#one does simply walk into Mordor as it turns out

[samayla]

I made it!!!

[homunculus-argument]

The best thing about "One does not simply walk into Mordor" is that it's 100% true. Turns out you can just walk into Mordor. That's something you can do. Entirely an option. They went on foot, practically the entire way.

BUT IT SURE AS FUCK WAS NOT FUCKING SIMPLE.

[tamurilofrivendell]

Light In The Dark | Frodo x Reader

Pairing: Frodo/Fem. Reader Summary: You and Frodo are snuggling together, and Frodo suddenly rolls over and wraps his arms around you in his sleep. Requested by @fandomsarefamily1966​​ Content: Just fluff really.

Rivendell was truly beautiful and the skills and hospitality of Lord Elrond were welcome indeed. With the danger of the attack at Weathertop safely behind you, everyone's fears had been assuaged and you could all get some much needed rest and relief from your travels. You had done your share of exploring already, amazed by the beauty of this secret haven. The elves of Imladris were very welcoming - even gifting you, a stranger, with some of the most beautiful dresses you had ever seen once you'd gotten out of your dirty travel gear - and you felt like you could easily be at home here. However, you were still slightly distracted by thoughts of your friends, especially Frodo, who had only that very day agreed to take the ring onwards to Mordor instead of leaving the task to another and heading home.

Lord Elrond had decided that the so called Fellowship of the Ring would stay in Rivendell a while longer before embarking upon their quest. A little more information about Sauron was needed before departing was an option, and there were maps to read over and plans to make. You were content enough to stay here forever, and Frodo had all but begged you to remain behind, but you would not hear of it. You would not leave your friends to throw themselves headlong into danger alone.

Frodo was recovering well but you had overheard that his wound would not fully heal and he would bear the scars of it for the rest of his life. He didn't deserve all of this, poor sweet Frodo, and you wished there was some way that you could help him.

That night, you found that you could not sleep and so you took to walking the halls, gazing at the grand paintings on the walls and looking out over the gorgeous views. Still, you were restless, and you soon found your way to the room Frodo was staying in, hesitating briefly before lifting your hand and knocking gently on the wooden door. The silence stretched for a second too long and you supposed that he had already fallen asleep so you turned to take your leave.

"Come in!" You heard suddenly from the other side of the door.

Turning back, your fingers grasped the handle and you pushed the door open, peering inside with a soft smile. Frodo was sitting up under the covers of the bed, Bilbo's book open in his lap, gaze glued to the pages. When he looked up at you, his face broke into a smile.

"I thought you would be asleep by now!" He exclaimed.

You wrung your hands and shrugged a little sheepishly. "For some reason, I cannot find much rest tonight."

Frodo's smile faded, his features morphing into a gentle frown. He closed Bilbo's book and set it off to the side, reaching a hand out and patting the empty space of the bed beside him. "What is it that troubles you?" He asked, watching as you moved over and clambered up onto the large bed beside him.

"I don't really know." You admitted, shrugging. "My mind simply does not seem to want to shut off."

"Well." Frodo said. "You will stay here with me. Two is much better than one, after all. Even if you do not wish to talk." His smile returned, softer. "We can lie in simple silence if you wish."

You smiled back at him, nodding. "Only if you do not mind. You seemed very interested in Bilbo's book, I would not wish to keep you from it."

Frodo waved off your worry, shaking his head. "Believe me, I know that story front and back by now." He chuckled. "And I have already read the book... I was just looking through it a second time. He's very proud of it." His smile turned fond as he thought of his uncle. "As he should be."

You talked with Frodo for a while longer, about home and about the others and about Rivendell. Though, before long your discussion became more serious as you talked about the journey that lay behind you and also the other, much bigger journey, the one that lay ahead.

Eventually the two of you lapsed into a comfortable silence, Frodo finally lying down with his head on the pillow and you beside him on the other side. He'd been right - two was better than one - and you were feeling a lot more settled.

A few more minutes passed and you heard Frodo eventually drift off to sleep, the melody of his breathing a telltale sound, the back of his curly head to you as dreams finally took him. You smiled to yourself as you let your own eyes drift shut, though sleep would still not come. He needed it more than you did anyway.

You weren't sure how long you lay there, listening to the sound of Frodo's gentle breathing and the twittering of some night-time birds out on the balcony, before you became aware of movement.

At first you thought that Frodo had woken up but when you opened your eyes, squinting at him through the dim light of the moon streaming in through the window, it became apparent that he hadn't. His eyes were still closed and his breathing was still slow and deep. That wasn't what you really focused on though, you were far more fixed upon the fact that, as he had rolled over in his slumber and snuggled a little closer to you, his arm had seemed to seek you out. He'd wrapped it around you and you were now quite caught in his languid embrace... not that you minded.

Frodo slept on, a content look on fair features, as you gazed at his face in the moonlight. You could feel the warmth of his body and the rise and fall of his chest, the protective, comforting feeling of his arm. With a small smile, you nestled a little closer, and let your eyes close once more.

Sleep finally found you then, and you could not recall a time you had slept more soundly.

[gracehateseggnog]

talwynn of the fey realm ˚˖𓍢ִ໋ legolas x oc

summary: a few days out from rivendell, the fellowship meet an odd character on her way to helm's deep for a peculiar mission not so different from their own.

pairing: legolas x fey!oc

word count: 6.3k

a/n: this is the first chapter of legolas & talwynn's story. if you want more context, check out the battle of helm's deep author's note to understand a bit more.

tw: probably a lot of incorrect lore. again, fairly new fan.

gif creds: unknown

The Fellowship of The Ring had come to fruition after little persuasion yet much gambling on Gandalf’s part. Aragorn, son of Arathorn, the heir to Isildur’s throne took the end of the group, protecting and honouring his oath to keep an eye on Frodo, to defend the Hobbit with his life until they had returned from Mordor. Legolas, son of the elven King Thranduil, was just shortly ahead of him, turning his head back to look at his dear friend to converse every once in a while, but mostly keeping vigilant in his surroundings, his right hand holding tightly to the wood of his bow. Gimli, son of Glóin, walked beside Legolas, much to the elf’s disappointment, his axe swinging across his body with every step across the grassy hills he took. Samwise’s pony, Bill, carried the group’s excess supplies, such as rations and clothing from Rivendell, through their journey in front of Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas. The four Hobbits, Frodo, Samwise, Merry, and Pippin took the lead of the group with Gandalf and Boromir their only heads.

Deep valleys became their only view ahead, sipping deep beneath the mountainous earth and revealing a large, daunting river and waterfall beneath them and blocking their path directly into Mordor. The Misty Mountains were due east of their path, towards the Gap of Rohan, which they had planned to stay, on behalf of Gimli’s quite adamant instruction. He had a sort of cousin living in the gap, a leader that held his people, made up of many dwarves, inside of the gap. Legolas wasn’t truly paying much attention to what Gimli was saying, though it quickly became a harrowing challenge to hinder the arrogant dwarf’s words from weaseling into his head. Thankfully, no wind had cursed their tenth day out from Rivendell, not even as they neared the mountains that Frodo’s uncle, Bilbo Baggins, had crossed sixty years ago in search of the ancient dragon Smaug. Frodo couldn’t help but be reminded of the story Bilbo had told him, and as he walked, it continuously felt like he was continuing what his uncle had started with the ring.

“Yur’ seem lost in thought there, Leggy. What’s on that mind o’ yur’s?” Gimli’s voice rang through the elf’s ears, his deep, broad tone making the tips of them flutter from the sheer volume the dwarf could produce. He was shorter than most on the journey, but he was most definitely the loudest of them all. 

“If you must know, Gimli, I’m thinking about how much quicker this journey would go by if you weren’t speaking.” Legolas replied shortly, his fingers flexing against the handle of his bow as he looked out towards the valley of water to the west.

“Legolas.” Aragorn sighed, yet concealed his amused expression as they walked on. He knew as well as any other in the group how much the elf despised Gimli, whether it was because of the battle of Erebor or simply because he hated the dwarf in particular, that Aragorn did not know.

Legolas just hated Gimli. “He asked the question, Aragorn. And a foolish one, at that. Why are you so keen to understand what I think about?”

“I am just curious!” Gimli defended.

“Perhaps you should stay curious. One does not need to know everything they wonder about.”

“We are surrounded by wonder! It’s not my fault I wish to have some relief from all this thinking.”

“I doubt you do much of it, Gimli, you need not worry your thoughtless head.”

“Hey!”

Aragon heaved another sigh, yet it was no mask to cover amusement this time, it was only in the best interest of the entire group, of which most had turned their heads at Gimli’s sudden exclamation. “Legolas—”

“There is no need for interjection, Aragorn, I was done speaking.” Legolas shook his head, looking once at Gimli without so much of a revealing emotion as a huff, whilst the red-bearded dwarf crossed his arms against his chest, tucking his axe handle in between.

“You are a piece of work, elf. Like most of your kind.” Gimli scoffed.

“It is called resilience.”

“It is called stubbornness!”

“Enough. Both of you.” Aragorn’s voice was firm, but not heavy-weighted. He was not angry with his dearest friend nor the dwarf, though he had purpose and means to protect the Fellowship from gaining any excess attention than what they already had, and the loud fighting was no help. “If there were Orcs on the other side of the mountains, they would have heard you both bickering, and we would soon be dead by their black poison.”

“He started it—”

“Gimli, is this not a child’s game?” The dwarf felt as if this was a conversation worthy enough to stop in the road for, but Aragorn and Legolas kept walking forward, along with the rest of the group. “Passing the blame will get us no further than Rohan before the Fellowship is disbanded due to your differences. As much as I am sure it pains you both greatly, you can not sacrifice Frodo’s purpose.”

The back of the group fell into silence save for their harsh footsteps against soft, grassy ground. Rivendell had been nearly two weeks ago. It felt to Legolas he had parted from his people far too soon, but he knew that Bilbo’s ring had to be destroyed with as much haste as the Fellowship could offer, and that meant an equally hasty goodbye to his father and Tauriel. It was true that he had felt homesick as soon as he had departed from Mirkwood, as soon as his home had vanished behind him, and a new journey opened up in front of him. Something in him had known it would be long before he returned, but no amount of homesickness could balance the scale of what needed to be done with the ring. Gandalf had brought him to council for a reason, had accepted his help when he offered it for a reason, and he was standing alongside his oldest friend, Aragorn, for a reason. He had to push his longing for his normal life to the side, and make way for the excitement and thrill of a new adventure—

A small pressure pushed onto Legolas’ back and disappeared just as soon as it had gone, followed by a short squeak and a thumping noise against the grass beneath him. Whatever had landed so forcefully against him, a bird, a rather large insect, or perhaps even an arrow that had torn open the back of his green, elven tunic, had the sound of human shock. Legolas couldn’t trust a familiar tone of voice, though he had heard many tales of beasts that mimicked the voices of those who they killed in the past. He twisted around carefully, his hand flipping his bow into a position he could easily pull from, and his other fiddling with his quiver of arrows. In front of him, nothing but the horizon. Above, nothing but the sky. Below, nothing but grass, except for a small, moving, blob of red. His eyes adjusted, and he could see clearly what had run into his upper back so quickly. 

A fey. Small, winged with dragonfly-like glides attached to her back, fluttering off the dust that had accumulated from her tall fall to the ground. The flash of red Legolas had seen was of her outfit, which he could scarcely make out the details of from his suddenly towering height. She had ashy blonde hair, much darker than yet so similar to his own, but his was braided and straight as a boar’s, while hers was messily curled into many different patterns, wisps flying across her face and into her blue eyes. Though he could not see it from his position, the fey’s eyes matched the colour of her wings, alighting in reflection of the sun and finally ridding themselves of the rest of the dirt that had latched onto them. Legolas hadn’t seen a fey in his lifetime which was incredibly rare, considering how long he had lived. Of course, his father Thranduil had mentioned a few in his many stories, but they had disappeared into just that, folklore and legends that travelled down through generations of elves, dwarves, Hobbits, and humans.

“Legolas?” Aragorn called, now a few feet from the elven prince who had turned around.

“Just a moment.” Legolas replied.

He watched as the fey’s wings began to flutter quicker, letting her rise to meet his eye level. Here, he could see everything about her. A red outfit that reminded him of what Tauriel would wear on casual occasions, not a dress yet not pants, a mix between the two that told Legolas she was on an adventure, as well. Her darkened blonde hair glistened in the light and so did her wings, fluttering with a slight ‘bzz’-ing sound following each movement that kept her upright in the air. A brown satchel he hadn’t noticed before was strewn across her torso, the flap closed tightly with a golden buckle yet still moving through the slight breeze as it wandered through the valley, not affecting Legolas but affecting the fey greatly as she swayed back and forth. Curious, nobody had mentioned her kind in hundreds of years, not since Sauron had been banished in the Second Age, it was quite intriguing that this fey had suddenly appeared during the Fellowship’s journey to destroy the ring he had once used to return to his full power all those years ago. 

“My greatest apologies!” The fey spoke hurriedly to Legolas, and he wondered if she knew his title by the way she was acting. “I am in quite the rush, I was looking to the Misty Mountains, and was not paying attention to my direction.”

“It is quite alright.” Legolas nodded, but didn’t smile. 

“Maybe you could help my cause!”

“Oh?”

“I am in search of Gandalf the Grey, I was told he could help me in a very important search of mine.”

Legolas was not surprised when Gandalf appeared beside him, sensing the presence of the fey in need of his help. His appearance to the back of the group had halted the Fellowship completely, and Legolas looked back to see Frodo and the other Hobbits stopped with Aragorn, Boromir, and Gimli at their sides. The ancient wizard had seen better times, his eyes scornful with age and determination, but they seemed to soften as they looked upon the fey flying in front of Legolas’ face. He knew then that Gandalf had seen this fey before, that much was clear, though Gandalf seemed to have been aware of everything that went on in Middle-Earth, whether or not it concerned him. Aragorn stepped closer to the newfound group, his eyes catching the fey and furrowing deeply. Her race had been talked about in legend for years in many families, surely including the Gondorian royal family, and most definitely not excluding the tales of Hobbits and dwarves. But that is exactly what the fey had been to them until now, legends and tall tales, now there stood, or rather flew, one in front of the Fellowship.

“I am Gandalf, Gandalf is me.” The old wizard introduced himself, a wary eye from Legolas still on the fey as he spoke. “Why do you search for me?”

“It is an honour, Gandalf the Grey.” She bowed in the air, holding one palm against her stomach as she looked back up, turning to face Gandalf instead of the blonde elf. “On behalf of my people, I am in request of your help in the search of the Hurbryn Amulet in Helm’s Deep.”

“Helm’s Deep?” Legolas wondered aloud.

“Your people have been enshrouded in darkness since the Second Age,” Gandalf stated. “Why have you emerged now?”

“There have been rumours of Sauron’s plans to enact his full potential and strength once again, to cover Middle-Earth in shadow. We have been preparing for this since our concealment all those years ago. We have an army to offer, but we are of no use unless we can find the amulet.” She replied. “We have been in contact with the dwarves of Erebor, and they have offered to melt down the amulet to supply our warriors in the Fey Realm.”

“Hmm…” Gandalf hummed, tapping at the bottom of his pipe, charring his middle and index finger with the scorched Southlinch. “And you are a warrior?”

“Yes.” She answered, turning to the side and showing a sheathed sword, though it took the size of something more comparable to a toothpick. “But I am of little use without the amulet, all of us are. The Hurbryn Amulet is our only hope to grow to human size and fight, without it, we will be forced to enshroud ourselves again.”

“We will be passing through Helm’s Deep on our way to Mordor.”

“To Mordor?!” The fey exclaimed. “Sauron’s power must be greater than we originally thought.”

