#cherish.ered

To Be or Not to Be (High King of the Noldor)

My Job Description

What does being Gil-galad entail? Simple: 1. Diplomat Extraordinaire: Elves bickering about trade routes? That’s my Tuesday. 2. War Strategist: Sauron shows up, and suddenly I’m not just king—I’m everyone’s go-to for “How do we not die today?” advice. 3. Babysitter: Galadriel won’t stop chasing vengeance, Elrond is too polite to say “no,” and Celebrimbor keeps playing with dangerous jewelry.

Leadership Challenges

People think being a High King is about glory, but honestly, it’s herding cats in crowns. Consider this: • Galadriel: Every council meeting: “We must stop Sauron!” Me: “Yes, and how will we fund that?” • Elrond: Always “volunteered” for diplomacy. Half the time, he comes back with an alliance. The other half? Dwarves are mad at me again. • Celebrimbor: Spends most of his time crafting things that will eventually explode or corrupt someone. I can’t keep up.

My Legacy

They say I’m wise and noble, but do you know what my real legacy is? Stress. I’ve fought wars, built alliances, and probably shortened my lifespan dealing with everyone’s drama. And what’s my reward? I get to die spectacularly while wielding Aeglos. (Seriously, it’s a great spear. Too bad I don’t get a retirement plan to enjoy it.)

The Upside

But let’s not forget the perks: • I look amazing in a crown. 👑 • No one questions my dramatic speeches. (Even when they should.) • I have an unparalleled collection of scrolls.... scholarly AND gossip.

Final Thoughts

To be High King or not to be High King, that is the question. Honestly, some days I’d rather not. The meetings, the drama, the constant threat of Sauron, who wouldn’t want to sail west and leave it all behind? But then I remember: someone has to keep this place from falling apart.

You seem to be a very joyous (and secretly very funny) elf.

But has anyone in the Kingdom (besides Cìrdan) actually heard the sound of your laughter? 🧐

If so, who was it? And what was it that made you laugh?

*blushes… just slightly, nothing noticeable*

A joyous elf? Secretly funny? My dear questioner... I have spent centuries crafting an aura of wisdom and just the right amount of High-Kingly Exasperation, only for you to see through it in an instant. My reputation? In ruins.

But since the damage is done… the answer is:

Yes. Unfortunately, yes. (And not just once)  😩

The witnesses:

✔ Elrond—by accident. ✔ Galadriel—out of sheer survival. ✔ Celebrimbor—but that one was entirely his own fault.

Now, let’s talk about the first one. 1️⃣ Elrond. He was young. He was eager. He was trying very hard to be the perfect diplomat. 📜✨ His human half, however, was absolutely annihilated by Lindon’s wine. 🍷🍷 I lost him. And then I found him delivering a heartfelt speech: To a tree.

Not just any tree my friend. 🌳✨ Oh no. THE TREE. You know the one. The very gilded... the one with the golden leaves. Because... he thought IT WAS ME!!! He stood before it, hands clasped, voice steady, the picture of elven grace and professionalism. And then, with complete sincerity, he bowed. 🤵‍♂️🌳✨ I tried to hold it together. I really did... I even called: "Elrond." He turned. Not to me. But to the tree. He leaned in. 🤨🌳 “Do you concur?” I lost the battle. I wheezed. 🤣 I choked. ☠️ I saw the light of Aman. ✨ And then I realized... This was not going to end on its own. I had to physically drag Elrond away.

I still feel guilty. 😞

The Nobility in Defiance

First, allow me to ask your forgiveness for addressing this question in such a way. But I believe... nay, I am convinced, that this inquiry deserves it's proper moment and space. After all, the question of favorites… is indeed a delicate topic for any ruler.

Allow me to clarify: as High King, I must remain above such trivialities. After all, kings are meant to be impartial, serene, and, most importantly, diplomatic.

In theory, anyway.

A king must never show favoritism! A king must be a beacon of fairness, the embodiment of justice and balance. I am the leader of all Elves, not a parent choosing the favored child. I must remain the ever-constant, unwavering symbol of unity, never allowing personal preferences to cloud my judgment or compromise the greater good of all my people.

