#honorable mention: bilbo baggins | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

queenariesofnarnia · 7 months

Text

shy love; r.j. lupin

gif not mine

Remus Lupin x Shy!Reader; Platonic Sirius x Shy!Reader

- Hogwarts 1975-

The first time he notices her is when she sits in the Great Hall with Lily before they head to muggle studies. The smile on her face was a shy but genuine one that reached her eyes. His eyes followed her as she linked arms with Lily walking out the door both girls giggling. The next time he noticed her was in Hogsmeade, she was wearing a worn out knit sweater that covered her hands as she held a copy of The Hobbit reading it peacefully under a tree. It brought a smile to his face she was stunning; he wasn’t the only one who acknowledged it. He has overheard Lily ask her many times why she rejected someone. She felt eyes on her as she was deep into the story of Bilbo Baggins and the company of dwarves. Glancing up over the edge of the book she met the warm honey-colored eyes of the sandy haired Gryffindor. He quickly looked away and she giggled softly returning to her book.

Of course, the Marauders noticed his behavior. James even made the effort to get Lily involved. She immediately agrees to the plan, knowing that her friend is too shy to approach him. Sirius encourages him that everything will be great, and there is no way she will say no to him if he approaches her. He decides to take the chance the next time he sees her which is by the Black Lake. Laying in the shade of an oak tree on a blanket. Dawning another oversized sweater and halfway through another book. He could tell she was enjoying the book the way she was focused on it. He took a deep breath and walked closer to her. His light footsteps tore her eyes from the story meeting his eyes once again. This time he didn’t look away, but he smiled at her, and she returned it with a small one.

“ Hi, I’m Remus” his voice was warm and welcoming to her ears. Giving him her name in a soft voice, his heart fluttered a bit.

“Would you like to join me?” she asks gesturing to the space on her blanket. He quickly accepts the offer. As they begin to have conversation, she was still a bit reserved until he asks her how she enjoyed The Hobbit. The way her eyes lit up at the mention of the book she just finished had washed her typical bashfulness away. He hung onto every word she said as she animatedly described the story and what she loved about it. The two talked for hours just getting to know one another. The others watched the two from about twenty feet away.

“I definitely get to be the maid of honor” Lily says with a proud smile as her friend laughs at something Remus says.

“I might fight you for that position Evans” Sirius jokes, the smile not leaving his face as he watches the pair that’s oblivious to the world around them. The sun was setting by the time the two made it back to the castle for dinner time. Remus offers a hug before they part ways, she accepts the hug hiding her face into his chest, no one sees the smile on her face but him. He bids her a see you later and she waves in response her fingers barely peeking over the hand hole of the sweater. A goofy smile is on Remus’ face as he sits down with his friends who each have a smug grin on their faces. He glances over once more; she smiles with the corner of her bottom lip pulled between her teeth before leaning on Lily’s shoulder to tell her about the afternoon she had. The Marauder’s take this time to ask Remus as many questions as possible regarding his afternoon. After dinner he offers to walk her to her common room, which she gladly accepts. Thanking him with a quick kiss on the cheek leaving the sandy haired honey-colored eyed boy flustered and in a daze.

-The Wedding 1979-

They were each nervous, and their friends joked about how sweet it is. As predicted that afternoon Lily is now dressed in her pale green maid of honor gown calming her best friend down.

“You’re still as shy as the day you met him Bunny” the endearing nickname makes the bride to be smile.

“I know Lils, you would think I would be over it” she replies laughing. Sirius knocks on the door to let the girls know its time. Lily opens the door for him.

“You look nice Evans. Prongs might die” he compliments his ginger friend. Then he looks over at the still shy girl who has become his best friend “Bunny you look stunning Moony might faint” he grabs her hands with an ecstatic smile on his face. Sirius will be walking her down the aisle which makes James the best man for the day.

“Thank you Pads” she pulls Sirius into a hug; he holds her tight.

“Let’s get you out there” he tells her noticing that Lily has left the room. The music flowed through the garden. Lily and James already at Remus’ side. His eyes meet his soon to be wife’s a smile gracing his face as tears well in his eyes. The shy smile she gave the first time they spoke made its way to her face. As Sirius walks her down the aisle, he whispers words of encouragement to her. He can tell how nervous she is, but reminds her that it’s just Moony, to only focus on him the entire time and not the crowd. As he hands her off, he gives her one more hug before sitting in the front row.

“You look absolutely ethereal my love” Remus whispers in her ear.

The priest begins the ceremony, the bride and groom look lovingly into each other’s eyes as each say “I do” sealing their forever with a kiss.

#remus x reader #remus lupin #marauders #moony x reader #sirius x reader #lily evans #james x lily

117 notes · View notes

velvet4510 · 5 months

Text

Ok here’s a whole essay’s worth of headcanons about some of the LOTR main characters’ lives in the Fourth Age, particularly their children.

(note: some of these names and marriages I’ve invented, and some I’ve borrowed from Elenya54’s phenomenal fics “All That I Had” and “The Gift of Ilúvatar,” which have many elements that I’ve absorbed into my hc, including Frodo leaving letters for Sam & Elanor and jewelry for Rosie, as well as Legolas ending up with Frodo’s healer’s daughter. Elanor & Fastred’s historian work is mentioned in Tolkien’s appendices. Frodo-lad’s love of dwarves and Rosie-lass’ love of the Entwives are taken from Tolkien’s unpublished epilogue.)

All dates in Shire Reckoning.

Frodo wrote Sam a love letter before he left, which Sam carried in his waistcoat pocket close to his heart every day.

Frodo left a letter for Elanor to read when she was older, letting her know how much he loved her and how sorry he was that he could not be there to watch her grow; he signed the letter “your Frodo-dad,” to which Rosie referred to him as she firmly felt that her daughter had two fathers in her life before Frodo had to leave. This is why Elanor called her father “Sam-dad” all her life.

Frodo left Rosie a set of freshly-polished jewelry (necklace, earrings, and bracelet) that once belonged to his mother Primula. Rosie always cherished these trinkets and wore them to every formal event she ever attended; she lent them to Elanor to wear at her wedding to Fastred.

Sam & Rosie’s entire family adopted the Gardner surname in the year 1424.

Sam taught all his children to read and write in both Westron and Sindarin. He was known as “the People’s Mayor,” as he helped the rich and poor alike. He came to know everyone in Hobbiton, regardless of class, on a first-name basis. He advocated for literacy in the entirety of the Shire, and his agenda ultimately modernized the Shire and created new opportunities for education, including the land’s first-ever public school in Michel Delving. He managed to change many conservative minds who used to not believe in the importance of reading by emphasizing how he only was able to accomplish what he did because of the knowledge he gained from Bilbo Baggins. He also personally planted many public and private gardens in the Shire, including a memorial garden for Frodo in the Party Field; his continuation of manual labor despite his affluent position went a long way in weaking the previously strict Shire social class system.

The efforts to rebuild after the Scouring, combined with Sam’s rise from lowly gardener to Master of Bag End and Mayor, shook up the class system. Many formerly upper- and middle-class families who had lost big chunks of their fortunes in repairing the Ruffians’ damage turned to manual labor to help the work move faster. It was a humbling experience for many, and the working class gained more respect than it’d ever had before. Sam’s brothers and cousins had their hands full taking on apprentices to learn their skills and help out. As a result, the Fourth Age saw more employment for hobbits than ever before; the bourgeois lifestyle became far less common.

Rosie became a leader in her own right, helping all the poorer hobbits in one way or another. She threw many parties at Bag End, including an annual celebration on September 22nd in honor of Bilbo and Frodo. Having been taught to read and write by Sam as a child (who passed on Bilbo’s lessons to her curious mind), she set her husband’s educational goals into motion by becoming a part-time tutor for hobbit children once her own children were older and in less need of her constant care. Many of the hobbits she tutored went on to become schoolteachers. She became extremely popular and respected, and when she died, a major party was thrown in her honor that went down in Shire history alongside Bilbo’s famous party.

Legolas and Gimli paid visits to the Shire as often as they could.

Elanor was a lifelong bibliophile and linguist. While working for Queen Arwen, she became fluent in Sindarin and translated many Elvish texts in the library. She was far more interested in the Elvish language and culture than any of her siblings. Besides Elfstan and Fíriel, she and Fastred also had 4 other children: Frodo, Astred, Arwen, and Rosemary. The couple led the Westmarch community together, doing a lot of impactful philanthropic work, and created an extensive library filled with historical records of the Shire, as well as Elves and Men, all the information that Elanor could compile while working in Gondor. Elanor also was struck with many dreams throughout her life of events in the Red Book, as she vividly imagined all the descriptions she heard and read so many times. A natural empath, she developed a deep understanding of Frodo’s suffering post-quest - mainly because of the personal connection she felt with him through his letter to her - and wrote several volumes of original poetry in both Westron and Sindarin, inspired by her two fathers. She became a beloved celebrity in the Shire, and eventually throughout Middle-earth when the Queen requested and published a copy of her work (with her permission). She, her husband, and their children continued to visit Gondor through the years and maintained a lifelong friendship with the royal family. Elanor eventually surpassed Bilbo Baggins as the oldest-lived hobbit in Middle-earth history, living to the age of 133.

Frodo-lad shared his father’s deep passion for gardening and they worked together on the flowers and vegetables at Bag End every day. He often teamed up with Elanor, his best friend as well as his sister, to help their parents manage their younger siblings growing up. He developed a love of Dwarves after reading about them in the Red Book; Gimli once created and gifted to him a harmless toy dwarf axe for his birthday. He was as skilled a scholar as Elanor, but didn’t enjoy it as much as she did, preferring the outdoors. However, he did help her with her research on Shire history for her library and eventually wrote his own book on gardening. He later married a hobbit lass named Violet, who hailed from the Bunce family. Besides Holfast, they had 3 other children: Heather, Wilfred, and Lavender. Frodo eventually became Mayor after his father retired and inherited Bag End when his father left the Shire. By this time, enough residents of Hobbiton had learned to read to enable him to open the town’s first-ever public library, which included copies of his own gardening book. The title of Mayor was later taken up by Holfast after his own retirement, and then later by Holfast’s son Harding of the Hill.

Rosie-lass was an in-demand artist who sketched and painted illustrations for the Red Book as well as portraits and landscapes which were given away as mathoms. The walls of Bag End were covered with her art. Framed in her and her sisters’ bedroom was her favorite creation: a drawing of a fantasy in which she found the lost Entwives. She later married Fredegar Bolger’s son Rudecar and they had 7 children.

Young Merry eventually took over operation of the mill formerly owned by the Sandymans and purchased by Frodo after the Scouring. He married Robin Smallburrow’s daughter Hazel and they had 3 children.

