#pipeweed is a love language

[tehcherrya]

Hey LOTR fandom!

I've been tossing around a question in my mind for a while, and figured I should take it here for possible input.

In Return of the King, during the heart-wrenching scene where Merry says goodbye to Pippin, he hands Pippin the last of the Longbottom Leaf as a goodbye gift, and a meaningful one regarding their friendship. We can assume Merry gifted this gift, not out of genuine necessity for pipeweed on the road, but as a sort of 'love language' towards his cousin who he might not ever see again, knowing the pipeweed might comfort Pippin.

However, after Pippin questions the gift in a soft tone, Merry says, in an almost uncharacteristically vulnerable voice:

"I've know you've run out. You smoke too much, Pippin."

Obviously I couldn't include every possibility but I'm really wanting to dissect this little bit of dialogue-- Not enough people talking about it, and I've never got a concrete answer. So give me your two cents! How did y'all see this line?

[secret-smut-sideblog]

House of the Rising Sun

Halsin x Tav (named)

18+ love triangle dynamics, light drug use (weed), talks of death, grief release, hurt/comfort, rebound sex, dirty talk, power play, size kink, roughness, fingering (f!), breast worship (m!), p-in-v, unprotected sex

After Gale received the Annuls of Karsus, and the subsequent break of Aurum's heart, she cannot shake the lingering betrayal. Driving her to the strong shoulder and warm arms of another...

Masterlist

-

Aurum stood on the edge of camp, staring into the dark. Pain of many forms sitting in her chest.

She had survived the heat death, just barely, but the source of its catalyst still ate a hole in her.

Her and Gale had made up, in that vague way that sudden emergency forces, but her trust in him had eroded. Still in aching disbelief at his choice, circling the back of her thoughts when she found herself alone. Those moments were far in between, as he had remained her shadow since Isobel forced her to reveal her incoming demise, but still.

She had left him that night, and they had not rekindled since, but there was still hurt and love in terrible equal in her heart.

She grimaced at the shrouded forest, standing at the crest of its teeth. Maw open and tempting. The urge to run never left her, not when she was a child, and not now.

"Go." She whispered to herself. "Just go."

But her body stood still, waiting in command of her will not her words. Stubborn to her reason.

Tears spiked the corners of her eyes.

"Vaendaan-naes." She hissed to herself, a bite of cold jest in her throat.

"Ah, 'born of life's bright struggles'... if that doesn't describe you..."

Halsin's warm voice came up behind her, responding in kind in their tongue. Elvish a lyric rumble in his throat.

She turned, wiping her eyes with quick angry fingers. Trying to sniffle away her shame. His hand came up to gently pause her effort, fingers enveloping the back of her wrist.

She continued in Elvish, reassured in the veil of their language to speak more freely.

"I know, I shouldn't be wandering at night." She fought the pull to fall into that instinctual mask of grace. Voice still sliding to serene.

"You're allowed to wander as freely as you desire." His voice was easy in its reassuring. Hand that had soothed her shameful fingers now pointing to the pipe in her palm.

"I was actually searching for that." A warm chuckle in his voice.

"Sorry." She sighed, the sweet smoke curling inside the bowl. "I shouldn't ha-"

"What is mine is yours. Though, that smells like more than just pipeweed..."

"I shouldn't be imbibing this soon." She pressed a palm to the ache throbbing in her chest.

"If it helps the pain, I encourage it." He eyed her with a knowing gaze. "Pain of the flesh and perhaps pain of the spirit..."

And, just like that, those agitated tears were back.

Aurum pulled her lower lip into her teeth to keep it from trembling. Desperate to not break in front of him. In front of anyone.

"I just can't believe..." She started, her arm looped around her waist digging fingers into her hip. "After everything I've told him..."

Halsin's hand settled on her back, rubbing warm into her spine.

She bowed into his touch, her body always so traitorously hungry for affection. A deep breath releasing slow.

"Betrayal stings deep in the soul." He agreed, pulling closer as her body turned into his touch. "A barb hard removed once it's entered."

"Gods, he hurt me. I never thought... and maybe that's just it. I didn't think. Foolish of me, to think that he would consider what divinty means for me, that he was listening."

Her sadness pushed into bitter, exhausted anger.

"I am so tired of powerful men. Whether a muse or a weapon, I'm just a tool to them. And why wouldn't I be? I was designed for it."

She tried to pause her revealing tirade, but the tide rose high into a curl. Poised to crash into the stones.

"How much more do I even have? Maybe a year? Less? I have to finish what we started, but I'm quick burning, and he's kindling the flame. And I'm still... still piling my trust at his feet, trying to halt his stride."

"What am I even doing? I can't change his nature. He will do what he pleases, even if it kills me. My death will be a small burden to a god, anyway."

"Aurum... I'm so sorry. I didn't know..."

She let out a grief edged laugh.

"Yeah, I know, I've been keeping secrets from you all. I want to say I'm sorry for it, but I'm not."

Her eyes rose in sharp jest.

"The irony. I doomed myself again for him that day, and now he's going to live forever. This is all my fault in the end. I am a forest fire, and he will only be risen by my heat beneath his wings. He will ascend phoenix from my ashes."

Halsin went still next to her, and she could feel him putting context together.

"Aurum... no... in the Shadowlands...?"

She nodded, tears flowing free now.

"The shard was dormant... the tadpole, it snuffed it somehow..."

She shuddered, the weight of what she lost twisting her stomach.

"When I woke on that beach, I was free. It was dark. It was still."

Turning to him with desperate grief in her eyes.

"Gods, it was still!"

She let out a wail that had been held in her lungs for months.

Halsin rushed forward, smothering her cry into his wide chest. Leaning down into the crown of her head.

"I had a second chance!" She cried, ragged in her grief. Burying into him, his warmth engulfing her.

She cried into his chest, sobs hitching raw in her throat. The weight breaking over her in waves, allowing her precious gulps of air before ripping her under again. Halsin's strong body a rock that she clung to.

As she slowed, his own tears dampened her hair. Murmuring out in a pained voice.

"Does Gale know...?"

She pulled back, panic shaking her voice.

"No. And he can't. He can never know what I gave up that day."

"Aurum... he must-"

"No." Her voice firm under the shake of tears. "Swear to me. That you won't tell him."

Halsin paused, then cupped her cheek. Staring down at her.

"I swear."

She let out a shaky breath.

"Thank you. I... I don't even know where he and I stand. I left him that night and now... all he looks at me with is guilt. I want time away from him. I want to breathe and feel and forget that I'm dying. If just for a moment."

Halsin tilted his head down to her, pressing his forehead to hers. Hearing precisely what she wasn't saying.

"You were right. I do want you." She urged in a desperate whisper. Balling his shirt in her fist. "Please, Halsin."

He scooped under her thighs and, in one motion, laid her in the grass under him. Breathing hard through nose, kiss searing into her mouth.

She whimpered, eyes wet and fire burning in her belly. Tangling her hands in his long hair. His soft growls sending jolts through her.

He was ravenous and so was she, both driven to animal hunger in lust. Rough pulls of pleading mouths, wrath slicked. Fire licked fingers ripping at clothes, garments scattering in their wake.

His mouth descended to her neck, biting with shockingly sharp teeth. Fingers hooking into the sides of her underclothes to yank them down to be banished at her ankle. Moaning in strangled desire into her throat, his teeth drawing blood. Lapping it up with huffing breath, hand rising to brace next to her head as the taste hit him.

His fingers plunged into her and he shuddered above her. Pumping quick thrusts.

"By Silvanus, you're so tight." He groaned. "I don't know if you can take me, golden lily."

"I can." She gasped out, just his two fingers filling deep. "I promise I can."

He hooked up into her navel, and she trembled. Body writhing in heat, his long fingers reaching far back into her. Reaching that pleasure that was too deep for her to find alone.

He braced down on his forearm above her head, leaning down on his shoulder to catch her throat again. Sucking at the pool of blood caught in her clavicle.

"Of course you taste like that." He groaned, body tightening with restraint. Fingers rocking into her in increasingly powerful drives. Her eyes rolling delirious in sockets.

His voice dropping into a growl again.

"I may not be able to stop myself. I want... I need to devour you."

She pulled his hips hard into her, his cock pressing down into her mound with a sharp wince of his breath.

"Eat me. Break me. Bruise me. Be as rough as you can." She urged. Digging her nails into his hips in crescent bites.

His eyes lit gold, shuddering against a force deep inside him, hands arching in curls next to her head. Beginning to draw back from her.

She locked her legs behind his hips, angling her pelvis up and pulling. Seating the head of his cock into her cunt.

He drove forward beyond his control, smothering a cry in his throat. Eyes stuttering in light.

Her back curled up, gasping out. He was stretching her to her limit, her body twisting to escape on instinct. But she was stronger than her body. And she wanted more.

"Come on." She urged in a deep whisper. "Come on, make it hurt."

He fell on his forearm again, hips pulling back and thrusting forward in a lunge. Tremoring with constrained effort.

Her breath kicked from her lungs. His cock striking spear through her, cunt clenching in vicious demand.

He buckled at her clenching, eyes fluttering in lids. If he was so large for her, she could only imagine how tight she was for him.

Getting that mean glint in her eyes, she pulled back and thrust up into him. Seating herself to his belly.

He huffed out a curse, body curling.

"Mercy." He gasped. "Have mercy on me."

"Oh, am I too tight?" She clenched her cunt again, forcing another huff of breath from him. "Too small and wet around your massive cock?"

She drove her hips back and forward again, bottoming him out by force. A delicious whimper leaving his throat.

"That's a shame." She clicked her tongue in mock disappointment. "Considering..."

She flipped him onto his back with a powerful wrench of her thighs.

"I'm going to fuck you into the earth. Whether you're ready or not."

His gold eyes went wide, his cock throbbing hard inside her.

She planted a hand on his lower belly and rose onto knees, driving down into him in rolling strokes. His size forcing her to a slow start, shuddering in pleasure around him.

He gripped lifeline on her hips, face crumbling. The tight pull of her cunt lifting his hips with each rise of her ride. Gasping shallow huffs, pleading out for mercy again as she picked up speed.

