I know this is sort of random, but what do you think happens to Orcs once they die? Google has been rather unhelpful, and since nobody seems to be sure I figured I’d go to you since you have really good headcanons and know your stuff.

Augh, Nonnie. SO SO TRICKY.

*stares a little worriedly at the ask*

Okay, let’s try something. We know that Orcs are descended from Elves that were corrupted by Melkor. So, perhaps it is that they go to a separate part of Mandos’ halls.

We also know that Mandos holds onto those souls that need to be held *smiles sweetly at Feanor*. He keeps them within his halls and does not allow them to be reborn. It’s like Elven purgatory, I suppose.

So Mandos probably doesn’t allow those souls to be reborn as Elves until they have been renewed, refreshed and uncorrupted? idk. That’d take millennia for some of those Orcs (hey hey Azog, cheers Gothmog, you boys are nasty).

Considering that the entire recorded history of Middle-Earth isn’t actually all that long, I suggest that many of those former Orcs will only be released after the final battle, when all evil and sorrow is finally gone from the world and everybody can start again.

Okay – that’s ONE idea! I’m sure other people have other ideas, though. I hope it’s helpful to you, Nonnie! 🙂

Still on the subject of mandos, I always wondered how namo dealt with all the elves sharing one space (esp all the noldorin + teleri ect) some of the fights that break out must be legendary

(I don’t envy Namo. Not one bit.)

“You take that back!!”

“Make me!”

“I’ll make you eat your teeth in a minute…”

“Oh, like you could fight your way out of a wine-jug!”

“RIGHT, THAT’S IT-”

“Cowardy cowardy custard, sat eating cake behind Melian’s skirts while everybody else did all the fighting…!”

“Shut up, shut your face! Who was it who built everything, eh? All you lot did was stomp on over, take everything that wasn’t yours, and trash the lot!”

“HOW DARE – well, at least we didn’t try bribery, extortion and impossible murder-quests as bride-prices…”

“YOU talk of murder-quests, HA, that’s bloody rich!”

“And just what’s that supposed to mean?”

“One word: Ships.”

“Oh fuck you!”

“FUCK YOU MORE WITH A SILMARIL ON TOP.”

(Namo is considering some sort of Elven Time-Out room.)

Mandos and Aule sitting around chatting about all their dead tenants. Mandos keeps complaining about how Feanor keeps charring the carpets b/c he won’t hover his whole disembodied-flame thing high enough off the ground.

LOL, Valar having cathartic bitch-sessions over a drink (or nine, hahaha!)

“…won’t stop burning stuff, I swear to Eru, I’m going to have to resurface everything with fireproof material and install showers in all the ceilings.”

“Try gypsum, it’ll cut down on the damage. And ugh, I feel your pain, I’ve got one that trashes his room on a regular basis.”

“Don’t suppose you’d lend me some of your little guys? Resurfacing the whole of the Halls is going to take a lot of work….”

“Nah, they’re all watching Middle-Earth and taking bets on the outcome. They’re absolutely obsessed. Also, I’m not sure that adding Dwarves to the situation would cut down on all the uh, inflammatory incidents.”

“Fair point.”