Considering this is my first time writing one of these, I’m starting with a small batch of characters and who better than the elves of TROP? But I’m very much open to writing for different characters within Tolkien’s world and, of course, from TROP! Actually anyone who walked on Middle-Earth. The Valar? Sure, why not!
■ Calculated, laced with challenge, and guarded vulnerability. Galadriel flirts like one might wield a blade. Testing for weakness, dancing just close enough to wound or woo.
■ She stands tall, unyielding, but when intrigued, her eyes betray her. They soften not with warmth, but with recognition. You’ve caught her interest, and now she watches you like a predator circling its prey… or a queen considering a subject for her court.
■ Cool and clipped, but with sudden flashes of dry wit. She’ll challenge your intelligence with a single eyebrow raise or a quip like, “Is that truly your best argument?”
■ She rarely touches. If she does, it’s fleeting: a brush of fingers as she hands you a blade, the press of her palm against your chest to stop you in training. These touches linger in your mind far longer than in hers — at least, that’s what she pretends.
■ She will only allow flirtation if she senses you're her equal. She doesn't seek comfort — she seeks conviction, someone who might dare to stand beside her, not behind.
■ When she finally lets her voice drop — lower, more intimate — you’ll hear it for what it is: a fortress opening its gates an inch. “You… surprise me.”
⇢ ˗ˏˋElrond
■ Quiet reverence, layered in intellect and gentle affection. Elrond flirts the way rivers carve stone: slowly, patiently, but with undeniable effect.
■ He tilts his head when you speak, eyes gleaming with attention. His hands fidget when he’s nervous: tugging at sleeves, smoothing scrolls, brushing imaginary dust from books.
■ Soft, warm, laced with dry humor and the kind of intelligence that flatters without boasting. “You know… I find myself quoting you more than I’d like to admit.”
■ He always makes space for you in a crowded room. He’ll guide you gently by the elbow, offer his cloak before you ask, and pour your tea while distractedly scribbling notes about the way your eyes reflect starlight.
■ Elrond doesn't flirt for pleasure, he does so instinctively, seeking connection. He wants to understand you completely. Every word, every silence, every unfinished sentence.
■ He’ll give you something irreplaceable — a poem from his youth, a story no one else has heard — and say, almost shyly, “I’ve kept this… waiting for the right person.”
⇢ ˗ˏˋGil-Galad
■ Subtle and perfectly timed. His words are carefully measured, but his presence says everything. He flirts with restraint and watches to see if you notice the moment it cracks.
■ He never approaches too directly. He waits until your eyes meet across a corridor or hall — then inclines his head, ever so slightly. If he steps closer, it’s intentional.
■ Regal, eloquent, slow. He crafts compliments like wine — rich, refined, and meant to linger. “You wear the dusk well. It favors your kind of quiet fire.”
■ He never touches first. But if you brush against him, his response is deliberate. A slow turn of the hand to catch yours, a thumb brushed across your knuckles as if in contemplation.
■ Gil-galad has learned to love without showing it, to yearn without leaning. His flirtation is a series of calculated risks; each word carries weight. Each glance is a signal, a lock awaiting a key.
■ When he speaks plainly for the first time without titles, without strategy, it will shake you. “I have led armies. Held kingdoms. And yet… I find myself wondering what you think of me.”
⇢ ˗ˏˋArondir
■ Quiet, present, and deeply emotional. Arondir doesn’t flirt with words — he flirts with devotion.
■ He always notices your discomfort before you speak it. He will reposition a chair so the sun doesn’t blind you. He will step between you and danger without thinking. And he will never mention it.
■ Rarely speaks without meaning. When he says something personal, it feels like the world has paused to hear it. “You are… unlike any path I’ve walked.”
■ Carves small tokens for you. A leaf from a tree that only blooms once a year, your name etched in Quenya on smooth wood. He leaves them without ceremony, then pretends not to notice when you find them.
■ His love is not showy, but it’s constant. He’ll watch you with the kind of gaze that says, I would wait an Age for you. And mean it.
■ The moment he finally touches your cheek, eyes locked with yours, is the moment he’s decided — silently, permanently — that he is yours.
⇢ ˗ˏˋCelebrimbor
■ Excitable, intense, and terribly earnest. He flirts by accident… and then makes it worse by being too sincere.
■ Hair tousled from long nights in the forge, hands stained from work, he runs fingers through his hair when nervous. His eyes light up around you and he doesn’t hide it.
■ Fast-paced, bright, layered with admiration. He’s always a little breathless around you, like you’ve thrown off his rhythm. “Wait, wait, you don’t think this is brilliant? Look - look at this, tell me that curve isn’t perfect. I based it on your — well. Never mind.”
■ Constantly gives you things: a chain he meant to throw away but thought looked “nice,” a ring he insists is “just practice,” or a sketch he swears wasn’t you (it was).
■ He falls fast, and deep. But his fear of being used makes him hesitant to admit it. So he’ll bury affection in gifts, conversation, and genius-level distractions.
■ He’ll give you something unfinished and whisper, “I want you to be the first to see it… even before it’s perfect.”
Hello there! I’ve just been looking at some of your Tolkien asks for the elves and I thought you were a really good writer, so I was wondering if you’d be open to writing about how the elves would react to finding out their human friend had parents that didn’t get along that well or argued a lot, and just really disliked each other? I don’t even know if they’d even have a concept of that, because elvish couples love once and forever. If you don’t want to write that, it’s perfectly ok. I understand that this is a sensitive topic for a lot of people, but I just wanted to ask :) Regardless, have a nice day!
Warnings: discussion of unstable/unhappy house holds, illusions to abuse/neglect
Note: I’ve included some elves invented for ROP and The Hobbit movies
Note 2: thank you for this request, it led me down several rabbit holes and now I know exactly how fucked up Celebrimbor’s father was
Masterlist
I think the elves understand on some base level that it is possible for parents to hate each other, especially the ones that interact with humans more often like Elrond.
