ithildyn

[ithildyn]

Long Live the Halflings!

Today is the anniversary of the Long-Expected Party celebrating the eleventy-first birthday of Bilbo Baggins and the coming of age of Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings. It was on this day that Bilbo gave his infamous birthday speech, saying “I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve,” before disappearing from the Shire forever. Also on this day, according to the Appendices of The Lord of the Rings, 99-year-old Samwise Gamgee rode out from Bag End for the final time. He was last seen in Middle-Earth by his daughter Elanor, to whom he presented the Red Book. According to tradition, he then went to the Grey Havens and passed over the Sea, last of the Ringbearers.     

And now, in honor of the Baggins Birthdays, the departure of Samwise, and Hobbits in general, a quote about the Ring’s temptation of - and failure with - one of J.R.R. Tolkien’s (and, for that matter, world literature’s) greatest heroes, Samwise Gamgee: “Wild fantasies arose in his mind; and he saw Samwise the Strong, Hero of the Age, striding with a flaming sword across the darkened land, and armies flocking to his call as he marched to the overthrow of Barad-dûr. And then all the clouds rolled away, and the white sun shone, and at his command the vale of Gorgoroth became a garden of flowers and trees and brought forth fruit. He had only to put on the Ring and claim it for his own, and all this could be. In that hour of trial it was the love of his master that helped most to hold him firm; but also deep down in him lived still unconquered his plain hobbit-sense: he knew in the core of his heart that he was not large enough to bear such a burden, even if such visions were not a mere cheat to betray him. The one small garden of a free gardener was all his need and due, not a garden swollen to a realm; his own hands to use, not the hands of others to command.” - J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

[ithildyn]

Take Me For Longing

Tony and Charlotte’s friendship has come full circle, thirty years after their first meeting in Monte Carlo. 

You can read it here.

[ithildyn]

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

A companion piece to my story The Path, from a few days ago. You can find it here.

[ithildyn]

The Path

After two years, I finally wrote something! It's just a ficlet, but it sure was nice to write again. You can find it here.

[ithildyn]

Mjölnir, Excalibur, you name it -- Methos isn't touching any of them with a ten foot pole.

A little ficlet set during the scene in the teaser for Age of Ultron, where the Avengers are trying to lift Mjölnir—or as Darcy would call it, MuMu :)

Strange Women Lying in Ponds (and other things they never taught you in school)

[ithildyn]

'It's Been A Long. Long Time' ~ Chapter Four

Title: It's Been A Long, Long Time ~ Chapter Four Fandoms: Captain America/Marvel Movies, Highlander Rating: PG13 Characters: Tony Stark, Methos, Bruce Banner/Hulk, Nick Fury, Natasha Romanoff, Steve Rogers, Maria Hill, Original Characters Notes: This is set during the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, so spoilers abound!

Summary: Charlotte's capture and torture by the enemy during World War II is a nightmare from her past, but that nightmare is about to take form once again, very much in the present.

[ithildyn]

It's Been A Long, Long Time (03/??)

Title: It's Been A Long, Long Time ~ Chapter Three

http://archiveofourown.org/works/1481833/chapters/3511184

Fandoms: Captain America/Marvel Movies, Highlander Rating: PG13 Characters: Tony Stark, Methos, Bruce Banner/Hulk, Nick Fury, Natasha Romanoff, Steve Rogers, Maria Hill, Original Characters Notes:This is set during the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, so spoilers abound! Summary: Charlotte's capture and torture by the enemy during World War II is a nightmare from her past, but that nightmare is about to take form once again, very much in the present.

[ithildyn]

‘Moonlight Serenade’ by Glenn Miller I love a lot of music, but if pushed, this is my forever favourite. I don't know, maybe I lived a prior life in 1940. #GlennMiller #Classics #BigBand #Perfection

[ithildyn]

My Cracktastik Theory

Nick tells Steve he's hiding out in his apartment because his heretofore unknown wife kicked him out. Melinda May says she's been married once. Coincidence? I think not. #It'sAllConnected Really. It is. Nick Fury/Melinda May My new OTP!

