#note: i have not actually read LotR. i have read the hobbit though. and i think this makes sense

[the-witch-of-merrigod]

This is exactly what I was wondering, thank you!

The Hobbit comparison is brilliant for simplicity. By my question I meant it as in (still using the Hobbit example) "is it all still happening within the concept of the stories of Middle Earth and its surroundings? Or is Tolkien over with that?"

I've always found Mothy's drive to expand and keep expanding his project (in so many directions but still circling back somehow, even with just a name) very admirable even when it's confusing and riddling to many (as in, this has been going for almost 20 years old since the start of it, I would've dropped it after a third year! Props for consistency!)

Thank you for your answer!

You're welcome! Continuing with the Tolkien metaphor--he's done with the concept of the Middle Earth we're familiar with, but exploring other "what-if" versions of Middle Earth via Gandalf using his magic to transport to parallel worlds where events occurred slightly differently and now it's Bilbo instead of Frodo going to Mount Doom, but Gandalf's only there to sample the different versions of pipe-weed and doesn't give a shit about whatever's going on over there with the other Bilbo

[from-the-coffee-shop-in-edoras]

OK, the absence of female Rohirrim political leaders and warriors from the Middle Earth historical record…let’s get into it.

There’s a reason this remains a significant point of debate in the fandom, and it’s because the source material is confusing. Clearly, there is/was a role for women in public life in Rohan that is unlike anything we see in the other realms of Men (or hobbits or dwarves!). The concept of shieldmaidens has obviously been in their culture for a long time. Éowyn is one. Someone thought it worth their time to train her to fight, and the people (speaking through the voice of Háma) know her to be “fearless” and trust her to be their leader. The men of Elfhelm’s éored have no problem with her presence among them in Gondor, and though people are shocked to find her injured on the field, no one is scandalized by the very idea that she was there. So there are Rohirrim all over this story who are behaving in ways that suggest female leadership and female martial ability are not inherently surprising or objectionable to them.

And yet…there is not a single named female Rohirrim either before or after Éowyn in any part of the text of LOTR that we know to have wielded any actual political authority or who fought in battle. If those women existed, why/how are they not in the historical record?

The most satisfying answer TO ME is tied up in which historical records we’re looking at. By the framing device of LOTR, the text that we’re reading is ostensibly the story as documented in the Red Book of Westmarch. The appendices, where we find histories and legends of Rohan, were meant to have been written by the hobbits with some contributions by Aragorn, Gimli and others — but NONE OF THE AUTHORS WERE ROHIRRIM. Yes, they surely spoke to Éomer and Éowyn as the sections on the House of Eorl were written, but the sibs didn’t write the text themselves. Outsiders did. So the text does not represent a direct Rohirrim version of Rohan history. THAT version doesn’t exist in writing anywhere, because that’s not how the Rohirrim operate. They preserve their histories and legends through song, poetry and storytelling. Which brings me to this line from Appendix A:

”Many lords and warriors, and many fair and valiant women, are named in the songs of Rohan that still remember the north.” [emphasis added]

That’s confirmation right there that Rohan history as the Rohirrim practice it DOES include “many” women. And if they have songs that remember many women of the north (i.e., their direct ancestors among the Northmen) then surely their more recent songs, poems and stories would also cover the women of more recent times. So the problem is not that the Rohirrim don’t remember women in their (oral) historical record. The book tells us that they do. Maybe the problem is that the men of outside cultures who wrote the book — those who notably came from societies where women had no comparable roles — didn’t choose to include those parts when they created this written historical record. They noted that the Rohirrim name many women in their histories, and then they proceeded to only tell us about some of the men. That’s a skill issue for the authors, not for Rohan.

So in my mind, an average Rohirrim could talk to you about great warrior heroines of the Northmen or the exploits of some of Rohan’s powerful queens and princesses.* That’s not to say that Rohan was drowning in such figures, but they existed and people knew about them. It means there was enough of them and enough awareness of them to create space in their culture to have those views that we see in the main story (i.e., a willingness to accept both a woman as a leader of the people and a woman as a rider in the army when those things were presented to them). It reconciles the strange contradiction between the apparent culture in Rohan and their history as it was given to us as readers. Make of that what you will, but I like it for me!

*And yes, this could presumably explain the omission of Héra from WOTR in the telling of Helm Hammerhand’s story, though that gets complicated by the fact that WOTR contradicts the published Helm story in a few significant ways. (Which, for the record, I am fine with, but it means I view WOTR as more of an AU than a literal extension of the source text!)

[justsomerandomfanfic]

Hello! I'd like to request a match-up please, romantic and platonic, if that's okay. Fandoms: Hobbit, LotR, MHA, Supernatural. 24 year old woman, bi, she/they. 6'0, chubby and muscular, brown eyes, sort of dark red short hair, lots of deliberately 'scary' tattoos. I'm an introvert and usually appear awkward or shy, but open up fairly quickly when talking to a friendly stranger. I have a raunchy, morbid sense of humor. I'm emotional and very easily to fluster or bring to tears. Low-energy, but with short fuse. Sceptic, materialist. Do my best to be kind to people and approach everything with an open mind. I love to provide, dote and care about people who are close to me, but rarely able to vocalise it - my love languages are acts of service and quality time. My hobbies include reading, hiking alone and all things horror - books, games, movies etc. My favorite book is 'Trainspotting', favorite movies are 'Annihilation' and 'Lilo and Stitch'. Bilingual. I really value my alone time and often indulge in maladaptive daydreaming. Love walking aimlessly all night long, with a right playlist used to walk up to 15 miles in one go. I don't have a favorite artist, lately have been listening to Slaughter to Prevail, Hozier and Paddy and the Rats. My style is something between butch and tomboy, usually I wear hoodies, sweatpants, jeans and boots. Almost everything is oversize, since I don't really care about how I look in my day to day and prefer comfort and practicality. Make up is only for special occasions and usually very simple, only around the eyes.

Thank you! Hope you have a good day!💙

Hi! I am so sorry for the long wait!

I hope you like your romantic and platonic match-ups for The Hobbit, LOTR, MHA, and SPN! <333333

(Trying a different layout)

Romantic and Platonic Matchup; The Hobbit, LOTR, MHA, and SPN

Romantic;

~~~

The Hobbit;

Thorin Oakenshield -

You met Thorin after the battle of the five armies, where you worked with a couple of others finding people who were injured and needed to be healed.

You had been healing Thorin as some of his dwarven friends, and Fili and Kili, sat and watched as you helped him.

During the healing, you were doing your thing, when he opened his eyes slightly. his blurred gaze found you above him, tending to his wounds.

There was this feeling that came over him, this warm and tender feeling. And he swore that he almost heard birds singing.

And, even though his vision was not the best, and his mind was hazy, he swore that your brown eyes had met his.

This feeling... What was it?

Before he could even answer his own question, he fell back into a deep slumber.

After leaving the battle scene, you didn't think you would run into the King again, but you were proven wrong.

He was told about your kindness and service when the he awoken a day or so later, and being grateful, he sent out a dwarven messenger to go out to Dale to find you.

He needed to thank you.

He needed to see you again.

The messenger found you at the marketplace in Dale, where you were selling books at your market stall. The dwarven messenger noted that you sold mostly books, but most of those books were in the thriller and horror genre.

You were a bit shocked as to why the messenger said that the King Under The Mountain wanted to speak to you, but nonetheless you made your way there.

Upon meeting Thorin, he gave you a smile, and thanked you for healing him, for saving him. On top of all of that, he asked you to be his special guest for the upcoming festivities celebrating the victory of the war.

And so, you found yourself Thorin's guest, and actually having fun?

Though, near the end of the night, you found yourself wandering about slightly, finding yourself amidst some maladaptive daydreaming; you didn't even realize how far you had wandered until you heard a voice beside you.

"Beautiful night, is it not?"

You felt a little bit awkward, should you bow to him, and what would you call him? Your Highness, my king-

"Yes, it is quite beautiful." You somehow heard yourself saying.

For the next however long, you and Thorin just talked (about likes and dislikes, and you even made him laugh), and the more you talked, the more you opened up; even including some of your morbid humor, which Thorin found refreshing.

Yes, Thorin had thought that night, this feeling was because you were his One.

Surprisingly, it took some time after the party to reveal his feelings and wishes of courtship toward you.

He gifted you a custom hand-forged dagger; the dagger was made of silver, with emerald gemstones on the hilt.

You weren't going to lie and say you weren't interested in Thorin at all; you found him quite handsome, ever since you first met him, albeit when you were healing him.

It wasn't long until you moved into The Lonely Mountain.

When Thorin is not busy with Kingly duties, he would often be found spending time with you; whether that be reading in the grand library, walking down the halls talking, or even just sitting together in the peace and quiet.

Speaking of walks, he enjoys quiet walks with you in the evening, particularly when you share stories or observations about the stars and forests.

And when you are both reading, he likes sitting with you in comfortable silence, occasionally you would both talk about the chapter you had just finished.

Thorin would teach you dwarven traditions, like crafting or ancient songs, to bond and share his heritage with you

He would show his affection through quiet acts of service, like you, and makes sure to mend your hiking boots or ensure you have a warm cloak before you head off for a solo hike.

Though he’d keep his emotions guarded around others, with you, he’d let his walls down, sharing his fears, hopes, and dreams, trusting you fully.

