#flowers of Mordor au

[frodothefair]

You know what's interesting?

I may have posted about this before, but the literal number one piece of feedback I get about The Flowers of Mordor is "I was skeptical about the premise, but now I'm sold!"

Which is great. It means something good about my writing - that I've been able to tell the story in a convincing way, that the characters acted in believable ways, and won the reader's hearts.

What I still don't understand, however, is why the premise seems to go SO much against the grain.

After all, I can't be the only person who wishes Frodo could have healed in the Shire. I can't be the only person who wants to ship themselves with Frodo. (Let's face it, canon/OC is sometimes, though not always, a vehicle for self-shipping, and that's totally fine! Fandom is all about wish fulfillment, and I am all for it.) In the end, I can't be the only person to wish Frodo could have found his happy ending with someone else besides Sam-maybe-eventually-in-Valinor. (Yes, sharing Sam or a poly arrangement is an option, and so is Rosie-as-a-beard, and so is erasing Rosie, but none of those approaches have felt satisfying to me, and again, I can't be the only one who holds this opinion).

Yes, I get that Frodo/FOC is not canon, but canon/OC rarely ever is. (And yes, I know I've made a fuss before about how Marigold is not an OC, but she is quite similar to an OC: she is mentioned briefly in canon, but all of her character development in FOM is my own).

Also, there are many non-canon premises that people absolutely go wild for, such as Boromir lives, or Thorin lives, or even Boromir and Theodred, so why exactly is it so difficult to see Frodo with an OC? It's been done with almost every other character, even ones who have canonical partners.

I mean, yes, to begin with, Frodo is positioned in canon as a confirmed bachelor, and Samfro is a very popular ship. But at the same time, Sam and Frodo are written and portrayed ambiguously enough that there is room for interpretation. They could be lovers, there could be unrequited pining, it could be one-sided on either of their parts, or they could be good friends. All of those things are possible. And similarly, Frodo could be a confirmed bachelor for a number of reasons: perhaps he is asexual or gay, or he is too much of an oddball, or he had a relationship that didn't work out, or it's the Ring's doing, or he senses he will someday follow in Bilbo's footsteps and is reluctant to put down roots. All of those things are possible.

So I have to wonder: maybe Frodo/OC or Frodo/someone besides Sam is not the most common ship, but why exactly is it such a hard sell? I just don't see it.

In fact, Flowers of Mordor is in part written for much-younger me, who first encountered the books and movies and genuinely wondered whether things could have been different if Frodo had found a nice hobbit lass to love.

Granted, at that age I was probably too young to understand the import of Frodo's burden, and the scars it left behind. Today, I understand that the ending was tragic but necessary, but a part of that hopeless romantic remains: I wish it could have been different. I wish Frodo could have found love. I wish that love could have conquered all. And as I said before, isn't fanfiction all about wish fulfillment?

[frodothefair]

Also, I am SO stealing this for the Frodogold wedding, with a minor variation.

Pony carts at midnight. Dr. Boffin's services available until 2 am. Wheelbarrows at 5 am. Hearses at daybreak.

"our son made it through the war to come of age, let's fucken party! rsvp only if you're a little bitch who's NOT coming. all y'all not dead of alcohol poisoning by morning (lmao losers) get dunkt on"

edit: fascinating! the tags are full of two types of people. 1) people who think this is a joke and 2) catholics who fully admit to a bit of cheeky cultural alcoholism just nodding and saying "uh huh"

[frodothefair]

꧁ Master Meriadoc’s Missive ꧂

Summary: Éomer gets a letter from Merry with happy news, and mourns the state of his own marriage. Pairings: Éomer x Lothíriel; Frodo x Marigold Gamgee Rating: PG ┃ Words: 950 A/n: I couldn't help myself, and wrote the fic crossover nobody asked for. (This may or may not end up in a future chapter of my Eothiriel longfic, The Golden Hall. For those utterly confused as to what's going on, this piece references events in my AU fic, Flowers of Mordor, where Frodo did not sail to Valinor but healed in Middle-earth. Both fics in question may be found in my masterlist). @emmanuellececchi @konartiste @from-the-coffee-shop-in-edoras @dilettantefeminist

The lamp was burning low, and Éomer sat in his study, opening envelope after envelope, and running his eyes over the dizzy lines of text.

Even Éothain had retired – and he would burn the midnight oil as enthusiastically as he had once swung a sword – but still Éomer sat, turning over lists of numbers, puzzling over terms he did not always understand.

Since he had become king, he realized he hated making people wait, but he needed the extra time to formulate opinions, so this became a nightly ritual. Before he discussed anything with anyone – even Éothain – he would peruse the correspondence alone, giving himself ample time to think.

It was taxing work, but a thousand times worth the pain. Indeed, the dry nature of the petitions and accounts made it all the more pleasant to come upon a friendly missive, and this night, it was a thick letter from one Meriadoc Brandybuck, his good friend from the Shire and an Esquire of Rohan.

Éomer sliced open the envelope with his well-worn letter opener – which resembled a sword, and was inherited from Théoden – and ran his weary eyes over the text.

The hobbit was a most entertaining correspondent, and this time he related, in his usual, plainspoken manner, how his cousin Frodo Baggins, the Ringbearer, had married the sister of Samwise Gamgee, his best friend and esquire.   