This was her absolute favorite way, smiling down at him, fucking hard and mean.

Ignoring his cries, she slammed herself into him unbridled, chasing her pleasure. Using his body as a seat to fuck. Taking all of her anger and hunger and driving it down into him.

"I know you can take it." She laughed, dragging her nails hard down his chest. "I know you're as ravenous as I am."

He grimaced into a snarl, sharp teeth gritting.

"That's right, bare your teeth." She urged, rolling both of his nipples in her fingers. Leaning down to suck one into her mouth. Her hips naturally rising up his length.

He moaned, cupping her head, then huffed out a "No!" At the loss of her sheathing him. Driving his hips up in a jolt.

She smiled into his chest, holding her hips still for him to use. Fucking into her with the same inconsiderate abandon that she held him down with. Sucking and lapping his hard peak, his moans hitching back into growls.

He snapped when she nibbled down, back arching then twisting. Rising shadow behind her and holding her by hair onto her hands, slamming into her. The force nearly knocked her off her knees.

"Yes, yes!" She cried, his cock so deep in her it struck pain up her back. The pain dancing with a dangerously high pleasure. Her vision going wavy.

He snapped his hand down on her ass, striking the ample flesh hard. Pulling a whimper from her, chest collapsing down into the dirt. Going limp, her cunt free use for his wrath.

He growled, winding his hand into her long hair. Pulling her body back up.

"Where do you think you're going?"

He pulled her up to his chest, spitting down her front and gathering it against her nipple and her clit. Rocking hard into her, fingers rubbing and pinching into the sensitive bundles.

She shuddered and cried out, orgasm nearly at her throat. Gripping onto his thigh behind her.

"Thats right, cum on my cock, little light. I need to feel it." He bit into the side of her neck, sending her over.

"Fuck!" She cried out. Orgasm ripping up her pelvis in blinding pulses. Body giving out against his, strong arms holding her in place as he kept playing her body. Pulling her pleasure higher and higher by force.

He pushed her onto belly again, taking her hips into hands. Driving into her merciless. Knuckles white.

"Please cum, Halsin." She begged, body so deliciously bruised and battered. But about to give out regardless. "Fill me."

He braced on her lower back and drove two more strikes before buckling into her. Gasping and pleading choked moans. Flooding her cunt to its brim and then beyond. Pushing down her thighs in rivers. His thrusts forcing the spill.

He finally stilled, falling back into an open kneel. Gasping with a thrown head into the night sky.

She fell back into him, head hanging in the curve of his shoulder. Her breath equally lost. Mind empty, body broken.

"Perfect." She sighed. Closing her eyes, blissful.

"Perfect." He echoed. Hands smoothing tender over her small body. "That... might have been one of the best."

"Top three?" She teased.

"Easily." He laughed. Gently pulling her hair to a more tame lay against her hips. "Ugh, I love long hair."

"Same." She smiled, reaching up to play with the ends near his clavicle.

He went quiet in thought.

"You must return to your lover." He sighed after a moment of internal battle. "I want you, but he needs you."

She bit her lip. Knowing he was right.

"I will keep this between us, if you desire. But mend with him. He sees every star in your eyes. He names them after you every night. A love that great should not be discarded."

"He can't accept that I'm dying." She hushed. "I will break him."

"And he will be more fulfilled breaking with you once than breaking twice alone."

"Go to him. I will heal you tonight." He nuzzled into her shoulder. "And, when you are gone, treasure what you have given me for an eternity."

She swiped fast forming tears, shuddering out a breath.

"Thank you."

~

[mushroomates]

samwise gamgee headcanons:

enjoys doing the dishes and folding laundry

love language is quality time or acts of service

likes to give sprouts and seedlings to friends and neighbors

nerd about mushrooms and has a mushroom log growing in his closet

keeps a hoard of ladybugs to deploy at any time

windowsill is lined with old jars and bottles, filled with clippings for propagation

he gives the best slices of pie and best baked cookies to others. will keep “defects” for himself- they taste just as good

favorite cookies are “everything but the kitchen sink” where he throws a bunch of stuff into the bowl (fruit, pretzels, nuts) and puts it into a cookie

has like 80 pillows on every couch/bed/chair

in addition to the 50-something blankets also piled high

“please, have a seat” he says. ha, no. any surface you could possibly settle onto is adorned with elaborate spreads of throws and such.

has a fruitcake that is legit an heirloom. it’s so stale it’s a brick. you can use it as a doorstop, stepping-stool, or a bludgeoning weapon. (note: has been used for all. he once chucked it at a late night visitor. this is how he learned frodo takes late walks at night. this is also how frodo learned that sam has an arm on him)

his great aunt made it forever ago and honestly he doesn’t know if it’s still good. he keeps it around because it’s been with him so long he feels bad throwing it out.

likes pecan pie! goes nuts (pun intended) for it.

roast his own chestnuts, pecans and walnuts. has a strange grudge against macadamia nuts. (almost choked on one as a child)

very cozy. has scarves and mittens and even slippers (GASP) at the ready

likes to watch the rain with a cup of tea for hours on end

takes his tea with honey, two sugars, and cream. it barely counts as tea.

enjoys bubble baths.

guerrilla gardening. sam is a force to be reckoned with on this front. he is a strong advocate for native plants and will gut someone over deforestation.

carries a salt shaker filled with seeds everywhere. kind of just. shakes it around empty plots of land.

has a hostile land grab once a month and slowly expands the baggin’s garden by an inch, until it takes up nearly the whole estate.

has a great misconception about the appropriate amount to discuss you garden with someone. this is because:

he tends to talk about this to frodo, who will listen, good naturedly

frodo also prevents anyone from talking over sam or changing the subject

most hobbits are to polite (passive aggressive) and don’t have the skills to subtly change the subject in a way sam understands

and if he does recognize the effort he will avoid it

likes to try new recipes but at the same time never follows them

knows a great deal about farming hemp. this is because merry and pippin recruited him into their pipeweed shenanigans and now sam has unintentionally created a strain of the good stuff that has hobbits traveling miles to get their hands on

loves his houseplants like children. they have names and backstory and a rich inner life that he has created that could fill a book

is fighting a battle with english ivy at the moment and only slightly loosing it. it’s suffocating the tree outside his house and he’s not very happy with it.

[lorcblog]

130+ kinds of wizard

Someone on Reddit wanted help brainstorming new power sources for magic users. They said they were even willing to commission someone to help with brainstorming.

I was simultaneously charmed that they were willing to pay, and appalled that someone might accept money for the easiest part of game design. So I came up with a few freebies for them.

I may have gone a bit hard. In my defence I was having fun. Stashing them here for future access:

Channelling ley-lines (it matters where you are)

Siphoning life energy

Bargain with a demon (terrible price yet to be paid)

Owns a pet genie

Guardian angel

Star-powered (constellation theme)

Blessed by a god

Descended from a god (remnant of divine power)

Manipulating your own blood (health>magic)

Magic ink to create tattoos or paintings that come to life (art>magic)

Psychic powers (emphasis on mind-related effects)

In tune with nature

Luck-manipulation (yours and others)

Your power comes from how much other people believe in your powers

Gain magic by stealing/absorbing other people's spells

Using a stolen staff/book full of someone else's magic

Possessed by a powerful magical weapon

Animal-themed magic granted by a nature spirit

Every spell is a pact with a minor local spirit

Martial artist whose techniques have magical effects

Cult leader who draws powers from your followers' faith

You make and use wands and other disposable magic tools

Shadow manipulation, weak against the sun.

On-theme magic from your allegiance to the elemental plane of whatever

Elemental channeller, but only one element at a time (non-traditional elements are coolest)

Haunted by the ghost of a powerful wizard who casts for you

You're dead but use various spells to stay in the living realm

Brought back from the dead by a magical patron who gave you a mission

Drank a weird potion and now you're always burping up spells

Various alchemical potions that allow you to transmute or rearrange matter

Gain power from various binding vows and taboos

All your power resides in the magitech staff you're always tinkering with

Compulsive reader who fuels their magic by sacrificing memories

Chaos wizard whose magic only works because of how unpredictable it is

Carries a deck of cards, each card has a different spell on it

Latest of a long magical bloodline, with history and responsibilities

Untutored natural talent whose magic is raw - potent but hard to control

Possessed by a demon that hates you, but can't afford to let you die

Possessed by an angel that loves you, but doesn't want to hurt anyone

A mad alchemist replaced all your blood with a magic potion

You were hit by lightning and the lightning decided to stay in you

Power from the sun and moon, with different powers under each

Manipulating language to create magical effects

Combining runes with special meanings in various combinations

Sharing magic with a twin, so you need to take turns

Devoting yourself to someone and gaining magic that can only affect them

Gain spells from the icky monster parts you eat

Balance magic, where you need to match the harm and help your spells do

Ghost magic, binding the souls of the dead to a purpose

Rainbow magic, each colour does something different

Focusing your magic through special gems to create spell effects

Inscribing your spells on weapons and armour

Wearing your spells as armour, "spending" them for extra effect

Summoning the spirits of legendary heroes

Summoning the spirits of legendary weapons/tools

Fleshcrafting - manipulating the body of yourself and others

Full of magical centipedes

Fire and ice magic, but try to balance use of both so you don't freeze/burn

An angel and a demon do you favours as they compete over your your soul

You're a dragon or giant wizard's familiar

Sacred geometries and the hidden powers of numerology

Born with a finite amount of magic power and when it's used up it's all gone

Mirror magic - illusions, jumping into reflections or making them real.