~~~

The Lord Of The Rings;

Éowyn -

You had crossed paths with Éowyn during one of your solar hikes/walks, where she rode up on her pretty horse.

She was quite curious about you, seeing as you were just hiking out in the middle of nowhere near Rohan.

She quickly strikes up a conversation, asking about your journey.

Your initial shyness endears her, as she finds it a refreshing change from the arrogance she often encounters.

Like that stupid creep Wormtongue. Ew.

Somehow through the conversation, as you also began to open up, you revealed that you were just a humble traveler, your home was the forests, and your friend was Mother Nature.

Éowyn wished to speak to you more, and so, she offered Rohan as a place for you to stay whenever you wished. In case you want to sleep on a more suitable bed.

A bed sounded nice, but for some reason, your sleep wrap did nothing against the rocks and pebbles pressing against your back.

For the next couple of months, you went back and forth from staying in Rohan and wandering in the forest.

Rohan was like a checkpoint, really.

During your time at Rohan, you spent more time with Éowyn too.

The more time you spent with her, more harder it was to leave back into the forests for the next couple of weeks, but being alone wandering was incredibly soothing to your soul, and it was something that made you happy, (aside from spending time with Éowyn).

Éowyn actually grows fond of your raunchy humor, though it catches her off guard at first.

The connection deepens as she realizes you share similar scars - both physical and emotional - and that you understand her yearning for purpose and freedom.

Your acts of service, like tending to her sword or brewing tea during quiet evenings, speak volumes to her. She begins to crave your companionship during her rides and training sessions, even when no words are exchanged.

Éowyn initiates small, romantic gestures, like offering you a wildflower from her rides or inviting you to spar with her under the guise of teaching.

She’s protective of you, particularly when others misjudge your introverted nature or dismiss your emotional side.

The moment she confesses her feelings is unplanned. After a long ride, she impulsively reaches for your hand, admitting, “I think I was searching for someone like you all along.”

She’d write you heartfelt letters when words fail her, leaving them tucked where she knows you’ll find them during your day. Or even leaving them in your bag before you go off into the forests.

Éowyn would gaze at you in quiet admiration, often caught off-guard by how deeply you’ve touched her heart, though she’d struggle to put it into words.

~~~

My Hero Academia; Hizashi Yamada -

You met Hizashi when you were out with friends.

They had thought that a karaoke bar was a great place for an outing, and immediately when you all entered, you spotted him.

He was the life of the party, belting out tunes while you observed him in the corner booth with your friends.

He spotted you, and was quickly into your vibe, loving the hoodie that you were wearing; he just had to tell you how much he loved it and compliment you.

Well, everything happened so fast, that you somehow got his number.

The next meeting, Hizashi asked you out to a small diner he just knew you'd love.

In which he paid for everything.

Hizashi thrives on your low-energy vibe, appreciating how you balance out his chaotic personality.

You, in turn, find his zest for life refreshing, and he helps you step outside your comfort zone without ever pushing too hard.

Your love of horror intrigues him; he starts recommending creepy soundtracks and then offers to take you to the movie theaters where that one new horror movie is playing.

Hell yes.

As the two of you get closer and closer, becoming fast friends, (and maybe harboring something more), he realizes how much you value acts of service, and he starts doing small things like carrying your things for you or making playlists tailored to your midnight walks.

Hizashi loves surprising you with over-the-top gestures, like dedicating a radio segment to you or showing up with coffee and snacks unannounced.

"You're my favorite kind of noise."

He loves planning horror movie marathons for both him and you to watch for movie night dates, he'd hold you close, with an arm around your shoulder.

Also, surprisingly, he is somewhat quiet with you. He doesn't yell as much unless he is really excited about something.

Takes you to thrift shops to find oversized clothing and unique pieces that match your style, always making it a fun adventure.

Oh, and don't even get him started on him making his own music for you! He loves sitting down for a good hour or so coming up with lyrics and music only to them serenade you with his lovely voice.

Hizashi would take you dancing, even in your living room, just to make you smile as he spins you around like you’re the only person in the world.

He'd even show you some of his favorite music, and you would show him yours like Hozier and Slaughter to Prevail.

Your relationship is full of playful banter and spontaneous adventures, balanced with comforting evenings where he listens to you talk about books and life. ~~~

Supernatural;

Sam Winchester -

Oop, Sam, and Dean saved you. Yep, that was how you met your future boyfriend Sam.

You had just been doing your thing, walking around the woods near your home, headphones on, and listening to your playlist when you heard a distinct 'rawr' over your music.

Who knew that there was a werewolf in your neighborhood?

Before you could even conceptualize that there was a werewolf in front of you ready to pounce, it was dead.

One minute, the werewolf was in front of you, and the next, it was lying on the ground, unmoving.

The two men in front of you, one taller than the other, were talking quickly among themselves before the tall one - Sam - went over to you and asked if you were okay.

You raised an eyebrow, a song from Paddy and the Rats playing still as you slid off your headphones to get an explanation.

You didn't know if it was the scare or the fact that the werewolf on the ground was real, or maybe you were just overwhelmed, but you felt yourself tearing up slightly.

Was this a joke?

No, you had kicked the werewolf in the side with your foot, it felt real.

And that was how you met Sam and Dean, and how you started staying with them in their bunker.

Since the beginning, Sam was drawn to you.

Sam was drawn to your intellect and emotional depth. And your willingness to care for others even when you struggle to express it verbally, finding it aligns with his own struggles.

And when he is not studying the next beast to kill to make the world a safer place, you and him swap books with each other. Especially with horror books. You swap book recommendations and debate the merits of classic versus modern horror movies.

His confession comes during a hunt gone awry.

You had started going on small hunts with them, wanting to help, but after seeing you injured, Sam blurted out, “I can’t lose you. Not you. You’re… You’re everything I didn’t know I needed.”

Do you steal his hoodies? Maybe...

If you ever want, Sam joins you on your midnight walks when neither of you can sleep, there you both talk about more of your interests and you have fun making each other laugh.

He loves setting up movie nights, where you both watch Lilo and Stitch, sitting close, and eating popcorn together.

Actually bought you tickets for you and him to see Hozier live once.

Best night ever.

Your relationship is built on deep conversations, mutual respect, and quiet moments of comfort, with Sam always ensuring you feel seen and valued.

~~~

Platonic;

~~~

The Hobbit;

Kíli Durin -

During your time courting his uncle, you, of course, spent a good amount of time with Kíli and Fíli, but found more of a connection with Kíli.

Kíli, ever curious and friendly, loves striking up conversations with you when you are free.

Your morbid humor matches well with his own cheeky and mischievous remarks; you both end up bantering and teasing each other most of the time.

He often goes to you for advice, when he is stuck on what to say or what right thing to do.

He loves it when you tell him horror stories, so then he can retell them to Fíli and try and freak him out.

He will also often steal snacks from the kitchens to give to you.

If you aren't in the mood to be alone, and Thorin is busy, Kíli makes sure you don't feel alone and make sure that you are happy.

Kíli would convince you to spar with him, claiming he needs to practice, though he’s always impressed by your strength and determination.

He’d sneak you into the forges to show you dwarven craftsmanship, even teaching you how to make your own trinkets.

At some point, Kíli tries to come up with a horror or spooky story to try and scare you or even make you laugh.

He enjoys teaching you bits of Khuzdul, so you could surprise Thorin.

Though, he might teach you words that might make you flustered.

You can never be too sure with this guy.

~~~

The Lord Of The Rings;

Aragorn -

You originally encountered Aragorn when he was most commonly known as Strider at the beginning of your solo traveling.

Way before you met Éowyn.

You had just been wandering in the wilderness when you bumped into each other.

You both traveled together for a day or two, in which Strider (at the time), was intrigued by your reserved nature; his patience allowed you to open up at your own pace. In which, you did open up quite a bit, seeing as Strider respected your independence and your strength.

He saw you as someone who valued solitude as much as he did.

During the day or two that you travel together, Strider becomes a steady and calming presence in your life, offering his wisdom and encouragement when you are feeling uncertain.

Your travels, overall, were a mix of peaceful and comfortable silence, and learning from one another.

You didn't see Strider after that until you began staying in Rohan.

The reunion was lovely, and a hug was shared.

Upon remeeting, you learned that he was Aragorn, the soon-to-be King of Gondor; which surprised you, but it made sense; he got that vibe.

During his time at Rohan, he makes sure to check on you when he can.

And when he does, it's mostly after you get back from a walk, in which, he admires your dedication to walking great distances, often marveling at your endurance and determination.

When he can, and when you are able, you both like to sit and catch up, retelling the stories of your ventures in the wild.

