#barduil fic recs

[bi-widower-dads]

bi-widower-dads' February Fic Rec: AUs

Thank you to everyone who submitted recs for us! We've done some sorting and collating, and we've got two posts for you: AUs and Canon-'verse - and a whole load of excellent fic for you to get stuck into while we wait for Barduil Month in April! So without further ado, here are the AUs for you, with a little bit about why our recommenders love them...

Header image by mod @piyo-13!

(a note about tags and trigger warnings: tags are selected from those on AO3 as being those that best describe the story for the purposes of this event; trigger warnings are supplied by the recommenders and may not be comprehensive - your mileage may vary. We've tried our best to include Tumblr handles wherever we can, but if we've missed yours out and you want it included, just let us know!)

One-shots

In the Wake of the Second Horseman by EldritchMage / @eldritchmage | M | 2272 words | tags: angst with a happy ending, implied/referenced drug use, post-traumatic stress disorder - PTSD, implied warfare/violence | trigger warnings: mention of drug use, mention of violence in a war zone, PTSD, nightmares

Summary: When addiction threatens to consume Thran, his lover Bard is desperate to help - but Thran isn't. Yet in ending his relationship with Bard, Thran savages both of them, not just himself. Four years later, Thran's about to discover what remains from his cruelty. What he finds is a surprise - and humbling. What do you love about this fic? Even when things fall apart, redemption is possible if you give it half a chance. Out of tragedy comes hope and a chance for a better life.

love remains by likethenight / @nocompromise-noregrets | G | 11,093 words | tags: alternate universe - modern setting, grief/mourning, Thranduil never sailed west, mythical beings & creatures, folklore, alternate universe - reincarnation | trigger warnings: none

Summary: There is a legend in Dale, that somewhere deep in the forest that borders the city lives the forest king, an ancient being with a special care for archers, and for all things that grow. Bard, camping in the woods after his finals, finds a place that isn't on any maps and begins to dream of something - someone - familiar; and years later, after the heaviest loss he has ever had to bear, he goes back out there again, hoping to find something that might help him recover. What do you love about this fic? Absolutely beautiful fic, such a touching story and excellent writing!

Petrichor by b_ofdale_archive / @beesinspades | G | 14,598 words | tags: alternate universe - reincarnation, alternate universe - modern setting, alternate universe - bookstore, books and cats | trigger warnings: slight mention of past life character death

Summary: It's been six thousand years since Thranduil last laid eyes on his husband - Bard. The world has changed and the great Elvenking with it, lingering in the shadows of Men; as hope for a miracle festers within his heart that grows weaker with every passing day, the only thing keeping him going is a promise he made, many moons ago. What do you love about this fic? I love its overall theme, and the thought that Thranduil will meet Bard again. A lovely and poetically written reincarnation AU, well worth the read!

Multi-chapters: in progress

Love in a time of change by myeaglesong / @myeaglesong | M | 22,840 words | tags: eventual relationships, eventual romance, elf/human relationships, fluff, romance, slow burn, alternate universe - regency, oblivious Bard | trigger warnings: none

Summary: For the longest time, Thranduil has wanted to find a good match for his son, Legolas, to marry. His search leads him to consider Arwen for Legolas to marry, but what if Legolas has already got his eye set on another match that Thranduil may not approve of? What will will happen when Legolas finds out about his father's intentions to marry him off? What would happen when the question of if Thranduil were to marry again was to come up, who could he marry? What do you love about this fic? I am not usually one for Regency AUs but this one is so adorable, and between the kids and the dads there is plenty of potential for shenanigans and some tentative romance! I'm really looking forward to seeing how events unfold…

The Moth Effect by BiSquared / @scary-grace and Dogblessya / @dogblessyoutascha | M | 35,658 words | tags: mothman is real, mothman Thranduil, mothbaby Legolas, park ranger Bard, non-graphic violence, but there is still gore so you've been warned, twilight references | trigger warnings: mothman lore, gore

Summary: (in chaos theory) the phenomenon whereby a mothman moving into your place of employment can have a large effect on the rest of your life. What do you love about this fic? I love the Supernatural/Horror element to it and Park Ranger Bard trying to make sense of all the really weird s**t that's happening around him. Lovely bits have to be the introduction of Mothman Thranduil and adorable Mothbaby Legolas. But best of all is that Mothman Thranduil isn't the weirdest thing happening in Olympic National Park 👀….

Vena Amoris by Patch / @patchoffeathers and Piyo13 / @piyo-13 | M | 72,843 words | tags: crossover with Dracula Untold, alternate universe - vampires, Bard is Dracula, canon-typical violence, slow build, alternate universe - some people live/not everybody dies | trigger warnings: none

Summary: Bard has a secret, one that stems from far to the east, in lands far forgotten and times long past. It's one that no one must know—but times are changing for the people living on the lake. Even for those who, technically, aren't alive. What do you love about this fic? The author does such a great job at merging Luke Evans' two characters here (Bard and Dracula) while still keeping Bard distinctly canon-shaped. Because Dracula!Bard is an immortal, there's a unique comparison of mythological immortalities and the relative costs of them that reflects back onto the plot.

show a little faith, there's magic in the night by BiSquared / @scary-grace | M | 342,922 words | tags: alternate universe - modern setting, slow burn, music industry AU, indie musician Bard, opera singer turned pop star Thranduil | trigger warnings: none

Summary: Bard Bowman's not the type to give up on his dreams easily, but when DJ Smaug's dirty tricks leave his family band stranded in Denver with a forfeit fee the size of Mt. Everest crashing down on their heads, there's really nothing to do but drink about it. The last thing Bard expects is to meet a beautiful stranger in a similar predicament -- and the last thing either of them expects is a rescue. Luckily for them, Thorin Oakenshield's feeling heroic this evening. What do you love about this fic? I am such a sucker for the rock scene (I've spent my entire adult life kicking about there) and it's not often I see it portrayed so realistically in fic (or indeed in original fiction). The characters are all beautifully drawn, the humour frequently makes me chuckle, and Bard going head over heels while trying to tell himself he isn't, it's not happening, not really, because he can't believe his luck, makes my heart go all funny.

