King Gil Galad ! In his son of Fingon version

And 2 of my OCs: Lótelissë, Gil Galad's mother, I explained her story in this post and Mentelossë, Gil Galad's older sister you can find out everything about her here: @mentelosse

I'm sorry someone bombarded you with bitchy comments 😭. While my To Read list is lengthy and continually lengthier (actually I think something of yours with her is on it), I'd like to hear more about Ianneth-Fingon-Maedhros if you want to talk about them.

@polutrope

It wasn't really upsetting, just annoying and honestly a little bit funny. This guy left comments on all six chapters of By Love or at Least Free Will, every time I updated the story, just objecting to the entire premise of the story and ranting about how Elves have incorruptible pure souls and are immune to lust. I was sorely tempted to respond with this quote from "Laws & Customs Among the Eldar":

Even when in after days, as the histories reveal, many of the Eldar in Middle-earth became corrupted, and their hearts darkened by the shadow that lies upon Arda, seldom is any tale told of deeds of lust among them.

'Seldom' is not the same thing as 'never', and furthermore, I don't think lust is even a major theme of my story. It's more about conflicting obligations and unruly hearts.

In the end I deleted the comments without responding, because I have a personal policy of not engaging with people who are acting in bad faith. But I have to assume that this guy has no actual hobbies if he spends his time hate-reading entire stories instead of just...closing the window and moving on with his life. Maybe take up crochet, bro? Or volunteer at a soup kitchen? Watch a TV show that you like? Grow some tomatoes? Do something that will be more fulfilling than typing long screeds on AO3. I promise it will make you a happier person.

Anyway. On to the actual topic of your ask! As you've probably noticed, I am very fond of Russingon. However, I am also very fond of Fingon as Gil-galad's father. At first I balanced these two ideas by keeping my Russingon ideas and my Fingon-father-of-Gil-galad ideas in two separate universes, but then I started really fleshing out Gil-galad's mother, and it made me think some thoughts. To repeat something I said to @cuarthol in a comment on AO3:

...half the genesis of Ianneth was seeing so many stories (in multiple fandoms, not just Tolkien) where the woman is written out of a canon or semi-canon couple to make room for a popular M/M ship instead, without the female character being treated with any respect. I decided that the female perspective on that situation would be a nice change of pace and interesting to write.

I'm not trying to point fingers -- I'll readily admit that I have my male faves just like the next gal and that it's fun to make them kiss -- but the wives and girlfriends don't get a lot of love in fandom, do they? And it doesn't help that the legendarium in general tends to be a bit of a sausage fest. So I decided that Fingon would have a wife and be in love with Maedhros. But instead of focusing just on the forbidden love, I was going to focus on the wife's feelings, too.

Ianneth ("bridge-woman") is one of the Northern Sindar, from the community that lives around Lake Mithrim. She's the daughter of Annael (yes, that Annael), whom I've imagined to be one of the more influential leaders among the Northern Sindar, and particularly among the Elves of Mithrim.

Her betrothal to Fingon starts as a political arrangement. Fingolfin loves Fingon dearly, of course, but he's also been hinting for a while now that Fingon really needs to settle down and start having kids so that there will be a strong line of heirs should Fingolfin die. After all, Argon's dead, and Turgon and Aredhel abruptly fucked off to god-knows-where some three hundred years ago and haven't been seen nor heard from since. Your dad needs some grandsons, Fingon, and this also seems like a ripe opportunity to strengthen the Noldor's alliance with the Northern Sindar.

I don't think political marriage is unknown among the Elves of Beleriand. (For one example in the text, see Celegorm trying to marry Luthien to force Doriath into an alliance.) And the quote I drew the title of the aforementioned Fingon/Ianneth story from, also found in "Laws and Customs Among the Eldar," is:

The Eldar wedded only once in life, and for love or at the least by free will upon either part.

Free will could easily mean, "Are we in love? No. But I'll still marry you, for the good of our peoples, and I'll bring some of Dad's soldiers along with me." That sort of thing happened all the time among real-world nobility, so I see no reason why it can't happen among Elven nobility in Beleriand, too.

At any rate, Fingolfin arranges for Fingon to meet the daughters of some of the more powerful leaders of the Northern Sindar, and he's hint-hint-hinting that Fingon really needs to pick one of them to be his wife. Fingon, having been in love with Maedhros since they were young in Valinor, is not exactly keen on this plan. But he goes along with it anyway because he is a dutiful son, he knows that his father is right about needing to strengthen the line of succession, and he also knows that revealing his (quite taboo!) relationship with Maedhros to his father would probably break Fingolfin's heart.

It takes Fingon a while to decide who to court, but he picks Ianneth because he likes her sense of humor; she has the guts to gently tease him at their first meeting, which he finds quite charming. He doesn't think he can love anyone besides Maedhros, but he does look at Ianneth and think, "This is a woman I could grow to care for and whose companionship I think could enjoy."