The wedding was, by all accounts, quite grand and the talk of the season, with “half of the Shire invited,” immoderate food and drink, and as a culmination of the festivities, the bride and groom feigned disappearance in a cloud of smoke – which hearkened back to a trick the Ringbearer’s uncle had played on his eleventy-first birthday. 

Éomer chuckled as he read the account – sparing no detail or opportunity for a pithy metaphor – but even so, he felt suddenly lonely.

His mind traveled back to when he met the Ringbearer – initially in the Field of Cormallen, and then several times in Minas Tirith. At the time, he had been struck by how hollowed out the hobbit looked: like a person who had once been vibrant, if his friends were any indication, but his labor had left an indelible mark, and now he was perfectly pleasant but somehow distant, and whenever he spoke, he had a mournful look in his eye. 

It was hard to imagine such a person doing much of anything, much less getting married, or planning a feast, or playing an elaborate trick.

He wondered what could have caused such a transformation – and Meriadoc’s letter was quick to explain.  

Apparently, Samwise’s sister, whose name was Marigold, and whose kindness, beauty, and learning Meriadoc praised for half a page, had trained as a healer, and had nursed the Ringbearer back to health over the better part of a year – and now, Meriadoc was delighted to report, the Ringbearer was nearly back to his old self.

Éomer clicked his tongue in wonderment, and shook his head.

He had to meet this extraordinary woman, as well as the newly healed Ringbearer, and make him a better friend. 

Perhaps, one day he might travel to the Shire, under the guise of a diplomatic mission, or perhaps the Ringbearer might be well enough to accept an invitation…

He folded the letter carefully, and placed it back in its envelope, tucking it into a drawer of correspondence that he wished to keep.

But even so, his smile was one part joyful, one part bitter.

He pressed his fingers into fists, and longed to get up and start pacing, to quell the acrid feeling in his chest. 

For this – this was the proper basis for a marriage. Caring for one another, coming to know one another, living simply side by side – not a series of chaperoned meetings and letters written by others. And yet, he was not the Ringbearer: he was not so ill that he needed a dry nurse to look after him every day, and outside of Éowyn, the women in his life were either servants or entertainment. Indeed, he was starved for female company for so long – that is, female company that might have had a future – that he built up castles in the sky, and those around him were only too happy to encourage his illusions. It had nearly led to tragedy, but now that that was over, he was married but alone.

Indeed, Lothíriel had every right to hate him, and he could not fault her for it. And yet, all he wanted was to put his head into her lap.

Did the Ringbearer put his head into his wife’s lap? He wagered that he did, every night.

Éomer sighed, and pushed his chair away from the table.

He was going to start pacing after all. Which was just as well – at least it would keep him from punching things. 

He measured out the length of his study with his strides, his arms folded behind his back.

But truly, was all hope to be abandoned?

When she was not jabbing him with barbs, Lothíriel certainly had her moments. She was tender and sweet when she begged him to spare the horse that had almost thrown her. She was attentive and kind when she learned of his troubles with sleep, and entreated him to stay. 

He recalled the touch of her hands, soft as silk. And when they made love, she had dropped all pretense and sang her pleasure like a bird.

What would it take, for them to abandon the games and the artifice, and simply be?

What would happen if he went to her that night, and asked to put his head in her lap?

[frodothefair]

PSA: Marigold Gamgee is not an OC! And see, I fixed in in canon, too. ;) It's official. It's in the appendix of my copy of LOTR.

[frodothefair]

I am so excited about this upcoming chapter of Flowers of Mordor! It's basically a big wedding planning chapter, where a bunch of pieces get pulled together. As such, here's a sneak peek. I suppose unrequited Merry/Marigold is now canon in my book.

꧁ In fact, Merry was the only one who did not look immediately heartened – but even so, he quickly folded his lips into a smile. 

For truly, he wanted to be glad, but every time he saw Frodo and Marigold like this, it made him wince and wonder, “what if?”

What if Rosie had not intervened that day, behind the tent? What if his heart had refuted his senses, and he had pursued Marigold fully intent upon marriage? Could he not have weathered the jibes and sneers of his family? Could he not have thrown their well-meaning disapproval into the Brandywine?

And even now, Marigold was steadily winning over his heart. It was not many days ago, that the others had departed on such-and-such an errand, leaving Merry and Mari together, all alone except for the watchful eyes of Lúthien the cat. Merry, as affably as he could, had accepted the tea she had brewed for him, and savored every sip as she explained that she would never tell Frodo what happened – or nearly happened – that day behind the tent. And he had smiled, as valiantly as he could, when she explained that there were no hard feelings between them, and no spoiled times – only friendship.

Merry, by now, wanted to be more than just friends, but it was too late. He could not encroach on her happiness, nor on his cousin’s, especially now that Frodo was finally on the mend, and it was all – to hear Sam tell it – thanks to Marigold’s ministrations.

@konartiste @emmanuellececchi @from-the-coffee-shop-in-edoras

[frodothefair]

Me with Flowers of Mordor:

Frodo went where at the end of LOTR?