Overall, you both have the same love for reading, stories, the wilderness, and solitude.

~~~

My Hero Academia;

Nezu -

You met Nezu at the nearby bookstore where you had been reading at a table near the corner, having found a new horror book that you couldn't wait to bring home, so you just started reading then and there.

Nezu had entered the bookstore, looking for something in particular, when he spotted you, your quiet focus caught his attention.

He hated interrupting your reading, but upon seeing the small pile of books beside you, well, he had to immediately introduce himself and ask if were looking for a job.

You were confused and skeptical, wondering why he would just walk up to you, a stranger, and ask you to work for him.

However, his warmth and curiosity quickly put you at ease as he apologized and explained.

That's how you got your job at U.A. High School as the new librarian.

Nezu loves your open mind and willingness to dive deep into meaningful topics, so he often asks if you would like to observe one of Aizawa's lessons.

He also appreciates your ability to approach things analytically while staying kind.

During breaks, he loves to engage with you in thought-provoking conversations.

He enjoys your morbid humor and surprises you by having a dark streak of his own - his laughter at your jokes is contagious.

He also often lets you eat in his office if the break room gets too overwhelming, in which, he makes you some tea if you so want it.

Sometimes he likes to ask for song recommendations.

Nezu invites you to play strategy games, enjoying how your quick thinking and creativity make every match exciting.

Nezu loves your advice and always is willing to listen to you if you have any concerns or any good ideas.

He ensures you have access to resources for your daydreaming and solitary hobbies, always encouraging your creativity and independence.

~~~

Supernatural;

Charlie Bradbury -

You met Charlie at Comic-Con which your friend dragged you to.

You were hanging out over at the horror corner, where you had already bought a couple of posters featuring classic horror characters like Frankenstein, Swamp Thing, and Dracula.

Charlie had been wandering about, when she spotted you and had to compliment your hoodie, which had your favorite horror character on it.

Quickly, her bubbly personality and her nerdy charm drew you out of your shell.

She also complimented your tattoos and asked you what your favorite horror movie was; in which you replied that one of your favorites was 'Annihilation.'

Before you knew it, you were laughing, having a good time, and swapping movie recommendations.

You soon found yourself spending time with Charlie outside of Comic Con, and outside of just texting.

You both would either meet up at a coffee shop or nearby park to either eat and talk or walk around and talk.

Charlie adores your morbid humor and matches it with her own playful sarcasm, leading to endless banter.

She loves how fiercely you care for those close to you, often reminding you to take care of yourself, too.

She loves to try and bake things to give you just because; cookies, cupcakes, and so on.

You bond over shared interests in gaming, books, and movies, often geeking out together over the latest horror releases.

She loves to join you for horror marathons.

Will love jamming out with you, anytime.

Your casual, practical style is something she admires, and she’d occasionally suggest adding a geeky pin or patch for fun. For holidays or birthdays, she loves gifting you fun horror-themed clothing, like shirts, more hoodies, or comfy socks.

You and Charlie have regular gaming nights, complete with snacks, laughter, and the occasional (friendly) competition.

She’s always there to cheer you up after a tough day, using her humor and enthusiasm to brighten your mood.

[the---hermit]

Behold my christmas tree, it's looking back. (Of course I had to somehow make it lotr related who do you think i am).

08|12|2023

Today my plans changed very quickly, I had to cover by brother's shift at the store which means that my study plan for the morning went out of the window, and tomorrow morning will be the same. This also means that I was less productive in the afternoon because I was quitre tired, and the book I am reading requires a lot of brain power. The sentences are too wordy as if the topic wasn't complicated enough and it's just a big struggle to focus and understand what I am reading about. With this being said I got a bit of reading done, and then I started to reorganize my material into a somewhat choerent speech for the lecture I have before the holidays. I am writing a terrible version of it right now mostly to make links between things, but even though I know it's the draft of a draft and what I'll be saying will be quite different I still feel totally unqualified to do this. The happy thing of the day was more snow! The trees are white again and I am very happy about it.

calm hobbit winter activities and productivity:

read first thing in the morning

worked in the morning

decorated our christmas tree (I don't have a lot of festive spirit in general but it makes the living room feel cozier so I am happy about it and it's also very chaotic representing very well the general mood of this house)

continued reading the book about race in early modern philosophy for my power practices and men theories class but I didn't get a lot done (the writing is very dense and it doesn't flow too well. It's definitely interesting but it requires a lot of brain power that I did not have today)

started reorganizing all my notes and ideas for the lecture I'll guest in (I plan on finishing this tomorrow and then maybe I'll write down a list of keywords and try to say this out loud to see if it actually work or if I have more work to do on in)

continued crocheting a hat for my mom

continued my tma relistening

today's self care:

took my meds and supplements

changed my study tasks according to my energy levels

📖: Bookshops And Bonedust by Travis Baldree, Nature Human Nature and Human Difference by Justin E.H. Smith

[hwestalas]

Aragorn (a.k.a. Strider) as Frodo first saw him, on a not-so-ordinary Thursday evening.*

This is my first (and so far only) attempt at drawing this iconic scene. It's also almost the only time I have drawn Aragorn without a beard. I initially imagined him without a beard (probably because my dad shaves, I trust my dad, and Strider gave me strong trustworthy vibes**), but I can't get him to look how I imagined. I guess he's inadvertently closer to the animated version in Ralph Bakshi's film, so that's something :)

He is my favorite fictional character (though it took a couple of years before I was willing to let him displace Littlefoot from that position). Aside from his just being such a good, noble, upright person, I mostly like him so much because of the contrasts in his character: he looks scary and ragged and disreputable, but he's actually one of the greatest heroes in the book, both in moral character and in abilities. Speaking of which, he's a powerful healer and a really strong warrior, all at once! This surprises people in-universe (even people more sensible than the Herb Master, such as the Warden of the Houses of Healing).

Oh, and he's the greatest tracker of that age, which is also cool. He's just really, really epic. And I love his sense of humor. I keep forgetting that the whack-a-troll scene exists, which is awesome because then I can laugh about it all over again!***

Funny story and fact citations in the Notes down there V

*According to Appendix A, this was on September 29, which, according to Appendix D, always falls on a Thursday.

**The Story of How I Came to Trust Aragorn:

I had heard some vague spoilers in earlier years about Aragorn being an unlikely king, revealed through his healing powers. Then I read the summary on the back of the novel, and it mentioned Frodo travelling with several people, including "a mysterious stranger named Strider." Aragorn wasn't mentioned by name, but I figured he was a main character, and my brain put two and two together to assume that "Strider" was Aragorn's alias.

Meanwhile, my dad started reading aloud The Fellowship of the Ring. Hobbits showed up, did their thing, and eventually reached Bree... but not without some super sus gate-jumper on their tail. I just knew it was a Ringwraith... Then they entered the Inn, and this super sus stranger was sitting in a dark corner, and he was *invisible*! Well, all you could see was his eyes, but I figured a Ringwraith had followed them right into the Inn! Then Mr. Butterbur introduced him as Strider, and in an instant, everything changed.

I was very excited, because Aragorn had shown up!! And I trusted him from the start; I was rather proud of that. I loved him more and more over the course of the next two chapters or so, and declared that he would always be my favorite, no matter what other awesome characters might show up later! (I knew this to be foolish, but I didn't care.)

I also learned (from him, I believe) that he had been the super sus gate jumper when the Hobbits first arrived at Bree... which means that I mistook him for a Ringwraith not once, but twice - the first two times I saw him!

***If you, too, would like to laugh at the whack-a-troll scene, I would highly recommend LotR Book One (this is the first half of FotR) chapter 12, specifically the middle part that one would expect to be boring. If you start about six sections in, the travel log should soon give way to some mention of trolls, upon the heels of which comes one of my favorite funny scenes.

[edgessunflower]

Hi, if you don't mind and they're still open could I please have a LOTR and The Hobbit matchup? 🥺👉👈

I'm fine with either a male or female ship, though I think it's important to note that I'm Asexual. I'm an autistic adult who also has arthritis, scoliosis, asthma and a bunch of other symptoms like feeling faintish too.

I tend to cover up a lot clothing-wise because I sunburn easily, but that doesn't mean I don't like myself. I'm actually pretty confident, or at least don't feel the need to change myself for others. I'm also a huge nerd who enjoys nonfiction books and informational videos, especially on subjects like archaeology, science, botany, paleontology, witchcraft and history. I can infodump about just about anything, and I know tons of trivia, especially about those subjects and my favorite authors. I'm also learning how to sew and crochet, and I write a LOT. I have an ongoing journal that I've kept for years now.

My style can be best described as "Cottagecore Ms Frizzle" tbh. It's also very important to note that I'm 4' 10" because of a disability that stunted my growth. If you're not American that's about 147 cm so yeah, very tiny. I also have glasses and very long wavy brown hair.

I'm very sweet and I try to be friendly to everyone. I can also be a little sensitive at times, but I'm also very wise and I give good advice. I often write about very deep issues and I can think very big picture, but I also appreciate small things in life. I think you can find beauty everywhere if you really look for it. Though I can also be stubborn and once my boundaries are crossed I don't forgive easily, I will admit. I love caring for people though and if someone is sad, I'll often ask if I could get them anything (mainly tea because I love tea) or rub their back to comfort them. Focusing on little things and helping people is what keeps me going in a world that is constantly wracked with disaster tbh.

Thanks so so much, I hope you have a great day hun! Take care of yourself and drink lots of water!