The trouble begins when, over the course of their courtship, Fingon starts falling in love with Ianneth without falling out of love with Maedhros. And he doesn't know what to do about this. He can't call off the marriage, and he doesn't want to break things off with Maedhros, so he decides to just...keep the whole thing with Maedhros a secret and marry Ianneth anyway. It's not a good decision, but really, are there any options here that won't end with someone getting hurt? I don't think so.

So we have Ianneth, blissfully ignorant of her husband's infidelity (for now); Fingon, in love with two people at once and feeling horribly guilty about it, but unwilling to pick one partner over the other; and Maedhros, resigned to the situation but still hurting because Fingon is no longer his alone.

Maedhros' feelings are complicated by the fact that, once he meets her, he finds that likes Ianneth. It would be easier, he thinks, if he could write her off as just a political necessity for Fingon, but it turns out that she's charming and intelligent and kind, and he can understand why Fingon loves her. His feelings soften further once Ereiniel is born, because Fingon is so happy being a father, and he loves Fingon, so how can he begrudge him that? There's a line from "Famous Blue Raincoat" by Leonard Cohen that I always think of when I'm getting into Maedhros' head at this point:

And thanks for the trouble you took from [his] eyes. I thought it was there for good, so I never tried.

Things tick along about as smoothly as they can for thirteen years, until, in the aftermath of Fingolfin's death during the Dagor Bragollach, as Fingon prepares to send Ianneth and Ereiniel to the Falas for their safety, Ianneth learns his secret. This is understandably devastating for her, and leaves her wondering if Fingon ever really loved her as she loved him, or if his marriage to her was simply a politically expedient sham.

Add to that the fact that she leaves for the Falas less than ten hours after this revelation and spends most of that ten hours either crying or asleep, as she's too upset to really talk to Fingon about what she's discovered, and it leaves her with this horrible knowledge and all the worst thoughts that come from it gnawing at her nearly a full year until Fingon next comes to Eglarest -- time that she spends as the sole caregiver for her young daughter, among strangers in a foreign city, without her mother or her sister or any of her friends who might have theoretically been able to offer her some emotional support.

Theoretically is a key word there, though, because even if, say, her sister had come to Eglarest, Ianneth isn't sure she'd even be able to tell her. For one thing, she can't help feeling ashamed, because infidelity is very rare among Elves, and she can't help thinking that maybe she failed as a wife somehow, and if she'd done something different, Fingon wouldn't have strayed. Then there's the fact that he's the High King of the Noldor, and if this gets out it could cause a crisis in the Noldorin government and possibly tank the alliance between the House of Fingolfin and the Northern Sindar. Ianneth is a practical woman, and she's of the Northern Sindar -- the people who have been living practically on Morgoth's doorstep for centuries, with no Maia queen's magic girdle to protect them. Their alliance with the Noldor is vital, and she would never want to jeopardize it.

So Ianneth is just...completely alone with this pain. She has no one to turn to, no one who can comfort her. And that pain is central to her story, and a not insignificant part of Ereiniel's story, too.

💖 for dealers choice!

💖 - Romantic relationships or ships.

aaaahhh ok I enjoy a lot of rarepairs as you know so this is difficult.

I think I might CHOOSE VIOLENCE .

I loooove the idea of Fingon having a Sindarin wife. Neutral on Gil-galad son of Fingon, but very pro-wife, and they can have Gil-galad as a treat. It should be a totally political union, potentially masterminded by Wife who wants to ensure the Falathrim stay winning with this new political situation in Beleriand, and Fingon is set on being the devoted son and heir (he is thinking LOOK AT WHAT A GOOD SON I AM violently at Turgon who has fucked off to Gondolin by this time during the entire wedding. very normal stuff, thinking about your brother and father more than your wife during wedding, nothing to worry about Fingon). But they end up falling in love 💖 honestly healthiest first age marriage despite all the odds. Maybe Fingon and Maedhros still fuck each other for Wife as a treat because she's a yaoi girl, maybe they stay Divorced and bitter because that's fun too. anyway Fingon/Wife 4evah

Tangled String - a fanmix for Fingon and his wife, Ianneth, for @nolofinweanweek

"Your Love is Sweeter Than Wine" - Black Tape for a Blue Girl

I believe in the beauty in your eyes, In the power of your words, I believe in your purity You'll set me free; You'll set the whole world free. I believe in the beat of your heart; I trust the words I kiss from your lips.

"Song for the Asking" - Simon & Garfunkel

Here is my song for the asking; Ask me and I will play, So sweetly I'll make you smile. This is my tune for the taking; Take it, don't turn away. I've been waiting all my life. Thinking it over, I've been sad; Thinking it over, I'd be more than glad To change my ways for the asking. Ask me and I will play All the love that I hold inside.