They’re timeless beings after all, who have seen the rise and fall of countless kingdoms of man. They know the propensity for greed and malice.
But it’s always abstract to them the same way true death is.
In the back of their minds they think it must have such an adverse effect on the child that it would be easy to spot.
Some are naive enough to assume that every person that chose to follow Morgoth and Sauron must have had parents who hated each other.
So when you reveal that you grew up in such a household it rocks their shit it startles quite a few of them.
In order from least to most surprised:
Arondir
As a guard of the south lands, he is constantly dealing with humans. He understands, I think best of all those listed, the broad range of dynamics possible in a human household and I’m sad to say he’s probably had to break up quite a few fights between parents.
So when you tell him, he’s rather unfazed. Not to say that he doesn’t care that you grew up in such a household but he knows that it isn’t something some people like to talk about. He offers you a firm squeeze on the shoulder and offers his ear should you ever want to talk about it though.
If you still live with your parents, he makes a point to start watching them more closely. He wants to be ready should he have to do something.
Elrond
Given his past list of parental figures and him being half-human, Elrond understands the best out of Tolkien’s elves. That’s not say his parents were bad but he has the best experience with uncommon households out of the elves on this list.
Younger or older, he approaches your situation with empathy. Similar to Arondir, he doesn’t try to pry but makes it clear that he is here for you if you want him to be. He also offers up a room in his house if you still live with your parents. He goes a step further though to offer a place to stay to any siblings you have as well.
He doesn’t claim to understand exactly what growing up around people like that does to one’s mental health but he is willing to do the research needed to become an advocate for you and for those who grew up like you.
Galadriel
Galadriel as we know her in the books and PJ’s films has the best intuition about the situation you grew up in. She’s incredibly mature and has a cunning to her that isn’t present in the other elves on this list.
Honestly, she might figure out that your home wasn’t exactly happy before you even tell her - catching all those little signs; the hesitation before mentioning your family, the careful censoring in certain anecdotes, or the complete lack of mentioning them. She catches them and puts two and two together.
I’m torn on if she’d ask you directly or wait for you to tell her. The first option wants for tact but I believe Galadriel can almost see the scars on your psyche and wants to help them heal. Regardless, you are always welcome in Lothlorien should the need arise.
Celebrimbor
Despite how low he is placed, Celebrimbor I think has the closest lived experience to you. He’s down this low because he thinks the shittiness of his father is an exclusive trait to him. It doesn’t actually cross his mind that humans deal with awful parents as well so he is quite shocked to learn this about you.
To be fair, we don’t know who his mother is and by all accounts her and Curufin could have had a wonderful marriage but I find this unlikely given his temper.
Celebrimbor understands best of all the shadow that rests on your shoulders - the creeping dread that rests in your heart whenever you hear a raised voice. Celebrimbor is a good person to rant to because he understands the anger the best and while his father may have committed atrocities in the name of avenging his father - he is careful not to overshadow your own tumultuous feelings whenever you do express them. He just listens, adding scathing commentary when needed.
Honestly, you revealing the truth about your own parents relieves him a little - not because you grew up like that but because someone finally understands what it’s like for him as well. None of the other elves get it. But you do.
Arwen/Elladan/Elrohir
So, the reason these three are grouped together is simple - they’re raised by Elrond. They understand the weird direction of their father’s life and he talks openly about its effect on him with all three of them as they grow up. So, they are a prime example of the elves understanding that parents hating each other is a thing that happens, but none of them have first-hand experience with it.
Arwen, to her credit understands the best out of Elrond’s children. I fully believe she inherited Elrond’s foresight and uses it to intuit what she doesn’t understand already. Still, she is surprised to hear about your parents and tries her best to get her head around it. But she is not immune to the “why did they stay together” question. In her defense, she doesn’t expect you to have an answer.
Her brothers on the other hand do ask you fully expecting you to have some wisdom about it that they don’t. Being some of the youngest elves on this list, it makes sense. They’re mature enough to know that they don’t know everything but not mature enough to comprehend that you don’t know everything either.
All three of them have a million questions but try their best not to bombard you with them. They do, however, insist to their father that he help you with housing if you or your siblings should need it.
Lindir
I believe Lindir to be a smart but sheltered elf. We don’t know how old he is so I personally believe he is on the younger side, maybe barely older than Elladan and Elrohir.
He’s bookish and as a result of that he has a very scholarly understanding of the world - so he has possibly read stories about dysfunction households. But I think he believes them inventions of the author. As in, he thinks they are isolated incidents and not unfortunately common truths for the children of men.
He is floored when you tell him. He is good about not bombarding you with questions but he will ask you why your parents married in the first place. Whether you tell him they were in love once or were a political marriage he can only nod slowly as if he understands (he does not, he is so confused). He can only offer to do what he does best - listen to you if you choose to tell him.
Gil-Galad
Gil-Galad is someone who falls victim to his own preoccupations. It never crosses his mind that the attraction patterns of men are different from elves. He’s not so sheltered to think it impossible but it’s like an out of sight out of mind thing for him. He just doesn’t realize it’s a possibility.
In his defense, he does have a lot of things to worry about as high king and unfortunately the interpersonal politics of humans are not top of the list.
But he’s curious when you tell him and he listens attentively. Whether your parents married for social gain, love, or convenience - he asks careful questions about what it was like to grow up in such an environment. He wants to help and after you tell him this, he resolves to find a way to help other humans currently caught in unhappy households. Depending on your relationship with him (I.e. if it’s platonic) he kind of adopts you. He feels like he wasn’t there for you then but he can be here for you now.
Haldir
Haldir’s hard for me to place. On the one hand, as a border guard he has the chance to interact with more humans than a lot of elves on this list. So that should put him towards the top. But I also think he has a rather insular way of thinking. As in his main concerns are for the elves of Lorien and not the travelers he meets which means he might not inquire about their family lives.
