#of astoeth

[nenuials]

Do Lothrin and Astoeth both sail west? I am wondering if the two close friends were separated after the war?

Here you go, anon. That's the longer answer. The short one is: Astoeth sailed on Galadriel's boat, while Lothrin stayed behind in Middle-earth, faded, then got reembodied in Aman. So, I suppose they got separated for a while, but then get reunited in the end.

[nenuials]

Do all of your OCs get along with each other? Or are there any who would dislike another OC of yours for whatever reason?

Dúion and Lothrin wouldn't get along that well simply because Dúion wouldn't take two looks at her before deeming her a blood-traitor for her frequent associations with the Noldor, while Lothrin would be really hurt by someone so close-minded that they wouldn't even allow her a chance to defend herself. Maybe if they were locked in a room somewhere and had to spend a sizable period of time together they could overcome those differences and arrive at a begrudging friendship.

Astoeth is simply way too busy to try and unravel Dúion's layers. Like, you need a patient person to try and see the diamond under Dúion's many, many, many layers of smart remarks and downright antagonistic comments. Under all those many layers there's a really funny person hidden, but it takes a really patient individual to get to that point which Astoeth simply isn't. She has way too much on her mind to spare a second look at some distant Avari messenger. He would definitely be annoyed by her indifference while Astoeth would be annoyed by his temper.

Of course Lileyn and Hav & Bron are blood-enemies by birth, since the animosity between the Rohirrim and the Dunlending has a really long history. I think if they've met any time before the War of the Ring a fight would've ensued, but the War changed much in both countries and I'm happy that any cultural animosity was solved in the end.

A thing I really like about Lord of the Rings is just how fast friendships get struck between the characters like people just meet and suddenly they're best friends. *thinking back on eomer and gimli* I think the same principle applies to my OCs too like most of them would be fast friends, and any initial animosity would be quickly solved when they'd find out about the other's allegiance.

[nenuials]

Given how tense things can unfortunately get between their two peoples, how did Astoeth and Oin come to know one another?

Call it a headcanon if you want, but I honestly see Oin as very open-minded (at least by his portrayal in the Hobbit movies). I don’t think he’d have the same “problem” with elves movie-Thorin has. I do believe before setting out on the quest for Erebor and before even leaving for the meeting in the Shire with the other dwarves, Oin went by Astoeth’s apothecary to stock up for the journey and get whatever advice he could from her.

As to how they met... Astoeth doesn’t tend to travel. Her travels are rare and noteworthy. On a usual basis at most she travels around Lindon to refill her stocks, so I’d say they met the same way Astoeth meets a lot of other people. He must have come by her apothecary being in need of something, or ready to trade.

[nenuials]

Why is Lothrin so attached to Arnor? Why doesn’t she go down to Gondor and help them too?

It’s by no fault of the Gondorian people. Ever since the War of the Last Alliance she stands deathly afraid of the Fields of Dagorlad. She will not come within a hundred leagues of them – and with Edhellond deserted and Lothlorien too far away, there are none of her kind in Gondor through which she may find ailment. It took great courage for her to follow Aragorn to the Black Gates during the War of the Ring.

What did Astoeth do during the War of the Ring?

She was far from idle! Elrond sent word through Ósanwë Kenta that her skill would be highly needed in the south, so taking the secret roads of the elves – she rode her steed and travelled all the way down from Lindon to Edhellond and then east to Minas Tirith. The roads were now free and empty of Corsairs as the passing of Aragorn cleared them. She arrived in Minas Tirith 5 days after the Battle of Pelennor, on the 20th of March and she made her way straight up to the Houses of Healing. A couple days after, some of her apprentices too appeared in the city, carrying a cart full of medicinal supplies and remedies. You can bet Ioreth spread the word like wildfire that not just any elf, but THE elf-maid who trained many Gondorian healers of old and whose knowledge was still used in the Houses of Healing just appeared within the walls of the city. Astoeth attended the wedding of Aragorn and Arwen upon Midsummer, quite tired after months of tending to the injured.

[nenuials]

Does Astoeth ever take on an apprentice like Elrond had with her?

She did! I think she seriously started taking apprentices after the fall of Arthedain and the loss of Arvedui, so kinda middle of Third Age. I'd say it's about that time that she starts to humble and open to other people as well.

She started small anyhow, it was other elves at first. Then word got around and the men of Lindon started dropping by, then men of Eriador, then further and further beyond.

In her long years as a healer and a teacher she had apprentices from as far east as men of Rhun and elves of Mirkwood, and as far south as healers of the Houses of Healing in Gondor and men of Umbar. Elves lingered in the Halls of Astoeth, for it is in the nature of elves to take their time, but humans? They came and went and learned and took and spread her knowledge far. Dwarves were suspicious at first, but with time and kindness, a cordial relationship was established between Astoeth and the dwarven settlements of Ered Luin.