Smoking pipeweed to make smoke constructs, walk on clouds etc

Burned as a witch and didn't die, kept alive but on fire by magic

Not a real wizard - all your "spells" are tricks and lies

Very flexible magic but can never cast the exact same spell twice

Your magic overflows – you have to cast spells because you’ll explode if it builds up in you

Your magic is a literal biological parasite living in your body

Eating magic items to recharge/boost your spells

You only know one spell, but it’s a really useful one

Use the iron in your blood to control magnetism; railgun beats fireball

You’ve got a loyal elemental serving in place of one limb

Law magic that sets up terms and conditions for others to obey, or face the consequences

Part of an organisation of allied mages all drawing their power from the same artificial source

Dream magic; putting people to sleep, prophecy and manifesting nightmares

You’re a dream creature in the waking world and don’t really understand magic’s not meant to work

Drawing power from the scrimshawed bones of ancient beasts

Water-powered so you recharge in the rain and get dehydrated if you cast too much

Bargaining; you can magically enforce contracts and use magic to trade in abstract qualities

Alien from another plane whose “magic” is 100% natural, but needs to use “spells” to perform mundane actions

Halfway to being a vampire – holding the transformation at bay with potions and using your powers like spells

Rage-powered magic that’s less effective the happier you are

Stapled a bunch of beholder eyestalks on to yourself

Power from obscurity – the less someone knows about you, the stronger your spells are to them

Wealth-powered magic where you sacrifice currency for spell effects

Namer – find something’s true name (or name it yourself) to have power over it

Only follower of a tiny god who demands great obedience but performs tiny miracles

Devotee of a trickster god where your spells only work if they’re causing clever chaos

Reincarnation of a powerful wizard who doesn’t remember all of their past life yet

You flunked out of wizard college and don’t really understand what you’re doing, it just works, OK?

Undead-eater who channels the necromantic energy of other necromancers

Gaining the powers/knowledge of a thing by wearing the right mask/disguise

Power spells by imbibing magical drugs/alcohol that cause increasing impairment

Negotiating favours from the fair folk

Your magic consists entirely of powerful rituals with lasting effects that take at least half an hour to cast

Your spells must be powered by the sacrifices of other people, so you’re always trading favours to keep casting

Magic granted by one specific tree which you must protect at all costs

Your family is bonkers rich so you just have an invisible magical butler

Magic granted by a hive of friendly enchanted bees that you carry like a backpack

Paradox magic where every night tomorrow-you teaches yesterday-you the spells you will have needed

Every spell is a little pet creature you've found and looked after

Spell breeder where you make new spells by combining old ones

Creating prophecies that always come true

[That’s the end of the ones I posted on Reddit. I think that’s 104. New ones below]

Your “spells” are magical diseases you’re infected with; try not to pass them on

You passed through the dolmen gate to awaken your mage-sight

Replaced one eye with an orb of power

Plant spellseeds into the earth every night and harvest the spells for casting each morning

Create temporary links to places and creatures to channel spells based on them

Lunar magic whose spells change with the moon phase

Saved the life of a magic fish you gave you powers

Spellcasting powers are a duty handed down across the generations

You’re a naturally magical creature polymorphed into human shape

Your magic “powers” are actually a curse eating you alive

You know potent runes which you sketch onto surfaces with chalk for spell effects

Drank from a magic fountain and all the magic climbed in to yourself

Someone else bargained for power and you got it due to a clerical error

Your “spells” are fate conspiring to keep you alive for a greater destiny/doom

Prodigy who invented a school of magic unrecognised by conventional wisdom

Monk who receives magical focus through mortification and asceticism

Gained sympathetic magic from following in the path of a legendary hero

Satchel full of scrolls that never seems to run out

Scientific and impious “prayer” that calls down divine favours through arcane means

Coat of many colours, every patch woven with a different enchantment

Parasitic haemotroph vine infection grows magical fruits you can eat, throw etc

Golf bag of magic staves collected from defeated rival wizard's

Orbiting halo of arcane crystals with unique spell-like powers

Exile from a magically advanced lost civilisation

Time-travelling tourist from a magically advanced possible future

Channels raw magical energy through a carefully-faceted focal lens

Untamed magic erupts from you unpredictably

Destined for greatness, some of your future power leaks back through time

Aided and guided by the souls of your ancestors

Explorer from an undersea kingdom who had to learn magic to survive above water

From a magic-hating culture that cursed you with this talent to be an asset to your people

Born without a soul and magic rushed in to fill the void

Lost your soul and a wizard gave you theirs to save yourself

Cursed with ever-growing hair, you tie it into knots and braids to weave spells

[myers-meadow]

Azog the Defiler x OC: In which Gandalf learns that Orcs can love

Title: In which Gandalf learns that Orcs can love

Pairing: Azog the Defiler x female OC (Hadewych)

Fandom: The Hobbit movie trilogy

Summary: In this tale we follow the Companionship of Dwarves on a dual mission: reach and reclaim Erebor, and maybe rescue a friend they made in Laketown. The last quest leads to more hardship than expected, as Azog has his sights set firmly on the human, and isn't planning to let the Dwarves take her from him.

Warnings: rape/non-con, Azog is his own warning honestly, character death, non-consensual voyeurism, corruption, (mild) rape aftermath, language barrier.

Wordcount: 2147

Gorgeous dividers by @saradika-graphics

"She should be around here, somewhere," called Fili from over his shoulder, scouting ahead through the thick growth of the forest. It was a forest so thick, only little of the late afternoon sun reached through the trees. Thorin, Kili, Bilbo and Gandalf followed him. They were tired, especially now that their end goal seemed so close, yet so far away. After leaving Laketown, the kind friend of Bard, who sheltered them, followed them with provisions and weapons. That was a week ago. Immediately after she found the companionship of dwarves, they were ambushed by Azog's hunting party, and she was taken.

After five days of captivity, it was Bilbo, with Dwalin and Thorin, who rescued her from the orc camp as they all slept. She wasn't as grateful as they expected however, frightened beyond words. Her fear remained with her, even though she was safely away from the man-eating orcs.

"You don't get it," she said, keeping her voice hushed even while hours away from the site they rescued her from, "he will find me and it will be worse. You've put yourself in danger, too."

The dwarves waved her concerns away, but it gave Bilbo pause. Something felt off. Why would the orcs come for her? They were hunting the dwarves already. Despite his feeling of unease, their journey continued.

Balin convinced her, with his gentle reasoning, to come with them, and not head back: "We are less than four days march away from Erebor. Once we are there, you'll be safe inside. No orc could enter the mountain and live. Laketown is at least a week from here, on horseback. Don't be stupid and get yourself killed trying to go back."

Hope shone in her eyes at his words, a fearful hope. It was decided; she would come with them. Evening fell, and they set up camp. Hadewych remained withdrawn. As they wound down after their meal, which finally got some life back in her face, Gandalf took up his pouch of pipeweed, lighting his pipe. They sat, gathered in a circle around the fire, flames making their shadows dance.

"Hadewych, what happened to you out there?" asked Fili. None had dared ask before, as her panicked state had been enough of an answer. Kili, who sat next to her, moved her braid aside and gestured at the large bitemark on the side of her neck.

"It looked like they tried to eat you," Kili said, sounding somewhat impressed, his tone light. Hadewych slapped his hand away.

"It's beyond you," was all she said.

Gandalf took the pipe out of his mouth, and agreed with her. "Let the poor woman have her rest. We're not there yet. I have a feeling the worst is yet to come."

Later, when just Bilbo and Gandalf remained, unable to sleep, keep watch, did Bilbo dare to ask the wizard more.

"The orcs, they..." he started, clearing his throat awkwardly. "Why did they let Hadewych live? They would've slaughtered any of us as soon as they had the chance."

Gandalf, old eyes peering from beneath his wizard's hat, replied: "Hmm, it is certainly curious. I suspect we’ll find out soon enough, although I fear it won't be pleasant."

After a short silence, as the moon's rays illuminated the rocky landscape, he continued. "There isn't much we know about orc culture. So far, Azog has proven to be at the top of his tribe, with not just bloodlust, but also a great strategic mind. He's smart, Bilbo, that's what makes him more dangerous than most."

"You're saying he took her for a strategic purpose? But what on earth could that be?"

Gandalf shrugged, movements slow. "You should get some sleep. Tomorrow is a new day."

In the morning as they set out on their journey, Hadewych found Gandalf and fell into step next to him.

"Gandalf," Hadewych started, uncertainty in her voice, unsure of how to ask what she had on her mind.

"Yes, my dear, what is it?"

"Do you know Black Speech?"

"What a curious question. I do understand it, yes. It is a vile language, created by Sauron and I prefer not speaking it."

"I understand if it's too much to ask, but could you maybe teach me? Every little bit would be a great help."

Gandalf halted and turned to her. His eyes bore into her soul and she sensed that he knew and understood a great deal more than any of the companions, more than even the wizard let on. "There may be a way to teach you that will help you more than simply translating words. You've tried it already, haven't you? To let the pale orc teach you."

Unsure, but aware that lies were useless, she nodded. "All I've managed to parse out are a few different words, and that's hardly enough to understand what they say. The dwarves may think I'm safe now, but they don't understand." She adjusted her cloak and hugged it around her. "It's only a matter of time before I'm surrounded by orcs again, and I need to know what they say - to know what is coming."

The wizard hummed. "I see." He paused and regarded her for a long moment. The companions walked on ahead, but it was no matter. They could catch up with ease, if needed. Then he nodded and grabbed his staff. "Then we shall see what we can do."

Another day passed, and Gandalf allowed Hadewych to learn and practice Black Speech. She had little trouble with it, aside from the grammar. During the second morning, she felt a bit more at ease and her normal self returned, and she joked with the dwarves the same as she did while they were in Laketown. Bilbo still eyed her warily - to him, the mystery of her behaviour was not yet solved.

Once they got going, the terrain opened up in front of them, and it gained in height. It would truly only be three more days until they reached their beloved mountain. The hunting party ambushed them from the side, driving them back with a cliff at their side. It was the worst possible road to be ambushed on, and even though Thorin sent Fili and Kili ahead as scouts, they hadn't seen nor heard a thing. Thorin barely escaped with his life. Hadewych wasn't so lucky, as she was slung over their leader's shoulder, defenceless without the weapons or skill the dwarves had. The dwarves hid in the mountains, and the hunting party took off just as swiftly as they came, disappearing into a thick forest, taking Hadewych with them.

Evening fell. The dwarves licked their wounds and regrouped properly that night, and discussed what they could do. Many seemed in favour of continuing their original quest, and not taking the risk of going after the hunting party.