No, he didn't go anywhere, you silly! He's living at Bag End, and he's happily married to Marigold Gamgee, and his brother-in-law Sam lives next door. They visit each other and smoke pipeweed on the benches in front of their houses, and their kids play together, and everyone acknowledges Frodo as the wounded hero of the Shire.

I am not listening to any other version of events.

Someone: yeah it was so sad when this character died

Me, who’s already read 15 fix-it fics and no longer can tell the difference between canon and fanon: when they what

[theivorybilledwoodpecker]

Crack au idea: Silmarillion Sauron, in his hubris, accidently makes Celebrimbor coruler of Mordor.

Sauron thought binding their fëas together would help him control Celebrimbor. Certainly, as a maia, it wouldn't weaken Sauron!

But when orcs come for Celebrimbor in the seige of Eregion, he shouts out something like, "Stop!"

It's more instinctual than that he thinks it will make them stop. But they do, as if they can't help it.

Before Sauron realizes what's going on, Celebrimbor has the orcs rebuilding the city, planting flowers in Mordor, etc. The orcs actually like Celebrimbor better. He says thank you to them and offers them lemonade after a job well done, whereas Sauron treats them horribly.

[604to647]

Fics that Live in My Mind, Rent Free (Pedro's Version) - Part 1

Happy NYE! 🥳🥳

I read so many wonderful, hot, gut-wrenching, unforgettable, inspiring Pedro Pascal character fanfics... and I haven't been reblogging them 🫣 (it's me, hi, I'm the problem it's me). Don't hate me please - reblogging gives me so much anxiety, and I'm not even sure I could articulate why if I tried - and I see a lot of the discussion/discourse/posts re: reblogging and I truly understand all perspectives although it just seems to elevate my nerves about even more.

However, I understand the impact and moreover, I want to do it for the writers that bring me so much joy and inspiration, so I endeavour to try. I want to make it clear that this is a personal hang up of mine, and I have 100% absolutely no comments on how anyone else engages here; reblog/comment/like or don’t per your own preferences and you have nothing but love from me 😘

So it will be a 2024 personal goal of mine to be less shy about reblogging, but while I work up my courage/practice, I wanted to go back and compile a list of some of my fave Pedro boy fics; I think of each and every one of these fics often and have revisited them all (i.e. Exactly the fics I should have reblogged when I read them). I went deep in my likes so some of these fics are quite old; you may have already read them all! If you have or haven’t, I hope you love them as much as I do!

Din Djarin (The Mandalorian, GOAT)

Boxer!Din AU by @djarinsbeskar (Boxer and his masseuse, who relaxes him in more ways than one. I've mentioned before that this is the first Modern Din AU I ever read and it's cemented itself as one of the best. Making Safest with You Din an ex-boxer is my humble homage.)

Freu(Din)an Slip by @saradika (Is there space porn in the SW universe? Yes.)

Bare by @charnelhouse (part of an AU between Din and bounty hunter!reader; other favourite instalments include Come and Conquer and Din's Ex)

A Bond to My Soul by @whiskeynwriting (King!Din and reader, with a battle just outside the doors)

Mine also by @whiskeynwriting (Jealous Din, no need to say more)

Beloved series by @groguspicklejar (Din falls in love with Cyare; mind the tags - the writing is rich and the emotions deep)

Courting by @writerlyhabits (another Mandalorian tries to court you and Din's having none of that)

Hold me down by @starlightmornings (Din as your weighted blanket)

Be Mine by @spacecowboyhotch (Glove kink)

Save a Speeder, Ride a Mando by @sprout-fics (I love fics where Din is jealous of Cobb)

Helping Hand and Did you miss me? by @mellowswriting (Din smut and fluff; they're in love, okay?)

Fix you by @roguetonorth (Comforting Din)

Rough Day by @no-droids (I think everyone knows about this fic; Sweet Girl!Reader holds a special place in my heart)

Take me to Church by @frannyzooey (Western AU; seriously one of the hottest and most romantic series I've ever read. I cried several times 🥹)

Flowers & Sex by @221bshrlocked (Din and innocent!Reader)

Show me by @moralesispunk (A bounty gets mouthy)

Patience by @oscarseyebrow (Starts with cockwarming)

Close Quarters by @absurdthirst (One bed/bunk)

Reunion by @heybluechild (Breaking in the N1)

Significant by @softlyspector (Din calls Reader "Riduur"; I love, love, love Mando fics with lots of Mando'a; so much care is always taken by the writers to translate and weave the words into the story)

Din takes out his frustrations by @ourautumn86

Javier Pena (Narcos)

Burn for Me by @theshireisburning-so-mordoritis (Reader teases Javi; it backfires)

Use me by @toomanystoriessolittletime (Javi is frustrated)

Needy by @wheresarizona (Reader is going to be late for work 🤭)

Reader brings Javi dinner at work by @forthetears

Joel Miller (TLOU)

Bad Girl by @seventeenpins (The first in a hot stepdad!Joel Miller series)

The Boss' Bunny by @talaok (The first in a series about QZ criminal boss Joel and his insatiable bunny)

Help! I'm Stuck! by @nosesitter (Oof! Father-in-law!Joel Miller and his OF daughter-in-law; 2 in the series so far)

Stripped by @thot-of-khonshu (Mr. Miller goes to a strip club)