“If you wish, I can offer you passage to Helm’s Deep alongside our Fellowship.” Gandalf adjusted his hold on his magical staff, crunching it further into the dirt and grass beneath. “But I can not offer safety. We are being hunted by Sauron’s Nine Riders. You will not be safe as long as you are with us.”

“I am not safe without you, either, sir Gandalf.” She replied. “Orcs have been migrating from Mordor and moving west, they mean to end the Fey Realm, I fear that Sauron is aware of our army and wishes to see it destroyed before I can return the amulet.”

“I see.”

“You must understand that I will be of little help without it, all I can bring is my sight ahead. If you will still have me despite this, I will gladly join your cause as far as Helm’s Deep.” She ended her remark with another short bow, this time addressed to the group that had gathered at the commotion; Gandalf, Legolas, Aragorn, Boromir, and Frodo. “I am Talwynn, daughter of Mabonan, honourable soldier of the Fey Realm. I thank you endlessly for your help.”

One by one, Gandalf introduced the Fellowship to Talwynn. “This is Aragorn, son of Arathorn, Isildur’s heir to Gondor.” Aragorn, his hair wet and slightly curled from the humidity, nodded respectfully to the fey.

“Oh! Your majesty,” Talwynn bowed again. 

“There is no need, Lady Talwynn.” Aragorn shook his head, dismissing her use of his proper name. “I dismissed my title long ago, Aragorn is enough.”

Talwynn nodded politely, and Gandalf continued, gesturing to the blonde elf beside him. “This is Legolas, son of King Thranduil of the Elves.” He stated.

“King Thranduil had a son?” Talwynn inquired aloud.

“Are you familiar with my father?” Legolas asked.

“My brother, Faeber, is a messenger, and he frequented Mirkwood often to keep trade and diplomatic relationships well with your father.” Talwynn answered. “They haven’t spoken in many years, not since the quest to find the Hurbryn Amulet has begun, it has taken all of our resources without reserve.”

Legolas nodded in understanding, keeping respectful of Gandalf’s time and deciding to speak to Talwynn about her knowledge of his father later on. The old wizard continued, “Boromir, son of Denethor the second, valiant warrior of Gondor.” Talwynn met each name with a polite bow of her head, strands of blonde hair falling into her eyes. “Gimli, son of Glóin, fearless dwarf fighter of the House of Durin. Our Frodo, nephew of Bilbo Baggins, leader of our journey to Mordor. And over there,” Gandalf gestured to their path onwards, where the other Hobbits were gallivanting around. “Samwise, Pippin, and Merry.”

“It is an honour to be alongside you all for this journey, truly.” Talwynn nodded.

“We shan’t waste another moment.” Gandalf remarked, looking to the sun before turning back around to face the other Hobbits. “This walk will take us forty days, I assume you do not want to make it fifty?” He scorned the shorter fellows, and they immediately straightened back into place, walking shortly behind the wizard so they could ask him questions.

Boromir and Aragorn nodded to Legolas and Talwynn before joining the pony, talking amongst themselves about Gondor as the adventure continued. Gimli stayed near Legolas, but let him keep the rear of the group and remained a few feet ahead of the elf. The fey kept alongside the archer, perhaps she felt his skills would be the most useful if she was attacked, but she also enjoyed his company, even after only knowing of him for a few moments. She hovered beside his right shoulder, keeping an eye out for any sign of danger whilst also letting her eyes gaze intently over the beautiful landscape of the outskirts of Bruinen. Talwynn had been outside of the Fey Realm plenty in comparison to many of her kin, but she rarely ever ventured outside of Cardolan, the surrounding area. She had never been so close to the Misty Mountains, and knowing she was going to climb through rich valleys and rivers and fly above forests and plains made her nearly vibrate with excitement, her wings fluttering doubly.

The blonde elf noticed the fey’s natural inclination to stay close to him, which was endearing. Legolas, alongside most of the company, had never met one of her kind before, and though he was curious, he reserved his many questions about her and her brother’s relationship to and knowledge of his father in an attempt to remain suspicious about her character. He was not one to trust easily, despite how it may seem with Frodo and the Hobbits, but he had cared about them as soon as Gandalf had entrusted their protection with Aragorn, Boromir, Gimli, and him. Talwynn had not asked for protection, but she also had not given them her story. She was looking for an amulet Legolas knew nothing about, but it was clearly enough for Gandalf to offer her sanctuary with the Fellowship, and he judged character better than anyone in the group, so there was truly no need to be wary, but Legolas kept his guard up. It was what his father had taught him to do in order to protect his people and to protect himself. But being cautious did not mean he could not be curious. “My father never spoke of the fey people.” Legolas broke the silence.

Talwynn looked to him, and he felt her gaze boring into the side of his head, even as he looked on towards the leader of the pack, Gandalf, who had gained a healthy distance. “The elves are the only race we continue to keep relations with, they are the only ones who know we were not destroyed by Sauron in the Second Age.��� She replied. “We requested he never spoke about the alliance, and we would not have requested his help if we did not gravely need it, but we were lacking fundamental resources to keep our people alive.”

“You became myths and legends, only to be repeated in writing.”

“We could not allow Sauron to discover he had not burned the rest of us. Living in fear was better than not living at all, and we knew, without the amulet, we would not be able to survive a second time.”

“He destroyed your people?”

“Nearly. Thranduil, your father, warned us one month before Sauron’s attack. He gave us enough time to hide the Fey Realm completely from the outside world, his heed is why we have stayed so close to the Mirkwood elves. For that I have never gotten to thank him.”

“My father is not one for thanks in words, he must see in your people something worthwhile.”

“My brother said the same. Thranduil saw our community, our resilience, how prepared we were to fight alongside the elven army if Sauron returned to Middle-Earth, that is why he has given us protection for so many years.”

“He has changed since then.” Legolas finally turned his head to look at Talwynn, whose eyes were glistening with the reflection of the Misty Mountains ahead. “He is not so willing to give anymore, not to those who will not give anything in return.”

“My brother said that, too. When Sauron is finally defeated, the Fey Realm will open again, for the first time since the Second Age. It will be a glorious day, and the fruits and animals that grow on our soils that we have been nurturing for the last thousands of years will be open unto every Middle-Earthian trade route, and Mirkwood will have first pick.”

“Your people have thought about this moment.”

Talwynn turned her head to look at Legolas, a hint of a smile gracing her lips at his remark. “It is all we have thought about since the Fey Realm closed. We did not want to be separated from the rest of Middle-Earth, to be conjured and remembered as fables told to children before bed, but it was our only choice, we were outnumbered and outmanned in every area of war, Sauron would have extinguished our people with the flick of a finger. So, underneath the thick ivy that held us prisoner under our own defenses, we planned and we prepared for the moment that would trigger Sauron’s growth, and that day is seemingly not far.”

Legolas nodded thoughtfully, looking out onto the horizon as they bared west around stone ruins, the remnants of a castle taken by the course of time. “Gandalf is certain this will be Sauron’s last stand, but he is also skeptical that we will make it to Mordor in time.”

“And what do you believe?”

“Hm?”

“You seem one of the more level-headed companions of your group, although that is not much to say when you are travelling with four Hobbits, a wizard, and a seemingly quite temperamental dwarf,” Talwynn smiled, amused at the travelling group she had found herself in on the way to Helm’s Deep. “You are also an elf, you have lived many years longer than the Man that walk alongside you. Do you believe you will make it to Mordor before Sauron casts his eternal Shadow across Middle-Earth?”

Though Legolas stilled, he did not stop moving, but his brows furrowed and his lips turned down into a frown. Perhaps he had not given it much pessimistic thought as he usually did, but then again, his father was the one who would give him doubts of the work he did, even all those years ago when he had departed from his king to save Lake-Town. Now this fey had asked him what seemed to be the simplest question that would surely guide his mind throughout the Fellowship’s journey, but he hadn’t thought about it in such a way before. Aragorn and Gandalf both believed they would make it, but Legolas often wondered if it was their need to have hope that spurred them onward, and his chest grew tight in envy for their passion to destroy this ring. He was glad to see it rid of the world, as well, in every way possible, but Legolas could imagine his life if they did not succeed, whereas he supposed the others could not. He remained passionate no matter his internal discourse, no matter how hard it was to ignore, and no matter how his stomach twisted in thought of what would happen if they failed, or even if they succeeded.

“For him,” Legolas gestured to Frodo, who had separated himself from his fellow Hobbits, and began to look to the valley below, their path onwards, with a troubled expression across his face. “I hope we triumph.”

Before Talwynn could reply, Gandalf’s voice boomed across the Fellowship, his staff pounding against the ground with each step he took as they began their descent down the hill they had begun on. “We must hold this course west of the Misty Mountains for forty days. If our luck holds, the Gap of Rohan will still be open to us. From there, our road turns east, to Mordor.” He instructed loudly, the rest of the group nodding and whispering affirmatively between one another.

Legolas turned to Talwynn with a wondering gaze. “Will you be able to traverse this landscape for forty days?” He inquired.

“I have not tried to before, but if I can not continue, I will not hold your people back, I can continue on my own if I must.”

Legolas nodded, and soon thereafter realized that her possibility of slowing the Fellowship down if the journey became too much was not what he was truly asking about, but he continued the path forward silently.

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆

It hadn’t been long since Legolas had eaten a well cooked meal, though it had been a much longer stint than his usual appetite schedule, it was incomparable to those such as Frodo or Aragorn, who had come from much further than he had from Rivendell. Despite this, Legolas ate one of Samwise’s sausages as he perched atop one of the cliff edge rocks, scouting across the land for any hint of unusual movement. They had set up a temporary camp atop one of the highest ridges of the valley, before their journey would take them downwards and to the bottom of the Misty Mountains, and then eventually back upwards again. Legolas’ bow sat snugly close to him on his right side, his quiver still attached to his back as he still had unnerving thoughts about their placement. He had been an archer for his whole life, he knew the signs to look for, and even if he smiled and looked back at Boromir’s play fighting with the Hobbits, his ears were always pricked for danger.

The Eregion Hills served them well as a flat, rocky surface for the Fellowship to sit atop of, with an overhanging stone near the uphill cliffside that gave them a temporary relief from what the elements were sure to throw at them, Sauron’s will or not. Talwynn sat at a decent distance from the elf, biting down on a small piece of mashed potato that Samwise had graciously cut off the rest of the group for her, despite her telling him she had plenty of her own rations to take for herself. His cooking was something she would have never found if she had stayed in the Fey Realm. There were many cooks, sure, and many of those cooks were brilliant at their craft, but the supplies and spices Samwise had sitting in his backpack made his dish feel so much more alive. She smiled as she ate it, enjoying what she was sure to be one of the last, warm meals she would be having on this long adventure, but the appearance of company had given her much hope that her journey to Helm’s Deep would be successful.

“A Castar for your thoughts?” Gandalf’s crooked voice broke Talwynn’s own moment of silence, and he sat down next to her tiny form.

“Potatoes do not grow in the Fey Realm, neither are pigs fostered.” Talwynn replied, her wings fluttering as she finished the last of the small portion Samwise had given her. “I don’t think I’ve had something this delicious in my lifetime.”

“Samwise is quite the chef,” Gandalf nodded to the Hobbit sitting next to his friend, surely gossiping about their future as adventurers and their legacy to their Shire. “He has given the Fellowship warm, full stomachs. He is very worthy of this task.”

“I wish him well, he seems quite frightened at the prospect of leaving his home for something greater than himself.” Though Talwynn didn’t know what it was that the Fellowship had been tasked to do in Mordor, she assumed the adventure was for great reason. “Much like I.”

“You are naturally curious.”

“I am, but I do not wish to stick my head into a discussion where it does not belong. The Fellowship’s business is not my own, I only wish you the luck I can muster to make it safely into Mordor.”

“I, for one, would argue that it is plenty your business, Talwynn. If you and your people are willing to blindly follow our battle, you deserve to know what you are to fight for.” Tentatively, the fey nodded, and Gandalf continued, “Frodo Baggins,” He gestured towards the younger Hobbit that sat next to Samwise with curly, brown hair, fidgeting with a chain around his neck. “Has inherited the Ring to Rule Them All from his uncle, Bilbo Baggins. We are to take it to Mordor to destroy it once and for all, before Sauron can return and cast Middle-Earth into Shadow once more.”

“This truly is an important task, then.”

“Extremely. There are orcs and wargs at every crossroad and path we trek. You must know the danger of travelling alongside the Fellowship, their duties—” Gandalf gestured to Boromir, Legolas, and Aragorn, “Are to protect Frodo, whether it be their life at the cost. If Sauron takes the Ring, the days of light will be forever diminished, this is the last stand.”

“I am grateful, Sir Gandalf, that you have entrusted me with this information.”

“Has it changed anything?”

“I will keep my eye on Frodo, though he is quite well-protected already. You are granting me help with passage into Helm’s Deep, it is the least I can do to give you peace of mind.”

“Thank you.”

Gandalf gave Talwynn a respectful, polite nod before standing up using his staff for stability, retreating back to his original position under the protection of the overhead stone cliff. Legolas craned his head to watch the wizard’s leave, his ears having heard snippets of the conversation, but only enough to understand that Gandalf had entrusted Talwynn with the information about the Ring. He trusted Gandalf to a certain extent, but not as much as Aragorn did, his whole life revolved around Gandalf’s words and promises, whereas Legolas was still suspicious about the journey in general, especially with the appearance of Gimli throughout it all. Gandalf was a good enough judge of character, Legolas admitted to himself, and the fey didn’t seem worthy of the suspicion he had initially given her, there was no point in furrowing his brows and pondering her motives any longer, it was clear to him that she just wanted to get to Helm’s Deep, and she was no inhibitor on their progress.

“Get away from the blade, Pippin.” Boromir instructed the young Hobbit as they clashed swords together, the taller Man disarming him during every spar they completed. “On your toes… good, very good. I want you to react, not think.” Aragorn gazed upon them with a hint of a smile on his lips, tossing an apple between his palm.

Samwise, who was still sitting beside Frodo and finishing his dish of sausages and mashed potatoes, watched intently, learning from the advice Boromir gave Pippin as they fought. “Should not be too hard…” Samwise remarked to himself in a murmur.

The end of Boromir’s sword tapped on Pippin’s tunic, signifying he had lost again. “Move your feet.” He instructed, and Pippin smiled as he successfully defended himself from Boromir’s following attack.

“Quite good, Pippin!” Merry exclaimed, sitting with his back against one of the lone rocks.

“Thanks.”

Talwynn took the moment of silence, only broken by the sound of sword against sword as Boromir and Pippin continued to spar, to look around the area they had settled, more specifically on the elf, Legolas, who had separated himself from the scene to keep watch over their camp. Out of the many different characters in the group, he was the one who had managed to intrigue her the most, which was saying quite a bit, since Talwynn was of a curious kind. She knew more about him than the others, despite her curiosity, because of the stories her brother had told her about Thranduil and his wife, the tragedy that struck the nation and him when she passed, and his constant effort to obtain her jewels from The Lonely Mountain when it was under siege. A strange aspect seemed to haunt her; despite the fact that she knew more about Legolas than she had wanted to, than she felt appropriate to know having only met a few days prior, she longed to know more, to question, but perhaps that was just her fey ancestry, the race being well-known for their inquisitiveness.

Gimli’s voice cut through Talwynn’s thoughts like a well-sharpened sword, severing her tie to the back of Legolas’ head and forcing her to focus deeply on the conversation the dwarf was presently having with the old wizard, but his voice told her he was talking to everyone. “If anyone were to ask for my opinion, which I note they have not, I would say we are taking the long way around.” The dwarf shook his head, feet firmly planted on the stone beneath his body. If dwarves were one thing, they were extremely stubborn. “Gandalf, we can pass through the Mines of Moria. My cousin, Balin, would give us a royal welcome.” Gimli turned to the others, but only Aragorn and Legolas turned their heads to look back at him, amused expressions on their faces. “Gandalf clearly thinks that is a bad idea.”