She even travelled in the Eastfarthing of the Shire from time to time to teach the hobbits there a thing or two, take a temporary apprentice for the duration of her stay there.

The War of the Ring finds the Halls of Rest that belonged to Astoeth a bustling and thriving little community, far from the small shop she once had where she sold her remedies and herbs.

[nenuials]

what are your ocs' relationships like with their siblings? are they close? prone to rivalry? or something else entirely?

Well, let's take it one by one, shall we?

Lothrin had two siblings. In her younger years they were inseparable, often doing their tasks as border guards together. Lainor, her older brother, died in the War of the Last Alliance and after the war ended in her grief Lothrin left Lorien and headed north. Aliar, her younger brother, never quite forgave her for "abandoning" their family in a time of mourning and ever since their relationship has been quite strained.

Astoeth is more often than not quite busy with her own pursuits, but she will always find time to spend with her older sister, Beleth who is a very accomplished blacksmith. Since I don't think the concept of "moving out of your parents house" exists in Middle-earth, they still live with their parents in their home in Celondim. They have their own shenanigans and sibling jokes. One thing they always do together is come home by dinner time in order to supper with their parents. Beleth also loves rowing a boat and will often ferry Astoeth on the river Lhun so that she may gather herbs on the more inaccessible banks of the river.

Melilot often worries about Adamanta and her bounder job, but her sister always tries to put her mind at ease. They have their sibling squabbles, that's true, but then what siblings do not? But they love each-other through and through. Adamanta wouldn't let Melilot leave the Shire on her little scholarly trips without her protecting her sister. Their bond was strengthened by the Scouring of the Shire.

Dōmēyondō (Dûion) loves Berékānis, but with him being away for such long periods of time, and being a messenger and all that, the two don't spend that much time together. Some siblings would rather not fight, but Berékānis loves riling Dōmēyondō up, and she always knows how since she's his sister. Some people really do love having friendly squabbles.

Sidhen used to spend a lot more time with her sister during their childhood. The two always got along quite well, but with Sidhen becoming a ranger and her sister marrying a scholar, settling down and having children, the two didn't keep in touch that much afterwards. Not that anything happened, it's just life you know?

Bron was brought up at a distance from her brother, since Hav was bound to be the next Brenin of their clan ever since his birth. It's quite hard developing deep bonds, when your sibling will one day be the one to rule an entire region and whose word carries the most weight around. And who will tell you what to do and what not to do. That's why Bron preferred the solitude of the wilds to the bustling atmosphere of the village. Bron hates being told what to do, and Hav in his sibling teasing wouldn't waste a chance annoying her.

[nenuials]

What does Elrond make of Astoeth's creation of the Life-drought? Does he oppose it, feeling its potential side-effects are too dire, or does he see the benefit and necessity of an elixir that could buy a healer some precious time?

What do you think Elrond used when Frodo was brought before him bearing a morgul-wound? Athelas might've given him a couple more days, but it was the Life-draught that kept Frodo from falling into the shadow.

The draught did its job and slowed down the spread of the poison, long enough for Frodo to be saved anyhow - but since Astoeth had only ever tested it on humans, dwarves and elves, Elrond was running a high risk administering it to a hobbit. Indeed, Frodo's system reacted differently to the draught and only the nerves surrounding the entry point of the wound were affected. Combined with the magical nature of the morgul blade, it's quite curious the fact that Frodo felt intense sickness and pain only on the exact anniversary of his wounding. Astoeth would have loved to study him a little, had he not sailed for Aman so soon.

So, to answer your question. I'd believe he has the same opinion as Astoeth on the matter. It is only to be used as a last, last resort and only for wounds that cannot be treated by more traditional means.

[nenuials]

Has Astoeth's past haughtiness ever pushed people away? And if so, is it someone she would have wished to know better after she's grown as a person?

Honestly, that's something I've never thought about until now!

She definitely lost a friend in Maegamel, another healer of her hometown - Celondim (though later Astoeth swallows her pride and they end up working together, I'd say that happens maybe middle of the Third Age) She "lost" a lot of customers in the beginning since word got around that she tends to be quite unfriendly or disinterested, only taking patients with illnesses that she finds stimulating - a match for her abilities. Like, she's the healer of Lindon, why should she be the one to treat minor colds or wounds? She needs a challenge that rises to her knowledge and might.

Her own father, the greatest healer of Lindon up until that point wasn't too happy with her behaviour. She definitely didn't garner any favours within the ranks of the higher-elves of Lindon either. And for a while she was happy with just how things were. But you know how it is, the bigger the pride the harder the fall. It took a while for her to realize that maybe a change in attitude was due since people weren't coming over anymore, she hardly had any friends of her own kind and she didn't find satisfaction in being lonely.

She sometimes thinks about her past self and about the mistakes she’d made, but I find that forgiving yourself and giving yourself the permission to move on and bloom and be kind is a beautiful thing.