#she also bet me no one would say Gandalf. and to be clear I would love to prove her wrong on that too. but Gimli feels much more achievable

[toast-the-unknowing]

Had a debate with a friend and now I gotta know

please reblog for larger sample size, my friend bet me no one would say Gimli and I wanna prove her wrong

[babygirlkiki1016]

Masterlist

Chapter 1: The company

Chapter 2: The Journey Begins

I pulled the rope, fastening my bag to one of the ponies. I didn't speak to anyone the next morning, besides no one was going to try to talk to me anyway. The company would only speak to their kin, and as I passed by heading to the front of the line I was given dirty looks. Except for Kili, he smiled and waved but his brother shoved his arm down, scolding him for even looking my way. I sighed and walked past some more dwarves, and each scowl gave me a funny feeling in my heart. I couldn't understand what it was, but it hurt deeply, like knives to my soul.

"Y/n." Gandalf greeted me with a smile, letting me pass by. "Once we're out of the shire, you will scout ahead and report anything back to us." He leaned down slightly, so I could only hear. "We're also making a bet on if Bilbo is coming, wish to participate?" I looked towards the rest, they all seemed to be having fun. The talk of the Hobbit showing up again brought them entertainment.

"No, we're heading into a dark path Gandalf. If I were to partake in their silly affairs I'd only ruin the fun." He groaned, standing up straight to get on his horse.

"You know, it won't hurt to have a little bit of fun. You'll be riding with Thorin, for now, being in the front will give you the advantage to take in your surroundings." He was right, in the front of the line I would be able to listen to the woods, there was something dark out there. Something will be following us, I don't know what, but whatever it is it's not good.

"Are you sure he's alright with the idea of me riding with him?" He grimaced at the question, I should have figured Thorin wasn't going to accept it.

"He's not happy, just don't antagonize him and you'll be alright." My very presence puts him on edge, speaking of the devil he came up behind me with those blue orbs piercing into mine. He didn't say a word to me, he just climbed onto his pony looking ahead. Hesitantly I go to climb on but his hand stretched out, he was waiting for me to take it.

"Hurry up we don't have all day." He growled, quickly I pulled myself on and sat in front of him. I gasped at his warmth, it felt nice with his chest against my back. "Lead." His gruff voice made me shiver, I kicked the pony lightly and she went off. We made our way down the path, passing multiple Hobbits that were nearby. One was a child, a small girl about half the size of me. She waved with a wide grin, I couldn't help but wave back eagerly. It's been a while since I've seen children, my kind barely has any men around. The cold blast killed most of our soldiers who were men, so not a lot of children are born these days. Let's just hope those reports will save my people, and we can have a fresh start with alliances. "So, does all of your kind have wings like yours?" His question surprised me, he wanted to know more about my kin? Why? Was he planning for war?

"Why do you want to know? Are you planning to kill us all already?"

"I am just curious about your race, I haven't heard much about it. From the tales my grandfather and father told me, most don't have wings unless they're born with it."

"Hm." I knew all about their race, and the fact that he wanted to know more about mine intrigued me. "Some have wings, it depends on if you have a certain gene in your blood."

"How big is your homeland?"

"It was huge, bigger than the city of Erebor. Yet where we live now, is small considering your kind took our home." I snarled, he took a deep breath, probably to calm himself. His hands then gripped my cloak, and he pulled me against his chest roughly.

"I suggest you don't annoy me, for I won't be responsible for what happens to you on this trip." He was threatening me, I bet if we were attacked he'd leave me for dead.

"And I suggest you let go of me, I won't kill you but I think you'll be fine with a few fingers missing." I turned my head to face him, he was extremely close, our noses almost touching. Reluctantly he leaned back slightly, releasing me from his hold.

"I can't wait to reclaim my homeland, then I'll have you out of my sight. I won't have to deal with your kind anymore, your murderers. I don't know what Gandalf was thinking."

"He was thinking, that your weak, too weak to take down a dragon. If you want me to help you, I recommend you be friendly for I can easily leave you behind. I'll find a way into that mountain myself, so watch your words Thorin Oakenshield." He went to protest but was interrupted by shouting, it was Bilbo running from the entrance of the shire. We were in the middle of the woods now, I pull on the reigns to stop from going any further. Bilbo ran towards us, waving the contract in his hand, panting heavily.

"I signed it." He exclaims, panting heavily as he handed the contract to Balin. Balin pulls out a monocle to check the paper. It looked like Bilbo had brought everything from home with him.

"Everything appears to be in order. Welcome, Master Baggins, to the company of Thorin Oakenshield." Balin smiles, and surprisingly it didn't disappear when his eyes met mine. The warm smile made me happy, didn't he hear the rumors people had spread about my kind? Why was he so nice to me?

"Give him a pony," Thorin ordered, nudging me to keep going which I obey.

"No, no, no, no. That-That won’t be necessary. Thank you. I’m sure I can keep up on foot. Yeah, I’ve done my fair share of walking holidays, you know? Even got as far as Frog Morton once." Bilbo refuses, but they didn't listen to his cries. Suddenly two of the dwarves grab hold of his arms, pick him up, and placed him directly on Minty. As we all rode along in the woods, I could hear the dwarves talking to each other.

"Come on, Nori! Pay up!" Oin demanded, the sound of coins clinking together reached my ears.

"The rest of the dwarves took gambles on if Mr. Baggins would show," Thorin explained, however, I already knew this due to Gandalf.

"What about you Thorin? Did you participate?" I said looking at him, he shook his head laughing slightly.

"I don't participate in silly affairs, though if I did I would've guessed he wouldn't have come." I can see how that's true, sometimes people just don't want to leave home. They'd rather stay in their safe comfy beds, and I was one of them. "You seem deep in thought." My cheeks turned red as I realized I had been staring at him the entire time.

"I'm alright." Clearing my throat awkwardly only to hear Bilbo shouting about something else.

"Uh-wait, wait. Stop! Stop! We have to turn around." Thorin groaned and I slowed the pony down, waiting to hear Bilbo's excuse.

"What on earth is the matter?" Gandalf wondered, he was riding a larger horse than the rest of us.

"I forgot my handkerchief." We can't just stop and go back because of some handkerchief, it would only be a waste of time.

"Here! Use this." Bofur rips off a bit of cloth from his robe and throws it to Bilbo, who looks at it with disgust.

"Move on!" Thorin announces, and I continue down the path of our journey. Later that night, we stopped by the entrance of a small cave. I slept close to the edge of the entrance, my wings keeping me warm and hidden from the others. That's when I heard shuffling behind me, it was Thorin setting down his sleeping bag.

"Did you miss me already?" I joked, making him roll his eyes annoyed.

"One of us has to watch you, you might try and kill us in our sleep." I just turned back around, curling back up into a small ball. It was colder outside than I expected, I should've brought warmer clothes. I shivered as a gust of wind blew our way, it took a while for me to fall asleep. The cold wasn't helping me at all, but I finally managed to sleep into unconsciousness. That is until I woke up to howls, not just any normal howls, wargs. I sat up, searching the area, getting ready to strike if I had to. The orcs were far off into the distance but I saw them, I could feel the evilness radiating off of them.

"You think that’s funny? You think a night raid by orcs is a joke?" Thorin yelled making me turn to him, he stood up abruptly, his fur coat missing. That's when I realized it was on me, he had laid his coat on me to keep me warm but why? What was his reason for being kind to me?

"We didn’t mean anything by it," Kili stated, looking down at the ground in shame.

"No, you didn’t. You know nothing of the world." Thorin angrily walks off, I had an urge to go try and cheer him up. He did give me his coat, after all, I could at least do something nice. Slowly I made my way over to him, he hadn't sensed my presence yet.

"Thorin?" I called letting out a small yawn. He didn't face me, instead, he kept his gaze pit on the horizon.

"Go away." He ordered but I refused to listen, my feet made their way next to him. He scowled at me, but said nothing else, he only just crossed his arms. His hand caught my attention, it was bigger than most, his fingers were twice the size of mine. Without thinking I tugged on it, making his eyes avert to me. I placed my hand against him, comparing the sizes. "Y/n?" He mutters, wondering what I was up to.

"Your hands, they're so much bigger than mine. For such tiny men, you certainly have large fingers, it's fascinating." I looked up at him, his eyes widened at my comment. "You know as a child I used to wonder what the tiny men of our world looked like, I tried to learn everything about dwarves that I could. My kingdom's library had multiple books about your culture, I have to admit it was interesting to learn about your courting styles."

"You know of our courting ritual?"

"Of course, I know everything about each race. I was a very strange child at that age, yet one question remained unanswered. Why do dwarves keep their hair long?" He smiled at my curiosity, those deep blue ocean eyes stared at me in adoration. Though those furious eyes returned, and he angrily pulled his hand away.

"You shouldn't be asking questions about courting, it's not as if anyone would marry your kind anyway." He lifted his hand, glaring at it in disgust. "Now I have to wash away the filth you have spread upon me." My heart broke a little as if a piece had shred from the flesh. As he stormed off I wondered what ran through his mind, he was the sweet innocent man a few seconds ago. What made him irritated with me? Thorin went back to the place we had been sleeping, and he grabbed his cloak moving to the other side of the camp. Each dwarf turned their head my way, and only three of them grinned at me.

"I'll keep watch," I spoke as I returned to my make-shift bed. It would be better if I stayed away from the others, at least that's not what Kili thought. Cause a few seconds later he plopped down right next to me. "What are you doing? Won't the others scold you for sitting next to me?"

"Who cares, they can argue all they want. No one should be alone, I'll keep watch with you." My heart swelled at his kindness, why was he being so nice to me? Did he believe me than those foolish rumors the others had heard? He frowned slightly, he was serious now. "Are you ok Y/n?"

"Of course, why wouldn't I be? I've dealt with stubborn dwarves before believe me. Their rudeness hardly bothers me anymore." I lied, staring down at my hands. How could this world think such cruel thoughts about my kind, why did Thror have to lie about us? Kili placed his hand on mine to try and calm me, and lightly he caressed it with his thumb.

"You know not all of us hate you, me, Balin, and my brother Fili we know the truth. I told my brother what you told me, and he sort of believes it. You don't seem like the angry ravaging digonisks we've heard about, and besides the reports in those mountains is evidence that your kin is innocent. Speaking of Balin however, he wanted me to tell you that when you get a chance he wishes to speak with you." I glanced over the white-haired dwarf who gave me a small smile. I wonder what he wants to talk to me about? Maybe his politeness was just a ruse to kill me in secret, what if Kili is doing the same? Ever since I've joined the company I haven't thought of the consequences, I treat them as if they're normal men. I have to be more careful if I am to get to the mountain. "You know you should probably get some sleep, we'll need those wings again."

"No, they're orcs not far, they're watching us. I need to be awake just in case they decide to come our way. I appreciate the gesture, sleep Kili, you and your kin are the most important people here after all." He opened his mouth to protest, but kept quiet and snuggled up in his bed. I kept my eyes on the frontier, watching as the orcs scattered away but I knew they would be back, they always come back.

~♪♠♪~

The harsh wind blasted against me, the building fell apart from the ice that covered the bricks. Shouts were heard from all over, but the only I could focus on was my mother's. My legs hurt bad, but her condition was worse, there was an ice shard in her side. It no longer looked like liquid water, instead, it was nothing but a melting ice block of blood.

"Mommy!" I reached out for her, my hand reaching out to try and save her from the man that stood close. His sword was raised ready to strike, and that's when I saw his face. Thorin Oakenshield, the leader of our company.

"Die filth!" His sword came crashing down hard, and as it decapitated her head I shot up. My chest beating fast, it was just a dream, just a dream. Most dwarves were asleep, the only one awake was Kili who was taking over my shift. I had fallen asleep, how could have been so stupid? He could've hurt me, or worse slaughtered me like the rest of my family. My body trembled as he came close to me, worry showing in his brown eyes.

"Kili stay back!" I warned, he raised his hands as a symbol of peace.

"I won't hurt you, I promise...are you alright?" I was shaking violently, and it wasn't because of the wind that blew our way. "Are you cold? Here." He sheds his cloak going to hand it to me but I shake my head.

"N-Nightmare." That was all I managed to get out, he dropped the piece of clothing on the floor and slowly made his way over showing that he had no weapons. When he was close enough he wrapped his arms around me, making me gasp. I didn't hug back, for I was waiting for any sign that this wasn't a nice gesture. It didn't come, he just pulled me closer, and I have to admit the hug was very helpful. I listened to his breathing, and eventually, it helped my heart stop beating at a rapid speed. He smelled of sweat and pine wood, surprisingly it was a soothing smell.

"Want to talk about it?" He whispered, pulling back to look at me as his thumb rubbed softly against my skin as a way to calm me down.

"No, it was just a silly dream. It's not as if you would care anyhow."

"I do care, and just in case another agonizing fantasy comes across your mind I'll sit right here. So if you do have another nightmare I'll be here to help." He gently pulled me into his side, which I hesitantly accepted, and soon I went senseless, succumbing to the darkness.

For the next few days when I wasn't flying above them to keep watch, I rode with Thorin. The more we rode together, the more he didn't mind it. Soon it was like second nature to him, and every morning when it was time to leave he would hold out his hand to help me on the pony. Although he was extra grumpy today as we continued our journey in the woods while riding in the torrential rain.

"Here, Mr. Gandalf? Can’t you do something about this deluge?" Dori begged, but to no avail, nothing could be done. Well at least for them, considering I was a dragon slayer and immune to fire. One of my abilities was magic, and that magic included creating ablaze. I felt Thorin shiver from behind me, and I felt bad. I never did thank him for letting me use his cloak the other night.

"Thorin take the reigns," I ordered, turning around on the horse, immediately he grabbed the reigns as I let go.

"What on earth do you think your doing woman?" He growled, his eyes piercing into my own. Resting a hand upon his chest, he blushed slightly at the contact I used just a little bit of my charms to summon some heat. "What curse are you putting on me? Get your filthy hands off of me!"

"It's not a curse, it's a spell to keep you warm you ass. Now hold still or I just might burn you." He growled and lifted his head to try and see in front of him, I wasn't that tall. After a few seconds of straining his neck to see, he eventually rested his chin on the top of my head lightly. "I'm not your headrest you know."

"Well, I can't see around your thick skull."

"It's not that big! I'm shorter than you!"

"Shorter, but your head is certainly wider. Are you sure you have a brain in there?" I burned him slightly, making him wince.

"Keep talking 'Oh great one' and see where it gets you. Your lucky I'm even giving you warmth, I could just keep it all to myself." I returned the heat to normal and leaned my head on his chest. His breathing went rigid for a second, then slowed down but his heartbeat sped up.

"...What other powers do you have?" He asked, moving closer to my hand to get warmer. I slipped it down to his side, making him jump. "Watch it."

"Other than fire, I have a vast amount of strength. I could rip a tree out of the ground, second I can fly at fast speeds while spreading my wings. Soldiers with wings are called our airborne army, they attack from above and can kill dragons a lot easier. Last but not least, only the royal line can take on the form of a dragon. At least we used to, The Power of The Black Dragon was lost long ago. It is passed down from generation to generation, but the Queen with the ability died along with it." My mother, just a year before my coronation to take on my birthright was gravely injured from the frozen blast caused by men. She passed away, I never got to tell her that I loved her. The last thing I ever said to her was 'I'm scared'. Though I will never forget her last words, 'don't take revenge.'

"How many more are there?"

"Once there were millions of us, and now because of people like you, there is only 1,000. I hope your happy, cause soon we'll be extinct."

"No, cause soon you'll get those reports. And you'll show the world the mistake we caused." He whispered, his comment made my heart swoon. Had he said what I thought he had confessed?

"Thank you." It was all I could say, I felt him smile as he wrapped his arms tightly around me. He was trying to keep me warm like I was doing to him, perhaps he's not like the monster from my dreams.

@fili-is-my-lover @kirenia15 @lunariasilver @depressedchilipepper

[morwensteelsheen]

If Faramir went to Rivendell, how would the whole ttt/rohan plot be different?

A good question that I have spent an unreasonable time thinking about! My first LOTR fic was going to be an attempt to answer this, but then I got so wrapped up in not having the answers that I sidelined it and wrote WC instead. So I think instead of giving you one definitive answer I’ll give you a couple scenarios I think are plausible? If that’s not too much of a cop out lmao? Apologies in advance for the inevitable spelling errors, I did this on my phone and my dyslexia is off the charts today.

I think it’s basically unavoidable that he goes via Rohan first, geographically he’s sort of left without an option there. When he’s there, we get into this issue of whether and how he and Éowyn interact. Worth noting, I think, that the Unfinished Tales has Éomer living in Aldburg by the War, but Éomer does seem to imply he’s around for Boromir passing through. Is this because he knows and already is a fan of Boromir? Maybe! Or maybe Éomer goes to Aldburg after.

But I digress. We have to ask the question of whether Faramir falls in love with Éowyn because he was always going to fall in love with Éowyn, or if it’s because the things he’s gone through immediately preceding it primed him for it. I — perhaps quite cheaply — come down on the side of Faramir always having it bad for her on first sight. And contextually I think that comes from his, rather sweet, enunciation of the way his regard/love changes for her. He says that at first he pities her, and then he gets to know her and he doesn’t pity her anymore, he respects and admires her. That’s an interesting dynamic to bring into play in basically every AU, because you get this double barrel characterisation of his attitude to her changing, and his own character maturing/sharp edges softening.

I think he off the bat he sees that she’s beautiful, and immediately is drawn to her for that. Shallow? Maybe! But, to badly paraphrase my ol fav Victor Hugo quote — love always begins with a glance.

I imagine he stays for a short while, maybe a week, two at most. At this point I think that Éowyn’s basically viewing him as an official guest that she has to entertain, and I think Faramir is, in his own, slightly stilted, slightly wanky way, putting the moves on her. This can go, imo, one of two ways. She can either be receptive to it (which is a nice thought!) or she can be aware of it but mostly ignore it because, really, she’s got lots of shit on her plate.

Either way, he leaves Edoras at some point. The big question is where does his go from there?

One thing I toy around with is that, given his pre-existing relationship to Gandalf, maybe he’s willing to trust the Istari a bit more and goes straight for Isengard? Which, and I think I did the math on this once a few months ago, would have him arriving at Isengard around the time Gandalf’s getting his shit kicked in by Saruman lol. I think this could be a really compelling plot point, but I’ll be very honest with you, I 100% don’t have the imagination or writing skills to figure out how it proceeds from there, so I’m not going to try to.

If he goes the normal Boromir route, he still loses his horse at Tharbad and walks (lmao jesus???) to Rivendell. When he gets there, I think he’s immediately going to have everything he knows put to the test in quite jarring ways. First off, he’s going to be infinitely more deferential to Elrond, Aragorn &c when they’re trashing Gondor. He’ll push back a bit, no doubt on that, but he’s going to be starstruck by Aragorn in a way that Boromir just wasn’t.

No real difference I imagine between Rivendell and Lothlórien, except that he’d definitely be laser focused on palling about with Aragorn, and he’d probably spend more of his time being friendly with Frodo than with Merry and Pippin tbh (not in a douchey way, I just think he and Frodo vibe a little better. Though I bet he and Merry had some interesting chats about pipe weed history).

The underlying question here is what sort of relationship does he have to the ring? I don’t buy this idea that he’s not tempted by it, I just think that what the ring offers him is a bit shit. We don’t know what the ring tempts him with, he’s not clear on that in TTT. I can’t really see the ring being like ‘oh I’ll give you a king to follow’ because that is some intensely nerdy shit, but is somehow the one thing I could see Faramir actually being tempted by. Regardless of what it offers him in this AU, he resists it on the basis that he’s got this mythical king he’s been desperate for, and he’s not gonna risk that for anything.

Lothlórien comes next, and oh my god when I tell you this is the part I genuinely have no answer for. I stopped writing my first fic at Lothlórien because I couldn’t cope. Tbh it probably lowkey fries Faramir’s brain, and for so many reasons. The whole godmoding Númenórean stuff he’s got going on probably interests Galadriel a bit, and so that whole conversation is going to be wildly different than it was for Boromir. But what does she say to Faramir? I have no idea. I really don’t. There’s also probably a million and one things also going on psychologically for him at that point, which makes dealing with this bit difficult. Really difficult. So I’m gonna, uh, conveniently smash cut away.

Parth Galen! Again, another two potential splits here. The first, (from here on out I’ll refer to as Plot A) which I find rather endearing, is that he goes off with Frodo and Sam when Frodo makes the decision to split. I don’t know that I believe he’d do it, but it proves for a very delightful interpretation of his character.

Plot B is that when the Orcs show up, Faramir survives not by virtue of his being a ~ better warrior ~ or whatever than Boromir, but by the terrain surrounding Parth Galen being something he’s far more in the habit of dealing with, and by virtue of his having a bow at his disposal. I know there’s room for an interpretation of Faramir as not primarily an archer, but narratively I think that’s less interesting. So he’s an archer. He’s an archer and also his priority is on Aragorn first and foremost, so Merry and Pip still get taken, and Frodo and Sam use the hubbub to GTFO, which is actually slightly more in line with the movie’s chronology, funnily enough. The three hunters become four, and then go on Merry & Pippin’s trails.

In Plot A, they’re hauling ass across the Emyn Muil, bolstered in some ways by Faramir’s experience as a Ranger. The problem is the issue of getting into Mordor and whether or not they pick up Gollum. I think, in a way that frustrates me immensely, they do end up taking Gollum, not because they need a guide, but because Gollum fulfils this deep psychological need for Frodo, and I think he would have argued for keeping Gollum regardless. Faramir is going to be fucked off about this, but will ultimately, I think, be deferential to the ringbearer.

So they go across the Dead Marshes, but they do NOT attempt the Black Gate first because Faramir’s not a fool. Do they go to Henneth Annûn? I say yes, but with the caveat that in all likelihood Boromir is gonna be there, which is gonna complicate stuff tremendously.

Over to Plot B!

The four hunters go to the Mark! They meet Éomer! Hey! Éomer recognises Faramir! (And he’s probably a little fucked off that he lost his horse lol). But whatever, he knows this guy, so he’s probably gonna be like, uhhh, everything you saw before in Edoras is much worse now. Also my cousin's dead and everything is bad. Here’s some horses, sorry for maybe accidentally killing your pals, see ya! And at this point I think Faramir’s probably having a, hmmm, g e n t l e  p s y c h i c  c r i s i s, because if he’s still very 👅 for Éowyn (which he is, sorry, he has to be) then he’s going to want to go there ASAP. Obviously though that’s not gonna happen, so: Merry and Pip chasing, Gandalf finding, Edoras arriving.