Young Pippin became a skilled furniture maker and married one of Fredegar Bolger’s daughters, Jessaminta. They had 5 children.

(The mother of Fredegar Bolger’s children was his wife Angelica Baggins, the last of the Baggins bloodline. Sam and Rosie were thrilled that their family was united with one of Baggins descent via Rosie-lass and Pippin’s marriages.)

As per canon, Goldilocks married Pippin Took’s son Faramir. They had 6 children and eventually became the heads of the Took family. Goldilocks loved to cook with her mother as a child and later insisted on helping the cooks at the Great Smials hands-on with preparing meals, class system be buggered. She and her husband made sure to pass this egalitarian mindset onto their children.

Hamfast loved the story of the Ents so much that he dedicated his life to forestry. He married Malva, who hailed from the Burrows family, and they had 3 children.

Daisy inherited her father’s knack for songwriting and composed many tunes which she eagerly performed at parties. She sang at all her siblings’ weddings. She herself married and had 4 children with Merry’s son Théodoc.

Primrose, a tomboy all the way, inherited her father’s talent with knots and became Hobbiton’s exclusive roper, alongside her cousin Anson’s latest apprentice, Nico Goodbody; they married and had 3 children.

Bilbo enjoyed a simple life working for the Quick Post and co-owning a bakery with his wife Azalea Hayward (daughter of Shirriff Hob), with whom he had 2 daughters.

Ruby became fascinated with medicine and eventually took on a career as a midwife. She was deeply moved by Frodo’s words in the Red Book about cherishing the beloved land that was saved by him and her father, and she took it upon herself to help bring the next generation of hobbits into the world to honor his wishes. She eventually married and had 5 children with Pippin’s son Beregond.

Robin followed in his namesake’s footsteps and became a Shirriff. He married Merry’s daughter Éowyn and they raised their 4 children in Frodo’s former residence at Crickhollow.

Tom became a merchant, traveling constantly between Gondor and the Shire. He never married but had a lifelong partnership with Pippin’s youngest son Beren. The two of them looked after the old hobbit in his final years in Minas Tirith, as he needed walking sticks to help him move due to lasting effects of troll-inflicted wounds. They shared their luxurious house with Pippin until his eventual death at age 106, two years after Merry had succumbed to a long illness in Pippin’s arms at age 112. Tom himself became quite an adventurer, retracing the Fellowship’s steps and sightseeing all of the quest’s locations with Beren. They both eventually rose in esteem to become advisors to the king.

Many times, but even more so in his later years, Sam had dreams of the Sea.

All of the children moved out of Bag End when they married, except Frodo-lad, who raised his own family in Bag End while also looking after his aging parents.

When Rosie fell ill for the last time, Sam and Frodo-lad summoned all 12 of Frodo’s siblings to Bag End, and they all were present in their mother’s last moments. On her deathbed, Rosie bequeathed Primula’s jewelry to Elanor.

Before sailing West, Sam showed Frodo’s love letter to Tom, Beren, and later Elanor. Although he never saw the letter, Frodo-lad also sensed his father’s true feelings for his namesake. They were the only members of their generation to be aware of Frodo & Sam’s secret romance; they honored Sam’s wish that this detail be kept private and left out of all records.

Elanor, Fastred, Frodo-lad, Goldilocks, Faramir, and Pearl all collaborated on the creation of the Thain’s Book, mainly working on it in the two years between Elanor’s inheriting of the original book and Pippin’s impending departure, which he was already considering and discussing with his family even before Éomer wrote to Merry.

When Sam sailed, he took with him several flower seed packets to plant in the West, a stash of Old Toby, letters for Frodo from the rest of the Fellowship (updating him on their lives and families), and a book of Elanor’s poetry which she intended as a present for Frodo. He also was given a small trinket from each of his children, which he kept and cherished as mementos of them. He left the Star of the Dúnedain and Sting to Frodo-lad, and both became cherished Gardner family heirlooms.

Sam happily reunited with Frodo on Tol Eressëa. Since time passed differently there, Frodo had not aged. Sam’s physical youth was gradually restored by the island’s rejuvenating energy, as was Bilbo’s. The couple lived happily together in a hobbit hole which Frodo had built for Sam.

In his time on the island, besides being fully healed by the combined efforts of Gandalf, Elrond, a Vanya healer, and Nienna herself, Frodo became good friends with Celebrían, as they understood each other’s similar reasons for sailing West. He became a gardener, realizing how much knowledge he absorbed from Sam through the years, and helped tend to many Elves’ private gardens as well as his own, and also became fluent in Quenya as a necessity for communication.

When Sam had settled in, Frodo taught him to speak Quenya and to swim.

Bilbo eventually chose to lay down his life after leaving nothing unsaid between him and the younger hobbits. However, Frodo and Sam continued on, and were still living when Legolas and Gimli finally arrived. They and Gandalf enjoyed many happy times together, especially at the beach, and reminisced about their lost friends.

When the hobbits finally accepted their mortality together, lying in each other’s arms after saying all their goodbyes, their bodies were laid side-by-side and housed with Bilbo’s body in a permanent memorial for them in Avalloné. They left all of their possessions to be placed within a historical museum on Eressëa, containing artifacts from all the ages of the world.

Pippin & Diamond were friends since tweenhood, but only saw each other in a platonic light for many years, and Pippin had some fun flirting with and trying to impress lasses when he returned from the Quest. An avid reader, Diamond was fascinated by the stories of what happened to him. But she was also an unusually empathetic and insightful hobbit, and she could sense that not all of Pippin’s adventures were fun, and that he had some lingering trauma. She became his safe space to talk to, and they quickly fell in love. As Tolkien put in canon, they finally married in 1427 (when Diamond was 32 and not even of age yet, as they couldn’t wait any longer) and the heir to the Thainship was their son Faramir, born in 1430, who later married Goldilocks. Here’s my version of the rest of their family:

Faramir took after Diamond more than Pippin. He had his sense of humor but had a sense of responsibility much earlier on in life and grew to be a fine leader in his own right, long before becoming Thain. He bonded closely with his namesake during a year-long visit to Gondor in which he served as a page to the King. He overcame Goldilocks’ shyness toward boys via their lifelong friendship from childhood that blossomed into more in their tweens.

Once Faramir was born, Pippin & Diamond realized that they loved parenting and wanted a big family, not unlike Sam & Rosie. They wanted to take on the adventure together and they did. Diamond wanted all her children to have special unconventional names and encouraged Pippin to borrow names of people he met on his quest and who he’d read about. Pippin agreed as long as his wife agreed to allow herself her own honor by naming all their daughters after jewels like her. They visited Gondor together often.

Their 1st daughter Pearl was born in 1433. An introvert, she preferred to read and draw than go to parties. A natural scholar like her mother, she was responsible for the cultivation of the Great Smials’ library, collecting and writing much of the history of Gondor, helped largely by her youngest brother’s frequent travels to the kingdom. She eventually married into the Goodbody family to Elio, brother of Nico (who married Primrose Gardner). They had 2 children.

2nd son Boromir was born in 1436. He helped his older brother keep their younger siblings in check. He initially in his youth felt hurt that he was named after the man who tried to steal the Ring, but as he grew older and came to understand the full story better, he came to deeply admire and respect his namesake. He opened a law firm alongside his best friend Estel Brandybuck, and married Fredegar Bolger’s youngest daughter, Miramunda; they had 7 children.

3rd son Beregond was born in 1438. He worked as an auctioneer and married Sam & Rosie’s daughter Ruby. See above.

Twins Bergil (boy) and Opal (girl) were born in 1440.

Bergil followed in his grandfather Paladin’s footsteps and made a living from farming the fertile earth of Tuckborough. His sister-in-law Goldilocks was helpful in this endeavor, as she arranged for him to gain experience in his youth by helping her mother’s family, the Cottons, at their own farm for a year. He married and had 3 children with Lydia Hornblower.

Opal founded the Shire’s first theatrical company and wrote many plays that retold the full story of the Fellowship. It was her plays that enlightened the rest of the Shire regarding the extent of Frodo Baggins’ sacrifice, and his reputation vastly improved as much of the population finally understood his heroism. Opal married into the Grubb family to a lad named Aldo, and they also had 3 children.

When she heard the story of Beren and Lúthien for the first time while pregnant with Emerald, Diamond loved it so much that she insisted they name their next boy after Beren.

3rd daughter Emerald was born in 1443, named in honor of her great-aunt Esmeralda Brandybuck. She married into the Burrows family to Marco, brother of Malva (who married Hamfast Gardner). They opened an affluent restaurant together near the Three-Farthing Stone, which blended Shire cuisine with those of Gondor and Rohan via recipes collected by Emerald’s father and “Uncle Merry”. They also had 2 children.

5th son and youngest child, Beren, was born in 1446. He never married but had a romantic life partner in Sam & Rosie’s son Tom, with whom he worked as a merchant. See above.

After many happy years, Diamond died at age 86 in 1481, six months before Rosie’s passing. She held on until she heard the news that her youngest grandchild had been born safely earlier that day.

Estella pursued Merry for many years until she finally won him over. They married the same year that Faramir Took was born, and decided they wanted a smaller family than the Gardners and the Tooks. They ultimately had 4 children:

1st son Théodoc was born in 1432. Merry knew he wanted to name his firstborn after his late king; Estella agreed, admiring the king greatly from her husband’s stories, but wanted to continue the tradition of giving the future Master a name ending in “-doc.” This was their compromise. Théodoc was a born scholar like his father and helped him put together his book on old words and names. He later married Sam & Rosie’s daughter Daisy; they became the Master and Mistress of Buckland when Merry left the Shire for the last time.

2nd son Estel was born in 1436. His parents were amazed at how perfectly the name worked as a tribute to both Aragorn and to Estella herself. Estel was a mama’s boy and never minded his name’s resemblance to hers, even before making the thrilling discovery that he was also named for a king. He opened a law firm with his best friend Boromir. On a family trip to Bree, Estel met a real Underhill, named Sarafina; they instantly fell in love and he brought her home to Buckland as his bride. They bore 3 children.

1st daughter Éowyn was born in 1439. She worshipped and maintained a lifelong friendship with her namesake, who sent her birthday presents every year, and in whose footsteps she followed by becoming the Shire’s most reliable healer. She also helped her father gather research for his herblore books, and gained much knowledge of herbal medicines from this project. She later married Sam & Rosie’s son Robin; they first got together when Tom & Beren played matchmaker.

2nd daughter Athela was born in 1441, named after Athelas in honor of her father’s love of herbs and her mother’s appreciation for the specific herb that saved her father’s life. She married into the Goldworthy family and had 3 children with her husband Fabian. She shared her sister’s passion for independent thinking and eventually became a teacher at the Shire’s first public school.