“No, Gimli. I would not take the road through Moria unless I had no other choice.”

Those who were sparring didn’t seem to have a care at what Gimli and Gandalf were discussing with the group as they continued to spar, Boromir’s sword slicing against Pippin’s and thrusting forward, catching him against the hand. Talwynn assumed that Hobbits were unskilled with weaponry, considering very few pieces were made with their statues in mind, and her assumption reigned true as Pippin struggled against the Man’s attacks. So, Pippin threw his sword to the ground, Talwynn wincing at the sound of metal clashing and scraping against the rock and moss below, before running and lunging into Boromir’s torso, grappling his arms as far as they could go around his stomach and taking him to the ground in an epic takedown. In an act of near-proudness, Boromir began to laugh, and Pippin followed, and soon enough, most of the Fellowship, save for Gandalf, Gimli, and Legolas, had cracked a smile at the interaction. 

Before the sweet moment could last any longer and be called a memory, a darkness began to enshroud the blue sky many kilometers away, hovering over the Misty Mountains and its shadow telling that it was only gaining position towards the Fellowship. Talwynn flew towards Legolas, who had already spotted it, catching advantage from her height in the sky, but only enough to see that they were in fact, headed in a direct line to their cliffside. The dark presence caught the others’ eyes immediately after, and Aragorn lunged to his feet in as fast of a reaction as he could muster, the years had not been as kind to him as they had been to the long-livers such as Legolas or Gandalf. As the mass got closer and closer, it became clear that it was not just one being, it was a flock of something dangerous and dreadful, so much so that a shiver went down Talwynn’s spine as she gazed upon them from afar. Smoke in the wind was no longer a phrase she would use to describe the phenomenon.

“What is that?” Samwise inquired.

“Nothing… it’s just a wisp of cloud!” Gimli explained, using the moment to capture another sausage from Samwise’s cooking pot for himself.

Boromir’s eyebrows furrowed in worry, and he stood back up from his position on the ground, nearly pushing Pippin off of himself. “It’s moving fast against the wind.”

“I will look.” Talwynn offered, leaving Legolas’ side and shot across the sky, nearly touching the clouds as she met the eyes of whatever was targeting the group. She let out a breath at the sight of the mass of deep, black birds with brown tar dripping from their beaks. “Crebain! It is Crebain!” She cried back to the Fellowship, screaming as loud as she could muster before dipping back down and fluttering her wings to race back to the cliff.

“What?!” Aragorn exclaimed.

Legolas answered, repeating what only he could hear from Talwynn due to his elven ears; “Crebain from Dunland!”

Aragorn hurriedly pushed the Hobbits towards the rocks that gave them shelter as Talwynn barrelled into their airspace. “Hide!” He shouted, watching as Gimli took cover underneath the main rock alongside Gandalf.

Boromir pulled himself down on the opposite side of the largest rock on the cliff, his right arm resting against the ground as he looked at the smaller members of the group. “Merry, Pippin, Sam, take cover!” He commanded, and Talwynn realized why he was such a revered Captain of Gondor as she herself ducked into the area that Aragorn and Legolas had taken cover under, shoving herself in between blades of grass.

With curdling screeches and thick, black liquid oozing from their beals, a horde of at least a hundred Crebain birds flew overhead of the Fellowship, temporarily blinding the group from the sunlight as they wailed with an ear-piercing tone. Talwynn winced as a moment’s chill passed through under the shadow of the Crebain from Dunland, the ones that were surely of Sauronic origin, covered up her only sense of heat, making her wings flutter in discontent and her body to shiver in its entirety. As soon as the dark crows had come, they had disappeared into the Southern sky once again, squawking terribly and announcing their presence for all nearby to hear. They had completely turned around from whence they came, telling the Fellowship that they had seen what they needed to see, which was either nothing at all or a group of poorly-hidden Hobbits, Elves, Men, an old wizard, and a Man the size of an acorn with dragonfly wings.

Gandalf was the first to rise from his hiding position, staggering to his feet with the support of his grey staff. “Spies of Saruman.” He announced gravely as the remainder of the Fellowship stood. “The passage South is being watched.” Gandalf glanced at Aragorn for only a moment, the Gondorian heir‘s flat expression unwavering as the wizard then looked upon the mountain pass North. “We must take the pass of Caradhras.”

[frodothefair]

Numbers 9 and 13 for the ask game, perhaps?? Also congrats on finishing the Rivendell story!! I saw that was up and I know you've been working hard on it!!

The ask game in question

9. Top three fics you’ve written (in author’s opinion)? ♡♡♡

Hmm. I'll limit this just to the ones currently published as I'd rather not discuss my past anime fic writing career on this space. There are only three fics currently published. I'd rank them as follows:

Rivendell (thanks for the congrats, btw! It was fun to write!) This is simply because it's actually a finished, cohesive piece. I know I said I might write more, and likely still will, but the way it is now works as a shandalone.

Flowers of Mordor. This is because it’s still not written all the way to the end, and I am still not 100% happy with a couple of the chapters in the middle, so am putting them through another round of edits. But overall it's my longest-running project to date, and also my longest fic ever (there may have been one prior fic that just crossed the 100k mark), and of course I love the way Marigold turned out, as well as Frodogold as a couple.

Expats. The fun first chapter got written, but I don't know if I have what it takes to write the whole story, because heck if I know anything about how Hollywood works, especially its more unsavory parts. But then again... if it's just fanfiction, how accurate does it really have to be when it's all in good fun?

13. Drop a playlist for a story! ♪♡♪

Ok, um. You have to realize you asked for this. You have only yourself to blame. A lot of the songs on my fic playlists have to do with not just the overall gestalt and concepts of the fic, but specific scenes and even lines, and I am here to explain it all.

Here's the definitive playlist for Flowers of Mordor. Tagging @konartiste per our special pact.

(cut for minor spoilers.... also for being long):

"Dawn" theme from the Pride and Prejudice 2005 soundtrack. A must for the Austenian vibe.

"Poppy's Song, Wandering Day" by Bear McCreary from Rings of Power. The singer sounds exactly what I think Marigold sounds like.

"I Dreamt I Dwelled in Marble Halls" as performed in the Dickensian Finale. Sam/Rosie relationship vibes. I imagine Rosie singing this song for an audience in the tavern, but looking at Sam all the while -- which is essentially what happens in the finale of Dickensian.

"Halo" by Beyoncé, arranged for strings for Bridgerton. Pippin arranges this song for violin and writes a Shire-compatible version of the lyrics as a candidate for the first dance music at the Frodogold wedding.

"I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston, arranged for strings for Bridgerton. Another candidate wedding song by Pippin.

"Tous les garçons et les filles de mon âge" by Françoise Hardy. Marigold vibes: sweet innocent girl slightly wistful that everyone her age is in a relationship and she is not... yet.

"Portugeuse Love Theme" from Love Actually. Love reunited theme.

"On my Own" from Les Miserables. Direct inspiration for the following excepts from Chapter 16: "Marigold had found herself lying awake for hours, watching the starlight in the trees and thinking, with surprising nonchalance, “Oh, dear, I guess I cannot sleep.” And when she did at long last fall asleep, then the dreams would begin, and Frodo would appear before her, and together they would walk and talk until morning." Original lines: "in the darkness the trees are full of starlight and all I see is him and me forever and forever" and "I walk with him till morning."

"Nessun Dorma" from Turandot. Needs little explanation, I think. Frodo is an insomniac.

"In Dreams" by Roy Orbison. But when Frodo does sleep, he has a lot of dreams.

"Dreams are My Reality" from the movie La Boum. Again a reference to Frodo's many dreams.

"Babylon" by David Gray. Inspiration for the scene where Marigold kicks through the autumn leaves in Chapter 13.

"May it Be" by Enya. Probably needs no explanation either.

"Everywhere" by Michelle Branch. Vibes of Marigold being in unrequitedly in love and seeing Frodo in everything around her, wondering if he feels the same.

"Flora's Secret" by Enya. Vibes of Marigold and Frodo lying in the grass, holding hands and staring at the sky grinning like idiots.

"Don't Talk To Me About Tomorrow" by Sandra Lisa. A song the Gamgee family ensemble would perform poorly but enthusiastically at... oh, Midsummer or something.

"Love The Way You Lie" by Eminem ft. Rihanna. Directly referenced by this except in Chapter 20: "She loved him so much that she could not deny him. Even if he said that she should burn, she would burn. And even if he said that he would watch her, there, at the edge of that forest – watch her with indifferent eyes as she screamed and burned to death – she would only have welcomed it; she would have only been glad of such an end." Original line: "gonna stand there and watch me burn? That's alright, because I love the way you lie."

"Black Sheep" by Metric. Referenced by the following line in Chapter 3: "And then there was him and Sam, lying on a rock amid flows of lava, waiting for the world to end." Original line: "hello again, friend of a friend, our common goal was waiting for the world to end."

"Concerning Hobbits" from The Lord of the Rings. No explanation needed, again.

"Je suis malade" by Lara Fabien. Vibes of Marigold screaming in the woods in chapter 20.

"Blue Hydrangeas" by Lana Del Rey. Chapter 8 is literally called "Of Lembas and Hydraneas," and Bag End is referenced as having blue hydrangeas in the garden. Blue hydrangeas symbolize regret. Also, it's repeatedly mentioned that Marigold would run to Frodo if only he called her... though in the end she... actually does not? Not immediately? Because you don't jerk someone around for months and then get away with it scot-free.

"The Rosenkavalier Suite" by Richard Strauss. It has like three lovely waltzes rolled into one, and Frodo must teach Marigold something similar to a waltz for their first dance together at the wedding.

“Here we come a-caroling” as performed by Blackmore’s Night. The Gamgee a slightly modified version of this song in Chapter 19 while caroling on Yuletide Eve.

Béma above... what did I just spend 30 minutes of my life on? Lol.

[yellowvixen]

I would love to hear who’s who for the lotr au

Oho 👀 alright get ready for a LOT of rambling >:]

This au originally started out as an idea for a continuation of the Sonic Storybook games, where the story in this case is Lord of the Rings. The other games just kinda throw characters into their roles without a lot of thought, like how the Lady of the Lake, Lancelot and Galahad are all related whereas Amy, Shadow and Silver decidedly are not (canonically. I know ppl have headcanons but this isn't about that lol) so I basically did that too. For some of the characters I do have legitimate reasonings for, but a lot of them are a combination of "hey wouldn't this be really funny" or "what the hell can I do with this character" lmao

So without further ado, here is the list I have so far!

Sonic - Sam Tails - Frodo Chuck - Bilbo Big - Gandalf Mighty - Merry Ray - Pippin Knuckles - Boromir Amy - Gimli Blaze - Legolas Shadow - Aragorn Silver - Éowyn Rouge - Galadriel Eggman - Saruman Mephiles - Sauron Metal - Gollum

Putting all my reasonings below the cut bc uhh it's kinda long

Sonic and Tails as Sam and Frodo: This one was obvious to me and was what started this au in the first place. It's a sort of "both are both" situation, they both share the burden of the ring and some of the scenes in the movie that exclusively happen to Frodo happen to either Sonic or Tails (e.g. Tails is the one in boat yelling to Sonic that he's going to Mordor alone, but Sonic is the one to put on the ring and see Mephiles [Sauron]). This is also where I need to put the disclaimer that the relationships in this au are not the same as in lotr. I'm NOT shipping these two for the love of god. They're brothers.

Uncle Chuck as Bilbo: This just felt natural to me as Bilbo is Frodo's uncle. I honestly don't know a lot about Chuck canonically but here he raised Sonic and Tails and of course had some wild adventures when he was younger.

Big as Gandalf: Ok honestly! I thought of this before the "big naturals" joke hit me skjfhkdg. Big always turns up in games where you don't expect him, he's super chill and he would definitely be the type of character to turn out to actually be a sort of god. Instead of going around smoking his pipe, he goes around fishing. He definitely tried to fish in the lake below the walls of Moria lol

Mighty and Ray as Merry and Pippin: These two I had a bit of trouble with. I was originally going to make them Knuckles and Amy as I wanted the hobbits to be classic characters but eventually settled on Mighty and Ray instead, as they have a stronger sibling dynamic. It also fits will with the scene where the orcs take Merry and Pippin under the impression they're the hobbits with the ring, but in this case they're like "it's the small yellow one with the ring" and mistake Ray for Tails.

Knuckles as Boromir: This fell into place after I figured out Mighty and Ray - they're friends!! They spar together!! I also like the idea of Knuckles being the one to fall prey to the ring, as he really wants to use it for good, to save his people (but it doesn't work like that). Unfortunately this means he dies :') sorry Knux. I'm also thrown for who could be Faramir and Denethor. I'm sure there's some characters from the comics that could fit but I've never read archie so fhfkjghgfk

Amy as Gimli: Axe? No, big hammer. That was the extent of my thought process for her lmfao. I just think it would be cool for her to hit things

Blaze as Legolas: I originally had Legolas as Silver but figured no wait, I can get blazamy into this au! Legolas is also a prince, so Blaze being a princess fits perfectly with that. Instead of walking on top of the snow, she simply burns it out of her way

Shadow as Aragorn: This was just because they're both kinda edgy kgjhkdgjdf you know Shadow would brood in the corner with his drink. There are some difficulties raised with this - who is Isildur? (Doom???) Who raises him? Where does Maria fit into his story? I haven't sorted those out so if anyone else has ideas please lmk :'D

Silver as Éowyn: Originally Blaze, but I swapped them out. Again with the relatives, idk who Éomer and Théoden would be. Definitely a case of "where the fuck can I fit this character" aghkghkf up for changing if anyone has better ideas, but I do think it would be funny for him to slay the Witch-King (could he be Zavok perhaps. Lol.) Instead of the "I am no man!" "Oh noo the prophecy was about gender and not the race aughh *dies*" scene, it can be "oh noo the prophecy was about race and not the gender aughh *dies*". And also Silver is nonbinary so it was the gender too. Idk man

Rouge as Galadriel: Another one I had trouble with. Originally Elise, I decided to make her Rouge just bc I want to redraw the scene where she's tempted by the ring for a hot second lmao. Also I think it would be funny for Amy [Gimli] to be like damn she's kinda hot

Eggman as Saruman: This gives me the hysterics. Please think of the scene where Saruman keeps closing the doors on Gandalf, but it's Eggman and Big. Anyway it DOES fit though, he creates badniks instead of orcs and wants to be more powerful. Getting in way over his head trying to get on Mephiles [Sauron]'s side and ending up dying for it. Also might make Gríma be Orbot and Cubot lol

Mephiles as Sauron: It just fits. He's evil, he's a god etc. Not sure where this would place Iblis or Elise (or Solaris) though.

Metal as Gollum: This also gives me the hysterics but again... it works!!! I figure here that the ring sort of has a metal virus effect - you keep it on you for too long and you become more robotic. So he would have started out as a normal hedgehog but then got fucked up. (Also means that Chuck might be partially roboticised). It also fits in with Gollum kinda looking like a tiny orc, and the orcs in this are badniks so. Yea. I also want the Sam, Frodo and Gollum dynamic where Sonic is like I hate this guy. Awful. Let him die. And Tails is like noo he's ok... he could get better...

So YEAH there we go!!! A lot of things still need working and characters to sort out. I mentioned Zavok being the Witch-King, but maybe he could be the balrog. Fuck knows. I DO wanna draw stuff for this au but it would be... a lot of work. I'll get to it though!! It's a fun thing to have on the back burner.

But yeah if anyone has more ideas, feel free to talk to me about them!!!

[pherryt]

A multi fandom Crossover - 12 chapter, 28K fic - Rated G, No Ships

Summary: Zoro and Ryoga get so lost they travel through other fandoms. No, they don't know what's going on either, but they sure would like to find out. Maybe someone along the way will have answers?

