#honestly bilbo and thranduil's friendship is adorable and i love it

[roselightfairy]

Fic Rec

A Gift by serenityabrin

Summary: Slight rewrite of the scene where Bilbo gives Thranduil the necklace

Relationship: Bilbo & Thranduil (onesided Bilbo/Thranduil)

I’m so hopeless at writing actual recs, but I keep encountering these lovely rare gems of fic that I want to share with the world! There is so little good bookverse Bilbo-Thranduil friendship, or recognition for the extremely cute scene where Bilbo gives Thranduil a necklace and Thranduil declares him an elf-friend. This one takes an unusual angle on it, suggesting Bilbo’s gift might have come from a deeper admiration than just gratitude. The story has such a sweet exploration of bookverse Thranduil, a gracious response to unrequited feelings, and an all-too-amused Legolas (with just a little foreshadowing of what is to come in HIS future!). Highly recommend!

[roselightfairy]

Ah, I do love this! And I think you're right - I mean, Bilbo is definitely very fond of all of the characters in the book! And it's so interesting how you point at the careful storytelling and his Unreliable Narratorness as a way of showing it - and honestly yeah, re your point in that previous conversation, I really do think it's a misunderstanding! @deheerkonijn​ and I have joked elsewhere that Thranduil was ultimately secretly relieved the dwarves escaped because he didn’t really want to hold them prisoner but also didn’t want to admit he was wrong about anything - and I think that’s also something Bilbo could quite sympathize with! Also I love the theory that Bilbo has the dwarves look over parts of it and provide their critical commentary; it’s so sweet!

Anyway, agree, agree, agree :)

Am I reading too much into it? Mayhaps. But I think the way the Hobbit handles every scene with the Elvenking is a master class in a very specific genre of unreliable narrator.

[omgsquee2001]

Uzfakuh: A Kíli Love Story

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Prologue

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My dear Frodo.

Bilbo Baggins

lit a match, then used it to light a candle. He walked through a hallway in his house, carrying the candle.

You asked your Aunt and I, before she moved away, if we had told you everything there was to know about our, adventures.

Bilbo opened a chest that was set against the wall. He glanced down in recollection at his sword, which was in its sheath. Bilbo reached out to touch the sword. At the last second, he restrained himself and pulled out a large red book from the chest. 

And while I can honestly say we told you the truth, we may not have told you all of it.

Sitting down at his desk and opening the book, Bilbo saw a drawing of himself when he was younger. 

I am old now, Frodo.

Bilbo picked up the drawing and gazed at it, smiling lightly. He noticed another, larger drawing. The familiar hem of a dress caught his eye. He picked the other picture up. While his smile shone with happiness and remembrance, his eyes shone with a sort of sadness. He gently stroked the picture. 

I’m not the same Hobbit I once was. And neither is your Aunt, where ever she is.

After setting the pictures down, he picked up his quill and dipped it into a pot of ink. 

I think it is time for you to know what really happened. 

He paused for a moment, thinking about what to write. He got an idea and began to write. 

 It began long ago in a land far away to the east, the like of which you will not find in the world today.

There was the city of Dale. 

Its markets known far and wide, full of the bounties of vine and vale. Peaceful, and prosperous. For this city lay before the doors of the greatest kingdom in Middle-earth: Erebor. 

Stronghold of Thrór, 

King under the Mountain, mightiest of the dwarf lords. Thrór ruled with utter surety, never doubting his house would endure, for his line lay secure in the lives of his son 

and grandson. 

Ahhh, Frodo, Erebor; built deep within the mountain itself, the beauty of this fortress city was legend.

Its wealth lay in the earth, in precious gems hewed from rock, and in great seams of gold, running like rivers through stone. The skill of the dwarves was unequaled, fashioning objects of great beauty out of diamond, emerald, ruby, and sapphire. Ever they delved deeper, down into the dark. And that is where they found it. The heart of the mountain. The Arkenstone. 

Thrór named it the King’s Jewel. He took it as a sign, a sign that his his right to rule was divine. All would pay homage to him, even the great Elvenking, Thranduil. 

As the great wealth of the Dwarves grew, their store of good will ran thin. No one knows exactly what began the rift. The Elves say the Dwarves stole their treasure. The Dwarves tell another tale. They say the Elf King refused to give them their rightful pay. It is sad, Frodo, how old alliances can be broken. How friendships between peoples can be lost.

"And for what?" Bilbo asked himself. He scoffed and returned to writing.

