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emmyspov · 1 year

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Coming home (Haldir x reader)

author's note: i finished this while eating breakfast this morning - can you tell i'm sad and touch starved?? this is totally self-indulgent, i love him :( haldir brushes through reader's hair, otherwise no descriptions of looks. please reblog this if you like it and let me know if you want to be tagged in the future <3 english (still) isn’t my first language. also, please don't copy my work :)

warnings: nothing i'm aware of, just domestic fluff :)

word count: 0.9k

edit is my own :)

Haldir opened the door and stepped into the hallway. He just came home from a long and exhausting meeting with Lady Galadriel, but when he noticed the sweet smell of baked goods and spotted you asleep in your shared bed, clothed in one of his night gowns, his heart felt light again.

He knew you were waiting for him to return by the lit candle on your bedside drawer and the open book next to you and for only a second, an overwhelming amount of love knocked the air out of his lungs.

You looked absolutely ethereal. You always did, but seeing you dressed in his clothes in your shared home did something to the elf. The way you trusted him with your life and how you loved him endlessly made him emotional.

"What have you done to me, my love", he murmured and stepped closer to you. "You own my heart."

After getting ready for bed himself, the ellon carefully laid down next to you, trying not to wake you - but no luck.

"Haldir?" You turned around to your husband, rubbing the sleep out of your eyes.

"Shh. Sleep, meleth. You work so much", Haldir spoke quietly and cupped your cheek with his hand.

You leaned into the touch, closing your eyes again to really relish in the gentle contact.

"Look at yourself, marchwarden", you murmured and sighed softly. "You're gone for months and I know you don't get enough rest during your patrols. And when you come home, you take care of me. I admire your protectiveness, but you have to look after yourself, too."

Your husband's hand wandered from your cheek to the side of your head, carefully brushing through your hair before it settled on the small of your back, pulling you close to him.

"For me, looking after myself means being here, at home, with you. You bring me endless happiness, my love."

You let your head fall onto his chest as you wrapped your arms around his waist.

"Gi melin."

At your words, Haldir pulled you even closer into his side if that was even still possible and pressed a kiss to your forehead, letting his lips linger there.

"You're too good to me", you whispered, but the elf shook his head.

"You deserve everything, meleth. And one day, I'll figure out how to give it to you."

It was your turn to shake your head before you kissed his jaw. "You are everything I could ever want, ever need. Your presence alone eases my hard days and makes my good ones better. I know my heart is safe with you."

Haldir was at a loss for words. He never thought someone would come along who'd see more in him than a marchwarden and yet here you were, looking at him as if he himself had put the stars in the sky.

Still, he didn't know what to say to you. He was never good with romantic speeches and he despised it. You deserved to be wooed with words, too.

So instead, he cupped your face in his hands and leaned down to press his lips against yours.

What he didn't realise was that you weren't waiting for a big love confession. Your husband has always been someone who showed his love through actions - just like he was doing now.

"Hal", you mumbled and fisted his gown to ground yourself. How he was able to make you weak in the knees with a simple kiss was beyond your understanding - not that you cared. All sorts of physical contact with Haldir felt like coming home.

He smiled at your flushed cheeks after you parted and let his thumb brush over your jawline.

"What did you bake earlier", he asked and you needed a second to register his question.

"Oh", you answered, "Rúmil and Orophin came over earlier and asked if the four of us wanted to have a picnic together tomorrow afternoon if you're free. I thought that's a wonderful idea and then I saw that some of the wild berries in our garden are ripe, so I baked a cake with them that we can eat together then."

Haldir could feel himself getting choked up again. You, his found family, getting along with his brothers made his heart skip a beat.

"You are wonderful."

He could see the protest on your lips, but you knew better than to disagree. While he had won all the playful arguments, he was serious about you not talking yourself down.

"Thank you", you whispered instead, accepting the compliment, as you buried your face in the crook of his neck.

The elf chuckled as he felt the heat radiating from your cheeks and let his hand run up and down your lower back soothingly. "You're doing so well, meleth."

You stayed like that, your body half on top of Haldir's, his arm wrapped around you and your hand laying on his chest, right over his heart.

His heartbeat must have lulled you to sleep because the next time the marchwarden looked down at you, your eyes were closed and you were taking deep, even breaths.

Carefully, he turned around to blow out the candle before settling back into the former position, letting his fingers dance over your skin and pressing a kiss to the top of your head.

"Coming home to you will forever be the highlight of my day", he whispered before letting your breathing and the soft glow of the moon lull him into a restful slumber, too.

meleth = love

gi melin = i love you

Taglist: @shadowhuntyi

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brighter-arda · 11 months

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Galadriel in aroace colours for Day 1 @aspecardaweek 🧡💛🤍💙🔵

Part 15 of toi's indigenous tolkien series

[Image description: edit in yellow/blue/white/orange

1: Nontobeko Mbuyazi sitting with one arm on her knee. She is a albino Zulu woman. Photo is orange, background is blue, text = Galadriel, Lady of Light

2: art (The Trees of Valinor by Aronja-Art, link to original)

3: white messy fabric

4: Nontobeko Mbuyazi in front of window. Photo has blueish greenish tones and background is yellow. Same text as before

5: Nontobeko Mbuyazi in front of a pale sky. Picture is white and background is yellow. Same text as before

6: a glass beach (beach covered in many-coloured sea glass worn down to pebbles)

7: a blue forest

8: Nontobeko Mbuyazi with orange eye make-up. Photo is orange and background is white.]

#galadriel #silmarillion #lotr #the third age #tolkien women of colour #black tolkien #southern african tolkien #disabled character #moodboards and edits #toi's creations #toi's indigenous tolkien series #aspecardaweek #mepoc #contains image description #for prompt: asexual

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wordbunch · 10 months

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Their love song (Taylor Swift edition) > The Rings of Power characters

a/n: welcome to my little self-indulgent celebration of 700 followers! 🥳 EVEN IF you're not a fan/don't know the songs, I hope you can still like and support this fic - a lot of time and love went into it! and by all means come talk to me about it or suggest your own songs! love you all so much and thank you for reading my stories and being a wonderful community 💕

HALBRAND ♡ cruel summer

Please look at these lyrics and tell me it isn't just perfect for him!! You never really planned on falling for him, ever, but alas, something captivated you - his eyes looking down on you from a height difference, the way he seemed to understand you more than anyone else in certain moments, and how he was adamant to be around you. He was very cocky and confident when you admitted it at last.

