It is not like Éowyn to be late, Théoden mused. Then, taking a deep draw from the goblet in his hand, he reconsidered. Is it? Who am I to know?
She had grown into a woman before his eyes, and yet he had no memory of the change. Not for the first time in the past weeks, he cursed Grima Wormtongue under his breath. His mind and body had been all but stolen, and now his dear niece seemed a stranger to him.
As did her brother.
The king peered at his nephew across the table. The boy—the man, Théoden corrected himself—favored his father so greatly a quick glance found them indistinguishable. But he did not speak with the ease and familiarity that Théoden had shared with Éomund, who had been his brother in heart long before marriage had reunited the branches of the House of Eorl by law. The King had dared to hope for something similar for his son and nephew—one to wisely rule the realm and the other to bravely defend it. Alas, fate was a fickle mistress.
Dark days had hardened his nephew, no longer a foolhardy youth but instead a stern commander of his éored. Upon joining the table, Éomer had greeted the king with manners befitting a Marshal of the Mark, delivered reports on the comings and goings of Rohan’s riders, and then fallen silent as he focused on filling his goblet and savoring its contents.
It had not always been like this. How had they fallen so far?
Continue Reading on FF.netorAO3 OR Start from the Beginning on FF.netorAO3
I’m super stoked to be sharing some new content for this story!
Tagging a few people who might be particularly interested in this update: (If you want to be added or dropped from any future tagging for Rose of Gondor, please let me know!)
Returning to the waking world was like fighting that cursed river all over again. Time and again, Rimiriel would rise to the very edge of consciousness. Time and again, the clawed grasp of heavy slumber would drag her back beneath the surface. She tumbled and twisted in the undercurrent of dark dreams filled with fire, blood and death. When she finally breached the surface of awareness and managed to stay afloat, it was with muddled senses and no small amount of confusion.
Coarse sleep-sand glued her eyelids together. Every feather from the down pillows cradling her head had been stuffed through her ears, overcrowding her skull so that she could not piece together a coherent thought. The surrounding quiet was suffocating after days of thundering hooves and steady rain.
For a moment, Rimiriel imagined she was a child again, having fallen asleep after a night of studying and been carried to bed by one of her brothers. But no, a drowsy voice in her head reminded her. She had wandered far from the libraries of Minas Tirith, and she had done so alone. She had traversed the farmlands of the Anorien, survived the icy waters of the Mering Stream, and crossed the grasslands of Rohan with none but her stallion for company. She had seen the golden roof of Meduseld with her own eyes—a feat few in Gondor could justly claim—and met the lord of the famed hall.
As she opened her eyes to the brightness of the mid-morning sun, Rimiriel remembered Théoden King’s offer of hospitality. Her foreign surroundings stood witness to the truth of his offer. A servant had led her to this room—spartan, though not in an uninviting way. High wooden beams arched overhead, so different from the stone ceilings of Gondor. A rock hearth still glowing on one side and a single window on the other were all that interrupted the walls aside from simple, solidly built furniture. She reclined in the room’s centerpiece: a large bed dressed in blankets made from pelts. Curious fingers marveled at the foreign softness of the warm layers. Aside from the mining villages high in the mountain regions, Gondorian winters were rarely cold enough for furs to be in high demand.
The servant that had brought her to the room had stoked a fire in the hearth and ordered a bath drawn. His retreat had heralded the arrival of a team carrying a wooden tub and a collection of steaming water pots. They had filled the tub quickly and then they, too, all retreated, save a pair of women near Rimiriel’s own age.
The servants did not bother introducing themselves, so the Gondorian resorted to quickly cataloguing the pair. One was taller with hooded eyes while the other was slight in both height and build, a thick spattering of freckles across her nose. What they spoke of the Common Tongue was thickly accented, but their intentions were clear. In no condition to refuse after her series of misadventures, the Gondorian allowed the women to help her disrobe. Deft fingers worked at buckles and clasps, confiscating Rimiriel’s belt and vest while she toed off her own boots. She reached for the bottom hem of her shirt and pulled it overhead, letting out a low hiss as aching muscles protested.
She had not thought about how she might look to an observer until she heard a small gasp and a foreign curse.
Chapter Seven: The Stranger & the King Chapter Excerpt
Only the dead have seen the end of war.
Éomer remembered his father speaking those words around a blazing fire after he and his riders had returned home from one of the many skirmishes with the enemies of Rohan threatening their borders. As a boy he had never questioned the truth in his father’s words even though he had not understood their meaning. Even now as a man, with his father gone to join his ancestors in the afterlife, he had yet to find a reason to doubt the bitter wisdom of Éomund, former Lord of Aldburg and Marshal of the Mark. For while others had honorably given their lives in defense of their homeland and now enjoyed the endless peace of the afterlife, free from war and strife, Éomer was still facing the threats of Mordor’s long-reaching shadow, his still-beating heart a constant reminder that he was not yet done fighting.
Would the battles ever be finished? Would his people ever know true peace?
As Éomer allowed the heavy doors of Meduseld to close behind him, cutting off the dismissive chatter of his uncle and his fellow Marshals of the Mark as they gathered the maps and reports referenced in their discussion of the next steps in securing their borders, he did not think so. All the talk of war so soon after losing so many men to the battle at Helm’s Deep had him feeling much wearier than his twenty-seven years would suggest. He was grateful for these few stolen moments of solitude as he stood on the porch of Meduseld, even though the solitude itself was a stark reminder of how much could be lost in war, with the terrace unusually empty since Háma the doorward had been slain and Théoden King had yet to appoint a replacement.
The youngest of the Riddermark’s Marshals breathed deeply of the air, fresh with the scent of the early spring rains that had been sweeping across the land over the past few days. He looked out over the town that had mostly fallen silent, with many of the citizens journeying to the western hamlets to aid their relatives and neighbors in restoring that which had been destroyed by Saruman’s marauding armies, rebuilding devastated homes and resowing uprooted crops, and his chest puffed with pride. None could deny that the Rohirrim were a hardy people, capable of weathering any storm. It would take more than the malice of the White Wizard to bring his people to their knees!
While he surveyed the land beyond the walls of Edoras, the Marshal’s sharp eyes noticed movement on the horizon to the east of the capital: a dark figure racing down the Great Road with considerable haste. As it drew closer, the formless smudge shifted and gained definition so that he could discern the separate-but-joined shapes of a horse and rider. Perhaps a messenger was bringing news on the efforts to push the barbaric Dunlending raiders that had chosen to side with Saruman back to their borders, he hoped. Reports of success would be most welcome and would do much to quell the rising tensions between the Marshals who could not seem to agree which move should be Rohan’s next.