"Torn" - Natalie Imbruglia

I thought I saw a man brought to life. He was warm, he came around And he was dignified; He showed me what it was to cry. Well, you couldn't be that man I adored; You don't seem to know or seem to care What your heart is for Well, I don't know him anymore.

"Ravens Land" - Voltaire

Ravens land upon her hair, Clouds adrift on her skin, A smile that tugs upon my soul And whispers gently in my ear. … And if you ask me how I know What she looks like, I will tell you She left yesterday.

"Rain" - Patty Griffin

Sometimes a hurt is so deep You think that you're gonna drown; Sometimes all I can do is weep With all this rain falling down.

"I'm Sorry" - Voltaire

I'm sorry I'm selfish; I'm sorry I behave this way. I'm sorry, couldn't help it; I'm sorry that you lost your faith in me. We lost our faith in me.

"Unraveling" - Deb Talan

Take it from me; it is no use Washing your hands so often They are clean and cracked. You never get your old skin back Once you have loved like that. … He is inside you; he loved your marrow. You think you could cut him out with a knife If you went deep enough? I don't think so.

"Anthem" - Susan McKeown

We asked for signs; the signs were sent – The birth betrayed, the marriage spent, The widowhood of every government – Signs for all to see. … Ring the bells that still can ring. Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack in everything; That's how the light gets in.

"Forgiven" - Deb Talan

And I wait for a warmer season; Meanwhile, you are forgiven. You are forgiven.

Watching Bridgerton and My God all im craving rn is Valinor!Russingon with Regency Era courting style

Hand kissing, balls with big sparkly outfits, courting seasons, Maglor willing and ready to shoot Fingon for kissing Maedhros and breaking his brother’s heart and honour by not marrying him after (CAUSE ELVES ONLY MARRY/LOVE ONCE!!! HOW DARE YOU NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY!!!), a Russingon scene with the "I Burn For You" line

Feanor would also be just like Anthony at the beginning of season one, scaring the hell out of all of Maedhros' suitors until his wife forces him to back off, Maglor and Feanor alternate between telling Fingon to Watch Himself and treat Maedhros with respect

Oh and a scene with Nerdanel with a heartbroken-but-doing-his-best-to-hide-it Maedhros, asking him if he really does want to marry the Teleri Prince, because all she wants for him is to be happy and marry for love, not power, like she did. And Maedhros with a schooled face and heartbroken eyes, who knows his family NEEDS political ties, NEEDS a favorable connection like what a good marriage would bring, just smiles at his mother and says that this marriage would be a good thing, would bring their family honour. And Nerdanel’s heart breaks for her beloved son who was put through so much and is sacrificing So Much

All of the other Feanorians are also there and doing the absolute Most to be Problems On Purpose and getting front row seats to their eldest brother's train wreck of a love life

Whither Lies the Heart

The story of Ernis, wife of Fingon, and Erien, their daughter.

G, M/F, 1,000 words. [AO3]

In a late (rejected) version of the legendarium, Fingon has a son, Finbor, and a daughter, Erien. A variant of Erien was Ernis. I figured if the men can name all their sons after themselves, so can their wives!

For @finweanladiesweek

_____________________________________________________________

He captures her heart, that fair Noldorin prince who brought the sunlight in his hair and moonlight in his smile and all the host of heaven in his eyes.  Ernis’s father treats with the second-come, the ones who were left behind.  It awes her, their fortitude.  She finds herself smiling more warmly, laughing more readily, singing more sweetly when she thinks he is watching.

Ernis never grows to love the stone towers of her husband’s people.  She endures it for love of him - indeed, she would endure much for he whom she had chosen - but often her feet lead her to wander once again in the open hills and the sparse forests of her home.

Even after she bears him children, her desire to wander cannot be appeased but by the doing.  With Erien upon her back, her feet take her to the very shores of the sea, the taste of salt on her tongue and sand between her toes.  She visits the home of her husband’s kin and they are eager to meet their new niece.

With Finbor still suckling at her breast, she wades into the pools of Ivrin and drinks deep of its waters of renewal.  There she bathes, she and her children, and tells the stories of their mother’s people from long before the sun rose.  

She knows he worries, but Barad Eithel is but a waypoint on her endless journey, and while she strays far across the land, she never remains gone for more than a season or two, always returning to his arms and his bed. Until she can once again no longer bear to be confined and the wind calls her to come and follow.

No matter how she loves him, she can never be fully happy but to be on her way.  Drawing her scarf tight about her head, drawing her satchel across her shoulder, she follows the clouds and dances in the rivers.

In time, Finbor no longer follows, finding delight in the skills of the Noldor, their art of swords and strategies.  But Erien is ever at her mother’s side, walking the long leagues under starlight.

Erien has yet little thought of love or marriage.  She has little thought of much beyond the uses of the plants and the movement of the stars, the coming and going of the birds with the seasons and the secret names of the hills over which she roams.  So it might have continued but for a Spring when more fair princes of the Noldor come to visit.

