoned. People can likely accuse others of being Faithful (Even if they aren't) because of petty rivalries. In the Crucible, Mr. Putnam accused George Jacobs, his neighbor who had lots of land, of witchcraft, so that he would be able to purchase his land.

How many people in Numenor would face a similar dilemma?

Would Mr. Smith the Sailor accuse Mrs. Johnson the Tailor of being an Elf-Friend because her tapestries looked a little too much like those of Vaire? But it doesn't matter that Mrs. Johnson's only daughter is of marriageable age and Mr. Smith has had his eye on her. But who would be watching that if Mrs. Johnson was an Elf-Friend?

All of these factors are the most basic ingredient for a good ol' bought of mass hysteria; my English teacher doesn't watch this show, but I'm tempted to tell her the similarities.

then, to Isildur.

I thought Theo and Isildur's hug was very nice.

Theo was like, "Ah, yes, I shall bid my friend farewell after discussing the traumatic deaths of our mothers. I wish him well!"

And Isildur's like, "Why is the kid who hated me yesterday wanting a hug???"

I always got bad vibes from Estrid. I get swearing servitude to Adar in exchange for your life, I get that, but.

I never felt comfortable with her and Isildur's relationship. I get that she wasn't able to decipher her feelings for Hagen, her betrothed, until she met Isildur, but seriously. I also know that Isildur has an "unnamed wife" (SCREW THE NOT NAMING OF FEMALE CHARACTERS IT MAKES ME ANGRY), so I know he's gonna get somebody EVENTUALLY, and before Numenor sinks.

But then, Isildur and Estrid started MAKING OUT in Theo's kitchen. Like, bro. THAT'S NOT YOUR HOUSE!!!! Do that ELSEWHERE!!!!! Better yet, don't even do it!

And then, that slimy bitch Kemen had to stroll up, all, "Yeah, we'll put the watchtower there, knock down a few houses to do it." And then, he tries to be all buddy-buddy with Isildur, who obviously realizes that something is a bit off.

Then, Kemen drops the ball, saying that his father is wanted for treason, Queen Miriel is no longer queen, and "low men" are not allowed in Numenor.

First off: very classist of you, go kill yourself, Kemen.

Second off: Isildur learns that the woman he saved from the fire is no longer queen; is he thinking that his sacrifice, everything that he's endured in Middle Earth, has been for naught?

Third off: Kemen mentioned Earien. Does Isildur know that his sister has gotten a little racist in his absence? How will he react to seeing his sister betray their entire family by literally trying to put them all in prison (Anarion, Elendil, AND Isildur)?

Kinda happy that Estrid wasn't going to Numenor. Don't like the circumstances, but I'm glad that she isn't going.

I also think that Earien is coming to her senses; she might not have wanted Miriel on the throne, but now, Pharazon's tyranny is affecting HER. HER family is being prosecuted. HER father is wanted for "treason". HER people are at risk. Earien is getting a rude awakening to this thing.

I also think that its interesting how that guard left when Earien told him to; it shows how people in power are STILL defying the law in Numenor, all because, "Oh, she knows the king's son."

Of course, Earien did this for a good reason, but it still demonstrates the corruption of Numenor's political system.

Then, Miriel and Elendil. As I was watching this my mom, I was like, "Hey, do you ship it?" and she was like, "Oh, yeah" and I was like, "Good, my assumptions are not unfounded."

So yeah, Anarion, Isildur, and Earien are going to be getting a step-mom, good for them!!

What messed me up was when Miriel was like, "No Elendil, you must go, I will stay." Like Elendil (And us) were under the impression that she would remain with the Faithful; Elendil draped the cloak over her shoulders and she didn't flinch, she listened to his plan, but when the time came to make the decision she stayed. Frankly, I don't understand WHY, but go off girlie, I guess.

ELVES:

Okay, so Galadriel getting the refugees out of Eregion, I really liked; in cannon, Galadriel and many of Eregion's fled Eregion and headed south. Then, Galadriel gave up the Nine to save the refugees (Iconic, Queen Behavior), and we see Adar, leaning against a fallen tree. Is he injured? Is he hiding? Has his hand been conveniently cut off by some guy on an eagle? What happened?

