Welcome to the House of Finwë!

Maybe the reason Legolas always looks so perfect is elves don’t need to sweat to regulate body temperate. Maybe they just don’t sweat. Or it needs to be some seriously extreme physical strain.

Like I don’t see immortality working if elves are going to overheat as easily as humans do.

Then again maybe it’s an evolutionary trait of later elves born under the sun, and the later they’re born, the better the evolution (eg. Legolas’ is way better than Elrond’s because he was born 3rd Age.)

Which would be really funny to hold over the heads of these older ‘hardier’ elves. Like yes they’re harder to kill, but they also sweat worse than humans do. It’s only said hardiness which stops them very literally boiling to death, but it’s still an all round uncomfortable experience.

Because I don’t think the trees gave out heat? Unless it was a byproduct of the light, but I don’t think so.

…unless it’s a Laurelin specific thing because the sun and moon still come into existence and seem to work the same as ours.

Either way I imagine Valinor had some kind of thermostat keeping everything within a certain range. Then we get to Beleriand and sun and moon and everyone’s in for a surprise.

Fingolfin’s host included. They’ve seen the ice, sure. But they have no idea what deserts, or even hot summer days are like.

Even in Valinor it takes time to devise a new thermostat that accommodates for the new temp changes between day and night and all the stuff that comes with it.

Fëanor, Fingolfin, and Finarfin loved all their nephews and nieces I take no argument. They showed it in different ways, but there were never any malicious thoughts towards them.

Any competition they had was between each other (though Finarfin was very much youngest sibling literally cba to deal with his older brothers.)

Fëanor: Always has too much food, used to his kids bringing over their respective favourite cousin for a meal because they were out playing too late and he’s not exactly going to send a child home hungry. As they got older it was because they’d been out and this was the closest place to disappear away to and crash. He’s used to seeing various kids sprawled across the carpet in the living room, waking up with headaches and groans. He’ll never admit it, but he finds it hilarious and enjoys seeing the children happy. If his brothers ask? ‘What do you mean they were out, I’ve had your children here with me all night.’

Fingolfin: One day I’ll stop linking this post but I really like how it turned out so you get to see it again! Fingolfin happily lets them traverse his house, go through his belongings. He’s very much a partner in crime, helping them sneak around, acting as lookout. Pretending not to see a majority of sweet pasties disappear overnight. He lives closest to the busy parts of the city, so it’s not unusual for the kids to get ready at his house if they’re going out anywhere or even preparing for Court. Most of the kids have their own shared room, and they’re full to the brim of everyone’s clothes, jewellery, shoes. Essentially a whole wardrobe. It gets messy, but he loves seeing his house full of life. Even if he could do without the mess Tyeko and Iressë bring in… and the various musicals at 3am. ‘You know we never tire of having you here… but perhaps you could tone down the partying? Just a little?’ He wouldn’t have it any other way.

Finarfin: My guy ofc has his house by the sea which like Fingolfin’s, has many many rooms full to the brim with clothes and jewellery. It’s essentially a home away from home for his niece and nephews, they don’t have to pack because everything’s already there. As youngest uncle and closest in age, he’ll just so happen to tell the kids where to have fun. He had the least pressure on him growing up and knows the best places in Tirion and Alqualondë. Going to Finarfin’s is like going on holiday, he’ll back them up and make sure they can do what they want without worrying about their reputations as princes and princesses. ‘The kids are far too stressed and don’t get to come here often, brothers. Let them have their fun. I’ll take care of them.’

Bonus!

Finwë: The mastermind. The accomplice. The alibi. He has a wild side to him born in Cuivienen and honed over the Great Journey. Court life is too stuffy even for him sometimes, let alone his grandchildren. He’s the one telling them all the wild things he got up to in his youth with a wink at the end subtly telling them how to do things their parents definitely would not approve of. High King Finwë would never! High King Finwë definitely would, and he’s making sure his grandkids get the experience too. He’s the one who gets the parents to leave for weeks at a time and his grandchildren have the time of their lives. ‘My sons, you worry too much! Don’t you trust your father?’

Me, a youngest sibling: FINARFINFINARFINFINARFINNNNN THE POOR GUY HE WAS PROBABLY SO LONELY AND SAD AFTER EVERYONE LEFT BECAUSE AS A YOUNGEST SIBLING YOU’VE NEVER BEEN ALONE, LITERALLY ALWAYS SURROUNDED BY FAMILY AND THE BURDEN OF TAKING THIS CROWN THAT WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE HIS BECAUSE THERE WERE LITERALLY ALL OF FËANOR’S THEN FINGOLFIN’S KIDS BEFORE HIM AND THEY’RE AN IMMORTAL RACE ANYWAY SO IT NEVER EVEN CROSSED HIS MIND AND HE PROBABLY THOUGHT OF HIS BROTHERS EVERY TIME HE HAD TO PUT THE STUPID CROWN ON HIS HEAD AND SILENTLY WEPT BY HIMSELF BECAUSE WHO WAS LEFT TO UNDERSTAND THE LOVE ARAFINWË STILL HELD FOR HIS BIG BROTHERS-

Someone was like Maedhros has Eldest Daughter Syndrome and honestly? He totally does. Like I’m thinking specifically the kind you get as the eldest daughter in a brown family. I say this as a younger sister of That Eldest Daughter TM from an Indian family

Like tell me Finwëan drama isn’t prime Indian Family Drama TM down to the brothers fighting over their father’s inheritance. Just what goes down in Aman woudk make the plot for one of those 1000+ episode series’ with all the dramatic camera flashes 💀

Anyway, Mae sits very well in the eldest granddaughter role.

Eldest son/nephew/grandson who balances all the complicated politics and low-key raises his siblings and cousins. Admired and held as a role model for them. But also overworked and too tired for all this. Probably the one who stands up to the fathers/uncles/grandparents on behalf of everyone but himself.

(That’s what Maglor, Fingon, and Finrod do as the collective Second Oldest.)

Also this whole situation with the crown and competition being because of the Dad’s Side is also a very Indian, and from what I hear an Asian/Arab, thing 😂

Finarfin Fades.

No one expects it, no one’s faded in Valinor since Miriel. The War of Wrath is won and he comes back, waving off the courtiers, well wishers, and congratulators with his usual grace, and walks into the palace of Tirion. To rooms abandoned since their owners left so long ago. Winding deeper and deeper his feet take him to what was once Finwë’s favourite garden.

He’s so tired.

He’s fulfilled his promise to Fëanaro and Nolofinwë, to avenge them. To make the agony of their final moments - agony Finarfin felt, falling to the floor screaming as fire and darkness consumed his spirit - count for something. Now Morgoth is finally gone, but he’s not the only one.

His brothers, larger than life, larger than death, are gone. With them his sons. Niece. Nephews. Grandchildren. His daughter is never to return. He Saw little Nelyo’s death in his dreams and is sure hopes for the child’s own sake that Makalaurë will be close behind.

Little remains. Even less on these golden shores.

So Finarfin sits on a bench long overgrown with vines and weeds, and watches the sun filter through the thicket, wishing the ghosts he sees in his father’s garden would flesh out.

He sits. He waits.

And by the time anyone finds him, it’s too late.

…at least he’s smiling again.