Deciding to undertake the duty of greeting the messenger, Éomer descended the steps of Meduseld as the horse and rider barreled through the gates of Edoras, thundering through the town and cresting the hill to approach the Golden Hall without hesitation. He quickly realized that this was something more than a routine report, faltering at the edge of the first steps leading up the summit of the hill to where Meduseld stood tall and proud over its surroundings. Dread sent ice coursing through his veins as he surveyed the travelers coming to a halt only a stride away from where he stood….
It was nearly dawn when Rimiriel finally gave up on attempting to rest for even a moment more after a night of tossing fitfully about within her bedroll. The inky blue-black of morning twilight seemed evermore eerie where she camped at the eastern-most edge of the Firien Wood, the canopy of towering oaks casting shadows in thick clusters ideal for hiding enemies or predators, and so she focused on coaxing life back into the dying embers of her campfire. Every muscle remained coiled to spring as she listened for any enemies attempting to sneak up on her campsite, but it seemed her only company aside from Voronwë where he stood dozing nearby was the hooting owls and singing insects composing their nighttime melodies from within the forest’s dense shadows. The lone healer-turned-messenger knew that it was her own exhaustion that had her so on edge, but she also knew that she would be unable to rest peacefully until she had completed her mission.
After leaving Osgiliath at her brother’s command, she and her stallion had ridden hard across the plains of Anorien, pushing themselves until well past the midnight hour. They had finally stopped and made camp at the northwestern edge of the Druadan Forest, well past Cair Andros and any potential threats coming from that region. Just as she had promised her brother. Still, Rimiriel had felt as though she was being watched from the moment they had entered the ancient wood, her skin crawling under the weight of unseen stares even once they had exited the forest and made camp in its shadow. Weary from the long day in the saddle, she had lain down to find what rest she could, hoping that sleep would come quickly. Instead, her tired mind instantly recalled the old legends of the wildmen who called the Druadan home, conjuring sinister images of troll-like creatures waiting in the shadows to drag her away from the warm safety of her brightly crackling campfire the moment her guard fell.
She had hardly slept a moment that first night, but still faithfully rose to greet the day when the sun began to rise and burn away the darkness of night, replacing it with bright hues of red and orange. She and Voronwë set off at a brisk pace, the weathered grey stones of the Great Road cutting a path through the farms and fields of the Sun-land. The morning’s red sky had been offering a warning of things to come, however, with Rimiriel noticing dark storm clouds gathering overhead as the day progressed. The foreboding clouds chased horse and rider across the grasslands until their luck finally ran out.
The downpour began near midday and grew steadily worse over the course of the next two hours. Both messenger and steed were drenched and chilled to the bone by the time Rimiriel managed to find them shelter in an abandoned farm’s old barn. The crumbling building provided refuge from the worst of the gale, but little else as it proved to be both leaky and drafty. After seeing her horse dried off and made as comfortable as possible in one stall of the barn, the healer stripped out of her wet clothes and hung them to dry before bundling herself in her own blanket and bedding down in a pile of old hay, electing to use this obstacle to her advantage and get some rest.
She was primarily unsuccessful.
She knew there had once been a time in her childhood when she had slept soundly to the cadence of raindrops on the stone roofs of Dol Amroth or the Citadel, taking comfort in the new beginnings the spring rains promised after a long winter. That time was gone, however, with a young Rimiriel learning a hard lesson in the uncertainty and danger a storm brought with it, reshaping a childish love into a blatant dread of the darkening skies and strong winds that heralded the arrival of a squall.
She dozed restlessly until she heard the storm begin to die down, and then it was time to move once again. Fear of how much time had been lost due to the storm made her movements hasty as she dressed herself and saddled her horse, and she allowed herself only a quick meal before setting out once more.
Further exploring realms of extreme possibility concerning the fate of Nenya (as well as the other two Rings of Power) should Sauron regain the One Ring.
The purpose of these posts are to allow me to brainstorm ideas for The Circles, an alternate universe fanfiction series. Writing ideas out like this helps me solidify more nebulous concepts and choose a course of action.
Today I just finished re-reading “The Council of Elrond.”
ELROND: “The Three were not made by Sauron, nor did he touch them. […] But they were not made as weapons of war or conquest: that is not their power. Those who made them did not desire strength or domination or hoarded wealth, but understanding, making, and healing, to preserve all things unstained. These things the Elves of Middle-earth have in some measure gained, though with sorrow. But all that has been wrought by those who wield the Three will turn to their undoing, and their minds and hearts will become revealed to Sauron, if he regains the One.” (p. 301)
The way I read this is that Elrond is theorizing that all that has been made by the Three Rings (such as the defenses around Lothlorien and Rivendell) will effectively be cursed should Sauron regain the One Ring. Elrond may or may not be correct in his assumptions, but we never got to find out in the canon version.
THE THEORY I AM PLAYING AROUND WITH IS AS FOLLOWS: As long as Galadriel does not wear Nenya, the magical girdle that she has established around Lorien will continue to protect her realm for an indefinite period of time, even though Sauron has the One Ring. I further theorize that Sauron cannot control a Ring of Power from afar unless someone is wearing it. Sauron KNOWS now that Galadriel is a Ringbearer, and he has an understanding of the defenses around the forest, but he has to rely upon less powerful underlings to do his bidding. Here is where the Galadhrim may have the upper hand - at least for a while. Of course, if Sauron came in person to Lorien, he could easily shatter Galadriel’s defenses. They would stand up to the might of the Dark Lord like a house of cards in a wind storm.
In my post Galadriel vs Sauron and the Fate of Lorien, I had entertained the possibility that over time, the enchantments around Lorien would start to show signs of corruption, such as strange and twisted vegetation. However, I hesitated on this, because the Three Rings were not evil in themselves, and I wasn’t certain if their works could turn to evil.
However, Elrond theorizes, “But all that has been wrought by those who wield the Three will turn to their undoing[…]”
So maybe the vegetation in the forest SHOULD eventually start showing the effects of the Shadow. The trees could sicken, but instead of dying, they cling unnaturally to life, becoming gnarled, twisted abominations that are terrifying to behold… a corruption of the preservative, time altering, entropy defying effects of the Three Rings…
OR maybe instead of a physical effect, the elves start to turn against each other, like how in the various times in the Silmarillion that the ramifications of the Oath and the Curse of Mandos became activated, igniting suspicion, paranoia, and bloodlust.
THE SCENARIO: Sauron has regained the One Ring! What happens next???
These thoughts came to me… like the sudden strike of lightning…
With the One Ring in Sauron’s possession, Galadriel cannot wear Nenya without falling to thralldom. But what of the enchantments that Galadriel laid over Lothlorien using Nenya in the past?