After dismissing the orcs, Adar turns around. At first, I didn't see any difference (I'm not very observant, sometimes, alright?), until I looked a little closer. His face was no longer scared and burned; his hair seemed thicker, cleaner; he looked less gaunt. The ring had healed him.

And then, Galadriel asked for his name, but he evaded the question, like a little BITCH.

"Adar was the name I chose for myself" blah, blah, blah, bah, JUST SAY MAKALAURE YOU IDIOT!!! Sure, there are some details in cannon that don't line up (Maglor wasn't strung up on Thangorodrim, Maedhros was) but here's the thing: not only has trop changed a few things, it made some things more accessible.

In trop, Elrond and Elros were found by Galadriel after the Third Kinslaying, not the sons of Feanor. Celebrimbor was supposed to be tortured for TWO YEARS before his death. Celeborn is still supposed to be present.

I also have a cannon-probable idea for Maglor being Adar; in Maglor's trauma and grief at loosing his last and first brother, could he have not clung to his brother, in all aspects? Maglor may have curated this story of hanging from a cliff because that's what happened to his brother, that idea is what keeps him close. The things about being with the orcs and Sauron, I can't really explain for this idea. That's just about as far as I got.

But Adar WILLINGLY returned the ring to Galadriel, proving that he truly meant to defeat Sauron with elven help. But then, there is an injured Uruk nearby, and Adar goes to help; he might not even be able to heal him, but he will be with that Uruk in his last moments.

And then.

The Uruk, Glug, I think? leapt up and stabbed him. All of the others followed suit. It was a mirror to Sauron's own death in the first episode: betrayed, stabbed, stabbed, stabbed, stabbed, stabbed, stabbed, stabbed, stabbed---

You get the gist.

By the end, Adar is well and truly gone. He raises his hand to touch one of the orcs, his children, and calls them such, but the orc stabs him again, one, final time.

The entire situation is disheartening; sure Adar might have been willing to risk his "children" in his hunt for revenge against Sauron, but he cared about them, well and truly. In exchange, the orcs killed him for his kindness.

In the end, I really do want to know who Adar was before his chaining to a mountain. Did he have a family? People he loved? He must have come from Cuivienen, so he probably did.

I also wonder where he would go after death. Now that his hroa (Physical body) is well and truly... extinguished, where will his fea (Spirit) go? Do orcish fear (Spirit, plural) go to the Halls of Mandos, or somewhere else?

Adar looked vaguely elven; he could walk in sunlight, unlike his children. I feel like he should go to the Halls of Mandos; he did many terrible things, but were they not in the pursuit of good?

Then, Celebrimbor's death (These are not in the order of the scenes, just what I remember).

We see streaks of blood on stone floor, and we know something has happened.

Then, there's Celebrimbor, BEING USED AS TARGET PRACTICE, with arrows in his arms. Sauron stand over him, grim, and he wants to know where the rings are. They bicker and banter, there's some (un)healthy badinage, and Sauron STILL says that Celebrimbor's pain is HIS fault, that Celebrimbor brought this upon himself. Even though Celebrimbor is well and truly destroyed, Sauron STILL wants to have Celebrimbor guilt-ridden and full of self-loathing. It sickens me.

And then, Celebrimbor has something to say. He says, "forsee", and Sauron stops. I doubt Celebrimbor has had many visions of foresight, but the line of Finwe is not without them; did Miriel not have a vision of foresight to name her son Feanaro? Was Galadriel not gifted in seeing versions of the future? So it is possible, especially since Celebrimbor is SPOT ON. It WILL be one ring that brings about Sauron's downfall, and Sauron will fall. Sauron realizes this, and runs him through with a spear. Celebrimbor is lifted onto the pillar (Which is what I think we're going to get as the Celebrimbanner, unfortunately; I would have loved to see his cannonical death) and finally dies.

