I would personally argue that the enduring Elvish political division in the 2nd and 3rd Ages is not "Sindar vs Noldor" but rather "Sirion vs Balar (and, uncomfortably, Amon Ereb)" -- that is, the remnants of the peoples of Beleriand who were largely isolationist vs those who -- by either choice and ability-- were not.
Notably, Sirion is the explicit destination of:
The refugees of Gondolin, an extremely isolationist polity which did not contribute to the Siege of Angband; did not respond to the Dagor Bragollach, despite their proximity to Tol Sirion; did not admit refugees; and only barely joined the Union of Maedhros. I don't give Turgon much credit for this, because as narratively dramatic as an unannounced relief force is, Turgon denied Fingon and Maedhros the opportunity to plan the battle with the addition of his forces. The western front may not have been the best place for them to be!
The refugees of Doriath, a polity which spent nearly the entire span of Morgoth's residence in Beleriand isolated behind the Girdle, and benefited immensely from the safety brought by the Siege of Angband without contributing anything to it. I am inclined to believe that, considering Thingol's stated distrust of the Northern Sindar, his ban on the Noldor entering Doriath, and the explicit notation that the refugees of Nargothrond were allowed to come to Doriath, that he was not opening his borders to anyone except them.
It is also the likeliest destination for many of the refugees of Nargothrond, who fled to Doriath after Glaurung's attack -- and after Orodreth's ascension to the throne, Nargothrond was increasingly secretive and isolationist and did not join the Union of Maedhros even at Fingon's command. After the Nirnaeth they "did not suffer" other elves to cross their lands, and Annael (Tuor's Mithrim foster-father) ends up in Balar so they were likely turning away all refugees -- and this despite Orodreth's wife canonically being Northern Sindar.
Balar, on the other hand, was the explicit destination of:
The Falathrim under Círdan, who were closely connected to both Nargothrond and the Fingolfinian strongholds in Mithrim
The Northern Sindar of Hithlum, who were vassals of Fingolfin and Fingon (under no known singular leader)
And regardless of whether you accept Gil-Galad son of Fingon or Gil-Galad son of Orodreth, it's very likely that as the seat of the High King of the Noldor, Balar was also home to the Noldorin remnants of Fingon's host that didn't (presumably) get swept up into the Fëanorian forces following the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, which at that point would have included the remnants of the Aegnor and Angrod's forces from Dorthonion, Fingolfin's forces, and Fingon's own forces.
Amon Ereb, which I think is broadly aligned with "Balar" on the "Balar vs Sirion" scale, but probably uncomfortably so (especially after the 2nd and 3rd Kinslayings), was of course host to the remnants of the Noldorin and Sindarin forces of Himlad/Himring/Thargelion, plus a large contingent of the Northern Sindar who were outriders in the plains and highlands of the northeast. The Green-elves of Ossiriand were likely split between the two camps or purposefully neutral.
How does this map onto the political landscape of the 2nd / 3rd Ages? The elven realms east of the Misty Mountains (the Greenwood and Lothlorien) are implied to have a distinctly different character from those west of the Misty Mountains (Eregion, Lindon, and Imladris) despite both being noted to have Noldor & Sindar mixing.
IMO the easiest way to reconcile this is to assume that east of the Misty Mountains, "Sirion" prevails-- this is where the "Sindar princes of the Silvan elves" (Celeborn and Oropher->Thranduil) rule, and most Noldor present are largely Gondolidrim or from Nargothrond. Any Green-elves who were incredibly opposed to the rule of the Noldor likely migrated in this direction to their ancestral homes near the Anduin.
West of the Misty Mountains, on the other hand, I assume that "Balar" largely prevails-- this is where Gil-Galad rules, and where the Sindar of Hithlum, the Falas, and the northern plains --and the remaining Fingolfinian, Dorthonion, Fëanorion Noldor, and some fraction of the Gondolidrim-- spread out in complex ways between Lindon (which encompasses remnants of both Ossiriand and Thargelion), Eregion, and Imladris. It's likely that Harlindon specifically-- one of the last remmants of Ossiriand-- is home to a large body of Green-elves who will not be parted from their homes, but who may have wildly varying opinions on Noldorin rule and ... the 1st Age in general.
(Side note: I do think this works with Gil-Galad son of Orodreth, by the way. It just requires his mother, a woman of the Northern Sindar, to be uncomfortable with her husband's isolationism and refusal of refugees and leave with her son when he's sent to foster/safety on Balar, and for Gil-Galad to identify more with his mother's people -- and by extension, the Fingolfinian and, more uncomfortably, Fëanorian Noldor with whom they had long relationships-- than Nargothrond).
Sorry for vanishing for a while again, been dealing with a nice mix of health & life stuff and haven't had the spoons for ✨ social interaction ✨. It's been rough and I'm still not fully functional yet, but I'll be getting back to my usual soon hopefully. In the meantime, have a piece I did very slowly between crashes that I am nonetheless quite happy with.
Elwing with her sons (and her brothers).
Click for better quality sorry.
I never do backgrounds but I think this worked out, I've had the concept in my head for a while.
The Mouths of Sirion and the surrounding woods board for @rana-temporaria thank you for always listening to my Morwen and Aerin rambling <3 <3
The Havens are such a fascinating place culturally and ecologically! I'm constantly changing my thoughts on its biogeography. This board pulls primarily from Japan.
This took waaayyy longer than I thought it would, but I'm so happy with how it turned out!! Especially her face and the background, and I'm just pleasantly surprised by her feather robe too :) you decide what on the hidden part of her necklace 🤫
COMMISSIONS OPEN - Support me on Ko-Fi; early access drawings + WIP + COMM discounts
I’m not defending the Fëanorians, the kinslayings are still their fault, but some Elwing stans are really acting as if a female character having flaws is just inconceivable. Elves have a long record of making terrible decisions, because they failed to foresee how their choices can impact people around them. Now, I do believe the silmarils have some addictive qualities about them and Elwing was probably driven by the desire to keep it regardless of her own opinion on the matter. But M&M didn’t attack out of a sudden either. I think a lot of people forget that they literally asked for the jewel first, with the intention of avoiding bloodshed (because yes, they knew staining their hands with blood wasn’t worth it). Elwing refused to give up the silmaril though. It doesn’t make her at fault for the kinslaying and death of her people, it’s just that she’s not entirely without agency here
Elwing made a choice influenced by her panic and desperation. But yeah, god forbid she’s a complex character. Let her be a little selfish too, it doesn’t automatically make her evil
I always imagined Elrond to wear either rubies or sapphires, using red and blue jewellery interchangeably to confuse and annoy the Noldor in Lindon, who might try to pressure him (He is of Fingolfin's line but was raised by sons of Fëanor).
But now I wonder if he would have preferred pearls.
He grew up in Sirion, right next to the ocean.
His line was blessed by Ulmo.
And, most importantly, his brother was king of an island. He must have had pearls in abundance.
By wearing pearls instead of coloured stones, Elrond might have found a way of bedecking himself in jewellery to his hearts content without offending any of Lindons courtiers.