Ultimately, I think he is similar to Gil-Galad in the sense that he just doesn’t think about it. If the few men he speaks to on his travels make a reference to a singular parent, he just assumes the other died because he can’t fully wrap his head around the idea that some people have a potentially volatile home life and might only feel close to one parent. Or neither. His immediate assumption is that the reason a human doesn’t mention their parents is because they died. He doesn’t mean for it to be, it just doesn’t cross his mind on its own.
But, he actually talks to you and when you explain to him that no, they stayed married because it was easier to raise you and your siblings that way but they always fought with each other - he is so shocked. His immediate thought is why didn’t they just leave each other, but he tries to puzzle that out on his own. Ultimately, he is very thoughtful about your circumstance and tries to be someone you can vent to when you need it. If your parents are still alive, he offers to accompany you to visit them if you ever need. And he does his best to secure you a safe place in Lorien should you need it.
Glorfindel
Glorfindel is a great elven warrior able to face many things and take down balrogs. He has no idea that childhood can be one of the most challenging parts of life. And I mean that sincerely. Glorfindel is rather oblivious to the affairs of men prior to his fall. His concerns are Gondolin and the safety of his people.
Now he was alive for the kinslaying, so he is not a stranger to violence against kin. But he thinks that the bond between parents and child is almost sacred and not something easily broken. He is sad when you tell him that the children of men are excluded from the idyllic home life guaranteed to the elves.
But he’s also impressed by you. You’re a good, kind-hearted person despite the tension you grew up in. And he thinks that is something to be admired. He devotes himself to helping establish safe homes for children who grew up like you, especially post-fall and him being sent back to middle earth. And he holds up his promise long after you have perished - committing the house of the golden flower to be a symbol of safe haven.
Tauriel
So, Tauriel, I think is the most understanding of the Woodland elves - she’s a guard, she patrols, I have a feeling she comes into contact with the people of Laketown regularly enough to have experienced a variety of family dynamics.
But she doesn’t expect you to have grown up in a household like that. I think because of Laketown’s apparent poverty post the fall of Dale there is a noticeable uptake in crime. And, unfortunately a lot of crime comes from the broken homes of Laketown - youth acting out to escape their parents bickering, parents causing distress to their children and partners, things like that. I think, subconsciously, she associates unhappy homes with unhappy people.
But you don’t fit the way she thinks. You’re sweet and caring and she feels the weight of cognitive dissonance like a shackle. It takes her awhile to reconcile her view of you but she does her best not to let you see. And she’s decently good at it until she starts asking questions. But she listens carefully and starts to look for warning signs in the people of Laketown that they may need help. She petitions Legolas to speak to his farther to offer refuge to those in Laketown that may need it and asks the dwarves of Erebor to do the same.
Thranduil
Thranduil, I think, suffers from some of the most insular thinking on this list. He focuses on the affairs of his elves and pays no mind to the problems of men. It’s how he’s kept his people safe.
Now, I personally, think Oropher was not the kindest father. I think he was stern and hard to please because he expected the best of himself and his people. So, this affects Thranduil’s perspective on parents quite a bit. He may feel that he was unloved at times but he can attest that his father loved his mother even if he was not good at displaying it. His views are skewed to say the least. So he thinks you’re exaggerating at first.
If two people hated each other as much as you claim, why would they have a child together? Let alone stay together to raise that child?
It takes a lot of explaining for him to realize exactly what you grew up in. And when he does, he feels awful for not believing you. He’s not the best at apologies but he tries to make up for it by extending his services to Laketown. He does eventually find it within himself to apologize to you, directly. And asks that you help him understand.
Legolas
He is gobsmacked. Genuinely, so shocked. I firmly believe that Legolas is one of the youngest elves on this list and as a result he still has some maturing and learning to do.
If this is during the fellowship, he has to ask Boromir and Aragorn if you’re telling the truth - that two people can stay together whilst hating each other. And that it’s common amongst humans. He then gets to learn about Boromir’s childhood as well.
His heart breaks a little. He wants only the best for the people he cares about so he’s saddened and angry to hear the pain in your voice even if it. Is well hidden. He promises, as your friend, to never let you be reminded of your family’s pain. It’s a naive promise but one he means full heartedly.
Note 3: thank you so much for this request, it was a much needed break from King’s Herald and actually helped me solve a plot hole I got into. And thank you for the kind words, I’ve been worried my writing’s gotten stale but hearing that people enjoy it helps me to work out of those funks. Thank you so much.
Note: Last week I stumbled across this post and my wheels immediately started turning. I gave all the tropes a romantic spin because I can. Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! :)
Pairing: TROP Elves x reader (gender neutral*)
Characters:
Arondir: too many beds
Galadriel: academic rivals except it’s two teachers who compete to have the best class
Elrond: really nice guy who hates only you
Adar: fake hating (instead of fake dating, everyone is convinced that you are not together)
Gil-Galad: fake amnesia
Celebrimbor: love triangle where the two love interests get together instead
Sauron: lovers to enemies
Word count: 3.7k
Warnings: Mentions of injuries (Gil-Galad, Celebrimbor); stabbing, blood and gaslighting (Sauron); *use of the terms Lady and Queen (Adar, Sauron); reader is implied to be an elf
TROP Elves as reverse tropes, sorted from silly to serious
Arondir ⟡ too many beds
The old númenorian village provided plenty of space for the refugees from the Southlands, which would have been cause for celebration considering all circumstances. However, it presented you and Arondir with an unique problem: there were too many beds.
You had been dancing around your feelings for a quite some time. It was certain that you felt something for each other, but expressing it with words was a step you were not yet ready to take. So you had to find other ways to voice your affection. In temporary camps, sleeping places became scarce and the nights turned cold, giving you the perfect excuse to sleep nestled together. You had grown accustomed to the comfort of holding each other, being close in the darkness.
Now there seemed to be no reason to share a bed, as there were more than enough of them. But Arondir could no longer find peace at night without your heartbeat near him, reassuring him of your safety. Therefore, new excuses had to be sought.