Then, Galadriel and Sauron's duel. Sauron turns into different people to try and fool Galadriel, but by now, she is used to trickery. He turns into puppy-dog-eyed Halbrand (Annatar was literally just Halbrand in a heat-damaged wig and shaved, Celebrimbor should have seen that IMMEDIATELY). Then, he's Galadriel herself, depicting her darkest, most evil deeds and desires. Then, Celebrimbor, mocking her for her retreat. Franky, I thought he was going to be Finrod as well, but alas, it was not so.

And then, he stabbed her with the crown (rude) and Galadriel, salty to the last, PRETENDED to give Sauron the ring. Very slowly, just to watch the pride and greed flash in his eyes, and then, "If I can't have it, then neither can you." Not what she said, but what she MEANT.

And girlie does and Elwing. Too many people in season two have dove off of cliffs; Elrond failed to beat the mama's boy allegations by jumping off a cliff with an object of power (In this case, three). And I was wondering if these guys actually thought that Ulmo was gonna come in clutch and turn them into birds. I mean, he did it for Elwing, so why not her son? Why not some other random person jumping off of a cliff?

In the end, Gil-Galad approaches (I'll get to that part in the beginning with Gilly and Elrond, hold on) and knows that Galadriel cannot be healed. She has the Second Age equivalent of a Morgul wound. It festers with dark magic and cannot be healed.

But who do they have?

THE healer!

The top dog of his graduation class from Lindon's School of Magical and Physical Healing!! Elrond Peredhel Earendilion whatever other name you give him! He's THE healer! Just standing there!

So of course, Mr. Healer is all dramatic, like, "No, we can heal her" through the power of friendship of course, and perhaps these magical rings.

I do think it's interesting how the rings will heal scarring and a Morgul wound; I think they only heal physical wounds, not those done to the spirit (Fea).

And then, we appear in a grassy, bright area, with Gil-Galad watching over Galadriel. He says that it is safe, a sanctuary made by the rings. This is, of course, the beginnings of Imladris, Rivendell, the Last Homely House. In cannon, Elrond and refugees of Eregion fled north, and founded Rivendell.

The river down the center HAS to be the Anduin, I guarantee it.

When the offer of the sword or shield pops up, I though that Galadriel would choose the shield; after all, this series is basically about how Galadriel went from a brutish, hyper-angry, traumatized elleth to a proud, wise, kind Lady of Lothlorien. I thought she would choose the shield, protect what her people had lost so much of, but she remains silent. Gil-Galad chooses the sword.

That scene of the elves raising their fists in defiance felt odd to me; even the children were seen raising their hands. Elves reach their majority at approx. 100 years, so what are these children, who have never seen battle and bloodshed except for that day, doing, wanting to wage war? It reminds me of Feanor and the unrest of the Noldor; a people that knew no bloodshed, and in their innocence, went to their deaths. It worries me.

Alright, one of my favorite parts: Elrond and the Scrolls.

Elrond, Gil-Galad, and Arondir are brough to a city square and we see orcs piling scrolls to be burned. Elrond, who is obviously a scholar, I mean look at him, is outraged. Not only are these the last ties he has to his cousin Celebrimbor, they also hold invaluable scientific information; it's like destroying the elven version of the Library of Alexandria.

Then, my baby boy Gil-Galad is at sword-point (Very scary, but I know what his doom is so I wasn't THAT scared), and just barely saved. Ngl, I had thought Arondir had died in Episode 7, so it was good to see him still kicking!

My favorite parts were Celebrimbor and Annatar's scenes and Elrond's dismay at the scrolls. I would also like to say that I think Gil-Galad slayed in every scene he was in.

Well, then. I must go google when Season Three is expected to show up.

IM ACE AND A TOLIEN FANNNNNNNN

I have noticed that there are a lot of asexuals in my Tolkien fandom circles (which is AMAZING, as a fellow ace Tolkien nerd, I ADORE THIS)

but I do just have to wonder, just how big is this venn diagram? so: a poll. please reblog for larger audience

Little bunnies high in the sky

Are safe from emails and jargon.

Little bunnies flying high,

Probably don't know the element argon.

Little bunnies up in the stars

Dreaming and leaping with joy.

Little bunnies looking from afar

And have no fear of employ.