Merry was the first of the Travellers to be widowed, as Estella passed in 1480 at age 95. The following year, Athela named her newborn 3rd child after her mother.

As Tolkien wrote, Aragorn & Arwen’s firstborn was Eldarion, born in 1422, who eventually succeeded his father as king and created a long-lasting dynasty. According to me, Eldarion was followed by three younger sisters:

Idril was born in 1425. She remained in close touch with her Elvish roots and arranged for the history of Elves and Men to be taught in all of Gondor’s schools. It was for her and her sister’s sake that her parents were inspired to issue a law requiring girls to be educated as well as boys. She later married Elboron, son of Faramir & Eowyn (b. 1424), and they became Prince and Princess of Ithilien after Elboron’s parents’ deaths, and helped Legolas restore the land to its former glory. Their son Barahir wrote The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen (Tolkien canon).

Twins Celebrían and Gilraen were born in 1429.

Celebrían was a linguist and expert diplomat and helped her father with peace talks among the Southern and Eastern lands, made easier when she became fluent in the languages spoken by the Haradrim. She was close friends with Elanor, as they shared a passion for learning languages.

Gilraen was a tomboy who joined the remaining Rangers of the North in patrolling the woodlands of Arnor, eventually marrying a fellow Ranger.

All four of Aragorn & Arwen’s children were raised bilingual in Westron and Sindarin. The Sindarin language became common in Gondor once again, and was taught in schools.

Eldarion oversaw the restoration of Osgiliath alongside his father.

Aragorn also arranged for absolute premogeniture in the Reunited Kingdom’s line of succession, echoing the similar policy of Númenor.

Two centuries later, Eldarion’s firstborn, Silmariën, became the first Ruling Queen (regnant) of Gondor. Her younger sister was Nimloth.

Also, in Ithilien:

Besides Elboron, Faramir & Éowyn had a daughter, Elwyn (b. 1427), who became a healer like her mother. She exchanged much information with her close friends from the Shire, the hobbits Ruby Gardner and Éowyn Brandybuck.

As for Legolas and Gimli:

Gimli was gray and aged when he and Legolas sailed West, but had a few steps left in him.

On his last journey, Legolas took with him letters for Sam from his surviving children, all of whom he had stayed in touch with through the years (especially Elanor and Tom), as well as his own copy of the Red Book in Quenya, which he’d made himself in Gondor from the Thain’s Book, in order to keep the details of the story recorded for the populace of Valinor.

They were thrilled to reunite with the hobbits on Eressëa, having hoped they’d still be alive.

Gimli bonded with the Elves who specialized in mining and delving on the island, and eventually learned Quenya.

Legolas fell in love with Laurëalotë, a Vanya resident of Tol Eressëa and the daughter of Frodo’s healer.

Gimli, being 260 years old when he sailed, ultimately lived to the age of 330.

Many years after the hobbits and Gimli had finally passed on, Legolas married Laurëalotë and they had two daughters, Malinalda and Altáriel, and a son, Elessar. They settled on the island and often visited the permanent memorial built in honor of their late friends.

Gandalf sailed on to settle in Valinor. His reward from the Valar for his deeds was to travel freely among the Blessed Realm whenever he pleased, no longer bound to be a servant. Thus, he often visited Legolas and the memorials on the nearby island.

Legolas’ copy of the Red Book became the most cherished item in his household, as he read the story to his wife, daughters, and grandchildren, and kept it alive forever.

For the rest of time, Gandalf and Legolas personally reminisced about the Fellowship, and their memories of and love for their friends never faded.

The Last Ship sailed from the Grey Havens in the year 201 of the Fourth Age. Among those onboard were Círdan, Celeborn, Elladan, Elrohir, and one Elf who had long served his repentance through many lonely millennia in Middle-Earth and was at last granted passage back to his homeland: Maglor.

24 notes · View notes

forelevenses · 8 months

Text

before you go

rating: T fandom: the lord of the rings characters: frodo baggins, sam gamgee, bilbo baggins, elanor gardener pairings: frodo baggins/sam gamgee summary: before Bilbo is set to depart the Havens, Frodo and Sam have someone they want him to meet

with lovely art done by @verchielmarch! 💕 read here or on ao3! When Master Elrond informed Bilbo of Frodo’s decision to decline the offer to the Blessed Land, he was rather at a loss for words (to the surprise of the entire House).

The letter arrived towards the tail-end of April, and all the while, he spent his afternoons on his favorite thinking bench under one of the many blooming bowers in Rivendell and thought of many different things: his past adventures, his verses, his upcoming journey, but most importantly of all, he thought of Frodo.

At first, he found the situation quite hilarious and wished he could hug his dear nephew. After all, it was quite in Baggins-fashion to be accorded with a special honor by the elves to only say ‘No, I am quite all right, thank you’ as if one was rejecting an extra helping of tea cakes during elevenses. He taught the boy very well, in his humble opinion.

However, as the months turned warmer, Bilbo’s humor began to turn into concern. Although he was not at the Cracks of Doom when it happened, Bilbo felt a sort of clarity when It was destroyed, even all the way in his small, cozy room. It was as if he was finally unburdened from the last of a 60-year-old weight, and he could really feel again. So, he could only imagine how Frodo, who walked into the very heart of the Enemy’s realm with the accursed thing, felt about the whole ordeal.

He may have shut his eyes more times than he would have liked then, but Bilbo remembered when Frodo returned to Rivendell after it was all said and done. His nephew was there, yes, and yet, he wasn’t. He wasn’t the same rosy-cheeked lad he met all those years ago in Brandy Hall, or the one who would hang on to every word of Bilbo’s tales with wonder in his clear eyes. Of course, Frodo talked and smiled well enough before he headed off on the last leg home, but none of it ever reached his shadowed eyes. It was as if Frodo was hollowed from the inside out, a weary and fragile shell of who he once was years ago.

The Blessed Land would have given them both long-overdue relief from their times with their shared burden, so why Frodo turned down the offer was too great a riddle, even for Bilbo. Had he turned for the worse upon arriving home? He may have held the ring for a shorter amount of time between the two, but It weighed on him far worse than Bilbo experienced. Not to mention his wounds- knife, sting, and tooth all crushing down on him with an immense pressure that Bilbo wished he could help alleviate. Did he think himself unworthy?

His boy more than earned his rest, so just why did he turn it down?

The first clue to his answer arrived just a week before he was set to depart for the Grey Havens: a Shire postmarked letter, written in the firm but slightly unsteady hand Bilbo recognized anywhere. Bilbo thanked the heavens Frodo could, at the very least, be well enough to have written a letter and practically tore into the envelope. It was short, the usual and respectful ‘How do you do? I’m doing well, thank you’ found in any hobbit correspondence, however, the letter’s closing caught Bilbo’s curiosity:

‘The three of us eagerly await the day we shall meet you at the Woody End.’

While he was more than happy to hear Frodo would be seeing him off, why only three? It was a shame to think the four lads had a falling out of sorts upon returning, however it seemed unlikely. There was talk among the newly-arrived elves of a gardener breathing life back into the halfling’s lands feared to be too unsalvageable, and Bilbo did not need to spare a guess on who the mystery gardener was. He hoped he would’ve seen young Samwise one last time, but he was a very important hobbit these days if the rumors were to be believed, and perhaps had bigger things to attend to than to see old Mad Baggins sail off into the blue.

At the very least, he would get to see his young cousins one last time and for Bilbo, it was a comforting thought.

***

The final clue arrived on the morning of September 22nd.

Their passage into the Shire was uneventful and unnoticed by the Shire-folk, even by the most keen-eyed Bounder. Their small company took the paths least traveled, through the rolling green hills and even through a forgotten sunflower field. The elves seemed to have enjoyed the field particularly, even Lord Elrond seemed a bit misty-eyed (sunflowers were not his personal favorite, although Bilbo can appreciate how their beauty can bring anyone to tears).

As they passed into the Woody End, one of the elves in their company ordered the scouts to be on the lookout for the Ringbearer’s carriage. Seemed a tad excessive for a small trip, even for Bilbo, but Frodo is a Baggins after all. He thought nothing more of it and quietly slipped into a peaceful nap.

Until he was rudely awoken by one of the escorts.

Perhaps some time passed, judging by the light but the elf laughed, “You have company little Master.” They had stopped at the edge of a small clearing (the same one Frodo and he would use to camp out under the stars during their famous days-long tramps), and elves around him busied themselves with the horses. Two lone horses were in the clearing before a small carriage and he recognized them as Lord Elrond’s and Lady Galadriel’s. Bilbo couldn’t help his quiet huff. He may be old, but certainly not too old to not be the first to greet his nephew!

Before he could show those two stuffy elves a piece of his mind, the horses were making their way back to the company. They were in good spirits to Bilbo’s mind, whispering to each other in the ancient tongue and smiling more than he had ever witnessed them to. Their horses slowed to a stop before his pony, regarding him fondly with their keen eyes. At last, Lord Elrond raised a hand before he could squeeze a word in.

“No need to rush, we shall set camp here for the evening,” he said, and motioned his horse forward. Lady Galadriel was silent, but her bright eyes twinkled in mirth before her own horse followed after Elrond’s.

Bilbo looked out toward the clearing, and though his eyes have seen better days, he recognized the pacing figure of his nephew anywhere.

“Let’s see what’s gotten into the lad’s head,” Bilbo said and he urged his pony forward. As he got closer, he began to make out the voices from the carriage: Frodo’s, and to his surprise, Sam’s. What joy to see young Samwise one more time, after all the great deeds he accomplished since their last meeting! Bilbo’s thoughts returned to the letter and he chuckled. Maybe Frodo was trying to give him the slip, and all four of them have arrived to see him off. Blast it all, he should’ve known all along!

“...he’ll understand, me dear.”

“...cuff my ears, just like old times!”

Just why would he need to cuff his ears? Honestly, the things the lad says sometimes! But, he’d know soon enough. Before Bilbo could get to it, the soft snort of his pony announced his arrival and a hush fell before Frodo turned around from his spot behind the carriage.

Bilbo had some sort of greeting ready at the tip of his tongue, but he felt it slip from his mind. He blinked, stunned as he took in his nephew. It had been nearly a year since he last saw him, a ghost of what his nephew once was. There were days when Bilbo, even Master Elrond, wondered if the Blessed Realm would be enough to heal Frodo.

The Frodo standing before him now was not fully healed, but Bilbo would not have known any better.

Frodo shifted in place, his hands fiddling with the cuffs of his sleeves like he did so long ago whenever Bilbo would scold him as a tween. “Hullo Uncle,” Frodo said, color staining his properly filled-out cheeks (which Bilbo believed he would never see again).

Bilbo found the words he meant to say, but as he gathered his wits enough to answer, a soft gurgle got the first say.