"Is Hadewych not also one of our own?" argued Bilbo. "She went through the trouble to bring us the weapons and provisions, without her we would've been defenceless."

"That's just how it goes, laddie," said Dwalin. "She knew the risks when coming with us."

Bilbo, outraged, looked to the others.

Balin answered. "Aye... But we've been the ones who convinced her not to go back to Laketown. That Erebor would be safer."

"No way she could've reached Laketown on her own anyway," said Gloin, his voice rumbling.

"Perhaps, but a group is easier to track than a woman alone."

"We failed to protect her," agreed Kili. "We can look for her, just a few of us. The rest heads on to the mountain. With just a few, we won’t be easily noticed."

And so it was that now the few of them who went to track the hunting party down; Gandalf and Bilbo came with, out of concern, Thorin and his cousins Fili and Kili; laid low in a bed of ferns, hidden behind bushes and trees, looking on as the orcs set up camp for the night. The pale orc towered over them all. He fed his warg and pet her fur, Hadewych close at his side, one hand in the warg's fur just like him. Kili wanted to creep closer, but was stopped by Thorin.

"So this is why she wanted to learn Black Speech," said Gandalf, which the dwarves paid little mind to. Bilbo looked at his wizard friend with curious eyes. They exchanged looks, and with his voice soft, Gandalf pointed at the scene. "They seem to be talking."

"He's laughing," said Bilbo, surprised. "Gandalf, don't tell me they've become friends."

They watched as Azog lead Hadewych to the campfire, a firm hand on her upper arm. Once seated, keeping her close to him, although it was difficult for them to see, he reached for the grilled meat, steaming in the cold evening air, and took a large bite out of it. The orcs dug in similarly, feeding on what was probably small game they've hunted, or dried food they took with them. Then the pale orc did something Bilbo nor the wizard saw coming. With the dead animal speared on his hooked hand, he plucked off bits of tender meat, and fed them to Hadewych. After letting her eat it right from his hand, he licked off his fingers.

"I'd say she's still deadly afraid of him, not to speak of the other orcs around. Wouldn't you agree?"

"But an orc wouldn't hear reason! Do you really think she talked him into letting her live?"

"That seems... unlikely," said Gandalf, his voice falling grim.

Thorin decided to wait until night fell and everyone was asleep to attack, so they did. The orcs laid down to sleep not long after, leaving just two who kept watch awake, as well as the pale orc and Hadewych. When they got up to rest, they did so on the other side of the mighty white warg, and Hadewych pet her fur as Azog gathered the blanket and mat from a nearby pack. When he spoke to her, his voice was low, unexpected of an orc to speak so gently. The dwarves spread out, trying to scout out the area more now that they had less eyes on them and less ears to listen. Bilbo stayed with Gandalf, leaned against a tree, waiting for the others to regroup. Their friend and her captor had now finally laid down and all was quiet.

"It's taking so long," complained Kili. "When will they go to sleep already."

"Patience," bid Thorin, reigning his cousin in.

They regrouped at their spot, Thorin directed everyone to their positions. When Bilbo glanced over at the sleeping forms of his friend and her captor, he found a rather odd sight. It wasn't immediately clear what he was looking at, as Azog hovered above the ground, facing down, and moved his body rhythmically. Not like someone who is sleeping. Not like someone turning around in their sleep. Bilbo grabbed Thorin by the arm, wordless, and pointed. Then, staring hard through the ferns, he they saw Azog sit straighter up and pulled a leg - a human leg - to his side, changing the angle of his hips. Then his movements made sense. Hadewych laid underneath him, and he moved his hips, grinning sadistically down at her, low rumbles spilling from his throat as he fucked her.

The dwarves, Bilbo and Gandalf looked on, forgetting their cover, and stared at the scene in front of them with mouths open in shock. Kili pulled Thorin aside.

"I'm not risking my life for that," he said harshly, voice a little louder than it should've been in the quiet of the night.

Gandalf opened his mouth to say something, but refrained from interfering.

"What is happening, Gandalf, why is this happening?" asked Bilbo, who didn't want to look on, but couldn't tear his eyes away for longer than a second. The pale orc leaned down again, over his captive, and said something to her. The rasp of the Black Speech sounded almost doting. As the dwarves tried to figure out what to do - leave or attack - Gandalf observed the scene and thought of how to answer the hobbit. As he did, the orc snarled, and grabbed his captive close, ripped the fabric away from her shoulder, and bit down.

"It is what it looks like, my friend; Azog has claimed a mate."

Unfortunately for the unobservant dwarves, the pale orc had a short recovery time, and was on his feet within the minute. Quiet as a panther he moved through the thicket. He called out to Thorin, voice loud enough to wake the rest of the hunting party, and the dwarves were outnumbered quick. Hadewych looked on from the sidelines, leaning her back against the white warg, face in her hands, trying to ignore the screams of pain and sorrow as the line of Durin ended before her eyes.

[ao3feed-samfro]

Growing Roses

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/r8R64J5 by youvebeenscuppered Sam and Frodo settle into their life upon their return to the Shire. Something is off, and so Sam sets out to fix whatever he can in Bag End, eventually realising that what needs his attention the most is its master. Sam is only too glad to give it.   This story begins after Sam and Frodo have returned to the Shire, based off of the ending in the LoTR books - where Saruman has taken over the Shire with a group of Men before being ousted by the Hobbit Uprising.   No beta we die like Boromir. Words: 12676, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English Fandoms: The Lord of the Rings - All Media Types, The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings (Movies) Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Categories: M/M Characters: Frodo Baggins, Sam Gamgee, Merry Brandybuck, Pippin Took Relationships: Frodo Baggins/Sam Gamgee, Frodo Baggins & Sam Gamgee Additional Tags: I Don't Even Know, Sam Gamgee Loves Frodo Baggins, Frodo Baggins Loves Sam Gamgee, Bottom Frodo Baggins, Mild Hurt/Comfort, Sam is Protective of Frodo, Sam Protects Frodo All The Way To Bed, like for real, Sam is Almost Possessive, In a protective way, return to the shire, Imagine if Home Changed and Thus You Changed Too, But Like Its Sexy Too, eating ass, Penetration, Sam's Dramatic Internal Monologue, Whilst He Eats Ass, Anal Sex, Anal Fingering, Frodo Baggins/Sam Gamgee - Freeform, Frodo Baggins Needs a Hug, Pipeweed, No Beta read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/r8R64J5

[middle-earth-mythopoeia]

Yes!!!!!!!!! And you know what this immediately made me think of? The unforgettable scene in the Houses of Healing when Merry asks Aragorn for some pipeweed, and Aragorn lectures him for a whole paragraph about why he will NOT be getting Merry pipeweed, and... well, it’s better if I just post it:

Merry smiled. ‘Well then,’ he said, ‘if Strider will provide what is needed, I will smoke and think. I had some of Saruman’s best in my pack, but what became of it in the battle, I am sure I don’t know.’ ‘Master Meriadoc,’ said Aragorn, ‘if you think that I have passed through the mountains and the realm of Gondor with fire and sword to bring herbs to a careless soldier who throws away his gear, you are mistaken. If your pack has not been found, then you must send for the herb-master of this House. And he will tell you that he did not know that the herb you desire had any virtues, but that it is called westmansweed by the vulgar, and galenas by the noble, and other names in other tongues more learned, and after adding a few half-forgotten rhymes that he does not understand, he will regretfully inform you that there is none in the House, and he will leave you to reflect on the history of tongues. And so now must I. For I have not slept in such a bed as this since I rode from Dunharrow, nor eaten since the dark before dawn.’ Merry seized his hand and kissed it. ‘I am frightfully sorry,’ he said. ‘Go at once! Ever since that night at Bree we have been a nuisance to you. But it is the way of my people to use light words at such times and say less than they mean. We fear to say too much. It robs us of the right words when a jest is out of place.’ ‘I know that well, or I would not deal with you in the same way,’ said Aragorn. ‘May the Shire live for ever unwithered!’ And kissing Merry he went out, and Gandalf went with him. Pippin remained behind. ‘Was there ever any one like him?’ he said. ‘Except Gandalf, of course. I think they must be related. My dear ass, your pack is lying by your bed, and you had it on your back when I met you. He saw it all the time, of course.’

In conclusion, Aragorn trolls people as a love language.

I saw someone a while back complaining that Aragorn stops being interesting in RotK because once he becomes king he's too lofty and remote and loses the humanity of his character, and I just...

Aragorn lets Beregond think he's being banished for a solid five seconds before telling him he's being sent to be Faramir's captain of the guard. He refuses to tell his friends that he's getting married because if they can't figure it out then they're just going to have to wait and see. Yes, he is a great and lofty king, but he is also still clearly a man whose best friends include Gandalf and Bilbo, and who consistently trolls people as a love language.

[ratsarecute4]

Lotr headcannons I have

Aragorn

He needs to be reminded to bathe or he won't fucking do it

Straight, but he is the biggest ally you will find

Had an emo phase as a teenager and wrote a lot of poetry

Talks about Arwen about 80% of the time. It should be annoying but is actually really sweet

Every year he dons his ranger outfit and hangs out in the woods for a few days to get a break from the stress of being King for a bit

Legalised gay marriage as his first act as King

Doesn't drink enough water

Always tells people they need to make sure to eat and relax but he doesn't do either of those himself

Boromir

Carries candy with him everywhere because Faramir loves candy and he just never got out of the habit of bringing it with him

Thinks of Merry and Pippin as his younger brothers

Aro/ace

Doesn't really understand romance but also gets really excited for his friends' relationships

Secretly loves when the hobbits complain about being too tired to walk because it means he gets to carry them and it makes him feel needed

Talks a lot about Faramir

Loves big dogs. He has several at a time and enjoys taking them on walks and spoiling them

His father owns peacocks and Boromir got bit by one once and now he is deathly afraid of them

Legolas

Used to talk shit about the rest of the fellowship to Aragorn before learning that Frodo and Boromir both speak elvish too

Makes up silly songs and sings them in an obnoxious voice to annoy everyone else

Although some of the others in the fellowship might think of him as cool and serious at first, he actually can't take anything seriously

Somehow always has flowers in his hair, even during the winter

Doesn't tell anyone he is a prince at first because he doesn't want them to expect him to act like a prince

The youngest child with several older brothers. He just gives me youngest child vibes

Doesn't understand how mortal ages work so treats everyone like a child

Vibes well with Pippin

Overly enthusiastic about pine nuts

Gandalf

Can't actually turn anyone into an animal. He just uses this to threaten children so they won't misbehave

Somehow, Pippin finds out and decides to be even more annoying now that he knows the threat is empty

Gandalf starts threatening to beat him with his staff instead

Loves going to the Shire because hobbits throw the best parties and because they all think of him as a weird old man who does magic tricks. The outside world place expectations on him so it is nice to go to the Shire to have some fun

Is very fond of children of all types and believes the best use of his magic is to entertain the children with it

While he views the rest of the hobbits in the fellowship as adults who can make their own decisions, he knows Pippin is still a child and so treats him as he would his own grandchild.

