BURN THE SHIPS

Not about the torture or the agony they went through, more like gossiping on how much of a peacock he was, strutting around and bragging about how beautiful he is.

If you came across them in the street you’d think they’re talking about one of those overdressed Tirion nobles, but then you hear “I preferred his torture to his speeches because dear Eru those were a whole new level of pain-“

“Heard all of two before being mauled. Definitely preferred the werewolf.”

Celebrimbor sometimes joins these sessions but he’s got the additional years of having known Annatar and it’s therapeutic to talk about how self absorbed he was to people who really understand. Safe to say Maedhros and Finrod sombrely commiserate the kid on dealing with that for centuries.

“How did you two become friends??”

“I think his vanity numbed my brain.”

Maedhros the Long Boy

Maglor the Loud

Celegorm the Hunter

Caranthir the Grumpy

Curufin the Daddy's Boy

Ambarussa the Orange

Bonus - Celebrimbor learning about another of his family's exploits.

when feanor learns fingolfin's firstborn is due on the same day as his second son, he resolves to keep his intended name a secret. fingolfin always copies him and ruins everything, so best to make sure he has nothing to copy

the children are born. the children are named. both feanor and fingolfin take them before finwe at the same time and simulateously announce

"This is my son, Findekano."

"This is my son, Kanofinwe."

for a moment, the room is silent. finwe declares fondly that feanor and fingolfin are too alike for their own good

Feanor's grief at the death of his father moved the hearts all those who witnessed it, moved them to such pity that they forgave him for every bitter thing he had done. Whatever had shone in Feanor's face, at that moment, the Elves' hearts broke for him.

Fast forward a few centuries and turns out all that work wasn’t entirely useless. And Sauron knows exactly what to do with the features he was able to recreate. Weaving them into his new face, the line of Maitimo’s smile, the set of his eyebrows, the crease of his eyes, he puts just enough to be familiar, but not enough to set off any alarms.

Celebrimbor doesn’t know *why* he trusts Annatar so easily, just that he’s got a good feeling about him. The Maia reminds him of someone he can’t quite put a finger on, but it’s a good association and he doesn’t think on it too deeply. Grows to call him a brother in all but blood.

Of course we all know how that ends. And the last thing Celebrimbor sees is his eldest Uncle’s smile, a mockery of the warmth it should hold as Sauron finally ends his torture.