Why should you read Lost Boys? Let me Convince you

Firstly, I know I probably hurt myself and my chances of this getting read - always a struggle for a normal crossover, much less one like this - by posting it all at once, but I truly believed it would be more enjoyable to read that way and I didn’t want to deprive from that experience.

Secondly, I'm pretty proud of this multi fandom crossover and I don't think you need to know all the fandoms involved to enjoy it. (I even have testimony to that fact). 

Each chapter focuses on one fandom (outside of the Main Characters of course) and should be written in a way that you don’t need to already be familiar with them and can also, mostly, stand on their own (with one or 2 exceptions) if you wanted to skip to a fandom you were more interested in.

So, in that light, I’m going to make some posts (by chapter) with teasers, tid bits and maybe even art.

This fic started as a crack idea, and still retains some elements of that. It should be just some nice, lighthearted fun as Zoro and Ryoga ping pong through a series of random universes that were mostly picked out by my friends, followers and fellow writers.

What do you need to know about the Main Characters: Ryoga Hibiki and Roronoa Zoro?

1 - Ryoga Hibiki (or more properly, Hibiki Ryoga) aka, P-Chan, is from the Manga/Anime Ranma ½ by Rumiko Takahashi, which came out in 1987. He is not the Main Character, but he’s the main rival (and reluctant best friend) of the Main Character. He’s a martial artist, insanely strong and, as far as i know, the original Eternal Lost Boy. 

Oh yeah, he also turns into a pig. (The pig form of him is referred to as P-Chan)

Ryoga’s ability to get lost is so bad, he was once three days late to his own challenge - which took place in the empty lot behind his house - because he couldn’t find the location he had chosen himself.

2 - Roronoa Zoro is, of course, from One Piece by Eiichiro Oda, which is currently an ongoing series started back in 1997. He’s a green haired swordsman that uses three swords - a style he created himself, and is the First Mate of the Strawhat Pirate Crew, and also pretty strong.

He also cannot follow directions for his life.

The Zoro in this fic is pre-timeskip, so he’ll be in his white shirt, black pants, green haramaki outfit.

The Premise:

The idea behind this story came about when I watched an episode of early One Piece (Just before the Thriller Bark arc, somewhere around episodes 326-335) where Zoro got separated (Re: Lost) from the rest of the crew and wound up in the enemy’s stronghold with no idea how he got there or where he was or that it was even the enemy.

It made me think of all those “One does not simply walk into Mordor” memes, one of which includes the 11th doctor doing just that with the tag line “Simply walked into Mordor, doesn’t know where he is”, because that was absolutely what Zoro had just done.

And what would be better than having one lost boy? Having two! And thus, this story was born.

[mediumsizedlmao]

so I'm sick and there are people staying over at my house so I'm trying to avoid being in the common spaces much, and I don't have much food in the house anyway so I decided to make the fateful "3:30AM McDonalds run" as nothing else is open and the good old Micky D's drive through is right down the street. Because I've been sitting in my room doing nothing today I hadn't bothered putting on socks yet, and I'm a go with the flow kinda guy, so I figured - "why not break the cycle? I can just wear my slippers in the car, no one on this earth has the power nor inclination to stop me". So I make the shameful 3 minute drive to Mister Donalds - it's dark and there are no cars, which is a worrisome sign. I live in a college area and the McDonalds usually has a line at all hours of the day, every day. I pull up to the microphone and a voice does ring out...to tell me that they're only accepting cash tonight. This is a solvable issue, I decide. I pull out and go back around to the parking lot, and get out of my car in my beat up slippers to walk across the street to the bank with an ATM at it, feeling like The Dude - what kind of miscreant wanders the streets in the middle of the night in slippers? Before I even got to the BECU, I wondered if all this was really worth it - should I really be buying fast food in my weakened and currently unemployed condition? Of course I should, I'm sick and I'm hungry, dammit, this world owes me my fucking McNuggets. But the universe had other plans. The BECU lobby is locked at night and requires one of their cards to access it - I myself am regrettably a KeyBank man. This is still not fucked though, I muse to myself. I google nearby KeyBanks and find one nearby, so I shamble back across the street, get in my car, and drive to the nearest one, somehow missing the only turn I needed to take and minorly overshooting before making it to my destination. I parked in a UPS spot that warned I may be towed, but I am at this point beyond doubt now, beyond the ability to by stopped by man nor beast nor even the highest authority. God itself could stand in the way of my parking spot and I would simply run it over. Nothing could deter me from my nuggets. I accessed the ATM, I got my dollars, I did my little dance and fingerguns at the machine which I like to imagine was viewed by a bored security guard with some amusement, and wandered back across the street to my vehicle. I could feel the excitement building…all the setbacks across my perilous journey had merely strengthened my lust for nuggets. I drove back to the home of Grimace, determined to get my hands on that deep fried, overpriced goodness. The excitement was building...I had been to several locations, walked, driven, defied the parking laws, and was back at the site of the first setback. I was *here*. After waiting for the car in front of me to clear away, I pull up once again to the microphone. I felt changed by my journey, like something had metamorphosed within me and this step was bringing me full circle. I inquired as to whether it was possible to get the McNugget meal with a milkshake instead of the soda, to which the voice on the other end informed me that they were out of ice cream. Fuck...all this for no milkshake. I was pained. But did Sam and Frodo bail when Mordor was difficult? No, and they were like four feet tall. If they didn't, I couldn't either. I ask for the regular McNugget meal. They then informed me that they only had breakfast. Dear reader: I fucking hate McDonalds breakfast. I had made this long journey, only to be foiled at the last moment by something the employee could have informed me the first time. This was the moment when I truly felt the anguish of despair, the futility of rage, and the cold hatred for this joke which we call existence. This has been my supervillain origin story. I will not forgive the world, and it will not be able to forgive me. My fury cannot be contained by all the gods of every belief system and could power a thousand Dyson spheres.

[lady-vetinari]

Okay, let me reason this out (I make no claims of having the definite grasp on all these characters, and I would be happy to have others argue completely differently)

Colon and Nobby: No. Definitely not. I do not know if they'd be tempted by the ring easily, and Nobby for sure would be great at hiding it from pursuers, but the ring would be so annoyed by them, it would leave them before they ever got close to Mordor. However, if somebody else has already brought it all the way to Mount Doom, they could be the ones to actually destroy it in a comedic tussle.

The Luggage and Rincewind: No. Rincewind would be possible, he would for sure be the fastest, but there is no way that the Luggage wouldn't enthusiastically embrace the power of the ring and become unstoppable.

The Librarian (ook): No. One vision from the ring about being able to even better punish people who harm books and he as well would use its power.

Moist von Lipwig: Hm, this one's harder. He regularly gets forced into taking on tasks for the public good that he initially loathes but then becomes good at. The problem is that he is good at it because he understands people, and that's not what's hard about destroying the ring.

Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg: These two (and Magrat) already had an entire adventure about a powerful magic item that shouldn't (should?) be used, and did pretty well with it. (If Magrat was included, no. She would be well meaning but have the Boromir problem.) Granny especially has already worked her entire life against using power for evil. A much harder tightrope walk to not tip over in the ways Gandalf and Galadriel fear though. Plus, everyone knows a coven needs three witches.

Maurice and the rats: I'll abstain because I've only read this one once ages ago and don't remember enough. (But the way Maurice uses the rats and the boy in the beginning, he would use the ring no question)

Vimes: Already fighting against inner demons all the time, so very used to withstanding the ring's tempations, similar to Granny. Probably my choice up to Night Watch, but afterwards would fail because it would require either leaving Sybil and Sam jr. behind for way too long, or taking them along and worrying too much about them to keep his resilience up.

Dorfl: Interesting. Could a golem even wear a ring? Cannot be turned from his mission for sure, but I feel like he lacks the subtelty to not be noticed by orcs or Sauron before long.

Carrot and Angua: Once again somebody (Carrot) who has the option of taking power but does not do so (I'm sensing a theme in Discworld). The two of them as well make up a great team. Actually, that will retroactively make me say no to everyone who is alone, simply because the task is too big for one person. Very solid choice.

Cheery Littlebottom: No. Sorry, I love her, but I don't think she quite has what is required. Also, see my point about needing two people. She would be a great Sam stand-in for somebody else though (a Sam-Frodo like bond can be forged on the way).

The Nac Mac Feegles: No. This is hilarious in so many ways, but no. They would be much better suited to fighting alongside the humans to distract Sauron. Actually, we'll have them stand in for the ghost army.

In conclusion, my vote goes to Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg, but my second choice would be Carrot and Angua. Others might eke out ahead under specific circumstances, or if they get a great partner. This does have, in my opinion, the highest chance of success, however if it does go wrong, it will go wrong worse than any other option in the list.

Explanations welcome! No "other" option, sorry.

[minubell]

@ttrtru

Adjusting to a new home is scary. It's scarier when you're alone.

TW: Implied/Referenced child abuse

Autophobia

It takes newborn children the first few months of their lives to realize that objects continue to exist when they are not staring at them.

Indur is not a newborn, but he feels still feels a heart-racing panic whenever Angmar slips out of his sight.

His room in the tower is quiet but his heart rattles in his chest. It is dark in his bedroom, with night having well fallen upon the tower. The candles are long extinguished. He lays upon his bed in the black, tucked under sheets and blankets and furs.

He is alone.

He is exhausted.

It was easier in Harad-not home, never home-to ignore the panic, as Angmar had barely left his side for those few years. The room Angmar had claimed just so happened to be right next to Indur’s, and with no one else in the castle it had been…peaceful. Indur still had jumped at shadows whenever they looked too similar to people, but Angmar had always been there to chase the memories away.

It was only when Angmar had finally been called back to Mordor by his master and Indur had followed that things had changed, had gotten worse.

Our master now, Indur thinks to himself, staring at the stone ceiling above him. Something stirs in his chest and it feels like jealousy.

He is… mostly indifferent towards their master. Indur is not loyal to him like the other Nazgul are. He is not disloyal either, of course. He may be young but he isn’t a fool. No, Indur is simply loyal to Angmar. Indur’s loyalty to their master is secondary to Angmar’s own. A byproduct at best.

Indur suspects their master is aware of this.

Sometimes he worries if he will be cast away for it.

Indur closes his eyes. Trying to fall asleep, trying to slip into unconsciousness. He’s so tired. Why does sleep elude him again?

So far there has been no comment. There was an initial judgement when they had first arrived, but it had lasted only a few minutes and their master had let Angmar’s decision to give Indur a ring stand without much fuss. There had been no tests of his skills or knowledge. No oaths of fealty.

They had not even spoken since that first meeting. Indur has not even seen him since that time.

Their new master is apparently very busy.

Indur turns his head and presses himself into the pillows, wrapping his arms around one of the smaller ones. Squeezing it to his chest, trying to settle the distress sweeping over him. It is night time. He should be sleeping.

His eyes are already closed, but he squeezes them shut even tighter.

Nighttime is the worst.

Over the last few weeks Indur has gone from walking several feet behind Angmar, to a few paces, to just behind him, to practically walking on top of him, all in an attempt to minimize those moments of fear that come from not being able to see him.

He is of course mindful of his feet to not accidentally step on Angmar’s heels. Like Angmar’s actual shadow he is quiet, unobtrusive, and dutiful in the way he follows him almost everywhere he goes. Like a good shadow, Angmar rarely pays him much mind.

Indur knows, naturally, that Angmar has not vanished from the world just because he is doing other things. He knows Angmar has not been suddenly struck down when he is simply out of sight. He knows Angmar is fine.

But Indur cannot help the rising alarm in his chest that bubbles up into his throat when Angmar is gone. Cannot help the way his heart races and his throat tightens and his brain conjures images of the worst come to pass.

Angmar is easily the largest of the Nazgul, easily the tallest of the Nazgul, easily the strongest of the Nazgul, easily the most adept at magic amongst their number.

Indur is easily the smallest of the Nazgul, easily the shortest of the Nazgul, easily the weakest of their number. He is the youngest-will forever be the youngest-and it is in moments like these, trying to fall asleep in a room by himself, that he feels far younger than his years.

He feels like a child.

He feels like he is still a child.

He feels like he is still eight years old, trapped within a castle that should be a home but it isn’t.

His eyes are shut but it would not matter because he cannot see anyway, not with the blindfold covering his eyes.

“Indur.”

Fingers comb through his skull, nails dragging across his scalp, winding in through his hair and pulling HARD. Yanking his head back until his throat is bared for hands to wrap around and squeeze until he can’t breathe.

“Indur.”

Another set of hands cup his cheek, gently at first then abruptly aggressive, squeezing his jaw tight until it aches. Forcing his mouth open, and he still cannot breathe but it doesn’t matter because a goblet is being pressed against his lips and a liquid that is sickeningly-sweet-familiar slips past his teeth and across his tongue. The wine barely disguises the taste of the herb that has been added, but Indur does not want to drink either anymore. He's sick of the way it blurs his thoughts, makes his vision spin, makes him forget.

“Indur.”

Indur awakens with tears in his eyes, sweat on his forehead and a sob in his throat. He chokes back tears, head swimming and mind disoriented. He’s uncertain of when exactly his racing thoughts had made way for sleep.

He curls his fingers into the sheets of his bed, but they’re too soft under his grip. His room is too warm, the darkness too stifling, the solitude too unbearable.

He can’t… He can’t breathe.

He kicks at the sheet and punches the pillow away, trying to free himself of the sensation of being strangled. His hands grab at the collar of his night clothes until his fingers find purchase and pull. The cloth stretches and the threads break with a quiet tearing sound, and he’s left lying upon the bed with tears in his eyes and a ruined shirt.

At least it no longer feels as though it is choking him.

Indur draws in a breath that hitches halfway through his inhale and turns into a sob near the end. He presses shaking hands against the sides of his head, pushing at his temples, trying to clear his mind.

It is his seventh night of nightmares in just as many days.

That doesn’t count the others he has had since arriving here.

The loss of sleep is getting to be unbearable. He feels at the end of his rope. He’s exhausted. He just wants to be able to sleep through the night undisturbed, to not have the memories of his childhood haunt him so.

It should be over. It is over. Those people who tormented him are dead by his own hand. Why can’t their memory remain buried as well?

He sniffs loudly, rubbing the corner of his eyes with his sleeve.

It’s too much. He can’t stay here anymore.

Slowly he swings his legs over the side of the bed, and his bare feet quietly touch the warm stone floor below. He grasps one of the blankets he kicked off the bed and drapes it over his shoulders like an oversized cloak. It trails behind him on the ground as he reaches for one of the pillows on the bed and tucks it close to his chest.

Indur shuffles towards the door, sniffling quietly. His steps are quiet on the smooth stone, and the door only creaks softly when he opens it and steps into the dim, candle-lit hall.

No one is awake at this hour. No men, anyway.

Indur closes the door to his room behind him.

He moves down the hallway like a ghost, the only noise the occasional hitch in his breath like a hiccup and the sound of the blanket dragging behind him across the stone as he walks, staggering only slightly.

Left.

Right.

Up the steps.

Down the hall.

He comes to pause at last in front of a door just like any others in the tower, but Indur knows better.

He reaches up a hand, knocking softly on the door once, twice. When there is no response after a few moments, he lets his hand rest on the handle and opens the door with a soft creak.

Inside the darkness, a shape stirs.

“What?” Angmar growls. His hair is untied from its usual loose half-bun, and all of the long grey-black stands hang freely around the sides of his face and down his neck. He is still laying upon his bed, but is propped up on one elbow, squinting towards the doorway. He blinks the dregs of sleep from his eyes and Indur can see the exact moment that recognition dawns on Angmar’s face. “What do you want, runt?”

The nickname is obviously insulting, but Indur’s heart soars at the sound of his voice anyway. Deep and rumbling and slightly more gravely from sleep.