Multi-chapters: complete

Followthrough by ofplanet_earth / @ofplanet-earth | M | 26,737 words | tags: alternate universe - modern setting, alternate universe - military, alternate universe - spies & secret agents, snipers, sniper Bard, military captain Thorin, mob boss Smaug, revenge, character death | trigger warnings: violence

Summary: Bard and his children have been living in a little cabin on the edge of Laketown for five years, hiding from Bard's dangerous past. But when that past comes back to haunt them, Bard will have to team up with Thorin and his company to face down his demons, confront the man who killed his wife, and fight to save the people he loves. What do you love about this fic? Great spies/military AU with Bard and the gang!

The grey sea and the long black land by Black_knight100 and Blueberryrock / @blueberryrock | T | 29,702 words | tags: alternate universe - modern setting, alternate universe - cruise ship, first kiss, angst, fluff, angst with a happy ending, eventual romance | trigger warnings: quite angst filled but has an eventual happy ending

Summary: Bard Bowman is thirty-seven years old, widowed and heckled, and he's had enough. If his children want a cruise trip with their lottery money, then so they will have. Bard will only have to work twice as hard to take them out of their little corner of the world. It has been three years. Three years of him raging, and sobbing, and grieving. Three years in which he has turned away from his children. Three years to reach this ship, to put together whatever snapped that day. And the first morning, Thranduil wakes up late. It is going fabulously. Or, in which the two meet on a ship, and there are ups and downs. What do you love about this fic? Thranduil and Bard getting together in the end

Modern Love by Shampain / @abner-krill | M | 65,267 words | tags: alternate universe - modern setting, alternate universe - coffee shops and cafés, alternate universe - human | trigger warnings: none

Summary: Bard is a down on his luck single father working a thankless job as a courier, eternally worrying over when his daughter is going to start sneaking out of the house with boys. As if that wasn't bad enough, his assignments delivering files to Greenleaf Acquisitions puts him in contact with Thranduil, a stern businessman whose only champion is his assistant, Tauriel. And finally, to make matters worse, his friendship with Bilbo Baggins sends everything else into a tailspin. The summer is just beginning, and it's going to be a weird one. What do you love about this fic? Lovely, lighthearted modern AU that is a delight to read!

hands; eyes; voice by bishkebab / @bishkebab | T | 70,163 words | tags: slow burn, alternate universe, accidental cottagecore, governess/single dad romance but make it gay, autistic Thranduil, Thranduil and Bard both have physical disabilities | trigger warnings: mention of autism, fire accident, PTSD

Summary: An isolated life in a too-small cottage was never what Bard dreamed of for his children – especially sharp, scholarly Tauriel and sensitive, insightful Tilda. But school is a distant dream for a large family living off the land – at least until a storm and the subsequent house fire bring a former scholar to their doorstep. Wealthy recluse Thranduil could never have anticipated leaving his family's manor for a shack in the woods and a single father with five – FIVE – children who can barely write ten words between them. But when disaster strikes, he is left with little choice – and maybe close quarters with a handsome widower won't be so bad after all... What do you love about this fic? This is a rare work of art in which Bard is the loveliest dad ever, stubborn, strong and gentle and Thranduil is an introverted autistic lonely lad. The author writes their story in a very poetical way and family is the main protagonist of the story, as is their small cosy cottage. I do love the gentle feeling this story conveys from the start. It feels like a warm cup of tea after a very rainy day and each word is carefully written. This story deserves to be read and reread and rereread. Slowly. (With a nice cup of tea. <;3)

Those Colours We Share by b_ofdale / @beesinspades | M | 84,709 words | tags: alternate universe - soulmates, alternate universe - post-war, set in 1956, Bard owns an animal shelter, slow burn, fluff and angst, disabled character, asexual characters, period-typical homophobia | trigger warnings: none

Summary: Had anyone told them, Thranduil Oropherion and Bard Bowman would never have believed they would see the world painted in colours again. Until that fateful day of December 1956, when one little boy entered a former soldier's animal shelter. What do you love about this fic? I'm a sucker for two lonely people who find each other and forge a new life together.

Beast by Nuredhel / @nuredhel | M | 132,354 words | tags: alternate universe - modern setting, all humans, Bard is a cop, Thranduil is a profiler, mentions of suicide, slow burn, crime and investigation, bonding while working, romance, past problems | trigger warnings: gore, violence, abuse, human trafficing, child abuse, murder, suicide

Summary: Bard Bowman is the leader of a team of investigators trying to solve a very complicated case, when the serial killer they are chasing proves to have a far longer history than they expected the feds call in a profiler. Bard has never believed he could feel attraction again but now he does, how can he express what he feels when they are chasing a beast which seems to defy the very laws of nature? Can Thran feel the same way? The road to love can be bumpy, in special when it is surrounded by murders. What do you love about this fic? It is very exciting, very romantic and intense.

seeking a friend for the end of the world by BiSquared / @scary-grace | M | 238,799 words | tags: alternate universe - modern setting, apocalypse, road trips, family issues and family bonding, opera singer Thranduil, Bard and Thranduil are good parents who are having a bad year, or years | trigger warnings: disease-apocalyptic setting, zombies, major character death, medical injections

Summary: Between dealing with his boss, getting over his ex-wife, and keeping his kids fed and clothed, Bard has more than enough on his plate. He doesn't have time to worry about the frightening rumors coming out of New York City or the lunatic in his service bay who tells him to take his kids and run. But when he stops to help a mysterious stranger on the side of the road, he gets a lot more than he bargained for -- a sexuality crisis, a partner in crime, and maybe, just maybe, a chance for all of them to make it out of this mess alive. What do you love about this fic? Incredible worldbuilding and an edge-of-your-seat plotline! The bonds between all the characters are just beautiful, and it has great worldbuilding. The action is also really well written, and it does tension/dramatics right.

