Here’s some bullet points on how to write Laerophen Thranduilion, the Elven gooberking:

– he speaks formally

– he is graceful

– He dislikes Dwarves (but is VERY SLOWLY beginning to understand that his dislike is unfounded)

– He loves kids. LOVES them. They bring out an openness and an honesty in him that he will otherwise hide.

– he is not, actually, a confident leader. 

– When he is angry, he speaks very fast.

– He is not a natural warrior – all of his proficiency has come from dutiful practice. He is competent, not gifted. 

– He loves books and learning. 

– He is not good at reacting quickly. He will have a moment of flustered consternation, or annoyance, or anger.

– he tries to hide all this by being as cool and impassive on the surface as he can.

– BUT his mask is not very good. 

– He’s very proud of his home and his people.

– he finds it hard to relax. He is ESPECIALLY tense in large gatherings. One or two people, though – he is more likely to unwind with small numbers.

– bluntness usually gets him a bit wrong-footed. He expects other people to hold up a mask as well. Dain confuses the hell out of him by being upfront and honest, for example.

– He’s very very tall. Very tall. He stoops a little. 

– He is INCREDIBLY learned, but not a showoff. In fact, most people wouldn’t even realise. 

– He used to believe that everything that is worth knowing, came from Elves. And Sindar Elves, at that. Language, Cirth runes, history, lore, you name it. 

– that’s changing. He has lived in the middle of this Mountain for MONTHS now, and he has met Gimizh and seen the dance of the forge and has discovered that Bomfris knows what she is talking about and that Dain isn’t at all what he was expecting, and the Stonehelm is actually an admirable Dwarf altogether.

– His father is all-consuming and all-expecting in his love. He is a huge enveloping presence in Laerophen’s life – loving and affectionate and tactile, but demanding as well. Laindawar reacted by trying to meet these expectations: Laerophen reacted by hiding in his library.

– Laerophen is a loner back in Mirkwood as a result.

– He has been thrust into a place and situation CRAMMED WITH SO MANY PEOPLE, and it’s a siege so there is no escape. He is being forced to adopt social strategies he has no context for. 

– He was close to his fierce, silent elder brother, Laindawar. They are near in age. 

– he loves his youngest brother Legolas, but doesn’t understand his gregarious (for an Elf) social nature. Still, he tries to make Legolas laugh, a holdover from when he was a child and Laerophen made silly jokes and songs.

Okay I think that’s all good, I hope that helps! 🙂