Lurker in the Mirk
Doriath
Apr 21 2014, 4:34am
Views: 23043
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We keep falling back on banking on extras in the EE, don't we?
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I want to know the history of his swords too. Did the smiths forge them after the Last Alliance or have they seen battle during that war? I do hope we get some info at some point.
On the 2 rings on his right hand
Eh, firstly, I must say my theory is based on a few caveats:
- The Laws and Customs bit did mention that the described rituals are based on Noldorin practices and also that of the Dark Elves, not much is known of their customs. Given the 2 strikes of Thranduil being one of the Dark Elves, and the negativity Thranduil's family have against the Noldor, not all that is written might or would apply.
- Movie laws and customs - we don't know what the team has decided to co-opt or exclude or create... plus we don't know how much Lee Pace's stories about the bling is based on canon, the production team's input and his own research/creation
The text does mention that the betrothal silver rings would be melted down and never be recycled if the betrothal is called off. But there's no mention of what happens to the gold wedding rings should a spouse die or leave for the West. So we're left with quite some room for theorizing and speculating. 
While the text mentioned betrothal rings are silver and marriage rings gold, it may not be quite the same for Mirkwood, or maybe just Thranduil's family. So if this little theory is right, I'd say it's quite safe to say the rings are marriage rings and not betrothal rings. And if it is true that the ring on Thranduil's index finger is his marriage ring, and the one on his ring finger belonged to his queen, I'm thinking the movie-verse might be giving the Elrond-Celebrian treatment to Thranduil's marriage. He might be wearing her ring as a memo from her to meet up in the West. Or if movie-canon is going the uber-melodrama route, she died and he is wearing it in memory (OOOH, fanfic plot bunnies bouncing in my poor head!).
Anyway, while the text focused on Noldor customs, I do think it would be safe to say Thranduil, like most Elves, would not be inclined to remarry if his queen has indeed died. So I don't think he'd wear the betrothal rings in such a way, since the text says during the betrothal period, either party may rescind it; unless he wants trouble that is. The marriage rings would do the work of sending a firm message, either "I am married/not available", or "yeah, my spouse is no more, but no thanks, I'm not looking again" (which shouldn't be necessary given the elves' propensity for monogamy and Thranduil being well-known enough that the female elf population know it's a foregone case anyway).
But I wonder if maybe the surviving spouse would stop wearing the gold ring and go back wearing one, if not both of the silver rings as a visual symbol that, "Yes, I am married, but my spouse died."?
That other index finger's ring
I would think so. Also, its got a bit of a glow like but not as great as Nenya (of course), which makes me wonder if its a minor ring of power of some sort? It may be Oropher's, passed down the line.
I've always assumed that the ring with the big honkin' rock on it is probably his signet ring, don't you think?
The gold ring on his left ring finger
I find the snake motif interesting. Reminds me of the Ring of Barahir that Aragon wore, which is of course a famous ring with a long history. But that ring was silver and had 2 snakes intertwined with green emerald eyes. Thranduil's has the one snake (?) in gold with a very different design. Wonder if there is a link between the two, though of course Barahir's ring is tied again to the Noldor, so it might be just a coincidence or a common ring theme for Elven rulers or nobility?
Thranduil is King! He has austere elegance, and that is not to be mistaken for simplicity. A complex elf with a complex history, and who knows what complexes by the time we get done with the trilogy? 
Hey, wait a minute...Thrandy has a gold ring on his other hand! Of course, it's not exactly the simple gold band talked about the the HoME bit, but then again, Thrandy isn't exactly known for his simplicity now, is he?
This is fun. And hey, wonder if that outfit he wore in the char pic (same as in the AUJ prologue right?) will be seen onscreen again?
Fan of both books and movies. Oh, and it seems I have severely misnamed myself... for the moment.
Thranduil Appreciation: I, II, III
(This post was edited by Lurker in the Mirk on Apr 21 2014, 4:40am)
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