As her family gathers, her father puts his arm around her shoulder and smiles proudly.  “May I present my daughter, Erien,” he says, and the words swell her chest and warm her heart.

She curtsies before them - these golden princes Angrod and Aegnor, the fair lady Eðellos, but it is upon Orodreth her gaze lands.

Though their fathers seem most eager for Finbor and Orodreth to become friends, whenever she is close to him they fall easily into conversation, his manner light and his laughter warm.  He speaks softly yet with a depth of feeling she cannot help but feel drawn to.  The more time she passes in his company the more she longs to remain so.

When their guests depart to return to Dorthonion, she wanders at first through the fields and forests, aimless and forlorn, until at last she cannot bear it.

“I have walked the length and breadth of Hithlum, tasted the waters of Neverast, trod the ices of Lammoth, and climbed the mountains which encompass Dor-Lómin.  But now my heart desires to see the highlands of Dorthonion, and thither I shall go.”

Fingon kisses her brow tenderly.  “Go,” he says.  “With my leave and my love.  For I have seen where your heart lies, and I am certain you have planted it in fertile soils.”

Ernis embraces her also, but she weeps, for her daughter has found her own path at last and she will no longer shadow her own.

Thus Erien sets her face to the rising sun and goes.  She crosses the Ered Wethrin, passing through Eithel Sirion where her grandfather dwells, before continuing on to the heather-filled hills and tall, fragrant pines of Dorthonion.  It is wild and strange, and despite her reason for coming she cannot but tarry at every new plant and songbird.

It is not until autumn has grown late and the snows begin to fall that she at last comes to the fortress of Ost-na-Thuin upon the northern slopes, shining tall and white, with great banners flying from its walls and ramparts.

Throughout her journey she had often turned her mind to what she would say upon her arrival, how she would win the love of Orodreth.  She constructed many pretty phrases she might use, and even some polite excuses to spare them both should it be clear that he did not share her affections.

What she never dreamed of was to be escorted into the great hall and find her father, mother, and brother all merry guests within.  So certain was Fingon of Orodreth’s feelings, they had set out shortly after she left, riding with a company across Ard-galen and coming to Ost-na-Thuin a full season ahead of her, bearing a number of gifts for his cousins, and a trunk of Erien’s things.

Both families are overjoyed when beneath the bright stars and clear skies of a long winter’s night, Erien and Orodreth are wed.

Like her mother, Erien is ill at ease staying in one place for too long.  Sometimes Orodreth accompanies her on her wanderings, and her feet carry her even as far as Ossiriand, wishing to touch each of the seven rivers which flow there.

When in the fullness of time Finduilas is swaddled and laid upon her breast, she whispers to her of all the many lands through which they will journey, the lands of her mothers who will not be tamed, who wander with the wind and drink from Ivrin.

My TRSB23 Fics

Now a Quill, Now a Sword

Maedhros/Fingon, 11817 words, T

Warnings: Major character death, implied suicide

This fic was written in collaboration with @melestasflight. You can find their incredible art embedded in the fic as well as here (main art) and here (additional art).

My beloved Findekáno,

As I sit down to compose the letter in my study, I cannot help but recall all those times you were here to distract me from writing. I still keep the quill that for a brief moment adorned your hair and came back with a strand wrapped around it. You said the sky-black did not go well with the green and blue of the peacock feather. I objected then and I still do. It is now my most cherished quill. 

It is silent here as it now often is, and I can almost hear you reciting Elemmírë as I rest my head in your lap. You laugh at the tears in the corners of my eyes, yet you are also moved by her words, and your voice trembles with emotion as you read. 

Lady Makalaurë Fëanáriel Dying of Poison, Late Second Age, Artist Unknown

Past Maglor/Maglor's wife, 8671 words, T

Warnings: Implied character death, implied suicide

This fem!Maglor space AU is inspired by @independence1776's fantastic edit.

Maglor landed on a small asteroid in an asteroid belt on the outskirts of the system. If the Sindar had somehow managed to follow her, they would not find her there. Though she doubted they had. Her ship was very old, but it was unlikely there had been much progress made in shipmaking since the War of Wrath. So much knowledge and technology had been lost together with Beleriand.

Bathor was Curufin’s design, engineered for lightning-fast attacks. Now Maglor used it for swift retreats. It used to be equipped with precise and destructive weapons that had brought ruin to orcs and elves alike. Maglor hadn’t charged the weapon bay since the War of Wrath ended.

I thought that I’d make a post with random trivia details for my modern Silmarillion AU, Anywhere With You, which focuses on Russingon. Feel free to ask for more, and I’ll answer it as long as it doesn’t contain spoilers.

Warnings: some vague discussions of Maedhros’ relationship with Melkor, which was abusive, and some non-graphic discussion of various characters’ sex lives.

1) Fingon claims to be 5’10”, but he’s more like 5’8.5”. Maedhros is six and a half feet tall and can’t tell the difference.