“I can’t sleep,” Indur whispers from the doorway.

“…And?”

“Can I sleep on your floor?” Indur asks quietly. He usually spends him time in Angmar’s shadow trying to be as unobtrusive as possible. This is… this is a first for him. But his nose is still running and his shirt is ruined and he can feel tears at the corners of his eyes and his breath hitches and he is just so tired.

He’s desperate.

Angmar stares at him in silent judgement, still obviously weary from being disturbed from his own sleep. There’s a scowl on his face that is nearly always present on his face and makes his thoughts indecipherable. There are small, almost impossible to notice eye movements as Angmar’s gaze sweeps over him, and if possible his scowl deepens.

Indur doesn’t know what he’ll do if he’s turned away. He just wants to feel safe once more.

Finally, Angmar grumbles and shifts in his bed until he is closer to the far edge of the bed rather than being in the middle. He pats the new space created on the bed next to him with a soft, gruff, “c’mere.” Almost immediately he rolls back over so his back is to Indur and lays back down to sleep.

Indur doesn’t hesitate, quickly scurrying over to the bed before the offer can be retracted, abandoning his own pillow and blanket upon the floor at the side of the bed. He slips beneath the covers, pulling the blankets up over his chest and up to his chin. They’re likely the same blankets in his own room, but they feel nicer in Angmar’s room. Cozier.

He lets his eyes close once more.

He can feel the dip in the mattress next to him, can hear Angmar’s deep, rumbling, annoyed huffs about having been disturbed.

...This is better.

Something shifts next to him, and a large hand settles on his head, not combing through his hair and pulling, but rather giving him a single, almost reassuring pat.

“Next time you come in, don’t wake me up,” Angmar grumbles, then rolls back over to asleep.

It’s as close to an open invitation as Angmar will give him, and it is one of the most precious things Angmar could have offered him.

Indur sleeps well for the rest of the night.

[gossip-girl-of-middleearth]

Wrong End of the Ithilien Stick (Legolas x Reader)

Requested by: @elvish-sky

could i request a legolas x reader with angst- like she misheard something he said and they have a falling out- but with a happy ending?

A/N: Here you are!! Hope you enjoy :) bon appetit ☀️

They were hopeless – completely, and utterly hopeless. Most who wished to court did so at the first few stolen glances, but not Y/n and Legolas.

Apparently, a year’s worth of peril on the road did nothing to invoke revelations. The Fellowship journey may have introduced them to one another, but it did nothing to bring them together. No, that was entirely up to them – the worst two to be left in charge of their own romantic fates.

Although, that’s not to say they entirely went their separate ways in the aftermath. Y/n had stayed behind with Legolas, in Ithilien, where they sought to restore the trees.

The whole process was full of cleared throats, deep blushes and shy smiles. Gimli, on the occasions he would visit, rolled his eyes, and groaned aloud.

“Ye still on yer dove dancing, are ye?” he taunted one day.

However, all the pair could do, was look away from one another. Y/n simply felt herself too inferior to his royal status, as to make the first move. Legolas, on the other hand, felt himself too high maintenance to even begin asking her if she minded his princely upbringing.

It was a vicious cycle, but one the four Hobbits sought to destroy, following their next visit.

“So, we are all aware of our roles?” Frodo asked, as the four friends strolled across a wooden bridge, and into the Ithilien forest.

Frodo had enjoyed the distraction, and appreciated the time away from his cooped-up desk greatly. Any chance to rid himself of the journey’s memories, was a chance he’d take.

“Aye!” Pippin confirmed. “Merry and I are tackling Y/n, and you and Sam will handle Legolas.”

“By nightfall, those two will be married!” Merry agreed, nodding resolutely.

However, stifling the Hobbits’ laughter, Y/n and Legolas appeared from nowhere – greeting them by the creek’s bank.

“Who’s getting married by nightfall?” Y/n sweetly asked, squinting under the bright morning sun.

“I don’t mind a wedding,” Legolas added on, smiling down at Y/n. “If it’s someone we know, perhaps we ought to go. Could borrow some cake?”

“I don’t think they’ll be wanting it back, somehow,” Y/n laughed, sharing the Elf’s smile.

Watching as they grinned brightly, and laughed together, the four Hobbits nervously looked at one another.

Oh, how desperately they needed their plan to work. Y/n would shrivel from mortality, before they even had a chance to marry themselves!

“Alas, we’re being rude,” Y/n dismissed, immediately moving forwards to hug all her friends. “It’s been so long since our last visit to the Shire! We’ve missed you all so much!”

“Likewise,” Sam warmly replied, hugging her tight. “We quite enjoyed the trek on over here too.”

“Oh, really?” Y/n excitedly asked, pulling back. “Legolas and I have been working on the trail leading in all year! We finally managed to grow the petunias you sent over as well.”

“That’s wonderful news,” Frodo smiled, now walking in tow with the girl and Elf, as they led them away. “So…speaking of news, has anything as of late occurred in Ithilien? Any news of courtship, perhaps?”

“From whom?” Legolas tightly asked, not at all liking Frodo’s sly connotation.

“Oh, no one in particular,” he lied, sharing a smile with the other Hobbits.

“Of course…” Legolas dismissed, nonetheless answering, as he walked through the botanical gardens. “Well, not to our knowledge, no…oh, but a wonderful pair of deer mated recently! We are expecting fawns any season now.”

“So are we,” Merry grumbled, rolling his eyes.

Having heard, with his Elven hearing, what the Hobbit said, Legolas confusedly glanced over his shoulder. Nonetheless, he merely only creased his features, before stealing a glance at Y/n. He then looked back up front, as they pressed on walking.

“Well, there is much ground to cover,” Legolas changed the topic, glancing up at the glittering trees. “We ought to start here first, so that we can make it back in time to-“

“Actually, Legolas,” Frodo interjected, coming to a halt, and causing the others to do the same, “we were thinking, on the way over here, that we ought to maybe split the group in half, so that we might finish earlier this time?”

Blinking down at the Hobbit, Y/n and Legolas knitted their brows. They then unsteadily looked between one another, before Y/n herself piped up again.

“Uh, sure…we can do that,” she said. “Any reason why, though?”

“Well, we do want to see your restoration project, and permaculture,” Merry began answering, chewing on the end of his pipe, “but, we’d prefer to spend some time with just you two as well. You know, at dinner and such. Don’t forget, we need supper as well.”

Looking between one another once more, and silently communicating, the two taller friends discreetly shrugged.

“Very well,” Legolas sighed, returning his attention to the Hobbits. “Frodo and Sam, you two can come with me. Merry and Pippin, you join Y/n. Oh, and Merry? Discard the pipe – there’s no smoking in Ithilien.”

Upholding both palms in surrender, Merry tucked the pipe away. As he and Pippin began following after Y/n, they both shared a sneaky grin with Frodo and Sam. They each all resolutely nodded at one another, before turning around to face back up front.

~

“Oh! Oh! Look!” Y/n excitedly pointed out.

Looking upwards, both Merry and Pippin observed a courting pair of bluebirds. They flew around one another, and landed in a little brown nest, high up in a tree.

Grinning brightly, Y/n breathed in the soft spring air.

“Oh, don’t you just love this time of year?” she wistfully sighed. “The courting animals, the romantic lighting, the little boats on the lake-“

“THAT’S IT! I CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE!” Merry exclaimed. He clamped his ears tight, with both hands, and squeezed his eyes shut.

“Merry?” Y/n asked in concern, swiftly turning around to observe him. “Are you alright? What’s wrong?”

“What’s wrong? What’s WRONG?” Merry seethed, finally re-meeting her eyes. “YOU ARE, Y/N, THAT’S WHAT!”

“I beg your pardon?” Y/n bit back, looking him up and down with narrowed eyes. “What did I do?”

“It’s more like what you haven’t done,” Pippin elaborated, ever-so-casually. “Actually, both you and Legolas, to be perfectly candid.”

Feeling heat rise to her cheeks, Y/n stammered over her words.

“I-I don’t understand-“ she tried to say.

“Yes, you do,” Merry interjected, using a series of hand gestures to further his point. “You like him. He likes you. It’s been like this since Rivendell – BEFORE we all set out for Mordor, mind you! Somehow, destroying that little ring was easier than getting you two to admit your feelings!”

Y/n was at a loss for words. Had it all really been that obvious?

“Yes, it really has been that obvious,” Merry piped up again, apparently having read her mind.

Slumping her shoulders, Y/n ran a hand along her face, and complained.

“This is really humiliating…” she said. “Do you think Legolas knows too?”

“Y/n, not to alarm you, but I’m pretty sure all of Arda knows,” Pippin winced.

Finding a park bench, Y/n sat herself down in a flush, and groaned.

“Well, whatever am I to do?” she asked, as her two friends each took a seat beside her. “I ought to tell him, I know that much, but I just simply cannot muster the courage.”

“Y/n, I’ve seen you slowly decapitate an orc’s head with a picnic knife,” Merry deadpanned, placing a hand on her shoulder. “I think you can handle telling your one true love how you really feel.”

Rolling her eyes at his choice of cheesy words, Y/n soon reeled them into her lap, where she picked at her thumbnail.

“Aye, that is true, but…” she pressed on, “well, look at me, guys. I’m a commoner, and no amount of true love is going to change that. He’s a prince, at the end of the day…what would everyone think?”

“What does it matter what everyone thinks?” Pippin encouraged, holding her other shoulder. “We, the Fellowship survivors, know above all else just how short life is. You can’t spend it worrying about what others will make of your happiness.”

Seeing the cogs turn in her mind, Merry squeezed her shoulder harder, and urged her to look at him.

“You love him, Y/n…you can’t delay any longer,” he said.

Chewing on the inside of her cheek, Y/n creased her brows. It was true, she loved him, more than anything else. Why should she deny herself that, based purely on what others would think?

“You know something? You’re right!” she resolutely declared. She stood upwards quickly, and squared her shoulders. “I love him, and I shouldn’t care what anyone thinks of my status! I’m going to tell him – today!”

Whooping and hollering, Merry and Pippin also both jumped to their feet. They pushed her along, as she began jogging away, to where she knew Legolas would be.

“That’s the spirit, friend!” Pippin cheered. “Go and tell him! And please make the cake red velvet at the wedding!”

Waving over her shoulder with a grin, Y/n pushed her legs faster, as to find Legolas, and finally reveal her heart to him.

~ In the botanical greenhouse, Legolas, Sam and Frodo all stood around – inspecting the many different pot plants.

“And this one is a young fern,” Legolas explained, holding a tiny plant up high. “I grew it myself from a seedling. I’m hoping it’ll soon have sprouts of its own, and raise a family, and-“

“Oh my goodness…” Sam sighed, folding his arms, and shaking his head. “You really are hopeless, you know that, right?”

“Pardon?” Legolas confusedly asked, lifting his eyes from the fern. “My apologies…if you do not like ferns, I could show you the-“

“Legolas…I think you ought to sit down for a moment,” Frodo interjected, gesturing to a wooden chair in the middle of the greenhouse.

Furrowing his brows, Legolas warily glanced between the two Hobbits. They stood in front of the chair, and folded their arms – very serious, indeed.

Slowly, Legolas made his way on over towards the chair, and sat down.

Instantly, the two Hobbits closed the greenhouse curtains all around, save for one. The only window left open served one ray of sun, which purely basked Legolas, and Legolas only, as if he were under an interrogation spotlight.

Squinting his eyes, and craning his head to move out of the light, Legolas spoke.

“Is the chair really necessary-“ he tried to say.

“Right, let’s cut to the chase,” Sam interjected, standing in front of Legolas with Frodo. “Y/n. You like her. She likes you. Now, why haven’t you courted her, and made beautiful children yet?”

Staring wide-eyed for a moment, Legolas parted his lips. However, swift in his archer’s mind, he soon sighed. Next, slumping his shoulders, Legolas responded.

“I suppose I haven’t been as discreet in my fondness as previously thought…” he mused.

“Not in the slightest,” Sam and Frodo said at once.

Twitching his lips to one side, Frodo softly stared down at his friend, and pressed on.

“Legolas…why haven’t you told her of how you feel yet?” he asked.

Lifting his eyes, and wincing them, Legolas considered his thoughts. He knew how much Y/n enjoyed her freedom, and he knew how restricting a royal life could be. He loved Y/n enough to not impose such a confining lifestyle on her – that was why he held back.

Exhaling again, Legolas knew he could no longer hide his feelings from his friends, and responded.

At the same time, just outside of the greenhouse, Y/n ran up to the door. Stumped for a moment, as to why the curtains were all drawn back, she nonetheless moved closer. However, upon hearing muffled voices on the other side, speaking of her in particular, she halted, and listened in.

“Are you jesting, Frodo? She’s a commoner,” Legolas said in frustration, shocking the girl outside. “Y/n and formalities simply do not mix. How could anyone ever love someone so different from themselves? Nay…I wouldn’t brew that situation.”

Having stumbled backwards in hurt, Y/n felt tears prick at her eyes. She raised both hands, and held them over her chest.

Before she could freely cry, she turned on her heel, and ran away. However, as she did so, she failed to hear the end of Legolas’ sentence, which defined the entire context.

“That’s why I can’t marry Y/n…she deserves better than what I could give her,” he said. “I wouldn’t wish for someone so free to be tied down to someone like me...I’m far too different from her.”

“Does Y/n not also get a say in the matter?” Frodo sincerely asked, studying his friend apologetically. “Y/n loves you, Legolas…you ought to at least give your courtship a chance, regardless of formalities.”

“Aye, Frodo is right,” Sam added on, nodding at his raven-haired friend. “You ought to at least speak to her. It can’t hurt…well, it can, but you’ll never know until you try.”

Sucking on his lower lip, Legolas knitted his brows. He considered his friends’ words, and mulled them over. It was true, he loved Y/n, and he was almost certain she him. Perhaps Frodo and Sam were right – simply talking couldn’t do much harm, could it?

Nodding his head, Legolas met the Hobbits’ eyes again.

“Aye,” he agreed at last. “You’re right, I ought to at least ask her!”

Swiftly standing, Legolas moved out from the chair, and headed towards the greenhouse door.

“We’re proud of you!” Sam cheered, giving a mighty few claps of his hands.

“Good luck,” Frodo smiled, nodding at his friend.

Nodding back once, Legolas beamed bright, and headed outside.

~

Having run away far enough, Y/n now trekked angrily through the forest. Her jaw was set, and her eyes burning. How could he be so nice to her face, only to say such horrible things behind her back? She cared not, for she would maintain the entire other side of Ithilien, from now on.

She, a commoner, would not dare stay with someone who cares so little for her. However, she soon heard a bright voice calling from behind. Turning around, she spotted Legolas swiftly jogging towards her.

“Y/n!” he called, wearing an excited smile.

The moment he jogged up to her, Y/n grew cold in her stance. She revered him with distrust, and anger.

This did not go unnoticed by Legolas, whose features dropped, and his mind wiped. He now sought to ensure she herself was okay.

“Are you alright?” he sincerely asked, brimming with concern.

Laughable, Y/n thought. How dare he pretend to care – right to her face as well!

“Never been better,” Y/n seethed, turning on her heel.

Stammering over his words for a minute, Legolas shook the odd mood in the air away. He followed after her, and shyly spoke – though, his words were hasty.

“There’s something I have to tell you,” he began. However, Y/n wanted none of it.

“You don’t have to tell me anything, your highness!” Y/n snapped, turning around once more, and angrily pointing at him. “I heard enough earlier.”

“You heard what I said?” Legolas repeated in horror, suddenly feeling his palms grow clammy – for more than one reason.

“Every last word,” Y/n replied, glaring across at the Elf.

Shocked by her attitude, Legolas was simply at a loss. He shook his head at the ground in confusion, and spoke.

“I-I thought you would have understood?” he said, lifting his puzzled eyes once more.

