Do you have any headcanons for Oropher and his wife? Also sending you cuddles and smooches because you are just that awesome.

Hey Nonnie! *dives on you and smooches and hugs you back* Thank you, dear!

ohboy, not really – not heaps, anyway. I have a name for Thrandy’s mum – Haedirn, which means ‘Silent Watcher’, and I have done a sort of stream-of-consciousness headcanon on the spot about Oropher before… but I haven’t really fleshed anything out. 

Here’s my little thing on Oropher!

And now here’s some off-the-top-of-my-head ideas on Haedirn: She was a Sinda, from Doriath. I sorta want her to be an historian and a scholar??? (that’s where Laerophen gets it from, perhaps) Also sarcastic af. Shithouse at archery, but great with boats and water, basically half-fish when you get her into a river. Terrifying with a spear or a quarterstaff. Not so great at following instructions – tends to ignore, improvise and ‘improve’, a bit of a know-it-all. Loves willows and reeds and mangroves and other water-dwelling trees and plants. Warm low contralto singing voice, smooth and rich as honey. 

(Thranduil’s name means ‘Vigorous Spring’ – in the sense of a fast-flowing river best guess, there’s some etymological argument. I like to think she gave it to him, singing in that low sweet voice, the sound of the wind in the river-rushes.)

There we go! Hope you like!

the question about laerophen and thranduil’s relationship got me wondering about laindawar’s relationship w thranduil too. if you have time, could you go more in depth about that too? you make all your characters so interesting, i love learning everything possible about them

Hi Nonnie! Sure thing  – also alskdhgflajhsdgflsajh aaaaah I am so stoked you want to know more, that is just THE LOVELIEST, you are the LOVELIEST <333

OKAY! Laindawar! And Thranduil! Here we go!

So, Laindawar is the oldest. He was close to his grandfather Oropher and grandmother Haedirn (”remote watcher”). He was a young prince when the Greenwood was at the height of its beauty and strength. 

He was a slight and short child who fought grown elves with his fists and teeth when he heard even the slightest hint of criticism towards his family. He became a slight and short adult – and the best swordsman in the whole of the Greenwood, a relentless tracker and a stupendous hunter. He was happy, and proud.   

Then Dagorlad. 

Away marched Oropher,

Haedirn and Thranduil and Laindawar, leaving Laerophen as regent in the Greenwood. 

Only Thranduil and Laindawar returned. 

Laindawar watched his father go through hell on that terrible day. It is Laindawar, better than either of his brothers, who understands what Thranduil has sacrificed and endured to keep their people safe. He understands why his father chooses the methods and policies he chooses. 

He is also eternally, quiveringly, desperately chasing his father’s approval. He has it, of course. But Laindawar chases it regardless: he will be a better warrior, he will keep the forest safe, for that will please his father, he will kill thousands upon thousands of spiders, and perhaps his father will smile. 

He doesn’t chase Thranduil’s approval necessarily for the sake of his own ego – Laindawar’s ego is plenty healthy, though it’s always nice to get a boost – but he does chase it for the positive reaction from Thranduil. He wants his father to be less sad and wounded, he wants him to be happy. 

What does Laindawar do when faced with a problem? 

image

Thranduil, for his part, has always seen Oropher so clearly in Laindawar’s face. It is a good thing that Laindawar is taciturn and stern of expression, because if he were more animated in his features the resemblance would be agonising. He is absurdly proud of him, loves him to death and beyond. Thranduil TRUSTS Laindawar. He trusts him to know his mind, and to support him. This is no small thing: Thranduil has walls that are MILES HIGH. He is so, soooo guarded. SO GUARDED. 

He tries to tell his son this, over and over. He hopes it will cause Laindawar to understand that he loves him regardless, that he is proud of him regardless. That he can relent once in a while, that he can rest.

Laindawar sees these positive signs/reactions as confirmation that what he does can make his sad, bitter, angry father happier, and so redoubles his efforts.

As I’ve said before: LAINDAWAR HAS -3000 CHILL. 

The Evil Overlord’s Classical Mixtape – Side B

image

so you’ve finished Side A of the Mixtape, you’ve ticked off everything in the handbook, but you need some more mood music for conquering the universe (or for writing a darkfic or battle-scene). 

All of these have been added to the Youtube Playlist! 

Please enjoy as you work on your villainous laugh 🙂

sutoribenda:

Is there anyone that I haven’t yet gushed to about Sansukh by @determamfidd??? Because I keep having breakdowns so I felt like it was time for a reread and I forgot how well written it is and how emotional it makes me. Seriously please, if you enjoy fanfiction at all please read this. None of my friends have joined me in my love for it cause they’re either scared by how long it is or just not into fanfic. Seriously, it’s at the top of my list of favorite fics from any fandom ever.

OH MY GOD 

THANK YOU THANK YOU TORI THANK YOU SO SO MUCHAGLDHAGDJLKHDHFDKHGDH