2) Fingon, Turgon, Aredhel, and Argon are all major sporty kids. Fingon plays soccer, though now only as part of a club, and enjoys running and rock climbing. Turgon played football up until he got into the masters section of his accelerated bachelors/masters program in architecture. This allowed Fingon to finally become buffer than his brother. Fingon is not at all smug about this. Aredhel plays softball and volleyball and loves going rock climbing with Fingon. Argon plays high school basketball and has already made the varsity team, even though he’s only a sophomore. He’s already close to Turgon’s height, and he will be taller. All of the Fingolfinions can ride horses and shoot (guns and bows).

3) Quenya is basically this verse’s version of Irish. Fingon is the Americanized name for the semi-legendary St. Findekáno Astaldo, this world’s version of St. Patrick. Fingon’s birthday is March 17, 1999. Even though the lines of Míriel and Indis are completely desperate in this verse, Fëanor, Fingolfin, Finarfin, and Nerdanel are all basically Irish. Anairë is Ghanaian, and Ëarwen is Greek/Cyrpiot.

4) All of Fëanor’s sons have their Quenya names as their middle names, while Nerdanel gave them Sindarized first names. She deliberately combined “Maitimo” and “Russandol” for her first son’s name because he was the prettiest baby she’d ever, and she totally wasn’t biased.

5) Maedhros (b. May 1, 1995) was an extremely well behaved toddler who was very good at self-soothing. He loved being read to, memorized a few children’s books before he was able to read, and used to build elaborate block towers. He loved being a big brother from the start and only tried to return Maglor to the baby delivery place once, after Maglor lost his copy of Goodnight Moon (his favorite book) and destroyed his block formation, a replica of the semi-legendary city of Tirion. Maedhros immediately regretted this and climbed into Maglor’s crib to apologize to him. There is video of this. For a solid three years, Maedhros believed that baby Celegorm was his punishment for not appreciating Maglor enough. Maedhros had an awkward, gangly teenage phase that swimming helped him overcome. His high school team encouraged him and other swimmers to push their bodies to the limits of endurance (getting out of the pool to puke was not an uncommon occurrence during practice), which explains his running habits. His best stroke was the butterfly, which he can no longer do properly due to his rotator cuff injury. He’s had two surgeries to correct some of the damage done by Melkor and to keep it from dislocating easily.

6) Maglor (b. 1997) was very handsome from the time he was a teen and never had acne problems, but he was also a short, skinny band geek. This is why he didn’t believe that Malthenes, his tall, beautiful blonde classmate with a teen modeling contact, was into him. Maedhros had to convince him that Malthenes was serious and drive him to the date. Maglor was a child piano and violin prodigy, and Fëanor encouraged this until it became clear that Maglor wanted to be a professional musician instead of a lawyer. (Fëanor would have also allowed him to become a doctor, but Maglor was always a squeamish boy.) Fëanor blames Malthenes for this because he knows that he raised Maglor to be more reasonable and responsible. Maglor is shorter than his girlfriend/fiancée and thinks that that’s super hot. Malthenes is 5’9” and suspiciously slightly taller than Fingon.

7) Celegorm (b. 1999) was an extremely rowdy, energetic child who broke everything in sight, especially Maglor’s things. He used to smash Nerdanel’s work when he got his hands on it. At the age of two, he gave six-year-old brother Maedhros a permanent hairline scar when he smashed a clay pot over his head. Maedhros made the mistake of trying to take it away from him. The injury required eight stitches, and Celegorm was extremely proud and kept bragging to the hospital staff. (No babysitters were available, so Fëanor and Nerdanel had to drag all four of their kids to the ER.) Celegorm grew up into a rowdy teen who only avoided expulsion by ensuring his high school football team’s continued success. (Maedhros still had to attend some meetings on his parents’ behalf while he was in college and Celegorm was a high school junior/senior.) Celegorm switched to rugby in college because it had more booze and more queerness. He is proudly bisexual and aromantic. He also got his wolfhound Huan from his grizzled elderly mentor (aka Oromë) at the local shooting range in Formenos, Maine. Fëanor is shocked/pleased that Celegorm got a real job, but he’s embarrassed that his son lives in “government housing,” i.e. a park ranger’s house in the national forest outside Alqualondë where he works.

8) Caranthir (b. 2001) is a mathematical prodigy who graduated high school two years early, the same year as Celegorm. He also completed college in two and a half years. He recently got his CPA. He enjoys investing, and frequently tries to influence Maedhros’ investment decisions regarding his own trust fund from their grandfather Finwë. Caranthir is also Angrod’s ex boyfriend. According to Angrod, Caranthir has the best ass that he’s ever seen (“you could serve coffee off of that thing”), and that’s totally the only reason that he’s upset that Caranthir abruptly dumped him over text messages, Finrod. Caranthir is currently dating Haleth. He fell in love with her at first sight at the gym and decided that he had to break up with Angrod immediately and pursue this gorgeous female body builder, who (to Angrod’s despair) has better biceps than anyone Caranthir has ever dated. Caranthir is absolutely devoted to his girlfriend and she to him. He is also her 24/7 sub, which is why he proudly wears the leather collar that she gave him along with his fancy suits. Caranthir is the only son whom Fëanor will not randomly visit because the last time that he dropped by unannounced, Caranthir answered the door wearing the collar and nothing else. He’s very anxious and finicky and carries around a fidget cube. He also helped Curufin uncover Melkor’s tax crimes and blackmail him into leaving the country so that Maedhros would it have to testify against an ex at an abuse/sa trial.