Feels really guilty for everything that happened to the hobbits and believes it is his fault

Constantly makes jokes about having died

Gimli

Talks shit about the rest of the fellowship to himself. Thankfully, no one understands him

Understands the importance of keeping the dwarves' secrets secret, but also taught Legolas every swear word in his language because he thinks it is funny

Cares quite a bit about his appearance, especially his beard, and carries a comb in his belt right beside his throwing axes

Legolas is the only one allowed to touch his hair. Everyone else doesn't wash their hands enough, according to him

Kind of a mom friend

After the quest, he visits the Shire and makes sure to go to every tavern to try out all the ale

Once got in a very heated argument with Merry about pipeweed and it was so bad Aragorn had to intervene

Sam

Doesn't trust anyone but himself to cook

Bisexual icon

Also polyamorous

Married to Rosie and Frodo

Is super strong because of all the gardening work he does

Incredibly fond of chickens. He gets a few chickens when they return back to the Shire and he loves them so much.

Knows a lot about flower language and always gives people flowers that mean something

Makes the best chicken pot pie in all the Shire. He knows this because he won a prize for it at the Fair in Michel Delving

Really really loves elves and learns elvish so he can speak to them. He practices with Legolas every time he is over

Like Gimli, is a mom friend. If he so much as guesses someone might be sick, he fusses over them and makes them soup and doesn't allow them to get out of bed until he is convinced they are well

Gets super embarrassed when people treat him like a hero, but also secretly enjoys it and knows he deserves it

Always grows too much zucchini and when the harvesting season comes around everyone tries to discreetly avoid him so he can't give them a thousand zucchinis

Frodo

Feels really bad about how he used to steal Farmer Maggot's crops so now he leaves more crops in the fields any time he passes by the farm. Farmer Maggot caught him doing it once and was really confused when Frodo explained his method behind "reverse stealing"

Asexual

Went through an emo phase when he was a teenager

Enjoys his reputation for being odd. It makes him proud to inherit Bilbo's title of Mad Baggins

Is very good at swimming. He doesn't do it often and was scared of water for the while after his parents drowned, but he is a strong swimmer and fast too

Enjoys making bread. It makes him feel strong to use his hand after the quest and kneading bread is the perfect way to do it

Enjoys hosting grand parties with lots of food and dancing

Spends a lot of money on repairing roads and bridges anytime he hears they need fixing

Writes stories all the time

Likes to climb trees

He has a lot of bad days where he can't get out of bed, so he makes sure to really enjoy the good days. On good days, he invites friends over, or bakes pastries, or dances with Sam and Rosie

Owns the grumpiest, bitchiest cat in the whole world. Sam jokingly calls it Gollum and it responds only to that now

Merry

Had a huge crush on Éowyn

Really likes girls who are strong and stubborn

Straight, but he gives me trans vibes

A total nerd

Knows literally everything there is to know about pipeweed and will tell you all about it whether you are interested or not

Has very strong opinions on most things and cannot be swayed from them

Used to lie and say Pippin was his brother because he was sad they were just cousins

Very cunning and comes up with a lot of schemes and plans. He is good at not getting caught

Has always held an interest for herbs but becomes even more interested after his time spent in the House of Healing

Learns Rohhiric. At first it is to impress Éowyn, but then because he finds it interesting

Can't sing but does it anyway

Owns lots of ponies. He allows all the children he knows to name them

Wears giant round glasses and think they make him look cool and smart even though they actually make him look like a total geek

One time he broke a flowerpot at Bag End and blamed it on Pippin and then cried later because he felt bad

Makes about a thousand cookies every year around Yule

Pippin

Insists he is taller than Merry even though he knows deep down it isn't true

Dyslexic

Bisexual

Super gender non conforming. He wears skirts sometimes because he like how he looks in them.

Used to let his sisters play dress-up and tea party with him as a kid because he wanted to be included in their games

Thinks Boromir is so cool and wants to be like him

Gandalf called him a little shit once and he has been chasing that high ever since

Very shy around girls he fancies but is painfully obvious around boys

He had a crush on Aragorn for like, a day, but then he made them march through a marsh and the crush went away instantly

Used to hang around Bag End in the summertime so he could watch Sam roll his sleeves up

Had a huge crush on Faramir and was low key jealous when he got married

Honestly he gets a crush on every mildly attractive person he meets

Plays a bunch of different instruments

Decent at art and likes to sketch

Likes to have odd pets like frogs and rats and fish

Was born early and got sick often as a child

He really loves Gandalf and views him as a grandfather, despite how much he likes to get on his nerves

Sometimes, when he is lonely, he talks to Boromir in hopes that wherever he is, he is listening

Met his wife Diamond when she nearly ran him over with her wagon

Even when he becomes Thain he never gets out of the habit of pranking people

Whenever he tells stories about the quest he adds new embellishments and at this point it is so far from what originally happened but it is way more entertaining and children love to listen to it

Is banned from two different inns in Michel Delving

Éowyn

She can actually cook, it's just Rohan has really shitty cuisine. I bet they eat lutefisk and that pickled shark soup stuff they used to eat over in Iceland

If, after the war is over, something happened and her friends were in danger, she would not hesitate to go into battle again, though she is glad that they are in a time of peace now because she knows war is awful now

Doesn't know how to read because Rohhiric is not a written language, so Faramir teaches her so she can send letters to her friends all over the world and they are really proud of her progress

Finds she likes weaving and makes a huge tapestry telling the stories from the war. It hangs in Minas Tirith in the throne room

Becomes good friends with Arwen and talks about herb lore with her a lot and they totally lock eyes with eachother to give eachother The Look every time a guy says something stupid in their presence. You know the Look.

Definitely still carries a sword around with her while travelling but never really wants to use it

She becomes more comfortable in her life after she finds friends and family, and she works together with Aragorn and Éomer to help pass laws that give women more freedom (allowing divorce, banning marriages to children, allowing women to have control over their finances, etc) they are both happy to change the laws, although Éomer has to confront some of his prejudices first

Faramir

I dont know what this man is but cis ain't it

Was questioning whether he was gay for a while because he wasn't attracted to women (though he wasn't attracted to men, either) and then he met Éowyn and realized he was just demiromantic

Loves giving Éowyn flowers and planning picnic dates for the two of them

This man is a romantic

He writes her poetry and leaves it around their room for her to find after he teaches her to read

Worried about whether he will be a good dad or not but he gets the hang of it really easily and is a really really good father

Was aware of Pippin's crush on him during the war and just tried to ignore it because it was awkward to think about it

Started carrying candies around in his pockets in remembrance of Boromir

[fantasyinallforms]

For April Alphabet, I'd love to see your take on "Languages", if you feel up to it!!

Thank you Razzy! This was fun 🥰 Holy smokes I actually managed to write a drabble under 1k words! (hopefully, this isn't too short but the scene felt right.)

This is for the April @fellowshipofthefics alphabet event!

This is Bagginshield spicy but not explicit. Khuzdul translations are at the bottom.

~~~~

“Try and sound it out one more time.”

“No, no, Thorin, I’m sorry, but my brain can't do more of this right now; we’ve been at it for hours.” Bilbo rubbed his hands over his eyes and fell backward onto the bed dramatically. Thorin chuckled and put down the paper he was holding. 

“You’re doing great, ghivashel. You have the words down.” Thorin remarked encouragingly  

“Yes, but I can't seem to put them into sentences! The moment I try and string them together, my tongue ties itself into knots! I’m going to make an absolute fool of myself.” Bilbo closed his eyes. When he opened them, Thorin had climbed on top of him, his hair falling in a curtain around them both. 

“You’ve only been practicing for five months; why this sudden rush?” Thorin’s breath was warm, and it smelled like pipeweed. Bilbo leaned up to meet Thorin’s lips taking petty pleasure in the small moan it elicited. Bilbo barely registered Thorin's hands caressing his arms until he finally broke the kiss and found himself pinned by the wrists to the bed. He tried to arch up but to no avail. 

“Don’t think you’re going to get out of the question so easily, amral.” Thorin had a twinkle in his eye that would have been annoying if it wasn't so charming.

“We only have one more month until the wedding. There will be foreign dwarves from all over Arda. I don't want to embarrass you by being a Khuzdbâha that has lived among dwarrow for over a year and has yet to learn his beloved’s language.” Part of Bilbo wanted to look away in shame but being pinned to the bed as he was it would do him no good. Thorin let out an audible moan.

“I love hearing Khuzdul words tumble from your lips, ibin abnâmul.” Thorin bent down to kiss and nip at the soft skin of Bilbo’s neck. “Don't worry yourself with the guests at our wedding. They will not judge you based on your ability to speak our language. This past year, you had a lot to do, namely helping rebuild a kingdom. Most of them will herald you as a hero. Besides, it won't matter what they think. You’ll be royalty.” Thorin pinned both of Bilbo’s wrists above his head with one hand and used the other to press him into the mattress. “I could teach you some new phrases right now if you’d let me.” 

“You know I can understand more than I can speak, right.” 

“Then see if you can remember the word for what you will be when I’m done with you.” Thorin’s voice was a low purr.

“Wait, I remember that one it’s Mamahmarlûn!” The word was cut off by the sound of Bilbo’s whimper as Thorin nibbled on the tip of his ear and slid his hands under his shirt.

 Studying could wait.