Some rooms were out of question because the neighbors snored, which proved unbearable for his sensitive elven ears. In other houses, boards hung loose and the wind blew intolerably cold. One bed was supposedly home to rats that liked to bite at night, while in another, birds had built a nest that he did not wish to destroy. You joined him in the search for reasons, and suddenly two people who had previously been able to sleep in the most humble of circumstances were behaving like fickle royalty.
For every available resting place, you had found a reason the next morning why it was supposedly unusable. Until, after a few days, you had finally excluded all of them, leaving you with no choice but to share the last remaining bed. Arondir felt somewhat embarrassed by the act you two were putting on, but he did not mind. For that evening, he held you in his arms again, his head on your chest, your calm heartbeat lulling him to sleep.
Galadriel ⟡ academic rivals except it’s two teachers
There was some disagreement about how this feud had begun. Part of the blame could certainly be attributed to your stubborn, somewhat fiery temperaments. Some claimed that it had started with a careless joke made by a squire, which he now deeply regretted. Whatever it had been, as usual, you and Galadriel were caught up in a competition and everyone else suffered as a result.
With one crucial difference: this time, the subject of your rivalry was not your own strength, but that of your students. Galadriel was tired of hearing the accusation that she was a worse teacher than you, and you were tired of having your technical weaknesses exposed in comparison to her fighting technique. A good teacher against a good soldier - who would produce better warriors?
In the name of victory, any and all means were acceptable to you. Your students complained amongst themselves that no one in the history of Middle-earth had trained harder than they had to. Galadriel's regiment was tougher, yours required more endurance - relentless were you both. If they had not been so exhausted, your students might have wondered about the source of the fire with which you both burned. For the sparks between you, that set everything ablaze, were far more heated than those of plain rivalry.
The origin of your squires' suffering was by no means envy or pride, as they suspected. Yes, you both had endless ambition and loathed losing, but that was not all. Rather, the reason stemmed from an unfavorable distribution of your talents. For as outstanding as you were as fighters, you were just as miserable when it came to revealing the matters of your hearts.
A frustration flared up inside you whenever you were close, that you could not quite make sense of. This frustration broke through when your swords crossed, or in this case, those of your students. Whenever Galadriel caught that smug look of yours when one of your students disarmed hers, she was consumed by the desire to draw her sword and knock you to the ground, so she could ram her blade into the earth next to your insolent grin. Pinning you underneath her body, and - at this point, her thoughts derailed and she forced them to end by scolding the student.
Your squires feared the day of reckoning when the winner of your contest would be revealed in their soldier's examination. Because even though they did not know exactly why, they had a feeling that none of you would be satisfied with the result, regardless of the victor.
Elrond ⟡ really nice guy who hates only you
In the history of Middle-earth, many questions had deprived the elves of sleep at night. Some of them mundane and private, others of fundamental, if not world-changing importance. The question that remained an unsolved mystery at Lindons court in recent years was the following: How do you make someone as kind as summer hate you?
Lord Elrond was generally known to be an approachable, if not exceptionally gentle, character. If there happened to be two people who could not agree on any subject, they would nevertheless find common ground in the thought that one could not deny Elrond to be a pleasant presence. He forged friendships in the most unlikely places and his diplomatic skills allowed him to get along even with people who were not too fond of him. With one notable exception: you.
It was obvious that Elrond held no sympathy for you since you began your work as scribe in Lindon. Your presence seemed to dim his warm radiance. If you were forced to work together, he would excuse himself as soon as possible to avoid sharing a room with you for a second longer. The court was bursting with theories as to what unforgivable offense you must have committed to cause this behavior. A surprising factor, however, was: you clearly tried to win his friendship.
Whenever you met, you inquired about his well-being with genuine interest, as well as that of his acquaintances. During long meetings, you always noticed when he got fatigued and asked for tea and food to be served. Sometimes you gifted him scrolls you had brought back from your travels, which he was itching to study, even though he never admitted it. No hidden political motives were behind your actions, as some suspected. Unbeknownst to the court and Elrond himself, you had felt an irresistible attraction to him since you first met. So your actions were solely an expression of this affection.
You naturally assumed these feelings to be unrequited. But it was a misunderstanding. Elrond's hatred was indeed the source of strong feelings toward you, just not of the nature they suggested. In truth, they merely served as a shield to prevent him from spiralling even deeper into a hopeless love. Elrond had also fallen for you, only he was under the mistaken belief that you were already promised to another. The culprit was the silver ring you wore, a symbol of two lovers, betrothed to be married. However, it was actually the only memento of your late mother. It was her engagement ring, not yours. When he first noticed it - sliding out from under your robes on the chain you had attached it to so you could wear it close to your heart - it was already too late.
Initially, he simply wanted to put some appropriate distance between you, but his feelings only grew. So he tried to hate you. He really did. But to his misery, loving you was as inevitable as the sunrise. No matter how long the night seemed to last, the light would return and give him the warmth he had been longing for. He simply learned to hide it better. So the answer to the question that kept Lindon awake at night was surprisingly simple - not to mention frustrating.
Adar ⟡ fake hating
Once, Adar had warned Glûg that he should speak more respectfully of you, since one day you would be his Lady Naneth. Glûg had thought his words to be a joke. How could he have believed them? After all, everyone throughout the Southlands knew you and Adar hated each other passionately. What else could explain the frequency with which you crossed blades or the look of satisfaction in Adar's eyes when you knelt before him in chains, if not hatred?
Not that Adar or you would have wanted it any other way. As feigned enemies you could achieve far more than as the lovers you truly were. Of course, he wanted to present you as his own to the whole world and his children, but in the end he followed your wise advice, as he so often did. This charade of hostility was the perfect cover for you to gather information about Sauron and his possible whereabouts among the elves. Only when every last trace of this threat had been eradicated you could leave this life behind and come home to him.
One might assume that it would be difficult to display hatred when one felt connected by love. However, for you, it was merely a necessary play that you had learned to master well. He did not mind if you handled him a little roughly in the heat of combat, and you knew that he would make up for even the slightest cut later with fervent devotion in the most pleasurable way.