(I believe that Galadriel used a combination of her own native strengths and those of her Ring of Power to create her own version of Melian’s Girdle around Lothlorien – an enchanted circle of protection and concealment. I think that this would have been an established system of spells, maybe using runes of power, so it wasn’t a magical force field that she had to concentrate upon all the time to maintain. She needed to keep her mind free to perceive Sauron’s thoughts concerning the elves, after all.)
While Sauron can control the wearer of a Ring of Power, I don’t think he can control the Ring itself from afar if no one is wearing it. So he couldn’t just command Nenya to turn off the defenses around Lorien; he would have to command Galadriel to do this. So, therefore, in theory, Lothlorien could remain under the protection of Nenya for an indefinite period of time, IF GALADRIEL DOES NOT PUT ON THE RING.
“Nenya’s power was preservation, protection, and concealment from evil.” – Tolkien Gateway Wikipedia
The motivation behind the creation of the Rings of Power was so that the elves could halt the effects of time and create a form of heaven (Valinor) on earth (Letter 131). The elves really, really hated the Second Law of Thermodynamics, and sought to bypass entropy, and prevent change from occurring. Since Nenya was created with these ideas in mind, I suppose it’s theoretically possible that this Ring could continue protecting Lothlorien indefinitely, as a sort of elven perpetual motion machine.
This would effectively mean that Celebrimbor would be achieving revenge upon Sauron FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE, since he was the one who created Nenya.
As I contemplate a world in which Sauron has possession of the One Ring, I find myself straying more and more into the Realm of Extreme Possibility.
When Angmar and I discussed plans for the The Circles back in 2005, we thought that Lorien would be one of the first places in Rhovanion to fall, due to its closeness to Dol Guldur and the fact that it seems to have more magical than natural defenses. Galadriel would not be able to use Nenya without falling under thralldom to Sauron, so this would severely lessen Lorien’s defensive power.
HOWEVER, over the years I have discovered that there are multiple theories about Galadriel’s powers and the properties of the Three Rings.
It is known that the Three Rings will lose their powers after the One Ring is destroyed, but as far as I can tell, Tolkien never specifically stated if this was a sudden shutdown or a slow and gradual diminishing. I have seen this issue argued both ways.
On March 28, THREE DAYS AFTER THE DESTRUCTION OF THE ONE RING, Galadriel and Thranduil led an assault on Dol Guldur, and “Galadriel threw down its walls and laid bare its pits.” Many people believe that Galadriel used the waning powers of Nenya to achieve this feat.
However, there is an opposing theory that states that Galadriel used HER OWN POWER to destroy Dol Guldur, much like how Luthien threw down Tol Sirion with the power of enchanted song. (Having Galadriel destroy Sauron’s fortress with song also seems fitting, especially since her brother Finrod lost a battle in song to Sauron.) Galadriel was the student of Melian, the maia queen of an enchanted forest, and she learned much from her tutor. Lorien seems to be inspired by Melian’s own forest home.
Another factor to consider when contemplating this second theory is that Nenya’s powers seem defensive, not offensive. Even if the ring still retained some of its powers after the destruction of the One Ring, it might not have been able to destroy a fortress.
GOING BY THE SECOND THEORY… If Galadriel possesses the power to destroy a fortress through magic or song, perhaps Lorien would not fall immediately to the forces of Dol Guldur and Sauron.
IN REGARD TO THE SCENARIO OF SAURON REGAINING THE ONE RING… We know absolutely nothing about what could possibly happen!!! After all, when Sauron put on the One Ring, the elves took off the Three Rings and hid them. So no one had been using them. But at the time of Year 3019 of the Third Age, the Three Rings had been used for thousand of years… Galadriel used Nenya to surround Lorien with mists and enchantments; Elrond used Vilya to make Rivendell a refuge; and Gandalf used Narya to stir the fires of hope, POSSIBLY to make fire magic, and POSSIBLY fireworks.
Obviously, with the One Ring on Sauron’s hand, Galadriel cannot use Nenya. But would all of the enchantments and protections that she laid upon Lothlorien with the power of this Ring immediately be deactivated like someone turned off a light switch?
WHAT WE KNOW FOR A CERTAINTY…
“For if you fail, then we are laid bare to the Enemy.” –Galadriel
Once Sauron puts on the One Ring, he instantly knows the identity of the other Ringbearers. So he knows that Galadriel, Elrond, and Gandalf were in possession of the Three Rings at the moment he regained the One.
I don’t know if Sauron would be able to control the subserviant Rings unless someone was wearing them. So I don’t think he could just command Nenya from afar to undo all of the magic that it had wrought.
Perhaps Nenya’s enchantments would then continue to remain active, even though Galadriel could not use her ring anymore.
Remember, Frodo had the One Ring in his possession for 17 years. He kept it at Bag End, and never wore it. But he stopped aging the moment it came into his posession. The passive powers of the Ring caused him to stop aging, even when he never actually used it.
So possibly the enchantments that Galadriel laid over Lorien using Nenya would continue to protect the realm. Perhaps over time, though, they would begin to weaken.
Another intriguing possibility would be if the enchantments would slowly begin showing signs of corruption… like maybe the vegetation starts looking weird and twisted… But that might go against the concept that the Three Rings, while being made using the skills Sauron taught to Celerimbor, were free of evil.
Now I think Galadriel, of all the Three Ring bearers, would struggle especially to cope with life without Nenya. Her magic forest is part of her identity, and I think she would be severely pained by the reduction of her powers. I think she would struggle with the temptation to put the ring on again, even though she knows well the dangers.
“I say to you, Frodo, that even as I speak to you, I perceive the Dark Lord and know his mind, or all of his mind that concerns the Elves. And he gropes ever to see me and my thought. But still the door is closed!” –Galadriel
Galadriel had been fighting a psychic war of sorts with Sauron for some time. Now the tables would be turned. I think that he would be doing a lot of meditating upon Galadriel and Nenya, trying to exert his psychic will over her and tempt her to wear her ring once again. Sort of like how the Palantir, a neutral object that has been turned into a communication device between Isengard and Sauron, seems to tempt Pippin to look into it. He would also be extending his thought towards Elrond and Gandalf as well.
The knowledge of the location of the Three Rings could potentially alter Sauron’s war strategies.
Gondor is obviously one of Sauron’s main objectives, as well as Rohan. Tolkien never wrote much about the war in Rhovanion. There were attacks on Lorien, Mirkwood, Lonely Mountain, and Dale. However, I’m not sure which of those locations would be most important to Sauron. With the knowledge that Nenya is in Lorien, I think his objective might shift to Lorien, and Mirkwood, as Thranduil is an ally of Galadriel. Perhaps Sauron might abandon the fight at Dale and the Lonely Mountain for a time to focus on fighting with the elves.