But the years of peace and plenty were not to last. Slowly, the days turned sour, and the watchful nights closed in. Thrór’s love of gold had grown too fierce. A sickness had begun to grow within him; it was a sickness of the mind. And where sickness thrives, bad things will follow.

The first they heard was a noise like a hurricane coming down from the north. The pines on the mountain creaked and cracked in a hot, dry wind.

It was a fire drake from the north. Smaug had come. 

Such wanton death was dealt that day, for this city of men was nothing to Smaug; his eye was set on another prize. For dragons covet gold, with a dark and fierce desire. 

Erebor was lost, for a dragon will guard his plunder as long as he lives.

Thranduil would not risk the lives of his kin against the wrath of the dragon. No help came from the elves that day, or any day since.

Robbed of their homeland, the dwarves of Erebor wandered the wilderness, a once mighty people brought low.

The young dwarf prince took work where he could find it, laboring in the villages of men, but always he remembered the mountain smoke beneath the moon, the trees like torches blazing bright, for he had seen dragon fire in the sky, and his city turned to ash, and never forgave, and he never forgot. 

Far away, in another corner of the world dragons were only make-believe. A party trick conjured by Wizards on Midsummer's Eve. No more frightening than fairy dust. And that, my dear Frodo is where your Aunt and I come in. It was the beginning of an unlikely friendship that has lasted all our lifes. But it is not the start of our story. For us it began…well, it began as you might expect. In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty wet hole full of worms and oozy smells. This was a hobbit hole. And that means good food, a warm hearth, and all the comforts of home.

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Frodo walked out of one of the rooms in the house, eating a cookie. He looked over at his Uncle and smiled gently. Frodo walked outside and took our the mail from the mailbox. He walked back inside. Bilbo, who was laughing while writing in his book, quickly quieted down and cleared his throat. Frodo set the mail on Bilbo’s desk. 

“Thank you.” He said. Frodo looked at the picture of Bilbo when he was younger. Frodo smiled as he looked down at it. 

“What’s this?” He asked. Bilbo took the picture from the hands of his nephew. 

“That is private. Keep your sticky paws off.” Bilbo said. Frodo then picked up the other, larger drawing. The drawing depicted a young lady Hobbit and a young Dwarf. 

//Just imagine that the Dwarf is Kíli//

They held hands, twirling in a dance. Their eyes bore into one another. They held love and adoration.

“Is this Aunt Azalea?” Frodo asked tentatively. Talking about his Aunt was a sensitive topic for Bilbo, for he missed his sister greatly. Bilbo fell silent for a moment before nodding. 

“Y-yes. That is, your Aunt.” Bilbo said quietly. Frodo looked at the Dwarf. 

“Who is that Dwarf with her?” He asked. Bilbo took the picture away. 

“The best and worst mistake of her life.” He said. Bilbo picked up one letter in particular that Frodo had brought in. Bilbo opened it and read it. 

‘My dear Bilbo,’ the letter started out. Bilbo could still imagine her voice. Soft and kind. 'How are you, Brother? How is Frodo? Is he getting into trouble like his dear Aunt always did, or is he a more respectable Hobbit like yourself? Kíli and I are doing very well, in fact, we are expecting a child! Isn’t that wonderful news? Thorin is doing very well at ruling the kingdom. He has lessened his strictness on Fíli, letting him live the way he would like. The others have returned to their normal lives, making toys, baking, crafting, advising. Kíli and I will make sure to come to the Shire. I wouldn’t want to miss out on my older brother’s birthday. Thorin wants to come along as well. He wants to see how grownup Frodo has become. Be prepared for another Unexpected Party. The whole Company wants to come for your birthday. I pray that you are doing well. Happy birthday Brother. Much love, Azalea.’ Bilbo smiled. He set down the letter on his book, reminding himself to write back to his sister. He made his way into the living room and took out some poster paper. 

“You know, some people are beginning to wonder about you, Uncle,” Frodo said, looking at Bilbo. “They think you’re becoming odd.” Frodo said. 

“Odd? Hmm.” Bilbo hummed before returning to the paper he was working on. 

“Unsociable.” Frodo added. Bilbo chuckled. 

“Unsociable? Me? Nonsense,” he handed Frodo the paper. “Be a good good lad and put that on the gate.” Bilbo said. Frodo looked at it dubiously, but still did as he was told.   

He nailed the sign to the front of the gate. It read; "NO ADMITTANCE EXCEPT ON PARTY BUSINESS". Bilbo came out and stretched. Frodo looked at his Uncle from the other side of the gate, smiling. He held a book, tucked under his arm.