“Oh, I understand!” Y/n sarcastically started, rolling her eyes. “Just like you said yourself; how could anyone love someone so different?”

Truly hurt by her words, Legolas parted his lips. His eyes brimmed in anguish, as all his hopes were suddenly stomped on, and buried beneath the dirt.

“But…I thought that wouldn’t matter to you?” he said in a small voice.

“Yeah, well…I guess you thought wrong,” Y/n replied, scrunching her nose in disdain.

Turning on her heels, Y/n stalked away. Where she was heading? She didn’t know – all she knew, is that she could find some better and more loyal company, with just herself.

Left alone, Legolas stood in silence. What had just happened? She truly did not wish to court him, purely because of his royal status? Very well, then – he could do just as fine by himself.

Matching her anger, Legolas too stalked away, but in the opposite direction.

~

Sat down in the grass, and enjoying a picnic by the lake, Frodo and Sam basked in each other’s company. Merry and Pippin were off who knows where, and doing God knows what. However, all tranquillity soon came to an end, the moment a furious Y/n stomped past.

Staring between one another, and blinking in confusion, the two Hobbits quickly dropped their sandwiches. They rose swiftly, and chased after her.

“Hey! Hey, Y/n!” Frodo called, jogging to meet with her. “Have you found Legolas yet? There’s something you need to know. We spoke earlier, and-“

“Yes, I know you all talked earlier,” Y/n snapped, now recalling exactly whom Legolas spoke with before. She halted, and glared down at the two friends. “You’re all very good comrades, aren’t you? Well, if you are all such good brothers in arms, how about you go find him instead, and leave me alone?”

Noticing that she made a move to stalk away again, along the edge of the glistening lake, both Frodo and Sam confusedly looked between one another once more.

“I beg your pardon, Y/n,” Sam tentatively spoke up, watching her leave, “but I think you may have the wrong end of the stick here?”

“Oh, no, I think I have the exact right idea,” Y/n seethed, rolling her eyes. “I hope you all had a lovely time, speaking about me behind my back – and just a commoner? Really? We can’t all be from Bag End, Frodo.”

Confused, but only for a moment, the context suddenly clicked in Frodo’s mind. Racing forwards, he held Y/n’s hand, and kept her in place.

“Wait! You DEFINITELY have the wrong idea!” he exclaimed. “I know what you’re angry about, but you have to listen! He wasn’t talking about you in that regard – he was referencing his distress over taking you from your farming life, and placing you in royal formalities!”

“What are you talking about-“ Y/n had gone to say, with a yank of her hand out of his. However, Frodo’s words quickly met her mind, and ceased her tongue.

Oh.

Oh.

Well, now that made more sense.

Feeling a wave of shame wash over her, Y/n bared her teeth in cringe, and winced her features.

“Oh my…” was all she could say.

~

A little further off, but still heading towards the lake, and Legolas could be found in the same situation – however, only a few steps behind.

“You all come into our home, and plant ideas in our heads,” Legolas seethed, striding away from Merry and Pippin, “only to leave poisonous weeds instead! I don’t know what you’ve all done behind the scenes, but you’ve certainly made nothing better since your arrival!”

“Please, Legolas! Just tell us what happened!” Merry begged, struggling to keep up.

“Well, that’s just the thing, isn’t it? I don’t know!” Legolas exclaimed, rolling his eyes. “One minute, the last time I was with Y/n, mind you, and we were happy! But the second I see her again, after she spent her morning with you two, and she turns like the tide on a wintery day!”

“That just doesn’t make any sense…” Pippin whispered, creasing his brows. “When she left us, she was on her way to tell you all about how much she wished to court you, and-“

Halting in his tracks, Legolas paused. Snapping his head over his shoulder, the Elf questioned the Hobbit, who quickly clamped his mouth shut.

“What?” he pressed. “What do you mean she was coming to tell me of courting?”

Looking between one another, Merry and Pippin sheepishly bared their teeth. Figuring the cat was already out of the bag, Merry turned back first, and revealed their agenda.

“Well, we somewhat��nudged…Y/n, to tell you of her love for you,” he said. “Last time we saw her, like I said, she went to find you in the greenhouse.”

Knitting his brows, and mulling the new bouts of information over, Legolas responded through a confused shake of his head.

“But that just doesn’t make any sense,” Legolas continued. “What could have soured her perception, from her journey between you, and the greenhouse-“

The greenhouse.

Oh.

Oh.

Having caught his own words, Legolas immediately knew what went wrong. She had thought him to be insulting her status, and he thought her to be rejecting his.

Running a hand over his face, Legolas growled in frustration. Why must love be so hard? Surely, beyond courting, marriage and children, things would be easier, would they not? Well, Legolas wasn’t so certain he’d find out now – not unless he tracked down Y/n in time, before their rift planted roots too deep.

“I need to find her,” Legolas frantically began, looking all around himself. “I have no idea where she’d be – she could be on the other side of the forest, for all I know!”

“Uh, I don’t think so,” Merry interjected, staring behind Legolas with Pippin.

“How would you know?” Legolas confusedly asked, though, his frustration edged his tone.

“Just a hunch,” Merry said again, pointing behind the prince.

Looking over his shoulder, Legolas’ formerly hardened features softened. Y/n stood in the near distance behind him, and anxiously stared in his direction – like a deer caught in the headlights. She chewed on her lower lip nervously, and waited by the lapping water’s edge.

Catching both Frodo and Sam’s eye, Merry and Pippin each awkwardly began stepping away, as did the other two Hobbits.

“Okay, we’re just, uh…gonna go now, yeah…good luck,” Merry said, dragging his younger cousin away.

Swallowing his nerves, Legolas suddenly felt his knees buckle, and his palms grow clammy. Nonetheless, if he was old enough to court, then he was old enough to resolve relationship issues.

Breathing in a shaky breath, and releasing it through pursed lips, Legolas forced his feet across the grass, to where Y/n stood.

Feeling her own heart hammer, and sweat cling to her temples, Y/n shifted on her feet. She frequently looked between an approaching Legolas, and the lake beside her. Was love meant to be this scary? Would it always be like this? Or was this the end?

She figured she would soon find out, for the prince now stood before her.

Both said nothing. Instead, they merely stole glances, like so many times before, and looked at the rippling lake.

The sun basked them in a warm glow, and the wind blowing through the leaves nearby met their ears. Soon, however, a chilly afternoon breeze rolled through, and darkened the sky overhead.

With a shiver, Y/n wrapped her arms around her form. She rubbed up and down, as to bring the warmth back. She hadn’t been wearing a cloak that day, for she figured she needed none. This was, of course, against Legolas’ advisement earlier that morning.

Sensing her cold, Legolas finally studied her again. With a sigh past his nose, he shed his own cloak. Next, stepping forwards, and accelerating both her heartrate and his, he wrapped the green material around her shoulders.

Immediately, the cold of the world was blocked out. It even appeared as though the sun above had made a comeback – breaking through the otherwise grey clouds.

He held her shoulders, as he adjusted the cloak, and secured it over her form. Y/n watched his features, as they creased in both concentration, and consideration.

“Why would you do that?” Y/n asked, after a moment of quiet study – breaking the silence finally. “Won’t you now be cold?”

Although he did not feel the cold the same way she did, Legolas used the moment as an advantage – a hoist to deliver his most inner thoughts, in a way.

“Perhaps, but…I’d prefer you to be warm,” he said, having initially jolted at her sudden words.

“Why?” Y/n tightly asked. She knew why, but she wanted to hear him say it.

Swallowing down his nerves, Legolas slowly met her eyes. They brimmed with nerves, but also adoration – a combination of which Y/n shared. However, hers also bore eagerness, and anticipation.

“Because…” he began in a small voice, swallowing once more. “I…I, uh-“

“Yes?” Y/n whispered, leaning in closer.

Sighing, Legolas buried his nerves away, and did the most un-Elven thing possible. He swept Y/n into a tight embrace, and hugged her warmly.

Shocked for a minute, Y/n widened her eyes. However, she soon melted into his touch, and hugged him back.

“Because, I believe a partner should ensure theirs is okay,” Legolas finally revealed.

“Partner?” Y/n repeated, in a very small voice. “And by partner…you mean?”

“Someone I love dearly, and care about most ardently,” he softly replied, kissing the top of her head.

Stunned by his small gesture for a moment, butterflies fluttered in Y/n’s stomach. She then hid said nerves with humour.

“Well…that is definitely hard to misinterpret,” Y/n attempted to joke. However, her joy overwhelmed her, and she squeezed the prince harder. “If it’s any consolation, I love you too…and I’m sorry for my brash behaviour earlier.”

“Aye, I am as well,” Legolas grinned, swaying her in the sun. “So…this may perhaps be an ambitious request, but…will you court me? Royal status and all?”

“Of course,” Y/n grinned back. “But, will you court me, commoner status and all?”

Smiling brighter, and closing his eyes contently, Legolas continued on hugging the girl by the shore. He then softly answered, whilst the sun basked them both in a placid glow – perhaps a tell-tale of the many good days to come.

“Without question,” he said at last.

[space-blue]

Dune, the mostly spoiler free review.

Spoilers will be under breaks.

Having slept on it (and since I got to bed at 4am I needed that), and having eaten enough sugar to kickstart my brain again, I can now confirm, wholeheartedly, that Dune is a masterpiece.

Hardly a hot take on the internet right now, I know. I'll say this, to start on a low note : Dune's greatest flaw is that the side characters (anyone outside of Jessica and Paul) can be left wanting development. Some non-book readers might struggle to get attached.

The film simply doesn't have time to deliver narrative, mood and emotional characters the way Fellowship of the Rings did, as I often see the film compared to LOTR. Unlike LOTR, Dune has not shot part 2, and it doesn't have enough action beats/plot beats to give you engaging character interactions for 1/3 of the story.

As a result some characters seem to be "seen in passing". Which... Bothered me a little at 3am, but has since faded. My memories turn to Jessica and how incredible Fergusson was. Absolutely show stealing. And Skarsgard!! Yeesh, the Baron Harkonnen does not need more screen time to be intimidating...

All the cast delivers. The visuals, design, costume, photography... It's clear to me everyone involved in this was at the top of their craft and giving it their all for a career turning point of a production. I even struggle to believe book 2 could land such a punch again, I mean, I've rarely been punched in the face this hard by a movie...

I mean, I'm not the type to be into spaceships or anything. I even struggle with models in the Star Wars universe and I published 58 fan fics for that fandom so... And yet in this film, hah... When the Atreides ships are introduced (you see these big transports in the trailer) I was like "No. He didn't... OMG the madlad, he did." — the music, the visuals, the scale... And then there's the thopters, and I was having moments of prescience myself, seeing actual ship/spaceship nerds rise up, foam frothing at the mouth. Modeling thopters and making videos about them for years to come.

The audio was loud, bold. The music alien. The sound mixing done so well I had a snappy thought 2min in, along the lines of "I hope Nolan sits to this film and learns something about sound mixing from this" (don't @ me, I'm still spicy about my viewing of Tenet).

In short, Dune is spectacular. It oozes with mythos and charm, feels lived in, intimidating yet beguiling. The plot is as sound as the book's the visuals are a cinema/SFF fan's wet dream, the acting and production value are stupid crazy, and the only drawback IMO — for non book readers — will be the "in passing" characters (like Raban, Piter, Gurney, Hawat... Who simply don't have the space and time to shine yet) and the ending, which is 100% "INSERT CD 2"

It feels jarring and leaves you begging for more. But book readers probably won't feel the same pang, since we can now close our eyes and image how bonkers part two can be in such visuals.

I've over-heard old french people saying it was super boring and slow and... lol I can't disagree more, but then again the trailer does market an action movie, and the film is not any more action packed than BR2049 was. When the action comes calling it's big, fast... When it isn't, the movie is moody, deliberate, and meticulous.

It won't be for everyone, but if you've so much as "enjoyed" the books, you'll be having the experience of a lifetime.

Before I delve into some mild spoilers I'd like to make a disclaimer: Denis has begged people to see Dune in cinema, and I was thinking "of course, what film maker wouldn't want people in cinema?" but also suspected he might want the numbers in order to get part 2 started.

I owe him an apology for these impure thoughts. You MUST watch Dune in cinema, not for Denis or part 2 (though, come on...), but for YOURSELF. There is not a single home cinema set up that can do justice to this film. It's the definition of why you go to the cinema for. It's epic in scale, it makes you jump at startling moments, it punches and screams at you, and makes you squint at others, and you walk out of there with a sense of having witnessed something like... To me, like Interstellar. Remember seeing that docking sequence scene in the theater and walking out being like "holy shit" ? Well Dune is very much like that. It was made for the big screen, and anything short of IMAX or Dolby ATMOS would be a disservice to both the film and yourself.

I will be seeing it in France the instant it comes out in September. It begs rewatching.

Now for some spoilery thoughts (mild spoilers, and a warning for further spoilers below).

The film takes surprisingly little time to delve on certain topics. Like the spice. Sure you're told it's important, and the economics that drive the story make it feel important, but not nearly as much as I suspected it would be. There is no clunky exposition on the topic (lol no fucking time for that!) no scene where someone shoves spice in your face and goes “oh but blah blah spice must flow”. It’s said in passing and newcomers better hold on to their seat and pay attention.

Sadly though a fair bit of the dialogue was expositional imo, and too little of it over all felt like that heart warming moment between Paul and Leto. It's not a big drawback, but since I enjoy more character driven stories, I regretted the lack of general emotional investment.

On the point of emotions though, I was taken aback by Jamis! The scene of him in the trailers "I'll show you"... creates a sort of very subtle and implied dynamic that was probably one of the biggest heart punch for me, and started driving home how dire Paul's visions can be. I suspect some viewers won't interpret it the way I did though.

THE VOICE WAS SO WELL MADE YOU GUYS!! The thopter escape scene was always a "meh, sure, they get away" moment for me in the books. Good teamwork between Paul and Jessica... But *hearing it* was a completely different business. I was at the edge of my seat, I LOVED IT.

There's also a lot of actual signing in the film! And the Sardaukar don't speak english but a super guthural language. Kind of like making a conlang merging German and the Black Speech of Mordor and giving it to a Danish to speak. Felt very cool.

The shields were just as badass as you think they'll be. The slow impact weapons are just... *chef kiss*

Finally some heavy spoilers on book story details (jihad, Muad'dib, some characters) :

There is no mentions of Jihad, but not because it's avoided. The visions of a fight Paul has are rare, and he mentions them once. At that time he says war or massacre but not Jihad. I didn't notice until I was asked.

He also doesn't chose the name Muad'Dib. If I recall that's right after killing Jamis, but doesn't happen here, even if we see the literal muad'dib in the desert. It's also fine. Those scenes were at the very end, and I felt like slamming newcomers with such a significant moment with alien language at the very end might be a mistake. I'm curious to see how it's handled in part 2 though.

I was looking forward to Piter... His role is uber minor. As much as Hawat's. Like, the Bull that killed Leto's father gets more screen time, funnily enough. There's a heavy imagery around it that's going to fuel many video essays.

[lovely-v]

LOTR (films) Review

So I finally watched the LOTR films (20 years later). I’m super excited to review these because I read the books very recently so I feel at least a little prepared to voice some opinions. Overall I loved the films, here’s a very long (but by no means exhaustive) compilation of my thoughts, which are of course, totally subjective:

(Warning: a lot of me saying “well, actually, in the book...”)

THINGS I LIKED

- Casting! not much to say here, I thought the casting was great. One of my favorite actors that I didn’t think i’d have a huge opinion on was David Wenham as Faramir. I was kinda ambivalent on him when I saw pictures but i thought he did a great job. he showed his quality.

- Music. so much has been said about the films on the music front. I can’t offer too much original insight but when a bit of the Shire theme started to play as Frodo tries to make his way up Mount Doom I cried a little.