In The Woods Somewhere by Ias / @hubristicfool | M | 249,074 words | tags: alternate universe - modern setting, vampires, vampire Thranduil, mechanic Bard, blood drinking, slow burn, dark, angst, violence, horror, psychological horror, unhealthy relationships | trigger warnings: vampires, blood, angst, sexual content, violence

Summary: These country roads were rarely traveled by any that didn't need to. When Thranduil pulled up beside the man's stopped vehicle and offered him a smile and a ride, there was no one to see the man's grateful expression as he slipped into Thranduil's car. No one to stand by and call out a warning as the taillights were swallowed by the dark branches of the trees. What do you love about this fic? The writing is excellent

Angels and crooks by Nuredhel / @nuredhel | M | 259,072 words | tags: sequel to Beast, alternate universe - modern setting, all humans, Bard is a cop, Thranduil is a profiler, solving crime, family, violence, drug abuse, everyday life at a police station | trigger warnings: violence, abuse, dark stuff, murder, blood, evil, deviousness

Summary: Bard and Thran are getting used to their new life as a married couple, and their new responsibilities as a family. But they still have their jobs and my oh my does that bring some interesting situations and challenges into their existence. Having both experience and special gifts does help, but at times reality can be more bizarre than anyone can expect. What do you love about this fic? It is a good story with very interesting twists and many great characters

When The Pale Swan Flies by EldritchMage / @eldritchmage | E | 290,646 words | tags: alternate universe - modern setting, circus performer Thranduil, cabinet maker Bard, Thranduil's name is Luka, Bard's name is Taliesin (which is Welsh for Bard), slow burn, Thranduil needs rescuing and Bard is happy to do it | trigger warnings: sexual abuse mentioned, underage sex mentioned, prostitution/pimping mentioned

Summary: A year ago, when a carpenter met a caged bird, his good intentions left despair in their wake. Is he a fool to hope he can atone for his missteps? What do you love about this fic? It's got circus acts! It's got two sad men learning to trust and love again! It's got an epic visit to a grocery store! It's got bad guys getting their just desserts, and everyone else getting delicious Spanish teacake! It's got a cute little boy who finds his voice while making puppets! There's a sad short-story prequel to set the stage, as well! And who doesn't like a parade?

Season of Light and Shadow by EldritchMage / @eldritchmage | E | 914,703 words | tags: alternate universe - modern setting, Thranduil is a ballet dancer, Bard is a building super and welder (and artist), slow burn, NSFW, blended family | trigger warnings: momentary violence, momentary mention of drug use, adult bedroom games

Summary: It's the week before Thanksgiving. In an apartment building somewhere in the middle of New York City, the mood is far from festive. Upstairs in Apartment 5B, an injured ballet dancer is having a rotten day. He's lost his job, he's had to walk home in the snow and rain, getting thoroughly soaked and frozen in the process, and the radiators in his rooms are as cold as the New York City streets. He limps downstairs to vent his fury on the night super who didn't fix the heat. Downstairs in Apartment 2A, the night super is also having a rotten day. No money, three overtired and cranky children, a slapdash boss, and not nearly enough sleep. And now someone is pounding on the door like a SWAT team. When an angel knocks on the door of a saint, neither finds what he expects. But with a little luck, the upcoming holiday season might give them both something to treasure. What do you love about this fic? It's two lonely men forging a blended family! It's got ballet! It's got home renovation! It's got four cutie children! It's got cooking! It's got an artist regaining the wherewithal to make his art! It's got lots of cool side characters (ten points to everyone who spots all the Dwarves :-). It's got lots of steamy love! It's even got 3 short follow-up stories! What's not to like?????? This was my introduction to the world of modern AUs with these two, and oh, it's SO GOOD. The kids are brilliant and so realistically drawn, and the dads are - well, they're incredibly hot. XD And the development of the relationship between them is beautifully done, as they go head-over-heels for each other while trying to take things slowly for the sake of the kids…oh, it's great. :D

[timetravellers-art]

THAUC 2024! @fellowshipofthefics

Here it is! Art for the amazing fic @blackknight-100 wrote (they actually wrote two but i unfurtently didn't have the spoons for a second drawing)

This was a really difficult drawing to get right especilaly the perpective but in the end I think it turned out pretty good and the snow adds a lot to the mood of this piece

[liminal-zone]

fic rec

main story: hands; eyes; voice by ao3 user @bishkebab

explicit epilogue by the author: this, our bed

fandom: the hobbit | ship: bard the bowman/king thranduil | tagged: slow burn, alternative universe, cottage core, folk tale vibes, governess/single dad, kid fic | rated: teen (epilogue rated explicit)

This is what happened to me today: I was minding my own business on the clock app and after watching a very lovely barduil fanedit (with angel by massive attack, YES) I read the comments and clock app user storm rec’d this fic and I was like WHY NOT.

hours later i’m just sitting in a corner weeping and wondering how i got here.

ANYWAY:

DO YOU LIKE ROMANCE

DO YOU LIKE SAD SINGLE DADS FALLING IN LOVE

DO YOU LIKE AUs WHERE QUEERS JUST EXIST AND IT’S FINE AND THE TABOO IS ACTUALLY JUST CLASS

DO YOU LIKE A SLOW BURN

DO YOU LIKE THERE WAS ONLY ONE BED 

DO YOU LIKE THE SOUND OF MUSIC’S FIRST ACT BUT QUEER

DO YOU LIKE FINDING YOURSELF DELIGHTED BY A BEAUTIFUL TURN OF PHRASE

Good news! I have a rec! See link above!