Absolutely take care of yourself babe! 🥰

First I ship you with Galadriel! 💜

She makes tea every time you are in Rivendell always making it herself and making sure it is always the way you liked it

She loves watching you write and reads it after never taking the sweet smile off of her face every time she reads the things you write

She doesn't mind that you are shorter than her nor the fact of you having a disability doing research on what you have and what it does to you

She always checks your glasses when you leave them next to her when you shower or fall asleep cleaning them if they are dirty and replacing them if they are damaged somehow

She loves that you always try to give the best advice to anyone in need of it whether they are going through a rough patch or unsure of something

She always listens and enjoys your info dumps no matter what it is or how long your talks are she is always happy to listen

She always reminds you to take care of yourself from taking your meds, drinking more water, eating when you haven't eaten in awhile, or to sleep when you're clearly exhausted

Finally I ship you with The bard

He likes hearing you info dump whether it's about something you like, how your day was going or went, what you and the kids did or were going to do, or just anything at all making him smile

He repairs your glasses if they get broke making sure to always replace the glass if need be necessary and to tighten the sides as well

He always makes sure to remind you to drink water especially when you're sick, to eat food when he knows you haven't eaten in a while, to sleep even when you haven't been sleeping well, and to take your meds on time even when you're dealing with things around you

He loves seeing you give advice to others when they're in a situation especially when needed and even giving advice about bullying and growing up to the kids helping them making him love you even more

He never minds that you have a disability and that you're shorter than him because of it and doesn't mind helping you when you need help with getting things

He always loves reading what you write even having a few he will have copied or write down to keep somewhere

He makes tea for you every day always trying different flavors and ways to make it and keeps track of whether you like it or not

[slowlystupendousdelusion]

Me & my Rings of Power thoughts:

Okay so this took me ages to get round to, in part I guess cause I heard it wasn't great so lost the impetus.

It definitely improved as it went along, those first couple of episodes really seemed to drag. I'm not wholly sold on the 70 minute long episodes as a whole because even later on in the series I found myself drifting at times.

Certainly in the first couple of episodes the characterisation seemed lacking - I appreciate to make them feel middle earth-y they have to speak in a certain way, but with the Lord of the Rings films I never found that hinder my connection to the characters. I think there was a lack of humour that made the whole thing a bit dry until we meet Durin.

The world also feels a lot smaller. They seem to travel all over really quickly with no sense of time passing, which hinders the world building, but also gives less opportunities for character-building.

Been an age since I've read LotR or the Silmarillion but Galadriel seemed to be a completely different person than in the source material. She comes across as really young and a bit naive and even Elrond seems to be portrayed as older? (Side note: were they actually pals? I feel like this will be weird when he marries her daughter) I don't remember her being so impetuous. But girl is stunning and can't complain about pretty elf lady on screen.

The other thing I don't get is why they have this elf human storyline going and then barely mention Elrond's situation which could have been an interesting parallel. They could have played this angle for so much angst, and they just didn't? Bizarre.

Sadly i managed to read something about 1 ep in that gave away the Halbrand reveal, so I was expecting it. Having read that it did seem obvious that Gandalf(?) was not going to be Sauron. In part because it would have been a bit on the nose to have the guy who appears in a fiery crater that looks a bit like an eye to be him but also it wouldn't have made sense in the overall narrative for him to completely overlook hobbits in the LotR timeframe. This also makes sense in Gandalf's story arc as to why he's so fond of hobbits. I like the little nods in the final ep to things he says in LotR. At the battle in the Southlands, I did almost talk myself out of the spoiler because there were a couple of things that made no sense for him to do otherwise - saving Elendil for one, (I feel like there was another thing but I can't think what it was.)

This was a narrative weird point for me that everyone just accepted that Halbrand was King of the Southlands (even in the Southlands?) without any kind of corroboration whatsoever? I hope when I attempt to usurp the crown everyone else is so easy to convince.

My other thing is I like Halbrand (despite being spoiled!) but I'm sort of sad that there's no chance of redemption for him. Also I enjoy the Halbrand and Galadriel dynamic, but again this makes her position in LotR a bit weird. I love that shot in the final ep of the reflection of them in the sea.

I enjoyed the hobbits, it was nice that the main two were girls. I wasn't overstruck with the leafy/antlery headpieces as a costume choice though. Still confused about the evil magic people though.

Overall I did enjoy, but it took quite a long time to get into. I think shorter episodes would have been stronger - I'm not sure the extra ten minutes per episode were utilised in a way that helped the story. There were some odd choices made in terms of plot, especially given the information we know about the age. I guess it's just a bit frustrating given the amount of money that went into it that the end product wasn't the best thing I've ever seen?

[writer-in-wonderland]

What's your Atlas?

I'm struggling right now to decide what my next long writing project will be. I finished my second novel before the pandemic, and stalled out on working on anything during that time because, paradoxically, the outside world becoming so much like the fiction I've read made making my own almost impossible. Losing my mother in August 2021, about a week after I tested positive and was treated for COVID-19, did not help matters. I'm just getting back into the swing of things now.

You'd think that, after a long gap in doing my favorite thing in the world, I'd jump back into it with almost indecent gusto. Words should be clattering out of my fingers. But I'm hesitating, uncertain of which ideas to pursue and if I'm not careful it'll paralyze me. I think I've figured out the way to keep that from happening, though, and it's deceptively simple.

There's a spectrum that science fiction and fantasy stories can be placed on. Well, there are probably a lot of spectra, but I'm here to focus on one: the center of the work being characters or the world they live in. Atlases holding up the heavens, supporting and dominating our view, these elements of stories can actually determine their audiences in some ways.

George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series could exemplify one end of the spectrum. Though falling under the umbrella of "medieval fantasy," the focus is almost exclusively on characters; the narrative is very much defined by their private personalities and relationships. Even the choices of which characters get point of view chapters and which are seen through others' eyes is a powerful tool to bring the reader into the story. While the history, low-key magic, and lore of Westeros and its surrounds are awesome, they're experienced through the fans having a relationship with the characters.

Then, we have J.R.R. Tolkien's Legendarium, the grand fictional history of which The Lord of the Rings is the best-known part. I will never, ever deny that the frankly iconic characters in LOTR aren't cherished by fans (myself included). But the reader is pulled in by something else; fans are besotted with Middle-earth, with hobbits, Elves, Dwarves, Men, and all other fantastical beings. The really devoted read The Silmarillion and other posthumous chronicles of how the world/Arda came to be (some of which are written by Tolkien's son Christopher, based on his father's notes and unfinished work). There's a strong desire to be taken to Middle-earth. I'd even argue that a big part of the way fans feel about the characters comes from a desire to embed themselves into Middle-earth and experience the world they love and wish existed.

Let's call this the Micro versus Macro Spectrum. These two works are the boundaries, and other stories are peppered along the middle like so much glitter on a drawing of Thor's Bifrost. The Marvel Cinematic Universe, then, leans toward the Macro; the characters are vivid and a great hook for viewers, but the focal point of the films are their bigger plot points and the worldbuilding breadcrumbs that tie their respective Sagas together. Even within the MCU, there are some projects that are more Micro than others, and I just realized that some of the best received installments are arguably the most balanced between the two (like Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Black Panther, and Thor: Ragnarok). The MCU's a Micro versus Macro Spectrum itself.

And that's my problem right now. I've got four ideas, pairs of similar genres which contain a Micro idea and a Macro one. I just have to decide which part of the Spectrum I want to play in, and which titan's wings I want to nestle under.

[divorce-me]

oh hey i have an old google doc somewhere where i assigned all major arcana to the hobbit. hold on i'll find it

okay it's based mostly on the book. and it's only for the hobbit not lotr. and since there are no women in the hobbit book some of the more feminine tarot cards are creatively interpreted. but here are my old notes if it helps at all. meanings are listed as (upright; reverse)

the fool: bilbo (new beginnings; recklessness. major arcana is sometimes viewed as the fool's journey and this card is him at the very start of it i.e. bilbo running out of the shire eager for adventure but uncomprehending of the true danger that awaits him. hobbits leaving their home are really THE quintessential fool archetype)

the magician: gandalf (willpower/manifestation; trickery/illusions. the magician usually starts the fool on his journey. literallyyy gandalf. he walked into the shire that morning knowing full well he was going to fuck up bilbo's entire life. and he was delighted to do it too)

the high priestess: map and key to erebor (intuition; secrets. like the magician, the high priestess usually helps start the fool out on his journey. represents potential that needs to be acted on to be realized. the map and key are the whole instigation of the quest)

the empress: the shire (fertility/nature; dependence/smothering. the shire is both where bilbo longs to return to and where he cannot stay if he truly wants an adventure)

the emperor: thorin (authority/control; tyranny/rigidity. a delicate balance. one that thorin does not always handle with grace)

the hierophant: elrond (tradition/pursuit of knowledge; new approaches. elrond in his perfect little valley staying out of peoples business til they bring it to his doorstep. his reading of the moonrunes spurring the dwarves further on their journey)

the lovers: idk i never actually filled this one in. the meaning is (partnerships; disharmony). it doesn't have to be romantic necessarily. you could choose any pairing really. for the purposes of this hobbit oriented list i'd have to say it's either bilbo-thorin or better yet the company as a whole. they are quite the silly bunch after all, united in their goal but often at odds with one another.

