So I don’t know the origins of this ship, really, or even how I stumbled across it (it may have been this fic? I’m not sure), but it first appealed to me as a possible Gil-galad origin theory! Lalwen as Gil’s mother - and thus his claim to the throne being from his mother’s side, not his father’s - is a really interesting concept and honestly a stronger claim as the son of a G1 Finwëan rather than...the only guy left several generations down Arafinwë’s line. As for Círdan, he’s just great, and Gil’s other parent is sometimes said to be a Sinda, so it works for that too.

In my mind it was a secret relationship that ended up with a child they couldn’t keep for political reasons, and he was given to Fingon to raise instead (a different kind of political mess, but apparently easier to handle). I have multiple different Gil theories that I play around with, and I don’t often use this one anymore, but it is definitely fun.

Anyway, that’s how I started shipping them. My thoughts now are a little more complicated (in verses where they are not Gil’s parents I make them the parents of Littleheart/Ilfrin instead of Voronwë, who is Círdan’s nephew) but their love story stays pretty much the same in my mind: Lalwen is a diplomat to the Falas for her brother the High King, she and Círdan hit it off, it’s very much a Friends to Lovers slowburn situation. I see them as both very practical people, putting their responsibilities before any feelings they might have, and only getting together later in the First Age.

My Lalwen dies in the War of Wrath defending her little brother Arafinwë the way she couldn’t defend big brother Nolofinwë...and though she gets reembodied in the Second Age (and hangs out on Tol Eressëa with Voronwë and Ilfrin, who sailed at the end of the First Age), Círdan hangs out in Middle-earth doing his ship-building thing until well into the Fourth Age, so their reunion is a very long time coming. Lalwen doesn’t begrudge him that and she’s proud of him for everything he does, but she is very glad to have him back when the time finally comes.

This may not be the sort of thing you had in mind but it turned out to be the only kind of thing about this pairing that I could find inspiration for. 257 words. Thank you for the prompt! (The prompt line was ‘You’re in love with her’.

‘You’re in love with her.’

Vairë's thought at him is more thoughtful than accusing.

'Not in love', Námo replies, but quickly amends, 'Not like I am with you.'

'Yet you feel differently about her than any other spirit who has passed through our halls.' On this day, the only sign of Vairë's presence is a thread on the tapestry moving and growing, and the voice Námo alone hears.

'I am intrigued.' Námo dwells on that. 'She is not passing through, this particular spirit, she has made that clear enough. That is… intriguing. That someone should choose to stay even though we have offered her healing, and to have entered our realm of her free will in the first place.'

'You know as well as I do – better than I do – that it is up to the soul to accept that healing.'

'I do.' Námo finds he desires to leave and seek other company, though his spouse has been unexpectedly tolerant of his peculiar fascination with a particular elf-spirit. 'I think I shall go talk to her again.'

'Tell Míriel my greetings.' Vairë's presence in his mind is amused. 'And do not bore her too much with your insistences. I have a feeling she may the more stubborn of you two, for all that you are unyielding. Perhaps that is why she fascinates you so.'

'Perhaps.' He gathers the long black robe he has chosen to wear recently, and goes to the most peculiar spirit in his halls.

hello!! thank you very much!! <3

do i like them?

yes!! i do like her narrative of being an independent woman who chooses to control her own destiny! i am particularly fond of how she basically tells the valar to go fuck themselves after the war of wrath--yes, they did save the free peoples of middle-earth, but they did so after, you know, cursing them to unnumbered tears, etc. pieces of work. (this may be because i’m a petty little shit) i also like how her character progresses from youthful pride and arrogance to wisdom, and with it, recognition of the value of kindness from the first to third age. plus, i had a massive crush on her when i first watched lotr but we’re not gonna talk about that

5 good qualities?

independence, kindness, wisdom, loyalty, determination

3 bad qualities?

i don’t know if this counts as a quality per se, but i really don’t like her colonialist narrative. two others: prideful--maybe arrogant, and i feel like she can be vindictive, especially pre-third age.

favourite episode/etc?

“all shall love me and despair.” that one gives me chills every time.

otp?

her and celeborn, i guess

brotp?

her and finrod! or her and aredhel!

notp?

got none!

best quote?

“And now at last it comes. You will give me the Ring freely! In place of the Dark Lord you will set up a Queen. And I shall not be dark, but beautiful and terrible as the Morning and the Night! Fair as the Sea and the Sun and the Snow upon the Mountain! Dreadful as the Storm and the Lightning! Stronger than the foundations of the earth. All shall love me and despair!” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

this!! this shit!! this is the shit!!

headcanon?