Which means Éowyn. If, at this point, she and Faramir already have something of an arrangement going on (nudge nudge) then she’s really not gonna give a shit about Aragorn. You know how in TTT it’s not even clear that she actually sees Legolas and Gimli? 100% that vibe with Aragorn too. Théoden’s gonna get his house in order, they’re going to head to Helm’s Deep, and Éowyn’s gonna get named head of house. (Faramir, if he starts off just thinking she’s beautiful, is going to have quite the paradigm shift here, because he’s going to have to start reckoning with her as not just a beautiful woman, but as a very, very intense person. This is how his love for her starts to mature.)

Sometimes I dream about him being like, ‘hey! I have some first hand experience of ruling a kingdom, how about I stay and…….. lend you a hand……..’ to Éowyn while she’s keeping watch on Edoras. This is wildly unlikely, but a delightful thought nonetheless. In the more likely case, which is that he goes to the Hornburg, she’s going to start feeling some strain about this whole war shebang, and it’s going to lead to some difficult conversations. Chief among them is that Faramir, as second son, actually has basically nothing to give her, which is not exactly a great position to be in when you’re in love with the niece of a king. I’m of the opinion that Éowyn’s not fussed by that stuff (she agrees to marry him when he’s prepping to give up a shit ton of power anyways), so she’s probably like, 'no, fuck you, we’re getting married.' And then he leaves, and it starts to emotionally unsettle her more and more.

If they don’t already have a thing, then it either begins at this point OR he gets overshadowed by Aragorn. In either case, off to Helm’s Deep he goes.

Helm’s Deep happens, I think Faramir ends up extraordinarily impressed by how the Rohirrim handle the Dunlenders afterwards, which also begins to soften his harsh opinion of them more generally.

They go to Isengard, Pippin looks in the Palantír, and away Pippin and Gandalf go. Both Gandalf and Faramir here would recognise that it would be batshit insane for Faramir to go back to MT now, because Denethor would read him like a picture book and he’d have to admit to the entire mission of the Fellowship.

Over in Plot A, I think we’re going to have some real emotional complexity vis a vis Faramir showing up at Henneth Annûn with two hobbits, a ring, and Boromir in control there. God, it would just be a disaster. My incredibly generous interpretation of this is that Faramir keeps the plan vague enough that Boromir lets them pass unhindered. My less generous interpretation is… yeah I don’t wanna do it tbh. It’s not pretty. It's also, to be clear: not an indictment of Boromir as a character. His response is entirely rational for someone expected to lead a kingdom and for someone put up against the unbelievable power of the One Ring. The reason Faramir continuously gets to pass largely untempted by the ring is because he's a guy with no actual responsibilities once you take the Rangers away. His understanding of his duty to Gondor is almost entirely conceptual in nature. He can think and talk about defending Gondor as it once was because there are several people above him in the hierarchy defending Gondor for what it is. This is also not an indictment of Faramir. He and Boromir just have wildly different realities to contend with.

They are going to go through Cirith Ungol even though Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumbass both speak Sindarin and don’t cotton on to what its name implies lol. This whole scene is much shorter because Faramir’s significantly more cautious, so there is no Orc capture and Sam doesn't take the Ring. This is where things get a bit complex, and where I don’t think I have the imagination to say much more. Sorry!

Back in Plot B, the lads catch up with Éowyn as they prep to go down the Paths of the Dead. If she and Faramir are a thing, this is where the real emotional distress kicks in for her. All of the men in her life have, at one point or another, functionally abandoned her, and here’s Faramir, love of her life, about to do the exact same thing. Faramir inevitably goes with the Grey Company even though she begs him not to. When she tries to convince them not to go down the Paths at all, he is in the fortunate enough position to throw up his hands and say 'not my call, actually. King’s in charge,' which lessens the emotional conflict there somewhat.

No part of me doubts that Éowyn wouldn’t then immediately go over his head to Aragorn. She would, she absolutely does not give a fuck. And she’s going to get knocked back re: joining them in exactly the same way as in the book, because Aragorn’s take here isn’t actually dependent on her personally, it’s dependent on the duty she’s been charged with, which is taking care of her people. (Also going to be an interesting narrative parallel to a later conversation between Faramir and Aragorn after the Pelennor, which I’ll explain in more detail later.)

Faramir will, perhaps somewhat less dismissively, say this to her. He learns much more obviously the way to talk to her on her own terms, and he’s not gonna fall into the trap of letting her be like ‘you just want me to wait and die after all the men are dead.’ He’s going to probably give her some line about her being the last organised line of defence, and he might even invoke Haleth! It’s not going to work, because Éowyn’s very aware of the apocalyptic nature of all of this, but it’s not going to cause such abject hatred and fury as it otherwise would.

If she and Faramir are not a thing, her emotional distress is as it is in the book, except now Faramir’s trying not to pout in the background. He might even step in to try and soften the blow.

Regardless, she ends up as Dernhelm, she rides to the Pelennor.

Boromir is the one responsible for the Osgiliath retreat, and because it’s heavily implied that Faramir only keeps his seat because he’s got this dumbass Númenor garbage going on ('master of man and beast' — king Beregond), Boromir’s going to get killed by the Witch king here.

This is going to send shockwaves through not just Denethor, but Minas Tirith more generally, because Boromir is fucking adored. Denethor’s going to go high holy crackers much quicker, mostly because Gandalf is a shit stirrer and is going to waste no time at all in announcing that Aragorn, The Rightful King, is on his way, and Denethor will — correctly — surmise that Faramir has chosen Aragorn over returning with whatever Isildur’s Bane is to Gondor. This is the end for Denethor.

Éowyn rides from Dunharrow, slays the Witch king. Faramir and Aragorn show up with the Army of Dead, Faramir does not end up injured, but does end up as the Steward (obviously) and (obviously) aware that Éowyn is in the HOH. And also that everybody else he loves is dead. Yeehaw.

Here’s where I think things get really interesting. I think, counter to the way this is portrayed a lot of the time, Faramir doesn’t go to the Black Gate at all. I think he stays in Minas Tirith, not just to organise the wider range defences (esp the Rohirrim dealing w the Druadan) but in this very grim preparation to lead the retreat from Minas Tirith if/when Frodo & Sam fail. I think he's kind of fine with this for two reasons. The first is that him being conscious to process the death of his father, and it coming hours after the death of his brother means that he's going to have a personal-political crisis, and he's going to have to take the defence of Gondor more seriously than he did before. Second, Aragorn's going to tell him to fucking stay put, and he's going to be fine with it because it means he's going to get to spend the last few days of his life with Éowyn.

He and Éowyn reunite in the HOH, there’s still a lot of deeply emotional stuff going on, but, at least now Faramir’s conscience is clear re: marrying her because, well, he’s the Steward now. Also their reunion is going to take on greater significance because she’ll have killed the thing that killed his brother. So, that’s a lot.

If they are not a thing before the Pelennor, she's still going to drag his ass over to the HOH so she can bitch about being stuck there. But this time he's not a fellow hospital-prisoner, he's having to actually do things, and he's going to use that to his advantage in terms of keeping her from doing stupid shit. I think he's going to try to involve her in some of the strategic questions re: the retreat if the Morannon feint fails. I think he's going to make a point of talking to her to get her help on dealing with the Rohir forces that are in and around the City. I think that's going to go a huge way to helping to ease her misery, and it's going to be such a significant vote of trust in her (even after she's done the unthinkable and deserted her people) that she's going to fall in love with him here, as per. And the contrast between him and Aragorn is going to be all the stronger for it.

So yes. Those are just some of the possibilities I think! Sorry for the word dump!!

[volturialice]

Spork Haven chapter 25: gone with the fucking wind

welcome to spork haven, where I spork the EL James fic you’ve never heard of

previous chapter | next chapter | contents

previously on Spork Haven:

recently-dumped actor!edward Possibility’ed his way back to london! esme was there! there was a time skip and everything interesting happened offscreen! orphaned ex-hotel maid juilliard dropout zillionaire murder witness bella moved back to new orleans with jasper! emmett went through her garbage and came to london to tell edward that she’s (gasp) pregnant! edward’s hopping a flight across the atlantic to snatch his girl back from that luminous-hazel-eyed fucksmith jasper!

chapter 25 has one of the best opening sentences to date:

there are a mere 6 “fucks” in the first paragraph, in which Edward describes how he has stepped into “Gone with the Fucking Wind.” there are actually several more Gone with the Wind references in this chapter (at least, I assume that’s what’s being referenced; I’ve never actually seen or read it), enough to make it clear that erika sees plantation owner life as aspirational. because of course she does. fair warning that this chapter is absolutely steeped in “la di da, wasn’t the antebellum south grand” racism.

still standing outside Bella’s mansion, Edward is deeply unnerved by the flora of Louisiana. (us locals too, Edward. careful of that spanish moss, there are probably chiggers in there.) having run out of Gone With the Wind references, he’s forced to reference a different movie:

if you wanted to look at english oaks you could’ve stayed in england, asshat.

still standing outside (seriously, he’s out there for a full page) he hears Bella playing the cello in her mansion and thinks about how he can’t let her “slip through his fucking fingers.” then he rings the doorbell, “heart in his fucking mouth,” and...

Bella’s housekeeper answers. Edward is shocked that his old-money, plantation-owning girlfriend has servants. a few things to note about Bella’s housekeeper are 1) she’s Mrs. Cope, 2) she looks exactly like the middle-aged, blonde housekeeper from 50 sh@des (is that also Mrs. Cope?), and 3) that she talks in a comically rendered southern accent.

I honestly can’t believe we made it this far into the story without hearing the word “master” only for it to show up now, in this context. 🤢 oh well.

once inside, Edward makes a dozen more Gone With the Wind comparisons as he describes the furniture and architecture. pretty amusing how he and erika think it’s gay to drink champagne, but not to wax poetic about upholstery and Scarlett O’Hara’s crinoline.

at last, “Little Bella Swan” (spelled right for the very first time! gold star, erika!) appears. at first she’s “shy as fuck,” but then she admits she’s missed him and that’s Edward’s “fucking cue” to start making out with her, in a paragraph full of hot, sensual details like this:

I’m sorry, but did you just say she was...running her fingers...through your stubble? 

how long is this alleged “stubble?” did Edward grow the patchy, ginger equivalent of a full-on Gandalf beard and just forget to mention it to the audience?? HOW is she running her FINGERS through his STUBBLE?

...this is the sideburns kink all over again, isn’t it

anyway, they keep making out, blah blah, it’s getting hot and heavy, when

oh no! has the Dicksona been suffering from amnesia? how tragic! guys i’m starting a gofundme for the Dicksona please chip in if you can 💕

anyway, Bella drags Edward up to her bedroom, he describes in great detail the “dark wood” bed complete with “fuck-off gossamer mosquito net,” and then tells us he doesn’t notice his surroundings because he’s so horny for Bella.

....erika. just a little writing tip. you don’t get to describe Edward’s surroundings in minute, Antiques Roadshow detail and then tell us he doesn’t notice them. that’s not how storytelling works in the first fucking person.

anyway, Bella gives him a blowjob

“using her teeth”

and then they have sex. erika makes sure to tell us all about such pertinent details as bella’s

well at least one of them showers.

we’re also told about her steel nipples.

then Edward calls her “homely,” which I know can also mean “cozy and familiar,” but I can’t get past the meaning of “ugly.”

and of course, the scene wouldn’t be complete without Edward once again reminding us that Bella is his safe haven.

anyway. that’s all that’s notable about this particular humdrum sex scene.

still in bed, Edward asks Bella to marry him. before she can answer, they’re interrupted by “the fucking doorbell.”

y a w l 

that’s right, it’s Jasper! none other than the fucksmith himself. 

Edward reacts with the calm stability he’s renowned for

and demands that Bella answer his marriage proposal right that second. Bella tells him it’s complicated.

then she throws on some clothes and goes downstairs to see Jasper. Edward is appalled that she’s talking to “that fucksmith” while going commando.

and then. and then we get the GAYEST PASSAGE imaginable. fasten your seatbelts:

that’s right. Edward...wants Jasper...to see him half-naked with his fly undone.

safe haven is a story about unrequited Edward/Jasper and the tragedy of comp het actually

it doesn’t help that one of the next sentences is:

yeah, Edward. I bet you wish he was. bet you wish he was getting ALL up on them.

Edward—who has been explicitly told to leave Bella alone and let her talk to Jasper—shows up to half-nakedly interrupt their conversation and mark his territory. then he promises to go “back upstairs” and leaves the room, but hangs around to eavesdrop on the rest of their conversation because he’s a controlling piece of shit.

at first, Jasper tries to make a graceful exit, but when Bella gets tearful and starts pleading (girl why? you don’t like him), he snaps at her that she’s obviously made her bed and she can lie in it (I hear it’s dark wood and has fuck-off mosquito netting!)

and with that, the luminous-hazel-eyed fucksmith drops the mic and leaves.

Bella wanders back into her bedroom and tells Edward she wanted to let Jasper down easily, which. bad job there. she also apologizes in a way that makes it sound like she’s about to re-re-break up with him, and “the abyss opens its foul mouth” before him. it’s no Dicksona, but this abyss sure gets mentioned a lot.

but of course Bella isn’t breaking up with him—she’s just confessing that she’s pregnant! 

Edward tells her he already knows, and when she asks how, he says

but wait, erika, I thought mad meant crazy? my little american brain can’t comprehend this sentence! I shan’t ever be able to make sense of all these erudite britishisms. ‘tis all too advanced.

Edward tells Bella about Emmett’s dumpster diving and narcing, and she’s totally cool with it. she didn’t tell Edward she was pregnant because she was afraid he’d leave her.

but she...had already...left him. make it make sense, erika

Bella doesn’t understand why a “hot shot movie star” like Edward would ever want to be saddled with a filthy rich, mansion-owning cello prodigy like little old her. Edward interrupts by proposing to her yet again (for those of you keeping track, this is the third time,) only this time it’s Worse.

okay, first of all this is horrible for me personally because my parents got engaged in the middle of Siberia and the only available ring for sale was an earring, so. thank you, erika, for permanently ruining my family history.

second of all,

the absolute audacity of this man.

put yourself in SH!Bella’s shoes for a second and imagine your kazillionaire movie star boyfriend proposing to you with your own earring that he stole. 

like, obviously erika was trying for romantic spontaneity here, but a) it’s not spontaneous when it’s the third time this has happened, and b) he flew across the ocean with the explicit intention of winning Bella back. he couldn’t have stopped and purchased a ring at some point? he made everyone pull over at Tiffany’s on the way to the Oscars, for fuck’s sake.

the moral of the story is “no need to spend three months’ salary when your girl has severe self-esteem issues,” because of course “Isabella Swann” (yep, we’re back to Swann) says yes. Edward reassures her that he’s cool with the whole baby thing and wants lots of kids, and tells her (out loud!) that she is his safe haven. Bella asks him to “make love to her” again and they end the chapter in

ok then.

best “fucks”

“fuck off columns or colonnades or whatever the fuck they’re called”

“fucking Atlanta”

“fucking servants”

“the fucking doorway”

“another fucking century”

“fan-fucking-tastic”

“no more Mr. Fucking nice guy” (edward)

“fucking bastard” (edward)

“a fucking marathon”

next (and final) chapter: eternal fucking flame

[malereaderoneshots]

I hope your requests are open! And if they are I hope it won't be of much trouble requesting a Bofur (from the hobbit) x male reader? I'm not really looking for anything too specific, I just have a hard time finding good fanfics for Bofur ;w; If you decide to write it then please make it super fluffy with hugs and stuff! (Also if you decide you don't want or can't write it then you can just ignore this ask ^^)

I hope this is what you were after, sorry if its long ^.^

The sun had began to set by the time Thorin and Co decided to settle down for the night. Each Dwarf had a role in the company while Y/N and Bilbo stood to the side and watched in awe as the Dwarves worked together in tandem. Gandalf and Y/N had known each other for years so when Gandalf turned up one afternoon with an invitation Y/N took it without hesitation, he had a thirst for adventure that none of his family or friends shared, they would rather work in the same town and go to the same shops and pubs until they kicked the bucket, so Y/N packed a bag and headed off to Bag End to start his journey.

Y/N turned towards the setting sun and sat in the grass, this was the first time they would all have a proper break and Y/N wasn’t going to waste any of it, the warm sun danced across Y/Ns relaxed face, a smile tugged on his lips, the warmth from the sun made his muscles lax as he rested against his forearms, tilting his head back to stretch out even more. “Hey laddie, you feeling hungry?” Came a familiar Irish accent, it was Bofur, the first Dwarf to warm up to Y/N and include him in the betting and the games the Dwarves played. Y/N looked up and smiled more, nodding, “Yes.” was all he had to say before Bofur went charging off to the pot which was currently boiling some soup Bombur had made.

“You didn’t have to get my dinner, I’m more than capable to walk over and get it myself,” Y/N chuckled, missing the blush that slowly graced Bofurs cheeks, “but thank you. Will you sit with me?” Bofur instantly dropped to the floor next to Y/N causing some soup to spill from his bowl. Both of them watched the sunset in peace, for once Y/N didn’t feel stressed, like all was well in the world if they just sat like that for the rest of eternity.

After the sun had fully set and the stars came out to dance everyone had slowly migrated to their spots and clocked out for the night, everyone except Y/N and Bofur, they continued to look off into the night sky with a comfortable silence between them. Bofur was the first to break the silence, “My ma once said when you die your soul becomes a star. She said the brightest are those who died in vain, after this journey I might become a bright star.” Bofur sighed, Y/N was shocked to hear the last part, Bofur was never serious around Y/N he was always cracking jokes and using horrible Dwarvish pick up lines, this vulnerability caused Y/N to gently grasp Bofurs hand, “I won’t let anything happen to you Bofur, I swear my life on it.” Bofur turned to Y/N and smiled softly.

“Come on laddie I think its time we get some sleep, no doubt we’ll be on the road for a long time tomorrow.” Bofur said standing up and brushing the dirt off of his pants, as he turned and started to walk towards his spot Y/N called after him. “Wait! Could you…could you maybe sleep next to me? It’s just that its really cold and with us two together we could be warmer?” Y/N awkwardly said, he was half excepting Bofur to burst out laughing and wake the whole camp just to laugh at him, but to his surprise Bofurs smile widened and he quickly brought his sack over to Y/N almost tripping over in the process. Both of them set up their places quietly, Y/Ns blush wouldn’t give up and burned brighter every time Bofur looked at him. Once they were both settled under their respected blankets Y/N shuffled up against Bofurs side, tucking his head against Bofurs ribs.

“Was this just an excuse to cuddle me Y/N?” Bofur teased.“Shut up.” Came Y/Ns reply, embarrassment clear in his voice.“You know you could have just asked.” Was the last thing Bofur said before he wrapped his arms around Y/N securely, effectively pulling Y/N closer and causing the boys head to be tucked against the Dwarfs collar bone, Y/N gently slung his arm around Bofurs torso. “We should make this a tradition, every time we stop for the night we should cuddle for ‘warmth’ how does that sound?” Bofur laughed, Y/N tucked his head further trying to escape the warmth on his neck and face, “ah shut up ad sleep you fool!”“Only if you stay with me every night?”“Only if you promise to stay alive no matter what happens” Y/N answered back. Y/N felt a kiss on the top of his head, “I promise” Bofur whispered. Y/N smiled softly and closed his eyes, ‘maybe the rest of the journey won’t be so bad’ he thought before properly drifting off in Bofurs embrace.

[blankdblank]

Oh Honey

 … Mentions of abuse, attempted assault - not graphic, mostly mentioned...

“I thought I could always trust you!”

“Don’t! I don’t need to hear more pathetic excuses!”

…

We’re just blowing up the actual Tolkien timeline. I’m a day late and getting tired so pt 2 will be out tomorrow. :D

…

Who’s afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? The question making you smirk as you finished securing the buttons on the cinched vest accenting your bust in a drop maroon shade over a simple cotton blouse dangling over your thighs under tapering panels on the knee length vest covering the tops of your black jeans tucked into knee length boots. You would have worn your leather leggings your friend had bought you but they tugged too tightly over the bruises your step brother had left there. Lastly a grey fur coat with ears on the hood to finish off the look in securing the buttons cinching the jacket above you.

Your friends were waiting and you had to get going so right out your window you went, using the lattices nailed to the wall coated in flowering vines leading up to your father and step mother’s bedroom. He wasn’t all bad, no, to the world he was the best thing since sliced bread and your hindrance on ‘family’ gatherings since the wedding rehearsal dinner when his hand rested on then eased up your thigh receiving a fork inches from his groin triggering an all out war.

It had been two weeks while your parents were away on their honeymoon and you made sure to get gone. Though tonight you had come back for one purpose, legally you were an adult and instead of saving money to finish out your degree living at home with the sixteen year old predator you returned for a single night to finalize your plan. All week you had snuck in while he was off at team practices packing and filling your trunk to the brim and tonight you had your final bag of things to carry to your waiting car down the block.

Two fences and a hedge leap later you patted the head of a guard dog you passed a treat to in exchange for his silence to climb into your car parked in the back driveway to a neighbors’ that was gone for their night shift. It seemed so easy, just tell the truth and things would get better, but like Cassandra being cursed by Hera you were not to be believed by any wine it came to voicing injustices.

But to yourself you recited the phrase from your favorite film the Labyrinth when Sarah calls out to the Goblin King. Not noticing the glint of an icy blue eye in the crystal marbles dangling from your rear view mirror at the glare from a street light you drove under on your way to the costume party you were expected at. Hosted by the friend you would be renting a closet sized room from to share the apartment around it with six other of your friends to save cash.

Straight through a green light you rolled into the intersection only to slam on the breaks as a truck pulling what looked to be sheets of glass somehow appeared out of nowhere. Shattered shards fell around the metal body of the car contorting and warping as your eyes slammed shut. Soft chirping and bright sunlight has you squinting an eye open, looking around you gawked at the lush lands you were in filled with giggling children racing on the street in the distance into the lakeside pasture you were in. From the stump you were seated on you stood and gasps sounded with the curious children racing over to see the person now turning in circles to see where they were.

“Tiny people…” you mumbled to yourself mentally seeing a man tip his hat to you pulling a massive cow, in comparison to him, along to wherever he was going you nodded to in return.

Giggles surrounded you and you looked down flashing a grin exposing your naturally slightly pointed canine teeth and bright smile making an adorably giggly girl ask, “Are you really part wolf?”