[ithildyn]

@marvel Flattery will get you nowhere! Probably. Maybe. *looks the other way* 

[ithildyn]

The Avengers version of 'Perfect Strangers' with a helping of 'Red Dwarf'.

[ithildyn]

This was meant to be a quick warm up, but it turned into a comic that I’ve wanted to draw for a while. This is something that is extremely important to me, and I appreciate it if you read it.

A while ago, I heard a story that broke my heart. A family went a cat shelter to adopt. The daughter fell in love with a 3-legged cat. The father straight up said “absolutely not”. Because he was missing a leg. That cat was that close to having a family that loved him, but the missing leg held him back. Why?!

Many people have the initial instinct of “nope” when they see an imperfect animal. I get it, but less-adoptable does NOT mean less loveable. 9 out of 10 people will choose a kitten over an adult cat. And those 10% that would get an adult cat often overlook “different” animals.

All I want people to do is be open to the idea of having a “different” pet in their lives. Choose the pet that you fall in love with, but at least give all of them a fair shot at winning your heart.

Don’t dismiss them, they deserve a loving home just as much as any other cat. They still purr, they still love a warm lap, they still play, they still love you. Trust me, next time you are in the market for a new kitty, just go over to that one cat that’s missing an eye and see what he’s all about!

[ithildyn]

Lol

[ithildyn]

[ithildyn]

It's Been A Long, Long Time ~ Chapter Two

Bruce looked thoughtful. "You know, I just thought of something." Tony and Charlotte looked at him expectantly. Fighting back a grin, he said, "If you're Luke, and Tony's Kenobi, then I'm Han Solo."

Tony snorted, making a face. "In what universe? Han Solo, as if. With your hair and fashion sense? Not a chance."

"There's nothing wrong with my hair!" Bruce protested, smoothing down recalcitrant strands with his hand.

[ithildyn]

Cost of Freedom - Howard Stark

[ithildyn]

It's Been A Long, Long Time (01/??)

Prologue

London, December 1945

"Thank you."

"You're welcome." He handed her the gin and tonic, putting his whisky down on the dark wood table. Sitting across from her, Nick leaned back in his chair. "So this is what victory feels like."

"Apparently, though all I feel is tired."

Raising his glass in a toast, Nick said, "To us."

Charlotte smiled, mirroring his gesture. "To peace."

"Yeah, sure, that." He flashed a grin at her look of disapproval. "Fine; to peace."

Clinking her glass against his, she said, "Better."

A song, playing on the radio in the corner, fought to be heard over the din of the crowded pub.

Kiss me once, then kiss me twice Then kiss me once again It's been a long, long time Haven't felt like this, my dear Since I can't remember when It's been a long, long time

"It has been a long time," Charlotte said softly, looking down into her glass. 1940, and the dinner party where she'd been approached by Colonel Phillips, commander of the SSR, seemed like a century and lifetime ago.

"Too long," he agreed. "A part of me doesn’t really believe it's over."

"But you're going home tomorrow."

"Home." Nick paused, rubbing his thumb and forefinger together. "Not sure I remember what that is."

Laying her hand on his, she smiled. "It'll come back to you."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

>>>>>

Alexandria, Virginia, Present Day

"Charlotte," Nick Fury repeated. "Where'd you go?"

She shook off the memories that had momentarily overwhelmed her. "I like the original version best," she said, waving a hand at the speaker above them, Louis Armstrong's cover of 'It's Been A Long, Long Time' issuing from it.

"Me too."

Their eyes locked, remembering a time when the song had been new, and they'd been to hell and back.

She laid her hand over his. "I'm glad you're still here, Nicholas, to remember with me."

During World War Two, Charlotte had been recruited into the SSR, one of several Immortals called upon to counter the Immortals that served the Reich…and HYDRA. Back then, the current director of SHIELD had been Sergeant Nick Fury, and he had led their team. Not long after the war ended, he had been injected with the Infinity Formula, which had nearly halted aging and had made him more resistant to injury and disease.

"I am too; especially right now."