He realized he had forgotten all about Sam in his astonishment.

Bilbo looked behind Frodo, and Sam sat at the edge of the carriage. He looked weary, but was ever the fine hobbit he always was. Sam smiled and mouthed a ‘Hullo’ before turning his attention back to the squirming bundle of blankets in his arms.

He looked at the bundle, then to Sam, then to Frodo, and then back to the bundle.

“Oh, my dear boy,” Bilbo said softly, the pieces falling together perfectly in his mind.

“I suppose we ought to explain ourselves,” Frodo said, still looking rather expectantly as if he was waiting for the other shoe to drop.

“I dare say you do,” Bilbo said, dismounting his pony with ease. “But, I would much rather be introduced to this little one first.”

As quietly as he could as to not disturb the bundle, Bilbo approached Sam and settled by the spot next to him. The bundle was well-covered, although he couldn’t help but notice the little golden curl sprouting out from the blankets. Sam must have thought him silly trying to get a look and laughed softly. “Would you like to hold her, Mr. Bilbo?”

Bilbo smiled. “Her?”

“Aye,” Sam replied, “Here, mind her head.” Bilbo held open his arms and with Sam’s gentle guidance, he held the bundle. When was the last time he held a babe? Bilbo could not recall, but were they always this small? And quite hefty this little lass was! She began to squirm a bit, no doubt from not recognizing this stranger’s arms and Bilbo began to softly rock his arms.

“There, there,” he hushed. “Now, let’s get a look at you.”

He uncovered the blanket near her face, and he stilled. The little lass was fast asleep, her face flushed from the warmth of her blankets but rather at peace with the new set of arms she found herself in. Bilbo was silent, studying every single movement and trying to commit it to his memory. If his mind wandered a bit more, he would have thought he was back in Brandy Hall so many years ago, when a proud Primula plopped a sleeping Frodo into his arms for the first time.

“Uncle, we’d like to introduce you to Elanor Baggins-Gamgee,” Frodo said, taking the empty spot next to Bilbo.

Bilbo sniffed, using his hand to wipe his eye. “The sun-star?”

“Half of all the maid-children in the Shire are named for flowers, but we wanted something different for her,” Frodo said, leaning in closer to Bilbo. “She’s beautiful and she’ll grow to be even more beautiful still.”

“Well, of course she will!” Bilbo laughed. “She’s a Baggins! Why, look at that hair! You know, your Aunt Dora’s hair was so thick that not even a comb could get through!”

“Goodness!” Sam said.

“I remember a time when your father tried to plait ribbons in her hair, Frodo! You should have seen the look on his face when the handle on the brush snapped like a twig! Oh, she was so cross with him, it was her favorite!” Bilbo laughed. “But the color! That is, of course, Samwise’s doing.”

“Nay, my own isn’t so bright, nor any of my relations if I can recall,” Sam said. “A lot of the babes born this past year are golden-haired, even if no one in the family is so!”

“Is that so?” Bilbo asked, brushing a stray curl back Elanor’s ear. “Well, if you will not take credit for the hair, then don’t bother denying the nose! My eyes may not be as sharp as they were when I was a spry tweener, but that’s a Gamgee nose if I ever saw one!”

Sam laughed, his freckled cheeks turning a bright red, “You’ve done and settled the score, Mr. Bilbo! All this time we haven’t been able to tell where she got it from but you say it as if it were plain as day!”

“You don’t think it reminds you of cousin Peony’s a bit, Bilbo?” Frodo asked, tucking the blanket back under Elanor’s uncovered feet.

“Your cousin Peony’s nose was a bit sharper, too sharp if I’m being truthful,” Bilbo said, bringing his finger up to Elanor’s nose to lightly tap the tip, “And with the freckles on top, little Elanor’s definitely a Gamgee, through and through!”

“If me old Gaffer were here, he’d say she turned out way too fine to be a Gamgee, but I know he’s being silly,” Sam chuckled.

“Bah, nonsense! I’ve always said Belle and he made such a beautiful family, but you know him better than I: too humble to accept any compliment! It’s like pulling teeth with him sometimes!”

That set them laughing, full and whole-heartedly until a soft coo mingled in. They stilled, Bilbo freezing in place as if he heard the rumbling snort of an awakening dragon all over again. Frodo and Sam shared a gentle smile between them.

“I believe someone has something to say about all our ruckus,” Frodo said. Bilbo looked down and was caught in the gaze of two, clear blue eyes. Elanor stared at him, her round face calm as if she was still deciding whether Bilbo was a new friend or not. Her small eyebrows were set in the same fashion of Frodo whenever he was in deep debate over which book he would spend the afternoon with, or whenever Sam would concentrate on his rose pruning out in the gardens. Bilbo could not stop the overwhelming joy bubbling within him.

“Hullo there,” Bilbo whispered, offering his finger to Elanor. She considered it for a long while when at long last, her clear eyes shone bright and she took his finger between her strong grip. She laughed happily, showing off the slight gap between her growing front teeth. Bilbo laughed, the tears welling in his eyes flowing freely down his wrinkled cheeks.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Elanorellë,” Bilbo said.

***

By nightfall, the company settled quite comfortably under the stars. The meal was modest, but quite enjoyable after days of travel and before long, the elves were resting peacefully under the soft starlight.

However, the night was still young at least according to hobbit standards.

A ways away from the elves, the hobbits huddled around a cheery fire, their bellies full from the bit of stew Sam threw together and the ale Frodo managed to bring along for the trip. Although the elves in Rivendell tried their best to replicate hobbit fare and Bilbo appreciated the efforts, nothing could quite compare to a proper hobbit meal in the Shire itself.

They talked of many things – Lotho and Sharkey, the rebuilding efforts, this past season’s remarkable harvest, and all the doings of any hobbit in and around Hobbiton Frodo and Sam could think of. No wonder Frodo’s letters were so to-the-point – he would have been sending a book each time otherwise! And even with all their catching up and reminiscing, Elanor stayed right in Bilbo’s arms, making quite the fuss if her new cousin made any effort to settle her down in her basket.

When each of their corners were properly filled and every story that could be told was recounted, the fire was banked and the hobbits clamored into the carriage and settled into their bedrolls, ready for what the next leg of the journey held in store for them.

All except for Bilbo.

Maybe it was a pesky pebble under his bedroll, or the slight chill in the air that kept him turning about, but Bilbo was at his wit’s end. How long he strayed between waking and sleeping, he could not tell but it was no use making so much fuss when everyone else was fast asleep. As quiet as he could, Bilbo reached for his cloak and slipped out from under his roll.

Sam was turned to his side, his soft snores lulling Elanor into a deep sleep. It was a comforting sight to Bilbo at first, until he caught a glimpse of the empty roll next to Sam. Frodo was nowhere in sight, and the flap to the carriage cover was left undone. Worry started to grip him tight and ever so gently as not to wake the other two, Bilbo slipped out of the carriage and onto the clearing.

The stars glimmered against the dark sky but they paled compared to the evening-star, shining steady but brilliantly compared to all others. Bilbo felt his breath catch, mesmerized at its gentle beauty and after a long while of contemplating its light, he let his eyes fall back down to the earth. Right below the star, Frodo sat alone by the empty fire pit.

“It hasn't fully healed, if that’s what you’re getting at,” Frodo sighed. “There are days where I feel somewhat at peace, but there are others where it feels as if the sickness has me completely in its hold. Sam helps the best he can in those times, Rosie as well, but I'm afraid they can only do so much.”

Biblo tried to picture it: Frodo, in the throes his sickness while Sam and the Cotton lass helplessly tried to do anything to ease him. No, he shouldn’t use ‘helpless’. He was confident they both did everything within their hobbit-sense to help Frodo, that much was clear. But even so, a nagging whisper in the corner of his mind would not relent.

“Do you believe this to be the best choice, Frodo?” Bilbo asked, unsure of the question himself. Frodo was silent, his brow creased as he considered his words.

“It was always a chance to be healed,” Frodo said, returning Bilbo's firm grip, “Never a guarantee. But even so, there was a time when I was prepared to take the offer. I couldn’t bear the thought of burdening Sam, even after everything we have endured, but then one day, I found him crying in the potting shed all by himself. I brought him back inside and after a long talk, I found that it was not the first time Sam had hid away in such a manner. The thought of him suffering alone pained me and when I asked why, wouldn’t you believe it- he didn’t want to be a burden to me! All that time, we had suffered in silence without the other knowing, when we could have suffered together! And I was about to leave these lands so we could continue suffering alone?” Frodo scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief.

“Bilbo, I understand the risk in my decision, and how it worries you so. However, this is a risk I am prepared to make. For myself, for Sam and for Elanor.”

“I have never doubted your decisions, my lad, nor do I plan to start,” Bilbo said, bringing up one of his wrinkled hands to Frodo’s pale cheek, “I know you’re doing what you think is best, like how you’ve always done. My only wish is that you find your rest at last. You, out of anyone in this world, have earned as such.” Frodo smiled and wrapped his slender arms around Bilbo.

“It will not be an easy road, but Uncle, I truly believe I will find my rest here in the Shire. There’s so much to be and to do, and being able to try and experience it all with Sam and Elanor by my side is worth more to me than any Elvish healing can bring,” Frodo said.

Bilbo was silent, the dust in the wind clouding his vision of course, and without any further word, he returned Frodo’s embrace. All was quiet among the wood, but perhaps the sharpest of elf ears in Elrond’s company caught the faintest of sniffling in the breeze.

***

“We shall be arriving within the hour, Little Master.”

Bilbo yawned and faced the kindly Elf at the doorway. After the ship casted off from the Grey Havens, he found it rather difficult to keep track of their days out on the Sea. What felt like weeks to him were just mere days to the Elves and decided it was best to leave it be.

“I shall rather believe it when I set foot on the docks,” Bilbo chuckled. The Elf laughed brightly and dismissed himself, leaving Bilbo alone in his small room. He stretched and stood from his seat by the desk, still marveled at the ease his old bones moved. Master Elrond credited their proximity to the Blessed Land, and wondered what other changes awaited him once they docked.

It was quite the change, he supposed. Becoming the first mortal, much less hobbit, to even breathe the sweet air of the Blessed Land was quite the ordeal. While the promise of a new adventure awaited him, Bilbo could not help but wonder how long would it be until he could truly call the Land his home?

His eyes (ah, no more need to squint) fell to his bags by the foot of his bed, and lingered on Frodo’s gift. It was large, wrapped in a soft cloth and was rather light. Bilbo recalled the cries of the gulls as they stood on the docks, sharing one last hug with his dear nephew. When they pulled apart, Sam handed Frodo the gift, wiping his tears with newly free hand. Elanor cooed curiously as she looked on, not quite understanding what was before her (though he knew with time, her fathers would explain).