Stay in Bed series by @psychedelic-ink (Neighbour Joel, pre-outbreak)

A Man Like Him by @valerinaswriting (No one should question Joel's abilities)

Mine by @toomanystoriessolittletime (Reader wears Joel's shirt on accident)

You Are My Cinema by @itgetsdark-x (Camgirl!Reader)

An Afternoon with Your Dad's Best Friend by @elvinaa (I mean, it's in title 🤭; I actually always secretly wish for a sequel to this one)

Come and get your love by @sunflowersteves (Sunshine!Reader)

Francisco "Catfish" Morales (Triple Frontier)

Kinktober 2022 - Erotic Photos by @moralesispunk (Reader gifts Frankie a Polaroid camera)

Thirds by @haylzcyon (Reader visits new boyfriend Frankie at work)

Grass is Greener by @haylzcyon (Frankie mows the lawn)

Kinktober 2022 - Overstimulation by @flightlessangelwings-updates (This was my introduction to pussy eating king Frankie)

Cabin in the woods by @guess-my-next-obsession (The cabin is spooky but Frankie is there to take care of Reader)

Double Feature (and all of the Box Set Universe) by @frannyzooey (Frankie and Reader love movies)

Pero Tovar (The Great Wall)

Little Red's Shadow by @littlemisspascal (Werewolf!Pero 🥹)

In my dreams by @toomanystoriessolittletime (Princess falls for a mercenary)

Tim Rockford (Merge Mansion, all 48 seconds)

A Sight for Sore Eyes and Sir by @ozarkthedog (Semi-public sex)

Anything you say can and will be held against you by @jksprincess10 (Workplace rivals)

An Important Appointment by @boliv-jenta (Sex worker!Reader)

Marcus Moreno (We Can Be Heroes)

A present by @radiowallet (Lingerie prompt; Cat writes some of the best Marcus Moreno fics on here imho. This one is my personal fave)

First Date by @absurdthirst (Workplace FWB)

The Date by @wardenparker (Professor!Marcus but also Marcus on a motorcycle)

Part 2 of list

[artaxlivs]

My Masterlist of Steddie (Stranger Things) fics:

Which came first? The chicken or the scrambled egg? - Rated E - Wayne invites "Eddie's boyfriend" to join them for breakfast instead of hiding in Eddie's room. The problem is, Steve doesn't know Eddie's even gay

Bend & *Snap*: Rated E - Just Eddie trying to figure out how to flirt with the UPS guy and Gareth giving some banger advice (The podifc is here)

I Could Eat a Peach for Hours: Rated E - Just Eddie thirsting after Steve as he sticks things in his mouth. (The podfic is here)

HomeSteddie Farms: Rated T - Steve and Eddie had a farm and on this farm were a bunch of critters with awesome names.

End of the Beginning: Rated T - Eddie gets a do over and finds himself in the Upsidedown with Will. Can they save everyone this time?

Do You Hear What I Hear?: Rated T - Steve brings home a mogwai, Eddie's never been good with rules

Nobody's Baby: Rated E - Steddie Dirty Dancing AU Steve & Robin best friends, Eddie & Chrissy best friends, 80s movie campiness, light BDSM, traffic light system for dancing and sex.

Like a Mythical Virgin: Rated M - Eddie finds out the hard way that feral unicorns don't chase virgins for nice reasons (The podfic is here)

Let Me Be Your Man (i want to hold your hand): Rated E - Mike gets help from Steve with making a mixtape for Will. Eddie learns that there's an art to mixtapes. mike/steve bonding, laughter, fluff, little pining. (The podfic is here)

Destroy the Silence (Drummer Steve) - Rated E - Steve joins the band and Eddie discovers he has a thing for competent drummers, healthy bdsm communication, laughter, fluff & smut. (The podfic is here)

Off the Shelf - Rated E - Stripper Steve give Eddie a private show. Eddie discovers a new kink. Modern AU, basically porn with a smidge of plot.

Screw Todd, Steve's Her (His) Daddy Now - Rated E - Steve keeps calling himself Daddy "unintentionally" and Eddie's about to lose it, light bdsm, non verbal communication, daddy kink (or is it?)

The Second Worst Trip to Mordor Ever Taken - Rated T - Steve takes the boys & Eddie to Indy to a nerd store and flirts his way into trouble, Steddie, hurt/comfort, misunderstandings (Podfic is here)

Even Flowers Have Their Dangers (Series: No One Is Alone)- Rated E - What if the tunnels turned Steve & the kids into shapeshifting wolves? S4 rewrite and my own write up of S5 but with half the party as shapeshifters, smut, graphic imagery, battle scenes

There’s Something Wrong With Steve - Rated M - I’m not gonna tell you, Steddie, Suspense thriller, creep factor - 80s horror movie

Let the Music Play -Series - Rated T - The music that plays every time Steve gets Vecna’d, Stobin besties, Steddie pre relationship, hurt/comfort (Podfic)

An Accidental Flogging - Rated E - Steve has questions about Eddie’s kinks, Eddie would like to have answers but he’s actually a virgin, friends to lovers, Top Steve, accidental kink discovery, laughter, fluff, & smut

Drabbles that aren't full fics: Happy Summer, Steve's Thighs, i was afraid to follow, Personal Space, can you read the letter for me (Part two), Pillow Talk, Steddie First Kiss Challenge, Constellations, Artax is a New Horse, To Do List, Uptown Boy, Boyfriends Now,

[frodothefair]

Oh, Frodo totally has a kink, and it's short, curvy, sweet-faced girls with soft blonde hair who are really good at cooking, who wear floral dresses and smell like flowers and honey and like to hear about elves and dwarves.