ARONDIR ♡ peace

Maybe you come from different backgrounds, but there is nothing that you wouldn't do for each other. He is very protective of you, but he is also cautious because he never wants you to be in danger because of him. Although your relationship can be judged negatively, the only important thing is what the two of you feel for one another - true love.

ELENDIL ♡ labyrinth

Things haven't exactly been easy after his wife suddenly died, and he had mixed feelings about moving on; somehow, with you it was kind of effortless and unexpectedly natural. He struggled with it within himself for some time, but you were understanding and supportive the whole time, and he began feeling much better when he accepted his developing feelings for you.

CELEBRIMBOR ♡ lover

Honestly, he kind of is a magnetic force, and he would also be a total romantic to his partner and spoil them in so many ways. Admittedly, he's lived through a lot of things and challenges, but ending up with you seemed like a reward at the end of everything, and he never wants to let you go.

GALADRIEL ♡ daylight

She certainly has her struggles and her mind can be a very occupied place, so she really didn't expect to find captivating romantic love among all the mess. You bring brightness and warmth to her life like nobody else, and she lights up when she is around you, especially when the two of you are alone.

ISILDUR ♡ blank space

He is still quite young and impulsive, and everything else that comes with it, and also naturally curious and a bit of a troublemaker - never a dull moment. When you two first met, you didn't think it would go anywhere, but quickly you fell for his reckless charm, and decided to give it a go anyways. It's a passionate and unpredictable relationship which can end at any time, but he is so wrapped around your finger that you highly doubt it.

VALANDIL ♡ sparks fly

He is also crazy, young and exciting, but something won't let you let him go. He is aware of his strengths and he knows how to play them exactly right to keep you on your toes and crazy about him. Maybe it isn't the most stable of relationships, but hey, as long as you're having a good time!

GIL-GALAD ♡ gorgeous

He is so royal and classy and naturally, captivated your attention within mere seconds in his presence. At first you might have been a little intimidated (who wouldn't be?) and you had mixed feelings within yourself - he surely already had someone, so you decided it would be best to wait for him to approach you. Years and years later, you both like to jokingly reminisce on those moments.

BRONWYN ♡ new year's day

Life can be tough, and people can be difficult to deal with, but the two of you have each other's back through it all. While you have your arguments and disagreements occasionally, and maybe someone judges your relationship, at the end of the day there is nobody else that the two of you would rather share your troubles with.

ELROND ♡ you are in love

This sweet soul had to get this song assigned to him! Your love bloomed steadily over centuries of close friendship and understanding, you shared a quiet, unspoken bond, and it was just the most natural thing ever. It eventually became difficult to pinpoint when exactly it turned into something more than platonic, because for so long it had been the two of you together, side by side.

✨ taglist my beloved ✨ @lotrnonsense @starlady66 @queenmeriadoc @entishramblings @thesolarangel @silversword7000 @friendofthefellowshipsnerdblog @averys-place @valkyriepirate @emmaarenstarr @noldorinpainter @asianbutnotjapanese @adamgetawaydriver @fenharel-enaste @ironmandeficiency @starryeyedrogue @dinofromspac3 @wisheduponastar @lady-of-imladris @frodo-cinnamonroll @unethicallypleistocene @deadlymistletoe @suncran @high-sea-husbands @asianbutnoteastasian @aidansloth @sweetpea-thoughts

I TAGGED EVERYONE CAUSE IT'S A FOLLOWER SPECIAL OK <3

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pursuitseternal · 11 months

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Dark Lord D*ck Measuring: Mean Girls Quotes Edition, Part I

Ever notice the strange similarity between our Dork Lords and… let’s say… the Plastics from “Mean Girls?”

Who are the Dark Lords?

They’re bad guy royalty…

That’s The Darkling, the dumbest lord you’ll ever meet… last year he asked me how to spell “the fold”

That little one… that’s Loki… he’s totally rich cause his dad’s the king of Asgard or something. He knows everybody’s business. He knows everything about everyone. That’s why his horns are so big… it’s full of secrets.

And evil takes a human form in the Dark Lord Sauron. Doooont be fooled cause he may seem like your typical selfish, backstabbing, slut-faced, hoe-bag, but in reality, he is so much more than that.

Dark Lord Sauron… how do I even begin to explain the Dark Lord Sauron…

Loki: Sauron is flawless… he has two dark towers AND a volcano. I hear his Eye is insured for $10,000.

Vader: I hear he does ring commercials… in Eregion. One time, he met Lady Galadriel on a raft and she told him he was pretty.

Voldemort: One time, he punched me in the face. It was awesome.

Behold the product of my sleepless brain…!!! It just was too good not to post immediately. I hope you cackle mercilessly 😘

Definitely hatched late one night, long ago with @mixingpumpkins 🧡.

@thegreatzombieartisan @eowyn7023 @myfavouritelunatic @jurassiclexie @trinuviel @coraleethroughthelookingglass @somebirdortheother @iamstartraveller776 @rosalysaoirse @helenvader @penelopeloveshere @marimosalad @denzit @lady-of-imladris @cliffdivingsblog @jhalya

Enjoy! And apologies if I missed a tag, or if you want to be tagged in the future.

#dark lord dick measuring #the crossover event you all didn’t know you wanted #also any reason to have Voldy punched in the face #sauron #the rings of power #halbrand #rings of power #lotr rop #mean girls #darth vader #Star Wars #loki marvel #darkling shadow and bone #voldemort

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sketchy-fey · 26 days

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Tsarina Sariel II, April 2024

Let's just all pretend that her eyes are blue and eldrin-y because i don't have those photo editing skills or the patience to try right now.

the crown is the only thing I made for this cosplay

My first time curling a wig!

I finally colour corrected my prosthetic ears

the dress is from a Galadriel cosplay and it's the first thing I ever made (you can tell)

I really wanted to play with the halo effect and it worked so much better than I anticipated

any questions about the design, set up, anything please ask!