The fight between you was just for show and the fire of his intensity born from a completely different source. Eventually, the others would see it too, but the time was not ripe for now. So he slipped you a key after interrogating you in the privacy of his tent in order for you to escape from your cell yet again. The Uruks who came to bring you away did not notice the flush of your cheeks or the light sweat still glistening on his neck. The warmth your skin had left behind was already fading, his heart consumed with longing for you once again. He had to be patient, he told himself, trust in your plan. You would find each other again, you always did.
Gil-Galad ⟡ fake amnesia
Something was wrong. Gil-Galad sensed it as surely as he could taste rain in the air hours before it fell. When the guards rescued a gravely wounded elf from the forest, his council was thrown into turmoil. Gil-Galad had recognized you the moment his eyes fell upon your unconscious face, for your blades had already crossed during Morgoth's invasion of Middle-earth. You were once his subordinate, a former collaborator of Sauron, and, judging by your uniform, now the right hand of a new darkness looming over the world: Adar. But your condition and discovery raised questions. The Council was certain that whatever information they could obtain from you would be of the utmost interest.
Only a problem arose: there was no information to obtain. Your memory seemed to be shrouded in a heavy fog that obscured every recollection. You could not remember your past self, let alone what had happened to you. The healers suggested to Gil-Galad that, with time, you might regain your memories, if Eru so desired. Until then, you were to remain under constant surveillance at Lindon's court, where he could follow your every move.
In truth, however, Eru had no power in this matter, because your memory had never been lost. During centuries of being forced to serve the darkness, you had always been unable to completely banish the longing for light from your soul. Therefore, after countless nights of inner torment, you seized an opportunity to escape, driven by the desire to fight for peace and to free the people from a suffering you had contributed to. Of course, you did not get far before Adar sent a pack of Uruk after you, either to bring you back alive or let you die, his plans unspoken on your tongue.
You nearly lost your life in that forest, but now these injuries served you well, since the elves would surely have doubted this change of heart. So you used them to play the innocently confused. After all, it was easier to believe in the honest intentions of someone who had no memory of their cruel past than someone turning their back on everything they had known before of their own free will.
Nevertheless, you had to find a way to aid Lindon. It was a precarious dance, a carefully constructed performance. By chance, at just the right moment, a memory surfaced in your mind that provided an important clue, while at other times you visibly struggled to find answers to the High King's questions. Sometimes you used other elves as pawns, gently nudging their thoughts in the right direction so that they would come to the realization you needed them to have.
Gil-Galad remained sceptical audience to your performance. It was unsettling to see his enemy so unsuspecting and gentle. One morning, he caught you watching the rising sun, hidden beneath the branches of the Great Tree. As the first light of day touched your face, your breath caught in your throat, a tear of overwhelming joy sliding down your cheek. The sight of this intimate moment came to mind days later during a meeting, whose purpose was to decide your fate in Lindon.
While he normally trusted his instincts, for the first time Gil-Galad felt conflicted. He believed you to be the deceitful serpent he had once encountered on the battlefield. But all your actions so far had been helpful. It did not escaped his notice that you had been manipulating the members of his court, but apparently in order to lead them to a favourable outcome. To make matters more complicated, your whole nature seemed changed. Perhaps - he allowed himself to wish for a moment - you had not changed at all, and this had always been part of who you were.
These questions and contradictions plagued him. He would have to continue watching over you, keeping you close by his side, in order to solve this enigma. But of one thing he was fairly certain by now: your amnesia might be faked, but your desire to help seemed irritatingly genuine.
Celebrimbor ⟡ love triangle but the love interests get together
Celebrimbor had always strived to create objects of great beauty and perfection, and you were his chosen companion in this endeavor. Since you mastered the art of smithing under his guidance, you had risen to become his right hand. Exceeding his expectations, you had grown to be his most valued associate on projects and, more importantly, his confidante. Friendship and a shared vision to create something of true significance bound you together. But now, a fear crept up within you that instead, you were on the verge of destroying something.
All began with the return of Halbrand, who revealed himself as Annatar, messenger of the Valar, and immediately entrusted Celebrimbor with a new project. This development made you nervous. Not because you felt unworthy of the task, but because you feared the feelings that arose in you when Annatar was near. You wanted to devote all your attention to the rings, supporting Celebrimbor, and not indulge in a budding affection.
This concern proved to be justified, as the more time you spent in the heat of the forge, the deeper you fell under Annatars spell. His occasional glances, as if he wanted to devour you, the little compliments he paid you, the accidental touches that lingered a little longer than appropriate - they gave you hope that your feelings were reciprocated. But they also turned your head and heart upside down and wrapped you in a sweet haze that caused you to forget everything else at times. Ever more often, you would wake up completely absorbed in your work, unsure of what you had actually been doing.
At the same time, you noticed that the looks Annatar and Celebrimbor exchanged bore an unsettling resemblance to those between Annatar and you. With growing unease, you observed the familiar way Annatar touched him and the blush that spread across the tips of Celebrimbor's ears. Apparently, Annatar was sharing his affection a bit more freely than you would have liked. And it seemed that Celebrimbor was aware of this too. Increasingly, you found yourselves arguing about the rings, with Annatar stepping in as your judge. Work became a pretext for acting out your jealousy.
What inflamed your anger even more, however, was that you could not even resent Annatar for making you his second choice. Celebrimbor was a brilliant soul, his light capable of illuminating even the darkest night with the vigor of the warm summer sun. When you discussed your craft and exchanged ideas, you felt more elated than ever. His laughter made every part of your heart sing, sometimes so strongly that you had to suppress the urge to reach out and touch him. The longer your rivalry for Annatar's favor continued, the more uncertain you became of whom your jealousy was actually directed at.
One evening, you two got into an argument without Annatar nearby to mediate. In the course of fighting, you came close enough that you could feel the heat of the forge his skin had absorbed. When you questioned his anger towards you - given that he had admitted you were right in terms of technique - Celebrimbor 's words stuck in his throat. His gaze dropped to your lips for a moment, and you almost gave in to the impulse of leaning forward. In the end, he left you without an answer.