~~~~~~~

ghivashel- Treasure of treasures

Khuzdbâha- Dwarf Friend

amral- Love

ibin abnâmul- Beautiful Gem

Mamahmarlûn- He who has been made love to

[tehcherrya]

"... I don't know what's going to happen."

Merry & Pippin // Cigarette Duet (Instrumental) by Princess Chelsea

If someone would let me talk their ears off about how sad these two make me sometimes, I am willing to welcome them with open arms. Pippin is the youngest of three sisters, and Merry is an only child. To each other they have been the brothers that they have never had. Pippin had followed Merry through all walks of life, and Merry has happily guided. Smoking, drinking, laughing, stealing, causing mischief, but underneath it all, he took care of Pippin.

Pippin expected Merry to come with him when they separated. Merry couldn't bear to say goodbye but he watched Shadowfax until Pippin disappeared. Watching his brother ride away.

Merry, perhaps knew that he might not ever see Pippin again, that either of them might fall victim to the peril's that wait ahead for them. He should be mad at Pippin's foolishness, that he got himself into this mess. Yet he would have hated if the last time he saw Pippin to be any moment that wasn't that of love, so he said nothing of the sort. Nor could he find it within himself to say to Pippin that it is the end. He felt his heart bleeding with despair, but couldn't put it upon himself to let Pippin feel it too. Merry's heart ached with Pippin's last desperate cry.

As Merry fell under the Black Breath, he was convinced he was going to die. That he would never see Pippin nor the Shire ever again. Even when Pippin did find him, in his sickness he assured himself that Pippin was there to only put Merry in a grave.

Pippin might be a fool. But he'd be damned if he let his cousin, his brother slip off... with leaving Pippin out of all of the new adventures within the silver glass. There is still love yet to be shared.

[starsofarda]

I felt like giving Turgon some well deserved love, I am glad you liked that touch 💖

And yeah, by that point tho there is suspicion about the whole ring thing, but I guess it's not really well established. I picture Sauron Ring being like trying to not be perceived lol

And trust me, when it comes to Curufin my brain also defaults as Junior lol and Taking the Death of a Loved One Extremely Well is another of the noldorin arts 😜 and Junior is going to rip apart the bitch 💪🏻

Celegorm and Glorfindel, double trouble combo! Descending on orcs like a more lethal version of Jessie and James! I see the vision!

And 1000%, also Fefe becomes more chill after trying pipeweed. He and Bilbo can be seen discussing obscure lore and languages and throwing scathing comments at whoever bothers them!

MORE SPINOFFS of my "Finweans in the shire" not-fanfiction! Once again, I would like to thank @starshadeemilyart for her beautiful art of Maglor in Hobbit Fashion! Go check her art!!!

OG post here

First spinoffs

Anyway, more under cut!

TURGON, BILBO AND THE TROLL TREASURE

Well. At a certain point someone asks Bilbo why he was gone and he starts telling about how Gandalf enrolled him as a burglar to help the Dwarves from Erebor to defeat the dragon Smaug and get back their home, something the Finweans absolutely sympathize with, cue also Fingon gently crushing Mae's remaining hand bc he is experiencing dragon related PTSD.

The Feanorians do NOT flip at the Arkenstone mention, maybe it's a Silmaril, maybe it's a different stone, we don't know, it's now too far in the past anyway and the Oath does not have any validity anymore.

BUT when Bilbo recalls the Trolls and their treasure, surprisingly, it's Turgon who flips off. "Sorry, did you say WHICH swords and WHAT treasure??? I would like to CALMLY enquire, please."

And Bilbo says: "Well, I have with me some of it, as my 1/14th share as per contract with the Dwarves" Cue Caranthir definitely approving of the bureaucracy of it.

Turgon: "May I see what you have?"

Bilbo: "Sure thing!"

And the Hobbit presents the various gems and trinkets and most importantly Sting! Gandalf shows Glamdring, saying that Orcrist has been buried with Thorin Oakenshield.

And Turgon recognizes Gondolin's treasure, but what can he do now? It's probably the first time Feanor feels some compassion towards the Nolofinweans and pats Turgon's back. "Been there, done that." He says. Fingolfin may be shedding a tiny tear at his half brother's gesture.

Turgon graciously relinquishes the treasure, after all the Hobbits are helping every single one of them, and blesses Sting with whatever grace he still has as former king of Gondolin.

Everything ends well.

CURUFIN AND THE REVENGE FOR HIS TINY TYELPE

Now onto the main bit. In the OG post things were left a bit nebulous, as I still had not figured out what to do next. NOW.

Ofc the Finweans seeing the Elves abandong ME does raise a few questions and gladly Gandalf fills them in with all the Sauron + One Ring and all the other rings situation.

Gandalf also says that Sauron created the One Ring and the Men + Dwarves rings, but the Elvish rings were created by Celebrimbor. And Curufin looks at Gandalf.

"Fine. I would like to commend my own son. Pray tell, wizard, where is my Tyelpe? I also would like to mend bridges with him."

There is a long silence. Gandalf braces himself. He describes, as reported by the chronicles, Celebrimbor's St. Sebastianification and death by the hand of Sauron.

LIVE CURUFIN REACTION

It's suddenly Finwe's death all over again - maybe, Feanor and Fingolfin join forces to keep Curufin grounded enough not to repeat their mistakes, but this surely means war until Gandalf has to use his Maia voice.

"WE DO NOT EVEN KNOW WHERE IS THE RING THE ENEMY FORGED, CURUFINWE ATARINKE, ALSO EVER HEARD OF NOT LAUNCHING YOURSELF TO DEATH HEADFIRST???"

Curufin tries to rebate that it is HIS SON THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT DAMMIT!

"And you are righteous in your anger, but all will be for naught if you let your anger cloud your judgement".

And so Gandalf reassures him that he is dealing with the search of the One Ring.

Ofc Elrond gets to know that something is cooking up in the Shire WAY in advance and he is surprised to see his adoptive dads there alive and thriving, one of them even married to the love of his life. It's another long explanation, but Fefe has just gained a new grandchild and by Eru he is going to dote on him, and the rest of the Finweans too. Elrond gives an off-hand comment about "I wish my MIL Galadriel loved me too", to which Feanor replies: "Worry not, grandchild of mine, she will."

And thus the Long Preparation to Finally Kill Sauron and Rid ME of every single Filth Left by Morgoth begins.

I am not dwelling on this too much, as what happens in LotR still happens, but it's something WAY shorter.

Most notable moments:

The Finweans showing up at LothLorien in battle gear giving Galadriel a whole new range of emotions

Curufin battling 9 Nazguls at once with Celegorm at the yell: "COME ON BITCH BOYS, YOU ALL TOOK IT ON MY SON YOU ALL NEED TO DIE PAINFULLY!"

Maedhros and Fingon being an absolute fucking NIGHTMARE for all Orcs and Goblins. Oh you thought Elrohir and Elladan were a nightmare??? Guess again, it seems that you all have forgotten the First Age!

Sauron seeing the Finweans in the "let's give Frodo and Sam time to go and chuck the Ring into the Lava" battle and considering just fleeing. He does not because his armies DO NOT know best.

Saruman having an incredibly short life and Rohan being lifted up from his control way earlier.

Curufin ACTUALLY gets a hold on the Palantir and looks straight into Sauron's eye and says: "YOU ARE GOING DOWN, YOU BITCH, DID YOU THINK YOU COULD HURT TYELPE AND NOT INCUR IN MY WRATH?! HELL NO YOU BITCH, I AM STRANGLING YOUR INCORPOREAL FORM WITH MY OWN HANDS."

At the end of it Namo makes Celebrimbor being re-embodied, cur reunion father/son and all is well all that ends well.

BACK TO AMAN

Well. The time of the Elves has ended and the Finweans, along with the remaining Elves, are granted pardon and allowed back to Valinor for having redeemed themselves during the war of the Ring.

The entire Shire travels with the Weird Elves to the Grey Havens and fills them with food, drink, trinkets, mathom, etc. There is a lot of crying.

Thingol is also there, he kind of looks forward to reunite with his own wife. The Gamgees have carved a pipe specifically for him and they gave him a good stash of pipeweed too.

The Shire will be forever blessed, even after the Elves have left.

Once the Last Ship arrives, Nerdanel and Anaire are summoned at the havens and they see Feanor and Fingolfin actually getting along and possibly holding for their wives the equivalent of like 1000 roses bouquets and apologies.

Nerdie and Anaire are happy to see Russingon and CeleDhel happily married and they marvel at the amount of grandkids they need to start doting on.

Yes, Bilbo and Frodo are there too, Bilbo seems to be Feanor's bestie and they both match energies perfectly.

Valinor is about to become a helluva lot more fun.

Thingol finds his own way to reunite with his wife Melian. They will live in gardening bliss for the rest of eternity.

---

Thoughts? Comments?

[frodo-with-glasses]

More Reading Thoughts: The Passing of the Grey Company

EYYYY MERRY!! Aragorn! Legolas and Gimli!! I missed you guys! 8-D

“So four of the Company still remain.” Dramatic much, Aragorn??

“‘And then whither?’ said Legolas. ‘I cannot say yet,’ Aragorn answered.” *hums to myself* And whither then, I cannot say…

Legolas and Gimli don’t even wait to hear where Aragorn is going before they loudly volunteer to come with him. I love these dorks so much LOL

“But do not look for mirth at the ending. It will be long, I fear, ere Theoden sits at ease again in Meduseld. Many hopes will wither in this bitter spring.” Aaaaand Aragorn accidentally foreshadows Theoden’s death :-(

Literally Merry: “Welp, if I run now, I’ll die, so I might as well stay and fight.”

Aragorn, immediately, upon seeing an old friend again: IT’S HUGGING TIME

“Merry breathed a sigh of relief. …It seemed that there would be no need to die in Theoden’s defense, not yet at any rate.” Whoa, Merry, that’s pretty hardcore. Respect.