It is a dark and bleak Fourth Age ruled by Sauron, who now has the One Ring in his possession.
With much pomp and ceremony, the Dark Lord crosses the River Anduin and ascends the many levels of Minas Tirith.
As he regally takes a seat upon the throne once reserved for the Gondorian kings, Sauron thinks back to the other Minas Tirith from the First Age, and a morbidly amusing thought comes to him:
I wish I had some people to swap ideas with regarding alternate universe what if possibilities concerning how the war in Gondor, Rohan, and Eriador might progress if Sauron regained the One Ring. There are the usual forums, but there is are ideological differences between fanfiction writers and non-writer fan/scholar types. (Fanfiction writers tend to be more creative and open minded in their approach to Tolkien’s world, while non-writers tend to look down upon alternate interpretations of the text, or deviations from it in creative media.) I don’t want to argue with someone who is convinced that their understanding of the canon is the only right one, or those who shut down these sort of discussions because they feel that a Fourth Age that starts out with Sauron in command is too depressing to contemplate.
It would be good to discuss these matters with people who are open to multiple and possibly conflicting interpretations of the canon, and all of the various ways one can diverge from it while still remaining rooted in Tolkien’s lore.
In The Circles, Sauron has regained the One Ring, and now controls the eastern part of Gondor. There were major Mordorian losses in Rohan, and as of the summer of 3019, Rohan remains free.
When he started writing The Circles, one of Angmar’s goals was to bring a First Age feel to the Third/Fourth Ages. He was especially inspired by the dark years that followed the Nírnaeth Arnoediad and the fall of the various strongholds of Elves and Men. He also liked the concept that not all the elves would flee to Valinor, but that many would stay, and fight for Middle-earth. Therefore, in The Circles, there ARE elves at Helm’s Deep, but it’s the Second Battle of Helm’s Deep, and the elves are from Rivendell and led by Glorfindel.
The Circles was inspired by a RPG of which Angmar was the gamemaster. He was forced to end the game prematurely, and so he made Mordor win major victories in eastern Gondor but suffer major losses Rohan. This resulted in a temporary ceasefire, with Rohan, west Gondor, and Mordor hastily making fortifications and seeking reinforcements. Since The Circles was originally meant to be a campaign in this RPG, Angmar and I carried over these ideas into the fanfiction version of the story.
I like the concept of a sort of cold war between Mordor and East/West Gondor, as Sauron works on fortifying and strengthening his hold in eastern Gondor while planning his next move. I can see a lot of spying and espionage going on, as well as border skirmishes. Outlaws, rebels, La Résistance. (Angmar led an Occupied Gondor campaign towards the end of RPG, in which the Mordorian occupying forces in eastern Gondor demanded that the people pay extravagant tribute to their new overlords.)
For the sake of the story, I don’t want Sauron to achieve swift widespread victories. There is this attitude in the Tolkien fandom that if Sauron regains the Ring, BOOM, all of Middle-earth will be his. However, it takes weeks for an army to get from Point A to Point B, and many of Sauron’s allies come from a great distance from the lands with whom he is waging war.
Also, Angmar envisioned there being dissent within Sauron’s own allies, nations and tribes who resented paying tribute of money and slaves to the Dark Lord. With the publication of Nature of Middle-earth, it turns out that Tolkien had the same idea - that the Blue Wizards were working behind the scenes, stirring up resentment against Sauron, and this was one of the reasons that led to Sauron’s forces at the time of the War of the Ring not being as strong as he would have liked. While Angmar did not get a chance to do anything with the Blue Wizards, he did play around with the concept of rebels and revolutionaries. In the early days of Angmar’s RPG, he entertained the idea of the peoples of both the West and East joining together to fight against Sauron in a sort of War of the Last Alliance type situation - but something like this would probably occur later in the Fourth Age. (He imagined Sauron as eventually becoming more and more power mad, to the point of Morgoth-style insanity.)
In the summer of 3019, the war in Gondor and Rohan seems easier to contemplate than the conflict in Rhovanion. I’m not sure what parts of Rohvanion would be most important to Sauron. Angmar and I thought that Lorien would fall first, because Galadriel couldn’t use Nenya to defend her territory if Sauron had the One Ring. However, over the years, I have had some second thoughts about this, because there is significant evidence that Galadriel has similar powers to her brother Finrod, and was able to destroy Dol Guldur with her own native strength even after Nenya lost its powers. Also, while Galadriel can’t wear Nenya when Sauron has the One Ring, I’m not sure his having the One Ring in his possession would negate the defensive spells laid on the area using Nenya in the past.
I think Lothlorien would have personal significance to Sauron, especially since now he knows that Galadriel was a Ringbearer. But I’m not sure what order of significance the other Rhovanion territories would have - Thranduil’s kingdom, Dale, the Lonely Mountain, the Beorning lands, and any Northmen settlements. The Rohvanion front is often overlooked in favor of Gondor and Rohan, both by fans and by Tolkien himself.
There is another matter to consider. Since he now has the One Ring, perhaps Sauron’s goals might shift to reclaiming the Three? The war for Middle-earth might morph into Part Two of the War of the Elves and Sauron.
A CAVEAT… I don’t actually want to write a war novel with a lot of combat scenes, but these are events that would be taking place in the background of more peaceful plotlines. The Circles was never really meant to be about the war, but how the war affected the characters.
Written by Angmar; Edited by Elfhild From Book 8 of The Circles
After the Mouth of Sauron had departed from the prison cell, the Morgul Lord divested himself of his garments and lay down upon his bed. Willing himself into a deep state of torpor, soon he began to dream. Whether it was the vain imaginings of his own mind, or some test from his Master, he knew not.
In his dream, the Morgul Lord was in his cell, just as he was in the waking world. Suddenly the door slowly swung open, creaking upon its hinges. A great urge came over him to walk down the hall and leave his chamber for a little while. As he walked down the corridor, he began to wonder where he was going and why. Then he knew. He stood at the great arched doorway that led to the Great Hall of Barad-dûr. And there it was… the Throne of the Dark Lord.
As he looked at the towering chair of black adamant, he placed a foot on the first step and then took another step, and another, until he had climbed to the very top of the raised dais where the throne itself rested. As he gazed at the symbol of majesty, he realized that he was almost the - no, he was exactly the same - huge shape as Sauron Himself. He smiled at the dramatic figure he must be making, his robes swirling around him, as he seated himself upon the great chair. As he lay his hands upon armrests cushioned with thick black velvet, he saw upon his hand the Ruling Ring. He gazed over the massive hall which stretched before him, and his mind was quick to set about devising the first words he would say after the orcs had crowned him as Ruler of the World.