- Boromir and Aragorn. I liked the scene where they interact a little in Rivendell. I also like how Aragorn saves Boromir in the Moria battle and gives him this little nod of friendship. I think the films did a great job portraying the dynamic they have where Aragorn is clearly suspicious of Boromir’s motivations but grows to respect him to the point where he doesn’t even blame Boromir for being corrupted by the ring because he understands that, at heart, Boromir is a good person. 

- Sam and Frodo in Osgiliath. I expected to be kind of annoyed with the way this plot point played out (I knew ahead of time that it strayed from the book), but I actually liked it a lot. As I’ll say later, there’s some gripes I have with the way the films extremely play up the disagreements between Frodo and Sam, but I loved the scene where Frodo pulls the sword on Sam and then seems so defeated when he realizes what he’s done. I was pleasantly surprised by how emotional this scene made me. It’s admittedly A Lot, but it was done nicely, especially in conjunction with Sam’s “there’s good in this world” speech.

- Treatment of the ending. I almost think I should dislike the ending as it is in the movies, but my heart is soft and I like that they sugarcoated it a bit. I know the whole point of the Scouring of the Shire and Frodo’s depression conveys a lot about war and trauma and I think that is important, but after watching these things for twelve hours I just wanted Frodo & co. to be happy and I was kinda relieved that they cut the Scouring. Does that make me weak and perhaps bad at film analysis? yes. do I care? no. I was also very glad that the movies didn’t portray how depressed Sam was about losing Frodo in the end. Yes, he cries, but when he walks home to his family he seems happy and in the books that scene came off so much bleaker. I definitely liked the lighter tone.

THINGS I WAS NEUTRAL ON/DIDN’T LIKE

- Arwen. (Neutral) I don’t hate her, I don’t love her. I think the story she and Aragorn have is compelling and I 100% get why the filmmakers decided to add it to give her character more depth, but it felt misplaced at times. maybe it’s just because it was the only storyline I didn’t know in depth, but the scenes with the Arwen/Aragorn flashbacks felt a bit confusing and disorienting. Don’t have anything against Arwen as a character though, I think she’s pretty alright.

- Gimli. (Complicated thoughts) I want to start off by saying I don’t dislike Gimli. I like him a lot! I just think the movies did him a bit dirty. He had some good movie-exclusive moments, but I think his character really fell into this place of being the butt of too many jokes. Would have liked to see some more serious Gimli development, especially with his relationship to Legolas. Their friendship felt too much like subtext here, whereas it’s explored far more in the books.

- Two Towers Pacing. (Didn’t really like). The pacing of TTT was...weird. maybe I’m going into this with a closed mind because of the books, but it was odd to have the movie begin with Frodo and Sam and then have them only appear for a few rapid scenes after that. I think the fact that a WHOLE LOT of what happens to Frodo and Sam in TTT is moved to RotK is what makes it feel that way? In the books, Two Towers ends with Sam discovering that Frodo isn’t dead from Shelob’s sting, and I was surprised by how long it took the movies to get to that part. However, I will give the films a little leeway because I think they needed Frodo & Sam content for RotK, since most of what happens in that book is them walking through Mordor basically starving and dying. Doesn’t make for great cinema I guess, so they had to put the whole Shelob/Cirith Ungol saga into the final film. Still, I think there’s a weird lack of Frodo and Sam’s presence in TTT.

- The go home/missing bread arc. (Full of rage abt this one) yeah. so. my criticism of this is gonna sound pretty tired because people complain and complain about this part of RotK. but I’m gonna complain some more!! I don’t think the split between Frodo and Sam does anything for the plot. I really don’t. I guess it emphasizes the fact that Sam doesn’t understand how much Frodo is projecting onto Gollum, but it’s just. unnecessary angst? They had enough angst in the Osgiliath scene! Which I actually liked! And it simply doesn’t make a lot of sense for Frodo to suspect Sam of eating the bread when Sam had already offered Frodo his own food and made it clear that he would very much starve if it meant making sure Frodo could eat. But what I hate most about this scene is not that Frodo gets mad and tells Sam to go home. No. It’s that Sam actually... thinks about doing that? he actually? goes down the staircase? emotionally this is bad because Sam clearly cared enough about Frodo to follow him this far, to nearly drown for him, so why would he leave now. Practically this is bad because 1. how would Sam get out of Mordor alone and 2. where would he go. He turns around almost immediately, yes, but what was his plan. where was he going. why.

THINGS I LOVED

- For Frodo! This line, and every other shoutout to Frodo. In the books, they didn’t really actively talk about/worry about Frodo (and Sam) as much as they do in the movies. I like that they talk about Frodo more in the movies! I like that they’re thinking about him! I know it was implied that they were in the books, but I really like how it’s shown here. I think it gave a more complete picture of how much they all care about him on a personal level in addition to just needing him to succeed from a pragmatic standpoint. 

- Merry and Pippin! I feel like Merry and Pippin were so well rounded in the films. I’ve heard criticism about them being turned into comic relief characters (which they always were a little bit) but it honestly didn’t feel that way to me. They had a bit of a rough start because the films didn’t make their motives for going with Frodo as deep as the books did, but I think that by TTT they were absolutely amazing characters in every scene. In RotK their respective arcs hit really well and the scene where Pippin is singing to Denethor? *chef’s kiss* poetic. beautiful. sad. idk man I just feel like I have such a newfound appreciation for Merry and Pippin.

- Parallels! people have pointed out the parallel of Frodo and Sam’s hands before (drowning scene/mount doom scene) and I love how the movie did that. Just stunning. Also! The moving of the Smeagol & Deagol scene to RotK surprised me because in the books it was like,,,at the beginning of Fellowship, but I think the placement of it in the movies really helped emphasize the similarities between Smeagol & Deagol and Frodo & Sam (and how much Frodo fears this similarity.) There were a lot of other well done parallels between storylines and a few bits of dialogue that were repeated with great timing, but I can’t remember all of them at the moment.  

Edit: here’s one I remembered! when Frodo wakes up after being rescued and sees Gandalf, he says Gandalf’s name in a very similar tone to the one he used at the very beginning of Fellowship. It was a nice little subtle connection.

- I can’t carry it for you...alright this is self-indulgent. everyone knows I love this line. I’m just so glad it made it into the movie intact. Sean Astin’s delivery was amazing. I cheered. My mom cheered. It’s a raw line and it makes me feel secret emotions...like if shrimp colors were feelings. that line makes me feel shrimp feelings. idk i’m so tired i just watched twelve hours of movies this review is decreasing in quality by the minute but i’m about done for now anyway

Various silly afterthoughts

- I would have liked to see Sam kiss Frodo’s hands at least once. This happens 50 thousand times in the books, they could have given me one scene. one little extended edition scene. Please Peter Jackson I’m dyin’ out here

- They literally made Gollum so hateable. kinda the point yes, but I was so on board with Sam’s murderous rage. I know why Gollum’s a profoundly complex character, I know why Frodo pities him, I know why murder is bad, but I too would throw hands with that creature. also he literally body shamed Sam so much what was that skdjksdjksd. Sam is lovely. let him commit a small homicide. 

- the scene where merry and pippin drink the tall boy juice (as someone once referred to it in the tags of one of my posts)... not accurate to the books (since they don’t ever drink it with the end goal of getting tall) but so accurate to life. if I found some water that made me taller than my friends? let me at it

- Frodo panicking when he falls into the spider webs. so real bestie. i felt just as panicked watching that. i am terrified of spiders and Elijah Wood did an amazing job doing exactly what i’d do in the situation. yelping a lot and falling down.

- I feel like it’s never stated that Sam’s a gardener (or at least that he’s specifically Frodo’s gardener) until he tells Faramir he is. Did I miss this. Or do they really never say.  are you just meant to know. are you just meant to pick up gardener vibes from him.

*

This has been a very chaotic lotr movie review. Thanks for reading.

[rainydaymiddleearthimagines]

Destiny Calling: Chapter Eight

You sat on a rock, watching over the hobbits. You had been guiding them now, walking through what Gimli accurately described as "A labyrinth of stone.". There was one slight problem with your skills though. You were so unfocused it often led you to have to stop. The hobbits didn't mind it, they were just happy to have a guide leading them in the right direction. "Gandalf!" Frodo gasped, leaning up. You looked over, Sam also leaning up. "Frodo, are you alright?" You asked, your voice gentle as you did. "Yes... It was... It was just a dream." Frodo muttered. He laid back down, falling asleep soon after. You looked at Sam who was still sitting up.

"Sam? Can you not sleep?" You asked. He shook his head, getting up and sitting next to you. "What do the stones say?" He asked. "We're taking the right path... I'm only worried of the dangers ahead." You muttered. "Do you not know a safe way?" He asked. "There is no safe way to Mordor." you admitted. He gulped and you sighed. "I did not intend to add to your anxieties, I apologize Sam." you said. "Aragorn being so far away has affected you hasn't it?" Sam asked. You nodded sadly. "Is it foolish to say I miss him?" you asked, handing Sam Lambas bread. He took it. "I miss someone at home too." He said. "Who, pray tell, captures the mesmerizing gaze of Samwise Gamgee?" you asked with a smile. He chuckled.

"Her name is Rosie... Rosie Cotton." Sam admitted. "You seem fond of Rosie." you said. "I've not voiced my feelings... But when I get back, I will." He said. "The journey has changed you, hmm?" you asked. "Yes. Very much so." Sam admitted. "I wonder what it will be like when I return home." you pondered. "Aragorn will probably marry you." Sam said. You chuckled. "He's asked me before." you admitted. "You said no?" Sam asked. "I actually said yes, my father was the one who said no." you admitted. "Does Lord Elrond not like Aragorn?" Sam asked. "No, he does. But my father's relationship with him is very strained." you explained. Sam nodded, looking at the mountains around you. You looked at Frodo who was sound asleep. "Do you think Frodo will be alright after all of this?" Sam asked. You knew the truth was probably no. You didn't want to scare Sam so you simply replied with "I don't know Sam. I don't know."

Sam eventually went back to sleep, you waking them up as the sun rose. The walking annoyed you to no end, you internally questioning yourself of how much of this you could take. Sam tied a rope to a rock, all of you climbing down into the mist. "Can you see the bottom?" Sam asked you. "No! Don’t look down, Sam! Just keep going." You answered. A box fell from Sam's bag. "Catch it. Grab it Mister Frodo!" He said. Frodo grabbed it, just as your feet touched the ground, Frodo falling. He landed in your arms. "Careful!" you gasped. "Mister Frodo!?" Sam called. "Good news Sam, we found the bottom." you said making Frodo laugh. Sam climbed down to you and Frodo. "Bogs and rope and goodness knows what. It’s not natural. None of it." Sam muttered, looking at his surroundings. "What’s in this?" Frodo asked, holding up the box. "Nothing. Just a bit of seasoning. I thought maybe if we was having a roast chicken one night or something." Sam replied. "Roast chicken?!" You and Frodo asked in unison. "You never know." Sam shrugged making you chuckle. "Sam, my dear Sam." Frodo laughed. "It’s very special, that. It’s the best salt in all the Shire." Sam said in a "matter of fact" tone. "It is special. It’s a little bit of home." Frodo said with a smile.

You looked at Sam's rope. "We can’t leave this here for someone to follow us down." You said. "Who’s gonna follow us down here? It’s a shame really. Lady Galadriel gave me that. Real Elvish rope. Well there’s nothing for it. It’s one of my knots. Won’t come free in a hurry." Sam sighed. He yanked on the rope, it loosening and hitting the ground. "Real Elvish rope." Frodo snorted. You tried your best not to laugh but you couldn't resist. After all of you recovered from the rope incident you walked ahead, Frodo and Sam on each of your sides.

"So, what is the Shire like?" You asked. Sam perked up. "Oh it's much larger than most people think!" Sam said. "You've never been?" Frodo asked curiously. "No, me and Aragorn never saw reason to go." You admitted. "Well, Sam is not wrong, it is really big compared to what most people believe it to be." Frodo agreed. "But it's beautiful! Flowers everywhere!" Sam said. "You say that because you're the gardener." Frodo chuckled. "And a darn good one too!" Sam said proudly. "Is it true you live out of holes?" You asked. "More like we live in the sides of hills." Frodo corrected. "Can I ask you somethin' Miss Y/n?" Sam asked. "Of course Sam." You answered. "What is the other elven city like?" Sam asked. You sucked in a breath.

"Sorry-" "No Sam, it is quite alright." You assured. "it is quite large and the other elves are very pleasant... Unless you're not elven, in which case they tend to be quite hostile." You stated. "My uncle said it was beautiful..." Frodo said. "Oh it is. It is almost like it is autumn all year round though and unless you're gifted with the ability to speak with nature it is far to easy to get lost in the nearby woods." You explained. "Yes, Bilbo mentioned that." Sam nodded. "He's been?" you asked. "Oh yes. Though according to him, he was imprisoned there." Frodo said. "...And escaped? How pray, tell did he manage to do that?" you asked surprised. "Barrels." Sam and Frodo said in unison. "Barrels?" You asked. "He smuggled himself and the dwarves in barrels." Frodo said. "Dwarves- what in the world did your uncle do- Why was he out there to begin with?" You asked. "Uhhh... That's complicated." Frodo said. "eh?" You made a confused noise.

You all walked until nightfall, you looking at the stars. You wondered if Aragorn was safe, wherever he was. Your heart was practically aching, you missed him so much. You sighed, bringing your knees to your face as you sighed, poking the dirt with your fingers while the hobbits slept. The next morning finally came, you all walking through the sharp and dangerous rocks of Emyn Muil. You looked forward. "Mordor..." You muttered, seeing the dark lands. "The one place in Middle-Earth we don’t want to see any closer is the one place we’re trying to get to." Sam said with a sigh. "Do you think Gandalf meant for us to take this way?" Sam asked. "He didn’t mean for a lot of things to happen, Sam. But they did." Frodo muttered. "We cannot lose hope now you two. We must press on." You said to them. Frodo seemed to lock onto something in Mordor, collapsing to the ground. "Frodo?" You asked, kneeling to him. "Mister Frodo? It’s the ring, isn’t it?" Sam asked. "It’s getting heavier." He nodded. He clutched the ring, his breaths slowly relaxing. "What food have we got left?" Frodo asked. "Well, let me see." Sam said, going through his bag. "Oh, yes. Lovely. Lembas bread. And look! More lembas bread." He said, pulling out the bread wrapped in large leaves. He broke off a piece of it and threw it to him and threw another piece to you.

You bit into bread. "Say what you will about my grandmother but she has the best bread." you said, earning laughs from the two hobbits. "I don’t usually hold with foreign food, but this Elvish stuff, it’s not bad." Sam said. "Nothing ever dampens your spirits, does it, Sam?" Frodo asked, smiling. "Those rain clouds might." Sam said with a sigh.

You all walked, following a very odd, yet specific path before you stopped. "What in the world is that smell?" Sam asked. You felt like you were being watched and you remembered one other time you felt like this. "Let's... Keep walking." you muttered. It wasn't long that night came, Sam and Frodo both sleeping soundly. You sat on a rock, sharpening your blade.

Gollum.

You looked up, pretending to be oblivious to the creature climbing down the rocks as he spoke to himself. "They’re thieves. They’re thieves. The filthy little thieves. Where is it? Where is it? They stole it from us. My Precious. Curse them, we hates them! It’s ours it is, and we wants it." Gollum said, climbing down the rocks. Then he reached for Frodo and was met with a blade. "Lay a single finger on him and I will cut it off." you hissed. Frodo shot up, Sam and him scooching back.