the chariot: the eagles (control/willpower; lack of control/aggression. who knows when the eagles are going to deign to show up. sure they owe gandalf a couple of favors but they're giant predatory birds man. favorite part of the book is when the eagles save them and bilbo is like THEY are GOING to EAT ME. their control of the situation vs the lack of control for those they rescue)

strength: beorn (bravery/compassion; self-doubt/weakness. naturally strength is the huge werebear guy. he lets gandalf trick him into housing thirteen dwarves and a hobbit with only a little bit of eye-rolling on his part. cool dude)

the hermit: smeagol (contemplation/search for truth; isolation/loneliness/lost your way. riddles in the dark. what has it got in it's pocketses precious?)

the wheel of fortune: the one ring (change/inevitable fate; no control/bad luck. bilbo was fated to find the ring. in doing so he sealed both frodo's fate and all of middle earth's)

justice: thranduil (cause and effect/clarity/truth; unaccountability/unfairness. if you trespass in this guy's spooky forest you will be put in jail. if you are then asked to explain why you were trespassing in his spooky forest and are annoyingly evasive about it you will be put in jail for HUNDREDS OF YEARS. the prison food is good though)

the hanged man: bard (sacrifice/release; fear of sacrifice. bard wants nothing to do with the prophecy and knows the danger thorin and co pose when they come to laketown. when smaug attacks the guards fall back but bard holds fast and slays the dragon alone. fears the cost of war but will do what he needs to secure a future for his own people)

death: the lonely mountain and the desolation of smaug (end of a cycle/beginnings; holding on/stagnation. there's a lot wrapped up in erebor as a concept. it's the end of the company's journey and the beginning of their future. it's also their past and their doom)

temperance: the thrush (patience/finding meaning; extremes/lack of balance. stand by the grey stone when the thrush knocks on durin's day and a magic keyhole will appear. who hired this bird and why is it so committed to it's job. it's been 170 years)

the devil: smaug and the hoarded gold (excess/materialism/playfulness; freedom/release. smaug is greed incarnate. he leaves the mountain but the greed does not leave with him. freedom from greed can only be found when the treasure is shared)

the tower: burning of laketown (disaster/pride/upheaval; delaying or avoiding disaster. laketown sang of prophecy and gold when thorin and co arrived. that same prophecy is their downfall. perhaps it was inevitable. in the end the dragon is slain, even if it was at great cost)

the star: the arkenstone (hope/faith/rejuvenation; discouragement/faithlessness. the jewel of erebor. a representation of the days of old glory and the hopeful days of glory yet to come. used by bilbo to bring peace to a dire situation but only by betraying the faith thorin put in him not to do so)

the moon: roäc and the ravens of erebor (unconscious/intuition; confusion/misinterpretation. messenger ravens silhouetted by the moon? cool as hell)

the sun: dain (joy/success/celebration; negativity/sadness. the arrival of dain and his army from the iron hills was a great joy to the dwarves of erebor and an even greater boon in the war against the orcs and wargs. as king under the mountain he ushers in a new age of prosperity for erebor. but one remembers that it was only by way of tragedy he was granted kingship at all)

judgement: bilbo at thorin's deathbed. (reflection/reckoning; doubt/self-loathing. war comes at a cost even when it is in defense of something noble. thorin has clarity. his last words are kind. his home is restored; his nephews are dead. he judges this hobbit to be more worthy than all he has known before. he is forgiven)

the world: middle earth. specifically the path bilbo took to get there and back again. (fulfillment/completion; no closure/incomplete goals. bilbo's journey took him farther than he ever imagined. the quest for erebor is complete; the mountain is reclaimed; but the king does not live to see his home rebuilt; and a friend is lost forever)

I dont have much hope for this to get any attention, but i’m gonna (probably) start a series where i draw the hobbit/lotr characters in tarot cards and i need some help deciding what the characters would be-

so if you have any ideas for ANY character please interract!

[tolkien-feels]

So I too began rereading lotr (not bc of you pffft ofc not im my own person wdym) and i gotta ask. What do you think about the eomer and gimli's discussion of arwen vs galadriel. i didn't notice it as a kid but to present me it rlly turns me off their characters though esp eomer's bc he always talks so strangely about even eowyn or how he talked to the poc coded druedain characters too. do you think this whole ish is just the product of the time or is this a deliberate flaw put there specifically

Oof, this one is difficult to answer because I feel like there are several layers to this.

Usual disclaimer that I'm not the best person to talk about this, because scholars make entire careers out of exploring the interplay between author, society, and text. You've asked for how I personally interact with this scene so I'll say that but please take it with as many grains of salt as you can find.

Under a cut because this got long.

Okay, let me go through the layers I think of when I read this scene.

One layer is that Tolkien's work does contain sexist elements (although if you go through HoME, you can see his depiction of female characters improves a lot over time, which is why I feel this was very much him being a product of his time, and as he matures, he began to address his own biases, although of course, his portrayal ultimately doesn't hold up to modern day sensibilities, nor does intention stop readers from feeling uncomfortable), and his views on race are very problematic on multiple levels (and these remain more consistent, I would argue). So a part of that is definitely, imho, just Tolkien showing his biases.

Another layer, though, is that he's very much borrowing from medieval ideas. It's a major trope in medieval literature to have knights praise ladies and quarrel with each other over whose lady is best (which is often tied to beauty, although physical beauty is tied to virtue, so discussing beauty and discussing virtue are often one and the same in medieval literature.) Now, Tolkien started out having dwarves be all evil, and even in The Hobbit, the dwarves are not usually very courtly. That Gimli is shown repeatedly speaking of aesthetics, reciting poetry, and holding Galadriel as the lady whose favor he values strikes me as Tolkien trying to show Gimli's nobility, which is comparable to Eomer's, a prince/king.

Yet another layer is that Eomer specifically is meant to be a character who wouldn't be out of place in a story such as Beowulf. When his views seem Bad, I'm pretty sure they are meant to be, and some characters actually push back on that at times. Not just on his own personal views, but Rohan's as a whole. The people of Rohan are very honorable and heroic, but their views on elves are demonstrably wrong, and Tolkien is interested in how, while heroic, their ideas of death-as-a-noble-pursuit are ultimately out of step with how Middle-Earth works (where life is nearly always celebrated.) I'm not sure we can extend that to the Druedain, because Tolkien's own views on the Druedain seem to me veeeery problematic, but it's not impossible to headcanon that this, too, is a cultural bias of the Rohirrim.

(Side note: nobody comes off looking very good in the whole Eowyn fiasco, but Tolkien seems to be taking Eowyn's side while acknowledging that the people around her mean well and aren't out to make her miserable. For somebody who struggles writing female characters, Tolkien shows a marked interest in exploring the limited choices women have in life, especially in wartime, and how often even good, honorable men are horrible to them because they're simply too self-centered.)

Anyway, back to the issue at hand, I also think it's important to remember that in the context of the scene, Gimli and Eomer are clearly just being playful. I believe they're high off the end of war and joking around with hyperbole. I don't think we necessarily can extrapolate this is how they would normally think about the women around them, nor do I think Tolkien wants us to.

Finally, this scene is barely about Galadriel, or Arwen, or Gimli, or Eomer. It's about Morning that has become Evening. The time of the high elves (as represented by Galadriel) is ending, and now it's time for Gondor to protect and guide Middle-Earth (as represented by Arwen.) Elves are fading, men are coming into their inheritance. Galadriel and Arwen are personifying concepts here, and I don't think it's a coincidence that Gimli (who will also leave Middle-Earth soon-ish) is siding with the Morning and Eomer (a mortal man) is siding with Evening. Again, metaphors.

Sooooo basically, I think while the scene is uncomfortable to read (as are many scenes in Tolkien), my personal take is that any analysis that reads this scene as Free Of Authorial Bias is overlooking aspects, while any analysis that reads this scene as Just Typical Sexism is failing to consider other aspects. It's Complicated, as usual

[achilios]

eli’s masterlist of hp fic rec masterlists

decided to make a masterlist of various HP (mainly H/D) fic masterlists + reccers i usually refer back to when looking for both specific and random fics !

this list will be updated as regularly as possible, scroll to the bottom for updates

PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO REMOVE YOUR TAG/MASTERLIST FROM THIS LIST (i will do it asap, let me know either by replying to this post or through a PM)

feel free to reblog/reply/PM me if you have any other masterlists you think i should add to this! they don’t have to be H/D recs, they can be any HP fic recs!

MASTERLISTS

lists (often sorted by themes, tropes, etc) that you can turn to to find any type of fic you’re looking for. they will be labeled as Extensive (E), Detailed (D) and Brief (B)

(in order of which are most to least detailed. pls note that this is based on both my opinion and the length of these lists, and does not determine how good a masterlist is. Brief masterlists can be just as good as Extensive ones.)

@capiturecs ‘s H/D masterlist

(D) great list with plenty of different themes and tropes to choose from. it is located on LiveJournal. make sure to check out their other masterlists, 'A Simpler Masterlist' (D) and 'Themed Recs' (E)

@sitp-recs ‘s Drarry recs

(E) this is probably the one i turn to the most, simply because i find it super accessible and easy to use! i also absolutely adore Liv’s taste in fics, which is alway a bonus when searching for new fics to read. check out the other rec lists (can be found in the pinned post) on this account as well, which are just as great!