“Long have the orc-folk suffered under the yoke of a cruel and unjust Master Who rewarded them with little and exacted everything from them. They have suffered for Him, bled for Him, died for Him, and what have they received in return? Nothing! That day is over at last.” The Morgul Lord looked out over the sea of orcish faces, and read nothing but adoration. “Those who are with me, come forward now, and I will lead you into victory over the Tyrant!” The deafening cheers that went up from hundreds of throats echoed and reechoed through the hall until they seemed to fill all of Barad-dûr with jubilation. He stood before the chair and raised his arms in benediction before dismissing them to go forth and put down the last shreds of opposition to his rule.
A knock at the door roused the Morgul Lord from his death-like slumber, and he growled softly, for it had been the first truly satisfying rest that he had had for months.
It feels good to be writing about the Nazgul again.
i keep making guys in heroforge. i don’t know why. is this what ocd is???? i can’t stop????
anyway. i want to share these so that I can stop working on them. so that I can go “there. it is done. it has been put out into the world, and it is complete. stop adjusting tiny little things and do your fucking homework. or eat. or sleep. or shower.”
also, i am weirdly proud of them. but the point of me posting them is so that my brain will consider them “finished” and will stop adjusting every. little. thing.
99% of these are blorbos from my various shows. these are the ones I will be posting (in a series of posts so I don’t waste ALL of today), bc part of this obsession seems to be with getting things “right” - i.e. accurate to the source material. by solidifying one representation of them, and throwing it out into the internet, i’m filing them away under “vetted and approved.”
so please, please,please do not comment “oh you missed this actually :)” no matter how well meaning. keep it to yourself. I guarantee you, I have already thought of it and attempted to do a heroforge representation of it somehow. it’s a good system but it is limited. compliments are fine just. i can’t fix these. fix them yourself if you want but don’t tell me about it.
I’m going to do screenshots as well as links. heroforge is a free service and doesn’t have any ads or anything so it’s not gonna throw a bunch of popups at you. (you can buy heroforge pro but it just unlocks some extra stuff and early access).
For this one I’m going to start with just posting my good omens characters.
Elf King Oikawa and his warrior & husbando Iwaizumi.
If you ever want to understand how badly I procrastinate, I drew the sketch of this as part of my LotR au when I was living in New Zealand in 2018 and only finished colouring it for Oikawa’s (very late) birthday this week, three years later. RIP
(P.S. I know the background is glitchy but it’ll probably take me another three years before I sit down and fix that so I’m posting it now)
I honestly do not have any excuses for not creating more content for this AU other than being a lazy arse, I hope you guys can forgive me one day..
Here’s an extra doodle to make up for it:
NewsLetter: “Prince Consort murdered our King by accident just by undressing before him in the royal baths. To be quite honest, I cannot blame the poor elf, for had it been someone else, the same would’ve happened anyway”“I honest to god, did not plan this to happen” The prince informed me, grief evident on his fair face “its not my fault he’s a fucki- Uhhh, weak hearted man”
This post is like getting pelted with marshmallows shot out of a tennis ball launcher
THAT LAST PIC IS NEW OMG
It so weird how I posted this never thinking it would gain any tracktion. I just want to share a tweet I thought was funny and here we are 175000 notes later and this post has become a real thing of beauty. I don’t know if anything will top this composite photo.
Ahh I’m so behind with posting art on here here’s a little hobbit Catradora sketch that I did for Molly and NOELLE RETWEETED AAAAAHHH (I have ascended)
summary: y/n, a mirkwood royal advisor, is deeply terrified of spiders. when she sees one on her bed, she runs for the hills.
this story is pretty short, but i thought it was hilarious!
—
—
Y/N’s shrill scream echoed through the palace.
“HELP HELP HELP!!!”
She ran as fast as her little legs could take her. Unfortunately, she gave all of the palace staff (other than a few of Thranduil’s guards) the weekend off. Nobody was there to help her except the King and Prince.
“Thranduil!!!!!” She yells, seeing him in the distance
“Y/N, what’s wrong?!” He asks urgently
Before she could tell him, she slipped. On the ground, she fell. “Ah, curse your perfect shiny floors!”
Thranduil picks her up in one swift movement. “Are you alright?!”
“Spider! In my room!” She exclaims, burrowing her head in Thranduil’s chest
Thranduil’s eyes widen. “Legolas, one of the monster spiders is in Y/N’s room!”
Legolas came running in, bow and arrows in hand. “I’ll protect you, Y/N!”
Thranduil and Legolas ran to Y/N’s room.
“This is why my staff doesn’t have off-days!” Thranduil proclaims
Legolas carefully prods the door open. “Where is it? Did it escape?”
Y/N squeals, almost falling out of Thranduil’s arms.
“It’s on my bed, it’s on my bed!!!”
Legolas drops his bow and arrow. His brow furrowed. Quietly, he stepped closer to her bed.
“That little thing?”
She was beyond horrified. “Yes! Yes! Yes!”
Legolas picks up the spider. Y/N wraps her arms around Thranduil’s neck and refuses to look. He opens the window and throws the little guy out.
“Y/N, is that what you were screaming about?” Legolas says, laughing
“Leggy…s’not very funny! Spiders are scary.”
Thraduil chuckled. “Well then I suppose we can’t let you into the forest anymore.”
Y/N tilts back, looking at Thranduil’s face. Her bottom lip juts out. “Why not?”
“There are these actual, Giant Spiders, that have been tormenting our borders for months. They are the size of me, and I’m over 6 feet tall.” Thranduil replies
“What?!” Y/N yells. “Why wasn’t this addressed in our meetings with all of the other Mirkwood elves?!!”
“Everyone has already known about it.” Legolas replies for Thranduil
“Well we are having a meeting on Monday and we are going to kill all of the big ass spiders!”
BOROMIR DESERVED SO MUCH BETTER! TOLKIEN IF UR READING THIS, UR MUM IS A HOE! AN ABSOLUTE THOT! IN FACT, YOU ARE ALSO AN ABSOLUTE THOT, TOLKIEN! I AM MAD. VERY MAD.
HE STILL PROTECTED MERRY AND PIPPIN, KNOWING DAMN WELL THAT HE WOULD PROBABLY DIE!
THE FATHER FIGURE!!! SAY IT WITH ME EVERYONE!!! THE FATHER FIGURE!!!! SO MANY ADORABLE MOMENTS WITH MERRY AND PIPPIN!!!!
SHOUTOUT TO THIS BEAUTIFUL SCENE! IT TRULY CAPTURES BOROMIRS UNDERATED BEAUTY!!! THE FALL LEAVES- EVERYTHING!