Also as I documented on the blue butterfly app, I didn’t read the tags too closely when I jumped into this one so I did spent a lot of reading this midway through wailing that it was rated teen and I would have never invested the time for a teen fic (look! time is precious!) but GOOD NEWS. THERE’S AN EXCEPTIONALLY WRITTEN SMUTTY EPILOGUE WITH ONE OF THE MOST PITCH PERFECT PACING OF A SEX SCENE I HAVE EVER READ IN MY LIFE. also i wept real tears reading the final chapter of the rated teen section so FULLY WORTH EVERY MINUTE OF MY DAY.

Anyway. I absolutely adored this fic. Knowledge of The Hobbit is not super necessary to enjoy this so if you’re just looking for a warm comforting mlm romance, HERE U GO. xoxox

[thrandhue]

been mia reading barduil fics. if anyone has any angsty slow burn recs, please feel free to share ! i think i’ve gone through the entirety of the slow burn tag but you never know

[thatonetimetraveller]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Let’s spread the self-love ❤️

Thank you for the ask💜

5. The Dreams of Men - The Sandman

This fic is the classic Hob rescues Dream.

Even tho it's not finished I really liked writing it

4. It takes a Lot... - Lotr

Bard and Thranduil's meeting over the course of a year, with a sentient Mirkwood thrown into the mix.

I loved writing sentient Mirkwood and it's relationship with Thranduil

I swear the second chapter is done I'm just too busy with trsb to type it up rip

3. The Importance of Wing-Care - Star Wars

Tired Obi-Wan, wingfic and h/c what else can I say lol

I absolutely love wingfics and I had to write one when I saw this prompt for Codywan Week

2. To Love You Without a Name - Lotr

A sapphic Cinderella au featuring Barduil

There's not enough sapphic content in the Lotr fandom so I had to

1. Sol'ca'nara bal Vencuyot Mand'alor - Star Wars

An epic timetravel fic as Din travels back into the Clone Wars and his younger self. He's force sensitive and has really strong visions so he becomes Obi-Wan's padawan. He also gets adopted by the 212th and he adopts a squad in return. And the timeline may not seem as linear as first thought.

To this day this is my longest fic and I'm so proud of it. It features my favourite tropes and it has a convoluted plot lol. I love the interactions between Din and the 212th especially Cody and his squad

And I am planning to return to it as soon as I get back into Star Wars

[ann-atar]

I just started this novel/series and I'm losing my sh!t. It's good. SO GOOD. My god, your Thranduil pov is so outstanding.

Chapters: 29/? Fandom: The Hobbit - All Media Types Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Bard the Bowman/Thranduil Characters: Thranduil (Tolkien), Bard the Bowman, Thranduil’s Wife, Bard the Bowman’s Children, Legolas Greenleaf, Tauriel, Sigrid (Hobbit Movies), Bain of Dale, Tilda (Hobbit Movies), Elrond Peredhel, Celebrían (Tolkien), Arwen Undómiel, Dís (Tolkien), Kíli (Tolkien), Fíli (Tolkien), Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, set in 1977, Historical References, Slow Burn, I’m not joking about the slowness of this slow burn, emergency room physician Thranduil, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, caretaker Bard (in several senses of the term), ELF (extremely long fic), this house may or may not be haunted, this is a ‘no archive warnings apply’ situation for now Summary:

In the year 1977, following a tragedy that upends his life, former emergency-room physician Thranduil Oropherion purchases a sprawling, centuries-old estate in northern New Hampshire, planning to ship his children off to boarding school and waste away without ever being seen again. His plans go awry immediately thanks to Bard Bowman, the caretaker of the estate, and as an unlikely friendship blooms between them, Thranduil finds himself slowly coming back to life.

His house does the same.

Chapter 29 is here! and here’s an excerpt…

It has been nearly a decade since Thranduil celebrated Halloween, and there are apparently dozens of Halloween traditions that must be observed. Thranduil is unfamiliar with most of them. Carving pumpkins and trick-or-treating are one thing, and he understands the appeal of caramel apples and popcorn balls, but he cannot imagine why the children would want to bob for apples, play increasingly elaborate pranks on each other, and set bonfires every night. Bard provides plenty of leaves and sticks for the bonfires, and each burn is accomplished safely at the end of the driveway, but Thranduil winds up doing continual loads of laundry to keep the smell of smoke out of the house. As it turns out, however, the bonfires are the least of Thranduil’s worries.

“What on earth do you think you are doing?” he demands. All four children look as though they have been caught with their hands in the cookie jar, although what they are doing is far worse. “Give me that at once.”

[writerman]

12, 15, 18 for fic writer asks!

12. What fic was the most difficult to write? Did you finish it?: It's between It Starts With BLÅHAJ and Soaked Skin, for two reasons. One, the prompts and two, the ship. I have been very obviously hyper fixated on a particular ship since 2019 and Barduil slowly fell out of favour so getting back into the rhythm of writing the two of them was a task I wasn't sure I was up to, and yet... it appears to have worked out aha.

15. Rec a fic you wrote or posted in 2023: Even if no one is interested I will always rec Thrall, it is my magnum opus... for now. I am unceasingly in love with it. It is unhinged and frustrating and messy and purely indulgent. In fic form it is my toxic true love.

18. What was the hardest fic to title?:

All fics are hard to title but maybe the IKEA Barduil AU but when I realised I could mention our favourite squishy shark I knew I had to include it. :3

[thelibraryoferebor]

Five Fics For Long Time Tolkien Fic Readers

…I’m 99.9% sure you haven’t read at least one of these fics. Let’s do this.

Like A Long Forgotten Dream by Antarctica_or_bust

|| explicit - 16.3k - completed ||

Fíli and Kíli are actually Legolas' time-traveling love children from the future. This changes everything.