#venture maidens #not actually art #but in fact cosplay #tsarina sariel ii

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tarninausta · 1 year

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tolkien femslash in february ✦ 2/?

GALADRIEL X MELIAN

[ID: An edit consisting of 6 graphics. They are mainly green and silver, alternating between the two. On the three "green" images, text reads "Galadriel & Melian"

1: A forest / 2: Two women, in a pond, with their eyes closed / 3: A person holding a silver orb / 4: Green Gems / 5: A woman standing by a lake, covered by a translucent veil through which only her outline is seen / 6: An artificial flower, with translucent white petals /End ID]

#tolkienedit #silmedit #oneringnet #tolkiensource #userindomiel #usertilions #usersari #userlyndeth #the silmarillion #silm #galadriel #melian #mepoc #🌟 edits #*femslashfeb #queer tolkien #with id

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riding-with-the-wild-hunt · 1 year

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“At that time Beren and Lúthien yet dwelt in Tol Galen, the Green Isle, in the River Adurant, southernmost of the streams that falling from Ered Lindon flowed down to join with Gelion; and their son Dior Eluchíl had to wife Nimloth, kinswoman of Celeborn, prince of Doriath, who was wedded to the Lady Galadriel.”

-JRR Tolkien, The Silmarillion, “Of the Ruin of Doriath”

[ID: An edit comprised of six posters in alternating cool-tinted dark green and greenish-white. Thin white text at the top of each image reads “dior & nimloth” in all caps.

1: A brown-skinned person in a white shirt looking through leaves. There are dappled shadows on their face and only one of their eyes is visible / 2: A close-up of flowers with a metallic sheen / 3: Chunks of translucent white crystal / 4: A brown-skinned person with dark hair wearing a white dress and wading in green water seen from above. Their skirt floats out around them and one of their arms is extended to the side / 5: A person with brown skin wearing a white sundress and hanging by one arm off of a white column. They are turned away from the viewer and are looking out across a marshy landscape towards a bank of trees / 6: White butterflies and moths of varying sizes, some with dark markings on their wings /End ID]

#edits with the wild hunt #brought to you by me #dior #nimloth #elves elves elves #the professor’s world #the silmarillion #doriath #posters #tolkienedit #mepoc #silmedit #oneringnet #tolkiensource #elvensource #described #fandomaesnet

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myfavouritelunatic · 1 year

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The Blacksmith

Finally found the time to edit and upload! Thank you all for your patience, and again for your words of kindness that are truly sustaining me and keeping the inspiration flowing! ❤️😘

Pairing: Halbrand/Sauron x Female Reader

Word Count: 2.1k

Warnings: None

Links to Chapter One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, and Eight!

Chapter Nine

The two of you dressed quickly, and you thoroughly checked Halbrand's armour to make sure it was securely on him. You felt the ship come to a rest, its destination reached. The fear was starting to creep back in. Would this be the last time you would ever see him? The paranoia was unavoidable, and he saw it in your eyes, and your trembling hands. He took them in his, holding them still, bringing them to his mouth. A soft yet lingering kiss, eyes closed as he savoured the feel of you. "A heartbeat, remember?" You sighed deeply and nodded. "Yes... only a heartbeat."

Halbrand kissed you, before just holding you in his arms where you both stood. The only sounds in the room were your breath and the beating of your hearts. Soon enough, a knock came at the door. When no words were uttered, Halbrand invited them in. You turned to see Commander Galadriel dressed once more in her spectacular silver armour, her hair braided beautifully. An elven warrior ready for battle. She smiled at the sight of you, happy to see you and Halbrand reunited. "And when did this happen?" "Not soon enough." spoke your love, holding bitterness for the past. "But not too late." you countered, trying to grab onto any positive you could. He looked down at you and smiled. Galadriel's warm expression began to fade, shifting to a determined one, her next words matching it. "Unfortunately, we must make haste. Elendil expects we reach Tirharad with the sunrise. They are readying the horses as we speak."

Halbrand nodded, and the three of you swiftly exited his cabin. You turned your head back as you left, knowing it would be the last time you would be inside. The memories you had made in there would stay with you always. You disembarked the vessel quickly, making for the horses stationed nearby. Soldiers had already began to congregate, finding their horse and mounting it, the plumes of white from atop their helmets blowing in the night air. Galadriel found Elendil, who pointed her and Halbrand in the direction of their own horses. The she-elf would be riding a white horse that suited her fair appearance, whilst your love would command a glorious brown steed.

Galadriel mounted her mare and prepared herself. You scanned the sea of soldiers and noticed almost all of them were ready to charge. "Come Halbrand, we must not delay." she spoke, and bid you farewell, trotting over to Elendil and the Queen Regent. It was time to say goodbye. and it was going to take every ounce of courage you had, for you could already feel the tears forming in your eyes. You crashed your body into Halbrand's in a frenzied embrace, and he squeezed you tightly. Before you broke apart completely, he kissed you passionately, one last time. You returned it in equal measure, memorising exactly how it felt, praying a day would never come where you would forget it. As it ended, Halbrand rested his forehead against yours for a moment, then stepped away to mount his horse. Not a word was spoken between the two of you, for neither knew what to say. He kept eye contact with you until the last possible second, before riding off, charging with the rest of the soldiers. Your tears spilled over and you covered your mouth, as you saw Halbrand reach Galadriel's side, and you stood there motionless until they disappeared on the horizon.

Before you could spend too much time overthinking every single aspect of what could happen, a voice called out to you from a short distance away. It wasn't one you were familiar with, but considering everyone else you knew had just galloped away, you turned towards it as if it were an old friend. The voice belonged to a young woman, similar to you in age it seemed, with gorgeous auburn locks that stopped at the top of her belly. She had a kind face, and grinned at you as you made eye contact. She introduced herself as Nisarien, and she had been put in charge of you by Queen Regent Miriel. Her watchful eye made flesh it seems. You wondered then if word of your reconciliation with Halbrand had reached the Queen. No doubt she would be pleased, and hopefully not too concerned with the movements of your love. You decided to again heed the advice Miriel had given you, and be wary of Nisarien. Although she really did not come across as the suspicious type.

