Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago

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"Feigning repentance, he was released from captivity and allowed to walk freely among the Valar. He spoke in whispers, sowing lies and distrust among the Noldor."

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yes, you saw that right - lee pace as melkor (morgoth). i recently fell down a first age rabbit hole and somehow - SOMEHOW - managed to get here (i know how - i asked twitter for fancasts and here we are). this is very VERY gratuitous and self indulgent, not to mention heavily au, but hey why else are we here for.

the au story begins with the release of melkor after he's been chained for an age by the valar for his destruction in arda. things get a bit au after that, where we meet a certain admirable smith of aule (mairon, aka later known as sauron) who melkor aims to bring to his side - or was he there already? - and a certain elf princess who see's right through the mighty valar as he sows seeds of mistrust and lies amongst her family and the elves.

obviously very au, but when i first read the silmarillion whenever there were mentions of spies for melkor i was like hmmmm HMMM what IF. also YES i know her name is artanis during this time - even if the show thinks she's galadriel in valinor - but alas, [waves hands] footage. this is literally just an excuse for me to put lee pace into the world (we're ignoring the hobbit right now for a hot sec) and have fun with this fascinating time period!

further, i was immensely inspired - and tbqh, the whole reason i fell down the rabbit hole of including melkor - due to the fic 'Chains of Shadow of Light' by Iconicament3 on ao3. this first age au has me absolutely losing my mind. fantastic lore and world building that you can sink your teeth into. read the tags and yes, the endgame is our fave princess and fallen maia.

Chains of Light And Shadow (Iconicament3): archiveofourown.org/works/60987919/chapters/155801230

also shout-out to "Pick A Star and Follow It Home" by CloudlySkies124 which is another first age au which is incredible (significantly less dark and rom-com-y). have to add it here because both these fics have made me first age crazy.

Pick A Star and Follow It Home (CloudlySkies124): archiveofourown.org/works/58989328/chapters/150377278

anyways!!! im ngl this song choice and the overall style of this vid is not my forte and honestly i'm a little ??? to post it, but hey, its just for fun and to smush all their faces together in some semblance of a plot. i'm sorry i couldn't put in the silmarils but maybe next time when i'm not distracted by lee pace.

SPECIAL shout out to all my pocket friends over on the former bird app who encouraged this. and a special dedication to @MaironArtanis who suggested this fancast. i blame you entirely (affectionate).

ps. i know the audio is a little f!cked forgive me

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FANCAST:

melkor/morgoth - lee pace
aule - idris elba

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PAIRING | galadriel/artanis x sauron/mairon + melkor (???)
FANDOM | the rings of power/silmarillion
SONG | muddy waters; LP
PROGRAM | FCP
COLOURING | ‪‪‪‪@maryxstuart
twitter | that_bluebox / tbbedits

#haladriel #sauron #galadriel #melkor #leepace #ringsofpower #charlievickers #morfyddclark #fanvidfeed #silmarillion