When Annatar proved to be something far darker than you could ever have feared, you realized how he had forced a rift between you two. The guilt of not believing Celebrimbor, abandoning someone you loved in a moment of need, nearly tore you apart. You would have never left him behind in Eregion with this demon. Celebrimbor could not compete with you determination to save him, and so you dragged him from the ruins of his city. It would take time to mend your wounds, especially those hidden from the naked eye. Some of them might never fully heal. But one thing was certain: from now on, you would do everything in your power to stop Sauron together.
Sauron ⟡ lovers to enemies
There was a time when darkness covered Middle-earth like the blood-soaked cloak of an eternal night, and in the midst of this darkness burned Sauron's fire. With the scorching heat of the sun's never-ending flame, it devoured everything within its path. Sauron himself dreaded the relentlessness of it, for he sensed that the fire that fueled him would never be satisfied until it had burned even him out to the last.
But he discovered a remedy: you. You enlightened the night with the gentle radiance of the moon, graciously roaming the world to bathe it in a soft silence. Your soul was the dark sea that knew no end, capable of quenching any fire. He wanted to lose himself in you forever. You were lovers, two souls bound together in darkness with one goal: to heal Middle-earth. Sauron's vision of an orderly world was only complete with you as queen by his side, and he would see to it. He would perfect the world to lay it at your feet.
But things turned out differently. On the day of his coronation as Morgoth's successor, which you both had so eagerly awaited, Adar rammed the crown into his back instead of placing it on his head. And you? You just stood there - next to this lowly, deformed creature - and did nothing. You looked down on him as his blood drenched the cold stone. A tear escaped your eyes, just as you turned away. How could you dare to tear your gaze away from him! The betrayal tore him apart beyond what any of the blades that savaged his body could have done.
Your betrayal left a rift so deep, he would never recover from it. All that kept him alive now was the fire of fury. His encounter with Galadriel momentarily made him consider embarking on a new path. However, even she led him back to his desire to unite Middle-earth, to rule. And her light, which had once reminded him of you and drawn him to her, eventually burned too bright, blinding him and making him long for your tender shimmer. Not everything had been a game with her, his feelings were no lie at first, but after a while, Galadriel too became a means to his end. The crown he promised her would never touch her head, since it was meant for another.
Even after the pain of your deceit, he still desired you. Finally meeting you again reaffirmed this certainty. You, the storm that swept him away, pulling him into the deep sea, as it had so many times before. With one difference: you were no longer on his side. After your ploy with Adar, you had fled and aligned yourself with the elves of Lindon. Sauron could not refrain from admiring your ability to gain the trust of your enemy so easily. Not that it surprised him. After all, who would have the fortitude to refuse you?
But it was infuriating how quickly you had abandoned your dream. You claimed your vision had been a mistake, that he would destroy Middle-earth just as Morgoth once had. You wanted to repent, stop him to absolve your guilt. The lies told by the Elves had already clouded your mind. How could you have succumbed to their misconceptions while knowing the truth, knowing him? But you did not have to worry, he would not forsake you.
How could he? You no longer averted your gaze from him. Instead of your tender lips, your blade kissed his skin, but the feeling of cold steel sinking into his hot blood aroused him all the same. You may believe that you found a new home in Lindon, but they would never truly honor your magnificence. Not that it mattered. In the end, they would kneel at the feet of their queen, he would make sure of it. Even if it meant binding you to your throne through violence.
warning(s): light TROP spoilers, gn!reader used throughout
author's note: most of these will be turned into actual fics :)
-.-.-
Elrond + friends to lovers
GIF by @fukutomichi
As kind as summer, as gentle as the soft rays of sun upon your faces whilst you sit in each other's company and he is weaving, unbeknownst to you, tales of your wit and beauty in his mind; poems he would never dare show you. It was love long before either of you knew what to call it.
Gil-galad + opposites attract
GIF by @fukutomichi
Born and raised the son of kings, Gil-galad has known nothing but duty during his lifetime. A King neither ventures, nor tries his hand at passing affections, and yet the curse of a still beating heart inevitably finds him when his lieutenant and trusted friend Círdan is apprenticed by a lovely lowly elf.
Celebrimbor + soulmates
GIF by @dailyflicks
It is instant, absolute. As if the two of you were born a mystical creature, bearing two faces, four arms and four legs, until the Valar separated you and forced you to spend eternity searching for your other half. In the worst of times and the most unlikely of places, the search has come to cease. Alas, so has the time of peace.
Arondir + forbidden love
GIF by @lousolversons
The Silvan elf comes to respect the race of men for what they are during his time in the Southlands and whilst he dare not admit it, it does pertain with knowing you. It is hard to care for the hateful gazes of villagers when your own gaze is so tender under the moonlight, your hands cold and decisive when you touch him here where no one can hear or see. Though he has not tasted mortality, it must taste like you and the urgency you kiss him with, as if in fear the sun might never rise again.
Elendil + forbidden love, age gap
GIF by @frodo-sam
This man was born to be your dutiful protector, loyal like no other and sworn to serve you as his ruler with everything he has. Loyalty and love tend to melt into each other, merge so that it is impossible to tell them apart. It is a tormenting, silent agreement that neither of you may speak on these feelings and yet, it... overwhelms.
Valandil + childhood sweethearts
GIF by @fukutomichi
To know and love Valandil comes as easy as breathing air. You have been doing both for just as long, you think. Childish adoration blossoms in time until your souls are tethered and he will commit his life to earning rank and making it official, from the streets of Númenor to the edge of the world, where he hopes to travel with you.
Isildur + love triangle, second chance
GIF by @vidalharkness
Isildur has always held a deep admiration for you, a childish infatuation even, but your bond with Valandil always comes before all and he happily accepts things as they are for a long time. Friendship is of equal, if not grander, worth and he considers both of you his dear friends above all. Until Valandil is killed, that is. The love each of you have for him and each other perseveres until grief threatens to swallow you whole. On the precipice of desperation, a teary kiss is meant to bring comfort. Yes, of course. That is what this must be.
