#silm headcanons
I’m aware that occasionally there’s some debate about whether or not Tokiens Elves sleep or not. Since Tolkien has described several instances of elves sleeping and dreaming (for example, Turgon and Finrod are both described as sleeping and dreaming of the secret elven cities they would one day found.) As far as I’ve seen, the main argument against the elves actually sleeping is the somewhat popular belief that Tolkiens Elves might partake in some sort of deep meditative trance.
This seems largely due to the fact that Elves are also described as sleeping with their eyes open and remaining aware of their surroundings and the happenings around them. They’re also described as needing comparatively short rest periods compared to mortals. So I can definitely see where the idea of them meditating rather than sleeping comes might come in.
HOWEVER,
That is not what I personally believe and since I’m physically incapable of keeping my opinions to myself I’m here at 2:09 AM on this fine Thursday night blatantly ignoring the fact that if I were to fall asleep right now I would only get 4 hours and six minutes of sleep before I have to get up again to explain my hypothesis to the void.
I think that Elves (and maybe other immortal creatures) use a similar sleeping tactic as several aquatic mammals and various bird species, which is a phenomenon called “Unihemispheric Sleep” or “Slow Wave Sleep.” The idea is extremely interesting and there’s tons of super cool info that you can look into if you’re interested, but I’ll try to explain what it is as short and sweet as I can.
Brains are generally considered to be divided in half down the middle into two hemispheres; the left hemisphere and the right hemisphere. Each hemisphere is in charge of sending or receiving messages to half of the body, while the other hemisphere is in charge of the other side.
During normal sleep, BOTH hemispheres of the brain ‘turn off’ and rest simultaneously. This is why for most creatures we’re completely unaware of our surroundings and everything going on while we sleep because our entire brain went on its lunch break. We don’t process any sensory information unless it’s exceedingly disruptive. (For example, we probably won’t hear somebody walking through a room if we fall asleep on the couch but would wake up to them calling loudly to us.)
During Unihemiphseric Sleep only one side of the brain (one hemisphere) rests at a time. Basically, it means that one side of your brain can still remain aware of the environment and ensure that body movement/function isn’t repressed so that if the need arises you can react quickly to things such as threats.
Aquatic Mammals use this specific pattern of sleep most often to ensure that they don’t accidentally drown while they sleep or drift away from any family or pod that they might be a part of. Birds use it most often during long flight migrations so that they can still fly on course while also getting some rest or when they’re in an area where they feel unsafe or threatened.
There have also been several studies that indicate most birds are able to choose if they want to rest both halves of their brain simultaneously or if they want to rest each hemisphere separately. In my personal headcanons (and writing) I also believe that Elves would have the same ability to decide how they want to rest since the quality and benefits of sleep are better when both sides of the brain rest at the same time.
I beleive that the Elves would switch between the two sleeping styles depending on the situation the same way that birds can.
For example, while Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas are chasing after Merry and Pippin I think that Legolas would have been capable of doing something similar to the migratory birds and kept on running after them even while half his brain slept.
Meanwhile, I think that when elves are injured, sad, or just really tired they’ll sleep ‘normally’ and rest both hemispheres of their brain for the added benefits.
There’s a rumor that’s less of a rumor but more of a stretched fact that some sort of horrible River Monster lurking in the rivers of Mirkwood.
Many visitors claim to have seen it, as they stare desperately into the depths of the surprisingly deep waters. Occasionally it’s said that the great creature will leap up on some unsuspecting thing coming to the waters edge for a drink. Finding themselves snapped nearly in half by a powerful set of jaws quicker than they could blink
But for something so large, the creature is fast. Extremely fast. So while many people say they have seen the great beast, the do not know what it is.
Some say it’s some sort of old and forgotten water dragon, content to lay in its murky depths and ignore the world.
Some say its a different form of hideous beast that doesn’t have a name, but even if it did few would dare utter it for fear of summoning the great creature.
Some even whisper that it was some kind of evil creation sent from the poisoned walls of the old fortress.
The men of Laketown have the most stories of the massive, mysterious beast for sometimes it leaves the fast flowing rivers for the calmer waters of the Lake.
Even the Men can feel the shift energy in the waters beneath their feet, as the fish draw away quickly to hiding places unknown to any that don’t have gills. Children stand on the roofs of their houses eagerly searching for a glimpse of it, while the adults continue to try and convince themselves ita all just stories. For their own peace of mind if nothing else.
For none know the identity of the horrible river monster except for the woodelves that share a forest with it. Woodelves that could be persuaded to take a young inquisitive ranger to meet the creature of myth as long as he promised to keep the information within the confines of of mind.
Even the elves of Imladris has begun to whisper to one another about this powerful water creature, and Aragorn could not suppress his smile at listening to his own brothers debate the issue between them.
Knowing it was not some sort of dragon or a creature created and formed in darkness, but something much different:
Snip-Snap, the massive vegetarian Snapping Turtle who enjoys neck scratches, elvish music, blowing bubbles out of her nose, and trying to jump out and scare her elvish friends.