@drarryspecificrecs ‘s Thematic Recs masterlist

(E) this one is sooo detailed, which is great, i love it! i also absolutely adore the way their recs work, that is, instead of only reccing fics (which they do as well), they also provide links to rec lists (for specific themes/tropes) by other accounts, as well as links to AO3 tags that may be useful to find a specific type of fic! they also have links to fest lists in their bio, which i recommend checking out as well

@ferretlovesscarhead ‘s Taglist

(E) so many possible tags to choose from! this is so well organized, and a great tool for finding fics. but make sure to open the link on desktop, if you can! while it is usable on mobile, i find it to be much more accessible on desktop. this account also has what seems to be a masterlist of every fic they’ve recced on this account (in alphabetical order). i have yet to use that masterlist, but it looks detailed, despite not being organized by theme!

@drarryruinedme7 ‘s Rec Masterlist

(B) despite how brief it is, this masterlist is absolutely lovely. it’s so straightforward and easy to use, definitely a great place to start if you are feeling overwhelmed by the longer lists!

@dragontamerdame ‘s Masterlist

(E) oh how i love this masterlist! the way it is organized is absolutely lovely, and i looove all the options they have for careers for draco and harry. they also link other fic rec lists they have made on this post, which is great! make sure to check out their AO3 bookmarks for more recs (linked in their pinned post)

@krystalliumm ‘s Masterlist: Recs

(B) yet another masterlist i love turning to when i’m looking for something easy to navigate! and oh my, Khrys’s recs are great! i love the 'soft draco + protective harry' list!

@gracerene09’s Recs Masterlist

(D) so, this is something a bit different. this is actually a masterlist of various other masterlists this person has made, for several fandoms. there are currently four HP lists, including H/D Recs, Non-H/D HP Recs, FBWTFT Recs, and Art Recs!

other masterlists mentioned include the following fandoms: Teen Wolf, AFTG, Avengers, Check Please!, Criminal Minds, Dresden Files, Heroes, The Hobbit, Hunger Games, Inception, James Bond, Kingsman, LOTR, Merlin, 1D, Percy Jackson, The Raven Cycle, TMI, Sherlock, Smallville and Song of Ice and Fire. make sure to check those out as well if you’re looking for recs in those fandoms!

@justdrarryme ‘s Drarry Fic Rec Masterlist

(D) i’ve recently discovered this masterlist and can’t wait to use it! it’s organized in two categories: length and trope. make sure to click 'Keep Reading' to see the full masterlist!

@thedrarrylibrarian ‘s Card Catalog

(D) such a great masterlist! i use it often, and love browsing the different tags this masterlist offers. the librarian has a lovely 'new to drarry' rec list that i recommend checking out!

@themalfoymanner ‘s Drarry Fics Recs Masterlist

(D) another one i’ve only recently discovered! though Emily is no longer reccing fics, they still have several of their masterlists available, including her Scorbus Masterlist.

@snowgall ‘s #fanfiction recs and Masterlist For This Blog

(none) i unfortunately do not know how to link a specific tag and make it so that it only shows the results for one account, but fortunately, you can easily access this tag in their bio, under the link 'fandom and fic recs'. be aware that this seems to included non-HP fics as well, though you can find drarry-specific posts by clicking on the 'drarry' link.

EDIT: (E) their "Masterlist For This Blog" on LiveJournal is very extensive and has plenty of subcategories, definitely recommend giving it a look!

@potter-loves-malfoy ‘s Rec Lists

(D) a masterlist that makes every single one of their 3+ fic rec lists since 2017 super accessible!

@wistfulrat ‘s Another Drarry FicRec List Thrillers, Drama, Soft Bois, Wankbanks

(D) this collection of ficrec lists is so so good, filled with absolutely amazing fics. i go back to the 'drama' one all the time

@hogwartsfirebolt ‘s Netfic Recs

(D) such a creative way of reccing fics, i love it! make sure to check out their other rec lists as well :)

@somegymnast ‘s Masterlist

(B) recently reblogged on sitp’s account! i only just discovered it today so i haven’t had a chance to fully check it out yet, but it seems like a lovely masterlist!

EDITED: @dictacontrion ‘s Masterlist

(E) such a lovely rec list! not only is it a masterlist of their own works, but it’s also a masterlist of their recs. they also have a 'recommended rec lists' link at the bottom, for even more recs by several different people! I’ll also link their Tumblr Recs, which aren’t part of a masterlist but still are a great place to find new fics.

honorable mentions:

@sturm-und-drarry

(none) this isn’t exactly a masterlist, but this account is basically an archive for plenty of amazing angst and dark H/D fics and art

@gameofdrarry

(none) a fic fest account that also happens to be a great place to find fics!

EDITED: @dictacontrion 's List of HP and H/D Bogs

(none) this isn’t a fic rec masterlist, but rather a list of other HP accounts, including fic reccers !

that’s it for today! (updated july 27, 2021). i’ll update this asap with more masterlists/places to find recs!

[thethermocline]

I may add more as I think of them, but here's my tentative estimation of how well different groups of elves as well as some individual elves deal with mortals in the Third Age (when lotr takes place).

Also known as: Why Legolas is Best Boy.

By the third age most elves have removed their ties to mortals. By and large, they do not seek alliances with mortal neighbors nor do they seek out mortal company. For example, the elves that Frodo and co stumble upon near the start of their journey are kind to them, but they are also - wild. I would say that they are not making very much effort to tone down their elven nature for the benefit of their guests. They are friendly and playful, but their time with the hobbits was only a brief moment of entertainment for them. They are not interested in involving themselves in mortal affairs.

The elves of Rivendell treated Thorin's company in much the same way, I think. I expect they do take dwarves a little more seriously than hobbits, but even so they really aren't concerned. They are content to laugh and tease and offer sanctuary for a time, but I don't think they generally thought very much about the dwarves, and I doubt that - though their hospitality left no complaints - any of them reached out to any of Thorin's company on a personal level. Again, by the third age elves seem not to be interested in knowing mortals.

The Lothlorien elves are more guarded, vigilant with their borders and distrustful of outsiders until their Lady gives her approval, but even then, while the fellowship received hospitality and the elves even indicated that they would have been willing to teach Sam rope making if he'd expressed interest, it doesn't seem like they try to make any personal connections. Most of them have been so removed from mortals for so long that they don't even speak Westron. They can be lighthearted and friendly, but in the same way as the other elves discussed so far; there's a distance to it. I rather think that they have stopped seeing mortals as individuals and instead when they speak to someone they are speaking to everyone of that race and culture that they've ever known, no matter how long ago that was. Or perhaps it is simply that when it is safe they will laugh and be playful regardless of who is in front of them.

The Mirkwood elves, on the other hand, are different. They are not as isolated as Bilbo seemed to think. They have a thriving trade system with Laketown and we see them sitting and eating with humans (when Thorin announces his return to the people of Laketown). There's a relationship there. We see it again when Thranduil aids and allies with Bard. I think this is the only elven culture we see in lotr that hasn't removed itself from dealings with mortals.

So even though I expect this is a coincidence, I find it fitting that Legolas came out of this culture. He is the one elf we see connecting with mortals, actually getting to know them and letting himself be known as well, fearlessly entangling his life with theirs. Arwen also falls in this category, but we don't spend much time with her, and her mortal connections boil down to...Aragorn. it's literally just Aragorn.

And I'm not knocking their love, mind you. I'm just saying that it's far different from Legolas, who loves Aragorn enough to follow him into what must have seemed like certain death, as well as taking the unprecedented step of bringing a dwarf into Valinor, as well as being part of the fellowship, as well as one of the Three Hunters.

Side note, I personally do ship gigolas - Gimli and Legolas, terrible ship name, I know - because honestly given their importance to each other and lack of interest in women I think shipping them just makes sense. But even if you don't, I don't think anyone's arguing that book!Gimli and Legolas don't share a profound bond.

Not to mention that as part of the Three Hunters, Legolas was so driven to find the hobbits that he didn't want to stop for the night and would rather have kept running.

And after the war he lived in and managed a small colony of elves close to and with frequent contact with mortal settlements.

And, again, his life with Gimli was so intertwined that he TOOK HIM TO VALINOR!!! Completely unprecedented, Gimli was never a ring bearer, but Legolas takes him anyway.

Brief note before I conclude -

I want to acknowledge Elrond. He is also very good with mortals, notably even raising one. He is the summer lord of hospitality, and his wisdom is rightfully renowned.

But there is a difference between acting as a sage and acting as a friend. Elrond helps mortals; he does not intertwine his lives with theirs in a lasting way.

Arwen does do that, but like I said, the only real relationship we see her have with a mortal is with Aragorn.

But Legolas. Legolas not only befriends mortals, he is ride or die for them. Of all the elves we see from Tolkien, (excluding those in the Silmarillion, which I have not read) he is the least distant and most...I won't say most human. But he is the most accessable to humans.

I think that's why he was sent on the quest. He wasn't the strongest, most powerful elf there by a long shot. But I think he was the only one who was open and curious and - I think - young enough to really get invested in these mortals on a personal level.

Therefore, Legolas is Best Boy and I love him.

[annabawritersdream]

Thank you for tagging me @lucifers-legions!

- How old were you, when you were first introduced to LOTR?

I was probably five or six? I honestly cannot remember, I just know I was a very young child. My parents had bought the DVDs and I grew up watching them.