The last part was unfortunately missing from most girls in the Shire, until he met Marigold.

He also really likes lace and intricate embroidery, which is a slight spoiler for what's coming in FoM.

In the modern day, he'd be a pinup guy or a maid/nurse fetish guy. He secretly does like being taken care of and pampered, though he would never admit it. This is partly because he did not get enough maternal attention when he was young, since his mom passed away early.

Also breasts. He’s quite the breast guy. (Again, dearth of mommy attention). Another slight spoiler.

Marigold, on the other hand, really likes the smell of leather and paper, as well as dreamy, tall, aloof gentlemen with refined accents.

Genuinely I think one of the best things you can do to build characters in your story is give them a kink. You do not have to put that kink in the story. You do not have to tell anyone but yourself. But thinking about their wants and needs and what would bring them comfort or desire, about whether they crave power or crave a situation where they're blessedly free from any power, about which taboo they might kind of want to cross, is really useful for getting inside their head. Also "what situation would make my character stupid horny enough to make a terrible mistake?" is a good plotting device. "It's a plot hole that they made that dumb decision" no they were just whistling like a lustful kettle and forgot to turn their brain on.

[frodothefair]

Well, my dad read some of Flowers of Mordor, even though he said it was challenging for him because his English is not particularly good.

We then proceeded to argue about his feedback it’s out of character for Frodo to have depression and PTSD.

Him: Frodo is a man of action, and he is quite strong. He wouldn’t just sit there in his home, wrapped up in his anxious and depressive ruminations. Methinks you are using the character to work through your own issues.

Me: (in my mind: did we even read the same book and watch the same movie?) But it does say at the end that he withdrew from the goings on of the Shire and then concluded that he was irrevocably ill and had to go to Valinor to heal?

Him: well, he may have felt like he no longer relates to other hobbits in particular, which is why he left. But he lived through so much and he survived it all… I could see Bilbo developing PTSD but Frodo had a desire to go looking for adventure, and again, he lived through all of it.

Me: yes, in the moment he lived through it, but once it was over he realized that it broke him. Given enough trauma, anyone can break. He also had his anniversary illnesses and he did not even fight in the Scouring.

Him: also, I get that he did not like his tea kettle because it sounded like a Nazgûl, but why could he not just gather up his willpower and toss it and get a new one?

Me: because that’s how PTSD and depression work. Basic tasks become hard.

Him: and why did he lie to Marigold about why he needs to take the kettle off the heat earlier?

Me: because he is embarrassed about all the crap going on in his head? Isn’t that obvious?

Anyway, he remained of the same opinion and now thinks that his daughter, though a doctor and an adult, is spending her life writing overwrought fanfiction to work through her own issues.

Which, you know, makes me a little sad, but perhaps the more sad part is that my dad seems to have bigger issues than English being his second language.

@emmanuellececchi @konartiste

[mairsedoats]

My (quite long) list of samfro fic recs :-)

Leaving here some of my favorite samfro fics (so far) because well, why not? The ones with a little star (☆ ) are like… favorites of all time! They’re incredibly good (in my humble opinion anyhow.)

Starting off with a bunch of AU’s:

Down the Slopes -  fizzingwhizbee ☆ 

Ski instructor Sam and Writer Frodo modern AU (Rated T)

Through a Glass, Darkly - fizzingwhizbee ☆ 

Over the Garden Wall AU (Rated T)

Why were you digging (what did you bury) - blankie ☆ 

Frodo as a sort of God AU. (Rated T)

Impressions of a Morning Glory -mangostrawberry  ☆ 

Where Frodo wakes up without his memory. Post-quest AU (rated T)

A Second Cup of Coffee - mangostrawberry ☆ 

coffee shop AU where Sam works at a coffee shop and Frodo is a college student who frequents the shop. (Rated T)

Just like a Folksong - jolychetta ☆

Coffee shop/florist AU. (Rated G)

Come away with me - tayles_28 

Another coffee shop AU because apparently I’m a sucker for those. (Rated M)

Flower Boy - Cronch_Rat ☆ 

A growing flowers on your skin AU. (Rated T)

Tulips and carnations - kathkin  

Florist Sam and college student Frodo AU. (Rated T)

A light in the darkness - YamBits (I absolutely love Yambits��� works)

Frodo has settled into his life as Mayor, with Sam as his Deputy, when Merry arrives with news of an old terror, set on stalking Frodo. (Rated M)

Poisoned Mushrooms - YamBits ☆

Frodo's friends conspire to defend him against strange accidents and dark figures drawn to Bag End. As the world gets darker, Frodo and Sam find themselves growing closer. Set a year before the Journey. (Rated M) 