“What?” After a moment you reached up, “Oh no, just the hood,” lowering your hood exposing your naturally silver curls with lavender dyed ends in a straightened ponytail now gently curling back in a warming before the usual sudden poof at how humid the air seemed to be getting in contrast to your former fall setting.

A boy asked, “Are you here to see the Wizard?”

After a weak chuckle you said, “Why not? Where is he?”

The girl answered, “Gandalf left last week Juniper! He’s off to Bree.”

You nodded and said, “Bree it is then, thank you.”

They grinned up at you and you tried to turn away only for the boy to tug on the tail of your shirt, “Your bag!”

Looking down you smirked seeing the carpet bag there you nodded and lowered smiling at him, “I’d forget my own head some days of it wasn’t glued on so tight.” Making the children giggle and run off again as you lifted it and started to the road they had come from.

Far behind you though the children together called out, “The other way!” Making you giggle and wave in thanks at them turning to your left instead to follow the road wherever it wandered passing the kind curious tiny people along the way.

***

Holding up the crystal ball set on his throne in the middle of a meeting in Amon Lanc Prince Thranduil wondered just when these three balls would help him find his One. A gift from Annatar of Rivendell and all he got was flashed of a gorgeous woman with absurdly colored hair. Again just now he saw her, this time with furry ears on top of her head and then suddenly shouts around him died as he fell straight to his back in a sunlit field. Groaning in his rise children swarmed him and grinned asking, “Are you here to see the Wizard too?”

“What?”

They pointed to the figure in the distance near the edges of the city, “She is off to see him as well.”

Instantly his lips parted and he shot up, “Thank you!” And darted off after that stranger in hopes it might just be you.

*

Deeply a sigh left you as you eyed the clearing with nothing but a road for miles without end making you mumble, “Years of watching Bambi is warning me against this, but, we have to get to Bree…” stepping out into the open you walked on, and on, and on. A stop for water in a small stream to fill your thermos from your bag however had brought the figure in the distance to your attention.

Continuing on subtle stolen glances back kept bringing their place to your attention quickening your pace. Up a hill you hastened and on the other side you crouched to hide behind the swaying tall grass surrounding the empty road. Soon enough the mysterious blonde cane into view turning in a circle trying to spot you only to shriek and drop a few inches in a readied stance to strike as you popped up behind him saying, “Can I help you?!”

Inhaling steadily his hand rose to smooth over his outer pale blue robe reaching to his knee over silver pants and tall boots with twin long swords strapped to his hips. “Forgive me, My Lady,” his eyes looked you over and in the warm sunlight taking in your features his words unknowingly halted.

“Are you following me?!”

Hastily he cleared his throat and said, “I am also in search of Mithrandir.”

“Mithrandir? Because I’m looking for a Gandalf.”

“Ah, they are one in the same. Hobbits refer to him as Gandalf and Elves as Mithrandir.”

“Hobbits, And Elves…” moving closer to him you shifted on your feet inspecting his ears and gasped, “You’re an Elf!! Like in Middle Earth-,” your expression shifted to a playfully curious smirk in asking, “Am I in Middle Earth?”

With a nod he replied, “Yes, My Lady. We are, and I am, an Elf.”

His eyes switched to your ears you felt with a giddy squeak at their new tips and you turned to keep going in a bouncing giddy quickstep. “So cool! Always wanted to be an Elf, but then again I’m not technically as stoic or graceful or willing to abandon my children like most self Maidens seem to be.”

“You have children?” He asked hurrying after you.

“Hmm? No. Just, in the books you can’t go without seeing six out of ten Elf mothers abandoning their children to certain doom and loneliness in the books.”

“You know of our histories then?”

“Some,” looking up at him you offered your hand, “Jaqi. But everyone calls me Tiny. You are?”

Slightly afraid to admit his title yet Thranduil answered, “Duil.” Eyeing your hand you pulled back to your side with a nod and faced forward again making his brows furrow at the drop of your grin wondering if he had issued you insult. Quietly you strolled until he noticed your hand moving to unbutton your jacket in the growing warm breeze to cool down a bit, “Is that fox fur?”

Peering up at him you shook your head, “No, it’s fake fur,” you said with a giggle, “I doubt I could ever afford a real fur coat like this.”

“Fake fur?”

You nodded and flashed him a weak grin, “It’s really soft, did you want to feel?” You said raising your arm making him side step to keep himself from issuing any unjust contact between you.

His brows furrowed in a steady inhale and he asked, “How can you fake fur?”

It was your turn for your brows to furrow as you answered, “Um, I, don’t really know. I thought it was like sheep’s wool but stripped really finely and woven into stocks of fabric. I know some use Alpaca fur, but those are out of my price range. This one was second hand and a bargain.” Curiously peering down at your still raised arm his hand rose and risking the flash of seeing the creature’s last moments only to feel nothing but the silky soft material so similar to an implacable type of fur it was trying to resemble.

“What animal is it meant to resemble?” He said withdrawing his hand only to have his brows pop up as you raised your hood with wolf ears on it.

“It’s a wolf costume.”

Lowly he repeated, “Wolf costume..”

“Ya, well, the Big Bad Wolf to be exact,” your eyes met his and you explained, “It’s from a children’s story, my friend was throwing a costume party and I ended up in, what must be The Shire. Where’d you come from?”

“Oh, my family was also having, a gathering, of sorts. In the Greater Greenwood.”

“I bet it’s lovely there.” Curiously he looked you over as you grinned to yourself looking ahead over the endless path through a low rumble of thunder building around you explaining the humidity.

“It is. You know much of it?”

You shook your head, “No, the books say more about Rivendell than Lothlorien and Greater Greenwood, mainly,” in a turn of your head you asked, “Is Feanor dead?”

With a nod he answered, “Yes,” his brows furrowed again, “Why do you ask?”

“Trying to place when I am…is this the First Age?”

“Yes, in the birth of it.”

“Hmm, ok, so no big wars yet with Sauron.”

“Sauron?”

“Annatar is his alias, if you know that one.” Making his lips part, “He’s Melkor’s student.”

“My Ada shall have to hear of this when we find Mithrandir.”

“I think we should write to Celebrimbor first.”

Thranduil’s head turned, “Why would we be writing to Curufinion?”

“Because he’s the one that Annatar possesses to create the Rings that destroy Middle Earth.”

Parting his lips again, yet the first drop of rain had his eyes turn upwards at the clouds that had rolled in above you, “We should find shelter…”

Turning around in a circle he tried to find any source of cover only to flinch at the ‘shink’ of your obnoxiously wide umbrella you pulled from your bag and opened at your side then lifted over your heads making him look at it then you in the growing patter of rain overhead. “It’s an umbrella.” His eyes met yours again, “As long as there’s no lightning we should be fine to keep going.”

Looking forward again he watched the path ahead and round you growing wetter while he couldn’t help but giggle to himself mentally at the simple contraption to ease a common problem.

..

Passing the first  street sign stating you were leaving the Hobbit territory your eyes snapped to a floating ball when you stopped in your tracks, inside which a voice emanated, “Miss Pear, you have called out to me and I have answered. Welcome to my domain! Answering your plea I have taken your brother as my hostage. Should you regret your choice-,”

“You have Kody?”

Pausing slightly the voice replied, “He is my prisoner! Should you-,”

Grabbing the ball you said, “Keep him, you took him he’s yours!” As hard as you could you hurled the ball away only to watch it shatter against a boulder in the distance and turn to a dark waft of mist fading to nothing stirring screams far off in the distance from the one who had stolen him away.

“Your brother has been taken! How-,”

“I don’t have a brother.” You snapped back at his voice raising at you.

“Then who did that person take?”

“My father remarried a few weeks ago, it was her son.”

“So you have a brother!”

Stopping to look up at him his stomach clenched at your challenging gaze, “What sort of brother tries to put a hand up his older sister’s dress?” That dropped his jaw and he turned to walk with you as you said, “He’s given me twelve bruises since then trying to force me to let him touch me, part of why I was moving out and getting far away from that little predator. Whoever took him can keep him.”

“What did your family do when you told them of his actions?”

“They didn’t believe me.”

“Why would you falsify-,”

With a sigh you said, “I don’t know, ever since I was a kid I’d be on the wrong end of situations often and when I tried to speak up no one believed me. Not until someone else spoke up. I don’t lie,” you wet your lips then said, “You wouldn’t know the story, but we have stories about beings, sort of like the Valar,” he nodded in your eyes meeting his, “Zeus would be like your Manwe, top of the gods under Eru, and his wife Hera, well she like to give curses, and one of them was Cassandra, she was a seer and she was cursed that none would believe her. The world’s full of stories like that, cursed families, maybe  was cursed, who knows, magic was so far from common knowledge in my time compared to when they were handed out so it’s all left explained to luck I guess.”

“Was your father believed?”

“I think it was from my Mom. She died when I was little, he’s always been successful, so unless he struck a deal that I get his bad luck so he gets good luck.”

“Why would a parent do that? Force suffering on their children?”

Peering up at him you couldn’t help but grin saying, “I envy you, for not knowing a world like mine. I am glad to be here now though. Hopefully I can stay and Gandalf won’t try to send me back.” Looking forward again his heart sank wondering just what sort of family you had come from and in the silence his mind wandered to just what sort of injuries were hidden under your layers.

…

Bree soon grew in the distance as the rains dwindles allowing you to fold up your umbrella again you slid back into your bag. Into the Prancing Pony you led the way and Mr Butterbur had no clue when the Wizard would be back again leading to your stop to eat, an offer from Duil, to fund before you continued on again in an agreed goal of Rivendell. Horses sounded after you however when you had left the town borders. Subtly your hand dipped into your bag remembering the pair of guys in the dining hall that trailed your path out of town.

Up to your side the pair rode and heavily hopped down with crossbows extended both at you. The pair of them smirked and the larger of the two growled out, “Hand over your goods.”

The other said noting Duil’s swords, “And no thoughts on drawing those blades or the Lady dies.”

Without looking at Duil you asked, “Can you speak to horses?”

Duil looked at you, “Yes, all Elves can.”

“Would you tell them to stand upwind a few feet, I would hate to hurt them, you as well.”

Duil looked you over as the men notched their crossbows and he passed on your request in Quenya then moved around your back as you raised the canister in your hand and in a steady sweep over the pair an orange mist exploded and they collapsed howling in pain cursing at you. Pocketing the canister you approached them nudging the crossbows out of their reach then you turned to Duil and the confused horses saying, “Bear mace. Like liquid fire. Made to scare off bears but also useful for the common thug.”

Nearing the horses you smiled at the tan dappled pair saying, “You are so beautiful. How would you like to go to Rivendell?”

Their ears popped up in glee and Duil asked, “Are you considering stealing their horses?”

“You mean the Men who just tried to kill me for my bag? Yup, I’m freeing their horses from their ignorance.” Strolling around to the side of the shorter of the two you reached up to grip the knot on the saddle and eased your foot in the stirrup to climb up on and look down mumbling, “Been a long time since I’ve ridden a horse…”

Settling your bag in your lap a gentle shift of the reigns had the horse turning and you looked at Duil who rolled his eyes and joined you on the second horse, “Let us fly before their corpses are discovered.”

A giggle from you in the gallop away had him looking at you only to hear, “Mace only lasts ten minutes at the most.”

“What?”

“You don’t want to kill the bears or the idiots, just get time to get away.”

He looked forward again uncertain what aspect made him more upset, the need for the product or the fact that he was now a horse thief even if he turned around to give them back. “My Ada is never to know the manner of claiming these creatures.”

Stroking the neck of yours you said, “I asked if they wished to go to Rivendell, just say we were heading the same way and they happened to be saddled.”

“That will never be believed!” You giggled again and he asked, “What is so amusing about this?!”

“Nothing, absolutely nothing.” After another giggle you asked, “How far do you think Rivendell is?”

“Roughly a month on foot, few weeks at least.”

..

Weathertop was the first stop for your night, right up to the still in tact lookout for the Western lands of Arnor you both approached and after a second flaming glass orb arrived and was destroyed you dismounted at a pair of guards nearing you. “Who dares approach the Western Keep of the King?”

Before Thranduil could speak you said, “Hi, I’m Tiny, we’re on our way to Rivendell. I was wondering if we might wait out the rain tonight?”

The guard answered back, “This is not a lodging for commoners.”

“Ok, um, what about our horses? I have a tent, but they clearly can’t fit. Could you possibly allow them in your stables tonight?” A wide grin from you came before a confusing, “Please?”

Leaving the pair glancing from Thranduil to your horses and sigh, the first guard stated, “We will house your steeds, for the night alone, My Lady.”

The second guard said, “Keep your tent off our borders.” You nodded then turned asking where they ended and to a band of bushes they pointed and you grinned again and turned to walk off as they accepted the reigns of the horses Duil informed why they were being separated from you.

Near the bushes the pair kept glancing over curious about your tent, curious himself Thranduil aided in the holding of the supporting staffs before his brows popped up inspecting the giant onion like white tent complete with rain tarp tethered down. Standing up you looked to Duil saying, “I know it doesn’t look that big, but inside,”

“Why would you purchase a tent resembling an onion?”

You looked at him then back to the tent and asked, “Why not?” And lowered to duck inside the front flap giving him a moment to rub his forehead then glance at the stunned guards before he turned to peer inside the front flap spotting you laying out two fluffy sleeping bags he looked over slightly panicked.

“I will sleep outside tonight.”

Sitting up on your knees and you replied, “Don’t tell me you’re embarrassed to sleep in an onion tent.”

“This has nothing to do with the onion! I cannot share quarters with you!”

With a nod you said after a clap of thunder made him tremble and you smirk, “Well, the tent is waterproof where you are not,”

“I am not afraid of the rain.”

“Oh get in the tent!”

“I cannot!”

Lifting a brow you said, “You are getting in this tent or I am going to scream, and keep screaming until you do.”

“You cannot-,” At a sharp inhale from you he frog hopped inside through the round opening to sit down wide eyed at you as you flashed him a grin, “Satisfied?”

You nodded and dug in your bag for your pop up stove and using more of your water to heat up the jarred veggies you had coated in seasonings combined with and noodles you had Thranduil watched you carefully and accepted the bowl and spoon you offered him. “Thank you,” Your thanks in place for his made his eyes snap back to you with his brows up again in shock, “If you’re afraid of being alone with me I promise not to hurt you, and with the sleeping bags there won’t be any snuggling issues.”

“Sleeping, bags?”

Setting down your bowl you tugged your bag closer and showed him how the zipper turned it into a sort of cocoon easing something close to a compromise instigated grin across his lips, “See, you have yours and I have mine. No funny business. Though I have a comforter or two if it isn’t warm enough.”

“Comforter?”

“Oh honey,” you sighed out only making his head tilt slightly, “A comforter is a decorative thick warm blanket to cover the other sheets on your bed.”

“Ah. Elves are not troubled by the cold normally.”

You nodded saying, “Well, I’ll pull a spare out just in case you change your mind.”

.

Sleeping once the cooking and eating utensils were put away was next, removing your boots you closed the tent door and secured the lock on the zippers you showed Duil how to work then moved to sit inside your sleeping bag. Shrugging out of your coat the reveal of the figure hugging clothes had Duil swallowing hard though within moments you laid a purple comforter over your feet and laid back zipping and covering up with a comfortable sigh after your wiggle onto your belly to nuzzle your head into a pillow from your bag. On his back he eventually settled and closed his eyes when your breathing deepened, silently hoping that sharing quarters unchaperoned could be taken well once all details were thoroughly explained. True you would be wed one day in the future when all priorities were met but he hoped not to hasten things too quickly and ruin the reputation of your union after having been swayed into taking a consort not two centuries past giving him a son, the birth of whom withered his mother to an early grave as it came suddenly in an attack on the edges of their borders.

.

All the way to another open clearing two weeks later an eerie chill had you up early and in a cautious stroll to the nearby stream your head swiveled hearing someone around you. Tightly your throat was gripped and a broken shriek from you ended in your back being slammed into the trunk of a tree. Tighter the grip grew until a hand reached out to cover your eyes followed by a warm splash of liquid coating your lower half.

Shakily you inhaled after a harsh cough ended with Duil’s hand on your other shoulder cluing you in he was not alone. “Keep your eyes closed, Miss Pear. We will dispose of this filth.”

Weakly you asked, “On his neck, is there a c shaped red spot?”

Thranduil, “C shaped?” Holding up your hand you made a C and he replied, “This was your brother that attacked you?”

“If there’s a C on his neck it was.” Over his body Thranduil patted Glorfindel’s shoulder then they and the twin covering your eyes peering at his brother who was looking down at the now apparently young for his size teen whose body faded to nothing. Another failed plan spurring up screams in the distance and the agitated path to drawing up a new plan for his schemes. Though back in your old world the teen awoke and was instantly infuriated and in search of you to complete his dreamed strike out against you.

Eyes uncovered you silently went back to the tent to pack up while the Elves discussed what had happened a few moments prior. It took only a few moments in sharing what he had done to you in the past for the trio to be seething with anger as to who they had saved you from. Quietly the tent fell and you stood peering over at the four as Glorfindel said, “Prince Thranduil, your Ada will be relieved to know you are safe, he has had us scouring our lands for any sign of you.”

“Prince Thranduil,” you stood with a hip cocked making him sigh at the shake of your head and turn lowering your crossed arms.

Looking to the trio he stated, “I was not exactly forthcoming of my title to Miss Pear upon our introductions.”

To yourself you mumbled folding the tent up making the twins smirk in amusement, “Exactly forthcoming, no title at all Mr Duil.”

.

Atop your steeds between the trio you rode the final stretch to Rivendell, then chatting around you while Thranduil kept peering at you longingly for your forgiveness. His lips parted and in a far from threatening tone you said, “Don’t! I don’t need more pathetic excuses!” Already he could spot the few usual markers of your use of ‘sarcasm’ and it eased his mind knowing you were in a form of jest with him, even if you were a bit upset at the moment for the initial half truth. “I thought I could always trust you!”

By chance Elrond was already out in a trip to Lothlorien so you were stuck waiting for word on what to do next. Odd ruffling sounds brought the newly discovered Prince into the doorway of the open dining area you were sitting in to remain out of the way for the workers in the kingdom all staring at your every moment.

It seemed wishes for a better look had him in the doorway watching on as you shuffled your deck of cards once again. Breaking the silence as you set up another game of Solitaire he asked, “Are you testing the fates’ path for you with your cards?”

“No. Just a game of Solitaire.” For the remainder stack if cards you swiped your hand fanning them out, “Pick a card.”

His brow inched up and Elladhan slid to his side choosing for him making you smirk asking, “Is it the three of hearts?”

Ellohrir shook his head with a chuckle before you claimed the card and turned it to peek at it reading the seven of clubs, “Hmm..” Turning it back to them your other hand rose to flick the card making them gasp seeing it now reading the four of spades. “How about now? Three of hearts?”

Again they shook their heads looking at you and the card in confused awe as you clicked your tongue then leaned to your right looking Thranduil over, “You’ve got something-,” Reaching out his ear twitched as your finger grazed his hair hanging over his ear before he heard a flick of paper sound and your hand drew back making their mouths drop open as you held the three of hearts in your hand, “There it is. Trying to spoil my tricks by hiding the card in your ear, young Prince.” Shaking you head he couldn’t help but chuckle a you said, “For shame.” Teasingly.

Glorfindel approached saying, “You are a Wizard then.”

You looked up at him shaking your head, “Nope, all slight of hand,” you said flicking the card from one hand to the other changing it to the seven of clubs again. “My father is a magician, I used to be his assistant. All slight of hand and misdirection for amusement of crowds. Easy to learn with practice. Nothing special.”

Your eyes lowered to put the cards back into the remainder deck you shuffled again before Thranduil said, “You are unfathomably special.” Making you glance up at him before he shifted to learn more on this card game of yours hoping to get back to your same joking, relaxed relationship.

…

All –

@himoverflowers​, @theincaprincess, @aspiringtranslator​, @sweeticedtea​, @ggbbhehe4455​, @thegreyberet​, @patanghill17​, @jesgisborne​, @curvestrology​, @alishlieb​, @jogregor​, @armitageadoration​, @fizzyxcustard​, @here2have-fun​, @lilith15000​, @marvels-ghost​, @catthefearless​, @imjusthereforthereads​, @c-s-stars​

Hobbit/LotR – @abiwim​, @jotink78​, @pastelhexmaniac​

X Thranduil - @evyiione​, @sweetlytenacious25​, @tigereyesf​, @pastelhexmaniac

[statusquoergo]

Part I

Louis meets Harold at the elevators of SLWW and informs him that they’re going to tank the deal “because Harvey doesn’t want it anymore.”

Harold, who’s apparently been building up his backbone since his departure from Pearson Hardman (s02e12), asks Louis if he’s Harvey’s “partner or his lackey,” and Louis shuts him down by completely butchering Harvey’s “146 other things” quote from “Errors and Omissions” (s01e02). (To wit: “So you sign this cancellation, you get it back to us by tomorrow, or I will take that gun from your bluff, or I will call your hand, or I will take 146 other guns, and I will fire them at your face.”) The whole thing is actually pretty sad; Rick is giving it his all, but for my money, this comedic B-plot isn’t quite as comedic as they’d like it to be. Anyway then Donna shows Alex a folder with a picture in it and says she needs a perfect forgery of the piece in 24 hours, which he agrees to acquire for her in exchange for two, count ‘em two favors. Depending on what the piece is that she needs forged, I have to wonder if that’s even physically possible, but, well. Suits logic.

Harold then proceeds to blow the lid off of Louis’s scheme by calling Harvey on his private cell number, which he got from somewhere, and demanding that he return to his office so they can “settle this.” Harvey instructs Harold to tell him everything Louis said to him and then delightedly informs Samantha that Louis “is 100% running around town pretending to be [him],” which “might be one of the funniest things [he’s] ever heard.” Samantha replies that “Louis is jealous of [him], in love with [him], and intimidated by [him] all at the same time”; also, surprise, she was intimidated by him when they first met on account of the fact that he’s a legend, and I’m starting to think this entire episode is just a 44-minute long excuse for Korsh to stroke his own ego.