As the first beams of sun finally broke through the sky, those that remained behind began to set up base camp, which would sit in a position of safety with a vantage point in case the enemy advanced too far. You remained with Nisarien and followed her lead, from setting up tents, beds, a makeshift kitchen, and whatever else needed attending to that wasn't already looked after. You were grateful to be kept busy. "So what exactly brings you along on this quest?" you asked your new companion. "I work in the palace, closely with the Queen Regent. When she was looking for volunteers, I did not hesitate." "What about your life back on Numenor? Don't you have a family or friends that will miss you?" "Oh yes, very much. I come from a rather large family actually, and I have a twin sister." "Did she come as well?" "Sadly no, I am the sole being of my kin to set foot on Middle Earth. Which I think is rather exciting." she exclaimed happily. She was almost too happy and it made you uneasy. "Speaking of exciting," she began whilst unloading medical supplies. "I've heard all about you! Your majesty!" she giggled.

You didn't quite know what to make of Nisarien, and you prayed she wasn't the gossiping type. You just continued to organise the supplies as she unloaded them, waiting to see what she'd say next. "You two were the talk of the crew the whole journey across the sea!" Too late, the gossip's been had. "Oh we were, were we?" you humoured her, and she nodded giddily. "Oh yes you were, my lady! At first it was the rumours of the stowaway, 'Who is she?' 'Why is she here?' 'How did she get on the ship?' and then once your connection to Lord Halbrand and Commander Galadriel was confirmed, even more rumours were spreading, 'A low man with a Numenorean woman?' 'It's a lie, she's up to something.' 'They're both up to something.' I mean I could go on and on with this!"

"Please don't." you said without hesitating. You had heard quite enough. Suddenly you felt like a hundred eyes were on you and you wanted nothing more than to lock yourself away back in Halbrand's cabin. However there was maybe only ten of you that had remained behind to fulfil your duties. Still, you could feel their gazes on the back of your skull. How much did they know about you, about Halbrand? Did they see the surface of it, a blossoming romance filled with turbulence? Or had they dived beneath the waves and seen the truth of it all that lurked within the murky depths? You begged it to be the former, and told yourself that whatever rumours they might come up with would not be as bad as the truth. Or could they be worse?

"So how long have you worked in the palace for, Nisarien?" you changed the subject before your mind could wander too deeply into the darkness. Nisarien didn't even blink as she went along with it, talking about herself and her daily life in service of her Queen. After an hour or so of this, you decided she was harmless, and despite her penchant for gossip, she clearly was not the type to commit any ill deeds, whether on behalf of the crown or not. The sun shone brightly in the sky, morning well and truly underway, yet you were quite exhausted after your labours, especially after not getting enough rest the night before. "Nisarien, I'm going to lie down for a while, now that things seem to be on track." "Of course, my lady." she grinned, then wished you pleasant dreams. Something told you that whatever dreams you might have would be anything but.

You stood atop a great tower, a giant sceptre symbolising your power over the land. An obsidian sky stretched out as far as your eyes would go, the lands over which you ruled were endless. Beneath you raged armies at war, elves and men against orcs, good versus evil, weakness versus power. You could hear the screams of the dead as they fell in combat, the metallic clashing of swords, the roaring of battle cries carried up to you on the wind. Your black dress flowed around you, your crown sharp as thorns. You glanced over to your love, who appeared nothing short of spectacular. His dark charcoal armour glistened in the glow of the mountain as it erupted in the distance. He too wore a crown, six long spikes sat atop his head, like claws grasping at the heavens. His long hair brushed behind him by the breeze. He turned to you then, noticing your gaze. As your eyes met, you felt a surge of power hit you. His hazel orbs were gone, all that remained were black slits, serpent like, surrounded by glowing irises that shone like embers. He smiled at you and called you to him without words. You obliged and let your bodies collide, and as you gazed at the death, decay, and despair at your feet, a lustful kiss was exchanged, the hunger within you both begging to be satisfied. "How about we join them, my love." he spoke, his eyes wandering back down to the pit. You hummed in devilish delight. "Yes... let's." you responded, excited for what was to come. Upon your descension into the masses, you stood back in awe as your love wreaked his havoc on his enemies, killing all who came near. None were a match for the lord of the rings.

A sonic boom stirred you from your slumber, bringing you back from the nightmare your mind continued to hold you hostage in night after night. The very ground shook beneath where you had been sleeping, and your stomach dropped instantly. Surely it could have been anything, but your gut told you otherwise. There was only one thing it could be: the mountain from your dreams had erupted. You did not yet know why you were having these visions, but the coincidence of them, the timing, sadly made sense. And you knew of a mountain that matched the description of the one you had seen in your slumber, that was located not far from Tirharad.

Suddenly your stomach dropped even more. Halbrand.

You screamed and hurriedly ran outside the tent, the sunshine blinding you from above. You didn't wait for your eyes to adjust before sprinting out across the hills before you, trying to get to the highest point, to confirm your suspicions. You could hear Nisarien calling for you but you ignored her. You didn't stop running until you reached the very peak, then scanned the horizon before you as you caught your breath. You didn't have to look for long though. In the distance you saw it. A giant ash cloud hurtled high into the sky and wide upon the ground below. You clasped a hand to your mouth in shock, not believing what you were seeing. You heard footsteps on the grass around you, as others of your company had followed you to this view point. The weight of what you were witnessing took its toll on you, and you fell to your knees in grief. No one could have survived.

You remained in that spot for what felt like an age, watching as the darkness from the volcano spread out across the sky, just like in your dream. Soon day turned to night, but you were unable to move. Eventually, Nisarien came to fetch you, reminding you of your duty. "It's some kind of miracle... somehow... some wounded have started to arrive." she spoke heavily, unable to understand the words she was speaking. "Halbrand?!" you exclaimed in hope. "No, my lady, no sight of the Southlands' King." "Then leave me. Do not disturb me until he is returned." "But my lady-" "I SAID LEAVE!" you screamed at her then, your tears threatening to drown you. Nisarien gasped and backed away in fear, scampering off quickly. You knew going with her was the right thing to do, but you did not care. You had resigned yourself to let all men suffer until your love was returned to you.