Crossing the Barrier - YamBits ☆

Sam crosses the sea, and reunites with Frodo. After waiting to speak with him for so long, Sam finds that Frodo has lost the ability to speak their common language. (Rated T)

Seasons and sentiment- fizzingwhizbee

Winter in Bag End. Sam is dealing with a Problem. (Rated T)

Strawberry Juice - Ethereal_Soul ☆

Frodo writes poetry about Sam lying on his garden, tries to translate it and is embarrassed when Sam almost finds out. Inspired by “strawberry blond” by Mitski. (Rated G)

Thrust out the Harlot - igraine1419 

Merry tricks Frodo and Sam into a game of hide and seek. (Rated E)

Hourglass - igraine1419

When strangers arrive in Hobbiton, Frodo is drawn onto a dangerous path. (Rated E)

For Eyes to See that Can - igraine1419

During a long, lonely night at Rivendell, Sam is restless until magic comes to his aid. (Rated E)

Cardinals - LadyRa [au]

The soil Galadriel gave Sam has some unexpected side effects. (Rated T)

Ghosts that we knew - objectlesson 

Frodo stays in the shire au. (Rated M)

Of Sun and Shade - icannotevenhhh 

Pre-quest. (Rated G)

The Raven and the Badger - lightningskipper ☆

An unexpected Harvestmath encounter… (Rated E)

Passion for Life - lauriel_lunar ☆

Sam reunites with Frodo in Valor after 60 years; Frodo is untouched by time. (Rated T)

Ten Thousand Starlit Nights - lauriel_lunar

Set during Two Towers. (Rated T)

We’ll take our chances (we’ll last a month) - Chash 

Fic I had fun reading; roommates AU (Rated T)

Here at the end of all things (with you) - grasslandgirl

Post-quest. (Rated G)

Oh, Samwise Gamgee You Old Fool - Cas_Wings 

Pre-quest; When Sam and Frodo go for an outing, they both begin to reflect on their feelings for one another. (Rated E)

Exsanguinating circumstances - chrononautical

Vampire au (Rated M)

Salvation - yeaka

The ring gives Frodo bad cravings; Short vampire AU. (Rated T)

A Kiss Sweeter Than Cream and a Smile Brighter Than Sunlight (Teapots and Copper Kettles) - ohmygoshwhatascream

A sweet one shot. (Rated T)

Flesh Spread Thin Over Aching Bones (A Song in the Wind) - ohmygoshwhatascream

Set in canon where Sam looks for Frodo at the top of the dark tower of Cirith Ungol. (Angsty fic) (Rated T)

I Don’t Care - OpportunityRover

Sam and Frodo share a cloak in the middle of Mordor. (Rated G)

When I consider everything that grows - wrishwrosh 

Pre-quest; Floriography. (Rated T)

You sold me a future - tigerlilycorine

A bit more floriography; flowers as a courting device of course… (Rated G)

The Language of Flowers - Annwyn

And more floriogrophy…who cheered! (Rated M)

For All the Weeks In Spring (In a Language That Needs No Words) - ohmygoshwhatascream

Each week, a flower appears on Frodo's bedside table. (Rated G)

Watch it grow, from far, from close - bayleavves 

Frodo and Sam over the course of the seasons. (Rated T)

In the Silent Forest Listening - Verecunda

Even after the Quest is ended, Frodo and Sam both find it hard to sleep. (Rated G)

For a Mere bit of Love - illegible_scribble

Silly kissing booth fic. (Rated G)

“Always” - ocean_blue 

Soulmate AU; When you come of age you receive a soul mark somewhere on your body which represents your soulmate and gives you a clue to who they are. (Rated T)

Heal my heart and drown my woe - winterwyrd 

Frodo and Sam take care of each other and try to avoid revealing too much of their hearts in the process. (Rated G)

Sweet Cider - ElderberryWine

Rated T.

[frodothefair]

One of the earliest pieces of writing advice I got was “write about what you know.” It definitely pays dividends. Powerful though imagination might be, it’s best when it’s fed by lived experience and thorough knowledge. Also, if you try to write about things you don’t know personally, unless you do incredible amounts of research specifically for the writing, you are likely to make mistakes you don’t even realize you’re making, and look silly to people who do.

This is actually why I don’t even try to write about things outside the Shire (yet), but also, to toot my own horn perhaps, why FoM has grabbed certain people like it did. I know PTSD, anxiety, and depression. I know relationships, class differences, domesticity, wedding planning and living in a small, close knit community. I know education and healing. I don’t really know much about gardening, but I have people around me who can help me with that part. I could try to help write about the court intrigue in Gondor or skirmishes with orcs in Rohan or elvish politics but I wager it would not hit readers nearly as hard and I would not do as good as job because I don’t know those sorts of experiences in the same way.

One of the things that’s really struck me while rereading the Lord of the Rings–knowing much more about Tolkien than I did the last time I read it–is how individual a story it is.

We tend to think of it as a genre story now, I think–because it’s so good, and so unprecedented, that Tolkien accidentally inspired a whole new fantasy culture, which is kind of hilarious. Wanting to “write like Tolkien,” I think, is generally seen as “writing an Epic Fantasy Universe with invented races and geography and history and languages, world-saving quests and dragons and kings.” But… But…

Here’s the thing. I don’t think those elements are at all what make The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings so good. Because I’m realizing, as I did not realize when I was a kid, that Tolkien didn’t use those elements because they’re somehow inherently better than other things. He used them purely because they were what he liked and what he knew.