Yooo so these are all Rangers like Aragorn?? And Elrond’s sons are here too?? SICK.

All of Aragorn’s old friends, in fancy foreshadowing language, at once: “HI WE BROUGHT YOU A FLAG AND YOU’RE GONNA HAVE TO GO WAKE UP SOME GHOSTS”

Legolas calling Merry “Master Sluggard” for sleeping until noon X’-D Give me the Legolas and Merry roast battle STAT!

Tolkien quietly implies that Legolas and Gimli stood around talking to Merry while he got dressed. I don’t have anything to comment here except that casual platonic intimacy is delightful.

Evidently, the Rangers are here because of Galadriel ex machina.

Merry’s opinion of Theoden went from “I want to talk to you about pipeweed” to “I would die for you” in like .005 seconds and I am 1000% here for it

“Filled suddenly with love for this old man, he knelt on one knee, and took his hand and kissed it. ‘May I lay the sword of Meriadoc of the Shire on your lap, Theoden King?’ he cried. ‘Receive my service, if you will!’”

WOW that’s like a high-octane shot of unfiltered medieval chivalry right to the veins. I think the buzz in my head is my entire British ancestry all waking up at once in a patriotic fit. HECK YEAH KINGS AND KNIGHTS AND CASTLES MAN LET’S FRICKIN’ GOOOOOO

!!!!!!!!! HELLO??? All the Rangers wear their cloaks asymmetrically??? “Pinned on the left shoulder” it says. I’VE BEEN DRAWING ARAGORN’S CLOAK PINNED ON HIS SHOULDER THIS WHOLE TIME. The right-side one, not the left, but STILL. I DIDN’T FRICKIN’ REMEMBER THIS PART. DID I RECALL IT SUBCONSCIOUSLY AGAIN???? HEEEEHHHH??????

Pippin, constantly: “I miss Merry :-(” Merry, constantly: “I miss Pippin :-(”

Oooh the Rangers have been guarding the Shire, and the hobbits didn’t even know about it!! That’s so cool, man. Like guardian angels with mud-stained boots.

I have little to say about Aragorn’s story of looking into the Palantir except that I’m glad he’s had something to eat and I really hope he gets some sleep soon :-/

Ohhh so the Grey Company is Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and the other Rangers. The Three Musketeers and Co.

Eowyn: “Please don’t go.” Aragorn: “Sorry, no.” Eowyn: “You’ll die.” Aragorn: “No, I won’t.” Eowyn: “Then take me with you so that I can die too.” Aragorn: “Emphatically, no.”

Eowyn bemoaning the “part of a woman” is both startlingly modern and better than any more recent attempt I’ve seen to write the exact same thing. Eowyn doesn’t want to fight just because she’s afraid of seeming “lesser than the men”; she wants to fight because she’s afraid of living a purposeless life, of sitting around uselessly while the world is in peril and she feels she can help. Her motivation is a lot like Steve Rogers’ back in the first Captain America movie: “Bucky, come on! There are men laying down their lives. I got no right to do any less than them.”

Aaaaand Tolkien once again proves that he can absolutely write suspense and horror if he wants to.

Gimli is an interesting choice for a POV character here. I guess it makes sense, tho; he’s neither a Ranger nor an Elf, so the fear of the Dead is going to sit heaviest on him.

“Yes, the Dead ride behind. They have been summoned.” OHHHHH HOHOHOHO.

DUUUUDE. JUST. Okay so we all know that in the movie there’s this huge confrontation where Aragorn argues with the dead king to help them, right?? That totally makes sense story-wise; it’s a “trial” he has to pass to get their respect. But there’s nothing like that here. The trial is quiet, it’s understated; it’s simply the labor of getting through the Paths of the Dead and battling through that aura of fear to the other side. And you don’t know that the ghosts are following you until you’re leaving. Imagine being on your way out of a place called the Paths of the Dead, finally coming out of that horrible cave and looking up to see the stars, and when you finally think you’re safe, you turn around and see an army of ghosts following in silent procession. CHILLS, MAN. Just. CHILLS.

And now the Grey Company includes the ghosts apparently!

I have nothing to say about the people running away from Aragorn and calling him “the King of the Dead” except that it’s funny and chilling all at once.

The Stone of Erech really said ⚫️

[tolkien-feels]

8 for the hobbits? I want all the food-stealing dynamics (and please don't leave out Fatty Bolger!)

Oh my god! However did I miss this? I'm sorry, tumblr notifications are. weird. Anyway, let's have a hobbit party!

Do they ever share (or steal) each other’s food? How do they act/react to it?

Bilbo: Pre-Adventure Bilbo would never steal anyone's food. It would not be proper. Post-Adventure Bilbo? Oh for sure. Only when it's funny, though. Which means he definitely steals food from every elf in Rivendell while saying that's just how hobbits are :) ("That doesn't sound right but I don't know enough about hobbits to dispute it" thinks every elf. Aragorn assures them that's how hobbits are because that's funny. He does, however, refuse to comment on the Bilbo Stole Food Off Elrond's Plate To See What'd Happen incident.) Anyway. Conversely, sharing food is a love language. He just happens to have your favorite food around, come on in, it's so dull eating alone.

Frodo: Baby Frodo canonically did steal mushrooms, so I'm gonna guess he was okay with stealing anything he thought he could get away with. As he grows up into a proper gentleman, though, he stops that. However if you try to steal his food he will slap your greedy hands off his plate. But he shares everything very generously, and he always makes sure to offer food to every guest and friend. Unless he absolutely despises you, in which case you're gonna suffer every second as he pointedly and icily does not offer you anything.

Sam: Would steal food from his brothers and the Cotton boys and that's it. Does share with his sisters and Rosie, and Marigold is welcome to steal anything she wants, which she absolutely does. Invents reverse-stealing during the Quest in that Frodo gets like 2/3 of the food but Sam is very sneaky about it because if Frodo figures that out, it'll backfire. Oh, and eating while cooking is fair game, as is eating things nobody seems interested in. Might steal more ale than it's good for him if he thinks nobody will notice.

Merry: Perfectly capable of refraining from stealing if the situation calls for it, but considers friendly food stealing a bonding activity. Has a knack for keeping meals fun without anything deranging into a mess, and is therefore very popular: the whole of Buckland and part of the Shire will let him steal things and just laugh warmly in response. Wise enough not to steal from Frodo too often, but the only person who can get away with it on occasion, which makes him a hero in Pippin's eyes. Also one of the few hobbits to understand other races have different food cultures and adapt accordingly. Special mention: it's not quite food, but pipeweed is to him what mushrooms are to Frodo.

Pippin: Is the reason those Rivendell elves go "Oh shit maybe Bilbo wasn't lying." Equal opportunity stealer. If he wants it and his hands can reach it, he'll steal it. Semi-constantly tries to steal from Frodo (slapped away, and also scolded), Sam (glared at, and scolded by Frodo again), Fatty (manageable, but Fatty won't be happy about it) and Merry ("Sure!") so you can see by whose side he wants to sit at every meal. Surprisingly generous about sharing, though. Sidenote: he'll never tell anyone this, but he never steals from Legolas because he's afraid to be thrown into a dungeon like Thorin's Company. Would still do it on a dare, though.

Fatty: Follows the Frodo school of thought ("Don't steal from me and I won't steal from you") but isn't as good at looking threatening as Frodo is, which means people do steal things from him, which he Does Not Like. He might let it go once or maybe twice, but after that all bets are off and he's surprisingly good at grabbing unwatched food. Based on literally Nothing I want to believe he and Sam have an alliance against Pippin. 4thAge!Fatty, though, welcomes stealing and sharing just because Saruman hated both and it's now his duty to keep the stealing tradition alive :)

Rosie: Doesn't steal in front of Fancy Company, otherwise steals a normal amount for a hobbit. Hasn't actually stolen anything from Sam since they became tweens, but has very elaborate daydreams about doing it. Volunteers to cook often due to also subscribing to the idea it's not stealing if she's cooking. Will, however, march out of her kitchen anyone who tries to steal food while she's cooking without helping in the actual cooking. (No, not you, Mr Frodo. You're an angel and I'll get you strawberries in November if you want.)

And two bonus you didn't ask for but I feel very strongly about:

Elanor: Is it stealing to bat your eyelashes at your dad until he feeds you as much as mom will allow? Debatable. But even Rosie finds it hard to scold her due to her habit of stealing on her siblings' behalf, which is just Cute.

Honorary hobbit Gandalf, when eating with hobbits: Steals everything. Threatens to turn you into a garden snail if you complain.

[streets-in-paradise]

Please, can you spare some headcanons of the Fellowship and mate?

Sure! I would love to :)

This is going to get long, because i have a lot of ideas about this, but here i go:

First of all, i'm going to share the possible place i'm imagining for yerba mate in the cultures of Middle Earth

In real life, the plant was discovered by south american indigenous people ( in particular, the guarani tribe). Traditions about mate can variate from country to country, so for this i'm using what i know about mine.

From the start of colonial times the drink was associated with rural life. Iconografical traditions link it to gauchos, errant people of the time. Gauchos were social outcasts in the colonial system, often suspected, and their habits seen as barbaric. Often compared to american cowboys, they had a similar bad reputation attributing them a fame of being bandits.

In Middle Earth, Rangers are their closest equivalent. When we see Aragorn as Strider in The Prancing Poney, the negative reactions to his presence in Bree show his fame falling under a similar stereotype. The critics to the errant habits of rangers resemble the opinions on gauchos in colonial times. For so, i like to imagine mate exists as a drink associated with rangers.

How they adopted its consumption is another issue. I have two possible theories about that:

1- They just happen to know of the plant's existence and usefull propieties, as it happens with many other plants some of them know and other populations of men don't ( for example, aragorn knowing of athelas)

2 - They get it on the borders of some distant lands on their areas of patrolling.

I like second one better because that allows me to imagine a fictional indigenous population living somewhere in Middle Earth, inspired on the original discoverers of the plant.