“When you reach the other side of the Sea,” Frodo sniffed, handing the gift to Bilbo, “We hope this small piece will help you remember The Shire.”

He supposed he could wait until they reached Elrond’s estate on the Isle, but the anticipation was too much for an old hobbit. A small peak wouldn’t hurt. With the utmost care, Bilbo picked up the gift and placed it onto his bed. The thread keeping the cloth together was simple and gave him no trouble undoing it. Slowly, he uncovered the folds and felt the breath leave him.

A painting laid before him, and if Elf magic were real, it might as well have been a passage back to The Shire. Bag End was captured in all the quaint beauty he remembered it but, his eyes were focused on the stoop. Frodo and Sam stood side-by-side, smiling softly with Elanor held between the both of them.

They will age- both lads growing more lines and gray hairs as the years went by while Elanor would only grow more in beauty. Perhaps more bairns would be added to their growing brood (imagine, Frodo with a brood of his own!), but for now, they remained frozen the way he left them at the Grey Havens.

Bilbo smiled, feeling tears pool in his eyes, “I doubt I’ll forget The Shire anytime soon, my dear boy.”

#samfrodo #frodo x sam #lotr #lotr fic #fotfics #frodo baggins #sam gamgee #samwise gamgee #miki.fic

7 notes · View notes

lordoftherazzles · 2 years

Note

Top 5 Bagginshield moments! ;)

oHHHHH YES!!! HERE WE GO!!! SUNNI!!!!!!!

(In no particular order because I love all Bagginshield Moments™)

The HUG (even though the gif above is reversed frames, I love it dearly)

The ACORN (I have a tattoo thanks to this scene, and no, I won't shut up about it)

Mithril (aka, the marriage proposal/wedding.)

"Why did you come back?" - AUJ (This is where I feel Thorin's entire demeanor towards Bilbo seems to change, and I adore it.)

"You have keen eyes Master Baggins" (lol okay really, a big ass staircase...but they look so cute in this shot!!)

Honorable mention

6. ALL THE OTHER SCENES. Especially the ones where they just silently look at each other and have a 20-minute conversation that way. I love them.

THANKS SUNNI, YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE THESE GOOBERS <3

Ask me my "top 5" anything!

#raz answers #sunnibits #bagginshield #i love them so much it's insane

57 notes · View notes

cutie4560 · 7 months

Text

Ch 2: A Long Day and Sleepless Night

Balin rode alongside Shail briefing her on each company member.

“Now, you already know of Thorin Oakdensheild. Behind him we have his two nephews, Fili and Kili. They will be the next princes of Erbor once our home is reclaimed.” Balin said with inspiration. The journey had just begun, hopes were high. “Before ourselves are my younger brother, Dwalin, and the fire-starter Gloin. Gloin also…” Balin was about to advise Shail that Gloin handles their finances, but then remembered she is still a stranger. She could rob them that very same night. Balin averted his eyes and continued. “...Gloin starts the fires.” Balin cleared his throat and turned back to point to the elders of the company. “These gentle dwarves do an excellent job keeping our mission organized. The deaf, Oin, acts as our medic and map reader. The mute, Bifur, acts as unruly reinforcement when needed. Don’t be fooled though, he has a kind heart and passion for toy making. Dori is the entire company’s mending specialist. If any of your clothes, sashes, or sacks need a sturdy stitch, feel free to refer to him. Then there is Ori, our scribe. A bright young dwarf that one is. After them is their third brother, Nori.” Balin gestured for Shail to lean towards him for a secret and she abided. He whispered “That lot don’t look much alike, but they are of the same blood on their mother’s side…and do be mindful of Nori’s hands. He’s got, uh, thieving tendencies'' He then continued at a conversational volume. “Besides him is Bofur, the tinker. He also is caretaker of Bifur along with his brother, the company’s cook, Bombur. In the very back, our newest member and official burglar Master Bilbo Baggins. Accompanying him is the great wizard-”

“Gandalf the Gray” Shail finished. She then explained “I know of his legend from a close friend.”

“Then you agree, he is a sorcerer of grand magnitude. Such a power wielder doesn’t assist in just any cause. Our journey is one of great honor.” Shail nodded in agreement. When Balin turned his focus to his reigns, she rolled her eyes at the gloating.

“I suppose… He doesn’t seem so great.” She muttered.

Ori rode two horse lengths behind the she-dwarf. Trying hard to catch just a glimpse of her face for his sketch. Hearing the mention of his name the two made eye contact. Ori's face turned a tint of pink. Shutting his journal abruptly it nearly toppled off his lap. Dori turned to the commotion and helped to stop the book from falling to the ground. "Careful Ori, what have I told you about writing and riding?"

"Sorry, I was starting on a new sketch." Ori answered, fiddling around with the quill. The young artist kept glancing over to Shail, hoping she didn’t notice his fumbling nor the lecture he was receiving. Dori saw his looks and followed Ori’s eyesight, it was to the she-dwarf.

"Oh no, don’t you get yourself involved with that mischief-maker.” Dori lectured, shaking his finger no. Ori blushed at being caught.

“I don’t think it's mischievous behavior! She kind of reminds me of Nori.” Ori tried to convince.

“That's my point. Look at her Ori. Her hair looks like a mouse built its nest in there, leaves and sticks just scattered around." He went on insulting her appearance. "What is with her acting like a feral animal sniffing about? I want you to stay clear unless you're told so. You understand me?" Dori asked, raising a brow. Ori rolled his eyes before giving him a huffed yes.

"I don't understand. Why’d uncle recruit a wild lander? Doesn’t he know how unpredictable they can be?" Kili loudly whispered to his brother. The older brother looked with a deadpan stare.

“You are not whispering as low as you think you are.” Fili sighed then shrugged. He turned back to stretch his back, but was distracted by the decloaking she-dwarf. Although ill-fitting, her mismatched clothes showed off a curvaceous body. Most dwarfish women he saw wore conservative attire, at least two or three layers. Fili was fascinated by the modest clothing clinging to her shape. Shail adjusted her sleeve then looked ahead. The two made eye contact. Embarrassed by being caught staring, the prince pulled on his reins and nearly steered into Kili’s pony.

"Fili! Watch it!" Kili whined. He steadied his own pony then kicked his brother's leg.

"Sorry brother, I got distracted. No need to hit." Fili apologized then kicked Kili back. They began an intense game of footsies while avoiding hitting the ponies.

The brothers’ kicking distracted Shail from her conversation with Balin. "And I think you and I both know we wouldn’t want that, do we? Hehe…” Balin waited for a response, but saw the lass’ attention was elsewhere. He sighed, seeing the young brothers’ antics. “You two alright?” Balin hoped to straighten out their misbehavior without getting Thorin involved.

"What? Oh, yes! Fili’s having a bit of trouble with his reins.” Kili lied while both wore innocent smiles. He landed a kick to the shin. Fili grunted, but held his facade. Balin nodded and the two turned back to face the path ahead. Fili dropped his smile and grumbled. Kili grinned in victory.

“A bit clumsy for one of yer best fighters.” Shail commented to Bailn.

Fili heard the comment and scoffed. First Kili winning their fight now this? He turned back and questioned Shail. “Clumsy? Pfft, it was a little accident is all. What impression have I given you that I'm clumsy?" Fili asked, irritated by her statement.

Shail, smiling at the prince’s amusing temper, elaborated. “Back at my campsite, you fell for my trap. Even woodland critters have the sense to be cautious. Witless, clumsy, easy kills will go for open bait. And you being witless, clumsy, and easy, were caught. No?” She asked, raising her brow.

Fili slowed down riding at her side to defend himself. "I wasn't the only dwarf to get snared."

"That’s true, your highness…princes and kings with no kingdom. Not sure what you’d call that." Shail said lowly to Fili as she looked him in the eyes. Her smile dropped, this statement was no joke to her. Shail certainly rubbed salt into Fili’s wounded pride. He stopped in his tracks in disbelief. Fili had never been so unapologetically disrespected before.

Balin called back as he stayed beside Shail, unaware of what the lass had said. “Keep up lad!”

The company rode until sunset. As the sky became darker, Thorin and his dwarves set up camp. Below the cliff side was the great east road. "Fili, you're on the first watch." Thorin said as he walked around to observe the cliff’s view for dangers. Fili nodded but silently groaned once his uncle walked away. He was annoyed by being picked first, but was not so bothered to get an earful from Thorin about it. Kili snickered at his brother, beginning to unravel his own sleeping sack. While walking past, Thorin snatched the younger prince’s sleeping sack from his hands and added "I don’t see what’s so funny when you’ll be accompanying him, Kili. I want you both to be awake and alert. No mucking around. Understood?" Thorin order.

"Understood sir." Fili answered with a satisfied smile, taking a seat by the fire. Behind Thorin’s back, Kili gave his uncle a side eye before slumping onto the ground. The rest of the dwarves unpacked their belongings to last the night; bedrolls, worn-out pillows, blankets varying in size and comfort. Climbing to higher ground, Shail removed her boots and leather corset to relax after an eventful day. She rummaged through her pack to retrieve a makeshift pillow. It was made from a used potato sack and stuffed with sheeps’ wool. Using it to support herself against a rock, she placed her pack to her side. Most of Shail’s nights were spent sleeping outdoors. She had become accustomed to resting uncomfortably while being prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. She sighed and closed her eyes, they were becoming heavy with tiredness.

"Excuse me. Are you really going to be sleeping up there?” A voice suddenly asked. The question alarmed Shail. She opened her eyes and crawled over with caution to look down and see. Once she saw who was speaking, the she-dwarf groaned. It was Ori. “Mister Dwalin says it's better to stay in a group" He informed out of concern for her.

"Maybe for you townies and your simple minds. Lower to the ground, faster the strike. Higher on the hill, the critters won't bite.” She answered, trying to ignore the annoying pest. Looking down, Ori’s face showed confusion at the rhyme. Shail groaned again. “I'll make it simpler to understand. Up here, it’s harder for the night beast to reach. So I won’t be part of their fifteen course meal.” Ori gulped then turned and yipped. He was spooked at the firewood cracking. Shail laughed at him as she retreated back to her rest area.

Pink in the face from embarrassment, Ori rejoined the group. He took a seat and opened his journal. Dori took the calm opportunity to fiddle with Ori’s braids. “What a mess. This trip certainly is not for the weak. Not sure how we’re going to survive if our hair can’t even last, right Ori?” Dori joked. Ori gave a weak chuckle to appease his older brother’s humor. The younger dwarf wore a frown of shame and hoped none of the company viewed him that way; weak, helpless, needing to be nurtured by his overbearing brother. Oin called for Dori, needing the mender to patch a tear in his medicine bag. Dori assured Ori he’ll be back in a moment. Nori, along with Bofur, sat close by. Both dwarves were working on their wood carving skills. Nori was forging a design into his own smoking pipe. He looked up to make sure Dori was gone. The middle child then averted his attention back to the pipe and spoke aloud to his little brother.