Notes: This fic is entirely crack treated seriously, and I adore it. Although I’m not totally sold on the ending the rest of it is just *chef’s kiss*. Btw gigolas and Aragorn/Legolas centric. Not a very heavy read but still really fun. Like I said, it’s crack.

A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes by diemarysues

|| general - 64.2k - completed ||

Bilbo Baggins has been plagued with dreams for some months, always filled with the same stranger: big hands, strong arms, dark hair. It seems a mystery until he figures that it is a Dwarf, though this only narrows down his search to every Dwarf in Erebor.

When he overhears mention of a special party in the Mountain he wishes briefly that he can attend. But that's ridiculous. He's a Hobbit, not a Dwarf.

Turns out that's not a problem when magic is involved.

Notes: I read this fic pretty recently and as the summary kind of says, it’s a Cinderella au. I adore this fic so much and was an instant bookmark. I’m pretty particular when it comes to bookmarking so yeahhhhh

Into the Woods by NameLess_FaceLess_FormLess

|| teen - 44.7k - completed ||

Two widowers stumble upon each other, one cursed with a mediocre life in a judgemental town, the other with an actual curse.

Notes: In my experience it’s hard to find really good fairytale au’s, especially Beauty and the Beast. Like, the goal is for the relationship to not be toxic right guys..? Still, this fic manages to blow me away every time I read it. This is a barduil fic and you may not be into that right now but I still recommend giving it a shot. Especially if you’re into thilbo, gigolas, and the like. It’s truly one of my favorites.

Rearrange by smilebackwards

|| general - 10.6k - completed ||

Prince Fili’s betrothal to the elf prince of Mirkwood causes Gimli many problems, not least of which, he’s beginning to strongly suspect that Legolas may be his One.

Notes: I just can’t with this fic, it hits you right in the feels and never stops. It’s so fluffy but like also angsty (like any good fic), and the endingggg. And Filiiiiii. I feel like a lot of authors struggle with writing dwarves, Fili and Kili specifically, because they’re not sure how far to take their childishness. For this environment I think Fili was done particularly well, even if it’s not how I would view him in other situations. Btw gigolas.

In June and June and More June by Dragonslaeyr

|| teen - 88.7k - completed ||

When Bilbo agreed on a trip to Erebor to clear up the last of his mother's estate, what he didn't count on was falling in love with its gorgeous landscape, the fiercely proud people, and yes, the delicious food. Now if only he could figure out why everyone was acting so strangely around his neighbours...

Notes: This is actually the fic that I’m reading right now (and loving, obviously), but I’m sold on it already so I didn’t want to have to wait to get this rec out to you. Also like, once I do this I’ve got nothing else I’ve gotta get done, so that’s epic. It’s thilbo centric and modern day au with secretive Thorin, and Smaug has already been taken care of so that’s not a second hand stresser. It’s just lovely overall with the way it present all of the company and Frerin is alive, which is always nice. And mini Fili and Kili. Bro I’m in so deep with this fic, but that’s how it goes ig, lmao.

That’s it for today! This rec was specific to those who are looking for fics that they haven’t already read. But ofc you would absolutely enjoy these fics even if you aren’t already in deep. After these fics you probably will be, tho.

~H

[bi-widower-dads]

bi-widower-dads' February Fic Recs: Canon

Thank you to everyone who submitted recs for us! We've done some sorting and collating, and we've got two posts for you: AUs and Canon-'verse - and a whole load of excellent fic for you to get stuck into while we wait for Barduil Month in April! Without further ado, here are the canon fic recs, featuring tags, links, summaries, and all the reasons why the recommenders think you should give these fics a try!

Header image by mod @piyo-13!

(a note about tags and trigger warnings: tags are selected from those on AO3 as being those that best describe the story for the purposes of this event; trigger warnings are supplied by the recommenders and may not be comprehensive - your mileage may vary. We've tried our best to include Tumblr handles wherever we can, but if we've missed yours out and you want it included, just let us know!)

One-shots

Scenes From a Not-So-Clandestine Romance by MasterofAllImagination / @cutlerbeckettt | G | 3258 words | tags: 5+1 things, so much fluff it's sickening, seriously don't even read this

Summary: As the relationship between Bard and Thranduil grows beyond merely that of two allies, they become proportionately blind to how obvious their displays of affection are to their people. Pretty soon their feelings are an open secret shared among everyone in Mirkwood and Dale-- except the kings themselves. (or, five times someone caught Bard and Thranduil secretly kissing, and the one time they did it in public) What do you love about this fic? The author's completely correct that this is just So Much Fluff. It's great, it's cozy, it's a palate cleanser that makes you go "aww" and giggle a little at how oblivious they are.

We'll lay here for years or for hours by bispecimen | M | 5000 words | tags: canon divergence, different first meeting, animal death, hunting, could be considered canon compliant since it still works w future events, dilf vs dilf parenting techniques, canon-typical violence

Summary: "The leaves were rolling, green and healthy. Swirling around the legs of the Bowman as if they were about to bring some magical creature in his presence. But Bard didn’t feel like anything good was about to be brought in front of his eyes. The stillness of the air was suffused with something nocive. This part was forbidden for a reason. The deeper he went, the longer he stayed. He knew, he knew that." What do you love about this fic? Am possibly biased because I did the art for this, but lovely and lyrical!

but the sun is eclipsed by the moon by RC_McLachlan | G | 5288 words | tags: none

Summary: The Battle of the Five Armies threatened to unmake the world, but The Negotiations of the Three Kings might actually succeed. Or, a short lesson on the lifecycle of dandelions. What do you love about this fic? Great writer I've followed for a long time!

more than words can wield the matter by BiSquared / @scary-grace | M | 5422 words | tags: cultural differences, love letters, miscommunication, accidental marriage, getting together, laws and customs of the eldar are somewhat followed, POV Bard the Bowman, post-BotFA, as canon-compliant as barduil gets

Summary: It might be uncommon, but Bard knows it’s not unheard of for humans to share a single night of passion and part ways in the morning – or if not to part ways, then at least never to meet as lovers again. Apparently it’s unheard of among elves, because the first letter that arrives from Mirkwood, two weeks after the elves’ departure for their forest, is significantly less businesslike than expected. What do you love about this fic? The premise is funny enough that it could have come across as crack, but it creates actual narrative tension and a satisfactorily cathartic ending.