Now, Harvey might think Louis pretending to be him is hilarious, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t going to take advantage of the opportunity to “have some fun.” I.e., Samantha calls Louis posing as Harold’s secretary and tricks him into thinking Harold is on the way over, which absolutely terrifies him for reasons that aren’t completely clear to me because Harold already knows Louis is involved and is already under the impression that Harvey doesn’t want to see him, so why wouldn’t Louis just say that Harvey’s out of the office? He doesn’t even have to say where he is, just “not here.” Anyway, Harvey and Samantha laugh uproariously at Louis’s panic until Harvey takes over to inform him that he knows what’s going on and Louis should come clean about whatever he’s done. Samantha seems to feel a little bad, maybe, but Harvey argues that “if you can’t do something to cause Louis to have a stroke once in awhile, what’s the purpose of living?” I know Louis is supposed to be this episode’s comic foil, but that’s…mean. Are he and Harvey friends or aren’t they? I’m starting to worry about Louis, this relationship seems pretty one-sided. Also a little abusive.

Oh, then Harvey wants to take the scenic route to the next exit, Samantha would really rather not, and Harvey talks her into it with the promise that “it’ll be fun.” I wonder how hard this is going to blow up in their faces. Not at all, probably. Also Alex asks Katrina for help with Donna’s forgery thing because Katrina has “clients in fashion and friends in ballet,” so he figures she has connections in the art world, which she does, and she was only being cagey about it because she “just didn’t want to be pigeon-holed.” But she doesn’t know who Gandalf is, which Alex should have known because he knows she’s “not a sports fan.” Alrighty then.

For some reason now we get a flashback to Samantha and Adam getting pulled over mid-escape because of the broken tail light, I guess to parallel Samantha and Harvey in the present day having to pull over because they hit “some kind of hole.” (A pothole, perhaps? I don’t know what makes me think Harvey would know a word like that, being a member of an exclusive car club and also presumably having passed Driver’s Ed at some point in his life.) There is, unfortunately, no jack in the trunk, and Samantha is furious, but never fear; Harvey is texting Triple-A, and they’ll be on the scene in an hour.

Except that you can’t text Triple-A to request assistance. They have a Roadside Assistance app, and obviously you can call them, but their texting service only sends members alerts for roadside events already in progress. So why bother pretending this is a real thing? Well, it’s not hard to guess that the text isn’t going to go through, and I bet Harvey is going to conveniently happen not to notice, thereby stranding him and Samantha on this secluded road for several more hours of forced bonding time until he conveniently does notice, but on a more fundamental and much pettier level, it’s yet another sign that Korsh is a very, very lazy writer. This episode is full of examples of the same trope; isn’t it convenient that Harvey rented not only a Mustang from the club, but the very model Mustang that Samantha has tumultuous emotional history with? Isn’t it convenient that Ron and Eric Kaldor owned the very same Mustang, so Samantha could be doubly traumatized? Isn’t it convenient that Ted Tucker, a man who desperately wants to meet Harvey Specter but conveniently has no idea what he looks like, happens to be the one to call right when Louis is making himself at home in Harvey’s office? Isn’t it convenient that Harold Gunderson is Reed Communications’ in-house counsel? Isn’t it convenient that he managed to acquire Harvey’s private cell phone number from somewhere? This is just all kinds of annoying to me, both as a writer with a much, much smaller platform that Korsh’s, and as a person who does her fucking research, despite having a much, much smaller platform than Korsh does.

Moving on. Harold calls Louis out on imitating Harvey, but after Louis’s sob story about just wanting to “get out of [his] own life and enjoy [himself] for one day,” he agrees to go along with the charade for one more meeting so long as Louis owes him one. Then we get another flashback to Samantha and Kaldor being all…flirty, I guess, as Kaldor drops the bomb that he wants to leave his wife for her— Wait, wait, Kaldor is married? And he has kids? Geez, I guess Samantha and Harvey aren’t as alike as they keep insisting they are. Anyway Samantha says their relationship has always just been a fling for her and she decided right this second that the whole thing was a big mistake, so uh, better late than never on that one. Kaldor accuses her of having daddy issues, conveniently balancing out Harvey’s mommy issues, and she kicks him out of the house that I think he was the one who was renting? Which is the conclusion of that storyline, and I gotta say, I didn’t really get much out of it. Obviously the point was to emphasize Samantha’s forlorn search for a surrogate father figure, but there’s been ample opportunity for the past season and a half to paint that picture via her relationship with Robert and they haven’t really run with it, so shoehorning it in now on top of her abrupt decision to find her birth father feels, at best…really convenient.

Actually, hang on, that whole mess might have another purpose: Samantha confesses her affair to Harvey and says she has “a terrible history with men,” which Harvey instantly diagnoses as a product of her childhood and oh my god these people really need to stop playing Armchair Psychologist for each other.

Brace yourself, because they’re just getting started:

“Deep down, for years, I knew I wanted to be with Donna. Just couldn’t access it.” “Why not?” “Because of the shit that comes from having a fucked-up childhood.” “What happened to you?” “My mom cheated on my dad for most of my life. I knew it, and I kept it a secret from him.” “Jesus, that might be worse than having no parents at all.”

Alright, look. You cannot spend the better part of eight seasons of a show having two characters clearly express, out loud, with their words, that they do not want to be a couple—not only that, but that they tried being a couple and made the conscious and mutual determination that they’re better as friends—only to throw them together at the eleventh hour and try to convince your audience that they’re a perfect match not by dealing with all that established backstory, but by pretending it never happened in the first place. For one thing, Harvey’s fucked up childhood didn’t prevent him from pursuing relationships with women; he actively courted Zoe and Paula (the latter of which being a mistake for a wide variety of unrelated reasons) and he broke things off with Scottie as soon as she got into a serious relationship with someone else. In fact, prior to Donna, Harvey very strictly avoided ever imitating his mother’s adultery, and no matter how much he allegedly wanted to be with Donna, I’m not so sure “You’re the first woman I’ve committed an act of infidelity with” is exactly the sort of romantic, soulmate-level declaration he seems to think it is.

Also didn’t Harvey telling people about what happened in his childhood used to be a really big deal? Wasn’t it a deeply touching and profoundly emotional moment when he confessed it to Mike in “High Noon” (s02e10)? So is Samantha suddenly being elevated to Mike-level status in Harvey’s eyes, or is he just totally cool now with airing all his dirty laundry to whoever because he and his mom have decided to try and play nice? No, don’t tell me, I’m not sure which one I dislike more.

I will take a small amount of solace in the fact that I was right about Harvey conveniently noticing that his text to Triple-A didn’t go through right after his and Samantha’s several hours of convenient bonding time.

Minor interlude: That favor Harold solicited from Louis? He wants to come back to the firm. Sure why not, that’s only like the eleventh most insane thing to happen in this episode, so who cares.

Anyway, Harvey walks about fifty yards up the road to find a strong enough signal to call Triple-A, conveniently gets a call from Donna at the exact moment that his service returns, and…forgets to call Triple-A. Yeah, alright, whatever. Samantha vents some more and admits that she’s afraid to meet the man who gave her up, which Harvey counters with the claim that she owes it to herself to meet him on the grounds that Harvey made up with his mother (not that she ever apologized or took responsibility for her actions or anything) and they’re both better off for it. Sorry, Judy, I guess we’re back on that “biological family is the only one that matters” kick, but better luck next time.

Samantha knocks on her father’s door, informs him that she’s his daughter, and after a quick flashback illustrating Samantha and Judy’s first meeting wherein Judy tells Samantha she doesn’t work for Protective Services (actually, as a licensed foster parent, she kind of does) and asks her to take a chance and trust her, present day Samantha books it back to the car (that was quick) to inform Harvey that she was the result of a fling and her father had no idea she existed, but that “he wishes he would’ve known.” Also her mother died when she was two, so it turns out no one gave her up after all. So that’s sweet. And anticlimactic. Except that now she has all this anger and nowhere to put it, but luckily for her, Amateur Psychologist Harvey Specter is on hand to advise her to “just let it go,” because that’s gone super well for him so far and it’s not like it took thirty years or anything.

Louis fesses up to Tucker about his identity fraud but convinces him to sign with them anyway, discerning in the process that “it’s great being Harvey, but [he’d] rather be [him].” How very after-school-special. Then Harvey gets home and Donna finally gets to reveal this big art protect of hers, and I mean we all know what it is, right? Family ties, parent-child reconciliation, repeated references to Harvey’s relationship with his mother? It’s that piece of shit duck painting that served as the “one happy memory [Harvey] had of [his] mother” prior to their reconciliation and that Elliot Stemple stole in “Accounts Payable” (s06e02) because he figured Harvey would only keep something so ugly if he had an emotional attachment to it. Well, Harvey is so grateful that he tells Donna she’s perfect, and as I do my best to suppress my gag reflex, she informs him that she’s actually “better than perfect” because the forgery she commissioned is now hanging in Stemple’s office after she “Thomas Crown Affair-ed that shit” and made the swap. Overcome by emotion, Harvey calls his mother to apologize for taking so long to forgive her (for the thing she never apologized for or acknowledged as a wrongdoing on her part), they exchange tearful “I love you”s, and end the conversation by “just [sitting] together for awhile.” No, seriously, they’re sitting in their respective houses holding their phones to their ears and not saying anything. It’s deeply weird.

Next week, Harvey gets arrested! Maybe. Probably. They might be fucking with us, but here’s hoping.

[rhabakoli]

Infinite White - 8

The text Fenja translates is the letter Gandalf writes about Aragorn (i think to Frodo? not sure rn), per @finnickfoxes request. And since I am a true dumbass, I actually translated it myself, instead of just look it up. But I like my version better anyway. 

Previous chapters here.

Trigger warning: space talk. Anyone disagreeing with me will be blocked. 

Taglist:@dreamwritesimagines @i-am-always-famished @marauderskeeper @superwolfchild-fan @thescarsweleave @cgn-99 @alicedopey @alwaysadreamingoptimist @atlas-of-the-world @finnickfoxes @rmwest9 (i’m just gonna tag u now, scream if you don’t want to) 

**

“So, how’s his family? Did they suspect anything?”, Maeve asked. They were carrying their trays to their usual table, finally catching up with each others lifes. 

“They are nice. A bit touchy. His uncle asked me if I know UNO, and then he kinda… welcomed me to the family?”, Fenja answered and then shrugged. 

“They have quite a low standard to meet. They’d love you.” Maeve gave her a sour look, kicking at her. “You’re lucky my hands are full.” Her friend just grinned cheekily and dodged her half-assed attack. The mensa was filled with chatter, the sounds of dishes clattering and the occasional discussion escalating. “And did they say anything about your breakdown?” Maeve sat across her, cracking open her coke and taking a sip. “No, I don’t think they know.” Fenja halted, then looked up at her roommate. “Well, I think his mom might know. But she didn’t say anything.” Mave nodded and took a bite from her lunch. “That’s good, isn’t it?” Fenja shrugged, gaze focused on her plate. “As long as I don’t have to explain it to everyone, I’m fine.” “I think your man will be glad to do it for you, if you asked.” Fenja carefully tasted her soup, trying not to burn her tongue. Then, as she processed the words, she raised an eyebrow at Maeve. “Who?” “Ragnar.” “Ah.” She smacked her lips together, blissed out expression on her face. “Goddamn, that soup is delicious.” Suddenly, her spoon came up, pointing across the table, almost threatening. “Also, he’s not ‘my man’, where even did you get that from?” “He’s not?” “Nah.” Maeve shrugged, then ogled the bread on Fenja’s tray. “Can I have some?”

**

The lecture hall was packed, every single seat taken. Some poor souls were even sitting on the stairs, eager to listen in and maybe find some validation, and inspiration - who are we kidding, mainly they just wanted to hear that it would be worth it all and it’d get better. Fenja was sitting all the way up, last row, glad to even have found a seat. Half the literature department was here, some journalism majors too. “I heard she’s only doing this, because her husband is a Ragnarsson. Otherwise she’d never have gotten the spot.” Fenja scoffed, as she pulled out pen and paper, ready to take notes. Unfortunately, her neighbours heard her and turned. “You have something to say, honey?” Her eyes grew round, she twisted in her seat and shook her head. “No, sorry, I just misheard. I thought you said she only got the lecture because her husband’s a Ragnasson.” “Well, I did.” The guy leaned his forearm onto the back of his seat, his body angled towards her, chest puffed like a bird ready to dance. His friend mirrored him, twirling her thick long hair around her finger, smirking. “Which doesn’t make sense, to be honest. She’s been holding lectures and seminars even before she’d met him, so implying she’d need the help of a rich man is not only wrong, but also degrading to her, her achievements and other authors and writers that have made it by themselves.” He wanted to throw another comment in, probably just as entitled and ignorant as his first, when Fenja raised a hand to stop him. “I’m not interested in fumbled comebacks dragged from your misogynistic fathers mouth, so, let’s leave it be, yes?” “Listen, bitch-” “You better think of a new beginning for that sentence, because I can promise you this is not going to end well for you. I know for a fact that the dean is quite the feminist, and he does not tolerate such behaviour at all. I’d pull my head out of my bum, if I were you, because your view on the world is growing a bit old, don’t you think?” He opened and closed his mouth, looked like a fish on the dry, skin flushing. His friend was looking on with big eyes, absolutely shocked anyone would talk to him like that. “You will regret this-” He finally found his voice, anger radiating off him. Fenja sighed. “Listen, you educationally handicapped amoeba. I am not going to regret this, even if it gets me into trouble. Because I know for a fact, while I will have to sit through a serious conversation on properly handling my anger, you’ll have to face an angry dean about the way you view women and I bet you’ll get to go to a couple very educating lectures, which I doubt you’ll get credit for.” They now had enough, they were storming off, the girl tutting over him, while he almost rammed into Ragnar, who took a step to the side and watched them go. “Hey.” He gestured over his shoulder, into the direction the two asshats were fleeing. “What was that?” Fenja shrugged and sat properly, facing forward. Some of the professors were gathered by the podium, talking. She tried to get a good view, but a rather tall professor was in the way. Wait. She knew that back from somewhere. Also, that manbun beat her in UNO just last week. Ragnar sat next to her, typing away on his phone, when she poked him violently. He really felt that, even through the fluffy sweater he wore. Gods, did she have pointy fingers. He hastily grabbed her wrist, holding it so she couldn’t attack him again. “What?” “Is that your Uncle?” He followed her line of sight, chuckling. “Yep.” “What’s he doing here?” “He’s teaching, princess. He’s specialized on Viking history and Nordic religions.” He laughed at her face. Her mouth stood open, eyebrows raised and her breath left her with a silent “oh.” “By the way. Auntie asked me to tell you, that she’s in town all week, and I am supposed to drag you to dinner, so you can meet her.” Now, that really got her attention. “What?” She pointed down to the podium, where a small, dainty woman assumed position and straightened her papers. “You mean that auntie? The amazing, famous author/Journalist?” “Yep.” He’d really get himself bitch-slapped one day, if he continued to play down such important, impactful events. Fenja flailed in her seat, almost falling out of it. “You can’t just - what, I -” Ragnar caught her arm, pulling her back up like it was nothing. “Calm down. How about dinner this friday. Whole family will be there.” “Is that supposed to help me? In any way?”, she asked, her tone suggesting how it definitely did not help. “Bear too.” He grinned at her, chuckling at the speed at which her expression - her whole demeanor, really - shifted. “Okay.”

Down at the podium, Gala cleared her throat and welcomed them, introduced herself and explained why she was holding his lecture. Ragnar knew all of this, he had only come up here to deliver his aunts message. But Fenja was so cute, all attentive, eager to soak up whatever knowledge his aunt decided to share. How she sat there, focused, scribbling down notes and questions for later. She did it on seperate sheets, organized and thought-out. He watched her profile, let his eyes roam over her figure, how she was wrapped into a hoodie at least two sizes too big, how she had a foot up on the seat, and an arm wrapped around her knee, leaning into it. How she ran the flat of her thumb’s nail over her lower lip, - left, right, left again - lips slightly parted. He licked his lips, swallowing and then promptly snapped himself out of it. Shaking his head over his creepy staring and suddenly, uh… not-friendly mood, he turned to watch Gala talk about the struggles of writing, writer’s block and solutions that helped in her experience. The lecture took about an hour, with a Q&A session added. Here too, Fenja listened closely, checking questions already answered and noting them down. Ragnar caught himself staring again. He always had felt the need to kinda protect her, keep her close, in his arms, but- oh boy. Oooooh. He leaned back against the chair, crossed his arms and stubbornly stared ahead, until his aunt excused them and everyone was leaving. He’d have to talk to someone about this. Crap. Someone help him. He must have made a sound, because Fenja looked over, concern on her face. “Is everything okay?” “Yeah, I’m good.”

** “Okay, so, I’ve got some examples I need you to translate, please.”  Ingrid laid down papers in front of Fenja and sat. “We’re gonna implement this in the program, we need to get clear on pronunciation and grammar and stuff.”  Fenja looked down at the paper, then back at Ingrid. “That’s your example?”  “Yep.” This whole family, for real.   “Uh, you’re not gonna get accurate, actually used German that way, right?” It’s from Lord Of The Rings. The hell.  “It’s not about that, it’s just an example, a start. It’s about the words, not what it means in context.”  She nodded, then held her hand out for a pen. “You want me to do it on paper?”” Now it was Ingrids turn to shrug. “However you’d like, doesn’t make a big difference.”

It didn’t take Fenja too long to translate it, even when using old German, plush and polished words, to keep the feeling of the original. She caught Ingrid’s attention, as she put her pen down and leaned back in her chair. They were seated in the Ragnarsson library, spread all over the place with school stuff, research, Fenja’s papers for her essays and Ingrid’s paperwork for the Linguae Populi. “You wanna read it?”, the girl asked, and promptly put her chin into her hands, abandoning her work.  “Sure.” Fenja cleared her throat and took a deep breath.   In a sure, but soft tone, she read aloud:

“Nicht alles das Gold, funkelt; Nicht alle die wandern, verloren; Alt und stark nicht verdunkelt; Wurzeln in Tiefe nicht erfroren; Feuer aus Asche entsteht, wie Licht entspringt dem Schatten; Soll zerbarste Klinge nun heilen, Krone wieder auf Königs Haupte weilen.”

Fenja felt slightly uncomfortable under Ingrid's attentive gaze; she raked her fingers through her hair and looked down at the paper. “It's probably not perfect, and certainly not even close to the original translation, but I tried.” The girl stopped her immediately, waving a hand through the air and shaking her head adamantly. “no I'm sure it's absolutely fine.” “Sounded fine to me.”, Came from the door. “Dad!” Ingrid uncurled her legs, bound over to her father like a puppy and dove into his arms for a big old hug. “I didn't know you'd be home today! I thought you had a work trip to Ontario?” Ivar stroked his daughter's head as he looked down at her. “I sent your Uncle instead. Gala has some business there, so he'd have gone there anyway.” Piercing blue eyes fixed Fenja ij her seat, while Ingrid took her fathers free arm and pulled him over. “You speak german?” Fenja nodded, intimidated and shy. “My family came over during the war, and they never let anyone lose touch to their roots. They expect you to be fluent in german.” Ingrid pulled the paper with the translation over and showed him. “That's from Lord of the rings. She's a nerd.” “Then you must like her, no? Two peas in a pod?” He grinned playfully, his calm exterior and the way he bantered with his kid, put her at ease. He wasn't bad, in any way. He was just so… tall, and broad, and had this very hard and cold aura, if he wanted to. They talked for a while. Ivar asked her more about her family, if they came before the war, or if they lived through the harsh times there. Fenja tried to answer, even taught him a couple of words and phrases when he asked for it. Turns out, the big bad Ivar Ragnarsson was a very curious and eager-to-please puppy dog. Now it was obvious, where this part of Ragnar came from. Those two were so much alike.

**

Ragnar was minding his own business, concentrating on his work, as a body fell into the spot next to his and a phone was shoved into his face. “LOOK AT THIS!” He did. “What am I looking at?” Fenja grinned, eyes alight with excitement, her whole body vibrating with restless energy. “That's a photograph of a black hole!” She sounded so proud, you'd think she made it. Without having to prompt her, she started into an extended rant, explaining how and when, how big it was (very), and how she really wanted to go visit it (so damn much), and how it looked like Sauron’s eye (It really did, wow), and ‘what if there is some kind of alternate universe where hobbits exist and the black hole is actually a way to go there, or to look into other universes?!’ “You want to visit a black hole.” “Yep.” “You think it’s a way to an alternate Hobbit universe?” “Yep.” Ragnars eyes were skipping over her face, taking in the scrunched nose as she smiled, the tousled hair from her run over, the healthy color of her face, the twinkle in her eyes. She was so cute, this excited. So open, so warm. It was a glimpse of how she could have been, if her parents had survived; she'd be way less inclined to shut others out. He also noticed how close she was. Her arm was wrapped around his biceps, her front pressed into his side as she leaned against him, essentially hugging his arm, while she was still holding the phone up, her elbow on the desk in front of him, his forearm trapped under hers. “You’re crazy.”, he shook his head.  “That’s my best personality trait, that are you talking about?” “But I’m coming with you. No way you’re gonna survive there. Either you’ll eat yourself to death, or you set one foot there and collide with some monster.”  “It’s settled then.” She let go of his arm, laid her own arms and head on the table, face towards him. “Now the only things left are contact with aliens and society’s realization regarding Pluto’s wrong degradation from planet status.”  Ragnar knew better than to dive into that discussion. She was very passionate about space. Instead, he plucked a hair hanging from her lashes.  “But what if there are no aliens?”  Okay, he was weak. Don’t judge.  Fenja groaned, but didn’t move much. “People who honestly believe that we are the only ones out there, are either very stupid, ignorant, or just plain scared. I can respect scared cucumbers, because that means on some level at least they agree that we can’t be alone, that’s just not logical.”

They fell into a comfortable pattern, Fenja ranting, Ragnar working. Sometimes it was the other way around, sometimes it was almost completely silent between the two of them. It was like a bubble, a safe haven on campus. Other students usually tended to avoid the two of them, because rants could happen just about any time, and those two got really passionate, including flailing arms and sometimes even thrown pens. So, their table was a corner-table, but other than them, there were no others in close vicinity. 

No one wanted to be part of… whatever they had.

**

Part 9

[djinmer4]

Paimë i Valaina (Silmarillion)

“Are you worried?” Elrond approached the figure at the rail, watching the rapidly nearing quay.  The other ellon turned to look at him, grey eyes calm with none of the apprehension the Peredhel had expected.

“Not anymore.  I was worried at the beginning of the trip, that the Valar might choose to do something dramatic during the journey.  But we seemed to have made it safely through the Straight Road.  Even if Manwë takes it into his head to hit the ship with a lightning bolt to drown me, we’re close enough to the shore that the rest of you can swim to safety.”  Maglor leaned back and shaded his eyes.  “I’m not seeing a company of Maiar on the docks to escort me to the  Máhanaxar so I’ll take that as a good sign.”

