*inhales deeply*

"It's a Love Story, BABY JUST SAY YES!" - Taylor Swift's Love Story - as preformed by me LMAO.

Ahhhh the romance of fanfiction. I love it - no pun intended. I mean the majority of Lord of the Rings, Hobbit, Silmarillion fanfiction has a romantic element. Whether it is a slow burn, a hate to love, or a love at first sight genre...they've all got appeal. Wherever your heart lies (Ooo smell the puns) I'm sure you all secretly adore a good love story.

Again, I've been sampling the delights of Wattpad (and I'm delighted) and have discovered two camps of Love Stories in LOTR Fanfiction;

Camp one: The, 'I don't believe in Love at first sight camp.' This camp tends to not enjoy a first sight love story, or a romance that is quick to move.

Camp two: The, 'hurry up and just kiss already camp.' This camp excitedly lap up the fireworks, enjoys the whirlwind, and swoon with the OC - but please don't make them wait!

Both camps have good points, both camps have bad points. Personally, I enjoy both. Having only been 'in love' once in my life, I can only go by experience. It was hard hitting, instant, and passionate. We were true friends, and although we both decided to take different paths I still cherish that time and that boy. Do I still feel for him? Nooooo! Am I heartbroken? Not on your life! Do I have a new respect for the complexity of romance? Heck Yes!

I am, by nature, not a romantic - at least not in that sense. I scrunch my nose up at lovey dovey couples, I gag at people who flap about seeing stars, and I hate overly affectionate people who like to touch! I have a big personal space bubble...stay out of it! I am hard, independent, aloof, and admittedly intimidating.

So, when I fell in love I was completely distracted by myself. I acted way out of character, I was vulnerable, and I craved that person. Affection wasn't an issue, being soft and caring was second nature, and I suddenly lost all power to push someone out with my cool smirk and disinterested look.  WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO ME?

Not all romantic love is like that of course, but love still tends to change a person's general persona. A friend of mine is super organised and a career girl. She did the whole dating thing, and was with her partner for years before they moved in. It was a slow burn love, but then it fell apart. She moved out and everyone was shocked. A few months later she met, married, and had a child with a man she bumped into on the street, all in the space of a year - and they are still very happy years on.

A guy I know married a girl, who he believed he loved. After a good handful of years together, they both called it quits - she had never loved him or so she said. He is now with the girl that was there in the background, who was totally the opposite of who he was, they originally didn't even like each other - now they are engaged. They went from hate to love.

My parent were friends for years, and years. There was no way they would ever EVER fall for each other. After many years they did just that - and are still happily married. It was a slow burn love story, but when it happened it was an instantaneous thing. Mum saw him dancing with another girl one night, and she just knew she couldn't lose him...she loved him. Dad will say he always loved her deep down, but it was never the right time, but fate eventually prevailed.

You see, love stories are vast and different. Romantic love does as it wishes, and appears in many forms. Yet, I find one distinct familiarity in all stories...it changes you. Sometimes it changes you to the point you don't even recognise yourself? Certainly in my case, I wanted to shake myself...what was I doing? You do things you don't normally do, you feel deeply and jealously over things that wouldn't normally bother you. So, trying to predict how someone will act when they're  'in-love' is like trying to predict the weather...sometimes you think it's going to be all sunshine and plain sailing, then a storm blows in out of the blue and knocks you for six.

I've read a lot of LoTR love stories, and I've read their commentaries. One thing I've never felt, not even for a minute, is "oh such and such a character wouldn't act like that." A character in love is not something we see very often in Tolkien's work, but when we do they are just as different and complex as in reality. I'm going to give a few examples;

Thingol & Melian.

Now here is a prime example of love at first sight. Thingol saw his Melian and the world froze for him...literally. This elf, so determined and sure that he was leading his kin across the sea to paradise, changed everything just to be with a woman he bumped into. Melian too, forsook her life among the Maiar to be with Thingol. Wow, love is powerful!

Beren & Luthien

Again, Beren saw Luthien and BAM that was it...he belonged to her and no one else. This Beren, who had lost everything, who was hardened by the woes of the world, and a heart so wounded you would not think it possible for his character to be so changed by a chance meeting with Luthien. Their love is so epic, it truly changed Arda.

Galadriel & Celeborn

We don't know how they fell in love, but we do know there is speculation that they  were 'lovers' in Doriath - before they wed. What is unique about them is that Celeborn defers to Galadriel, and follows her lead. Galadriel is such a strong female character that you would think a strong fearless partner is who she would be drawn to. Strangely no, she falls in love with a quiet almost background character, who doesn't even attempt to outshine her. But, I presume at one point their love was passionate and fearless, as they bravely took on and negotiated the perils of Arda together.

Arwen & Aragorn

Aragorn is a smitten kitten from the get go! Arwen is a little more hesitant, but not by much, she is only concerned about their fates. Their love story is one of endurance, and Arwen's quiet dignity in fully loving and supporting her man, right to the bitter end. She stands on the wings and keeps her vigil, knowing he'll be everything he needs to become, and when he does they will be together.

Faramir & Eowyn

The most heart warming love story in Tolkien's works. Again, Eowyn looked out and beheld Faramir and all her world changed in a heartbeat. He changed her heart, and freed her from her pain...she didn't have to shoulder it all on her own anymore. This is actually my favourite romance in Tolkien literature, because it highlights that the change that love can bring is not always bad...but healing. Again, Faramir loved her almost instantaneously, and his love helped change her perceptions entirely.

There is a pattern to Tolkien's work that suggests he is a big fan of 'love at first sight' especially the guys, and I wonder did he identify with it in his reality? He puts a lot of emphasis on fate and destiny, and finding a partner doesn't seem exempt from that.

So, whether you are in camp one or two...or both...you have to admit love is a mysterious thing. In the Middle earth world it can shape histories, families, and wars. If you are writing a LotR love story fanfiction, don't forget it's not the how or when your characters fall in love...but how it changes them, and how they face the world together and grow with this love...now that's the story.

So ponder time: what camp do you fall in to? Who is your favourite Tolkien couple? Do you believe in fate?

I will leave you with my favourite Tolkien couple quote *swoons*

"And then her heart changed, or at least she understood it; and the winter passed, and the sun shone upon her."
JRR Tolkien