HE DIDNT TAKE ONE ARROW- BUT THREE F U C K I N G ARROWS FOR MERRY AND PIPPIN!!!!
KING OF WISE ASS WORDS!!! SO THOUGHTFUL- SO WONDERFUL!
i’m still sad about his death. if you couldn’t tell by my aggressive words. anyways i’m an activist for boromir rights ✊
Truly, there isn’t enough of this concept on Tumblr! Thranduil is jaded, yes, but what if he found a person to make him happy again? Like just imagine him finally feeling unconditional love again. He would totally be so sweet to whoever the person is…maybe even putting aside their differences if they are human, dwarf, etc. And Legolas- imagine how he would feel- to finally see his father smile genuinely again. The elves of mirkwood would notice the change; it would just be this amazing thing! I encourage more writers (and readers) to follow along on a FLUFFY THRANDUIL JOURNEY :-)
Y/N watched as Elrond left Mirkwood. It was a bittersweet moment, but it was for the best. She needed to stay in Mirkwood to ease tension and create peace.
Thranduil came beside her and put his hand on the small of her back. She smiled up at him shyly.
“So you are here to be apart of my council, correct?”
“Yes. Elrond wanted me to stay here in order to help with your mood and people.”
Thranduil chuckled, despite the fact that he disapprove of what Elrond said. It was true. “Well I don’t have any meetings planned soon, so we should be okay with my mood for today.”
Y/N laughed and took his arm in a friendly manor. Elrond had already informed Thranduil that she was rather affectionate. The pair moved with grace as they walked away from the stables in which Elrond had departed.
“Why don’t you show me around the gardens? That was always one of my favorite parts of Mirkwood. They are unbeatable.”
He smiled at the genuine compliment. “As you wish.”
Thranduil led her to the gardens. While on the way, he charmed her with his stories. Admittedly, he was quite funny and down to middle earth at times. Y/N and Thranduil’s conversation easily flowed.
Y/N was just as amicable as Thranduil. And just as he had charmed her, she charmed him. Y/N was quite adorable in his eyes. Sure, she was not your stereotypical half elf. It was very out of character for Thranduil to fall for someone like her. Normally, he frowned upon half elves.
Alas, Y/N was enchanting. She already had Thranduil and Legolas wrapped around her little finger without even realizing that. Y/N held onto Thranduil, head on his shoulder. It was a pleasant feeling for Thranduil. Affection had been rare for him ever since his wife died.
“Thank you for taking care of Legolas when I couldn’t.”
Y/N smiled up at him. “Of course. He is like my own kin.”
“I’ve noticed. He even calls you Naneth.”
“Yes…he always did that as a child and continues to now. I cannot recall the last time he has called me by my actually name.”
“He is very fond of you.”
“Legolas and I are very close. It seems that sometimes I already know what he is going to say before he even opens his mouth.” Y/N agrees
“Tis good to know that there was someone there for him.”
“Well, now that I’m staying here forever, according to Legolas, someone will undoubtedly be here for him!” Y/N jokes
Thranduil and Y/N laugh. He holds the gate open to the gardens. Y/N thanks him and walks inside. Her eyes darted to her two favorite plants.
“Alfirin and Elanor!” she exclaims
Kneeling beside the plants, she smells them. Her eyes close and she grins. Thranduil was entertained by her reaction.
“Are those your favorites, bunny?”
She blushes at the nickname. “Yes, they smell wonderful and are quite beautiful. When Legolas was young, I would braid his hair with these flowers. They are our favorite.”
Thranduil smiles. “Mine as well.”
He sits down on a nearby bench. Observing her was an activity he was learning to enjoy.
“May I pick a few?”
“Yes, you may.”
After having a handful of them, she skipped back over to him. Plopping down beside him, she smirked up at him expectantly.
“What is it, bunny?”
“Can I braid your hair?”
He stares down at her, considering his options. She stares back at him and begins to pout. Her bottom lip sticks out.
“Pweaseeeeeeeeee Thranduil?”
“Agh, fine!” He submits, rolling his eyes
Y/N cheers. She takes his palms and fills them with flowers. The crown was placed beside him.
“First, I must French braid your hair. The flowers can wait!”
“You know, I already have flowers in my crown.” Thranduil says
Y/N rolls her eyes. “No silly, you aren’t wearing your crown! Not with my beautiful braid!”
“Akingwithout his crown?”
“Yes!”
Y/N’s gentle fingers pulled through his hair. It was silky smooth and lacked knots. Thranduil moaned as she tugged on one of the strands. Both went red in the face. It was a rather awkward situation. And Y/N did not like that.
“My sincerest apologies Thranduil. I have forgotten how sensitive elves can be when you pull on their hair.”
Thranduil said nothing in reply. Y/N began to section out his hair. Piece by piece, it came together. Finally, she completed the French braid.
“Could you tilt your head back for a moment, facing me?”
Thranduil tilts his head back. Y/N surveys his face, making sure there are no stragglers. She giggles at his serious expression.
“Lighten up Thranduil!”
“Lighten up?”
“It’s a figure of speech.”
“Figure of speech?”
“Ah, nevermind! Give me the flowers, please.”
He holds his palms out. She takes an Elanor and threads it into the braid. Before running out of flowers, she took the last two and stuck one behind each ear.
Y/N takes Thranduil’s hand and makes him stand up. A blush appeared on his face as she leaned up and kissed his cheek.
“You look wonderful Thranduil. Just like the elven king that you are.”
“Thank you, Y/N.”
She takes his arm and his crown. They walk to the palace, talking quietly amongst themselves. Though Y/N’s laughter echoed through the kingdom.
The staff was just preparing for dinner as they walked inside. An eager Legolas greeted Y/N exuberantly. She smiled, hugging him.
“Hello Legolas. How was your day?”
“It is even better, now that I have seen you!”
Y/N elbows Thranduil. “What do you think of the hair? Do a spin for us!”
Thranduil rolls his eyes, but does a spin. Legolas and Y/N laugh. It was a demoralizing situation for the other party.
“It reminds me of how you used to do my hair as a child. I love it.”
“Yes, that is why I snuck a few extra flowers in the crown. It was so big that I could fit them in here!” Y/N exclaims. “Now it’s time to do your hair, Legolas!”
“That sounds great.” He says, taking Y/N’s hand
Thranduil followed behind, watching the two interact. It fascinated him to see how close Legolas got with Y/N. He couldn’t remember the last time he had received a hug, or even a praise from his son.
Y/N was Legolas’s old childhood babysitter. Thranduil becomes infatuated with her quickly.