The Well-Worn Path of Words by Ias | T | 10,725 words | tags: letters, slow burn, pining, miscommunication, love confessions, epistolary

Summary: It wasn't so strange that Thranduil would call him a friend. And yet the word seemed to draw them closer like a length of string, binding them together, yet still so fragile. [In which Thranduil and Bard begin writing each other letters over the long winter after the battle.] What do you love about this fic? Fantastic epistolary fic from a great Barduil author!

Multi-chapter (in progress)

Language of the Forest by BaccaratBlack | T | 1,095 words | tags: victorian flower language, sort of unrequited feelings, cultural differences, cultural misunderstandings, courtship, secret admirer

Summary: Bard is perplexed by elven courtship rituals. Thranduil is very determined and unaccustomed to not having his way. What do you love about this fic? Who doesn't like a fic with the themes of courtship, flowers and a "secret" admirer?

Multi-chapter (complete)

A Tale of Love and Longing (as told by Galion) by jotunblood | T | 39,288 words | tags: courtship, secret relationship, developing relationship, sexual tension, light angst, post-BotFA, slow burn, Galion POV, Galion is a good friend

Summary: Galion knew all the almost imperceptible ways joy, anguish, and hate could change his King’s face. He also knew-- Thranduil’s denial be damned-- exactly how he looked when he was pining. What do you love about this fic? We see Thranduil's and Bard's relationship develop through Galion's POV and he's the best BFF/Wing Man a King could ask for.

Blossoming Spring by SlytherinImpala | T | 56,210 words | tags: fluff, post-BotFA, snark, slow burn, healing, friends to lovers, scars, movie canon, first kiss, getting together

Summary: Bard and Thranduil meet again as winter gives way to spring following of the Battle of Five Armies. What do you love about this fic? I love the gentle snarkiness between the 2 characters and how they slowly learn to open up to one another. They feel very in character and when they fall in love it doesn't feel abrupt. Definitely worth a read if you love a gentle Barduil slowburn.

Series

The Kings of the North by Evandar | T | 14,240 words | tags: partial fix-it, interspecies romance, fluff, blind thranduil, self-esteem issues, communication

Summary: There is unease in the north, as old alliances must be rebuilt and leadership learned. Bard is confused, mostly by King Thranduil, and King Fili is determined to be the best king he can be. Sigrid, meanwhile, wishes things could go back to the way they were. What do you love about this fic? This was one of the first series I ever read for barduil and definitely played a huge role in getting me into the ship in the first place!

Boundaries 'Verse by Sir_Nemo | T | 30,967 words | tags: fluff, getting to know each other, getting together, family bonding

Summary: Bard has been working for the elves for years, never actually meeting one, until one day he notices an elf watching him work. The elf becomes a constant in his life, and the two of them slowly start warming up to each other. What do you love about this fic? Bard and Thranduil's personalities really shine through in their conversations, which I feel is a core component of the plot, and makes for a very stable relationship that the story can lean on.

[meteors-lotr]

Love your blog 🥰 Any fic rec’s?

Well thank you for saying that, it means a lot.

Uhh, it depends on what you're asking for with fig recs.

I mean, if you want something with the bardlings then I'd recommend checking out my fics, more specifically Quite The Chatter, Thunderstruck and Sorry!

Those Colours We Share is good if you're looking for a barduil fic, it's one of my personal favorites even if I don't agree with the Bardlings characterization

If Not Now is a really good Aralas fic, as is Night and Day

A shot in the dark is my favorite if you would be looking for Bagginshield

And yeah, I’d say those are my top recs. There was another Aralas one that I absolutely adored, where Aragorn was obsessed with Legolas and the ring used those feelings to manipulate the fuck out of him, but I couldn’t find it. If anyone knows what I’m talking about, please tell in the replies or something I wanna read it again

[tolkienfics]

In The Woods Somewhere

In The Woods Somewhere by Ias (Words: 249k, M)

These country roads were rarely traveled by any that didn't need to. When Thranduil pulled up beside the man's stopped vehicle and offered him a smile and a ride, there was no one to see the man's grateful expression as he slipped into Thranduil's car. No one to stand by and call out a warning as the taillights were swallowed by the dark branches of the trees.

[theblueharlequin]

Chapters: 132/132Fandom: The Hobbit - All Media Types, The Hobbit (Jackson Movies)Rating: ExplicitWarnings: No Archive Warnings ApplyRelationships: Bard the Bowman/ThranduilAdditional Tags: Alternate Universe - Hogwarts, Stripper AU, Bard learns Elvish and discovers exactly what Thranduil has been murmuring while he works, Waking up in Vegas AU, Cupcake shop au, Elves can die from a broken heart but will Thranduil?, Thranduil why does Elrond think we’re married, Reincarnation!AU, Bard/Thranduil/Ned, music festival AU, model and photographer au, Uptown Girl High School! AU, Bard accidentally kisses Thranduil, Werewolf Bard au, Thranduil in Panties, Awkward First Time, Merman!Bard AU, Thranduil and kittens, Thranduil neglects to mention that he might in fact be the Elvenking, Firefighter!Bard Au, University!Au , coffee shop au!, modern au, Foodcritic!Thrandy and chef!Bard, Headmaster!Thrandy Parent!BardRelcutant!Bard, greaser!Bard and prep!ThranduilBard, Florist!Bard and Tattooist!Thran, Florist!Thran and Tattooist!Bard, Nanny!Thran works for Bard (you know where this is going), Vampire!Bard au, ‘For some reason we have to share a bed, ’A Soulmate au, Bard stumbles across Thranduil bathing in a pond, Policeman!Thran and Firefighter!Bard, Thranduil and the One Ring, Hogwarts professors auSummary: This is where I’m going to put all of my Barduil fic’s that I write for tumblr.Each chapter will be a stand alone story (they will vary in rating too, I will put it in the notes at the beginning of the chapter) and I will update the tags as new stories are added.So if you like the look of a tag, find the chapter title that correlates with it :)