About its name, " yerba mate" is a post colonization spanish term. Guaranies call the herb " Caà" and the bebreage " Caà-mate". The word mate comes from quechua (mati) and it is the name of the container filled with herbs and water to consumption. Instead of imagining a translation to an existent Tolkien language ( i have no idea of how to translate it), i would like to keep the Indigenous name.

So, the herb would be called Caà. Since most of the time only rangers are seen drinking the infusion from its leaves, in the other populations of Middle Earth it could be called" Herb of the Rangers" ( a good, equivalent translation to the spanish "yerba mate", since yerba means herb on spanish)

Now i can finally get into the topic of the Fellowship and Mate:

Following my contextual explanation, it's most likely Aragorn introduces everyone else to it. Prior to the journey of the Fellowship Legolas and Gandalf surely have drank it with him as well.

I can imagine Legolas not only enjoying it, but experimenting with it. He would do the middle earth version of what we call " mate con yuyos", that pretty much consists in creating herbal mixes with a base of the original herb. Given that he comes from a woodland realm, i bet he would come up with unique mixes using elvish herbs.

Gandalf got used to it in the same way he adopted the uses of many other populations he has interacted with. Unlike the pipeweed smoking, he wouldn't seek to also do it alone. Mostly drinks if Aragorn is drinking it.

This drink is an excelent appetite supresor, specially for when you crave food but you shouldn't be eating.

I think that, in the context of the travel with the fellowship, Aragorn would offer it to the hobbits for the first time in a desperate attempt to help them control their constant food cravings.

He got enough of how annoying a hungry Pippin can be during the travel from Bree to Rivendel. At the first chance to make a fire he heated some water and started a round, knowing the hobbits would get curious and approach.

Expert drinkers know that the first sips don't taste as good, ( the taste gets balanced after a few) but not them. Aragorn told them this and then Merry tried to challenge Pippin into taking the first sip.

I imagine the drink would get good acceptance on the hobbits.

Frodo would prefer it when water is warmer, Merry would be the brave one wanting to try the strange mixes of Legolas. Pippin would prefer it sweetened and Sam has the " it may not be tea, but is not that bad" opinion. He was the most hesitant of the hobbits about trying it, but ended up asking Aragorn tons of details about the curious plant.

When offered to him for the first time, Gimli felt as if he was holding wet grass in a pot. Knowing the elf of the group likes that drink didn't inspired him much trust either, but he was greatly surprised. He loved it, prefers it strong and bitter when the leaves have an intense flavor.

Boromir has a neutral opinion. He may have heard of the drink before because Faramir has tried it from the pouring of one of his men in one of his ranger patrolling trips. However, his little brother would never drink it on Minas Tirith fearing Denethor may consider it a wild habit.

What he does enjoy peraphs a bit more than the drink itself is the ambient that the sharing on rounds creates, the social aspect. Talking about anything, sharing stories and stuff. The drinking environment cheers the spirits.

The best pourers in the Fellowship are Aragorn ( of course, lol) and Gandalf. One does it most of the time, the other agrees ocassionally

I like to imagine that whenever Gandalf pours the water, the drink tastes to each one of them according to their favorite preferences.

He is not wasting magic in that, of course, it's just that he is Gandalf. Everything he does turns out cooler.

Drinking paces are also an aspect of the sharing situation.

There is always someone who gets teased for talking too much and taking too long between sips while the water gets cold and the other drinkers are waiting. In each drinking group, it always happens. ( and most of the time i tend to be this person lol)

In the Fellowship, i guess this one would be Pippin. I think they have this hilariously contradictory situation where Pip sometimes gets teased for it, but when it happens to other for other reason ( like, for example, Frodo gets caught too focused on his thoughts with the thing half filled) no one says anything and he looks at everyone like " hey! Now someone else is taking too long"

In long travels where resourses are scarce the best option for them would be drying the wet leaves after finishing and save it for a new use. Usually Sam is the one who remembers to do this.

When the leaves are no longer usefull they can't just throw those because it could be a lead for enemies.

It occured to the hobbits that they could start burying the evidence. Merry and Pippin did it first, but Sam and Frodo found it a good idea.

I like to imagine that, somewhere in the way ( specially the warmer places) maybe a few plants grew with time to remember the Fellowship was there.

[bisexualbumblebee-writes]

Returning Home Prologue- Thorin Oakenshield x OC

Thorin Oakenshield x Bellarose Baggins

Description: N/A

Word Count: 508

A/N #1: Yeah, I am jumping into another series despite just finishing one. I am still riding on the high that I got from writing Of Princes and Witches and decided to just jump into another one while I still had serotonin in me.

A/N #2: This is a short prologue, but honestly it was just a little information I needed to get out of the way before I start. Enjoy!

Hobbits have been living and farming in the four Farthings of the Shire for many hundreds of years, quite content to ignore and be ignored by the world of the Big Folk. Middle Earth being, after all, full of strange creatures beyond count. Hobbits must seem of little importance, being neither renowned as great warriors, nor counted amongst the very wise. In fact, it has been remarked by some that Hobbit’s only real passion is for food as they had also developed a keen interest in the brewing of ales and the smoking of pipeweed. But where their hearts truly lie is in peace and quiet. 

Well, there was one outlier to this: a Hobbit by the name of Bellarose Baggins. Ever since she was a child, she always went off looking for an adventure. When she was young she would spend hours upon hours outside with her older brother Bilbo exploring all that Hobbiton had to offer. They were always running off in search of Elves and the woods. They’d stay out late and come home long after dark, trailing mud, twigs and fireflies. Bellarose absolutely loved it, she was always eager to stay outside for as long as she could.

Of course, as with most things, good things had to come to an end. Well, for Bilbo at least. Bellarose was a different story. Despite being well past the age of maturity for Hobbits (having recently turned forty-three), Miss Baggins never really grew out of her childhood thirst for adventure. She desperately wished to just go off like she used to, to find out what lied beyond the borders of the Shire. It was because of that that she was seen as an outcast amongst her fellow Hobbits. 

But, of course, she couldn’t just galivant off at random like she did when she was a child, especially if her brother had anything to say about it. Believe me, she tried to grow up like dear Bilbo had. She really did. As she continued to grow she spent all her time studying. She went from reading for leisure to learning how to heal people. Eventually she became a healer for the people of Hobbiton and even a few surrounding Hobbit towns. She was incredibly skilled in her craft as she’d learned and memorized everything there was to know about the subject, and she was sort of infamous around the Shire for it. 

Unfortunately, in doing that, she also discovered hundreds of books with maps and history, and she was instantly hooked.  By this point she had managed to memorize maps, languages, history, anything and everything she could get her hands on. She figured that this would be the best compromise with her brother because she was discovering new things without physically running off at random times. So, between healing and such, she continued to broaden her mind and daydream about what adventures she could go on and discover. Little did she know that adventure would call her sooner than she thought.

[rockinlibrarian]

💞🎀🎈

If I can be greedy like that!

Yay, more Asks! I really like the questions in this one (the ((REAL)) Asks for Writers or whatever it was called-- I just remember the "((REAL))"), so the more the merrier!

💞what's the most important part of a story for you? the plot, the characters, the worldbuilding, the technical stuff (grammar etc), the figurative language

The characters. I really enjoy good plotting-- whodunits are my original favorite genre (to read-- I barely know where to start in writing them!), but it's the characters that make you CARE what happens in the plot. ESPECIALLY in fanfic, because in that case, you ARE most likely there for the characters, and if you get the characters wrong, what's the point? Oh, and WHY are you in fanfic for the characters? Because it's the characters that got you hooked on the source material, too. So it's a cycle!

That said, once you've got that, if you've got "the technical stuff" wrong, it's really distracting and ruins the moment! I have mourned opening a nice sweet non-smut-Fiktor-shipping fic only to find it practically unreadable through funky grammar! There aren't ENOUGH nice sweet non-smut-Fiktor-shipping fics to waste them like that!

🎀give yourself a compliment about your own writing

Well. My own writing definitely succeeds in entertaining ME!

Also, I care about getting the characters right.

Also, I'm pretty good at dialogue. I write snappy dialogue.

🎈describe your style as a writer; is it fixed? does it change?

This is an interesting question. Well, when left to my own devices, I tend to ramble in writing. It's like all the words that have trouble coming out of my mouth just erupt onto the page or screen. I am the MASTER of the run-on sentence! There are too many thoughts and they must all come out!

That is, of course, why REVISION exists. As my original writing goal had been to be a middle grade fiction writer (and that's still my goal if I ever get up the nerve to write original fiction again) (and to be honest, if you go through my fanfics you'll find more than a few stories that can pass as middle grade, too, even if the source material was anything but-- looking at YOU, Loudermilk Chronicles*), I studied How-to-Write-for-Children texts and even took two separate correspondence courses from the Institute for Children's Literature, and the key thing I learned from them was how to be CONCISE. Ironically. So I learned to make my stories MOVE. I will have you know, I once had a critique from Bruce "My Teacher Is An Alien!" Coville himself at an SCBWI event and he specifically complimented my concise storytelling! (Also, he loved Billy 'Arrison, and that is the most important thing of all!)

So my voice, and style, tend to feel middle grade (in fiction at least), and they tend to be past tense limited-third-person, which is also very middle grade. But every so often I DO switch things up, by, like, attempting to write a ballad canonically written by the actual God of Poetry; I have some first person pieces (most of which are still in process come to think), mostly because the source material is first person, or, in the case of the Pipeweed Mafia epic, actually IS me-- that one also spends most of its time in present tense, which is rare for me, and I'm not even sure what inspired me to do it that way.

*(Or, the "Childhood Friends AU" version, "Two (or Three) Mutant Freaks Against the Fourth Grade," WHICH, by the way, is my answer to the FIRST question on that Ask List, "What's a fic you've posted you wish you could breathe life into again and have people talking about it? (or simply a fic you wish got more credit)", if any of you were going to ask that, so HAH, I ANSWERED IT ANYWAY, because it's just a sweet little story about nerds making friends that anyone can enjoy even without knowing the source material and I LOVE it and somehow it has gotten the least hits of anything except the Pipeweed Mafia, which is just crack I just threw up there recently and was not expecting to get much in the way of hits, anyway)