Taking a sip of her wine, she looked at her old compatriot thoughtfully. "What's wrong?" After having not seen Nick for over ten years, they now saw one another frequently, although usually in her capacity as a consultant to SHIELD. When he'd called, asking her to meet him at Grape + Bean in Old Town, there had been an underlying note of strain in his voice that hadn't been there the last time they'd met.

"I don't know," he said simply. "I'm looking into some things. We'll see where it goes." He squeezed her hand. "I just wanted to see you face to face, to—"

When he didn't continue, she prompted, "To what, Nicholas?"

"Maybe to say I'm sorry. Sorry for pressuring you to come back, sorry for drawing you back into a world you left behind seventy years ago."

"Nicholas, you didn't force me to do anything, it was my choice."

"You keep telling yourself that." He waved away her objections. "Charlotte, I know you better than almost anyone. I played on our past, on your sense of loyalty and patriotism. I needed you, and I did what I had to to get you."

"Well, when you put it like that," she said dryly. "Though playing on the patriotism of a woman who fought in the Revolutionary War is a bit of a cheat, don't you think?"

"You were probably here when Alexandria was new."

"I am not that old," she protested. "Though I do recall visiting in 1793, or maybe it was 95." Returning to the topic at hand, she smiled, saying, "If you want me to be angry about you manipulating me, Nicholas, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. I know you pretty well too, you know."

"Are you trying to tell me you knew I was playing you?"

"What do you think?"

"Now? Hell if I know." He picked up his wine glass, taking a drink. "Not bad."

"I think it could use another year, but no, it's not bad."

"Wine snob," he accused good-naturedly.

"Occupational hazard." She winked.

"I suppose it would be." He took another swallow of his wine. "How long are you in town for this time?"

Charlotte lived part time in Virginia with Methos, who was working as a physician for SHIELD at their headquarters, the Triskelion. She split her time between here, and her winery in San Luis Obispo, along with a great deal of travel for Stark Industries, where she headed up the company's charitable division.

"Just a few more days; shopping with Natasha tomorrow, and then I'm going to visit Peggy Carter on Wednesday." Tasha was taking her shoe and weapon shopping. The SHIELD agent had decreed that it was time Charlotte's favoured arsenal be upgraded to the 21st century, and had been immune to any arguments Charlotte had to the contrary. And while they were out and about, new shoes were never a bad idea.

"How is Peggy?"

"Some days are better than others. But I can be whatever Charlotte she needs me to be: the old friend she's known for 75 years, or the comrade and fellow agent from the war."

"I know it must be hard on you, seeing her like that."

Her eyes were sad. "It's harder on Steve. Sometimes, we visit her together. After we leave…well, he needs a friend too; someone who understands, who remembers."

He nodded, sympathizing. "Then where are you off to? Back to California?"

She shook her head. "I'm headed to Manhattan on Stark Industries business."

"Is that what you call it? Business?"

"The charitable division keeps me very busy," she stated.

"Sure it does." The skepticism in his voice was palpable.

"I don't think I like what you're implying," she said sharply. "Whatever—"

He cut her off. "Forget I said anything."

She eyed him suspiciously. Did he somehow know about the tests that Tony and Bruce had been running on her and a few select Immortals from her and Methos' circle, to try to build on Loki's experiments when Methos and Duncan had been his prisoners? "Nicholas, I don't know what you think you know—"

"Charlotte—" he sighed, like the weight of the world was on his shoulders "—Charlotte, I'm sorry. I don't want to know, and I shouldn't have said anything. Just keep Stark, the people you trust, close. Let them watch your back, okay?"

"And who's going to watch yours, Nicholas?"

"I've got it covered."

"Uh huh." Now it was her turn to sound doubtful.

"Have a little faith, okay?" He smiled crookedly.

"I have more than a little." She reached out, grasping his wrist. "If you ever need me—"

"I know."

"Just make sure you do."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Chapter One

R & D Labs, Stark Tower, Manhattan,

"I don't like it Birdie," Tony Stark slapped the counter with his hand to emphasize his unhappiness with Charlotte's plan.

