Lúthien Tinúviel; Princess of Doriath, with Huan the Hound of Valinor
I know I know I keep changing her design, with some key elements staying, but I think I have it this time! I´m sure!! till next time where I might change it again But then again she is half Maia so she could probably shapeshift
I wanted her to look as uncanny/Eldritch as possible so I tried to give her too-big pupils, an almost mammal nose, a too long neck, and her deer ears - I wanted to include feathers somehow because I hc Dior has a feathered back as if he were supposed to grow wings but only got the feathers, so my excuse is that she can "shapeshift" a bit to look like a blend between elf, deer, and bird - but I DID give her claws!
Daeron: Luthien has a very strange patchwork of knowledge, its anyones guess what she knows about any given topic. Go on try it!
Finrod: Wha - um princesses have you heard of the Nolodante?
Luthien: Yeah, its a noldorin lament over the darkening, particularly of the Kinslaying at Alqualonde, its serves as a historical record and a sort of penance, so that the events are never forgotten or repeated
I love how the entrance to Rivendell is shown in the Hobbit movies– the path is clearly enchanted; the geography is wonky, and the passage only shows up when Thorin & co really need to escape danger.
I feel like this is just how Rivendell works– there are no set pathways in and out of the valley, strange corridors and hidden passages to it just show up when and where they're needed. People who have been to Rivendell before can usually find their way back pretty easily, but even they usually can't explain exactly how they got there. Only the residents of Rivendell can reliably lead others to the valley– and Galadriel, because she's Galadriel. It usually takes Gandalf a while to find the path. He's convinced Elrond just like messing with him.
This is very much Elrond channeling his inner Melian. Doriath was extremely hard to get into, but in the normal fairy way where you just get lost in the woods endlessly if you're not welcome, and the forest parts for you if you are. Elrond saw that and decided to spice things up a little for his realm. You know, some impossible rock formations, a few very strange trees, landscaping that is vaguely beyond mortal comprehension, all that.
Rivendell's residents think it's great. Most outsiders think it's a little creepy.
I think Dior deserves a beard and almost completely round ears. Just some real human vibes coming off this guy if you ask me. Iconic how he told the Feanorians to fuck off (king shit) and forgot that the girdle was gone (less king shit).
Side bar, I think it would be very much the vibe if he wore golden ear caps sometimes for appearing more elven purposes. also I am so unwell about the Nauglamir getting the silmarillion glued into it.
I think Maglor should have seen Dior killing Curufin (and / or Celegorm) and then do like Achilles with Hector. Tie his corpse to his horse and drag it through the halls of Menegroth
My brain is consumed by the way that Elrond is Elwing/Doriath's heir and Elros is Earendil/Gondolin's heir. How Elrond chose the fate of the Elves like Elwing before him, while Elros chose mortality, the path Earendil's heart actually favored. How Elrond's name means 'star-dome', named so in Elwing's dim memory of Doriath, and he builds what is essentially a refugee community like the Havens of Sirion. Elros's name, on the other hand, means 'star-foam' and his path ultimately led him to the Sea, as did his father's(and Earendil's father before him), following Gil-Estel to the place that would become Numenor.
since elrond doesn't want the kingship, galadriel & celeborn are the eldest in middle-earth of the lines of Olwe and Elmo respectively. olwe is older but hes the king of the teleri not specifically doriath sindar so there might be some dispute between which line the sindarin high kingship jumps to, but they very conveniently happen to already be married and so can skip all that and just be twice the headache for sauron
Those that were hurt or sick he tended, and they were quickly healed. For in those days the Grey-elves were still a high people, possessing great power, and they were wise in the ways of life and of all living things; and though they were less in crafts and lore than the Exiles from Valinor, they had many arts beyond the reach of Men. Moreover, BELEG THE ARCHER was great among the people of Doriath; he was strong, and enduring, and far-sighted in mind as well as eye, and at need he was valiant in battle, relying not only upon the swift arrows of his long bow, but also upon his great sword Anglachel.
— THE CHILDREN OF HÚRIN, CHAPTER VIII: THE LAND OF BOW AND HELM