Tolkien Elven Imagines and Headcanons Volume 1

7. Dating Maedhros Headcanons

Valinor

- While in Valinor, Maedhros is much more lighthearted and carefree

- He's happy and fun, and while he's not mischievous, he will still find ways for you both to have a wonderful time.

- Be it you both spend copious amounts of time riding, at social gatherings such as parties, and hanging out with cousins and his brothers.

- Maedhros also has wonderful patience, especially considering he helped his parents with his siblings.

- He can handle anything you throw his way, no matter how angry or sad you might be (or annoying you decide to be.)

- He's also a bit of a sucker for propriety and rules, unless you are wanting to prank his brothers, anticipate a small lecture and him talking you out of breaking rules.

- With as skilled a swordsman as Maedhros is, if you ask him he will happily teach you how to wield a sword.

- In fact it's one of his favorite things to do with you. He will take his time making sure you understand everything he is teaching you, wanting you to be as skilled as he.

- Maedhros' main love languages would be physical touch and quality time.

- Being a whopping 8ft tall, he loves how small you are and is always in awe of you.

- He loves giving affection as much as receiving it.

- He adores when you slip your small hand into his massive one, or when you sit in his lap. Easily he can keep working while you lounge against him.

- Because of the height difference everything you do is 10xs more adorable. This brings me to the fic "You're cute when you're angry."

- You. Are. Adorable. Angry. He cannot help fawning over you, as aggravating as it might be. It's even cuter when you are standing up for yourself.

- Even if you are not married anticipate serious talks of starting a family. Even for the far future.

- Maedhros loves kids and kids love him, and he will speak with plenty of hope and excitement at the prospect.

- Most importantly anticipate for the WHOLE family to get involved in your relationship with Maedhros.

- Especially Fingon. All of the cousins and brothers are extremely close knit, so it's almost like you're in a relationship with them too.

Post Angband

- Post Angband Maedhros is going to be almost a complete cold opposite of his Valinor self.

- He's going to be struggling horribly with PTSD, disassociation, depression and extremely low self esteem.

- Do not anticipate for him to even mention what may have happened, even asking about scars are prohibited.

- It's too triggering to bring up and he doesn't want to risk you being ashamed of him. Especially if he has a flashback or breaks down over it.

- His love languages change drastically after his time at Angband and I think they'd change to Acts of Service and Words of Affirmation.

- At first as desperately as he wants to feel your soft hands run across his skin once more, in the same breath it brings up too many awful feelings.

- So you will have to have extreme patience. You don't know what torture has been used against him especially at the hands of Sauron and Morgoth.

- He doesn't do well with giving words of affirmation, especially to himself with all the degradation, but he does love to hear them the good things you say.

- It's so refreshing and emotional to hear after hearing horrific things about himself for so long.

- And though he doesn't know how to show you he loves you anymore, especially at first, instead he will do things for you. Works gotten to be too much? "I'll handle it." You need to get letters written to be sent out? "I will get it taken care of".

- You will have to be very careful about letting him do this, because this is also how Maedhros escapes the intrusive thoughts. And he will work himself to the bone if you do not stop him.

- Nightmares will be constant but they'll be less explosive the more time goes on. Expect many nights of waking with him, and even then he will try and comfort you.

- He's not very willing to give up any control but he will relent to some things. Like you staying up with him until he falls back to sleep.

- Maedhros eventually starts to let you touch him again, and at first he hates that your fingers find scars at every turn.

- The first time you tell him that you don't care, that you still love him as he is, he shuts down.

- He doesn't know how to process how good it makes him feel, and crying in front of you is the last thing he wants to do.

- Once he does get a better handle on everything, he becomes a little more willing to initiate affection. But anticipate it happening in fluctuations, it'll never be consistent.

- Some of it brings up a new set of problems as he's become far more observant than he used to be.

- A good example is with how he used to love how little you are, now it's a point of anxiety. You're easy to make off with, anything that revolves you leaving Himring for any reason is bound to cause a fight especially if he can't go.

- Talking about your future family is no longer on the table. Maedhros doesn't even want to entertain the idea between the oath and with how damaged he feels he is.

- There are still some small things that bring out some of his old self such as;

- You being inventively angry with him and trying to level with him.

- Having actual time to spend time alone together outside.

- Him laying his head partially on your chest while you read to him or you sitting in his lap.

- And spending time with you and Fingon make him feel a little more at ease.