The Shire exists because he was an Englishman who partially grew up in, and loved, the British countryside, and Hobbits are born out of his very English, very traditionalist values. Tom Bombadil was one of his kids’ toys that he had already invented stories about and then incorporated into Middle-Earth. He wrote about elves and dwarves because he knew elves and dwarves from the old literature/mythology that he’d made his career. The Rohirrim are an expression of the ancient cultures he studied. There are a half-dozen invented languages in Middle-Earth because he was a linguist. The themes of war and loss and corruption were important to him, and were things he knew intimately, because of the point in history during which he lived; and all the morality of the stories, the grace and humility and hope-in-despair, was an expression of his Catholic faith. 

J. R. R. Tolkien created an incredible, beautiful, unparalleled world not specifically by writing about elves and dwarves and linguistics, but by embracing all of his strengths and loves and all the things he best understood, and writing about them with all of his skill and talent. The fact that those things happened to be elves and dwarves and linguistics is what makes Middle-Earth Middle-Earth; but it is not what makes Middle-Earth good.

What makes it good is that every element that went into it was an element J. R. R. Tolkien knew and loved and understood. He brought it out of his scholarship and hobbies and life experience and ideals, and he wrote the story no one else could have written… And did it so well that other people have been trying to write it ever since.

So… I think, if we really want to write like Tolkien (as I do), we shouldn’t specifically be trying to write like linguists, or historical experts, or veterans, or or or… We should try to write like people who’ve gathered all their favorite and most important things together, and are playing with the stuff those things are made of just for the joy of it. We need to write like ourselves.

[hopeforchanges]

***dramatic inhale, lungs full of air, cheeks puffed out, dramatic exhale***

OKAY HEAR ME OUT. Galadriel Gets Hanahaki Disease Post-War: An AU No One Asked For But Everyone Needed the Last Alliance of Elves and Men pulls through (barely), Sauron’s defeated, and Middle-earth is ready to exhale for the first time in ages. Evil’s gone. Everything’s fine. Sure, Isildur fucked off with the one ring, but he ended up face down ass up in the river so nvm actually.

Cue Galadriel, just vibing in her forest home. She hears the news: Evil has been defeated. Sauron vaporized. We don't know if he dead but he sure look dead and his bling has been lost.

She’s a bit conflicted, but quickly pushes the thought where all the thoughts of this nature had gone ever since she got stranded on the raft: back of the head, sealed with fire, never to be thought of again.

She’s doing her ethereal elf-lady thing—checking the Mirror, side-eyeing Celeborn, contemplating the unending march of time—and suddenly… she coughs. This is the kind of cough that comes with ✨trauma✨. She feels something in her throat, hacks into her hand, and what falls out? A flower. Like, a full-on delicate, blood-streaked petal.

She has heard of this disease, she has seen it, back when Morgoth first brought war to Valinor, some elves and men both that managed to survive that unspeakable horror ... but that was a long time ago. Middle-earth has been healed since, no?

Except standing there with a bouquet growing out of her lungs because she’s repressing some next-level unholy feelings. She tries to hide it, of course, because what’s more elf-core than denying your feelings until they literally kill you? Celeborn starts to notice, though.

She’s coughing up black petals now (Nightshade? Some evil flower with a ridiculous Elvish name like Mornothlossë?).She stops sleeping (as if she slept much before lol).The golden glow she usually has? Fading fast.

The flowers keep coming. Her power wanes. Celeborn tries everything—herbs, healing songs, taking her on long walks through Lothlórien’s version of Whole Foods (idk what Elves do for fun). Nothing works.

One night, when she’s feeling particularly weak, she whispers in her husband’s arms: "It should have been me who destroyed him. I should have gone to him.

And she just looks away, her hand covered in crimson-stained petals, because she knows.

She knows.

Does Celeborn, the ultimate sad husband guy, do something reckless like trek to the ruins of Mordor to find closure for her? Or—does Sauron, who may or may not have some lingering, half-dead spirit floating around, somehow catch wind of her condition and decide, “Welp if there ever was a time to turn myself into a floating flaming eye..."

Meanwhile, Galadriel in her golden halls, coughing up dying Mallorn flowers because her heart is tied to something so dark it snuffs out even her light.

Should I write this? Should YOU? Someone PLEASE write this.

