User:Mord

I used to be the anonymous editor 75.118.149.152 (contribs) (talk), but I grew a name of my own.

Unanswerable questions that keep me up nights

Fourth Age

• When exactly did Celeborn leave Middle-earth? (My speculation on the subject)
• What happened to Elladan and Elrohir?
• Did any Noldor remain in Middle-earth after the White Ship left? The Silmarillion suggests not, Appendix A hedges.
  • If so, what about after the Last Ship?
    • Who counts as a Noldo for this purpose? (The sons of Elrond? Noldor-blooded Galadhrim)?
  • Did any Eldar choose to fade in Middle-earth rather than leave bodily (e.g. Thranduil)?
  • Did any Elves build their own ships (cf. Legolas) after the "Last" Ship?
  • Did any Silvans or Avari choose to go West?
    • Did Avari have the grace to go West?
    • If not, do Silvans count as Eldar?

Third Age

• Which four of the Seven Rings were consumed by dragonfire? The only one we know for sure survived is the Ring of the Longbeards.
• Who were the Nine Nazgûl?
  • Was the Witch-king truly of Númenórean descent? Tolkien's final word on the subject (which is buried as deeply as anything Tolkien-related could possibly be while still being available to the public) was literally "probably."
  • Was "Khamûl" a nom de guerre that described only the Ringwraith, or did this name derive from his original "mortal" identity?
  • Were all nine of the Men to whom Sauron gave a Ring in the Second Age serving as Nazgûl during the War of the Ring, or was there turnover?

Second Age

• Who actually slew Sauron in the War of the Last Alliance? Gil-galad, Elendil, or Isildur?

First Age

• Why didn't Orodreth send Finduilas to Círdan for safekeeping at the same time as Gil-galad?
  • What years were Finduilas and Gil-galad born?

My speculation on the subject
• Finduilas could have been an adult when Minas Tirith fell to Sauron in F.A. 456 so there was no need to protect her in that way, whereas we know Gil-galad was a child (less than 50 years old).
• Finduilas may have already been betrothed to (or otherwise romantically involved with) Gwindor at this point, which would give her a motive to remain on Tol Sirion while Dorthonion was being overrun.
• We know that some of Angrod's people went to the Havens after the fall of Dorthonion in F.A. 455, so Orodreth's family would not be alone among the Noldor of the House of Finarfin in forsaking Nargothrond.
• The family could potentially have reunited after the Sons of Fëanor were expelled from Nargothrond in F.A. 465 and the Union of Maedhros cleansed Beleriand in preparation for the Nirnaeth Arnoediad.
• It could be that the family did not reunite in the period of safety between FA 465 and F.A. 472 because Gil-galad was still very young, or because all the Elves would have known that this momentary peace was merely a prelude to another Great Battle. After the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Morgoth had free rein in Beleriand and the land was too dangerous for women and children to travel.

• Who is the elder: Elros or Elrond?
• What was the true fate of Tuor and Idril?
  • Does the Sleeper in the Tower of Pearl relate to them in any way?

Things I like

• FAQ of the Rings – Mostly great information and some interesting speculation about the Rings of Power.
• The Last Ringbearer – The very best fan fiction ever written, and possibly the only work of fan fiction with genuine literary merit.
• My favorite characters in the Legendarium: Círdan, Celeborn, Elmo. I like the ones who don't get a lot of attention but whose efforts in the background were nonetheless essential.
• Reference templates