-.-.-
bonus:
Adar + enemies to lovers
GIF by @anthemias
Sauron saw in you every weakness, every earthly, pathetic desire to be appreciated and loved when everyone and everything has been cruelly ripped from you. To be part of something larger than the pain eating away at your chest until your days in Middle Earth are over and you can find refuge in the arms of those who unlike you, gave their lives for a greater cause. He saw and took full advantage. Adar sees it now too when he looks at you; the agony of knowing you have played into the hands of evil itself just as he has. There is always a sliver of affection in understanding another, is there not?
✨️trop men and if they could get you off based mostly on vibes ✨️
💕Now to level the playing field let's give a simple y/n on if they could get the job done during your first time together and the overall mood of the evening. Mildly nsfw (I'm not gonna get too detailed...unless 👀)
Adar💀 Yes. Woof, not to get too crass right off the bat but daddy is the name he earned so yes absolutely. Also brace yourself it will be kinkier than you think and it will awaken something in you. And it would start off painfully slow just easing you into it lightly. Seems like a great opportunity to try things you've been curious about but beware you're getting into like five kinks that haven't even crossed you mind before. One minute you're having a romantic candle lit dinner then Bam youre wearing a chain collar with his name on it.
Elrond 😇 Oh, god bless. No. Baby I'm sorry but no. That being said it would still be a great time with really positive vibes. But Elrond would get too in his own head thinking about options and the best 'plan of attack' to actually deliver. Plus he would play it super safe not wanting to off put you in anyway and thus would kill the passion a bit. Still would be the biggest sweetheart and over all give you a fun time. (Give him time to build his confidence though lotr Elrond Fucks for sure)
Halbrand 🐶 LISTEN Listen listen...No. Hear me out. I just-I feel it in my blood that this guy will rizz you so hard and talk such a big game and than when he time comes it's just ok at best. Like he's made at least one person come before and thinks he has cracked the code. Still his heart's (seemingly) in the right place and its pretty romantic over all. Lots and lots of cuddling.
Annatar 🐱 Yes. And it's amazing but the vibes are terrible. He gets way too intense too fast. He's the kind of guy to say some really weird shit during. Like not even anything dirty just waxing poetic about how you're part of each now and the bond of your bodies is inescapable even in death. And he waaay into talking about how you belong to him now and you're just like?? Is he just talking crazy in the heat of the moment or ?? Also no aftercare and he's 100% gone when you wake up.
Arondir 🏹 Yes. And it's Good but not as romantic as you were hoping. He's into you but Arondir def doesn't realize what a catch he is and is surprised that you're so here for him. Also buddy's got a lot going on so he's still gonna be pretty guarded emotionally. Still he's extremely respectful and such a good kisser like he's got your head spinning and you've barely started.
Elendil 🗡 No. But he tries hard and it's a great time. He's kinda got that big puppy Halbrand thing going on but like genuine. Def more into you than you are him. Elendil will rizz you with care. Pays very close attention to what you like/want. Even if it doesnt happen he's fine with talking about it, even makes a few light jokes at his expense. He's terribly good at putting you at ease. By the end of the night you're more smitten than you first thought.
Celebrimbor 💍 Yes. Are you kidding me?We're talking mastery, we're talking attentiveness, we're talking about a very smitten old man that's going to court you with his whole heart. The vibes are impeccable and he's going to make it known that taking care of you is his top priority. Additionally I can't explain why but you know this man's head game is god tier.
Gil Galad 🏵 Yes. Don't even get me started on how this man is gonna rock your world. The high king is a big guy so it's go big or go home when it comes to love and affection. He doesn't allow himself to pursue romance often but when he does he goes hard. In terms of the act itself and the amount of extravagance and detail he'd put into wooing you. Plus cmon you know he's stressed and pent up as hell. Brace yourself for being be absolutely worshipped All night. You're in for a wicked case of jelly legs and you're not going anywhere.
a/n: i had this little idea that I wanted to share w you all 🥰💛 i included the characters that i like best, so sorry if your fav isnt there. also I am a halbrand girlie so I wrote for that "version" of him. be so kind to comment/reblog your thoughts! ♡
Elrond ♡ quality time and physical touch and words of affirmation everything
Is he not just perfect? His kind heart cannot choose just one way to shower you with love, so it varies by the day. Elrond’s words are always carefully chosen to lift you up or comfort you, and the feeling of his lips or skin on yours is like a dream after a long day. Initially he was a bit more closed off, but you created a safe space together for both of you to be vulnerable and loving. Sadly, he can be quite occupied with various duties, so he cherishes any second he gets to spend in your presence. You have reached the point where you can communicate almost only through eye contact in public; his eyes are so shiny and expressive, and even the way he gazes at you tells you everything you need to know.
Galadriel ♡ acts of service and physical touch
There is nothing in this, or any other, world that she wouldn’t do for you! The downside of that is she can feel quite guilty if she feels as though she failed at something, but that is alright - you are there, always, to break the fall! She also very much receives love in this way so make sure you do lovely things for her as often as possible - our girl needs some soft wholesome love. Physical touch is something that keeps her grounded and reassures her you are really there and with her, it is not just an illusion or a dream. In private, Galadriel will cling to you like you’d just saved her from drowning. Reassurance is something she needs more than she will let on.
Halbrand ♡ words of manipulation affirmation and physical touch
He has a strange way of somehow knowing exactly what to say, almost at all times; the way he sweet talks you is unmatched, and he is no stranger to strings of compliments. Occasional banter is involved as well, of course, as he very much enjoys verbally “sparring” with you - it gets him going and gives a spark to his eyes. This leads to more physical expressions of desire, and you are basically the only person he enjoys being more tactile with. The way he shifts between being rough and passionate, and then gentle and adoring, keeps you on your toes constantly. However, two can play that game - has he at last met a worthy match?