9) Curufin (b. 2004) is also a genius and started taking community college courses early. He is currently looking into the most prestigious college programs available. Fëanor was so impressed with his son’s affinity for computers and coding that he pulled him out of school to homeschool him personally, based on a special curriculum that he designed. He has never dated because he’s too busy, but he’ll probably got out with his father’s business partner’s daughter at some point because Fëanor thinks that they’d be a good match and Fëanor knows him best. He is a very skilled hacker and got into Melkor’s device to steal back all digital copies of sensitive media that Melkor was using to blackmail Maedhros into staying.

10) Amras and Amrod (February 2009) are twins. Amrod is shy and Amras is outgoing, but they support each other in everything. They are particularly devoted to Maedhros, who served as a sort of third parent to them while Fëanor and Nerdanel went through a divorce when they were toddlers. Amrod was scared of storms and loud noises and used to sleep in Maedhros’ bed for “safety” as a child. Amras and Amrod have a twin language, and Maedhros is the only one who knows some of it. Both twins are major fish, amphibian, and reptile enthusiasts, and Fëanor has allowed them to have their own massive aquarium as well as a reptile room. They’ve been promised an iguana as their Winter Solstice present from their father.

11) Fëanor is a brilliant, charismatic local real estate developer and builder from Formenos, Maine who followed in his wealthy father Finwë’s footsteps and became mayor of the small city. He is the only child of Finwë and Míriel, both of whom are still alive and married in this universe. He is so beloved that the citizens voted to abolish term limits so that he could keep running for mayor. Fëanor also owns a local lake resort, as well as a ski resort in the northernmost parts of the Pélori Mountains (my version of the Appalachian Mountains). He also makes jewelry as a side hobby. He and Melkor, a estate developer and a successful political from the neighboring town of Avathar, got into an intense rivalry when Melkor attempted to bankrupt him and buy out his businesses and lands.

12) Nerdanel is a world-renowned sculptress and the only child of the independently wealthy Mahtan. She and Fëanor bonded over their shared ambition and passion for crafts. They married straight out of college and had Maedhros a year later. Nerdanel loves her sons dearly but grew tired of putting up with her husband’s neuroses. She divorced him and moved to Tirion, New York (named after the semi-legendary ancient city) when the citizens of Formenos almost universally sided with their beloved mayor.

13) Fingolfin is the older son of Indis and Ingwion, who are not cousins in this verse. He inherited his parents’ love of fine wines and the Northern California countryside. He and his wife Anairë bonded over their shared love of art and wine and managed to secure investors to buy and start a vineyard in Valmar. They’re currently very wealthy and successful, and they have enough money to give all of their children generous allowances. They’re extremely indulgent and supportive parents who are so happy to have such happy, good-looking, athletic, and academically successful children. They didn’t openly push traditional gender roles on their kids, but they always rewarded and praised their sons for being tough, resilient, and generally traditionally masculine. Also, they never made their kids so much in the way of chores.

14) Fingon was the happiest, friendliest baby ever, and well-meaning but clueless adults often made jokes about him flirting and being budding ladies’ man. He was also an extremely friendly, easygoing; and popular kid from elementary school until basically the start of the fic. He was really smart and never had to work too hard for good grades and academic success. He did well in college and generally got away with partying and procrastinating because he works well under the pressure of impending deadlines. He is also a bit of a fuckboy.

15) Finrod is bisexual, though he’s more likely to be attracted to men than women, and homoromantic. He’s in a very happy QPR with Amarië, who is in the same boat. He’s a very happy writer and budding journalist, who also makes good ad revenue off of his anonymous online blog, where he discuses and opines upon the relationship dramas of his friends and family. His most popular series deals with Andreth and Aegnor, though his cousin Fingon’s stories are forming the basis of a series that’s garnering loads of interest already.

16) Angrod is totally over Caranthir, Finrod!

17) Aegnor is in a high drama, constantly on-again/off-again relationship with Andreth. He’s scared of going out of the honeymoon stage and stupidly keeps breaking up with Andreth, even though he loves her. Andreth keeps taking him back because she loves him and he’s gorgeous and goes down like a champ.

Anyway, if you’ve got other questions, feel free to ask and I’ll answer.

silm doodles i did at a support group

In one version of the legendarium, Fingon had a wife and two children while in beleriand, a daughter Erien and a son Finbor.