Tagging: @starlady66 @chimeracuddles @denzit @restless-tides @king-halbrand @mordorgp @myrsinemezzo @wanderleave @hikarielizabethbloom @lordhalbrand

#halbrand x reader #sauron x reader #halbrand/sauron x reader #halbrand #sauron #charlie vickers #the rings of power #trop #lord of the rings #lotr

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rings-of-power-realm · 1 year

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I've been a fan of Tolkien for over 40 years, read everything he has published and read The Hobbit and LOTR a half dozen times over those decades. I loved the Rankin/Bass animated versions of the story as a teen and I thoroughly enjoyed Peter Jackson's take on the tale and appreciated the artistic license he took to round the stories out for film. I had no expectations going into The Rings of Power, positive or negative. I hoped it would be a beautiful expansion of a world I love and wanted to see more of. I saw the usually people already complaining about this and that, assuming they knew what was best for the works and of course knowing exactly what Tolkien would want and dislike (eye roll) and tried to ignore these trolls completely. They seem to like to ruin any and every journey before it gets a chance to begin and I would not want to spend one moment with these joyless creatures. All that being said I sat down with a snack and refreshments release night and watched the first episodes of The Rings of Power and was dumbfounded. What did I just watch I said to myself. It certainly wasn't anything like the trash mob of negative internet trolls said it would be. It was glorious. From the moment Galadriel's opening voiceover began to the second she plunged her brother's dagger into the ice wall I realized I had leaned forward on the couch and was smiling from ear to ear. The world had faded away and I was enthralled by the beautiful cinematography, the vivid colors and the sheer breadth of the opening shots, the Tolkienesque dialogue...I watched it again. Nope not me imagining it. I watched the rest of the episode and was so tickled I watched it again. I then watched the second. I was so happy, it's indescribable. They struck all the right notes and I was in that world again, like I was reading the books or watching the movies... immersed in Middle Earth and it's tales. Somehow they took the charm and detail of Jackson's movies, added a heavy dose of Tolkien lore, some artistic license and flawless creative CGI and created something fresh but familiar. I knew this place but it was like seeing it with new eyes, the inhabitants and places the same but even more vibrant. So far I'm thrilled with what they have done. If the story pans out and it continues on this path they may have something fantastic on their hands. Something to be celebrated by TRUE Tolkien fans and lovers of Middle Earth. "But it's not Tolkien's story." Well he's not around to create any more content, and it is based on the world and characters he created. If you don't want to watch something he didn't actually write tune out, but don't ruin it for the rest of us. What's wrong with more stories from Middle Earth even if they aren't written by the man himself if they're done well and in his spirit? "Why did they cast so diversely?" Well I don't know how to help you with your "problem" but the way I see it, the only people taking umbrage with that probably have questionable character. Tolkien created a large world with many races, species, etc. I don't remember him ever writing specifically that they were all white. Naturally in a world that big there would be many beautiful types of people, races, ethnicities and cultures. The expansion of this in the show only adds to the richness of the story. If not it would a pretty vanilla tale indeed. If you find yourself complaining about diversity you should probably take a long look in the mirror and ask yourself the real reason you have a problem with it. Lastly I want to address once more the groups that like to mass negative review things. You reveal yourselves when you give a negative review to something before it's even been released in its entirety. I'll be the first to edit this if it turns badly later, but I'll give it it's due first. It's seems like some kind of sickness, the need to try to ruin something just because they don't agree with how it's done or who's in it. It really invalidates all your reviews because you're not reviewing a thing on its content, you're reviewing it on your prejudice, you're reviewing according to your hateful opinions. You won't even give it a chance because "I hate this, and don't like that...oh the wokeness!" Not one of you will be able to look past any of your personal hang ups to give the story and it's presentation a chance to stand on its own, therefore your reviews are meaningless and should be treated as such. I hope that that's taken into account when the time comes to invest in more chapters, seasons and stories if this pans out. If you don't like it go away and let the rest of us enjoy it without having to listen to you try to ruin something without giving it a chance. Gandalf would disapprove. "May dawn take you all and be stone to you!" More Middle Earth is a Good Thing! by redkingisalive imdb 10 star review

#the rings of power #the haters just look ridiculous at this point are are NOT speaking for fans #positivity #I kinda want this on a t shirt tbh #redkingisalive have a good day filled with ale and stew and adventure books

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rebelrebelwrites · 11 months

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Fic Friday! ❤️ Rebel’s Weekly Fic Recs

~ Haladriel Week Edition (Part 2) ~

A day late, but it's a long weekend and I needed a relaxation night last night so here we are. I'm still working my way through all of the @haladrielweek goodness, so you'll definitely see more HW fics in the weekly recs, though I think this post will be the last HW-specific recs post.

That's it! Let's get rolling. As always, this week's recs are...

As always, please mind the tags on any recommended story for your own personal preferences.

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The Classic You’ve Heard Of But Somehow Haven’t Read Yet: Civil Twilight by eye_of_a_cat

What you need to know going in:

Written for HW's Day 5, "Family," this fic is yet another canonverse masterpiece from Cat, seeing Galadriel reuniting with Celeborn after S1—and a desperate, angst-filled, steamy reunion with Sauron first. 👀 When Gal finds Celeborn again, he’s changed so much since they last saw each other… and, of course, so has she—most notably, being with Sauron’s child. What’s remarkable about this story is the characterization of Gal, Sauron AND Celeborn; I can honestly say that despite being ten thousand percent IN on Sauron and Gal (and trust me, this fic delivers everything about them in spades), I cheered so hard for Celeborn in this. The dynamic between him and Gal was just as spectacular as the undeniable spark between Gal and Sauron. Instant classic, indeed.

Complete, Mature

Read the story.

Follow the author on Twitter and AO3.

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The AU You Need to Immerse Yourself In Because, Well, Wow: Widowmaker by @mzladybird

What you need to know going in:

Still shaking myself after reading this fic. 🔥 This AU sees a young Galadriel in a very rural Maine in the 1870s, helping her family run a general store. It’s there that she first meets (and catches the eye of) Halbrand, a rough, quiet logger. After their first meeting, he returns annually… and the mounting, roiling tension between the two of them is absolutely exquisite; it builds like the clawing cold of winter in your chest, that first bite of bitter chill that burns. In this case, in an excellent way. I don’t want to say too much more, so just trust me and read it! 👌

Explicit, Complete

Read the story.