"What was that about?" Nori asked, blowing away the wooden shavings.

Ori covered his mouth and coughed from inhaling the debris. Nori laughed then ceased when his little brother answered shortly "Nothing. Just wanted to ask a question." It was out of Ori’s character to talk back. The scribe’s journal pages were covered in his inconsiderate brother’s shavings so he brushed them off and continued on his sketch. Peeking over, Nori saw a rough sketch of the lass. The thief grinned. With mischievous intent, Nori quickly snatched the book, "Nori!” Ori whined then lowered his voice to not alert Dori. He hissed. “Give that back!"

"Lookie here, nice drawing Ori. Didn’t add much detail yet. You sure this ain't your first time drawing a lass, huh?" He asked. The scribe leaned over to grab his journal back, but failed as Nori held it over the middle braided point of his hair. Quickly, Nori took off Bofur’s hat and shoved it in Ori’s face. With this younger brother being stalled, Nori retreated away to examine the page. "What are these? Notes?” Nori trotted and recited from the text. “Let’s see here. It says ‘Her eyes tell a story. They sparkle like stones of amber in the sunlight'? Aw, how romantic!" He teased. Ori politely gave the hat back to its owner then began to chase Nori. Bofur shook his head with a smile as the brothers concealed their running to not cause a commotion. Ori quietly pleaded for the journal back after many failed attempts to get it. Nori would hold out the book then pull it back when Ori reached for it. The thief would evade his younger brother’s every move with side steps and pivots. Ori tripped over his own feet. As he stood back up, Nori continued to read. "There's more! 'Her skin is the color of a chestnut, complemented by beautiful long raven hair'. Though it does hold a mess of twigs, stones, and leaves, don’t it?" Nori proposed as he caressed his own locks. Bofur chuckled at his friend’s vanity. "Where's the commentary about her body? Haven't gotten to that part yet?" He elbowed Ori playfully, winking over to Bofur. Ori pushed Nori’s elbow which began a small slapping war. Ori still tried to grab his book back while avoiding his groin being hit by Nori’s available hand. "Cute you have a crush. Wouldn't be the first."

"I do not!” Ori blushed and yelled with a voice crack. Both stopped in their tracks and turned to Dori’s direction. The oldest brother was still occupied and didn’t notice their conflict. “I'm just documenting what I see. That’s my job." He said through gritted teeth and crossed his arms in defense. He looked to the ground, getting tired of being picked on.

"Right, didn't see anything written like this about the goats we saw earlier. Unless you've got a back section, you cheeky dwarf." He chuckled, walking behind Ori then past Bofur. "If it's just notes, then I guess showing her what you wrote-"

"Please don't, Nori please." Ori begged as he grabbed Nori’s arm in desperation.

"Come on, it's only notes." He said sarcastically, holding it away. Dori finally came to end the game of keep-away.

"I can't leave you alone for a minute, can I Nori?" Dori said, handing the journal over to Ori. "Quit teasing your brother over who-knows-what and get to bed."

Nori shook his head with a smile of disbelief then huffed when Dori’s expression stayed upset. "It was only a bit of fun." He said, taking a seat by Bofur. Dori shook his head then led Ori to bed. The middle child watched as his two brothers walked away. As it always turns out, there was separation between them and him. This journey was supposed to serve as an opportunity to strengthen their family bond. However, it seemed that Nori would always mess up no matter how hard he tried. Maybe there’s no use, the two might be better off without him after all.

“Lay off the lad, will ya? Doesn’t seem like he’s experienced enough to be lady-charming. Sure as hell doesn’t run in the family”. Bofur joked to ease the mood. Nori smiled, appreciating the change of tone. “Remember that hobbit lass ya tried sweet talkin back in the Shire? I thought she was about to fall over asleep with you yapping so much. And once ya started on your hair, it was over. By Durin, all of the Blue Mountain’s finest stylists would get sick of your braid lecturing.” Nori waved off the teasing to shut Bofur up. The two smoked and conversed a bit longer then both decided they needed to rest for the long day ahead of them. Nori and Bofur went to sleep sitting up, back to back.

Gandalf propped himself up against a tree watching over the company. The wizard knew of the many dangers that could lurk in the night. Goblins crawling out from their burrows to snatch sleeping prey, trolls barging through squishing them into mush, and wolves separating them to make the hunt easier. Now Gandalf had a new danger to worry about; Shail the wildlander. Unsure of what she is capable of, his mind began to wonder. What if she tied them up and ran off with their supplies? What if she snuck nightshade berries into their water canteens, poisoning them with a sip. As each scenario worsened and worsened, the wizard looked to see if the first watch was on their guard. To his disappointment they were not. Fili sat smoking his pipe as Kili worked on crafting new arrows.

Bombur's snoring startled Bilbo out of his slumber. Dusting the dirt from his coat, the hobbit walked over to his pony. He secretly pulled an apple from his pocket to feed her. "Hello, girl. That's a good girl.” Bilbo smiled, rubbing her snout. “Shush. It's our little secret, Myrtle; you must tell no one." he said, feeding her the apple. Hearing a scream in the night Bilbo pranced to Fili and Kili. "What was that?"

"Orcs." Kili answered, looking around. Thorin and Balin, sleeping at a distance from each other, both jerked awake upon hearing the word 'Orcs'.

"Orcs?" Bilbo asked.

"Throat-cutters. There'll be dozens of them out there. The lowlands are crawling with them." Fili answered, emptying his pipe’s ashes.

"They strike in the wee small hours, when everyone's asleep. Quick and quiet; no screams, just lots of blood." Kili added as he looked Bilbo in the eyes. The hobbit looked away in fright; Fili and Kili shared a glance at each other and began holding in laughter.

"You think that's funny? You think a night raid by orcs is a joke?" Thorin scolded the two youngins.

"We didn't mean anything by it." Kili answered shamefully.

"No, you didn't. You know nothing of the world." Thorin said. Before his nephews’ ignorance could further anger him, The king walked to the edge of the cliff and looked out.

"Don't mind him, laddie. Thorin has more cause than most to hate orcs.” Balin walked over to reassure Bilbo. The elder dwarf then told him the origin of Oakenshield. The company slowly woke up to listen to the tale.The hobbit looked at the dwarf king in admiration. With the position of King, Bilbo assumed Thorin’s honor and bravery. In addition, the dwarf has proven, and continues to prove, himself worthy of such a title. The tale did leave for a remaining question.

"But the pale orc? What happened to him?" Bilbo asked, looking between Balin and Gandalf.

"He slunk back into the hole whence he came. That filth died of his wounds long ago." Thorin answered as he returned. Ordered the dwarves to go back to sleep. Balin exchanged a look with Gandalf, knowing the Orc could have survived.

@lathalea

#the hobbit #oc #hobbit #hobbit movies #shail #thorin #ori #hobbit fic #baggenshield #fili

6 notes · View notes

thenarator · 2 years

Text

⭐️10 Characters, 10 Fandoms, 10 Tags⭐️

i was tagged by @humangerbil who apparently agonized over their top ten. i meanwhile am going to name the first ten blorbos that come to mind. no pictures or gifs, because a lot of them are books.

1. trisana chandler from the “circle of magic” quartet

a chubby girl who likes books and thinks she’s crazy for the first half of the book? a character after my own heart!

2. bilbo baggins, from “the hobbit”

i appreciate a good cowardly character who overcomes his fears, but never stops preferring peace and comfort. plus fighting smarter rather than harder and using misdirection and tricks are always things i admire.

3. cisco ramon, from “the flash” (2014)

while i do like to draw elements from the comics when i write this character, i really like the incarnation from the cw’s flash tv show. even though the writers did him dirty, and i’m forever mad about that.

4. stiles stilinski, from “teen wolf”

another cw character who got a pretty raw deal, a sarcastic little shit who’s loyal to his friends and has just a touch of magic to him is definitely my type.

5. newton geiszler, from “pacific rim”

see entry #4 for my thoughts on sarcastic little shits. i also just love scientific types who are the top of their field, and newt definitely qualifies.

6. emily fletcher, from the “web of magic” series

i haven’t touched this series in years, but it’s one of my favorites from childhood. i’m hard pressed to choose between the three main girls, but emily is the first pov character and i think i like her best

7. sophie hatter, from “howl’s moving castle”

i am simply loves a woman who does magic by politely asking it to work. or occasionally shouting at it to work, but only when its urgent.

8. merlin, from “the adventures of merlin”

arthurian legend is great, but the bbc series was my obsession for a long time. i love the character of merlin . . . even if i hated the last season of the show.

9. bel-imperia, from “the spanish tragedy”

i didn’t want to fill up this list with shakespeare characters, because that would be extremely pretentious, but i did want to pay homage to my favorite character from one of his contemporaries. bel-imperia is a force of nature who conspires to avenge her dead lover, writes a letter in her own blood, and stabs a prince.

10. izuku midoriya, from “boku no hero academia”

there isn’t a lot of anime on this list, but it just wouldn’t be complete without my current blorbo of the hour! he is the light of my life and his creator can have him back when he learns to be nice to my baby.

honorable mentions: sailor moon, beast boy from “teen titan” (2003), maple from “bofuri,” john egbert and karkat vantas from “homestuck,” and every protagonist from every tamora pierce and diana wynne jones book (limiting myself to one from each of them was HARD!)

i tag @churchyardgrim @hawleypop @hedgiwithapen @isi7140 and anyone else who wants to do it!

#characters #faves #favorite characters #tag game

3 notes · View notes

ao3feed-thehobbit · 9 months

Text

Loyalty, Honor, and a Willing Heart

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/OEmQApy

by exShadow_Thief

The nymphen Princess Nayla Ravenwood has faced starvation, humiliation, and tyranny. And yet she triumphed, saving her people and becoming the Savior Princess, a ray of hope for the hopeless. But when a dragon attacks Erebor, she must work together with the grandson of a king to care for their displaced people. And maybe even reclaim their homes.