[moonshynecybin]

i don’t have a fic summary but ! lotr au in some way shape or form….. i need to know what our little guys would be doing in middle-earth (except for bezz and cele - i already know in my heart that they’re hobbits frolicking around, causing all sorts of mischief together)

this is my FAVORITE MOVIE. my little hobbit boys.... okay so like literally we MUST. make vale an elf king here right. like he HAS to be. maybe galadrielesque in the sense that he absolutely must play the gandalf role here as well as plot impetus and magical de facto sage of the party that occasionally fucks off to do wizard shit but still really cares about his hobbits (hobbits are all the academy boys sans luca who is also an elf and looks good doing it !). maybe pedrenzo also there to round out the gay ass gimli/legolas dynamic. marc is SO obviously the displaced boy prince of gondor to me... hes human. good with a blade and better with a horse. literally refuses to leave his brother's side...

so in this cele (WHO ELSE) gets left with the one ring and the academy boys plus vale set off on an ADVENTURE to help cast it into the fires of mordor... (bezz would make such a good samwise he loves his friends SOOOOO bad. literally cele voice bez im going alone. bez: of course you are but im coming with you !!!!) along the way they pick up marc, alex, and pedrenzo in rivendell but uh. uh-oh. it looks like im assigning vale a THIRD narrative role here as ARWEN bc him and marc are EX LOVERS who BROKE UP some indiscriminate amount of time ago due to vale attempting to give up his IMMORTALITY. and marc couldnt stomach that but vale couldnt stomach watching him DIE. so the vibes are truly wild the entire trip. especially with pedrenzo there lmao. like literally vale and marc looking at each other across a battlefield marc in polished armor glinting red with blood in the sunshine and vale in fine elf wear not a spot of grime anywhere near him. but still with those fucking sideburns. marc has NEVER!!! taken off the necklace vale gave him and its the brightest thing on the battelfield... the only way vale can make sure he's safe

meanwhile pan to bez carrying cele up a mountain in the most homoerotic way possible... talking about the flowers in the shire and the parties they had as boys... the ale they shared with pecco and mig and luca... wishing they had gotten up the courage to talk about their feelings before this whole mess started...

[the-butterfly-blues]

Blue’s Master List

Includes: The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, Shadow of Mordor/War, The Almighty Johnsons

The Hobbit & Lord of the Rings

Series

The Ring-Bearer Chapter List (An Eventual Legolas x Female Reader): As the years pass, the ring soon finds itself waiting in the catacombs of Minas Ithil for its bearer. Fate is set in stone when a young knight comes upon it accidentally. Many years pass by when the knight is soon requested to join a company of dwarves. The journey is long, but not a treacherous as she was expecting. In joining this band of odd travelers, she finds herself falling for the elven prince of Mirkwood.

The Company

Thorin and Company reaction to you being soft: At first, they’re hesitant to have you traveling with them. They don’t need someone else to look after since their hands are already full with Bilbo and the recklessness of the younger dwarves.

The Company’s Reaction to a Chaotically Invincible Reader: Not even Gandalf or Galadriel know how you’re still alive, but having you on this quest sounds like a great idea to him, and he knows that you’ll join no matter how dangerous it is.

Bilbo

Dating Bilbo would include: This little hobbit is a nervous wreck, no doubt about it. He’ll stutter and fall over his words in the beginning, so please, be patient.

Kíli

Handsome Dwarf: Going out for some drinks, Fíli and Kíli join in on a celebration. Sadly, the older of the two has more luck wooing the ladies as the younger is faced with insults about his appearance. Luckily, a gorgeous woman stands amidst the crowd that doesn’t care about the length of his beard.

Please Say It Again: He could never hear those three words fall from her lips enough, not because he doubted her, but because he loved to hear her say it.

Flowers: After months of flirting, Kíli appears on the doorstep of her shop with a handful of flowers.

Stargazing: Laying in the grass, he listens as she talks happily about the twinkling stars above them.

Thorin

Together: Thorin wishes for his One to go back home to Dís where it's safe, but she won't allow him to do something so dangerous without her.

Fíli

Under The Stars: Three years after the journey to reclaim the mountain and the Battle of the Five Armies, Fíli finds himself doubting any connection he thought he had made with their guide only to be completely and utterly surprised.

Dancing Away With My Heart (Farmer AU): New to town, her home isn't all that she was promised, but when an older woman appears at her door inviting her over for dinner, she becomes less worried about her home and more so with the golden-haired ranch handler.

Late Night Anxieties: Waking up, Fíli is concerned for his wife as he finds her in the middle of one of her battles all alone.

Ori

Mittens and Scarves: Cold and unable to find decent winter gear, Ori presents you with exactly what you had been searching for.

Beorn

Confidently Meeting Beorn: Witnessing Gandalf's own nervousness, she pushes her anxieties to the side in order to show this bear of a man that someone in their party could properly greet him.

Smaug

Traveling to Erebor in search of the Fire Drake of the North: Having heard tales and stories of an ungodly beast that resides in the mountain, you set off to catch even a glimpse of the beast.

The Hobbit Characters

The Hobbit characters reaction to a tall s/o (Includes: Fíli, Kíli, Thorin and Bilbo)

How The Hobbit Characters Would React In Your Last Dying Breaths (Young Stranger Edition) (Includes: Thorin, Fíli, Kíli, Bofur, and Dwalin)

Modern (Crack)

Imagine a gn!modern reader that gives no shits about what they say or themself facing against Azog the Pale Orc

Modern GN!Reader meeting Beorn

Shadow of Mordor/War

Talion

Rooftop Kisses: In a moment of peace, Talion and his love find themselves resting upon a rooftop.

The Almighty Johnsons

Series

Servant of the Gods (Anders x Reader): Thinthys, the Servant of the Gods, is no Goddess, but a Huldra that has been serving the Gods for ages. Once again reincarnated, she's found herself happily serving Anders, the incarnation of the God of Poetry.