All credits to the artist @schinako

Modern AU Silm fic idea

So you know how if something is frozen, it's kinda preserved? And you know the elves who died in the Helcaraxë were... well... frozen?

So imagine, if you will, in modern times of Middle Earth, when the dwarves are no longer prevalent (maybe they live in the Middle Earth equivalent of El Dorado?) and the hobbits have gone elsewhere to do who knows what (they become forest cryptids in the Ered Luin AKA, the Middle Earth Appalachia), and humans have created modern technology.

As in RADAR, SONAR, all that jazz. And humans, who we all know are very curious by nature, go exploring the ocean.

Human scientists explore the northern oceans, where the Helcaraxë is/has been, and they find bodies in the ice; nonhuman, but bipedal and human ENOUGH bodies. Sure, their ears are pointed, their teeth are strange, and they have a different bone structure, but the likeness is uncanny.

After a while of simply observing, the scientists get the go-ahead from their respective governments (Gondor, if it's still there, maybe Rohan; all of those civilizations have forgotten the might of the Eldar, though) and they manage to carve one of the bodies out of the ice.

After bringing the body back to land and in a laboratory, they discover some things.

1. The body is female.

2. She has different DNA and tissues than the average human.

3. She is still living.

(They find this out when someone is trying to get a tissue sample but almost gets strangled in the process.)

She speaks an archaic language, one that no linguist can decipher. However, when she tries to communicate via writing, she writes in an ancient script similar to the letters and words found in some of Gondor's ancient artifacts---swords of olden kings, the runes on a stone crypt with a king and two (supposed) children beside him.

All the while, the news coverage is all over, and some people are panicking. Who is this woman who was found ALIVE in the ice? Why are her ears naturally pointed? How old is she? More importantly, what is she saying?

We, the readers, will know that this woman is one of the Eldar, and who is the last elf left in Middle Earth? After the sons of Elrond have sailed, after Legolas and Gimli headed West, and after Celeborn finally saw the shores of Alqualondë? Who is left?

Maglor.

Maglor sees these shocking images of a golden haired woman, obviously of the Vanyar, and recognizes her. That is Elenwë, the wife of Turgon and mother of Idril.

That is Maglor's kin.

And Maglor, who now works the most boring 9-to-5 teaching job in all of Eä, longs desperately for any kind of relative, whether they hate him or not.

So Maglor goes to the scientists, the elf that had evaded all suspicion of him being anything other than human, and wants to see his cousin. Of course, they ignore him; that is, until he shows them his ears and sings a haunting verse of the Noldolantë.

They let him inside and Elenwë sees him, speaking ancient Quenya.

"Where is my daughter, Makalaurë?" She demands. "Where is my husband?"

Maglor knows where Turgon and Idril are; they are in the Undying Lands, far, far away.

Maglor tells her, and Elenwë screams. Maglor, who has had hundreds of centuries to process his grief, tries to comfort her, but is dragged away by security. The scientists question him, and Maglor, who has not spoken of his family history in centuries, finally tells the story of burning ships, shining jewels, kidnapped twins, and the war that was supposed to end all wars.

Maglor, who is technically a citizen of whatever country this is, willingly allows himself to stay in the laboratory. He goes to Elenwë again, and after much screaming and weeping, tells her the story of a hidden city and a tortured son of Aredhel and all that followed.

Elenwë is distraught. Obviously. After, she knows that she needs to sail back to Valinor, Doomed or not. She WILL find her daughter and husband again, even if it means she has to cross the sea to do it.

After a few years, Elenwë is released to Maglor's care. She speaks the common tongue well, knows her history and geography, and, well, they can't keep a sentient being in a laboratory forever, now can they (A few want to. Maglor threads his voice with Song and they never speak of that idea again)?

Maglor returns to his job teaching at a university (he teaches linguistics and music theory) and helps Elenwë learn her way around the modern world.

"Yes, that picture is moving," Maglor explains. "No, it is not a palantír."

"I'm not stupid, Makalaurë," Elenwë hisses. She still has a shred of animosity in her heart for all the harm Maglor and his brothers had caused her family.

