tumblr cross-post: Ingwë versus Elwë

[heget]

houseofhaleth asked: In a fight between Thingol and Ingwe, Ingwe would win. Y/N

In Cuiviénen, Ingwë is the strongest, no contenders, qualms, or doubts. He has the body strength, the skill with hunting (both physical and mental, so much of hunting is the mental), the drive. The intensity. Elwë is the most sociable, the one that actively leads and builds alliances and is the one to drive the three of them to do things (Finwë’s hair-brained scheming will come up with ideas, but Elwë is the one to take the new ideas and implement them). Elwë’s overwhelming demand for vengeance for his parents and anger to bring the fight to the dark hunters is what brings the three to Oromë, and he does have a lot of maturity from helping to raise two younger brothers. But Ingwë is still more intense. He has been the outcast son tending to two fading parents and a newborn sister. He has always had the most to gain and nothing to protect him if he falls. He defeats the First Among First and seizes total leadership of his tribe. Ingwë has the most strength and cunning and willingness to be brutal - and there is not a chance that Elwë would fight him and win. Especially because he’s a bit afraid of Ingwë but then everyone including the Maiar are.

But the Elu Thingol with Aranrúth in hand, over three thousand years of leading his people alone without support of anyone but Melian in the dark and Morogoth-tainted wilds of Beleriand, who has matured to the tallest and strongest and most awe-inspiring (more like a lord of the Maiar) elf? Who has fought the forces of evil for a long and bitter age? He could fight the Ingwë who has retired and turned to meditation and peace (though sword to throwing spear …) and it might be a more even fight, even Elu’s victory.

Still, Ingwë has matured as well, in understanding of the world, mastery of the Song of Arda, in wisdom and forbearance and personality. Actually, a philosophical debate between the two I’m not sure who the winner would be.

I still think Ingwë is the better king of his people, but he does have the unfair disadvantage of luck. The Vanyar to stick together and completely reject all of Morgoth’s attempts to suborn them, so I do wonder how they would survive Middle-earth is they were the ones left behind and not the Teleri. A smaller group without any natural divisions, so no split, they would all wait for Ingwë. The question then of spiritual desire for light and dissatisfaction with Middle-earth. This sounds like a really interesting AU… Hmm, honestly I figure if the situation was reversed, Ingwë would be leading his people through the Helcaraxë in thick mammoth and cave bear fur coats, everyone would arrive in Aman (“So we walked over instead of using the island boat. Huh, whadda’ya know? We still beat the ferry over. First elves.”)

 

(In a fight, at any point, either of them would cream Finwë. Except maybe oratory. Maybe. But physical contests or fighting armed or unarmed? Ha. Maybe Finwë could win an arm wrestling contest- nope. And despite a strong late effort by Elu, Finwë still wins the disastrously terrible parenting contest, so there’s that)

Elu is taller and prettier, though. ;)