Words: 3943, Chapters: 2/?, Language: English

Series: Part 2 of The Savior Princess of Balandor

Fandoms: The Hobbit - All Media Types, The Hobbit (Jackson Movies), The Hobbit - J. R. R. Tolkien

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death

Categories: F/M

Characters: Thorin Oakenshield, Nayla Ravenwood, Dwalin (Tolkien), Frerin (Tolkien), Balin (Tolkien), Fíli (Tolkien), Kíli (Tolkien), Dís (Tolkien), Original Nymph Characters, Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf | Mithrandir, Vili, Glóin (Tolkien), Óin (Tolkien), Nori (Tolkien), Dori (Tolkien), Ori (Tolkien), Bifur (Tolkien), Bofur (Tolkien), Bombur (Tolkien), Thranduil (Tolkien), Legolas Greenleaf, Tauriel (Hobbit Movies)

Relationships: Thorin Oakenshield/Original Female Character(s), Kíli (Tolkien)/Tauriel (Hobbit Movies), Original Male Character(s)/Original Female Character(s), Dis (Tolkien)/Vili

Additional Tags: Pre-Quest of Erebor, Quest of Erebor, Post-Quest of Erebor, Exile, Settlement, Movie 1: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Movie 2: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, Movie 3: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, Slow Burn, Romance, Thorin Has No Sense Of Direction, Thorin Is an Idiot, Kingly Insecurity, Overcoming Trauma, M for violence, M for language, super long fic, Separated Into Five Arcs, Canon can Imrid amrâd ursul, Azog Will Suffer My Wrath, Other Characters Will Die Though, Orcs Ruin Everything, Pregnancy and Mentions of Past Non-Con of a Minor Character, Fourth Age Prologue, Moria, Fell Winter, Betrayal

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/OEmQApy

#IFTTT #ao3feed #fanfic #the hobbit

1 note · View note

ao3feed-tolkien · 9 months

Text

Loyalty, Honor, and a Willing Heart

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/tmnpKGA

by exShadow_Thief

Words: 3943, Chapters: 2/?, Language: English

Series: Part 2 of The Savior Princess of Balandor

Fandoms: The Hobbit - All Media Types, The Hobbit (Jackson Movies), The Hobbit - J. R. R. Tolkien

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death

Categories: F/M

Relationships: Thorin Oakenshield/Original Female Character(s), Kíli (Tolkien)/Tauriel (Hobbit Movies), Original Male Character(s)/Original Female Character(s), Dis (Tolkien)/Vili

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/tmnpKGA

#IFTTT #ao3feed #fanfic #Tolkien #JRR Tolkien #Tolkien works #ao3 #fan fiction

0 notes

chiefskye · 2 years

Note

lord of the rings for the ask game! :D

YESSSSS my current hyperfixation thank you!

blorbo (favorite character, character I think about the most): Bilbo Baggins - I cannot overstate how much bilbo is and always has been the only blorbo from my shows, from the moment i first read that word. Yes, probably from the phonetic similarities. Yes, I'm embracing this. Yes, he is my favorite character, the OG, my very first Tolkien character at the tender age of uhhhhh however old I was when I first read the Hobbit.

scrunkly (my “baby”, character that gives me cuteness aggression, character that is So Shaped): Pippin!!! I know he's super strong and his character underwent a ton of growth and he's a fearsome warrior but also he Must Be Protected in my heart

scrimblo bimblo (underrated/underappreciated fave): ÉOWYN MY BELOVED. I am constantly mentally screaming about her and it's only a matter of time before I start screaming about her out loud

glup shitto (obscure fave, character that can appear in the background for 0.2 seconds and I won’t shut up about it for a week): Éomer my belovéd

poor little meow meow (“problematic”/unpopular/controversial/otherwise pathetic fave): Thorin Oakenshield

horse plinko (character I would torment for fun, for whatever reason): Also Thorin. Don't get me wrong I adore him but it's the kind of love where I would torment him for fun

eeby deeby (character I would send to superhell): Also Thorin. (Honorable mentions go to Grima and Denethor, who disgust me thoroughly and whom I would send to superhell for real)

#ask #ask meme #YOU UNDERSTAND ME. i was thinking about this fandom and this fandom only when i saw these prompts #also? fuck tolkien for making so many more lovable and wonderful characters for whom i can't contain my enthusiasm in a single post #i haven't even mentioned boromir and faramir yet.#let alone the other dwarfs from the hobbit. and the film-canon characters like tauriel #dies

4 notes · View notes

sketch-mer-6195 · 2 years

Text

An Unlikely Meeting (Platonic! Merry Brandybuck x Pippin Took x Sisilla)

WARNING: THIS IS A SCENE FOR FORSAKEN’S UPCOMING SEQUEL “EYE’S ON THE FELLOWSHIP.” READ AT YOUR OWN RISK AS IT DOES CONTAIN SPOILERS!!!

Word Count: 1112 Warnings: Mention of Character Death, A little Angst

Taglist:@luna-xial @lathalea @tschrist1 @laurfilijames @ocfairygodmother @werelywrites @notlostgnome @blulemonades @i-did-not-mean-to @myselfandfantasy @sirmacbethbeth @fizzyxcustard @ruthoakenshield

Summary: After Aragon and the rest of the Hobbits arrived at Rivendell and rested and ate some warm meals. Merry and Pippin go off on their own adventure only to find the Oracle herself.

Upon the arrival of Aragon and the Hobbit's from the Shire, Sisílla had stayed secluded from all who had arrived from the foothills of the Misty Mountains once more. The last time a Hobbit had come was the most recent resident and dear friend of hers, Bilbo Baggins. But evil shrouded over the lands and followed his young nephew, Frodo. Being stabbed by a Sheaths blade and to carry not only a wound that would never heal, but the one thing she had believed to have been a fluke.

The One Ring.

Her visions had come true once again, something that she and Lord Elrond had paid much close attention too. With them and the Lady Galadriel being mindful of what Sisílla saw with each passing vision, they knew that a possible rise to Sauron could happen. And now, it was here in the River Realm.

Sitting upon a chair that overlooked the beautiful kingdom, her hands splayed across a large book, made of wood and the pages of soft leather pages with embossed lettering for her to touch and "read." Anyone could read it, but these books that the Elven King had created for her gave her a new meaning and a way to cope with her loss back in Erebor. As her fingers skimmed across the lettering gently, her hands stopped midway through a page.

"It is quite rude to intrude and stare, little one." She called out, though never moving or showing signs that she would.

"How did you know we were here?! Ow! Merry!"

"Quiet, Pip! She might cast a spell!"

Sisílla smirked and giggled softly before shifting in her chair to turn some. The two Hobbits, Merry and Pippin, watched her from behind their respected pillars before she extended a hand out and smiled a warm smile.

"You can come out of hiding, I'm no wizard or witch."

Her gaze was unfocused which made them both shift a little and squirm with their waistcoat that they wore. They couldn't tell if she was an Elf as her long, silvery white hair draped across her shoulders and cascaded down her back like fine silver threads. Both of the hobbits finally came out of their hiding spots and Pippin seemed to have realized who she was.

"Merry… Do you know who she is?!" He whispered, making his cousin turn and raise a quizzical brow.

Merry looked from his brother to Sisílla who had her hand still extended and her smile never faltering. It took him a while, but something caught his eyes that made him finally realize who it was. A braid. Yes, she had small braids that made an elaborate pattern and clasped by a silver circlet. But this braid was elaborate all its own and with a silver bead. The braid was hidden under her hair and tucked behind her ear. Both Merry and Pippin looked at one another, silently shocked and validating to each other that this young woman was no typical maiden.

"Our most sincere apologies, my lady. We didn't know it was you." Merry started as he bowed, slapping Pippin on his stomach.

"I don't seem to understand?" She quirked her brow in an amused fashion.

Pippin was a little more brave and walked over to her. Though, he was quite frightened of what she could do. He bowed, letting his dark blonde curly locks sway before straightening himself.

"What Merry means, we didn't know it was you. The Oracle, Lady Sisílla. We are honored to be in your presence, milady." Pippin proclaimed.

Sisílla smiled and placed her outstretched hand and rested it on her knee. "Well, I wouldn't say that. But again, I can imagine the tales of the Journey to the Lonely Mountain were colorful from Mr. Baggins."

Both Merry and Pippin looked at one another before seating themselves across from her on the small bench with smiles on their faces. The stories that Bilbo told were true. And they had a first hand witness to it all. And they had many questions. From Smaug the Terrible and the Eagles, to the story about the three trolls wanting to sit on the lot and squash them into jelly. Sisílla explained in detail what had happened and soon laughed about the trolls.

"I could not say if that is true or not. But Mr. Baggins would never tell a lie unless he had to to keep the Company and himself safe." She smiled fondly, her gray eyes twinkling in shimmering hues of silver as memories came back.

"Is it true then, that you were courted? By the King Under the Mountain?" Pippin asked and earned an eager nod from Merry who was smiling ear to ear.

The twinkle in her eye all but vanished. Snuffed like a candle blown out on a birthday. Her smile which was beaming with light and joy, faltered into a somber and sympathetic smirk. Memories of their first encounter, jesting and throwing small quips; a gentle touch from a dwarf who had worked so hard to not only give his people a life of wealth and prosperity, but to reclaim his kingdom. And a Dwarven King who had stolen her heart and her first kiss, promising to marry once the Mountain was reclaimed and the war finished with victory on their side. It seemed that both Merry and Pippin recognized that mentioning the now deceased king was something that was close to her heart.

“We’re sorry.” Merry started.

“We didn’t mean to make you sad, my lady.” Pippin finished.

Sisílla sniffled slightly before having a small and weak laugh escape her throat. What she didn’t expect was the soft fabric dabbing at her cheek. A handkerchief to be exact that Pippin had taken out of his waistcoat and captured the tears that rolled off her cheek that she failed to recognize.

“You needn’t cry, my lady. He may not be here with us, but he is. In your heart.” Pippin said as he did his best to cheer her up.

His words hit her so deep, that she couldn’t help but smile brightly and rest her hand on his mop of hair. “Thank you, my friend. I shall never forget those endearing words.”

She leaned down and pressed a small and light kiss to his forehead, shocking Merry to no end. Pippin was deeply shocked and flustered all at the same time. Sisílla on the other hand was feeling such lightness in her heart that she remembered Thorin and the night they had confessed their love and he asked to court her back at Beorn’s home. The little hobbit was so true. Thorin was and always will be, by her side till her last breath.

(A/N: I hope this all excites you on what is yet to come. With new friends, new enemies and foes, and possibly a second chance at love for our beloved Sisilla. Who knows? But stay tuned, continue with Forsaken, and always look forward for what lies ahead.)

#lotr #merry #pippin #merry x pippin x oc #sisilla #forsaken #eyes on the fellowship

1 note · View note

thecaffeinebookwarrior · 4 years

Note

Hi! I love your blog! I was wondering if you had any general tips on how to write apathetic characters and make them still interesting? Thanks for all the advice you post, it's really helpful and informative!

Hello, and thank you! Here are a few questions to ask yourself to flesh out your apathetic character and intrigue your audience:

1.) Why is your character apathetic?