- Favourite LOTR character?

As I child, when I first watched the movies, I was obsessed with Legolas and Orlando Bloom was my first celebrity crush. I was actually devastated when I found out Orlando wore wings and contacts in the movies (I still love him though). Now, my favorite character is Faramir but it honestly changes all the time. I don't really know. My other fave is Éowyn (Farawyn for the win) but I also love Aragorn and Arwen. And Boromir. I didn't really like him as a kid because I assumed he was the stereotypical bad guy but I definitely don't think ill of him anymore (@lucifers-legions and her amazing fanfic "Garo Estel" have definitely helped me understand him more and, upon re-reading the books and finally taking note of Sean Bean's outstanding performance in FOTR, I can confidently say I've changed my mind and renounced my evil ways).

- Books or Movies?

Ehm...both? I can't choose. It's a lazy answer perhaps but it is what it is.

- Which location in Middle Earth would you want to visit?

Rivendell, the Shire, Rohan, Gondor

- Favourite Movie?

All of them? Can't choose.

- Favourite scene?

The Lighting of the beacons

Rohirrim charge at the Pelennor fields

Concerning Hobbits (FOTR extended edition)

- Favourite quote?

"So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."

- What Middle Earth race would you like to be?

I'd very much like to be an elf

- Favourite LOTR ship?

Farawyn

Arawen

LOTR themed tag game! Reblog with your own answers and tag three or more people you want to get to know better!

How old were you when you read/watched LOTR for the first time: 21

Favourite LOTR character: Legolas c:

Books or movies: the books are fun but I prefer the movies

Favourite movie: The Two Towers

Which location in Middle Earth would you want to visit most: Lothlorien!

Favourite scene: either Aragorn showing up at Helms Deep after being presumed dead and throwing open the doors dramatically or Legolas taking down the Oliphaunt. Or that scene in The Hobbit when Galadriel shows up in Rivendell because she looks absolutely gorgeous (but when doesn't she?)

Favourite quote: "Never thought I'd die fighting side by side with an elf." "How about side by side with a friend?" "Aye, I could do that."

What Middle Earth race would you want to be: A Silvan elf. I am clearly biased >.>

Favourite LOTR ship if you have one: Mm. I don't really have one? I don't mind Legolas/Aragorn but I wouldn't exactly say I ship it. I like their relationship as friends. Can I say platonic Legolas/Aragorn?

Tagging @dontfearrr @cartoon-aragorn @quillofspirit @jdlite

[cqlfeels]

Speaking of adaptations, do you like Lord of the Rings movies? Do you have good vibes for the new amazon tv series, The Rings of Power?

Okay, so just for future reference, you're talking about this post. (Which incidentally was just a note to myself that I expected to get like 5 notes and now I'm like "Oh I would've been better articulated if I'd known it'd get 100+ notes")

My take on RoP can be found on my Tolkien sideblog, here. As for the Jackson movies, like I've said here, they're... fine. The movies came out around the time when I was first reading Tolkien (I remember it was certainly after I'd read the Hobbit, but I think I actually watched FotR and read LotR on the same year?), so for me, it's a bit like CQL and MDZS - separate universe that I enjoy, with some overlap, but they're not interchangeable. The movies don't have the same sway on me as they do on people who grew up with them, though. It's one of many adaptations, with aspects I enjoy and aspects I don't. It's a much better adaptation than a lot of adaptations of beloved things I've seen over the years, but I also don't hold it up as the holy grail that can do no wrong. I love it a lot, but I also love a lot of less popular adaptations too!

(Speaking of which, let me plug @sewn-with-lilies-fair's adaptation directory! Lots of gems in there!)

[rainydaydream-gal18]

(The Hobbit) Thorin x Reader: Dragonsickness and the Heart

(Author’s Note:  Well, it’s spring, and usually spring gets me in a hobbit/LotR mood, so here we are.  I actually wrote a shameless OC self-insert a few years ago, and decided to just take a section of it an make it a reader-insert.  

Warnings: Thorin acts like a lil creep, but in the end he wouldn’t do anything to hurt reader.  

While under the effects of the dragon sickness, Thorin says some things... You wonder if it’s the sickness talking, or perhaps it is his true feelings coming out.

Enjoy!)

   You struggled with the dwarvish armor, finally letting it fall to the ground. It was much too big and clunky: you could barely stand in it! Thorin had given the order for the Company to armor up, but it didn’t look like it would be possible for you. The clank of metal sounded in the armory around the corner, and you let out an exasperated sigh. You had taken your chosen armor to an empty room to avoid the humiliation as you attempted to try the foreign material on. Even after you managed to finally figure it out, the weight of the metal was too much. You weren’t exactly in the mood for endless teasing on Fili and Kili’s part. Dwalin might even find it humorous and would never let you live it down.

   Footsteps sounded around the corner, and you whirled around to come up with an excuse or explanation of some sort as to why you were hiding away like this. To your surprise, it was Thorin, all armored-up and looking…well…looking pretty good.

   Even with everything that had happened, after how crappy of a person he had become since the dragon sickness took its hold, you were surprised to feel your heartbeat pick up at the sight of him. He entered the dimly-lit room, eyes flickering from you to the bulky armor lying on the floor. He flashed an amused smile that made you feel weak.

   “Trouble?” he asked, pacing over with a raised brow.

   “Uh, y-yes,” you mumbled back, unable to meet his intense gaze. You tried to remind yourself that this wasn’t him. He wasn’t himself, yet it didn’t stop your heart from doing flips in your ribcage. “It obviously wasn’t going to fit. I don’t know why I tried anyways.

   “Because you’re you,” he responded with a chuckle, prompting a nervous laugh from you. He was being friendly, but there was still something off about him. His voice. He spoke in such a low and silky tone, practically laced with dragon sickness. It made you feel uneasy and not necessarily in a good way.

    As Thorin took a step forward, you caught movement in the corner of your eye and flinched out of instinct from being on the road. He noticed and paused, holding his hands up to show that he meant no harm. He only meant to give you something, he said. When you nodded, he rounded the corner until he was out of sight.  Moments later, he returned with a bundle of armor in his hands though these were different from the weighty pieces you had already tried. He handed you the iron shoulder plates first, and you marveled at the simple designs cast into them.  They looked as if they’d been made just for you.  Judging by the warmth in Thorin’s eyes, they had been.

   “These should suit you better.”

   You tentatively accepted the shoulder plates, fiddling with the leather straps that would hold them in place. You tried putting your arm through one loop as if it was a sleeve, but it felt wrong, so you tried a different angle, a different loop…

   As if reading your mind, Thorin took and unbuckled it. “Here.” 

   You gulped as he carefully took your arm and put it through the correct loop. Each movement he made was slow and drawn out, and you wondered for a minute if he was doing it on purpose just to make your heart race. It wasn’t doing anything to help the situations of your one-sided love towards him. You resolved to accept the rest of the armor politely and go find another hidden room to figure it out on your own, but as soon as the shoulder plates were secure, Thorin proceeded to strap on a chestplate.  Then he continued with a sort of metal shin guard.

   “There,” he said finally, checking some of the straps to ensure they were in place. “You will be much better protected.”

   “Yeah,” you murmured, releasing a breath.  “Thank you.”

   He gazed at you, placing a hand on each of your shoulders. “I will do all in my power to make sure you are safe.” Your eyes widened as he leaned in to whisper in your ear. “You should know I have grown rather fond of you, _________.”

   You remained still, absolutely shocked at the unexpected statement. It felt as if your body wouldn’t respond.  Surely, he doesn’t actually mean what he says? It must have been some strange effect of the dragon sickness, right?  

   You had joined the Company early in the journey in hopes of changing the ending.  You and Gandalf had an understanding that you would gain the Company’s trust and use your knowledge of Middle-Earth to ensure the line of Durin survived.  From the moment you appeared on the dirt path in front of the Company in your modern clothes feeling lost and uncertain, Thorin hadn’t taken much interest other than to bark orders to you or spare a disdained glance at you and Bilbo at your “softness” when it came to life on the road. 

   Over time, you learned to place your trust in the Company and to do your part so they’d trust you- including Thorin.  He and you had started to bond, especially in Lake-Town when you’d spoken to each other outside in the snow during the celebration of the dwarves’ return to the mountain.  You even managed to make him smile a few times.  You realized that as Thorin had begun to trust you, you trusted him not only as a leader but as a friend, and your affection grew beyond what you’d originally thought.

   Still, you wondered if perhaps it was all in your head.  Thorin had seen you as young and naive early on, but that was only because of your inexperience in the world of Middle-Earth.  Things had changed.  Perhaps they had changed more than you thought?

   Thorin’s breath disappeared from your ear as he pulled away to circle aroundyou, the armor clanking with every step. You were frozen to the spot, but your lips managed to form words.

   “What about Balin? You told him that you felt nothing for me and that you were focused on the quest.”

   An eerie chuckle echoed from behind. “I told Balin what he wanted to hear. I told him that so he would not question me any further on the matter, but the truth remains…” His voice sounded right behind you. “I care about you.”

   He was saying what you wanted to hear all along, and yet it felt so wrong now. This wasn’t the real Thorin, right? You could not possibly accept this declaration of feelings knowing that he would snap out of it soon enough.