[corndog-patrol]

Very random question, but do you have any good bagginshield fic recs or author recs?? I love the ship but I've read all the shorter ones and starting long ones without a rec is daunting. XD

A related question, do you like genderbend bagginshield? I love it because I'm always down for more badass ladies in fic, but I know some people prefer to aviod it. Both opinions are valid, imho, I'm just curious as to your preference. :D

OMG!!! Okay, I've read a lot of great bagginshield so far but I haven't delved that deep in the fandom yet! (i read a lot of barduil with bagginshield in it too which is nice)

Some of my personal bagginshield favs are (in no particular order)

Truth, Honesty, and None of the Above- by ias (who also has some good barduil- i'm going to keep talking about barduil LMAO)

a tale of ivory table cloth and ruined weddings- by Imagined, rottingflower, Scarlet_Ribbons

A Shelter On Saturday by Tawabids (super cool to see a modern au with the tolkein races still present!!!!)

I've Grown a Hedge Around My Heart by pibroch (littleblackdog) (HOBBIT THORIN!!! I REPEAT: ADORABLE HOBBIT THORIN!!!!)

Wasteful by northerntrash (sooo cute- i love modern aus with baker bilbo <3 northerntrash has some great barduil fics too 😂)

You Got Me by drunkonwriting

Oak and Mistletoe by HildyJ (oh im absolutely UNHINGED FOR THIS FIC)

hopefully there's something on this lost that piques your interest and is new to you! if you want some more recs I can throw that together too haha

as for genderbends- i haven't posted any myself because i used to see a lot of people saying they're transphobic and i didn't want to accidentally hurt anyone's feelings- but i haven't seen anyone say that in a while so I'm not sure how to feel anymore. i think (from my admittedly cis perspective) that they can be fun- it gives me a weird feeling when people genderbend to make a gay couple straight (by only changing the gender of one of them) but other than that they're cute LOL

[bi-widower-dads]

Submissions Open for Fic Rec February!

This February, we're going to celebrate by sharing the love for all the wonderful fics in the Barduil community! Use the Google form below to recommend as many of your favorite fics as you'd like, and we'll share them throughout the month of February -- and generate masterlists of recommended fics to share throughout the year!

If you have any questions, please send us an ask or message one of the mods - me (@scary-grace), @nocompromise-noregrets, or @piyo-13! We look forward to seeing your recommendations.

[mithrilhearts]

Which fic would you consider doing a sequel for, and what would it be about?

So, I have a few sequel ideas for some of my fics, but the one that is solid in my mind right now (and the first fic is completed lol) is my TRSB from last year - a Modern Royalty AU with King Thorin and Journalist Bilbo → Between Vices and Virtues. Ultimately the sequel would be seeing the Shire, and how Bilbo lives, since the first fic was about getting Thorin to learn about his own kingdom, etc. There would be a food festival, snarky Lobelia, meeting brand-new parents Drogo and Primula (which means baby Frodo!) and ultimately just giving Thorin a chance to look at what a normal life might be like. And you know what’s great? The sequel has a sequel lol...but that’s for another time.

What’s a pairing/character you would like to try writing in the near future?

I would love to write more Barduil and Nwalin, but I always feel like I’m out of ideas or don’t know where to go with things. I am so hyperfocused on Bagginshield it’s insane. But that’s okay! Other characters I would love to try and write for (in some capacity) would include some LOTR characters (i.e. Boromir, Eomer, Gimli/Legolas, etc), I just gotta find the right spark of inspiration to do it. <3

What was your favorite scene to write in Bookbinder//Songwriter?

I’m just going to use my latest chapter for this question - I’ve been waiting for this chapter for SO LONG. I had plans to do a “meet cute”, to show how Thorin and Bilbo actually met, and now we’re diving into Thorin’s reality with his family (that remains, anyway). He has a really nice scene with Belladonna too. The whole chapter was just a lot of fun to write, just as I hope it was to read!

Do you feel like writing makes you a better reader, or reading fic makes you a better writer?

I feel like they go hand in hand, at least for me. I learn through reading works from other people. My vocabulary is constantly expanding, and my thought process of how a scene should be constructed. So regardless of which way you look at it, one is helpful to the other. What I will say on the matter is that I have to be in a very specific kind of mood to read, or my brain drifts off into space - but that has nothing to do with my being a writer. I find it easier to focus on writing than reading (most days), so I am insanely happy when those good reading days hit. (I’m tackling my “to read” list slowly but surely)

If you were going to give Kurdu ‘abadaz an alternate title, what would it be?

I went with the Khuzdul translation for “heart of the mountain” - but if I did give it another title, it could very well be the English translation. Or something more creative having to do with the “Arkenstone” or “Ghosts” 👀 which will soon make sense. I’m content with the title tho (for now lol)

And for my recs, just check out the three I’ve mentioned in this edition of Monday Mentions!! <3

HAPPY MONDAY, FELLOWSHIP! 💜

Here at Fellowship of the Fics, we want to get to know you as authors, just as we want to hear about your stories! Each month we will have five selected questions that we encourage you to answer as a way to help promote yourself!

Simply reblog this post and answer the questions provided. This is about YOU and YOUR creations! We encourage self-bragging as much as possible!