Indeed, when the ship docked there was only a small contingent to meet them.  Galadriel had taken it upon herself to be their spokeswoman and commented on the lack.  The head of the delegation apologized, “We were indeed warned by Uinen and other Maiar of Ulmo, but ‘The Ship bearing those who fought against Sauron will arrive soon’ doesn’t actually give a time frame for expected arrival.  Your parents, Princess, could not take leave of their duties for such a great time period to meet you here, although word will be sent to Tirion to let them prepare a celebration for your arrival.”

“That is acceptable,” piped in Elrond.  “But the ship that left prior to ours should have given word that we would be the next.”

“Indeed they did.  However, they did not know if a new ship would be built from scratch or if you would take whatever was available or if you would wait a few more years to tie up any loose ends or even what the weather conditions would be like.”

Now it was Maglor’s turn to interrupt.  “Practical enough.  But I believe you were told that not only the leaders of the Resistance would be coming but also a notorious criminal.  Were there no preparations made for that?”  The Teleri ner simply looked confused, and the Feanorian realized that he was far too young to have known who he was currently speaking to.  To make his point clear, the eldest Elf there slipped off his black leather glove and held out his hand, palm facing the other.  Even then, it took the Teler a few minutes to understand what the bright red design on his hand meant.  “Oh, uh, yes, we were informed.  Again though, we weren’t sure if the rumors that you had chosen to return was true.”  Maglor put his gloves back on and spared a bemused glance to his cousin and foster-son.  “Well, as you can see, it is.  Perhaps we might get things over with and you can escort me to Máhanaxar so that I may face the judgment of the Valar.”

Brown eyes looked away, the ner darting glances back at the Noldo.  “That won’t be necessary.  There will indeed be a trial over your actions back in the First Age, but the advocates from Tirion, Alqualondë and Tol Eressëa will need at least a month to prepare.  In the meantime, given your good behavior since then, your bond has been given to your family.  You can spend the wait in Formenos, catching up with them.”

“My family?  Surely you must be mistaken.  My mother and grandparents perhaps, but my family has been condemned unto the Void for being unable to fulfill our Oath.”

“With the exception of Maedhros, the rest of your family has returned from the Halls of Mandos.  And given that you’ve returned, I’m sure your last brother will also be released soon.”  Before any of the three Elves could comment, the Teleri delegate continued.  “I’m a bit surprised you mentioned facing the judgment of the Valar.  Surely Olorin and Aiwendil had mentioned that the Valar no longer rule Aman.”  That statement made even Galadriel jump.

“Truly?”

“The Valar have not ruled since the end of the Second Age.  Did not Curunír or any of the other Istari tell you so?”  Before they could respond, they heard Bilbo gasp behind them.  “Why Gandalf!  You look so young!”  Turning around they saw that Olorin had returned to his form of shining light.  (Trust a hobbit to describe it as looking young.)  Tired but still compassionate eyes looked over all of them.

“I think it’s time for you three to see the truth of Aman.”

The cavern was deep underground, underneath the crater of what had been the  Máhanaxar.  It was cut off from any wind or light.  Inside the gloom they could hear a thin, reedy voice, begging for news of the outside world, for someone to answer its cries.  “He once was the King of all the Valar in this world.  But when the Downfall of Numenor occurred, so too was the Ring of Judgment struck.  The Noldor eventually discovered this cavern while searching for new veins of ore.  Now he crawls alone in the dark, blind and deaf to anything around him.”

Galadriel and Elrond were struck speechless.  Only Maglor had the presence of mind to respond and even he took more than a few minutes to recover.  “How did this happen?”

Olorin shrugged, as much as any being of light could.  “The survivors are not certain but the most popular theory is that it is Eru’s punishment.  The Valar exist as custodians of Arda and as guides to the Children of Eru.  By the time of Numenor, it may have been that they had failed all their duties.”

“I can think of plenty of ways they failed the Elves but how did they fail otherwise.”

“They ruled the Firstborn but aside from the Maiar sent to help the creation of Numenor, ignored the Secondborn completely.  As for they’re other duties, they restricted themselves to Aman.”

“Some of that was fear of Melkor.  But even after he was gone, very little effort was made on their part to repair the damage from the war.”

“Exactly.  So when they called on Eru to defeat the Numenorean invasion, apparently Eru decided if they were going to be derelict in their duties, they should not have the benefits of power that went with their position.”

Eyes that still glowed with the light of the Trees contemplated the black hole in the ground.  “Surely they are not all like this.  The Telerin delegate mentioned Ulmo.”

“No.  Ulmo, Aulë, Irmo, Nienna, Estë and Vána have all been seen since then and appear to have retained their duties.  They have given up ruling the Firstborn but will offer advice if one seeks them out.”

“May we see any of the others?”

“The other Valar are scattered across Aman.  However, Yavanna is close by and we can walk to her prison within an hour.”

Not far indeed.  Yavanna was standing on the mound where the Trees had once grown.  The strike that had destroyed Máhanaxar had also caused the hills around it to cave in.  The Giver of Fruits was dressed in rags of brown and as far as she could see, nothing grew.  She did not move, staring at where her greatest creations had fallen.  “Not all of them are uncommunicative and still.  Varda and  Vairë were only struck blind-”

“Given those two, that’s punishment enough.” stated the Feanorian dryly.

“On the other hand, Nessa, Tulkas and Oromë were all encased in partially in stone.  And we’re not precisely sure about Mandos.  He still rules over the Dead in his Halls but he hasn’t left them since the end of the Second Age.”

“I’ll bet he makes no more prophecies either.”  The Vanyarin guide gave Maglor a funny look.  “You’re right about that.  How did you know?”

“It’s fairly obvious.  Eru must have quite a sense of irony or humor.   Manwë had the winds bring him news from all over the world now he knows nothing about anything.  Yavanna was in charge of growing things now all she sees is sterility and decay.  Nessa, Tulkas, they never stood still and now they can do nothing but.  Varda loved the light, all she sees is the dark.  For Mandos, he ruled over the Dead but also the living and pronounced Doom over the Firstborn.  Although I suppose he didn’t fail his duty, just tried to rule over the living Eldar and reduce their free will.  Maybe that’s why he’s still Ruler of the Dead.”

The blonde looked too much like his step-grandmother, and Maglor’s tone was more condescending than perhaps he intended.  “Tell me, did the decision to reduce themselves come before or after the end of the Second Age?”

“I-I don’t know.  Nienna, Ulmo and some of the others had long withdrawn away from Taniquetil before the Incident occurred.  But the others, Vana and Nienna were still seen.”

“Hmm, I’ll bet then, that the ones who were punished were the ones who voted to let Eru take care of the Numenorean problem.”

“I can’t confirm that.”

“I suppose even the Valar have their own secrets.” 

“Cousin.”  Maglor turned from where he was saddling a horse.  Last night it had been decided that he would await the trial in Formenos with his family.  Elrond would follow later, after meeting with his wife in Lorien.  Galadriel had not yet decided if she would go to Tirion to meet her parents but was staying longer on Tol Eressëa to take the time to make up her mind.

“Cousin,” he responded in kind.

“What you said yesterday, do you really believe the Valar deserved what happened to them?”

Glowing grey eyes looked into the same.  “Artanis, do you agree that the Valar abandoned their duties to Aman after the War of the Wrath?”

Reluctantly she nodded.  “Melkor was gone.  They could have helped us all rebuild and did not.”

“And do you agree that they also abandoned the Secondborn?”

“I’m not so sure about that.  But certainly, aside from the Gift, no aid ever came to them after the First Age.  And really, the only thing that happened before was Ulmo trying to warn Gondolin and that wasn’t even for the benefit of the Secondborn.”

“What about their treatment of Melkor?”

Here her face hardened.  “No, they were definitely in the wrong there.  It’s all well and good to say that Manwë didn’t understand evil, but even after being shown he was wrong, they took no responsibility for his actions until the War of Wrath.  Melkor was a Vala, one of them.  Instead, they abandoned the rest of us, Noldor, Secondborn, Sindar, everyone to the mercy of him and his lieutenants.”

“Then I take it the part you object to is their treatment of the Eldar?”

“Maglor, they are not like us.  They couldn’t possibly understand what they were doing was wrong.”

“Perhaps.  There have been times when I too want to believe they had good intentions and were merely misguided.  Certainly, the line between advising and guiding and actually ruling is very blurry.”  His eyes were as hard as hers.  “But even if I ignore the crimes to our family, that still leaves them guilty of three out of four charges.  And I think even one of those still shows an unforgivable breach of duty, with no signs of remorse or restitution in sight.  In my view, Eru is only handing out the just retribution those of Arda would inflict if they had the power to do so.”  He finished saddling the horse and easily mounted despite the scarred hand.

“Talk to others here, cousin.  Life is more complicated now than it was during the Years of the Trees.  But I think you will find most are satisfied with the trade-off of more responsibility in return for freedom.”

[tarisilmarwen]

“Jedi Night” Liveblog

I have been waiting for this and dreading it, oh gosh.

Kanan’s gonna die isn’t he?  I just know he is.

Anyway.

Here we go.

We’re not even seconds in and I already have anxiety.  Darn you Kevin Kiner, this music cue is bad for my health!

Oh lovely, foreshadowing voiceovers.

“You didn’t prepare me for this, Kanan.”

KANAN’S GONNA DIE.

Oh gosh there are death flags and portents of doom all over this.

ANXIETY.JPEG.

“I might make a mistake.  One that could cost us.”

FFFFFFFF--

WHY MUST YOU DO THIS TO ME?!

And continued zero fanfare, I hate this.

Excuse you Pryce, you leave Hera alone.

THIS IS PARALLELING THE SEASON ONE FINALE AND I DON’T LIKE IT.

Thrawn is the happiest I’ve ever seen him, this is creepy.

Lol, Sabine whapping Zeb not to bother Ezra as he’s Force-ing.

And Sabine approving of Ezra’s plan, aww.

Goodbye Kanan’s hair.

Hello nice music cue.

Aww, cute exchanged Sabezra look.

Zeb, that’s heartwarming, but also could be tragically ironic.  Stop that.

Uuunggh, this animation is gorgeous!

Also is that some Ghibli fanboyism coming out, Filoni?

Lol.

Tarkin and Thrawn discussing Death Star stuff.  Fun.

I don’t think you’re gonna make it to that meeting with Palpatine, Thrawn.

...Ooooor maybe he will.

Lol the troopers have bad memories re. Loth-cats.

Oh crap.  Ruhk can smell them.

SHIT, Kanan knows he’s gonna die, doesn’t he?

I HATE THIS.

I’m already mourning.

Genre-savvy, prepare my heart.

Ezra and Sabine soloing on a mission again. :)

Okay, well, I think I’ve already cycled through the stages of grief and nothing’s even happened to Kanan yet.

So at least it won’t hurt when he does bite it.

My genre-savvy is never wrong.

ANYWAY!

Oh lovely, are we gonna see what an Imperial mind probe entails?

Huh.  My fanfiction was pretty spot on.

Including Pryce being needlessly touchy-feely.

Go Kanan.

Heh.  Loopy Hera is funny.

Lol, aww Sabine and Ezra!

“It’s a long way down.”

CAN YOU NOT WITH THE FORESHADOWING?

“The kids” aww.

And moment ruined.

Aww, why is my anxiety back now?!

Go away, I was healthily buffered against feeling negative emotions about Kanan’s narratively inevitable demise.

Kanan lost his lightsaber.  Symbolic?

Ezra you dork, aww.

Sheesh, I’m fully prepared for it and my nerves are still racked.

Three minutes left in the episode.  Really going for the maximum gut punch aren’t they?

Oh now that’s just... mean, Filoni.

Love confession and kiss right before everything goes to hell.

(Though uh... why did they need that exactly?)

You are EVIL.

Wooo shiny!  Neat new Force demonstration.

FFFFNNNN--

WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?!

HE CAN SEE HER AT THE END?!

HOW DARE YOU.

HOW VERY DARE.

And that’s where it ends isn’t it?

With the artistically done gray title card against the white and the ash.

Told you.

My genre-savvy is never wrong.

Cripes, okay, well... I have Some Thoughts.

Kanera: I may or may not have mentioned before, I know I made at least one post joking about it, but they did something rather weirdly unnecessary with them this season, namely introducing a sudden batch of awkwardness and uncertainty between them and the dreaded, “Okay what IS this relationship exactly”, whereas before it just seemed like they... kind of already knew?  They were written so naturally comfortable together it just seemed like it wasn’t something that actually needed to be said since it was so obvious.  Like, we all knew they were already together, already a thing, they were just being low-key about it.

So I mean, I get that more explicit confirmation that Yes They Are A Thing was wanted by the fandom, but I honestly don’t see the necessity of having them have the love confession plot.  She loves him.  Well, duh?  Was this not obvious?  Did it actually need to be said aloud to be considered real?

Did we need to pretend/retcon that they weren’t clearly already together just to have the extra heartwrench upon tearing them apart?  Seems like unwarranted plot drama for the sake of ANGST.

This like when Nathaniel and Iris had the “Will you be my girlfriend?” conversation in the middle of the second season of LoliRock, I was all, “Aren’t... you guys... dating?  Already?  How are you not already boyfriend and girlfriend?  What did I miss?  YOU’VE KISSED AT LEAST TWICE.”

Negh.  Well, I was never SUPER invested in their relationship but it still kind of irks me.  Mostly because HELLO YES, CAN I HAVE ESTABLISHED COUPLES PLEASE?  CAN I NOT HAVE THIS UST DRAMA?

Le sigh.

Kanan’s Death: My genre-savvy has been preparing me for this since the Season Three finale so I really can’t say I didn’t see it coming but yeesh.

Even though I kinda always figured it was inevitable, I’ve always been a big proponent of the philosophy that if you can tell more and better and more interesting stories by keeping a character alive rather than killing them off, then you should spare them.  I think finding a creative way to write Kanan and Ezra out of the Rebellion would have been much more fresh and interesting.  And with all the hints they were dropping and laying on thick, honestly it would have been more of a plot twist if Kanan hadn’t died.

So on that end it was a bit disappointingly predictable.

Doesn’t nearly sting as much as Han or Luke in the new trilogy though, mainly because it was handled by writers who actually know what they’re doing and are willing to give it the proper gravitas and respect. *coughcough*

I expect we’re not quite done with Kanan’s arc yet, and will fully bet he comes back in some form for a last advice session with Ezra.  I see a lot of people being optimistic about a full Gandalf-style reincarnation and ehhhhh... I dunno, after TLJ I don’t exactly trust LucasFilm not to go the full cynical route.  I think Kanan’s definitely Dead.

But I will of course ignore that in pretty much all my fanfiction.  :)

Ezra: Was oddly underutilized this episode, even being the planmaker and leader.  I worry greatly for his life now, now that the show has decided to commit to protagonist death.

In conclusion!

I’m not terribly upset by the narrative decisions made but I still have some nitpicks about how cliche and slightly forced for DRAMAZ they were.  That being said, it was done beautifully and handled more competently than some other prominent character deaths I could name (*COUGH*STILLSALTYABOUTLUKE*COUGH*) and it looks like next episode they’re gonna take some time to actually have the characters mourn and grieve.

I might... take a couple days before I get to liveblogging that one.  Clear my palate.

[the-jade-cross]

Over the Mountains - Chapter 6

'Thank goodness that horses need to be watered!' Sepha thought as she dismounted.

She loved riding and her pony was great! Unlike Kili's! However, sitting in the saddle with her legs spread apart, made it all the more uncomfortable when her bladder began to fill up from breakfast and they had been riding for hours. After getting a headache on past trips from not drinking enough, Sepha had made it a routine to drink a full skin (Which is about the size of a waterbottle) every two to three hours. However, this didn't help when you were in the saddle and couldn't empty your bladder whenever you wanted.

When she dismounted, she tied the reins of her pony on his saddle so he didn't trip and let him wander to the stream with the other ponies. She sighed and grabbing her bag, she headed to a clump of bushes that was out of sight of the dwarves. However, it wasn't as easy as that.

Before she even took a step in that direction, Nori, Ori, Dori and Bofur were upon her, asking her questions and inquiring if she would be interested in joining in a new bet. Sepha barely heard what they were saying for her head was spinning with their voices and the need to relieve herself. All she heard was something about how long it would take them to get through Mirkwood. These dwarves seriously bet on everything! Even about Bofur's cooking! Once Dori and Nori had made a bet about how many times Bombur called for a bathroom break during the first half of the trip but finding it rather disturbing, Sepha had declined.

"Uh guys... I have to go," Sepha said, cringing when she felt her bladder weaken. If she didn't go soon she would wet her pants and that would be embarrassing.

Just when she felt like she was going to burst, a deep voice cut through the four dwarves' chatter.

"Let Sepha go. Seriously, you can chatter her ear off after she has a few moments to herself." THorin remarked, stepping to pull Ori and Nori back by their hoods. "Have a little respect."

Dori and Bofur nodded their heads and ducked away, giving Sepha an apology before pulling Nori and Ori away with them, leaving THorin and Sepha alone. Thorin smiled at her which only aided in making Sepha's already flushed face go crimson.

"Sorry about that."

Sepha shook her head, "Don't worry about it. Thank you though for stepping in."

Thorin smiled, "They were going a little too far. Though I wont follow suit and keep you."

The girl smiled gratefully as the dwarf prince bowed his head to her as a sign of excusing himself and headed over to talk with Gandalf and Dwalin. Sepha quickly spun on her heel and charged away from the company. When she finished, she was walking back to the company when something flashed in her mind.

Balin had said that another sign of a dwarf showing interest in a girl would be to show signs of respect, protection and standing up for her.... which was exactly what Thorin had just done.... holy noodles!

When Sepha came back into the clearing where the dwarves were beginning to gather their ponies, Sepha felt her cheeks flame red even though THorin wasn't even looking in her direction.

"here Sepha," Fili invited, holding out the reins of her pony to the girl.

Sepha thanked him and took the reins but it was evident her mind was elsewhere and her cheeks were still a cute shade of pink. Fili smiled at the sight, having to admit that the girl was rather pretty.

"You know, if you were any younger, I would ask to court you," Fili said, mostly in a teasing tone but after what SEpha had experienced, she wasn't taking anything lightly.

She lifted her eyes in puzzlement, "Is it a dwarf custom to be the same age?"

Fili shook his head, "If you found your one, it doesn't matter. I actually know a dwarf who married a dam who was about our age difference apart and she was the older one."

Sepha smiled, "So you have never had an interest in girls?"

"Oh I wouldn't say that," Fili remarked. "I found you vastly interesting when I first met you and after I found out everything about you... I was considering asking for your favor."

"You think I'm your one?" Sepha inquired.

Fili smiled and turned slightly red from nervousness, "I wouldn't say that.... but sometimes it's hard to get to know a lass if you're just friends. if a lass gives a dwarf her 'favor' which is like her permission to get to know her better, they aren't considered just friends or courting... but somewhere between. It is often that dwarves ask several girls for their favor until they're sure they found their one."

"Then why didn't you?" Sepha inquired. "I wouldn't have minded."

Fili's eyes seemed to light up but immediately, something in his mind clicked and the back of his ears turned pink but his face showed no signs of sadness, only embarrassment. He glanced over his shoulder at THorin, remembering full well how all the other dwarves had fallen under Thorin during the arm wrestling match, meaning that none of them had a right to ask for her favor, except THorin. Such was custom.

"I...I changed my mind," Fili replied, scurrying off before he embarrassed himself more.

Fili honestly wasn't hurt that Thorin had put Sepha off limits by winning the wrestling match but he felt bad that he had to hurt her. The way he had told her, he knew that she would be hurt especially since he had said it as if he had lost interest in her. In truth, he adored Sepha as a friend, a sister and even as a mother figure. After Rivendell and how she had strove to care for him and Kili, he had begun to see her less and less as a mate and more as someone who was older than him, but also how she suited Thorin much better than him. There had been a point where he wouldn't have minded to have her favor and even though he still wouldn't mind now, he had begun to realize that she was still more like a mother/sister to him.

Sepha watched Fili go and felt a pain in her chest. Fili had lost interest.... well that was to be expected considering how out of the normal she was and how she wasn't full blooded dwarf. However, there was something about how Fili told her that said that something about it wasn't entirely the truth. Glancing at all the other dwarves, she saw that Kili had been watching and seemed a little saddened, she was not sure about what though. Balin and Dwalin were peering at her but looked away when she looked their direction. They then began chatting together and even though they had seemed so excited and happy a few minutes ago, they almost looked concerned and worried. THorin was conversing with Gandalf and seemed oblivious, a smile on his face and his eyes bright. She was going to find out what was going on if it was the last thing she did.

Once they entered the forest, Sepha had forgotten everything that had been racking her brains for the past few hours. Gandalf had left them and they had of course, lost the path. Kili began to mumble things that didn't make any sense to Sepha. Some of them, having to do about bets and wagers did make sense but SEpha forgot about them the moment they left Kili's mouth... she couldn't remember anything.... her head was swimming.... what was going on?

She remembered vaguely hearing Thorin yell at everyone to be quiet, then she remembered seeing Bilbo scurry up a tree to look for where they needed to go...then everything went black.

When Sepha came to, she found herself covered in a sticky material that she at once recognized as web! EEEEEEWWWWWW!

Tearing it off her face, she was glad that it didn't stick to her leather clothes and hair as much as the dwarves. She found herself lying on several bodies and Ori was partially on top of her. The young dwarf rolled off of her with a quick apology. Sepha saw that she was partially lying on Dwalin who wiggled out from beneath her and began to help the others up.

When Dwalin stood up, Sepha rolled for her feet were still pinned and wrapped up so she landed on another body, banging heads with the person. She groaned and she heard a soft groan coming from the other person. Her hair flopped over her eyes, blinding her and she mumbled to herself.

"Of all things to happen. Spiders. THey're supposed to remain small!"

There was a chuckle beneath her and a hand brushed her hair out of her eyes. Her eyes went wide and her cheeks turned bright red when she realized she was lying on THorin! He was lying on his back, smiling and chuckling at her reaction and the mess she was in. He pushed her hair out of her eyes and tucked some strands behind her ears, letting his fingers linger on the side of her face a little longer than need be.

Sepha was so glad that her head was now clear of the curse or she wouldn't have managed to snap herself out of the daze THorin had her in. When she pushed up from his chest, she rolled over, realizing her legs were still wrapped. Sitting up, she began to tear at it and soon THorin bent down and helped her by cutting the web with a dagger.

"They made sure to bind you up tighter than the rest of us," THorin pointed out.