Looking up the translation of their names, I must admit I always found the name Erien a rather odd one. Mostly because one of its translations is "Lonely maiden". Why would Fingon name his child "Lonely maiden"?

But then I looked back at it and realized that maybe it wasn't supposed to be translated as lonely, but connect to the name of Eru, referring rather to divinity and holiness than loneliness and solitude. Also, Fingon's mother's name is Anaire which means "holiness". Does this mean I headcanon that Fingon named his daughter Erien as a kind of tribute to his mother? Yes. Yes I do.

the Feanorions (plus Fingon) during the Flight of the Noldor.

left to right: amrod, caranthir, amras, curufin (with celebrimbor), celegorm, maedhros, fingon, maglor's wife (with gil galad), maglor, feanor

Tolkien OC week day 3: Gaps and Ghosts

Fingon’s wife and Gil Galad’s mother

@tolkienocweek​ (I didn’t found a name for her yet but I habe the design and story)

This is a dramatic story and she has a sad fate. She was a noldo princess and married Prince Fingon when a lot of elves were dying on the Helcaraxë, the line of Fingolfin needed a heir. She was a young and naive elleth who thought this could be a wedding of love but it was not because Fingon loved someone else. Fingon was always kind to her and they were actually quite close friends but it ws not enough for her and she was getting sadder and sadder everyday. She had a daughter first when they arrived in Middle Earth, named Mentelossë, winter’s end, and a few decades later, a son named Ereinion. Her children never brought her the love she sought and she wasn’t close to them. She slowly fadded and died of a heart too long neglected.

Tidbit Tuesday

Tagged by @sallysavestheday! Every single WIP of mine is currently fighting me and I haven't written much in months now, but here's a little snippet from the unfinished second chapter of The Longest Journey I Have Known, which has been languishing in my WIP file since 2018:

The next day dawned as clear and sunny as the one before. Ianneth supposed that it had to rain at least occasionally -- how else could the plants grow? -- but so far Valinor was as bright and warm as summer, without even the morning mist that had been a constant in Lindon and Imladris both.

Tagging @melestasflight, @cuarthol, @swanhild, @leucisticpuffin, @emyn-arnens, @polutrope, @welcomingdisaster, @swanmaids, @zealouswerewolfcollector, @thelordofgifs, @hhimring, @elfscribe, and anyone else who wants to share -- @ me and say I tagged you!

The Flight of Birds

Elrond and Elros have recently arrived on Balar, and Elrond is not happy to be back among his mother's people. But with some help from his brother, he begins to see Elwing in a different light. Rated G.

“I did not expect you to be so busy here,” Elrond said as he carefully ground some willow bark. He and Elros had been on Balar for nearly a month now, and last week he’d finally worked up the courage to ask about helping in the Houses of Healing. Halwen, Balar’s chief healer, had placed Elrond under the command of Lady Ianneth to help prepare medicines, for Ianneth was well-versed in herb-lore.

She was also King Gil-galad’s mother. That had worried Elrond at first, for he’d found thus far that he didn’t like Gil-galad very much -- or Círdan, or, for that matter, most of the population of Balar. But Ianneth was tolerable. She was a practical woman, and she didn’t seem to pity him, or worse, try to mother him, as though Elwing’s abandonment had left him without anyone to fill the role of parent.

Maglor and Maedhros had been more than enough. His foster-fathers had given him and Elros everything they’d needed, despite what these people seemed to think.

“There’s always something that needs doing,” Ianneth said, looking up from the comfrey liniment she was preparing. “But bruises and coughs and headaches -- those are just the day-to-day woes. The real work comes when the people who’ve escaped from the mainland make their way here. They’re half-starved more often than not, and wounded, and the Men are sometimes ill. The ones who come from Hithlum are always in especially dire straits. The Easterlings are brutal to them.”

She had the matter-of-fact tone of someone who was accustomed to seeing people suffer, but wasn’t callous towards their pain. Elrond wondered at that, for she was from Hithlum herself and likely knew many who had been killed or enslaved. Growing up, he’d heard rumors about the cruelties of the East-Men, and he couldn’t imagine being so unshaken if he learned that Maedhros, Maglor, or any of their people were being held captive and mistreated.

“How many people are left in Hithlum?” he asked. ‘Besides the East-Men, I mean.”

“We don’t know.” Ianneth stirred the liniment one final time and then carried the jar over to the counter where it would rest until it set. Then she plucked a bundle of herbs from the rafters above them and laid it down on the table. “What is this, and what is it used for?”

“Chickweed,” Elrond said automatically. He’d already grown used to Ianneth’s sudden tests, and he was pleased to say that he’d passed most of them, thanks in no small part to Maedhros’ botany lessons. “It’s used to treat blisters and rashes. But what do you mean, you don’t know?”