Follow the author on Tumblr, Twitter, and AO3.

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The Complete But Never Forgotten Masterpiece: now dark, now glittering by @mortaltempless

What you need to know going in:

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of @mortaltempless’ work; I’ve highlighted their work many times here, but this HW fic really hit me; it soothes. In it, Sauron struggles to understand Galadriel as she struggles with waxing and waning depression throughout the Ages they spend ruling together—but tries, genuinely, to help her. This fic works like a balm to the soul for it’s simple beauty and stalwart love in the face of sadness; of longing. It feels very Tolkien in that way, and for it’s emphasis on the healing power of nature. 😍 Be ready to bookmark, because this is one you’ll want to regularly return to for the sheer romance.

Complete, Teen

Read the story.

Follow the author on Tumblr, Twitter, and AO3.

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The WIP That Will Wreck You (In the Best Way): one thing i can’t get enough of ~and~ on begged and borrowed time by @bad-surprise

What you need to know going in:

Am I cheating by mentioning two of @bad-surprise's WIPs? No, because these are my recs and I do what I want. 😆 Keeping it 💯, I honestly couldn’t choose; they’re just both that good! The first, one thing i can’t get enough of, is the Dirty Dancing AU, featuring a mean-ish Halbrand in the role of Johnny and, of course, Gal as Baby. Do I need to say much more aside from these two and the words dirty dancing? 🔥🔥🔥 Better than the movie and it’s not even complete. ☺️ Fic 2, on begged and borrowed time, is another massively compelling AU; in this, we see Galadriel as a gifted tarot reader with a desperate desire to bring her husband, Celeborn, back from the dead… desperate enough to strike a bargain with the Necromancer and her former lover, Halbrand. 👀 Like I said—impossible to pick between these two, because they’re both terrific as hell, and they’re just getting started.

Both WIP, Both Explicit

Read the stories — here and here.

Follow the author on Tumblr, Twitter, and AO3.

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The Can't Stop Consuming No Matter What Time It Is Fic: once, i belonged to you (but twice i was free) by @nocaptainonthisship

What you need to know going in:

The dove is very dead in this fic, so fair warning, but it was absolutely one I could not stop consuming (and yes, it’s complete). A dark, delightfully twisted take on a fairytale, Galadriel is a princess locked in a tower with only a brush of memories from a former life, and three regular visitors, each of which have their own… appetites: Halbrand, her captor; Sauron, her besotted beast; and Mairon, her supposed savior. 🥺 Grim and gripping and utterly bewitching, this story is nothing short of striking in its intensity.

Complete, Explicit

Read the story.

Follow the author on Tumblr, Twitter, and AO3.

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🤩🤩🤩

Me at all these fics:

Don’t see your story on this list yet? Keyword: yet. Please don’t fret! I can only recommend so many each week, but I am always looking for more stuff to read, share, and generally shower with love, so please feel free to reply with your own fics or your pershaladronal faves. I have plenty more to recommend… ❤️

Until next week!

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buffyfan145 · 1 year

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Two Sauronbrand/Haladriel posts: 1) In terms of the Celebrian-Half-Maia theory, I find it interesting that not only was Arwen's fate tied to the One Ring, but Ellohir and Elladan (Celebrian's twin sons) were shown reforming Narsil for Aragorn. Could they have inherited the Smith Gene from their Dark Lord Grandfather... 🤔

2) I like that RoP made Sauronbrand have auburn/chestnut hair. His hair seemed even redder during his confrontation with Galadriel. Obviously, there's the fire connection and how his hazel-green eyes also change colors like a flame. But, also, in European and Middle Eastern folklore, red hair is associated with vampires, werewolves, and witches. Our Hot Baddie has been all three of these supernatural beings. If the RoP writers knew that folklore, I would be very impressed because it fit Sauron's mythos perfectly.

I noticed that too once that theory started up after the finale aired. I know the twins weren't named in the LOTR movies but most speculate that is them reforging Narsil and are in another scene in the extended editions standing behind Arwen. One was also blonde and the other a brunette. There also was a fan film called "Born of Hope" made that's on YT and tells the story about Aragorn's parents that the twins are also a part of and there's actually a resemblance there between the actors and Charlie, and not to mention there's a family of friends with Aragon's father and all the father & son have first name that start with Hal. LOL I know the elves also do smithing but is kind of weird now both boys easily did it, and Arwen's connection to the Ring.

I'm part Irish too and I've always heard things about people having red hair too for various different things, especially since it's common among Irish people (though I don't have it but did actually dye it red a few times as I wanted it LOL). I do know Sauron has been depicted with red hair before in various fanart, especially in his first form as Mairon so I just assumed it's part of the show as well and helps with the likely theory that the Halbrand form is actually the Mairon form and the base/main form Sauron reverts to as it's the original. It's very likely too that the writers know this as a lot of what Tolkien wrote in general is based off various mythologies.

#asks #the lord of the rings #the rings of power #sauron #halbrand #mairon #haladriel #arwen #elrohir #elladan #celebrian #galadriel #aragorn

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beyonddarkness · 1 year

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Just a quick warm-up before the beast that is Chapter 6. There is a lot to talk about here, so instead of analyzing everything on the topic of Sauron’s sincerity right now, we will cover the basics to establish our analytical point-of-view.

In Chapter 1, we asked what ‘sincerity’ means when it comes to someone like Sauron.

(Okay, not to read into what Charlie is saying TOO MUCH [0:15], but … ‘guise of repentance’?)

Here is the perspective we are going with:

In Sauron’s case, ‘sincerity‘ does not mean ‘care or regard for others‘. If he believes he is doing good, it only goes so far as to say, I will give people what I think they want, but my desires take precedence.

“It darkens the heart to call dark deeds good. It gives place for evil to thrive inside us.” -Galadriel

Sincerity

Charlie Vickers’ performance made Sauron’s character (in my opinion) by far the most unsettling and terrifying villain in fiction.