Sepha grinned, "They must have noticed that I have a thin hide and didn't want me to burst!"

This only caused THorin to grin brighter, "On the contrary, they probably smelt that your blood would be much more agreeable than the rest of us."

Sepha knew that Thorin was speaking logic, since the spiders had been attracted to their blood but she was still slightly surprised at his answer, "And how would you know how my blood smelt? It actually smells really bad when it's not in my body!"

This brought out a laugh from Thorin who drew the girl to her feet, "Maybe so, but the rest of you smells so good that even spiders couldn't resist."

Of course, this made Sepha's face go bright pink when she realized he was paying her a compliment on how she smelt.... how did he know how she smelt? They usually weren't close enough and for the most part, she was so soiled and bloody that she only smelt of the road and blood.

"THORIN!" Dwalin called, snapping the two of them out of their conversation. "SPIDERS!"

"Come on!" THorin called, grabbing Sepha by the hand and Orcrist in the other.

They began to rush through the woods, battling spiders when suddenly, a familiar noise split the air and Sepha found herself shivering.... the sound of a bow.

Looking up, she saw an elf swinging down towards them, killing spiders as he went. For a second she thought he was thranduil, what with the blond hair and all. However, as he got nearer and aimed his bow directly at Thorin, Sepha recognized him.

He had been younger when she last saw him... barely a lad. He had actually be one of the few elves who had been kind and courteous to her when Thranduil practically had her as an experiment. Legolas had shown distaste for his father's experiments on Sepha and had even been the one to aid her in escaping. Him and another elf.

"Do not think I wont kill you dwarf. It would be my pleasure," Legolas hissed.

Sepha found herself smirking, especially when Thorin didn't say anything but lowered Orcrist.

Soon, Kili was brought over and Sepha recognized the female elf: Tauriel as the other elf who had helped her escape. Of course, Sepha was one of the few who knew back then about Legolas's crush on the female elf but of course, Tauriel had confided in Sepha that she wasnt sure she liked Legolas in that way.

"Search them," Legolas ordered.

He had still not spied Sepha who was hidden behind Fili and now Kili. Just then, an elf approached FIli and caught sight of the girl.

"Legolas," He called. "There is a girl."

Legolas's head snapped up from where he was searching Gloin and his eyes met Sepha's.

"Seph?" he asked.

All the dwarves bristled at his use for Sepha's pet name but stopped when they saw the girl smiled sweetly at him. The elf walked around the dwarves and stood before Sepha, smiling.

"What are you doing here?"

Sepha knew she couldn't reveal much but Legolas was her friend, "I'm part of the company. Just hanging out."

Legolas shot a look at THorin, suspicion playing in his eyes, "And I suppose you know these dwarves?"

Sepha nodded, "Aye."

Legolas considered the dwarves a moment before sighing, "LET's move!"

With that, Sepha and the dwarves were shuffled off towards the Woodland Realm. However, Thorin noticed with deep annoyance that Legolas kept a gentle hand on Sepha's shoulder. Of course, THorin found it impossible to get near Sepha especially with all the shoving and pushing.

************

"You know it wouldn't be a good idea to take Sepha before your father," Tauriel remarked as they shoved the dwarves into cells.

Sepha stood, Legolas's hand still on her shoulder, "You know that he'll know she's here even if we keep it a secret from him," the elf pointed out. "WE don't want his wrath on her to be worse than it already is."

"Well he's speaking with the lead dwarf," Tauriel pointed out, shoving Kili into his cell. "Just wait till that's over."

Legolas nodded and led Sepha off to his father. When they arrived, Thorin and Thranduil seemed to be in a heated argument. Thranduil was sauntering up the steps to his throne, saying something about how Thorin was just like his grandfather.

"Father," Legolas remarked, catching the king's attention.

Thorin didn't turn around, obviously not knowing that Legolas had Sepha but when Thranduil's eyebrows went up, Thorin spun around.

"Well what do we have here?"

"Sepha," Thorin whispered, staring at the girl in shock.

Sepha smiled at Thorin with encouragement, "it's alright."

"Finally you came to your senses and returned," Thranduil remarked.

Sepha snorted and brushed Legolas's hand off her shoulder, "In your dreams!"

Thorin smiled slightly at her response but when Thranduil stormed from the throne, he tensed.

"You had everything you wanted here!" he hissed. "You had a life, people who cared about you, food, a home and a purpose."

Sepha stormed away from Legolas so that she was standing right before the king and she jabbed his chest with her finger, "I had nothing here! The only people who cared about me were Legolas and Tauriel! I didn't have a life! I was being used! I was half starved to death and you threatened to not feed me unless I bore an offspring that I would have with another mixed breed! This was not a home! It was a prison cell! My only purpose was to fulfill you and your blasted experiment!"

Thranduil's dark eyebrows lowered and his eyes darkened, "Legolas, remove Oakenshield from my presence. I wish to speak with Sepha alone."

Thorin at once began to struggle but the two guards who grabbed him were taller and stronger. As they dragged him away, his eyes darkened.

"Don't even think about hurting her!" he hissed.

When THorin was gone, Thranduil turned to Sepha, "Now my dear. I think it's high time we came to an agreement."

"You mean a deal?" Sepha inquired.

Thranduil nodded, "If you stay here and continue on with my project, I will let your dwarf friends go. If not, you will all remain here as prisoners."

Sepha crossed her arms, "Indeed? Well it seems like I have you at a disadvantage. You get one of me, but for me, you free thirteen of them."

"True," THranduil remarked. "in that case. You will stay here to continue the project... and you will release yourself from oakenshield."

Sepha raised her eyebrows, "What are you talking about? I didn't take an oath or anything. I didn't even sign a contract."

Thranduil chuckled, "Oh no, I was referring to your emotional bond with him."

Sepha felt her heart freeze. Was it that obvious?

"I have no idea what you're talking about. We're nothing but friends."

Thranduil nodded, "Uh huh? Then how come Thorin has a claim on you."

"He has no claim on me!" Sepha shouted, getting annoyed. "The only time that THorin ever staked a claim concerning me was when he made himself my 'protector'."

Thranduil's eyebrows went down, "And how did he do that?"

"An arm wrestling match with the other dwarves," Sepha replied, losing her patience.

A loud laugh erupted from the king which only aggravated Sepha more.

"My dear Persephone. You have always been so naive. Have you no idea what an arm wrestling match implies when it comes to dwarves? For humans and elves it's just a form of competition. For dwarves, it's much more personal," the elf remarked, suddenly having Sepha's full attention. "When dwarves have an arm wrestling match in the presence of only one female, no matter if they are their kin or not, the winner of the match now is the only one of the dwarves who competed who is allowed to court the lass."

Sepha froze. She didn't quite get all of that but from how he was saying it, Thorin had somehow put her off limits. "Explain..."

Thranduil smiled, glad that she was listening, "THorin wont the match against the other dwarves correct?"

Sepha nodded.

"Then that means that THorin is now the only person who has any right to court you now. If anyone else wishes to have an interest in courting you or even asking for your favor, they must best him at arm wrestling. It's a way that dwarves stake their claim. Mark their territory. You practically belong to Thorin now as far as romance and courting is implied."

"YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THAT I"M NOT ALLOWED TO COURT ANYONE!?" Sepha shouted.

"No one but Oakenshield," Thranduil replied. "unless someone can best him. though I have to say, if he won against all the dwarves of your company, it will be difficult for anyone to best him."

"Oh that little son of a half troll..." Sepha muttered under her breath, feeling her face go red with fury.

Thranduil smiled, glad that he had hit a sensitive spot, "Legolas will escort you back to your friends. I'll give you some time to think about my proposal and you can tell me when you're ready."

Sepha didn't speak, didn't look up and didn't even object when Legolas placed a hand on her elbow and ushered her away from his father.

When Legolas led her down to the dungeons, the girl finally looked up and her green eyes blazed with fury. For a second, Legolas was afraid she would morph but instead, her fingers just sparked with fire instead.

"Sorry Seph but I'll have to put you in a cell," Legolas apologized.

With that, he opened a cell door and she walked in. Legolas closed it gently and locked it, but not before smiling at her in a fond way.

Sepha walked around her cell, inspecting the place. This was a different cell from the one she had been in the last time she was here. However, when she had entered, she had noticed that there were two cells connected to hers. The cells were so dark that she couldn't tell if there was anyone in the other cells. However, she did know that Balin was to her right.

"Sepha," Fili's voice called out from some other cell. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Sepha replied, trying to not snap.

"Did he hurt you?" Kili's voice called.

"No," Sepha replied. "He just wanted to bargain."

"Bargain what?" Dwalin's voice called.

"If I agree to stay here and be subject to his experiments, he will let you all go. If not, we're stuck here to rot," Sepha replied. "he said he would give me time to think about it."

"You can't do it Seph!" Balin pointed out. "Who knows what he'll do to you if you agree."

Sepha nodded but then she heard footsteps outside. Peering out of her cell, she saw the two guards returning with Thorin. He must have made it difficult for them to get him back because she beat him here. They pushed the dwarf prince into the cell next to Sepha and locked the gate.

"Did he offer you a deal?" Balin asked while Sepha was busy watching the dwarf who had the keys. She hoped Bilbo, wherever he was, could get a hold of them.

"He did." Thorin replied. "I told him he could goish kakhfa ai-d dur-rugnu. Him and all his kin!"

Balin sighed, "Well that's that. A deal was our only hope.... and we cannot expect Sepha to go with the deal Thranduil offered her."

Sepha snapped out of her concentration and realized that Thorin was in the cell next to her, and he had approached the bars that separated them, "Sepha? Are you alright? What did he do..."

Before he could even finish, he found the side of his head smashed against the bars, his body flush against the bars and Sepha's strong hands gripping the neck of his tunic, holding him there.

"Hvag er dieg utgrag? dieg head er som kjutekk som stone!" She cried in Kuzdul (What is your problem? Your head is as thick as stone!)

"What did I do now?" Thorin asked.

"You have no right to stake a claim on me like I'm just an object to be won!"

"What are you talking about lass?" Balin inquired, not sure why she was so upset.

"Duag settereg merg avpag limits til hver annen menneskelig being niden de verdag! pa beorn's duag marked merg som dieg territory! ei en er tilogmeg allowed til spokk min favor unless deakk kag benetest duag!" she yelled (YOU PUT ME OFF LIMITS TO EVERY OTHER HUMAN BEING IN THE WORLD! AT BEORN'S YOU MARKED ME AS YOUR TERRITORY! NO ONE IS EVEN ALLOWED TO ASK MY FAVOR UNLESS THEY CAN BEST YOU)

Thorin's face at once went ashen and all the other dwarves listened in for they knew what Sepha was talking about.

"I was meaning to tell you," Thorin replied.

"Really?" Sepha insisted. "When were you going to tell me? When you finished trying to attract my attention and make yourself seem like the only right person for me to court?"

Thorin winced. She was mad.... he had messed up bad!

"I didn't know at the time that you didn't know about dwarven customs," THorin replied, trying to stay calm.

"Is that so?" Sepha snapped. "What else was I oblivious to besides the feels of strength, skill and the marking of territory?"

"The braiding," THorin whispered.

Sepha's hand tightened on his tunic and Thorin felt the air in him escape when he rammed against the bars again, "You knew! I told you I didn't know about the customs but you did it anyway! You put me off limits! Fili didn't lose interest! He stopped thinking about it because of you! You put me off limits and discouraged other people from showing any interest! Did it ever occur to you that I have a right to say who I want to be interested in? I have a say in my life, especially my love life THorin Oakenshield! I would have thought your father taught you this! I thought you respected me!"

"I do respect you..." THorin began.

"NO YOU DONT!" Sepha yelled. "if you did, you wouldn't have stood between me and every other man in the whole of middle earth! Gosh darn it THorin Oakenshield why do you have to be so selfish!?!?!?!? Just because you're a prince doesn't mean that you have a right to mark everything and everyone as your territory! Why didn't you just ask?"

"I didn't know what you would say," Thorin replied. "I wanted to be sure that I had a chance."

"Well you don't now!" Sepha screamed. "It will take a miracle for you to have a chance now you stubborn, thick headed dwarf! Will you just chain me to the floor if I don't allow you to court me? What if I don't love you!?"

Suddenly, THorin was released. The whole prison was dead silent but only Balin and Thorin could see Sepha. The girl had retracted the moment the last words came from her mouth and now she had her hands covering her mouth, her eyes widen with shock and fright. She hadn't meant to say that. True, she was furious with THorin for not telling her but she didn't mean the last part. She still loved him.... gosh did she love him!

THorin's blue eyes were wide with surprise at her outburst, but they widened more when he saw that she looked horrified.

"Sepha..."

Before he could even say anything, Sepha charged to the gate of her prison, refusing to look at anyone, "LEGOLAS!"

The elf was at the prison gate within a second, "What is it Seph?"

"I'll agree to your father's terms. I'll do what he wants."

Seph are you out of your mind?" FIli cried from his cell. "Who knows what they will do to you if you agree."

"He could very well not go with his word and just up and rape you!" Dwalin shouted.

Gloin and OIn didn't make a sound but kept ramming each other against their gate in an attempt to get out. Sepha was sitting in the furthest, darkest corner of her cell as far from THorin as she could. He was pacing back and forth in his cell, pinching the bridge of his nose and looking fully conflicted and worried.

"Can't we just wait for the halfling?" Bofur asked, stating the obvious

"What if he never comes?" Ori asked.

"Maybe Sepha has the right idea," Nori admitted.

"ARE YOU CRAZY!" half the dwarves hollered, making a ruckus.

"Sepha dear," Balin said through the bars. "Can't you just let us wait for a while and see if we can find a way out of this one?"

When Sepha didn't reply, all the dwarves began to chatter again. Finally the girl had enough and rising to her feet, she morphed into a massive wolf and rammed her head against the bars, silencing the dwarves.

"ENOUGH!" she cried, "JUST STOP!"

Her voice at first had been strong and demanding but as she continued, they could hear it breaking as she morphed back to human and tears sprang to her eyes, "Just....stop....please...."

She slowly slid down the bars of her cell and sat on the ground, pulling her knees to her chest. "I'm just a wolf.... a beast. Let me trade the beast for your freedom... please..."

AT once the dwarves began to object again, not at her idea but at the fact that she had called herself a beast. They knew she was implying that she wasn't worthy and they tried to talk her out of it. THorin noticed tears streaming down Sepha's face so walking to the gate of his cell, he yelled.

"SHAZAR!" he yelled.

Instantly the dwarves shut up and the prison was swallowed in silence. THorin walked over to the bars that separated him and SEpha and crouched down as close to the girl as he could.

"Sepha," he whispered softly. "I know I'm the last person you want to talk to right now but... please don't do this."

Sepha lifted her emerald green eyes to look at the dwarf prince and for a moment, THorin thought she would agree. Her eyes pooled with tears and she slowly shook her head, "It's better for everyone if I do."

"Sepha," thorin whispered but he was cut off by the appearance of Legolas.

At first he had a right mind to yell at the elf but when he saw the pale, concerned and horrified look on the elf's face, he knew that Legolas was just as concerned for the girl as he was.

"Sepha," Legolas said. "before I open this gate, please try to reconsider."

Sepha rose to her feet and shook her head, "This isnt like last time Legolas. It isnt just one girl you and Tauriel are sneaking out of the palace... it's a company. It's better if it is done this way. That way, your father will not put two and two together and get the two of you in trouble... and there will be less casualties."

Legolas sighed and shook his head, lowering his eyes from Sepha.

"Open the gate please Legolas," Sepha whispered.

The elf lifted his eyes and for a split second he met eyes with Thorin. Their expressions were identical and they knew it.

Sighing, the elf opened the gate and placing a hand on Sepha's elbow, led her out.

"Seph," Fili's soft voice called as she passed his cell.

Sepha paused and Legolas knew why, "Make it quick."

The girl nodded and headed over to Fili's cell. He and Kili were right next to each other so she was able to grab both of their hands through the bars and smile.

"It's going to be okay," she whispered.

Kili was on the verge of tears and Fili was trying his hardest to not look concerned but his expression gave it away.

Sepha smiled and leaning her head against each gate, she pressed her forehead to theirs in a gesture of comradeship and friendship.

"Uncle didn't want to hurt you," FIli whispered. "he did what he thought was right."

Sepha shook her head, "I know..."

"Then why are you leaving?" Kili insisted. "It doesn't seem like you're upset with him."

The girl sighed, "I'm not upset with him... but I'm afraid that if I stay any longer it will become uncomfortable."

"Why do you say that?" FIli insisted.

"Because THorin hates me now," the girl explained. "And I hate myself for saying something to him that was nowhere near true...."

"You mean your feelings?" Kili asked, his eyes lighting up with hope.

Sepha nodded and the dwarf smiled, "I knew it!"

"Kili," FIli warned. "Seph. Thorin doesn't hate you because of what you said. You were upset and confused."

Sepha nodded, "Maybe so.... but I just lied to the leader of the company. That's enough reason for me to leave, not for my own sake of guilt but for your sake and the sake of the rest of the company."

"Sepha," both boys tried to reason but the girl pulled away from them and walked over to Legolas.

The elf gave them an apologetic look as he escorted Sepha out of the dungeons. They were halfway up the stairs when Tauriel happened upon them.

"You can't do this," she whispered. 'You know full well that Legolas's father will not go with his word! He'll keep you and then never let the dwarves out."

Sepha nodded, "I know... that's why I have a plan."

At once the two elves were listening.

"Tauriel, go back down to the prison and make sure there are no guards around. One of our friends... a hobbit is here in the palace. He'll get the gates unlocked and release the dwarves but you need to distract the guards. Give them enough time to get down to the cellar and then alert the guards."

"Why?" Tauriel inquired.

"Because that way if anyone asks, you had no idea that the dwarves escaped."

Tauriel nodded in understanding.

"Legolas will get me to his father. What he does to me is something of another story but I will keep his attention on me while this is happening. Legolas, you need to be sure you stay up there till Tauriel sounds the alarm or your father will suspect something."

Legolas nodded, "But what happens when we have to get the dwarves back?"

Sepha sighed and ran her fingers through her knotted, soiled hair, "There are orcs following the dwarves. I have a sneaking suspicion that you will be more busy fighting orcs than chasing dwarves."

the two elves nodded and Legolas escorted Sepha back upstairs while Tauriel went to distract the guards. When Legolas led Sepha up the last flight of stairs, it gave her a perfect view of the stairs that led down the cellar. She could see Bilbo there.... creasing down with the dwarves following. For a split second Fili lifted his eyes and caught sight of her. He would have spoken but she shook her head. Instead he silently alerted The other dwarves who all looked up at her, eyes wide.

She smiled softly at them and then her eyes met the piercing blue ones of the dwarf prince. She nodded her head respectfully to him before turning back to Legolas and heading up the stairs. Who knew if she would ever see Thorin again.

"I must say I am surprised," Thranduil admitted. "Seeing as you practically refused last time when I offered you everything if you would just cooperate."

"You were offering material things," Sepha pointed out. "This time you were offering the freedom of my friends. That's different."

Thranduil nodded and Sepha knew from the way his eyes turned dark at the mention of the dwarves, she knew that Tauriel had been right to assume he wouldn't keep his promise.

"Well why don't we get started immediately?" THranduil asked.

Legolas felt his heart stop. he had hoped his father would send the girl to freshen up and at least get a comb through her hair which had become a rat nest. that would have given the dwarves time to escape and then he and Tauriel might have found a way to free the girl.

"Whatever," Sepha remarked.

The elf prince felt a cold hand clutch his heart. Sepha had lost all hope. She didn't care what happened to her anymore.... all she cared was to see the dwarves escape safely...

"Let's see how much more resilient you are compared to last time," Thranduil taunted, summoning two guards forward, "Whip her till she passes out. When she does, report back to me and inform me how long it took for her to black out."

The two nodded and grabbing the girl by her arms, easily dragged her off. Legolas felt his throat tighten when he heard a door slam.... and the sounds of a whip meeting flesh could be heard.

"Do not be weak my son," Thranduil said, "This is punishment for her escaping."

Legolas nodded but inside he was screaming curses at his father. Suddenly, he heard another scream split the air and he knew it was Sepha's.

Suddenly, Legolas was pulled out of his daze by the reappearance of Sepha and the two elves. The girl was unconscious and bleeding horribly.

Legolas managed to keep himself from rushing to her side.

"It was a hundred lasses sire," one of the elves said. "She didn't cry out till the fiftieth."

"Impressive," Thranduil remarked. "Legolas, get the beast to a chamber and cleaned up. Bring her back to me when she wakes."

Legolas nodded and bending down, gently scooped the girl up without touching her blood stained back. As he descended the stairs, he knew he had to get the girl out before his father killed her. He knew there was no way he could do this without getting caught.... then something struck him. He saw one of the elves coming up the stairs, horribly drunk.

Just then, the warning horn went off. Tauriel had done it.

"Hold her," he instructed, handing the girl to the elf.

The elf weakly took the girl. Legolas ran past him but spun on his heel and crept up on the drunk elf. Clapping him over the head, Legolas caught the girl before the unconscious elf fell on the ground. If anyone asked, Legolas had handed her to him to help catch the dwarves then someone snuck on him from behind and took the girl. the blood on the elf's jacket was enough proof.

Legolas held the girl close and rushed down the stairs. When he got outside, he saw no sign of Tauriel but he could hear the dwarves yelling as they flowed down the river. Opening an abandoned closet, he placed the girl gently in there and closed it, locking it.

He rushed out and began to fake his game, "Close the gate."

TIME SKIP..... to river fight

Legolas kicked another orc into the river and shot the last orc. He stood on the edge of the rock, watching the dwarves float past in their barrels. His eyes sought out the lead dwarf and he spied THorin who looked in his direction.

The elf nodded and mouthed Sepha's name. he saw the dwarf seemingly relax, knowing that Legolas was going to protect her.

Suddenly, he heard a scuffle behind him and turned to Tauriel, "Tauriel. This one we keep alive."

He heard the orcs scream as they chased the dwarves downstream.

"I'm going to get this orc to my father. Sepha is in the old abandoned closet near the back entrance. Get her out and follow the dwarves. I will meet up with you the moment I can get away."

Tauriel nodded and handed the orc off to Legolas before rushing back to the palace.

When she found Sepha, the girl was half awake but bleeding horribly.

"Stay right there," the elf whispered. "I need to get you some clean clothes and supplies."

Knowing that they had nothing in the girl's size, Tauriel grabbed two clean shirts and an extra outfit of her own. With these in tow, she returned to Sepha who had managed to stand up on her own.