"You think he’ll come?" He asked. Bilbo looked at his nephew.

"Who?" He asked.

"Gandalf." Frodo said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Bilbo smiled.

"Ahhh. He wouldn’t miss a chance to lit up his whiz-poppers! He’ll give us quite a show, you’ll see. I also think your Aunt is going to come, along with some friends who would love to see you." Bilbo said, smiling. Frodo’s smile grew. He loved it when his Aunt and Uncles came to visit. They always told him tales of how they reclaimed their homeland.

"Aunt Azalea is coming? Is she going to bring Uncle Kíli, Fíli and Thorin?" He asked. Bilbo chuckled. Frodo loved it when his Aunt and Uncles came to visit. They always told him tales of how they reclaimed their homeland.

"From what I read from her letter, she's bringing the whole group." He said. Frodo smiled.

"Right then, I’m off." Frodo said, heading off down the stone and grass path.

"Off to where?" Bilbo asked. Frodo stopped and looked at his Uncle.

"East Farthing woods. I’m going to surprise Gandalf." Frodo said. Bilbo nodded.

"Well, go on then! You don’t want to be late." Bilbo said. Frodo smiled and continued on, racing down, book in hand.

He doesn’t approve of being late. Not that I ever was.

Bilbo sat on his porch and smoked his pipe.

In those days, I was always on time. I was entirely respectable. And nothing unexpected ever happened.

[naurin-of-the-east]

Tagged by the wonderful @cuthalion

1. Fictional character you relate to?

There isn’t really anyone I 100% relate to but the story of Amir from the book Kite Runner has always been something I felt connected to? Probably because of the whole cultural identity thing of being from another country and having that culture and emotional baggage from there and then growing up in a completely different place. Really staggering. Tolkien-wise, I probably relate the most to Caranthir. I kinda get the feeling from him that he just kinda wanted to be friends with Haleth and live in his own little place without the effect of silmarils and I feel that. I just want to have a quiet peaceful life too. 

2. Book you can read over and over without getting tired of?

Something simple like the Hobbit or North & South by Elizabeth Gaskell. It needs to be something that I can’t think too much about because I tend to get bogged down in details and considering ‘what-ifs’ a little bit too much.

3. What’s your favourite comfort movie/show?

Again... North & South the BBC series lol. I also tend to watch Grey’s Anatomy because I love medical dramas and their repetitiveness is kinda soothing. LOTR is more of a thing I do when I’m feeling uninspired or just need some awesomeness in my life.

4. Which fictional character are you most defensive over?

 MAEDHROS. Honestly, I’ll defend this boy to high hell. Like, I get he’s done horrible things but my interpretation is he didn’t want to and he was kind of enslaved by the oath and he’s genuinely remorseful and my poor, poor boy. He’s suffered enough. 

5. Show you fell out of love with?

Literally every kdrama ever other than My Love From the Stars, Moon Embracing the Sun, and Scarlet Heart. Also the Hobbit. I enjoyed the first two films because Thranduil and elves and Bilbo is adorable and I love me some passive-aggressive Hobbits buuuuut.... the last film was just bad and Tauriel was not a good move to play on such a loyal fandom and the dwarven-elven thing was badly done and most importantly... It was a key tonal change from Bilbo’s Journey to a typical action film with crappy tragedy placed in there and I didn’t appreciate that. Not happy. I did like Smaug though - that was well done. 

6. Show you’re most excited for?

The Amazon Tolkien thing but I’m also hella wary for it. Most excited for season 3 of Crown though ngl. And season 2 of Victoria. Yes, I love period dramas...

7. What’s your aesthetic?

Oh no. Well I’m a Lolita so ‘kawaii’ aesthetic, I guess? I also like the ironic fake-deep stuff. I like foresty aesthetic a lot but I don’t suit the look unfortunately. Also ~~vaporwave~~ because why not. 

8. Favorite fanfic tropes?

Enemies turned lovers is bae. Reluctant friendships leading to strong friendships or precious romances. My absolute favourite is one half of an OTP is super emotionally damaged and seeks help from a reluctant but competent other half and together they become closer through various hiccups and fights and just UNF tbh. Doesn’t necessary lead to a ‘healed’ person because that’s not how mental health works but it’s certainly a bonus if it does.

Tagging: @vezely @verymaedhros @first-son-of-finwe @cuilpantielthesleepyscribe @peredhellen

[roselightfairy]

YES

@daisyfornost​ @enide-s-dear​

It’s this little scene