#thengel

It’s very fitting for you to have picked this one given our shared interest in the House of Thengel, because this is my big Morwen fic! It follows the outlines of my HC for her, which you’re already broadly familiar with — she’s clever and ambitious and naturally politically minded but feels herself wasting away in the flowery pleasantness of Lossarnach, where absolutely nothing interesting ever happens… until she meets a thoroughly average seeming guy on a quick trip to Minas Tirith and discovers he’s the heir in exile to the throne of Rohan. He might not want it, but she does!

Here is Morwen right after discovering that the guy she couldn’t spare a moment’s thought for five minutes ago is suddenly MUCH more of interest:

Heir to the throne? That didn’t seem right. Not for the unassuming man she’d met that afternoon. The weak-chinned, middle aged man who had barely strung together three stammering words in her presence. Though even as she thought back on him now, she could already feel that perception changing. The chin was kind of adorable actually, and the graying hair distinguished. Even his shyness could be a virtue. It could portend a deep thinker, someone who only spoke when he was certain he had something of value to say. That might be true. But, really, it didn’t matter what he might be. It mattered what he was, and that was a way out of beautiful, peaceful, painfully boring Lossarnach. For good.

Got any headcanons or opinions about the 3 sisters of Théoden who weren’t Théodwyn??? What they were like, where they were during the events that we’re all familiar with, what their relationship with Théoden was like, etc.? It’s bonkers to me that we know they exist and that he preferred Théodwyn to the other sisters but that’s. literally. it!

Omg what a good question! Thank you for leading my thoughts in that direction. There is SO MUCH to unpack there, and even more to imagine, because as you said Tolkien left us a lot of room there (euphemism of the month). I will allow myself to add Morwen Steelsheen to this reflection, because I think it makes sense to link her to her daughters, and similar questions arise around her character.

But I’m a scientist, so let’s think about this rationally and stay organized. I will answer in four parts (I’m not sorry about it)

1. What the canon actually says 2. What are the possibilities, what must be ruled out and why 3. Why I will NOT be going there with my current WIP pHORSEuasion 4. Freeform headcanons I still have on this matter!

Part 1: Deep dive in the canon

Most of what we know about Thengel’s family comes from a couple paragraphs in Appendix A. I have laid out this information in a timeline, with the following assumptions, which can be contested, but that’s what I chose to work from: -Only one child is born per year -There are no twins in the family -The first child of a couple is born at earliest one year after their wedding -Ages given assume a birthday on January 1st. If the actual birthday happens after the event in the calendar year, the character would technically be one year “younger”

2905: Thengel born in Rohan 2922: Morwen born in Gondor 2943: Thengel (age 38) and Morwen (age 21) marry in Gondor Between 2944 and 2947: First daughter born in Gondor 2948: Théoden born in Gondor Between 2949 and 2953: Second daughter born in Gondor 2953: Thengel (age 48) becomes king of Rohan Between 2953 and 2962: Third daughter born in Rohan 2963: Théodwyn is born in Rohan. She is described as “a child of his (Thengel's) age” (Thengel is then 58 and Morwen is 41). 2977 or before: Théoden (age 29 or less) and Elfhild (age unknown) marry in Rohan 2978: Théodred born in Rohan. Elfhild (age unknown) dies 2980: Thengel (age 75) dies. Théoden (age 32) becomes king of Rohan 2989: Théodwyn (age 26) and Éomund (age unknown) marry in Rohan 2991: Éomer born in Rohan 2995: Éowyn born in Rohan 3002: Éomund (age unknown) and Théodwyn (age 39) die. Éomer is then 11 and Éowyn is 7 3017: Éomer becomes Third Marshal (age 26) 3019: Théodred (age 41) and Théoden (age 71) die. Éomer (age 28) becomes king of Rohan. Éowyn (age 24) and Faramir (age 36) marry in Rohan 3020 or later: Elboron, son of Éowyn and Faramir, born in Gondor. 3021: Éomer (age 30) and Lothiriel (age 22) marry Early Fourth Age: Elfwine, son of Lothiriel and Éomer, born in Rohan. Fourth Age 63: Éomer (age 91) dies Fourth Age 82: Faramir (age 120) dies