"I know you don't," Charlotte said soothingly, squeezing her friend's shoulder. "But this gem changes things." She held out a pale lavender faceted stone in her palm, about the size of a tennis ball. "Thor said it can help me to focus my power, to control it. I can't do that if I'm out cold." Thor had visited her after his return to Earth to inform her of Loki's death, and the death of his mother, Frigga. He had given her the Asgardian gem, explaining that it had been Frigga's, and that it was a tool used to help Asgardian children as they began to learn the various 'magical' arts.

"Tell her, Bruce. Tell her that wasn't what we agreed to!" Tony waved a hand at Bruce Banner, who stood on the other side of the counter.

"Tony—" Charlotte began.

"No!" Tony cut her off.

"Enough!" Bruce held his hands up, silencing the two friends. "Both of you, to your corners!"

Charlotte scowled and Tony muttered, but both of them did as they were told.

"That's better." Bruce pushed his glasses up higher on the bridge of his nose. "Now, Charlotte, I think you understand that Tony can't bring himself to hurt you, no matter how valid your arguments are, right?" She nodded warily. "And Tony, you know how important this is to Charlotte, to all the Immortals in the study. It could mean the difference between them being used as weapons in the hands of others, or being able to defend themselves."

"Fine!" Tony crossed his arms, looking truculent.

"I suggest a compromise."

"And that would be?" Charlotte asked.

"You need to be awake when your body heals a wound, but Tony can't do that, knowing the pain it would cause you."

"Thank you, Captain Obvious," Tony said under his breath.

"For God's sake, Tony, let the man say his piece!"

"Thank you, Charlotte." Bruce smiled. "I may be Captain Obvious, but what the genius over there seems to be missing, is that there's a third option—a local anesthetic to the areas affected—you both get what you want."

"Works for me," Charlotte said. She truly appreciated the concern Tony and Bruce had for her well-being, but at the same time, it frustrated her. What was a little pain compared to the knowledge she might gain? In the centuries she had lived, pain had been no stranger, not least, what she had suffered at the hands of HYDRA as a POW during World War Two. However, her friends would protect her no matter her objections, so acceptance was the only path left to her. She raised an eyebrow, looking up at Tony. "How about you?"

"Does it matter?"

"Tony," she said warningly, not in the mood for pouty genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist.

He threw his hands up in the air. "Fine! We'll do it your way." The 'just like always' that followed was barely vocalized, but Charlotte glared, and Tony shrugged, looking unrepentant.

"Why do I feel like I'm running a daycare?" Bruce asked no one in particular.

Charlotte began to laugh, Tony joining in. Then she sighed. "Sorry I'm on edge lately. I just—" she stopped. "I guess I just want to get on with it. Ever since Loki held me prisoner, I've felt vulnerable; even though he's dead, he still haunts me. And we all know he's not the only threat out there."

"We'll figure this out," Bruce promised.

Tony frowned, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "I'm sorry, Birdie, sorry we aren't farther along on Project Tortuga. That's my fault."

"Tony, no! No, it's not. Pepper needed to be your priority, and then you had open heart surgery." She brushed a fingertip across his chest where the Arc Reactor had been. "Don't mind me. I think my meeting with Nicholas a few weeks back spooked me."

"Well, he is a spooky kinda guy," Tony snarked. He grasped her shoulders. "It's going to be fine."

"Yeah, it'll be fine." Even as the words passed her lips, she knew that was a lie.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Notes:

If you're new to the series, a few things you should probably know:

My Nick Fury is the one from the comics who took the Infinity Formula. And honestly, there was nothing in the movie that absolutely Jossed that, so just sort of squint and move on :D

I don't write these stories in any sort of chronological order, so chances are I'll refer to something I haven't actually written yet. When I do, I try to give some background on the event.

Most of the references to Loki are covered in my story White As Snow, Red As Blood

The Harry James version of 'It's Been a Long, Long Time' is what's playing in Steve's apartment just before Nick is shot. It's one of my favourite's from that era, and I realized that most of the stories I've written that feature Nick Fury have had forties songs as the title. This one really seemed to fit.