sun

Specifically I was thinking on the bit in Lost Tales about how mariners and wayfarers are called "sons of Eärendel". My sleep deprived brain was rotating this plus my headcanon that Elrond actually kind of hates/fears the ocean (because of some mix of Sirion trauma and abandonment issues).

Just... one son of Eärendil being a sailor and hero like his father and founding a sea kingdom. It becoming accepted folklore that if a beam of Eärendil's light falls on a newborn they will grow up to be a wanderer. Eärendil's legacy being so associated with mariners and the sea.

Like when Gandalf spent literal PAGES trying to figure out why the vibes were off in Moria and Legolas chimes in with just "it's a balrog :) that shit's evil :) we're so fucked :)" like what do you MEAN you knew already and just didn't tell him??

Or at the beginning of Two Towers when Aragorn thinks there's something nearby so he puts his ear to the ground to listen, and then like 10 minutes later is like "hmmm i hear horses" and Legolas is just like "mm yep. there are 105 blond bitches with spears" like you just let your friend put his face in the dirt and you can SEE them??

gandalf is scratching his head in moria, and legolas is thinking "oh man, the wizard noticed something off *besides* the obvious balrog that we all are aware of??"