"Come on," she whispered. "Climb on my back."

Sepha obeyed and gently wrapped her arms and legs around the elf's back. Tauriel handed the bag of things to her and took off running.

************

"Lie still," Tauriel whispered.

They had stopped for a break when they were out of the borders of the kingdom. That way no elf but Legolas would find them. Tauriel had cleaned Sepha's wounds and laid kings foil on them to keep them from getting infected. Then, she wrapped the girl's back in strips from one of the shirts she tore up.

The other shirt she put on the girl and gently dressed her in the spare outfit she brought. It was slightly long on Sepha but after cutting the skirt a little shorter, it fitted the girl perfectly.

"You need to rest," Tauriel replied as she buried the bloody materials.

"Where are you taking me?" Sepha asked from where Tauriel had propped her against a tree.

"To join the company," the elf replied."They need you."

Sepha shook her head, "They never did. They especially don't need a wounded girl and one who tells lies."

Tauriel sighed, "Seph, I know you well enough to know that this isnt all about your snapping at the dwarf prince. What is really troubling you?"

Sepha slouched and buried her face in her hands, "I don't understand why Thorin did that."

"Did what?" Tauriel asked. "Place a claim on your hand?"

Sepha nodded, "Why would he do something like that? Is he so against me that he doesn't want me to find my One?"

A smile spread across Tauriel's face and she smirked, "SEph.... I think it's the opposite. I think he placed that claim because he wants you to find your One and he believes that by doing that, he is helping you."

"How?" Sepha insisted. "How is he helping me find my One if the only person he's allowing me to even favor is him...."

Suddenly, realization dawned on her and she looked up to see Tauriel smiling knowingly.

"I'm his One?" she asked.

Tauriel shrugged, "I'm not a dwarf so I don't know. I do know one thing. THorin Oakenshield isnt the type to meet a girl and know her for a short time then decide she is his One without good reason."

"But.... why me?" Sepha insisted. "I'm a beast..."

"Dont say that," Tauriel almost snapped. "you're not a beast. You're a unique, special person and THorin sees that. That is why he cares for you so much."

"He cares about me?"

Tauriel nodded, "Now all that remains is if you care for him too."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because if you care for him as much as he cares for you, then there is a very high chance that you two are each other's ONe."

Sepha slowly swallowed and her mind raced back over the past few weeks that she has been with the dwarves.... she remembered first meeting THorin and their slight rivalry.... she remembered when he saved her and she saved him.... when he found out she was part elf....when he was hurt.... Azog....Beorn's.... the signs of affection....

"YEs.... I do care for him," Sepha whispered.

Tauriel smiled, "Then all we need to do is get you all healed and get you back to the company."

"But how?" Sepha inquired. "They could be anywhere right now."

"I found them!" an overly excited Legolas burst through the bushes, making Sepha jump. "They're by the river! They just washed ashore."

"How long were you following them?" both girls asked.

"The moment my father told me to lock up the kingdom and then I was informed of your 'departure'." Legolas replied with a smirk. "Let's go find us some dwarves."

TIME SKIP.... TO THE DWARVES

"Anything behind us?" THorin called.

"not that I can see!" Balin replied.

Bofur emerged from his barrel, spitting water, "I think we've outrun the orcs."

"Not for long we've lost the current," THorin replied, "Make for the shore!"

The dwarves stumbled ashore and Thorin helped Dwalin pull the half drowned Bomber out of his barrel.

"On your feet," he ordered Kili.

Fili shook his head, "Kili's wounded. His leg needs binding."

"We have an orc pack on our tail," Thorin pointed out. "We keep moving."

"To where?"Balin insisted.

"The mountain, we're so close," Bilbo replied, fully frozen to the bone.

"A lake lies between us and that mountian," the old dwarf pointed out.

Thorin had completely zoned out of the conversation the others were having. He looked at the lake that separated them from the mountain.... and the river and host of forest that separated them from Sepha....it felt like they were stuck.... lost.... alone.

"Bind his leg," Thorin said, snapping out of his stupor. "Quickly. You have two minutes."

"Uncle," Fili said, finishing his brother's leg, "What about Seph?"

"We have to get her back," Kili pointed out.

"We just escaped orcs and elves," Dori pointed out.

Kili glowered at the dwarf, "With Sepha's help. If she hadn't made friends with the elves we might be dead or back in prison. She got us out at the risk of her own life. We owe her our lives."

"We owe her everything," FIli corrected.

'You don't know how right you are', THorin thought to himself. He tried to imagine a life without Sepha appearing on Bilbo's front step.... he tried to imagine her smile not there every morning, her voice whispering goodnight every evening. He tried to imagine not seeing her brown hair blow around as she chased after Fili and kili....her piercing green eyes.... her soft smile....

"Uncle?" Kili asked, placing a hand on his uncle's shoulder.

Thorin realized he had zoned out and turned to see Kili's forlorn, worried and concerned face.

"I don't know what to do," THorin admitted.

The dwarves all froze and bowed their heads. That was the first time that THorin had ever said he didn't know what to do... but they knew why he didn't.... Sepha made his life whole... completed him and with her now gone, he was just the dwarf he was before... the dwarf with half a life.... an uncompleted life.

Suddenly, Thorin became aware of an arrow that almost struck Dwalin, then one that knocked the rock out of Kili's hand.

"Do it again... and you're dead," the stranger remarked, pointing an arrow at them.

"Really Bard," a female voice remarked as Tauriel appeared from the woods. "You have one arrow and there are fourteen of them. Which would you go for first?"

"Dont say the littlest," another voice remarked, making all the dwarves freeze. "They are actually the ones who bite the hardest."

"SEPHA!" Kili literally screeched.

The girl smiled as She limped over to stand next to Tauriel and Legolas. Kili limped over to her and wrapped his arms around her. Luckily Kili was also wounded so he didn't squeeze her wounds as bad. However, when Fili hugged her, his hands pressed on her fresh wounds and she hissed.

"Seph, what happened to you?" Dwalin asked, pushing Fili off the girl.

The girl shook her head, "Some casualties."

"I thought you said you would avoid cas..." Dori started but Gloin walloped him over the head to shush him.

"Are you sure you're alright lass?" Oin asked.

Sepha nodded, "Legolas and Tauriel helped."

"We were so worried we wouldn't see you again," Kili whispered.

SEpha smiled and nodded but her eyes held a faraway sad look. Balin noticed it and approached the girl, pulling her into a gentle hug that didn't hurt her back.

"Welcome back lass."

Sepha smiled up at the old dwarf.... then her eyes landed on the tall dark dwarf who stood a ways off. The dwarves all stepped aside as Sepha slowly limped towards Thorin. She stopped when she was about an arms length from him but she kept her eyes on his chest instead of his eyes which were looking down at her with his whole heart in his eyes.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I spoke out of turn."

THorin shook his head and it was all he could do to keep himself from catching the girl up and hugging her to him, something he had wanted to do for the longest time.

"You had every right to," He said softly. "I apologize for placing a claim on you without your knowledge or consent."

They would have talked more if Balin hadn't spoken up, "That barge over there... it wouldn't be good for a hire by any chance?"

Balin was trying to come to a deal with Bard and Sepha was talking to the elves.

"Do you really have to go?" she asked.

Legolas nodded, "Tauriel is right. we need to find out where these orcs are and where they're going. We'll meet up with you in Laketown if we find nothing."

Sepha sighed and Tauriel reached over, hugging the girl close. "Take care Seph. And please take care of those wounds. We don't want them getting infected."

The girl nodded. She reached over and hugged Legolas who smiled and hugged her back. Little did they know was that a certain black haired dwarf was watching them and felt a tinge of jealousy when Legolas hugged her. Thorin had always wanted to know what it felt like to hold the girl close.... the most was that their hands had brushed or he had pulled her to her feet.... how he wanted to hold her close and never let her go.... to touch her hair again....to kiss her....

"I'll wager there are ways to enter that town unseen," Balin said, snapping THorin out of his stupor.

"Aye," Bard replied. "and for that. You will need a smuggler."

"For which we will pay double," Balin replied.

Bard sighed and while he and Balin came to an agreement on price, Dwalin, Balin, Fili and Kili all stepped over to Sepha.

"We'll take good care of her," Balin promised.

He wrapped an arm around the girl and Sepha slightly cringed but none of the dwarves noticed. Tauriel opened her mouth to warn Balin of Sepha's injury but a warning look from Tauriel told her to remain silent. This was one thing that Sepha wanted to keep secret from the dwarves for this wasn't a time for them to worry.

TIME SKIP..... ON THE BARGE

Sepha was sitting up against the side of the barge, her knees drawn to her chest for warmth. Sepha usually never had a problem with heat because of her wolf side but she blamed her fresh wounds for that.

The dwarves were all standing around Balin who was counting up the money. Sepha of course didn't fail to notice that THorin, who stood on the edge of the group, would occasionally look in her direction. There was no anger in his eyes.... only a look that made him look like he was ready to cry. Soon, Sepha could barely stand it anymore for she was on the verge of getting up and throwing her arms around the dwarf prince. Of course, she knew that would be inappropriate so she pulled herself to her feet.

She ducked her head so no one saw her wince at the pain. Crossing her arms over her chest for comfort, she walked past the dwarves towards the back of the barge. Of course, she had to pass right by THorin and naturally, his eyes never left her. Sepha felt her cheeks flame bright red as she walked past, pretending to watch her feet.

Finally, she stopped right near Bard and smiled at him. Surprisingly, he returned it.

"WHat's your name lass?" the man asked.

"Persephone but you can call me Sepha," the girl replied. "What about you?"

"Bard, at your service," the man said.

Sepha smiled, "I wanted to thank you for doing this."

"Oh it's no big deal," Bard replied. "Though I was surprised when the elves turned up."

"How do you know Legolas and Tauriel?" the girl inquired.

Bard shrugged, "I know them through Thranduil. I've met them a few times but not that often."

Sepha nodded, "Well thank you again."

The bargeman nodded and as Sepha was about to say something else, she felt a hand on her elbow. She turned and almost squeaked when she realized it was Thorin who leant down to her ear.

"Can I talk to you a moment?" he asked.

Sepha nodded hastily and allowed THorin to lead her away from Bard. of course, the barge wasn't large so they didn't have a whole ton of privacy to talk but Thorin kept his voice down.

"Why are you speaking with him?" he inquired.

"I just wanted to be civil," Sepha replied. "Nothing bad came from trying."

"I don't feel comfortable with him around," Thorin replied in a low voice. "Especially with him around you."

When Sepha didn't reply, Thorin turned his burning eyes from the bargeman and looked at the girl. her face had gone flushed, her eyes staring downward and her cheeks going a bright shade of pink.

He was about to ask her what was wrong when he suddenly realized what he was doing. She had gotten angry with him for interfering with her life and placing a claim on her and putting her off limits to other men. TO her, it probably sounded like he was doing that to Bard.... keeping Sepha away from him.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I shouldn't have said that.... I'll back off... if you want to talk to him.... you can...."

Before he even finished talking, Sepha had reached out and grabbed his forearm, turning him back to look at her for he had begun to turn towards the company. THorin's eyes widened at the contact for that was the first time she had ever done that. The girl's face flustered more but she bit her lip.

"No it's.... it's okay.... I actually.... don't mind...."

THorin's eyes widened and he felt a tinge of hope rush to his heart, "You don't?"

The girl shook her head, refusing to look directly into Thorin's eyes, "I've gotten used to it and.... I know you had your reasons for doing it.... reasons I do not know but I trust you and your decisions and I know that whatever reason you placed a claim on me.... then it was good enough reason for me."

The girl quickly bit her lip again and THorin felt his head swim. How he wanted to kiss her... and with her biting down on her smooth red bottom lip made him feel dizzy.

Thorin opened his mouth to tell her his reasons but something stopped him. He had just redeemed himself from the mistake he made by placing the claim without her knowledge. He wasn't going to ruin this moment by saying something that might not be to her liking. He had no idea how she felt towards him and all he could think of was how horrible it felt to not tell her how terribly he loved her.

Sepha managed to lift her eyes to look at him, only to see his blue eyes sparkling at her. Smiling shyly, the girl looked down and Thorin couldn't hold back the grin that spread across his features.

Just then, Bard announced that they were nearing guards.

"Into the barrels," Bard whispered.

At once the dwarves began to obey, hopping into the nearest barrel. Sepha headed to the nearest barrel and poked her head over the side only to realize that Fili and Kili were in there, Fili half upside down with his foot in Kili's mouth.

"Sorry," she whispered, heading to another barrel.

She was beginning to loose options when a hand shot out and grabbed her wrist, pulling her into a barrel. As Sepha managed to get herself right side up, she looked up to be met by a pair of piercing blue eyes. She knew that her face flamed red for her and Thorin's noses were almost touching at their close proximity. Sepha had her legs hugged close to her chest, her feet on either side of Thorin's thighs and she was sitting on his legs that were crossed in front of him.

Thorin didn't realize that he still had his hands on her forearms till the girl looked down and they landed on the strong, calloused hands that were holding her slender arms gently but firmly. THorin looked down as well and would have retracted his hands if he didn't feel Sepha's soft, slender hands grip his forearms back.

Thorin was sure his heart stopped right then and there but then something caught his attention, removing his hands from her arms, he gripped her hands, "Your hands are freezing," he whispered.

Sepha shrugged and was going to pull her hands back, not wanting to worry Thorin but the dwarf had other ideas. Holding her hands in his large ones, she felt the heat from his hands encase her fingers. He gently cupped her hands within his and bringing them up to his mouth, he blew on them to warm them. The whole time, his eyes never left hers and Sepha realized that for the first time he met his steady gaze and she found that she couldn't seem to break from it.

Thorin continued to blow on her hands till they were so warm that they were turning pink. Suddenly, there was a clanking above them and Thorin reacted before Sepha could even find out what was happening.

Thorin reached a hand around and gripping the back of Sepha's head gently, he pulled her head down so that her forehead was resting against his shoulder and her eyes looking down at his chest. Sepha's face burned red and Thorin yelled at himself in his head for being too hasty but he knew what was coming. Bending his head down, he pressed his own forehead to Sepha's shoulder as fish poured down on top of them.

When it stopped, THorin and Sepha saw that the position their heads were in had prevented any fish from getting in their face.... but it covered everything else. Thorin found that his hand was still on Sepha's neck and he gently stroked her smooth skin with his calloused thumb. He felt the girl shiver by his touch and he smiled at her reaction.

Sepha felt her cheeks heat up at the feeling of Thorin's warm hand on her neck. Their ears were pressed against each other and she could hear his heart drumming in her head. THorin could hear her heart in his ears and he heard it speed up whenever his finger brushed her skin. Deciding to test the waters, Thorin slowly turned his head just enough so that his nose was resting against the other side of her neck. Sepha's breathing hitched as Thorin rubbed his nose against her soft skin, his beard brushing her shoulder and the bare skin of her collar bone.

Sepha let out a breath, finding it almost impossible to breathe. Thorin smiled and pressed his nose close against her neck, breathing in her scent. Even over the stench of fish, he could still smell her sweet scent of vanilla and cedar.

Suddenly they heard a bang and the sound of a dwarf grunting. Suddenly, their barrel shook and they were knocked on the side, the fish spewing out. They both slipped out head first and Sepha groaned at the stench of the fish and the sting that it sent into her wounds stung.

Thorin pulled her to her feet and Sepha looked up into his eyes a moment before Kili and Fili both grabbed her hands and pulled her after Bard who was leading them to his house.

[its-allaboutfanfic]

The art of flirting (Legolas x Reader)

This shot is based on  this imagine by @imaginexhobbit: 

>>Imagine Legolas trying to flirt with you, but not actually understanding the correct way to flirt, so it’s just an awkward mess and Aragorn has to intervene and tell you what Legolas is trying to say<<

This sounded really cute, so I gave it a shot, I hope y’all enjoy it xx. I had a lot of fun writing it, at any rate.

Word count: 1658

Warnings: again a lot of fluff and a pretty OOC Legolas. I guess it was unavoidable, but I gave my best. 

Tomorrow I’ll work on anon’s request *excited* you others: feel free to send me some too! (づ｡◕‿‿◕｡)づ

~*~

It hadn't been long since you, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and Gandalf had arrived in Rohan, just to find King Théoden under a powerful spell of Saruman.

The evil wizard had bewitched his mind and had brought Théoden so far, that the poor man had not even been able to built an opinion on his own.

Luckily, Gandalf had managed to break the spell and free Théoden from Saruman's influence, for that the King now had gained his mind back  and could proplery grieve about the death of his son.

As a sign of his gratitude, Théoden had ordered a bankett for the five of you for tonight and right now, you were getting ready for it.

Éowyn had even borrowed you one of her beautiful (F/C) dresses, which suited you perfectly and made you look satisfied with yourself at your reflection in the mirror.

You also tried to braid some strands of your long (H/C) hair in an elvish kind of way, just because you liked it, even if this was at least what you tried to convince yourself of.

If you were complete honest, you only did it to impress Legolas.

You had found yourself staring at him dreamily more frequently and let's face it, the Elven prince was one hell of an eye candy with his slim but also muscular figure, silky hair and striking blue eyes. Even the way he was kicking ass was full of grace and if it were up to you, you could watch him doing that all day.

So you gave your best with the braids and when you eventually found that you couldn't do any better, you decided then that it was finally time for the bankett.

It looked like you were the last one of your friends, who had appeared to the feast and as you went to sit on the same table as them, they all gave you a friendly smile, well, except for Legolas.

The elf was grinning at you huge and brightly, so that if you’d wanted, you could've counted every single one of his 32 pearl white teeth.

But instead you smiled back cautiously, because even though you bet he meant it friendly, it nevertheless did look a bit like a scary grimace and he only stopped, when Aragorn nudged him with his elbow and hissed something, that didn't reach your ears.

Legolas so-called smile then immediately dropped and he gave Aragorn an answer, starting a conversation, so that you sat down beside of Gandalf without any other occasion. At least not yet.

The meal began and the wizard had just finished telling you a story about a brave hobbit, who had once faced a dragon only on hisself and survived it – in fact this hobbit was a relative of Frodo – as Legolas clearing his throat brought your attention back to the blonde elf.

You found him looking at you with a weird expression, his eyes were slightly narrowed and only one of his mouth angles was turned up into a smile, giving him a strange mischivous look, that you were not used from him.

„Um, is there something you wanted to say, Legolas...?“

„Your beauty is beyond words, (Y/N), if your mother would see you tonight, she'd be the proudest woman alive for that she gave birth to such loveliness.“

You choked on the water that you were trying to drink right before he talked,  as your cheeks went bright red.

You could've sworn, that you'd heard Aragron groan after Legolas said those words and Gandalf beside you tried to cover his amusement with coughs, while Gimli started to giggle.

What was going on with the prince? Was he making fun of you? You hoped not.

„Your hair looks as soft as the fur of the white Mearas horses and if any artist of this earth would catch a sight of your fineness, they'd fight against each other and wouldn't ever leave you alone for that they could draw your angelic features until eternity.“

Gimli's laughter was now resounded in the whole hall you and the other guests were dining in and you couldn't help but blush more and more with every word Legolas said.

He was looking at you with that weird grin throughout the whole time and as he openend his mouth again, probably to go on with his embarrassing declarations to you,  Aragorn quickly intervened and put a hand on his friend's shoulder.

„I think that's enough, that was not what I meant“, he murmured in Legolas' direction, leaving the elf looking at him questioningly and then turned to you, giving you an apologetic smile.

„I think what Legolas here was trying to say, is that you look beautiful tonight, (Y/N)  and he wanted to ask you, if you would maybe spare a few minutes of your time after dinner for him, because he'd like to talk to you about something.“

You hestitated a bit, still not sure what was going on, but after you looked in Legolas' now again normal but a bit red face and unfathomable eyes, you couldn't – not that you wanted - resist and slightly nodded.

„Of course I would.“

Until the feast ended, you weren't really able to focus or concentrate on your food or anything besides what was possibly going to happen after you'd finish your meal.

You tried to catch Legolas' gaze a few times, but after Aragorn had silently explained to him, that what he had said to you was more awkward than engaging, he had avoided you with his eyes since then.

But as soon as you dropped your fork, being finished with your food, he looked right up to you through his long, dark lashes.

„Shall we?“, the blonde elf asked and stood up as you did the same. „Yes“, you said, whilst your heart was pounding loudly in your ears.

He led you outside to a lonely bench, not far away from the others, but nevertheless hidden from their gaze by trees and shrubs.

You sat down and he sat beside you, as you heard him drawing in his breath loudly.

„(Y/N)-“

„Legolas-“, you both said simultaneously and then stopped and smiled shyly at each other.

„You go first“, you told him chuckling, causing him to join your laughter nervously, before he locked your gaze with his and started to talk.

„About earlier,“ he began, „Aragorn had told me to compliment you to express my feelings for you, but, as you surely noticed, it didn't work out so well for me.“

You giggled a bit at his words and he offered you a weak smile, before he continued.

„So I think it would be best, if I'd just do it my way“, while he was talking, he took both of your hands in his, causing you to blush as you lost yourself in his gaze, that now turned soft as he noticed the color in your cheek and all you could see in his astonishing eyes, that were as blue and clear as a cloudless spring sky, were honesty and devotion.

„I love you, (Y/N) and there a more than a thousand ways of how I could circumscribe my feelings for you. For example there is this light, that always seems to surround you, which draws me to you like the sea to the moon. Or your determination to stand in for what is right to you, is something I learned to admire. Or how I had always thought that the sound of a violine was my favorite, but only because I hadn't heard the sound of your laugh since then“, he paused and you just stared at him in awe, not sure if your ears were deceiving you.

„There was a time in my life, (Y/N), where my being had no true purpose and I didn't have an aim that I could work or train for, but then you appeared,“ he cupped your cheek with one hand, „and I suddenly started to curse myself for my urge to sleep, for that I didn't and still don't want to miss any possible second, that I could spend with you. I love you and I hope you feel the same way for me.“

You had listened to his words, that sounded like music to your ears, without interrupting him once and only as Legolas tenderly wished your tears away with his thumb, you noticed that you were crying.

„Don't cry, mela en' coiamin“, he whispered, pressing a soft kiss to your forehead.

You closed your eyes, then opened them as you took his hand from your cheek and kissed it, smiling at him through teary eyes.

„Don't you ever change yourself for me again, Legolas, because I love you just the way you are. Your words were more than I had ever dared myself to dream for and I'll try to prove myself worthy for them as long as you allow me to.“

The smile Legolas gave you after your words wasn't the one from earlier at the bankett, where he had tried too much and wasn't really meaning it. This one right now was filled with honest joy and lit up every corner of your heart.