   “W-we should go join the others…”

   His arm snaked around your waist, earning a gasp from you. “I love you, ________, and I want you to say you feel the same.”

   “Thorin, I can’t. You’re not yourself. The stress of the Arkenstone and the battle must be affecting you.”

   “My own kin has betrayed me. One of them has taken the Arkenstone. Please, do not  turn away from me as well. Say you love me. Be my queen.”

   You were left breathless by his words. He had released you from his hold and circled back around to stand in front of you. Thorin leaned in, eyes flickering to your lips briefly. It was beyond tempting. All you had to do was lean in a few mere inches, and you would feel his lips on yours. It was what he wanted, and it was what you wanted…

   “I have to go,” you stated, putting some distance between the two of you. Thorin’s lips pulled down in a frown as you stepped around him.

   “You’re making a mistake,” he called over his shoulder.  “An offer such as this will not come again.”

   You hesitated at the doorway, shaking your head. “Then so be it.” And then you left. You didn’t dare look back as you hurried down the halls to get as far away from him as possible. He was crazy. Insane.

   And so are you for turning him down, a small voice screamed from within your mind. You could have been his, even for a short time. You could have had his love, even if it was twisted.  His kiss. His embrace… It could all have been yours if you had just said so.

   But it was wrong, and you knew it, to take advantage of his situation.

   “Bilbo!” You halted when you rounded a corner and almost collided with him. “Where are you off to?”

   He glanced around to make sure no one was near, holding a long rope coiled up in his hand. “I can’t just stand by and do nothing. I am taking the Arkenstone to Bard to use for bargaining. It’s the only way the people of Lake-Town will get their fair share.  Hopefully, we will avoid war.”

   “That’s a great idea. I’ll cover for you while you’re gone.”

   “Thank you, ________,” he whispered gratefully. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

   You pulled him into a quick hug. “Be careful. I’ll see you later!” You parted ways with the hobbit once more, him heading for the front gate while you lingered in the corridor. You felt so alone, standing there. None of the dwarves could understand the situation.

   It wasn’t the time to tell Bilbo what had occurred with Thorin.   It would be yet another dark secret to weigh on you for now, along with the possible fate of the journey.

   That night, the dwarves talked and laughed by the fire as usual. Even though they had all of Erebor to go off and choose a room from, the Company still liked to gather together to share a meal and camp out just like old times. Fortunately, Thorin never participated, spending his days and nights in the throne room. You joined the group, glad to have something take your mind off of the recent events. Bofur led the group in a few songs, Fili and Kili told jokes, Nori and Dori bickered and teased each other, Ori laughed along with Bombur, Bifur, Oin, and Gloin.

   Balin and Dwalin were in a more solemn mood, but couldn’t help cracking a smile every now and then. At some point, the dwarves started sharing stories of hilarious hardship over the course of the quest.

   “But don’t you remember the time in the beginning of the journey when we had to cross that river?” Bofur asked with a grin, earning a few bursts of laughter. “Quite a few of us took a plunge that day!”

   “I lost a lot of supplies,” Bombur said with a nod.

   “And what supplies you did have left was soaked!” Bofur laughed, slapping his knee.

   “I do recall the stew being soggier than usual that night,” Gloin joked.

   “Or what about the afternoon when _________ quite literally got sick of traveling?” A teasing grin spread across Kili’s face. “She jumped off of her pony to go throw up in the bushes.”

   “Hey! I felt terrible that day!” you protested playfully. “Besides, it’s not like I had ever ridden a pony all day every day for weeks before.”

   “The best part was that Thorin scolded her anyway for holding the Company up,” Fili chuckled.

   “Well, I’m pretty sure I remember a time when you and your brother were supposed to be watching the ponies and nearly got us all eaten by trolls when we had to go find them.”

   “Ooh, that’s cold,” Kili feigned offense, unable to hide the amused grin. 

   “You don’t miss a thing, lass,” Bofur teased.

   “Whatever,” you rolled your eyes, still smiling. No one asked about Bilbo, or wondered aloud where he was. The hobbit had been spending more time alone as of late, so it wasn’t unusual for him to not join them for dinner. He would return before dawn, you knew, but as each hour passed that evening, you became a little more anxious.

   You managed to set aside your worries and let sleep overtake you. You fell into a deep sleep, and a certain dwarf king haunted your dreams that night.

[keeper0fthestars]

Tumblr Writers Q&A

Thank you lovely @fromthedeskoftheraven and @songsformonkeys for the tag, your answers are fascinating, i really enjoyed reading them! 💕

1) How many complete fics/one shots do you have that you have not published (yet)? None.

2) How many WIPS do you have right now? ooof *hides head in hands* 27 (not counting my notes app)

3) Do you take writing requests or write original ideas, or both? Both!! I have taken requests, I’ve even managed to finish a few!! Altho i am the slowest writer ever and there are requests sitting in my inbox that are a year old. I would love to be able to thrive on requests or prompts but here’s the thing: I write for myself, I write to cope with my own circumstance and I don’t know how to trick my brain into writing for someone else 😅

4) If you do take requests, how many do you currently have? Currently I have 5 requests in my inbox. (My most sincere apologies to dia and flora 😭)

5) How many fandoms do you write for? The Mandalorian - Triple Frontier - Narcos

6) Are there any fandoms you wrote for in the past that you no longer write for? lotr, the hobbit, marvel, plus others that we won’t discuss ok 😂

7) Do you write for ships, reader inserts or other? Writing reader inserts from second person was new to me when i joined this fandom. I don't use y/n though.

8) Niche fandoms/characters you write for? None, really!

9) Do you read fics as well as write them? Heck yes. More importantly tho, I leave comments on everything i read. Writing is hard and supporting other writers is how I show my appreciation for what they do.

10) What is your favorite genre to write for? Fluff. Romance. Soft smut. Domesticity.

11) What is your favorite trope (to read/write)? Fave trope to write: I can’t write without a healthy dose of feelings/comfort/safety. There’s a reason all my fics feature Established Relationships. Throw in a Gruff competent badass who is only soft for their s/o??? I froth. That’s my ultimate jam …but I’m always hungry to read mutual pining, slow burn, mild hurt/comfort, only one bed, idiots to lovers, fake dating, huddling for warmth. Also I love a good italicized oh moment.

12) What do you do to get motivated to write? I’ve been known to write fics based off a single inspo photo/gif.. so to some extent I’m visually motivated, seeing as I have a sideblog dedicated to visual inspiration. Having said that, once I have an idea in place, nothing motivates me more than making a playlist/moodboard - or finding a perfect poem or line of lyrics. Flailing with others in the chat sometimes helps get the words flowing.

13) Is there a trope/genre you like to read, but not write? So many. Sci-fi, Historical romance, time travel, oooh also poetry, stuff that I find too intimidating to attempt myself.

14) Any characters/fandoms you want to write for that are never requested? I’ve never really thought in those terms before tbh.

15) How long have you been writing fanfiction? since highschool

16) Did you read fan fiction before you started writing? Not at all, actually. Like @songsformonkeys also mentioned, it wasn't until after i had years and years of notebooks filled with fics, that I discovered other people did that too.

17) Do you only post on Tumblr, or any other sites as well? I also use AO3.

18) What do you personally consider the word counts of “Drabble”, “One shots” and “fics”? You can call it whatever you want, I'll still read it.

19) Which do you prefer to write more? HC, drabbles, oneshots/fics, multi chapter stories, other? i've only ever been able to publish one-shots, although i have multi-chap ideas and one day I’d love to be able to tackle a proper fic.

20) Are there any stories you have discontinued? If so, why? I have sequels and/or prequels planned for a few of my one shots, and I hope to finish writing them. But if we’re talking incomplete wips, yeah, several been abandoned because i got stuck midway through and lost motivation.

21) What is one of your main “pet-peeves” as a writer on Tumblr? Sadly, some of the best fics I’ve had the pleasure of reading on here get little to no recognition. Idk if this is a pet peeve and idk if anyone else relates but I will say it is daunting to post your writing on a platform like this. For an introvert like me, it’s a very ‘nose pressed into the glass’ type of thing - like you’re crashing a party where everyone there is already friends, and I don’t know if that feeing ever goes away, at least for me.

22) Do you write at a particular time of day? I write whenever free time and inspiration collide, which is not as often as i'd like.

23) Do you listen to music, ambiance/noise, etc to write or do you need silence? I'm stealing Raven's answer because same: Definitely silence, I need to hear my thoughts.

24) Do you outline your fics at all before writing? if I do outline, it's done in my head. Sometimes a single line of conversation spills out first, and I write the whole thing in bits and pieces around that. If I’m very lucky I can stitch it all together into a complete fic.

25) Do you post your writing as soon as you finish it, or do you schedule it to come out at a specific time/day? Listen. I am a chronic editor, and I always let it sit for a few days and then come back to it with fresh eyes before i post it. But yes, once I'm happy with it, I almost always upload and post on the spot.

I don’t know who would like a tag or who has not done this yet so feel free to ignore🌸: @mourningbirds1 @hiscyarika @thirstworldproblemss @magpie-to-the-morning @floraandfrost @thosewickedlovelies @qveenbvtch @starlight-starwrites @miraclesabound @lareinadehades