“I mean we don’t know,” Ianneth said, though she gave his answer an approving nod. “Everyone who escapes has a different estimate.”

“But then how do you know how much medicine you’ll need?”

Ianneth smiled at him, but the expression was tinged with sadness. “We don’t,” she said. “We just prepare as much as possible and pray for the best. That’s what healing is, at least during war -- preparation, prayer, and hard work.”

Elrond didn’t have an answer to that, so he simply returned to the willow bark with a noncommittal hum. Melloth, the woman who’d taught him the basics of healing, never prayed. None of Fëanor’s remaining people did, though Maglor had taken pains to speak as respectfully as he could when he taught Elrond and Elros about the Valar.

Ianneth returned the chickweed to its place and then peered into Elrond’s bowl. “It needs to be a little finer,” she said.

He nodded and began to push harder with the pestle. Ianneth left him to his work, busying herself with putting more water on to boil over the small fire. Silence reigned, broken only by the occasional rustle of cloth and the sound of stone grinding against stone. But a question was nagging at Elrond, and after a few minutes he gave in and spoke.

“How do you know the people from the mainland aren’t in league with Morgoth?” he asked. “How do you know they aren’t thralls?”

Ianneth gave him a crooked half smile. “We don’t,” she said again.

“Isn’t that dangerous?”

“Yes,” Ianneth said. “A man who came from Hithlum tried to murder Lord Círdan just last year. But we’ve decided that it’s better to risk harboring a thrall or two than to turn away people who are actually in need. There are far more of the latter than the former.”

Elrond couldn’t contain a snort of derision. “That seems foolish,” he said. Maedhros and Maglor had been ever-vigilant about the possibility that Morgoth might send spies in the guise of Elves or Men, and so they had rarely trusted strangers. After all, Maedhros had been intimately acquainted with Morgoth’s methods in a way Círdan or Gil-galad would never be.

The look Ianneth gave him was heavy with disappointment. “If kindness is foolish, than I will gladly be a fool,” she said. Then she slapped another bunch of herbs onto the table -- thin green stems with unfamiliar mauve flowers. “This is earth smoke,” she said. “It’s used to treat redness and itching in the eyes. When you’re done grinding the bark, shred the blooms, cover them with boiling water, and leave them to soak.”

Elrond gritted his teeth and complied. But he exchanged no more words with Ianneth until it came time to bid her a good evening and take his leave.

continue reading on AO3

Modern Slim AU where Maglor, for the clout, creates a dedicated side tiktok account where its just cameos/thirst trap videos of his Stupidly Hot Older Brother Maedhros just doing like... normal things but maybe he has his sleeves rolled up (to show off his arms) so they dont get dirty while cooking Ambarussa dinner, or helping Nerdanel lift some marble/stones/busts in her workshop, and the one with the most views and comments is the one where his long red hair is up in a messy bun and hes got an apron on overtop of a soft looking sweater and little baby Tyelpë on his hip and he's talking into his cell phone about some political thing for their grandfather. The audio is (obvi) covered over with the song "Guy.exe" meme

It's stupidly popular, everyone loves this stupidly soft beautiful man. Fingon has followed the account since Maglor first started (as did most of the siblings and cousins) and shows up sometimes in vids. One of the most liked ones is where Fingon looks to Maglor and the camera, goes "No matter what, if I throw myself at Maedhros he will catch me in his arms" and then takes a running leap at Mae (who is talking to their grandfather in some important looking political office, he's wearing a suit) who panics, turns to basically body block their grandfather and catch Fingon. The caption is "and then Maedhros yelled at us for 2 hours straight"

For their 2 mill followers Maglor gleefully takes requests in the comments. Maedhros, who was aware of the account but thought it was so stupid that he never really interacted with it, was bribed and blackmailed into actually interacting with their viewers one (1) time.

The video, which has the most views and went viral, to Maedhros' mortification, is a video of Maedhros himself in a maid costume with little ginger cat ears holding notecards. Behind him, armed with pillows and ready to strike if given any hesitation, are Celegorm (a full grown man) and the two gleeful (teenage) Ambarussa twins. He reads from the notecards a set of phrases paid for by the highest donations. Its a few shout outs, some memes, and the video ends after he pauses, frowns, looks at Maglor behind the camera and goes "What is an OnlyFans and why would someone pay just to ask me to make an accou--" and he is cut off by Celegorm and Ambarussa beating the hell out of him with their pillows. Maedhros annoyed yell is cut off my Maglor scream-laughing behind the camera and the video being cut just as Maedhros twirls around, ripping Celegorm's pillow out of his hands and goes to retaliate, skirts twirling a little too high but nothing is seen.

as a russingon shipper I sometimes think about how would Fingon feel after being Reimbodied. And I think the partial solution for his menthal problems would be becoming friends with Nerdanel. who else if not her knows that much about I-hate-my-beloved-for-what-he-did-but-unfortunatelty-he's-still-my-beloved feeling