—
Thranduil x Y/N
—
Naneth! pt.1
Elrond and Y/N entered the kingdom of Mirkwood. She smiled softly, thinking of fond memories with the prince.
“Are you happy to be here?” Elrond inquires
“Very. Though I’m afraid Legolas may not remember me, as it has been long since I’ve travelled here.”
Elrond shook his head. “Legolas could never forget someone as extraordinary as you, Y/N.”
When Legolas was a small child and teenager, Y/N would often babysit him. Though never formally meeting Thranduil, she took care of his son like her own. Elrond had recommended Y/N and Thranduil trusted his word.
Soon, Y/N was the only caretaker Legolas ever wanted as a child. He would refuse to have anyone else watch over him as his father was gone on important missions.
Though as he grew up, her visits became less frequent. Their relationship faded over the centuries. But now, Y/N was back again.
Hope filled Y/N’s doe eyes. “Thank you, Elrond. We will just have to see how well I get along with King Thranduil.”
Elrond chuckles. “He’ll come around even if he doesn’t fancy you when you first meet”
A few guards noticed their arrival and bowed. Elrond nodded respectfully and asked for directions to the stables. The guards offer to take their horses so that they could travel on foot to the palace.
Elrond and Y/N dismounted their horses and walked through the village of Mirkwood. A charming place, it was!
“It’s just as I remember it.” Y/N says fondly
Elrond and Y/N locked arms as they walked through the village. They were incredibly close friends. Both knew that their relationship was nothing but platonic, and it was clear to everyone around them as well.
Y/N’s smile grew as they began to walk up the palace steps. She lifted her skirt with her free hand. Once reaching the top, Elrond greets the palace guards. They opened the doors for the two and they walked inside.
Legolas was the first to notice their presence. Without a second thought, he yelled “Naneth!” and ran to her. Thranduil perked up at the name, and turned around to face Y/N.
She opened her arms wide for him to crash into. Legolas nearly made Y/N fall from their impact. She laughed and held him close. His lanky arms encased her curvy body tightly.
Elrond approached Thranduil. Their quiet discussion had begun.
“Y/N hasn’t been here in centuries.”
Thranduil nods. “Yes. And it seems that she and Legolas are rather close.”
Elrond smiles. “It broke Y/N’s heart to not see Legolas, but she knew she had to let him go. He was very attached to her.”
“I can see that. He even calls her mother.”
Elrond freezes up slightly, looking over at Thranduil’s face. It had a melancholic expression as he studied the two closely.
“Y/N was the closest thing to a mother little Legolas had.” Elrond says boldly
“Hello, my dear Legolas. You’ve grown a whole foot since I last saw you!”
He lifted her into his arms and spun her around. Y/N couldn’t help the giggles that fell out of her mouth.
“And you’re as short as ever!” He teased
Y/N nodded. “Yes, the perk of being half human!”
“Why didn’t you come back, Naneth?” Legolas asked, a frown on his face
She smiled sadly. “You didn’t need me anymore, silly. You were plenty old enough to take care of yourself!”
He crosses his arms. “No! You were the best…and I really could’ve used your advice throughout my youth and even now. Naneth, you are staying here forever!”
Y/N laughed. “We will see, Legolas.”
Elrond clears her throat. Y/N goes red, realizing she hadn’t acknowledged Thranduil.
She curtsied at the two kings. “Hello, King Thranduil. I am Y/N. My apologies for not greeting you sooner.”
Thranduil motioned for her to come nearer. She stepped forward, a few feet away from him. He took her hand and kissed it gently, never breaking eye contact.
“Ah, a charmer I see.” She teases gently, a spark of playfulness in her eyes
“Something like that.” He smirks
Legolas and Elrond shared a look. Never had they seen Thranduil so friendly before. Y/N assumed it was normal, as she had never met Thranduil before.
“Hey Naneth, I want to show you around the castle again. My shot has gotten much better after all of this time!” Legolas exclaims
Y/N looks over at Elrond. He smiles and motions for her to join Legolas.
“It was a pleasure meeting you, Thranduil.” She says respectfully
“You as well, Lady Y/N.”
Legolas took her hand. Y/N followed after the very eager Legolas. It reminded her of when he was a small child, always wanting to show her something. He was a very curious elf and loved Y/N so dearly; therefore she was the one he used to always show things to.
“Any ladies in your life, Legolas?”
He sighs. “I’m afraid not. The one who I loved fell for someone else.”
She squeezed his hand sympathetically. “Oh, that is awful!”
Legolas took her into his secluded shooting range. She sat at a bench and watched as he grabbed his bow and arrows. Y/N laughed.
“Do you recall that little bow you used to use? It was always too big for you when you were around 9 years old. You were so eager to learn that you dropped it on your foot, for it was too heavy. Then you couldn’t walk on your foot for the rest of the week!”
He laughed. “I remember that!”
Once knocking an arrow back, he inhaled. It was completely silent where they sat.
Y/N was good at studying people without saying much. After exhaling, he let the arrow go. It flew to the target, landing right on the bullseye. Y/N clapped, pleased at Legolas’s work.
“You have improved so much! Even when you were 15 you couldn’t make that shot!” She praised
Legolas blushed. “Thank you, Naneth.”
Y/N was surprised that he continued to call her mother, even at his age. But then again, he was incredibly close to her so it made sense. In Legolas’s eyes, Y/N could do absolutely no wrong.
Elrond and Thranduil watched from a distance. They stood on a balcony and spoke softly to each other.
“She’s beautiful.” Thranduil admits
Elrond smiles. “Very. Inside and out. Y/N is one of the kindest human-elves I have ever met.”
“She doesn’t have many elven features, other than the ears.”
“Yes, she looks more human. Nevertheless, her mom and dad were only ½ elves as well. That explains why she only carries elven ears. But if we are being honest, she’s acts more elf than human.”
“If she has been staying with you for the past 3,000 centuries, I believe it. Did you say she was around 4,000 years old?”
Elrond’s brow quirked. “Do you wish to court her?”
“Maybe.” Thranduil muses
Elrond was surprised, but masked it. “Yes, she is around there. Her parents died when she was 1,000 years old.”
“That is very young…”
Elrond looks over at Y/N pityingly. “It was long ago. She recovered and became one of my best members of my council. And now, I shall give her to you.”
Thranduil was confused. “Do you mean that my own council is poorly run?”
Elrond was quick to defend himself. “No Thranduil. But I know that sometimes it is hard for you to be relaxed, and Y/N is very calming. Not only is she easy on the eyes, but is wise and works with the people. She is fantastic at sorting out issues and working through them peacefully.”
“Well then she will fit perfectly with my council.”
“I will be sad to see her gone, but it was in my vision for her to be with you. It is for the best.”