Celebrimbor ♡ quality time and gift giving
This is one very busy elven lord and smith, but he will still try his best to never neglect you and your needs. Even if he is working, he loves to have you around, if you are free; and you enjoy watching him doing his thing. He calls you “his greatest inspiration” and swears you bring out the best of him, both professionally and personally. Although, he might occasionally get distracted when he feels your keen eyes on him. Naturally, since you inspire him to create, he loves to gift you items made personally for you, with utmost precision, skill and love. He also claims that no piece of jewelry, decor or weapon could ever match your beauty, but that is another challenge that motivates him even more. Sometimes, though, you have to drag him away from his work and just make him take it easy.
Isildur ♡ physical touch and being silly
This chaotic boy needs to have a hand(s) on you at all times, or the other way round. If you move away from him, there is a high chance he will look at you like a lost puppy. He might not yet be the greatest when it comes to verbalizing what you mean to him, but that’s not to say he can’t express it in a variety of ways - pulling you close in a crowded space, hugging you as if you might evaporate if he doesn’t hold onto you, kissing you breathless every chance he gets. However, playful banter with you makes him so happy as well, and it is his way of showing not only that you understand each other, but also that you can be perfectly comfortable in each other’s presence and laugh until tears stream down your face. Oftentimes those unguarded moments of silliness can become deep conversations which allow you to get to know each other even more intimately.
Arondir ♡ acts of service and words of affirmation
I mean, have you seen what this elf does for people he deeply cares for? Expect even more than that when he is in love with you! No task is too daunting when his beloved needs something, and you don’t even need to ask - he is superb at anticipating your needs. Sometimes you need to all but force him gently to relax and prioritize himself a bit more. Arondir is just a romantic soul like that. Also, in standard elvish fashion, he knows many poems and songs, and he is no stranger to coming up with his own just to express how he feels about you and how he sees you as the most precious, wonderful person. Initially he was a bit shy about that particularly, but experiencing your joy and enthusiasm, and the way you simply melt at his words, he knew he had to make it a regular occurrence to express his adoration. Please treasure him, he deserves the world.
🍁🍁🍁🍁
Tagging some trop besties @queenmeriadoc @lady-of-imladris @starladyy @fenharel-enaste @thesolarangel
Your eyes jerk up as you hear the old tavern door howl before you see it open. Arondir enters as his besnowed cloak sheds frozen white flakes. His piercing green eyes first linger low. He puts his bow aside, leaning it against the old stone wall. Catching the eyes of some village folk, he returns polite, humble nods as he advances. Your eyes remain on him, waiting for the moment he halts. The Bartender passes a warm wooden cup of eggnog into his hands and he receives it gratefully, a smile playing the corner of his lips as he watches the gentle steam ascend.
This is your sign.
As he takes his first sip, you rise from your chair and make your way to him. He does not see you until you're mere feet away.
"Soldier." you breathe before you smile. He quickly swallows his sip before he straightens his back and first greets you with his eyes.
"Y/N," he says.
"You were out in the snow?"
"Yes." he answers. "Keeping watch."
"Aha." , you nod as he takes another sip.
The crowd in the tavern is alive with conversation and laughter. But between the two of you, momentary silence settles. Your eyes, trying not to linger on him travel elsewhere, to your sides and then up, where they widen with surprise when they perceive the ongoing mistletoe.
They remain there for too long, for Arondir, too attentive for his own good, follows your eyes and cast his onto it, too.
"....What is that?" is what you hear with your right ear. Slowly, feeling your cheeks flush with warmth, you fixate him out of the corner of your eye. He, completely aloof though curious, seems intrigued by it. He is not a human, he is oblivious to your little traditions.
"It's...." you soundlessly clear your throat, feeling the heat in your cheeks now rise to your ears.
"A... mistletoe."
"What is it?" he asks, "Is it for magic? Is it for protection?"
You fight a smile, humoured by his seriously enunciated guesses.
"No," you say, "It's... a mistletoe. It is a tradition for Christmas. We hang it, and the people who find themselves standing beneath it...must"
"Must what?" he inquires.
"Must kiss." you hoped you'd said it so quietly he'd misheard, but you were not so lucky.
"His eyes, fir the first time since they'd risen lowered, training first to themselves as though he was thinking, thinking about it, thinking it over. And then they came to you. You feared his next question, because you did not want to speak of it anymore.
"...How so?" he asked, confused and surprised.
"I... don't really know as to the reason." you whispered, tightening the clasp around your mug.
For a moment, he fell silent again.
"...So they must marry?" he tilted his head as he looked at you. You almost choked on your eggnog.
"N-no-" - "That seems very arbitrary and unwise."
"Oh no," You intone your agreement with his words as you speak
"Not marry, by Eru's mercy. Only a kiss. It can be between friends, family, or lovers. It is placed to spread love between people for this celebration I suppose..." you assure as you become mute after, feeling your ears, hidden underneath your hair, burn.
His eyes have yet to release you. He thought it a strange tradition. But he was willing to comply.
"Hm." he hums lowly. Then right after, he places his cup onto the counter.
"Then let us honour the tradition." he says, approaching your face with his own faster than you thought was possible. Your cheeks sting with heat and your breath locks in your lungs as you suddenly take in the scent of his wooden, warm musk. Then his lips, soft and warm and smelling of eggnog press a humble kiss against your cheek. Your eyes remain wide with shock and surprise and you feel as though frozen to the spot.
"Merry Christmas." he whispers into your ear, before he picks up the mug again and drinks the last of the remaining beverage.
You can only stare as he gives you a nod, and he returns out into the cold, white land.
"....Merry Christmas.." you say to yourself, unaware that the bartender had watched it all unfold and wielded an amused grin on her lips.
Hello!
Merry Christmas 🎄
Thought I'd write a few scenarios of our favourite elves finding themselves under the mistletoe with you. First in line is Arondir, who is seemingly very unaware of our human traditions.
