Well, of course the only canon is that Thranduil is Sindarin. I believe it is canon that Oropher lived in Menegroth (I think that's a line in the Silm and not just something I believe). So, I think it is fair to say that at least Thranduil would hear his father's dislike of dwarves from the incidents in Menegroth. Personally, in my imagination I see Thranduil as at least being old enough to remember Menegroth. I see him getting the idea for his underground halls from those memories. So, personally, I see him as remembering the dwarves' sack of Menegroth and harboring some ill-will from that. (In my fanfic, Thranduil is just short of coming of age at the kinslaying in Menegroth and so a little younger at the death of Thingol).
It is canon again that Oropher moved his realm three times possibly to avoid Galadriel but possibly to avoid being so close to dwarves. Thranduil was definitely around to see that prejudice.
And Thranduil was king when the Balrog was awakened, so he was aware of the dangers they awakened (even though I doubt anyone knew what it was until the Fellowship saw it) and they certainly know in Mirkwood the havoc it created (since Legolas knows Nimrodel's song). I think that would anger Thranduil too, since Amroth would be his friend (they fought together in Mordor).
Finally, in my imagination, Thranduil would be influenced by Celeborn, since Celeborn is his elder and (again in my imagination) his distant kin. I see Celeborn as someone Thranduil respects. So, if Celeborn refused to go into Khazad-dum, Thranduil would take notice of that.
On the other hand, I do agree that Mirkwood had at least working relations with Erebor and certainly Dale/Esgaroth. The relations with Esgaroth are canon in the Hobbit, of course. And my impression is, when Dale was flourishing, all the kingdoms in Rhovanion enjoyed trade together. In my imagination, Thranduil is aware of the importance of those relations and so encourages them, but he is also cautious of them. After all, his people are, in canon, suspicious of outsiders.
(The whole turning away from the refugees of Dale/Erebor in the movie, on the other hand, made me yell at the screen--I cannot see that. After all, in canon, Thranduil turns away in his march to Erebor to aid the people of Esgaroth. If he had responded with an army to the first appearance of the Dragon--which I do not think he would have done, since Dale/Erebor would be at least a 4 day march from his Halls--I think he would have at least helped the people, if not fought the dragon.)
And it is certainly canon that Thranduil is traumatized by orcs in the Last Alliance. Canon says the light of the sun itself is dimmed whenever he looks south to Mordor because of those experiences.
So that is what I base my motivations for Thranduil on in my fanfic. Wow I am long winded! :-)
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branchandroot
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Date: 2013-06-12 02:26 am (UTC)It is canon again that Oropher moved his realm three times possibly to avoid Galadriel but possibly to avoid being so close to dwarves. Thranduil was definitely around to see that prejudice.
And Thranduil was king when the Balrog was awakened, so he was aware of the dangers they awakened (even though I doubt anyone knew what it was until the Fellowship saw it) and they certainly know in Mirkwood the havoc it created (since Legolas knows Nimrodel's song). I think that would anger Thranduil too, since Amroth would be his friend (they fought together in Mordor).
Finally, in my imagination, Thranduil would be influenced by Celeborn, since Celeborn is his elder and (again in my imagination) his distant kin. I see Celeborn as someone Thranduil respects. So, if Celeborn refused to go into Khazad-dum, Thranduil would take notice of that.
On the other hand, I do agree that Mirkwood had at least working relations with Erebor and certainly Dale/Esgaroth. The relations with Esgaroth are canon in the Hobbit, of course. And my impression is, when Dale was flourishing, all the kingdoms in Rhovanion enjoyed trade together. In my imagination, Thranduil is aware of the importance of those relations and so encourages them, but he is also cautious of them. After all, his people are, in canon, suspicious of outsiders.
(The whole turning away from the refugees of Dale/Erebor in the movie, on the other hand, made me yell at the screen--I cannot see that. After all, in canon, Thranduil turns away in his march to Erebor to aid the people of Esgaroth. If he had responded with an army to the first appearance of the Dragon--which I do not think he would have done, since Dale/Erebor would be at least a 4 day march from his Halls--I think he would have at least helped the people, if not fought the dragon.)
And it is certainly canon that Thranduil is traumatized by orcs in the Last Alliance. Canon says the light of the sun itself is dimmed whenever he looks south to Mordor because of those experiences.
So that is what I base my motivations for Thranduil on in my fanfic. Wow I am long winded! :-)