Therefore, we have at the start of the War of the Ring, let’s say in January 3019: Definitely alive: -Théoden -Théodred -Éomer -Éowyn

Possibly alive (no canonical death): -Morwen (age 97, but she is of Dunedain descent, so a long life is possible) -Her three eldest daughters, with ages between 75 (if the eldest was born right after their parents' wedding, in 2944) and 57 (if the third daughter was born right before Théodwyn, in 2962)

A few extra notes on the canon

One thing that I had not fully realized before, is that Théodred is born and Elfhild dies when Théoden is not yet king. Therefore: -Thengel technically met Théodred (he was 2 years old when his grandfather died) -Elfhild, although Théoden's wife, was never queen of Rohan -When Lothiriel becomes queen, Rohan has not had a queen since Morwen, 41 years earlier, at the death of Thengel in 2980 -Théodwyn was only 15, or going on 15, at that time. (I know that I have read somewhere the headcanon that she cared for Théodred from his birth, which is valid and possible, however in my opinion her age makes it doubtful that she would have been the main carer and parental figure.) -Théoden ascends to the throne whilst bearing not only the immediate grief of his father, but also the relatively recent (2 years) loss of his wife.

Of Théodwyn, we know that she was “the fairest” and “her brother loved her dearly”. After her husband was killed, she “took sick and died to the great grief of the king”. Théoden then “took [her children] into his house, calling them son and daughter”.

And we learn a little about Morwen when Éowyn is described: “Éowyn was slender and tall, with a grace and pride that came to her out of the South from Morwen of Lossarnach, whom the Rohirrim had called Steelsheen.” (I must say that I am questioning this past perfect “had called”. It sounds like Morwen is not there anymore, otherwise past simple “called” would have been used. But then, it is hard to pinpoint when in time the narrator is placing themselves in this passage. If referring to Éowyn’s early adult life, it would be a clue in the direction that Morwen is not alive anymore by the War of the Ring, or at least that she is not in Rohan anymore. If referring to an undefined point at the moment of writing in the Fourth Age, it means nothing at all. But we’re now at the level of microscopic details from the text!)

Thengel left Rohan and made a new home in Gondor, and returned to Rohan "reluctantly". After his return, he held onto Gondorean customs ("though the speech of Gondor was used in his house, and not all men thought that good"), and while he loved his land and ruled it well, he perhaps held on a lingering contempt for his homeland, and a preference for Gondor.

Morwern was nicknamed Morween Steelsheen by the people of Rohan. Such a nickname really suggests respect and admiration from the people, which isn't a small feat, considering we know that the speech of Gondor being used at court was not something everyone approved of.

I think Morwen was attracted to Thengel partially because of his Rohirric birth. I think she was fascinated with the legends of Shieldmaidens and was felt a calling to the wild land of the horse lords. While Thengel returned to Rohan grudgingly, Morwen was excited to reside in a land that had been a fascination for her for years, and on arrival it felt almost like a homecoming.

R.I.P Bernard Hill. You were a king in the hearts of many. All your years of acting, pouring so much zeal, passion, and love into your work have made you amongst the most beloved of human beings.

Becoming among the few of the most renowned actors, starring in two of the only three films in history who have 11 Oscars, has made you a respected king.

A king of acting, in the eyes of your fans and viewers alike.

But in the hearts of us, you are the uncle of Éowyn and Éomer. The father of Théodred. The brother of Théodwyn. The son of Thengel and Morwen Steelsheen.

The Lord of the Mark.

The Horsemaster.

The Father of Horse-men.

Théoden Ednew.

#'thengel's monsterfucking legacy' is KILLING ME elizabeth#i am laughing SO HARD#lord of the rings#dunedain#numenoreans#truly cackling

men of middle-earth ♞ house of éorl ♞ headcanon disclaimer

*jumps on bandwagon* So, I wasted long hours creating my favourite royal family from Lord of the Rings on Artbreeder.

Thengel

Théoden and his wife Elfhild

Their son Théodred

Théodwyn and her husband Éomund

Their children Éomer and Éowyn

Eómer’s wife Lothíriel and her cousin/Éowyn’s husband Faramir

Bonus: Elfwine (Éomer’s and Lothíriel’s son) and Elboron (Éowyn’s and Faramir’s son)