Charlie didn’t need to play two people at once, even after he learned he was playing Sauron post-episode 2. The sympathy and sorrow he conveyed on screen deceived even the audience because the actor, as Sauron, fully embodied the character he crafted, down to his emotional responses. Here is what Charlie said about Sauron nearly crying when he is alone:

"I always like to think that in shape-shifting, the best way to deceive is to fully take on the form of what you’re trying to portray: thinking, feeling, living, breathing as a human man. Only through a wholehearted embodiment of his form could he deceive these massively influential figures.

"This is even when he’s by himself, because the gods are always watching. And we know that he fears the gods; we know that he’s scared. Because Tolkien says that explicitly.

"He can use Galadriel as a tool. She knows the right people. She gets into the right rooms. […] So I made a decision as the best way for me to approach it, to make it real for me. And let people interpret it as they will."

-Charlie Vickers, The New York Times

He maintains his emotional response when Galadriel’s back is turned. Is he taken aback because he had not realized how much pain he caused Galadriel for centuries? I highly doubt it. Not only did he have plenty of opportunities to perceive everything before this moment, but…

… what about the countless others he tortured and murdered? Did Sauron feel any shock or remorse for what he did to Gorlim in the First Age?

No.

"Now Gorlim would have drawn back, but daunted by the eyes of Sauron he told at last all that he would know. Then Sauron laughed; and he mocked Gorlim, and revealed to him that he had seen only a phantom devised by wizardry to entrap him; for Eilinel was dead.

"‘Nonetheless I will grant thy prayer,’ said Sauron; ‘and thou shalt go to Eilinel, and be set free of my service.’ Then he put him cruelly to death." The Silmarillion: Of Beren and Lúthien

He did the same thing to Galadriel, who was daunted by his eyes.

He was amused at her fear and anguish, and mocked her as he revealed that she ran fast and blind into a trap.

He cornered her, infiltrated her mind, took the form of her brother whose death he is responsible for, and used her own words against her to manipulate her into joining him. But at least I would give you what you want by making you a Queen.

To top it all off, he tries to make her despair when she says no, and…

"I think he sends her into the water to drown her. I’m not necessarily thinking that he thinks she’s going to live, although he probably has a strong idea." -Charlie Vickers, TV Guide

Penance

In Tolkien’s world, when it comes to ‘repentance’, there are three traits that do not go well together: fear, envy, and hatred. Sauron fears the Valar. He envies the Eldar and the Edain. And he hates pretty much everyone except himself, most particularly the Valar, Eldar, and Edain.

"[…] Sauron was ashamed, and he was unwilling to return in humiliation and to receive from the Valar a sentence, it might be, of long servitude in proof of his good faith; for under Morgoth his power had been great." The Silmarillion: Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age

Galadriel’s speech about peace has a double meaning. She is talking about Middle-earth, but another term for Valinor is the land “across the sea.” It connects to what Elrond says in the first episode: “Only in the Blessed Realm can that which is broken in you be healed.” Whether Sauron goes to Aman to receive judgment from Manwë, or he goes to Middle-earth to rule, he is taking a great risk. Here is a manifestation of his fear of ‘long servitude’:

Galadriel: “There is no peace to be found for you here, and nor for me. No lasting peace in any path, but that which lies across the sea.”

Adar nearly used air quotes when he said, “The one you call Sauron devoted himself to ‘healing’ Middle-earth,” and recalls Sauron’s deeds and aspirations with horror. It would seem that eventually, Adar realized Sauron’s true intentions, and had enough.

Later, Sauron says the same thing to Galadriel, using words disguised as good and sincere, but he could not care less about her. I can use you to get what I want, and effect my designs faster, says Charlie.

“[…] at last! I felt the light of The One again. And I knew, if ever I was to be forgiven, then I had to heal everything that I had helped ruin.”

Sauron believes he has found a loophole in the system. I knew, he says in other words, if ever I was to avoid prison, then I had to craft a power to rival the Valar.

Sauron was present when Eru said:

"‘[…] no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me, nor can any alter the music in my despite.’" -Eru Ilúvatar, The Silmarillion: Ainulindalë

Yet, he still tries to do that very thing. Prison is not an option. If I can somehow bind myself to something good, then I will be safe, and free from the wrath of the Valar. I will make this place a paradise, and everyone will be under my rule so nothing bad happens.

He believes that “if he’s by [Galadriel’s] side, it can only lead to good things, as long as he remains undiscovered” (Charlie Vickers).

This does not come from his care for others. He simply does not want to face the wrath of the gods. He cares about no one but himself, and his fear, hatred, and envy drive him down the same ruinous path that led Morgoth to the Void.

The following describes Morgoth, but it fits Sauron perfectly.

"[…] he feigned, even to himself at first, that he desired to go thither and order all things for the good of the Children of Ilúvatar, controlling the turmoils of the heat and the cold that had come to pass through him.

"But he desired rather to subdue to his will both Elves and Men, envying the gifts with which Ilúvatar promised to endow them; and he wished himself to have subjects and servants, and to be called Lord, and to be a master over other wills." -The Silmarillion: Ainulindalë

Carefully compare that to how the Mystics describe Sauron.

“You fell from the stars, yet you are greater than they; for fire obeys your will. You fell below the dust, yet dust fears you; for it trembles when you are wroth. The winds and waters; the heat and cold. In Rhûn, you shall learn to command them all, and every being that walks or crawls shall be your slave; for you are Lord Sauron.”

-The Mystics, 1×08: Alloyed

Although he was afraid and humiliated, doing obeisance to Eönwë (who could not judge those of his own class) and renouncing all of his evil deeds was probably not the end of the world for Sauron.

But when Eönwë commanded him to return to Manwë (who, being the chief Vala, could really do some damage), he was unwilling to return. He remembers what happened to Morgoth, long before the darkening of Valinor.

"[…] the Valar did not discover all the mighty vaults and caverns hidden with deceit far under the fortresses of Angband and Utumno. Many evil things still lingered there, and others were dispersed and fled into the dark and roamed in the waste places of the world, awaiting a more evil hour; and Sauron they did not find.