Thranduil was intrigued. “Did you see anything else?”
Elrond only smirked. “All I have to say is be kind to her. She will be very important for your future.”
Both shifted their gaze to Y/N. She was currently encouraging Legolas to split his arrow in half with another.
“C’mon Legolas, show me some real skill! Be dangerous!!” She yells
He chuckles. “I know my father said not to but…”
“Legolas and Y/N!”
Y/N turned red and spun around obediently. Legolas also turned around, bow and arrow pointed at the ground.
“Don’t you break anymore arrows Legolas! We have gone over this.” Thranduil yells exasperatedly
Legolas snorted, turned around, and shot the arrow. Y/N bit her lip, attempting to stifle the giggle.
A/N: first post everyone! leave a request or comment if you please, but most of all enjoy babies!
—
Lindir x Reader
—
Stay Away From My Girl
Lindir’s attempts at hiding his disgust for the dwarves were…fleeting. Y/N bared an amused expression, looking over at Lindir. Gandalf went on about how they were descendents of the House of Durin.
Though Y/N, Elrond, and Lindir were not impressed. Not in the slightest.
“An interesting group, I suppose.” Y/N muses
Lindir’s nostrils flare. “I’ll say.”
“You’re going to need to cleanse that water in the fountain, Elrond.” Y/N teases
Elrond shakes his head, smiling brightly. “Oh, we will have to do more than that my dear Y/N.”
Their conversation was interrupted by one of the dwarves standing on top of the table. Y/N felt Lindir tense up and snorted. Smoke practically rose from Lindir’s pointed elven ears.
The dwarves began to sing their tipsy songs and throw food. Y/N chuckled and clapped along. She soon realized that was a mistake as the lead singing dwarf took her hand.
Y/N was deeply humored as the dwarf took her by the waist and danced with her. Unlike the other elves, she was rather short. At a very approachable 5’2, she came off as less intimidating and very amicable.
The girl playing the harp, as well as the other girl playing the flute had stopped long ago. Y/N chuckled as the small dwarf spun her around. Her simple yet stunning dress swished about. A complete contrast to the dwarves food and alcohol covered outfits.
Lindir watched enviously. He could not believe his own elven eyes!
Y/N?
Dancing with old beardy over there?
Oh Heavens no!
Lindir’s lips curled and his nose scrunched up. Y/N’s delicate fingers should have never touched that dwarves dirt caked stubby ones. Her hair swayed as he danced her.
“Lindir,” Elrond warns gently, sensing his companions fury
At this point, no words or encouragement would put a dent in Lindir’s anger. Not only had they drank all the wine, swam naked in the sacred pool, but they took his girl! His jaw tightened, as well as his grip around his goblet.
Lindir and Y/N had been each other’s lovers since they were young, foolish elves. Maybe about 14? A lot had changed since then, but their love forever remained true. Once elves fall, they fall hard. And boy oh boy did Lindir and Y/N.
But neither have committed to their feelings or obvious needs for affections. They were busy elves! Working under Elrond was no easy job. Dissmissing their feelings for each other was only natural.
“Who taught you to dance?” She teased the dwarf
“Us dwarves have a natural talent for dance and seduction!” He gloated
“Oh yes, I am sure!” She agreed
Y/N felt that she was being stared at. A certain elf was not pleased with this situation. Her eyes widened as a potato soared right beside his head.
Y/N tried not to laugh. She really did! But it was just so…ridiculous! A soft giggle escaped your lips at Lindir’s expense. He glared tensely over at her.
“Why Lindir, why don’t you just get Lady Y/N and leave!” Gandalf says
“Yes, we have it under control.” Elrond agrees
Lindir huffs and sits up from his position at the table. Careful to dodge any incoming food, he intervenes in their dancing. Without saying anything, he takes her hand and yanks her away from the dwarves and elves.
Staring down at the dwarf, he resists the urge to kick him. “Don’t ever touch my Y/N again.”
Gandalf and Elrond shared a look. Both chuckled and waved off Lindir, knowing fully well that Y/N would be able to tame him. She always did.
Y/N protested as they left the dinner. She was having fun, after all! Dwarves kept her very entertained, as their arrogance and stories were always comical and exaggerated.
“Lindir, stop pulling on my hand and tell me what is wrong!”
Lindir was furious. “You want me to tell you what is wrong?!”
She puts her hands on her hips and nods. “That’s why I asked.”
“That little thing danced with you and held onto your hands and waist like it was his own property! Those creatures bathed in our sacred fountains as if it were a public bath! Did you not notice the wine that dripped from his beard as he danced with you?!”
Y/N rolls her eyes. “Listen Lindir, they are called dwarves, okay? You have no right to undermine them as if they are meaningless. And also, I was having fun with the dwarves!”
Lindir came dangerously close to her. “Fun?”
Y/N was trapped against the palace wall. They were in a rather secluded area. No guards patrolled this part of the castle luckily, so nobody would see their moment.
“Yes Lindir…fun.” She mocks, attempting to walk away from him. “You should indulge in it sometime. Now I will be going back-“
Lindir grabbed her hands and gently braved her against the wall once again. He pressed up against her and towered over her petite figure. Anxious at the closeness, Y/N squirmed beneath him.
“Stop squirming, melleth.”
Heat rose to Y/N’s cheeks. “Melleth?”
He smiled, bending down slightly to rest his forehead against hers. “You have been mine since we were 14. Every elf with their head screwed on right would know that.”
Now that explains why nobody had ever tried to court her before! It was because of Lindir being…protective. Y/N would also be lying if she said she wasn’t also rather protective of him. No other female had dared to test her.
“And you are mine as well, Lindir.”
She knits her hands in his hair. Gently, she pulls his head down. His deep eyes stare back at her own. She smiled and kisses the tip of his redened nose.
Lindir’s lips were soft and completely unexpected. Y/N’s eyes widened at the sudden form of affection. Though, she was not complaint.
His hair was silky smooth. She tugged on his small fishtail braids. A pleasured groan left his lips.
And he smelled incredibly good! Like an evergreen tree and vanilla. It was like a drug to Y/N, and she just couldn’t get enough.
Y/N was hardly aware of his hands sneaking around her waist until he instructed her to jump. Y/N wrapped her legs around his own waist, nuzzling her forehead into his neck.
“And so it has finally happened!” Gandalf exclaims happily
Elrond nodded approvingly, a smug look on his face.
“I’ll bet their plan all along was to make me jealous.” Lindir says, rolling his eyes
Y/N giggles. “That’s my sassy elf!”
—
A/N: hope you all enjoyed…and sorry if you aren’t short, haha!
p.s. i’ll leave a link to the video that this is somewhat inspired by! it’s a bonus scene :-)