You see? A king has no room for favorites.

Well… there is the official answer, and it is, of course, entirely correct. But then we get to Ereinion, the elf behind the crown. The one who occasionally forgets he’s the High King and, instead, just becomes an elf who’s seen too much and cares too much.

In that role, as Ereinion, I will confess, with a smile that speaks volumes:

Yes, it’s Elrond.

Why?

Perhaps it is his maddening habit for doing what is right, even when it defies all common sense, and occasionally my direct orders. There is this infuriating nobility to Elrond, the sort that makes one simultaneously want to commend and chastise him.

He possesses an unyielding moral compass, as though the stars themselves set his course, and woe to anyone who tries to sway him from it!! And yet, for all his stubbornness, there is wisdom in his defiance, a rare quality that even I must admire.

Elrond is the rock amidst the tempest. While Galadriel burns with the fire of ambition and Celebrimbor dazzles with the brilliance of creativity, it is Elrond who remains steadfast. He is the quiet voice of reason when the council chambers grow too loud, the calm presence that tempers the storms of elven pride.

And yet, Elrond is not without his flaws. His maddening habit of leaping off proverbial cliffs, sometimes literal ones, is enough to infuriate even the most patient of kings. But perhaps that is part of his charm: he does not hesitate when faced with the abyss, he trusts his ability to navigate the unknown. This…  is a quality that makes him a formidable ally and, dare I say, a worthy successor to the ideals we Noldor hold dear.

Now, don’t misunderstand me… Galadriel and Celebrimbor, also, have their place in my heart. Each of them, in their own right represent something vital about who we are and what we aspire to be. Galadriel’s unshakable spirit and her bold vision remind me that courage, is the one that forges new paths. Celebrimbor, on the other hand, with his endless creativity, is a living testament to the brilliance that runs through our bloodline, he brings our heritage to life.

But Elrond? Elrond is different. He’s the balance between them, a bridge connecting the wisdom of the past with the promise of the future. He’s a reminder that we can truly achieve greatness when our hearts and minds are aligned.

So, while I loath to admit it (if only for the sake of appearances) the truth is simpler: Elrond’s place in my heart is not a matter of favoritism, but of trust. Trust in his unwavering spirit, his unyielding principles, and his ability to lead where even I cannot. If that makes him my “favorite,” then so be it.

Let history judge my words as it will. For now, I am content to say this: a king may have no room for favorites, but an elf, just an elf, may sometimes be forgiven for showing his heart.

There you have it: an essay, a confession, and perhaps even a scandal among my advisors. But what is kingship without a little controversy?

Can you tell us what words you used to comfort Elrond after the fall of Eregion?

The Ashes We Stand Upon

My dear friend, of course… but first, I must tell you this: Comfort is a fragile thing in the wake of ruin. Words alone cannot mend what was lost, nor can they turn back time to undo the weight of grief, especially when it carves itself deeply into a heart. And for some, that weight is a familiar burden.

Yes, Elrond has known loss before. He was born into it. He has carried it since childhood, as a son of two worlds, as a child of war, as the one who stayed behind. And yet, despite it all, I saw in him something unbroken. A hope, an innocence that had withstood time.

But Eregion… Eregion was different.

And so, Elrond stood before me after its fall, not broken, but burdened. This loss was heavier, not only because of the city that burned but because of the weight left in its ashes. His father foresaw it: Celebrimbor’s fate, the burden placed into his hands. And when the moment came, he could not change it.

He could not stop it.

Neither could I.

I warned Celebrimbor. I told him Annatar was not what he seemed. I cautioned patience, restraint, and wariness. But I did not force his hand. I let him choose. I sent Elrond with reinforcements. But by the time he arrived, Eregion was already lost.

I did not act soon enough.

I could have stood before Elrond and told him this, that he was not alone in his grief, that I, too, carry the weight of failure.

But I did not.

Because I know this pain is not one that words can mend.

But pain does not dictate the end. Loss and defeat do not dictate the end.