He moved forward, cupped your face and kissed you passionately, carrying you away with his pure happiness and love.

His soft mouth caressed yours, his tongue slightly licking along your bottom lip, making you allowing him entrance into your mouth.

As your lips parted, he brought his forehead to yours, both of you still panting for breath.

„That means you'll have to stay by my side until the very end“, he stated.

„There is no way I'd rather spend my life until then“, you smiled, diving in to press your lips on his once more.

/////////////////////////////////

mela en' coiamin = love of my life

//////////////////////////////////

[blankdblank]

Lucky Shot Pt 3

Pt 1 - Pt 2 -

Atop the hill you paused and Ronan peered down at you asking, “Any hints at all?”

Pointing ahead of you, you said, “We can’t go that way. War was that way.”

Wanda rubbed her face, “Please tell me didn’t just walk all this way for nothing.”

Your group turned and Ronan raised his hammer to his shoulder, “Not for nothing. We now know not to go that way.” Making the girl roll her eyes and trudge after you back down the hill towards another hill in the far distance.

.

“For the last time, No!” Your head turned to spot Nebula withdrawing her fist to rest by her side after Pietro had once again raced by swatting her in the back. Your eyes followed his path as he laughed at his latest refusal to his idea of a race, your refusals irritating Nebula at his intended target from his guess she was your half sister for being blue like Ronan.

A sudden swing of your foot sent him tumbling in a dust ball stirring a scowl onto Wanda’s face, blindly your hand extended blocking her red fireball she sent at you with a simple glowing shield around you before your other hand reached out to grip Pietro’s arm, “Next time I will hand you over to her. Remember this kindness.”

Nebula glared at the boy who smirked saying, “You hit my sister I hit yours.”

You smirked back saying, “I don’t have a sister. Hit her again, I dare you. We could bet on how many pieces are left of you.”

His eyes turned to her with his lips parted as she smirked folding her fingers around the dagger at her hip only turn her head as you did when Ronan extended his hammer in front of the three of you at the tall elderly man who seemingly appeared out of nowhere who cleared his throat.

Bowing his head you eyed the man in all grey whose lips parted recognizing you as he bowed his head again, “My Queen, it is an honor to be in your presence.”

At that your brow inched up and Ronan lowered his hammer while the twins muttered, “Queen?” While Gamora chuckled at Ronan’s proud smirk at your proper title.

Korath smirked, “I take it you are not referring to me or my sisters.”

Adjusting the staff in his hand he approached you as you released Pietro, “Have you just arrived?”

“Few hours possibly.”

With a nod he grinned at you saying, “Well I would be honored to show you back to Greenwood again.”

Narrowing your eyes you peered up at the man, “Forgive me, but do you know me? I’m not altogether certain of who I am exactly.”

He gave you a weak grin, “Of course, you were merely a child when we met ages ago before the sun crossed the sky. To you I am Olorin, though others I am known as Mithrandir, or more commonly as Gandalf the Grey.”

Wetting your lips you asked, “And I’m, a Queen?”

He nodded, “Oh yes. Queen of the Great Greenland to the East over the Silvan and Sindar Elves who dwell there.”

Behind him over a small hill you heard a loud voice bark out, “Gandalf! Where is that Wizard?!”

Hastily Gandalf turned his head towards the voice and then back to you, “Perhaps it is best you do not mention which lands you are aiming for.” Your brow inched up, “I give you my word we are crossing past those lands.”

Shrugging at his next glance over you his grin spread at your mumbling, “Had no clue I was a Queen falling here, certainly won’t be demanding that from your friends.” After a pause you asked, “You wouldn’t happen to know my Husband and child?”

He nodded closing the distance to rest his hand on your shoulder, “They have been waiting a long time to see you again, your brother is also on our way.”

Softly you asked, remembering a name from one of your fragmented dreams, “Glori?”

Gandalf again nodded then stepped back at the first of the walking men coming down the hill nearing you to call out, “Thorin, come meet an old friend of mine.”

Thorin’s brow raised and then dropped into a tight furrow as you stepped forward granting him a glimpse of your ears. “We do not have time for tale sharing with your Elven alliances.”

Ronan eyed you carefully then said, “You are an Elf then. Hmm. Perhaps your Elves are more terrifying than ours.” The comment making Gandalf’s lips part for a moment.

Thorin looked over the rest of your group while the youngest of the group in blonde and dark brown hair peered around him calling out, “I didn’t know Elves came in blue and green!”

Gandalf sighed saying to you, “This is Thorin Oakenshield, King of Erebor. We are on our way to reclaim his homeland, the Lonely Mountain, from a dragon.”

Wanda chortled and Gamora swatted her on the shoulder as Thorin cried out, “This is a mission of secrecy! Spare the Elves our goal or they shall take it for themselves!”

Flatly at that you stated, “My name is Nieninque, or Nin. Call me Elf again and I’ll knock you on your ass. I don’t want your damn mountain, I am looking for my Husband and Son, a task I find a bit more important than your foolish errand.”

“Foolish-!”

Beside him his pale haired cousin patted his shoulder, “Cousin, she is in search of her family. That one has quite a war hammer. A great aid to our security. The others seem, sure of themselves.”

Ronan tightened his grip on his hammer in a deep inhale as Thorin sighed and looked you over, “Where did you lose your kin?”

Gandalf cut in saying, “Lady Nieninque’s kin is from Gondolin, her Husband is from Doriath however, they are along our way. Until then we should simply merge paths.”

Thorin eyed you all adjusting the bags on his back, “We do not have time to linger on, without steeds we’ve a great distance to cover.”

Turning your head you eyed Ronan as he mumbled in Kree, “Should we aid them with our hovercraft?”

Your head tilted to the side, “Worst thing we end up ditching them along the way.”

From his pocket he drew his communicator and issued the order to send down the hover bikes stirring hushed conversation between the Company who all gasped and stepped away at the five hover bikes with open carts behind them. Thorin eyed them and the bald man by his side asked, “What sort of sorcery is this?!”

Gamora, “Sorcery? These are Kree hovercraft.”

Gloin, “And just what would that be meaning young Lass?”

Withholding your sigh you reached out to pat Ronan’s shoulder, “Kree is a race, Ronan here is commander of our forces and these are hover bikes. With them we can cover more ground in a day than any horse you can find.”

The smallest of their group inched out peering up at you curiously and said, “We should give them a try.”

His statement was answered with glares from the others and the youngest with dark hair blurted out, “So, Kree are blue?”

The blonde looked to Nebula, “You’re Kree too?”

She plainly replied, “I am a Luphomoid.”

The blonde blinked and his brother looked to Nebula who said, “My race is Zen-Whoberis,” she tapped Korath’s shoulder, “My brother Korath is Kree.”

Their mouths dropped open and Korath answered their question, “Kree can be blue, pink, black or pale like Nin.”

Thorin looked at you all, “How did an Elf end up with all these, odd, races?”

His eyes focused on you and you said, “My home was attacked, I was taken through a portal by these chain snake like creatures.” Their brows furrowed seemingly knowing what you were speaking of, “I awoke on a ship, I tried to flee and ended up on a smaller ship, where Ronan’s people found me. Then I proved less useful when I refused to aid them in their breeding research and they ordered me put down.” At that the men gasped and Gandalf’s beard bristled through smoke subtly escaping his ears pooling under his hat, “But Ronan claimed me as his daughter and I have been serving the Kree ever since.”

Dwalin, “His daughter?”

Gloin, “I suppose they do both have purple eyes.”

Gandalf eyed him curiously, “And your hopes in her finding her kin?”

Ronan turned his head to the old man, “I have a grandchild in these lands. I wish to see just how much of the terror he inherited from his mother.”

Gandalf whispered, “Terror-?”

You looked at him, “It’s a compliment for Kree. Ronan is the third highest in command for the Kree, to have a terrifying child is expected.”

Thorin eyed you both then looked to Wanda and then Pietro, who you grabbed in his racing path around the men, who gasped seeing him as you said, “Return the dagger,” then you shoved him towards Bombur, who accepted his dagger back with a stunned glance.

Thorin, “Your son, we did not even sense him.”

“Not my son. They were in the base we infiltrated before the explosion that turned them into children again, should wear off in a few days. The explosion sent us to this world.” You looked to Gandalf, “Which is called?”

Gandalf, “In a whole, this is Middle Earth, though we are in the realm of Arnor just past Bree.”

Thorin narrowed his eyes at you and Ronan clarified, “When we found my Nin there were only bits and pieces of her former life in her memory. Took quite a blow to the head.”

Pointing at the carts you said, “If you will climb in the carts we can get going to, where again?”

Korath answered for you, “I believe they called it Erebor.”

You nodded and the smallest of their group grinned up at you saying, “I, for one, would be eager to try out these hovercraft of yours.” He said raising his bag up over the wall while Korath opened the back door so he could climb onto it and take his place in the front corner.

Curiously as you eyed them you asked, “So, if I am an Elf, then what are you?”

Gloin replied, “We are Dwarves.”

You nodded and then Bilbo held out his hand to you that you accepted to shake, “Bilbo Baggins, I am a Hobbit.”

With a grin you replied, “Pleasure to meet you.” Walking to the bike in front of his cart at the dropping of his hand while the Dwarves split up to fill the carts behind Gandalf and the twins, settling their bags around them as the rest of your group joined you on the bikes.

Behind you Thorin asked, “How do these craft of yours work?”

A soft giggle was all he heard as you kick started the bike that glowed in a pale blue and rose from the ground urging the Dwarves to cling to the edges of the sealed carts. A gentle jolt forward came after a confirmation of the direction needed and off through the green you soared over the rippling tall grass under you stirring awed chuckles from the men behind you in your increasing speed.

..

Distant peaks came clearly into view and through the bands of trees and planes you whizzed by following the path granted to you. Even storms brewing in the distance didn’t seem to trouble you at all with the shields around your hovercrafts and at the dropping of the sun from the sky your skin started to glow drawing the twins’ eyes to you along with Bilbo’s in awe when you stopped at a small ring of rocks. A small square object was drawn from a pouch on Nebula’s hip she tossed between them popping up into a self rising metal tent. Leaving the crafts outside you left under a second tent you made your way into the tent stunning the men at the simple kitchen and plumbing set up.

Curiously the men eyed the tent with a few of them tapping the sides with their knuckles and axes testing what sort of metal it could be. Behind them Korath stated, “It is a simple alloy. Lighter and far more resilient than silver.”

Thorin eyed your group as they set their own bags as you peered out the tent opening to inspect the growing storm, “It seem sour cultures could learn a great deal from one another’s.”

Blindly you listened in while trying to mentally decipher what this tingling was in your abdomen, “A reach back at the first flash of lightening, you tapped the door knot in the wall to close the tent in your turn, your fingers unhooking the armored suit that rippled open down your back easing your tug on it. Wide eyed the men watched your bare shoulders coming into view, making to turn until they spotted the strapless top covering your ribs. Around your waist it bunched up and when you reached your bags your foot was propped up aiding in the removal of your boots freeing you to shift the suit off from over your skintight shorts. On its own the suit folded up and from your bag you drew out a pair of jeans and a tank top you pulled on before adding your boots again.

Up to your side Bilbo bounced starting up his string of questions on what you remembered of your former homes as he joined you to sit along the wall stealing glances of the striped and Kree rune patches along the collar of your armored leather jacket.

A simple nights sleep you stood watch on in alongside Gandalf, who took the chance to share more about this world and who you had left behind in a silent mental conversation. A simple conversation that lasted merely a few minutes once you put your telepathic abilities to use to soak up all he knew. The remainder of the night you stood outside the door to the tent in the shadow of the roof peering out into the distance with your arms crossed trying to ignore the cramping in your hips.

..

Each night you drew the short straw on watch on purpose at your lack of sleep. The tent was welcomed on stormy nights but the men preferred to sleep in the open when able. Quietly you would sit up staring off into the distance over the dancing grass slowly stirring back memories of your childhood. The tall blondes in your life seemed to flood into your every thought between the usual rowdiness of the twins who seemed to rival the young Princes on near everything.

Two months came and went and finally the Twins were glad to be fully grown again and Wanda no doubt took her reclaiming of stature to try and train with Nebula and Gamora no doubt leading to heated arguments when their physical bouts bled into intellectual ones. More and more you seemed to set yourself apart only bringing Ronan to your side even more when not driving.

But for now you had a short break, a wish to let off some steam from the nonstop fighting brought you to the nearby stream. Dipping your hands into the cool water you raised up smoothing it over your neck with a sigh, at the drop of your hands and the shrug of shoulders the jacket around you drooped free to your fingers then you set it aside.

The argument carrying over from the main campsite came to an abrupt halt when the trio of women saw you raising your shirt to smooth your hand over your pronounced stomach. Beside you Ronan teleported back from the ship hovering above you with a net of sensors in his palms. Knelt beside you he eased them around your belly and eyed the holographic projection playing the heartbeat for the infant you were carrying Ronan rotated for a full inspection while lowly whispering, “The parasite my people assumed you to have must have been a child.”

Turning your head you said, “But I can’t be pregnant.”

His head tilted, “Perhaps your kin is able to breed asexually.”

Deeply you sighed while he eased the sensor net off that was teleported back aboard the ship filled with the data from your scans, a ruffle from the trio passing through a patch of tall grass drew your eyes to them. Wanda, remembering Pietro’s plans to ambush you in the morning to test your fabled strength, asked, “You are pregnant?”

Gamora shook her head, “This is not possible.”

Nebula looked to Ronan, “What does the blood work say?”

Ronan, “Our men are testing it now, original tests showed a foreign sample for the father. Unless her kin have a startlingly long gestation period of centuries it is baffling.”

Gamora nodded, “We will ask the Bilbo.” Turning abruptly she went off to learn about your race while you covered your stomach again and accepted Ronan’s help to your feet and into your jacket again. A packet of rations for breeding Kree was handed over to you, one tear later you were pulling the clumps of rice like food out to pass between your lips on the path back to the Company.

Cross legged around Bilbo the sisters settled where Gamora stated, “We are having a discussion.”

Nebula, “Perhaps you could settle this for us.”

Bilbo nodded, “Of course.” Off to the side Pietro’s lips parted as Wanda shared what she had seen stirring a groan from him at the lack of targeting you again.

Gamora, “You are smaller and younger than these Dwarves, we were wondering about your reproductive differences as well.”

Gloin moved closer asking, “Just why might that matter have stirred up?”

Nebula turned her head to face him, “We are naturally curious of other races. Kree explore and study races they come across.”

Dwalin gruffly butted in, “No doubt like Miss Nin was ‘studied’ by them.”

Gamora looked to Gandalf, “You seem to be an expert on races, perhaps you could answer our inquiry.”

Gandalf chuckled, “From my experience Men carry for nine months, Hobbits carry their young for a year, only a few months shorter than Elves and Dwarves take four years for their young to be ready to join their kin.”

Ronan settled beside you on a fallen log through Nebula asking, “What of asexual reproduction?”

Gandalf, “Asexual?”

Nebula, “Meaning the woman can conceive on her own. Without intercourse.”

Gandalf grinned and nodded, “Yes. Elves and Hobbits especially are able to conceive when they are destined to. It is part of their bond between Ones.”

Ronan, “Ones?”

Gandalf, “Two souls destined to meet and share their lives together.”

Ronan, “Ah, that would make sense. They are immortal in your words, why would they not be mating pairs.”

Gamora, “Are there any markers for these children conceived alone?”

At that Gandalf flinched his eyes to you and then back again, “It is hard to say. Hobbits have dreams with images signaling the event.”

Ronan, “Elves do not sleep.”

Gandalf chuckled, “Not in the way you do. We have a sort of trance we enter into to refresh our bodies. Though Elves when at peace can choose to rest their bodies in a natural sleep cycle or fall into true sleep, which could last days. That is how they commune with the Valar when called.”

Instantly at the chance to bring him up Gloin delved into the retelling of how his son came into the world and your mind tried to slip off only to draw back at Gandalf’s mind tapping yours. “You are with child then?” In your silence he added, “When you were taken you were with child. It has been seen before that Eru has taken the soul of an unborn child to be returned to their mothers after wars have ended to protect both mother and child.”

“Seems like a logical explanation. I was taken.”

He looked you over, “What else do you remember of how you were taken?” After a soft inhale you replayed all you remembered and paused with brows furrowed at the focus of his questions on the ring he spotted in your adjusting of the chain that had grabbed onto your braided ponytail. “Where did you find that?”

“A creature near one of the portals we found was wearing it. It seems to have some sort of cloaking feature.”

Gandalf drew in a breath and shifted in his seat sharing the history of the ring to you, “-It must be cast back into the flames from whence it came.”

Subtly you nodded saying, “When we are on watch tonight we can fly to this Mordor and destroy it then.” A hint of a grin eased onto his face while you stole a glance at Ronan, who you had been allowing him to listen in to the conversation.

.

Night fell and in awe Gandalf eyed the ship that carried you off into warp that dropped down over Mordor, absent of your presence at the concern for the transporter’s effect on your child. A simple stroll across the fiery ledge was covered by the ship opening fire on the hoards attempting to rush up towards Ronan, one toss later and he teleported back aboard the ship that carried him back again. Silently the pair joined the camp again with Ronan sharing what the city entailed while handing off another round of rations and your nightly supplements before settling at your side to sleep as Gandalf drifted off mentally.

***

Softly snowflakes fell around you in the empty gardens you had once built, easily it grew in your mind at the memory filling out completely. Each handcrafted border and intricately placed stones to surround the now blanketed buds planted before the first snowfall to burst through at the first sign of spring. Between those were carvings you had crafted in hopes of adding to the whimsy of the place, none appearing to be of stone, always between breaths in their motions leaving the dozens of passers by since building this private haven to assume they were living. A grin spread onto your face that tilted back to a soft sigh of content followed by your soft hum.

After his packed morning of meetings the King strolled back to his apartment with mind fixed on you and his glowing ring wondering when you would reach out to him at last. A silent pull while he slipped mentally into a daze the private royal gardens shifted from lush and green to a slowly growing blizzard. Under his breath he whispered, “I should have known you would arrive with the snow.”

Five more steps and just past one of your statues he froze spotting you there beginning to twist in place for a moment until your eyes opened and your hands moved under your jacket. Right over a telling large bump your hands smoothed parting his lips in his next step out. Oddly dressed and a bit worn by his eyes you were here and still carrying his child, Eru had granted him that much.

Stepping out from behind the statue he caught your eye as your head lowered stirring a grin onto your face. But not just any grin, that same grin only he drew from you, after all these years it was still the same excited and slightly bashful yet determined grin from your first time in his parent’s shop. “There you are.”

After a weak exhale he replied, “Where are you?”

You shrugged again and his stomach twisted in his holding back a scream of agony not having you here fully, “I am not certain. We came across Gandalf in a field.”

Continuing to move closer he parties back, “We?”

“It’s sort of complicated.”

Rounding another planter he kept his eyes on you, “I have time.”

With a sigh you answered, “When I was taken, there are these people, the Kree, well they found me. And this one named Ronan adopted me.”

Barely inches from you his hand rose at his body’s inability to keep from touching you after so long, “Adopted?”

His head tilted down and before you could answer his lips planted on yours, firmly he kissed you in his hungry ache, hands fisting into your hair and jacket drawing you flush against his chest.

A muffled utterance of “My King” broke open his eyes and drew his lips from yours, hoping to explain before drawing out of this waking dream his heart dropped at his blink leaving him back in his lush gardens staring blankly at the distant trees. Deeply as he shut his eyes again he exhaled then turned with eyes open to hear his message.

The letter in the Elf’s hands was handed over and through another sigh he turned the unaddressed letter over to split it open. Under furrowed brows he read the first line then spoke out to the backtracking Elf, “Find my son.”

Bowing his head the Elf turned and hurried off to find the Prince as the wide eyed King moved to the fountain off to the side he sat on the edge of feeling his legs going weak reading the full recap of the history you had given.

Two pages filled in the gaps for your centuries away stirring up his seething rage at your being captured and taken as specimen. Even passing the mentions of their intentions to use you for breeding, of which Gandalf made certain to clarify you refused entirely, his heart dropped knowing you had been sentenced to death and basically bought by this Ronan who led you into a life as a soldier. In the letter there was no mention of your being with child but the date in the corner clued him in that there had been ample time for Eru to grant you the chance to carry your second child to term finally.

Teary eyed Thranduil folded the letter and rose hearing Legolas approaching in a frantic trot from the Seamstress’ hall. Shirtless from a fitting for this years robe for the Feast of Starlight he joined his father’s side asking, “Ada? Has there been word of Naneth?”

Thranduil plainly stated, “Pack your things we are headed to Rivendell.”

Legolas’ lips parted unable to remember the last time they had left the Kingdom to travel anywhere but Lothlorien, “Ada?”

“Mithrandir found and is guiding your Naneth to Rivendell. If we leave by morning we can beat them there and escort her and her party back to our home.”

“Party-,” instantly he halted turning the King to look him over curiously, finding him with tear filled eyes mirroring his own, “Ada, what if Naneth does not recognize me?”

Thranduil exhaled and moved closer hugging his son tightly allowing him to burrow as much as he wanted against his chest returning the hug, “It has been centuries, you are fully grown now. Though I do not doubt she has spent each day dreaming of who you would have grown to be in her absence.” A pause later he added, “There is another piece of information I wished for you to know.”

Legolas inched back his head peering up at his father, “What is that?”

“Eru grated your Naneth a chance to carry your younger sibling to term.”

Legolas’ lips parted, “They were not born away from us then?”

Thranduil shook his head and folded around the Prince again in his elated tighter hug, resting his cheek on his son’s head he answered, “No. Naneth has faced a harsh life away from us. Eru was kind to hold our child until her return. We must remember to be patient in our reunion.”

Legolas nodded, “Yes.” Drawing back he grinned at his father stirring another tear down the King’s cheek at spotting hints of your special expression for him, “I will pack quickly.” Weakly Thranduil chuckled turning with the Prince to head up to their rooms, around them the curious Elves listening in rippled the word through the kingdom of the trip and why it was called for. Usually so reluctant to agree to anything without the King or Prince to remain behind to return their Queen and future heir they would pull together as long as it took and ensure the palace was immaculate when you returned home again.

Hundreds of miles away your blink returned you back again to a drizzle filled night watch with the men asleep in the tent behind you and Gamora whittling a stick at your side opposite the sleeping Ronan, both unaware of your mental trip at all.

Pt 4