There are so many reasons for apathy. Some people just want to maintain the status quo. Other people have been traumatized to the point where they’re afraid to care again. Others simply have low empathy, which makes them more pragmatic and less emotionally driven. Determining why your character is apathetic will make them more dynamic, and give you something to disclose to your reader to allow them to understand the character better.

2.) Is your character a protagonist or an antagonist?

All those archetypes I mentioned above? All of them can be good people. Think Bilbo Baggins, whose desire to maintain the status quo of his cozy hobbit hole made him apathetic towards the dwarves’ plight. Throughout the course of the novel, he is able to overcome his apathy as adventure brings him to life. However, apathy can also make for an interesting antagonist. Think of tragedies like the Holocaust, which were largely allowed to transpire due to the apathy of the masses.

3.) What is your character apathetic about?

Very few people are apathetic about everything – and if they are, it’s usually a symptom of something else, like extreme depression. Is your character apathetic about their own life, or the lives of others?

4.) If your character is apathetic, what motivates them?

Is there something your character compulsively cares about, out of a sense of duty or honor? Do they go through the motions of their life just for the sake of it? Is there an event that compels them to act, when they’d rather lie down and give up? Are they a pragmatist motivated by efficiency? Do they, like the Big Lebowski, simply want to be compensated for their rug?

5.) How do they develop?

How do the events of the narrative change your character’s outlook? A developing character will compel the reader, but a character who remains static to drastically changing events. Decide early on which you want for your character.

I hope this helps, and happy writing!

#Anonymous #writing tips #characterization

51 notes · View notes

heckin-music-dork · 3 years

Note

Happy birthday, my friend!!!

I JUST realized you share a fictional birthday with Frodo and Bilbo Baggins, which is spectacular.

I know right! Your sister mentioned that too, and I'm absolutely honored to share a birthday with such delightful little hobbits! And thank you so much my friend, you're the best! 😁❤

#morgan answers #morgan's personal life #birthday

1 note · View note

sweetteaanddragons · 5 years

Text

A Guide to Feanorian Elves, by Bilbo Baggins

This is for @mstreason who wanted Feanor, Bilbo, “Have I mentioned I hate you?”, and fake academia.

I struggled for a long time with the “Have I mentioned I hate you?” aspect of the prompt as Bilbo is not a particularly hateful person and while Feanor is certainly very capable in that area, Bilbo is not a particularly likely target.

I ended up going with a more playful direction with that prompt. Unfortunately, the words, “Have I mentioned I hate you?” never directly appear in the fic, I feel that they are somewhat implied towards the end; I hope this story fits the prompt well enough for you to enjoy it.

. . .

Well! With all the hustle and bustle and new guests arriving, it shall be all I can do to remember everyone’s names, and while Frodo seems to be muddling along well enough, I fear poor Sam is in the same boat as I, and he has had even less time to learn the oddities of elvish naming conventions. To that end - and for the benefit of any future travelers in Aman who find themselves rather over their heads - I have constructed the following guide. Hopefully it shall do us all some good.

The House of Feanor:

Feanor, also called Feanaro, or, rarely, Curufinwe: His first two names at least have the benefit of being rather similar to each other, and he stands out in a crowd rather nicely. It seems rather trite to say that you’ll know him when you see him, but I find that it is indeed true. If you are in any doubt, I personally recommend dropping the use of Þ and replacing it with ’s’ while speaking in Quenya in his earshot; if he flinches and visibly restrains himself on the basis that you are a mere hobbit and cannot possibly know better, then it is almost certainly Feanor.

The main difficulty here lies in his title. It is as of yet unclear whether he should be referred to as ‘High King,’ “King,’ ‘Prince,’ ‘Lord,’ or if perhaps all titles ought to be dropped altogether, and picking one to use makes a rather large political statement. I recommend pretending to be old and confused enough to refer to him as ‘Mayor’ and then using whatever you’re corrected with, although admittedly this strategy may work better for some of us than others.

Nerdanel: If she has other names, I’ve never heard them, which makes her rather unique among the elves here in Aman. If she has preferences on titles, she’s yet to make a sufficient fuss about it for the gossip to reach me, so just figure out what you’re going to call Feanor first and then call her the feminine form of that. She’s almost as easy to spot as her husband; just look for the red-headed woman with the rather impressive muscles, presumably from hauling around all that stone for her sculptures.

Maedhros, also called Maitimo, also called Russandol, also called Nelyafinwe: There is no one alive who needs that many names, and I stand by that point firmly.

That said, the names provide several useful descriptors of him, so, in order: Maitimo apparently means well-formed, and although I suspect most mothers would say the same upon seeing their first child, apparently there are a fair few maidens in Tirion who agree despite everything that’s passed since. Russandol is a reference to his red hair, which matches his mother’s very well, and Nelyafinwe means “third Finwe” and seems to be regarded as a backhanded insult to Feanor’s two half-brothers, so I recommend avoiding that one unless you intend to wade far deeper into elvish politics than good hobbitish sense would dictate. Maedhros seems to be safe enough and even the preferred form, so it might be best to stick with that.

He has been a king, a prince, and a lord, and although no one seems to be keen on calling him the first, the rest are still up in the air, and I’m hearing now that they’re considering making up some brand new title for former kings, of which they seem to have an abundance. I recommend repeating the mayor trick, or, if they seem to be catching on to that, coughing in the middle of mumbling your pick of titles. This has the added advantage of the nearest elf usually offering to fetch you a beverage.

Maglor, also called Kanafinwe, also called Makalaure: If you don’t recognize him after all this time in Elrond’s house, I can’t help you. Personally, I think it best to just stick with calling him Maglor, as that’s what we’re all used to, but I’ve written a brief etymology of his other names in case you hear anyone calling him something else.

Kanafinwe means strong-voiced of Finwe. The strong-voiced bit sounds like another name that would occur to a great many new parents, but it also turned out to be rather prophetic, so it suits him. Makalaure, on the other hand, means gold-cleaver, which makes little sense to me, as I’ve yet to see him cut anything in half, much less gold, but apparently it is meant to refer in some manner to his skill with a harp.

You may also hear a few people with more voice than sense call him ‘Elrond’s pet kinslayer’; I recommend giving these people your best look of disappointment and/or disapproval until they look ashamed of themselves and stop.

Celegorm, also called Turcafinwe, also called Tyelkormo: I am told Turcafinwe means ‘strong Finwe’ which is appropriate enough, given his skill at hunting, but it seems to leave a rather poor implication towards the original Finwe’s comparative strength. (This observation is probably left kept to yourself, however.) There seems to be some disagreement about what hair color to expect from him (I have no idea why; perhaps he likes to dye it), so if you miss his introduction, try bringing up hunting and seeing who looks most enthusiastic about it. Alternatively, see who looks most awkward around Elrond - I imagine there will be some lingering difficulty about the whole Luthien affair. Goodness knows there was in the Shire after Poppy turned down Otho, and this is a good deal more awkward a situation than that.

I would try not to bring that up though as his mother name when translated reveals itself to be a prediction of a quick temper which, combined with his strength, might be best not to provoke.

Caranthir, also called Morifinwe, also called Carnistir: Morifinwe translates to ‘Dark Finwe’ which has led to some calling him “Caranthir the Dark” which contrasts rather nicely with those that call his older brother “Celegorm the Fair.” Said darkness is a reflection upon his hair, not his character, although since he is hardly the only dark haired Feanorian, I am not sure why it was considered worth commenting upon.

It still strikes me as a better name than Carnistir which as best I can make out means “red-faced.” I have no doubt that this was indeed true upon his birth, but as this is true for most healthy babes it seems rather pointless to make a name of it.

But I suppose I am being rather harsh; the duty of naming a child never fell to me as Frodo was already well secure in his name by the time he came to me, and I suppose upon being handed a newborn babe, it might be easy to panic and just say the first thing that came to mind.

Curufin, also called Curufinwe, also called Atarinke: If you look around and see someone that looks almost exactly like Feanor but who is deferring to the person that’s actually Feanor, that’s Curufin. Feanor passed down his less used name to Curufin, but it still seems best to stick the Sindarin form in order to help avoid confusion.

Atarinke means ‘little Father,’ a name that must have been wonderfully appropriate in childhood but seems a little less so now as Curufin has managed to surpass his father in height by approximately the width of a thumb, at least according to Maglor. I am also told that I ought not to bring this up.

Still, I suppose ‘little Father’ remains somewhat appropriate as he is the only son of Feanor to have actually achieved the state of fatherhood.

I think. I am still not entirely clear on which kings Gil-Galad is descended from, exactly.

Celebrimbor, also called Telperinquar: According to elvish naming customs at the time of his birth, he should have at least one more name, given to him by his mother. I can find no one willing to tell me this name, or, for that matter, to talk about his mother. I will continue searching what records I can but will decline from further questioning as, despite what the Dunedain might have thought, I am actually capable of tact in these things.

Telperinquar means silver-fist which works well enough for a smith, and, in an additional stroke of luck, he is the only who currently has a clear title: Lord of Eregion. The fallen state of that city appears not to matter in this case, so Lord Celebrimbor or Telperinquar it is.

This is additionally important as while you may not end up talking with all the Feanorians during this visit, a long talk with Celebrimbor seems rather unavoidable. Hopefully it shall be good for all of us.

Amrod, also called Pityafinwe, also called Ambarussa, also called Ambarto, also called Umbarto and Amras, also called Telufinwe, also called Ambarussa: I recommend calling them both Ambarussa as apparently even their own brothers sometimes can’t tell them apart, in which case, we haven’t a chance. Supposedly Amrod’s hair is a shade darker than Amras’s, but unless they’re standing next to each other, I’m not sure how we’re supposed to tell the difference.

As they’ll be arriving first, it seemed best to go ahead and give you this collection of notes as it stands; a continuation of the guide shall be presented shortly before the arrival of Fingolfin and Finarfin’s clans.

. . .

Dear Master Baggins,

I was delighted to make your acquaintance last night. I was slightly less delighted when I discovered this packet which appears to have fallen from your pocket.

- [ink blot over title] Feanor

. . .

Dear most honorable and hopefully most forgiving [ink blot over title] Feanor,

Oh, dear. In my defense, I never intended anyone other than my nephew and his good friend to read this; I assure you I would have made it far more polished if it were for public consumption.

Please forgive any lines that may have given offense. In the hopes of more readily attaining this forgiveness, I have enclosed copies of my notes on your half-brothers’ families.

- Bilbo Baggins

. . .

Dear Master Bilbo,

Your second set of notes was delightful; all is most certainly forgiven.

- [ink blot] Feanor

#feanor #sons of feanor #nerdanel #bilbo #bilbo baggins #silmarillion #lord of the rings #fic #prompted fic #feanor and his sons are released into Aman #and the hobbits have to wade through the approaching tide of names

775 notes · View notes