HERE ARE THE QUESTIONS FOR JULY 2023!

Which fic would you consider doing a sequel for, and what would it be about?

What’s a pairing/character you would like to try writing in the near future?

What was your favorite scene to write in [choose your fic]?

Do you feel like writing makes you a better reader, or reading fic makes you a better writer?

If you were going to give [choose your fic] an alternate title, what would it be?

Now, share up to 3 of your fics you’d like to recommend to us and your followers!

[thelibraryoferebor]

Ultimate Gigolas

Long time no see, ey? Well, I'm back... at least for now, but I'm very excited to deliver this rec list! You all know that I'm a sucker for Barduil and Thilbo, but gigolas just hits different ya know? I tried to assemble a list of fandom classics as well as some lesser known ones that you really need to check out.

~H

I Walked with You (Once Upon a Dream) by The_Dwelf

|| explicit - 31.4k - completed ||

Kori is just a regular Dwarf, except, he isn't. He is Gimli's reicarnation, he has been dreaming of his past life since he was a child, and now that he's old enough to leave Erebor, he's certain of his condition. With unexpected help from a very shocked Elvenking, he will find a way to rejoin Legolas, at any costs. Angst, fluff, porn and (spoiler?) a happy ending. 

Notes: I would call this fic a lesser known classic. I've read it more than once (I've read most of these more than once) and it never fails to entertain. Maybe it's not my absolute favorite, but it's definitely a must read.

On the Origin of Half-Elves by Lumeleo

|| general - 25.1k - completed ||

Legolas has found his mate, but that doesn't always guarantee happiness. Especially not when his dwarf still holds a grudge over old insults.

Of course, even when they start to get along, things aren't necessarily easy when rumours from the Misty Mountains make Legolas ride out to look for his lost brother... and ends up with a party of dwarves following him, because you can't ever have just one dwarf.

Now if only he can get through the adventure without any angry relatives taking an axe to his vulnerable parts.

Notes: This story is sweet. I really like Legolas and Gimli's relationship, but if I'm being honest I typically read it for the other (if you've read it you know the one I mean) relationship. Love this fic a lot (as well as the series that it folds into).

We Who Are Forever by WerewolvesAreReal 

|| general - 2.3k - completed ||

There is an elf who has lived in Aglarond for nigh on five hundred years before Grilka's birth. He stays always near the inner caverns and the halls of dead dwarf-lords, and the younger dwarrows know him for his songs and sad stories, his queer habit of walking the caverns in twilit sleep and speaking to the ferns that grow by the inner ponds.

Grilka likes talking to the elf, despite his grief. Somehow it feels like talking to an old friend.

Notes: This one is similar to the first one, but I like how the ending feels different and unique. These sorts of fics always leave me in so much pain, but only the good kind of course.

The Pirates of Erebor by mckittericks

|| explicit - 25.1k - completed ||

The pirates of Erebor have long troubled the isle of Greenwood, but when they kidnap an elven lady for ransom, they don't get exactly what, or rather who, they bargained for.

Notes: I'm an intense sucker for a good pirate fic. While the style of this fic means that I'm not constantly rereading it, it's lovely to pick up again and relearn about this different world and its twists and turns.

A Nest for Birds to Sit and Sing by plinys

|| general - 1.9k - completed ||

Within hours of arriving that camp, a hierarchy had sorted itself out among the troops, one that put Gimli’s troop near the bottom of the list and Troop 5126 at the top, though that was mostly because they had high-tech GPS’s and went to some fancy prep school that celebrities sent their kids too.

Notes: This one isn't romantic at all, but the innocence of their relationship is adorable, and makes you wonder what came after for them both.

A (sappy) Love Story by Racheluntilthe_veryend

|| teen - 1.9k - completed ||

They had been married for over forty years and together for longer, and at 68 Gimli still stared at his husband sometimes with puzzlement and amazement. This man loved him.

(Cutesy old!Gigolas because who doesn't need this in their lives?? Modern!Au)

Notes: It wasn't on purpose that these two were back to back, but they are almost the exact opposite from each other, and it's more than a little ironic. Still, I adore this fic and all it has to offer, I hope you read it cause it's lovely.

This Breath We Share by katajainen

|| teen - 7.7k - completed ||

Five times Legolas kissed Gimli – and the one time Gimli kissed him back.

But is any kiss ever 'just a kiss'?

Notes: Full blown classic. Like seriously, it's adorable. Just go read it.

Love Always, Yours Forever by butterflyslinky

|| teen - 7k - completed ||

Tauriel, Fili and Kili pull a prank on Gimli and Legolas, who respond in kind. Things go a little too far.

Notes: This may be one of my favorites (I adore fics where Gimli gets to have a relationship with Kili and Fili). It's just too cute and I will love it forever and always.

Rearrange by smilebackwards 

|| general - 10.6k - completed ||

Prince Fili’s betrothal to the elf prince of Mirkwood causes Gimli many problems, not least of which, he’s beginning to strongly suspect that Legolas may be his One.

Notes: This one and the next one might have to be my favorites, although I'm struggling to decide between them. Either way this fic is amazing and I have nothing but good things to say.

Hearts Will As Hearts Must by determamfidd 

|| general - 10.4k - completed ||

The Dwarves are returning to Erebor reclaimed, and the elves uphold their promise to safeguard the caravans as they pass through Mirkwood.

One particular Dwarf has wit and spark enough to match Legolas Greenleaf - perhaps even outmatch him.

It's hate at first sight.

Notes: This fic is just... I can't with it, it's lovely and I adore it so very much, like you have no idea how much I love it. If you haven't read it (what are you doing???) drop everything you're doing and read it. I swear you won't regret it.

That concludes the list! I hope that you enjoyed this and that you check the stories out, all these authors deserve so much love, so shower them in that. If you have any recommendations and such, please just let me know!

~H