I have seen great kingdoms fall, their names fading into memory, their halls turned to dust. But I have also learned this: the measure of a leader is not in what they lose but in what they build from the ashes. That is what I told him, not in so many words, not in grand speeches, but in the quiet certainty that the path before him had not closed… only changed.

“Eregion is gone. But we are not. You are not, Elrond. And where there is still breath, there is still hope.”

I did not leave him to mourn what was lost without offering him a way forward. If all we had left was ruin, I would see that ruin turned into something new. So I gave him that choice, not as a command, but as a path. To remain in the past or to forge something that could rise as a beacon of light.

What he is building will not be born of fire or ambition but of endurance. Of the refusal to let history end in sorrow. A place that will always remind him he must stand, no matter what.

Because even when all seems lost, there is always a spark of hope.

Can I come out of my room now, High King? 😔

(Hide them well so the Council doesn't find them.)

Oh Valar, I’m being bribed… in a sugary way!! 😌🍪✨

*Takes a macaron. Casually eats it. Stops mid-bite. Eyes widen. Takes another. For science. 🔬👀*

I shall consider your release. After all…

Oh, it’s CRISPY!!! ✨ And CHEWY!!! ✨ *insert dramatic gasp please* 😱😱😱😱😱 I’m gonna die!!

Mmm… delicate, deceptively powerful. One wrong move, and they crumble… like my patience, my peace, and my will to live. ✨💔

*Takes another bite. Stares into the void. The void stares back. 🕳️Takes one more… just for emotional support.* 😮‍💨🍪

Fine. You may step out. BUT: no more splashes. 🚫 No waves. ❌ No ripples. 🫧 If I so much as hear a single rogue drip, 👆👉 I am express shipping you (both) back to your room, wrapped in an extra-large ‘DO NOT OPEN UNTIL THE THIRD AGE’ sticker. 📦😑

*Gives hug 🤗💙, good vibes ✨🫶. Pauses. Looks at the remaining macarons. Considers life. 🤔🍪 Suddenly turns and storms off.*

ELROND!!!

Who's the best hugger?

(You can judge this however you like: frequency of hugs, squishiness, extent of emotional alleviation etc...)

On the Matter of Hugs 🤗💙✨

📜✍️* Throws documents aside dramatically*

First, I must say, I am not the most obvious candidate for a hug. The moment someone makes an approach, it’s like an alarm has been set off… 🚨⚔️ everyone collectively forgets how to breathe. Not by my choice, mind you. And yet… a few have managed. So, let us review: ⚔️ Galadriel – The Unstoppable Hugger - She does not ask. She does not wait. If Galadriel deems a hug necessary, it is happening. I have attempted to sidestep... she simply recalibrates. 🏹✨ 🔨 Celebrimbor – The Distracted Hugger - Accidental hugs. They start with enthusiasm… one arm around your shoulder, and suddenly, you’re held hostage mid-explanation about alloy ratios. 🏗️🤝 ⛵ Círdan – The Measured Hugger - Rare, deliberate, and heavy with meaning. When Círdan hugs, it’s because words won’t suffice. 🌊💙

✨ Elrond – The Tactful Hugger - Measured. A hand on the shoulder, a steadying touch… and then there are other times... when I think I’m mentoring him, only to be ambushed... no warning. Just hug. As if he decided I needed it before I even realized it myself. That child… 🤝🍪 Tumblr Friends – The Boldest Hug Attempt - Yes, I have received hugs here… and sugg… ideas (my dear… you know who you are). I will just say... they have felt good. (Further hugs may be considered, especially if accompanied by cookies.) 🍪👀 Final Evaluation 📊🤨✨

Surprise Factor? Tumblr friends and Galadriel, you blink, and it’s happening. Squishiest? Elrond, surprisingly soft. Longest Hold? Celebrimbor, without a doubt. Most Soothing? Círdan, when he hugs, you listen. But truly, the best hugger?

…so, the last time you slept was when, exactly?

Círdan? Is that you?!? ⛵👀 . . . .