"But when the Battle was ended and from the ruin of the North great clouds arose and hid the stars, the Valar drew Melkor back to Valinor, bound hand and foot, and blindfold; and he was brought to the Ring of Doom. There he lay upon his face before the feet of Manwë and sued for pardon; but his prayer was denied, and he was cast into prison in the fastness of Mandos, whence none can escape, neither Vala, nor Elf, nor mortal Man. […] There was Melkor doomed to abide for three ages long, before his cause should be tried anew, or he should plead again for pardon." -The Silmarillion: Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor

Comparison

Compare Sauron’s attitude to Galadriel’s, post-eruption.

Because of her obsession, she disobeyed the High King, ignored his orders for months, then leapt from a ship headed for Valinor. She survived, against all odds, alongside a reluctant heir in exile. She used and dragged him to Middle-earth, after he’d ‘all but begged her to let him be.’ After he agreed to go, they became close friends, and she felt free fighting at his side. He saved her life at sea, but now she thinks he is dead because of her.

She brought an entire Númenórean army to their deaths, failed to prevent the enactment of a certain plan, and now an entire land is destroyed. Her other friend, Elendil, now hates her because he thinks his son is dead. The Queen of Númenor has been blinded on her account. Theo lost his home. Many Southlanders perished. Adar escaped, along with his children, and have a place wherein they can thrive.

After all of this, she says:

“And I will report to our High King, to face whatever awaits me.”

She is willing to return in humiliation, unlike a certain Maia we know. This is honest and sincere repentance.

Compassion

At heart, Galadriel is the opposite of Sauron.

Pre-eruption: When a member of her company falls and is about to be left behind, she is momentarily blinded to her surroundings, courtesy of her obsession with finding Sauron. She snaps out of it once she realizes what is actually going on, and gives her own cloak to the fallen.

videopress

Post-eruption: She is looking for Halbrand, but quickly snaps out of it when she hears Theo, and drops everything to help him.

videopress

Post-finding Sauron: This can be viewed as a combination of the first two examples. She is disoriented from her dream, and fully snaps out of it when Elrond reminds her of what she did for him as a child.

videopress

Who evoked her obsession, in the first place?

Sauron.

“Every war is fought both without and within. Of that every soldier must be mindful. Even I.” -Galadriel

Evil does not sleep; it waits. He has been awake for a long time, and in the moment of her complacency, he blinded her.

She says this for a reason: “You would make me a tyrant.”

Her Queen Temptation was not hypothetical, nor was the idea that Sauron would make her a tyrant. She knew what he would turn her into, because she witnessed firsthand the consequences of her obsession.

Conclusion

Sauron’s character is so well-written and performed, the deception bleeds into the actual audience, and that is frightening.

"What’s so unique and amazing about him as a villain is that he has to gain trust and he has to manipulate his way through. It’s different to other villains that have this slightly unhinged quality, whereas maybe there’s elements of that in Sauron, occasionally. But for all we know, in his interactions with people and in gaining their trust, he’s a really nice, sweet, kind guy. And that’s terrifying if you have that and you have him being genuinely open and nice and caring. […]

"[…] When you’re watching as an audience member and we’re seeing him being kind and nice, if you know his true intentions, it makes it really scary underneath. I think the key to that is not playing the overt evilness at this stage." -Charlie Vickers, Nerdist

Charlie is right, and that makes this conversation…

…extremely sinister.

[To be continued…]

#rings of power meta #rop analysis #rop meta #trop meta #sauron #the rings of power #rings of power #galadriel #the silmarillion #blog #charlie vickers #link #chapter 5 #halbrand

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wildwren · 2 years

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To be honest, I think the Rings of Power pacing and structure really work best on re-watch. As someone who is enthusiastic about the show and excited for each episode, I still struggle with feeling overwhelmed by the story in a way that makes it a little hard to sink in and really vibe on a first watch. Even with the (IMO) wise decision to cut one or more subplots from each episode (The Dwarves, Bronwyn & Theo in Episode 3; The Harfoots in Episode 4), there is still so much going on. Just the Númenor arc itself has like 3+ subplots progressing at once. But when I re-watch, I feel less dragged around by the storyline and can vibe in a deeper way with the characters and emotional arcs. It's definitely a challenge of the show, but I don't think that means it's failing in its storytelling.

Thinking about that interview with the showrunners where they said it could be just the dwarf show, or the Númenor show, or the elf show, but the thing that makes it Middle Earth is that it's all of them -- it's all these cultures interacting in the story landscape together. The Lord of the Rings books obviously had a specific device to deal with this -- showing them all through the eyes of one humble group, letting the reader interact with these different settings and people by means of one heroic journey. But even that had to splinter and change structure as the story progressed to maintain the sort of complexity Tolkien was going for.

It's an interesting conundrum, because the backstory and the lore and all the Silmarillion content doesn't have an easily accessible story structure built into it. And trying to re-create a hero's fellowship's journey arc to mimic it would no doubt be lambasted as derivative and forced. The arc of Galadriel, while certainly centered, feels to me a little less than a primary protagonist sort of structure. I would say we have the Galadriel arc (Galadriel = protagonist), the Harfoot arc (Nori = protagonist), the Dwarf arc (ironically I do feel like Elrond is currently the protagonist here), the Númenor arc (this feels Isildur-focused to me but you could make the case for another character), and the Southlands arc (Arondir = protagonist).

Additionally, if we're taking the Galadriel arc as primary (again, this isn't quite how the storytelling is landing for me, but I understand how it could be framed that way), it is essentially a direct opposite or inverse to the journey we followed Frodo on. Galadriel is an intensely powerful being already living in the shadow of her trauma, who will most likely travel a character arc towards accepting the need for a more simple and gentle existence. Of course it's not going to feel exactly like the Fellowship of the Ring, because it's working with essentially different story structures. But that in itself is not evidence of its failure towards the source material. I don't know, I just think it's more interesting to think about how the writing is dealing with the challenges of the structure than, like, nitpicking a little bit of plot armor or funny editing here and there, but what do I know.

Anyway, I will probably regret posting this because Tumblr hates good-faith critical analysis but be warned, my block hammer is swift and heavy.

#*squinting my eyes closed really tightly before pressing post*#the rings of power #rings of power #trop #rings of power meta

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