"And we don't list our genealogies when meeting new people," Maglor told her when Elenwë introduced herself to a bank teller and told them her lineage.

"I could tell by the look on his face, Makalaurë," Elenwë replied bitterly.

Elenwë always had the heater on, and Maglor could not blame her; millenia stuck in ice would make a person long for warmth.

One day, Elenwë points to the drawing on Maglor's mantle and asks, "Who is that?"

The ellon had lines on his forehead, just like her dear Turukano; she always said they were from dealing with Findekáno's oddity.

Maglor was hesitant. "That Itarillë's grandson, your great-grandson."

Elenwë is delighted to hear that her daughter found love in Beleriand, but there was something that Maglor did not tell her.

So he told her, of course; Elenwë always knew if he was lying. He told her about the fire-haired twins' death, the burning camp of refugees, and her grandson's children left at the hands of two kinslayers.

"And love grew between them," Maglor told her. "They were Elrond and Elros, and... I see them as my sons."

Elenwë wanted to be angry. Scream at her cousin for causing so much grief for her daughter's family, but she couldn't. Makalaurë was oathbound to find that silmaril, but he still sought to do good.

"He sailed with Galadriel, Artanis as you know her, a few Ages ago," Maglor said. "He was as kind as summer."

After a while, Elenwë got her own job, an apartment nearby. She gets a degree and finds a stable job. She lives by the coast, like Maglor, and feels the sea tug on her heart every time she hears the rushing waves.

Then, Elenwë buys a boat.

Elenwë buts a boat and asks Maglor to go with her.

"It has been millenia, Makalaurë," she says. "Will you not go to Valinor? Will you leave your family thinking you are dead?"

Maglor refuses. He thinks that he cannot leave Middle Earth. "I am Doomed, Elenwë, but do not let my choices prevent you from going. See your husband, your daughter, your grandchildren and so on. Do not dwell on the past as I have, Elenwë."

"You hypocrite of hypocrites!" Elenwë cries. "You tell me to go and see my child when you will not go and see yours?"

Maglor goes with her.

He takes his favorite pillow, his silver harp made by his father, Maedhros's copper circlet, Elros's wooden toy horse, and leaves behind a copy of the Noldolantë.

Elenwë and Maglor sail.

They think that they will aimlessly wander the Sundering Seas, but they are wrong. Eru smiles at them, and they see the banks of Tol Eressëa. The dock is long gone, but homes dot the sandy shores, still littered with pearls and white gems.

Maglor and Elenwë sail, and they are welcomed.

Maglor is welcomed by six brothers, all released from Námo's halls. He is welcomed by a guilty father, who begs for his son's forgiveness on his knees. He is welcomed by a grieving mother, who had never thought she would see her son again.

He is welcomed by a son that was not his, and a daughter-in-law that looks suspiciously like Galadriel.

Elenwë is welcomed by a husband who has grieved for millenia, who is guilty for not saving her. She is welcomed by her daughter, now grown, and a human man she calls her husband. She is welcomed by a woman with bird-like features, who is her granddaughter-in-law. She is welcomed by her great-grandson, whose picture sat on Makalaurë's mantle for all the time she'd been in Middle Earth.

Maglor returns to his family. He is not exiled, or Doomed to the Everlasting Darkness. He is called home for tea and to play games with his brothers. He is not a ghost story to tell children on rainy nights. He is not a warning to those provoked to anger. He is an elf; an elf who wanted to go home.

Elenwë returns to her family. She is not a casualty listed among the fallen of Helcaraxë. She is not a wife who was not named. Elenwë lives.

Elenwë lives, and she was not forgotten.

i dont get offended at white people jokes even though im white because: 

i can recognize white people as a whole have systemically oppressed POC in america, which is where i live 

most people when they make white people jokes only mean the shitty white people and i am not a shitty white person 

im not a pissbaby

The way I am literally eating a yummy potato soup right now is INSANE

i love how you can feel the nutrients entering your body when you eat a really good soup

If you could transimigrate anywhere in Arda with rock solid, Eru insured plot armor where would you go?

I'm falling right into Nerdanel's arms

(A poll for my shi lil munchkins lurking around. Rest can comment)