As cruel as it may have seemed, you put the elven rope to use, tying it around the creature's neck due to Frodo's insistence that you leave Gollum alive. You walked, Gollum yelling and crying. "It burns! It burns us! It freezes!" You sighed at this yelling. "Oh by the Valor do you ever SHUT UP!?" You snapped. Gollum stopped walking, Sam yanking on the rope and making Gollum fall. "Nasty Elves twisted it!" Gollum spat, looking at you. He turned to Frodo and Sam. "Take it off us!" Gollum begged. "Quiet you!" Sam hushed. Gollum let out another yell. "It’s hopeless! Every orc in Mordor’s gonna hear this racket. Let’s just tie him up and leave him." Sam suggested. "I think Sam is correct, this is extremely annoying and my sanity is deteriorating very quickly." You said. "No! That would kill us! Kill us!" Gollum wailed. "It’s no more than you deserve!" Sam snapped.

Gollum rolled around, squirming to get the rope off. "Maybe he does deserve to die. But now that I see him, I do pity him." Frodo admitted. Gollum hushed at the sound of this, looking at Frodo on his knees. "We be nice to them, if they be nice to us. Take it off us! We swears to do what you wants. We swears!" Gollum pleaded. "There is no promise you can make that I can trust." Frodo said. "We swears to serve the master of the Precious. We will swear on…on the Precious!" Gollum said before hacking out a noise similar to his name. "The ring is treacherous. It will hold you to your word." Frodo said. "Yes on the Precious. On the Precious." Gollum said, inching closer to Frodo. "I don’t believe you!" Sam yelled, forcing Gollum back. Gollum attempted to run away, Sam yanking back on the rope and pulling Gollum back. "Get down! I said, down!" Sam shouted at Gollum. You sighed. "Sam!" Frodo yelled. "He’s trying to trick us! If we let him go, he’ll throttle us in our sleep!" Sam said. Gollum coughed, grabbing at his throat.

You stumbled, Sam looking over his shoulder as you dropped.

Visions bombarded you, war being the subject of the vision. It was Legolas, Gimli and Aragorn, fighting a battle. A banner soon filled your mind, one of a horse... Then you suddenly returned to your normal state, Frodo standing next to you. "War." you whispered. "What?" Frodo asked. "War is brewing in Rohan..." you muttered. Sam turned. "Do you wish to turn back-" "No... I-I promised you I'd help see this through." you muttered. Frodo looked over at Gollum. "Maybe he can lead us through the Marshes. You made a comment saying it was dangerous." Frodo recalled. "Frodo... I do not trust him." you admitted. Still, Frodo was right, even if you were being guided by nature itself you didn't have confidence in the marshes. "You know the way to Mordor?" Frodo asked. "Yes." Gollum responded. " You’ve been there before?" Frodo asked. "Yes." Gollum repeated, this time more anxious. Frodo removed the rope and you sighed, closing your eyes. Sam shook his head with a frown. "You will lead us through the Marshes, and anywhere else we may need guidance." Frodo said. Gollum nodded.

He was weirdly quick, rushing across the rocks as you all tried to keep up. He rushed off, taking a moment to talk to himself. "To the gate, to the gate! To the gate, the master says. Yes!" He muttered. Another version of himself seemed to take over. "No! We won’t go back Not there. Not to him. They can’t make us." He said, hacking out his name again. "But we swore to serve the master of the precious." He said, feeling guilty. "No! Ashes and dust and thirst there is and pits, pits, pits. And Orcses, thousands of Orcses. And always the Great Eye watching. Watching." He said. He turned to the group that was distant before screaming and running off. You all followed, running after him. "Hey! Come back now! Come back! There! What did I tell you? He’s run off, the old villain. So much for his promises." Sam sighed. Gollum popped up behind a stone making you gasp in surprise. "This way. Follow me!" Gollum said. You and Sam exchanged a look, sighing before following the creature.

You ended up taking a break. "Why we stop?" Gollum asked, looking at you who was sitting upright against a rock with your eyes closed. "Y/n watches over us at night, she needs rest." Sam sighed. Your face was so peaceful when you rested. If only Aragorn was here, you'd probably be sleeping better. Your heart missed him terribly, every time you closed your eyes you could see him. "I think she misses him." Sam muttered looking at your sitting figure. "Elfie misses someone?" Gollum asked. "A friend..." Sam sighed. "She misses friend?" Gollum asked. "Yes." Frodo muttered. Frodo too, thought of Aragorn. He always felt some sort of levity when looking at you and Aragorn together. You two were the sliver of light in a very dark time. Truth be told, you didn't need rest. You wanted to see if there was another vision. Another hopeful message or outcome. Instead you were met with darkness and silence.

It took about thirty minutes before you sat up. Sam looked over. "Let's go." you muttered, clearly deep in thought. You followed Gollum through the mountains before finally seeing the Marshlands. "See! See! We’ve led you out. Hurry, Hobbitses, hurry! Very lucky we find you." Gollum said. Sam passed him. "Nice hobbit." Gollum said to Sam. Sam walked alongside you, accidently slipping his foot into the water. "Ooh! It’s a bog. He’s led us into a swamp!" Sam gasped. "Swamp. Yes, yes. Come master, we will take you on safe paths through the mist. Come hobbits come. Real quickly. I found it, I did. The way through the marshes. Orcs don’t use it, orcs don’t know it. They go round for miles and miles, come quickly, swift and quick as shadows we must be." Gollum said.

You walked for a while in silence, trying to listen to nature to be met with silence. This unsettled you to no end. Nature was always talkative. Never this silent. "I hate this place, it’s too quiet. There‘s been no sight nor sound of a bird for two days." Sam muttered. "No, no birdses to eat, no crunchable birdses. We are famished, yes! Famished we are, precious!" Gollum said before picking a worm up out out of the ground. He ate it making you gag. "Here." Frodo said, tossing him a piece of Lambas bread. He took it confused. "What does it eats? Is it tasty?" He asked. He at it before choking and spitting it out, making you all jump. "It tries to chokes us! We can’t eats Hobbit food! We must starve!" Gollum wailed. "Well, starve, then. And good riddance!" Sam huffed. You had put it together earlier why Frodo was so lenient to Gollum. He was terrified the ring was going to turn him into Gollum.

"Oh, cruel hobbit! It does not care if we be hungry. Does not care if we should die!" He cried as you went through your bag. You pulled out a jerky like food. You knew Aragorn had a tendency of leaving somethings in your bag and this was definitely his. "Not like Master. Master cares. Master knows. Yes, precious. Once it takes hold of us, it never lets go." Gollum said. He reached for the ring but you stopped him, handing him the food. "It's meat. Not something any of us eat, maybe you'll like it." You said. He looked at it, taking a small piece and eating it. He seemed to actually like it and you handed him the rest. "Elfies gives us good food. We thinks the elfies is good." He said. You sighed and stood up, pulling your backpack back onto you.

You all made your way through the swamp, Sam looking into the waters around you. "There are dead things, dead faces in the water." Sam said. You looked in the waters too, seeing the armor. "Elves... There are... Elves out here." you breathed. "All dead. All rotten. Elves and men and orcses. A great battle long ago. The dead marshes. Yes, yes that is their name. This way. Don’t follow the lights." Gollum warned. Sam slipped, nearly falling into a hole before you gripped his cloak, pulling him up. "Thank you." He breathed. "Careful now, or hobbits go down to join the dead ones and light little candles of their own." Gollum said, unsettling you. Frodo wandered off, looking into the waters. He saw an elven corpse. He leaned forward, falling into the water. You gasped, sprinting over and yanking him out of the water. Gollum stood next to you. "Gollum?" Frodo asked. "Don’t follow the lights." Gollum repeated, this time more sternly. "Gollum." Frodo called. "Mister Frodo, are you all right?" Sam asked. He nodded slowly.

Night soon came, you sitting against a rock with your eyes closed. You didn't actually fall asleep, despite feeling strangely tired you were very alert with Gollum near. "So bright. So beautiful. Our Precious." Gollum said, making you open one eye. Frodo leaned up. "What did you say?" Frodo asked. "Master should be resting. Master needs to keep up his strength." Gollum muttered. "Who are you?" Frodo asked him. "Mustn’t ask us, not it’s business." Gollum said before hacking again. "Gandalf told me you were one of the river folk." Frodo said. "Cold be heart and hand and bone, cold be travelers far from home." Gollum sang in what you assumed to be an attempt to block Frodo out. "He said your life was a sad story." Frodo said. "They do not see what lies ahead, when sun has failed and moon is dead." Gollum sang. "You were not so very different from a hobbit once. Were you? Sméagol." Frodo asked, earning silence from Gollum. "What did you call me?" Gollum asked. "That was your name once, wasn’t it? A long time ago." Frodo asked. "My name? My name? Ss… Ss… Sméagol." He asked, genuinely not recalling his own name.

The smell of blood filled your nose and you felt the dread. You leaned up, opening your eyes. "What's wrong?" Sam asked, groggily before the loud scream from a Nazgûl. "Black Riders." You muttered. "Hide! Hide!" Gollum yelled. Frodo let out a yelp, grasping where he was struck with the Nazgûl blade.

You hid under a bush with Sam and Gollum. You motioned for Frodo to run. "Come on Frodo, come on!" Sam called. "Hurry, they will see us, they will see us." Gollum said panicked. "I thought they were dead." Sam said to you as Frodo laid next to you. "You cannot kill a ringwraith." You whispered. You watched the wraith fly overhead, your heart pounding. "Ah! Wraiths, wraiths on wings!" Gollum yelped. You noticed Frodo reach for the ring. "They are calling for it, they are calling for the Precious." Gollum said. You stopped Frodo from putting the ring on. "We're still here Frodo... it's alright." You whispered. the Nazgul flew away. "Hurry hobbits, the Black Gate is very close." Gollum said after you all climbed out from under the bush.

You all walked, following Gollum before you fell again, this time being sent into a shock. You were practically blinded, a white light filling your eyes. You heard a voice, barely audible at first. Distant. Very distant. "Y/n" It called. You knew the person's voice you just couldn't remember. "Y/n." The voice repeated. "Rohan is in danger. This is the start of many wars, people need you. Turn back now." it said. "I can't." You whispered. "You can. Reach the river on your own. A boat is waiting. If you run without stopping you can make it before the orcs do." The voice said. Then you realized who it was.

"Gandalf, how are you speaking to me?" you asked. "I am not yet dead my girl." He said, his face coming to light. You breathed. "You want me to go to Rohan, why?" You asked. "Because the further into Mordor you go, the more corruption kills." He said. "The corruption is killing you. Why do you think you feel exhaustion?" Gandalf asked. A good question. "Aragorn needs you. Rohan needs you. We need you." Gandalf said before your vision returned to normal, Sam hanging over you.

"Are you alright? You just fell back! I was worried." Sam said. "Gandalf is still alive." You said. Frodo turned around. "What!?" He asked. "He's alive... War is coming to Rohan and... Something bad is happening, I can feel it." You breathed. You wondered if you should turn back. "Go." Frodo said. You looked up. "What?" You asked. "If there is war in Rohan and Gandalf is alive, it's most likely that Aragorn will be in the center of all of this. You deserve to be with him through all of this. Go." Frodo said. "But-" "Y/n, he's right. You should go, you've looked more exhausted here than anywhere else... This is destroying you. You don't think we can tell but we can." Sam admitted. You sighed. "Any messages you want me to send to them?" You asked. "Yes. Good luck." Frodo said. You nodded. "Elfie remembers the way?" Gollum asked. "I do. Thank you." you nodded to Gollum before tossing him the rest of the meat. He took it before you hugged both Sam and Frodo. "If you two weren't so damn stubborn, I would've marched into Mordor with you." you said. "We know." Sam said before hugging you again. "Don't let us down Frodo. Fight strong. Keep your hope." you said softly. He nodded before you turned around, looking at the area you just came from.

"Alright." You told yourself. "Here we go again."

[221bshrlocked]

“Is this seat taken?”

He couldn’t look away from you, his eyes following you around as you went to the kitchen to grab another slice of pizza before returning to the couch. Poe snickered when he noticed the way Ben was looking at you, elbowing Finn and pointing at the two of you before clasping his hand on his face at Finn’s feigned gagging.

“All I’m saying is, there is no way in hell all those elves are straight. Have you looked at them? I mean, for god’s sake, just look at Legolas and Gimli and tell me those two aren’t more than friends. No fucking way!” You motioned aggressively with your hands and Ben clenched his fists when he saw bend down and pick up a mushroom that fell to the ground. His eyes widened in shock when he saw the color of your panties, immediately looking away and hoping no one saw him checking you out.

Before you could even go to the kitchen to throw away the disgusting fungi, he was feeling the effects of what he’d seen, grabbing the nearest pillow and placing it on his crotch. He shook his head in annoyance. How much of a loser could he be...getting a fucking boner from watching you bend over and give him an eyeful of the thin material.

So busy trying to think of anything but him fucking your wet cunt, he didn’t notice when you returned and stood in front of him. Shaking his head, he looked up and saw you narrowing your eyes at him, mouthful of pizza and lips stained a soft red from the sauce. You continued to chew and stare at him, licking your lips as you swallowed before pointing your finger at him.

“Is this seat taken?”

Ben blushed instantly when he realized where you were pointing.

“This- uhh, this is my lap.” He cleared his throat and turned to his friends, furrowing his eyebrows when he saw they weren’t even bothering to help him out, let alone look his way.

“I know what I said.” You said without hesitation, hoping he wouldn’t brush you aside as he always did. I mean, what more could you do to get his attention? The man was as oblivious as a five year old and you wished you could smack him and tell him you’ve only been flirting with him for the better of the year. Unfortunately for you, Ben Solo was a sensitive soul who was frightened as easily and swiftly as he was angered.

You held back from smiling when you saw the blush descend down his neck and past his shirt.

“I- there are other seats.” His voice broke and you felt bad for how embarrassed he must have been but you couldn’t stand it anymore. He was eye-fucking you for hours and had the audacity to pretend he wasn’t paying attention to you.

“Did I stutter Solo?”

To your surprise, the large man shook his head and slowly began to move the pillow out of the way. Your patience wore out and within seconds, you were throwing the pillow to the other side of the couch and settling on his lap, swaying your butt a few times until you felt comfortable.

You could tell Ben was having a hard time breathing. His chest was barely moving and his knuckles were turning white from how harshly he was grabbing the couch. As you finished your pizza, you knew you couldn’t stand up and wipe your hands anywhere because it would give him a chance to leave so you opted to clapping your hands until they were clear of crumbs, wiping them on your pajama pants before leaning back against the solid chest behind you.

“Y/N.” His voice shot straight to your core, and you slowly turned your head to meet Ben’s eyes, hoping he’d speak again in that low, gruff voice.

“Yes?”

“You have a little- there’s some...here.” He struggled through the sentence and opted to just shut his mouth and wipe the sauce away from your lower lip. As soon as you felt his thumb on your skin, you couldn't hold back anymore, leaning forward and taking the finger between your lips, softly sucking and swirling your tongue around it until you felt him twitch beneath you. Before he could think twice about it, Ben was pushing his hips against your ass cheeks, biting back a moan when he felt you dig your nails into his thighs as you shut your eyes and continued to bite down on his thumb.

Ben gave himself completely over to the pleasure, wrapping his other arm around your navel and controlling your movements atop him. He pushed you down harder onto his dick, and dared to inch his hand closer to the waistband of your sweats before venturing lower. He cupped your pussy through the damp material of your pants, aggressively rubbing you until he could feel you getting wetter with every pass of his palm over the flimsy material.

“Ben-” He snapped out of his haze when he heard you whisper his name, sticking two fingers into your mouth and pushing your chin up to muffle your mouth.

You felt yourself climb closer to your orgasm and dared to open your eyes, shaking from a sudden intense shock ripping through your spine when you saw how dilated the pupils staring right back at you were.

With one last buck of his hips, Ben was coming in his pants, holding back a growl and breathing harshly against your neck as he felt the long spurts of cum wet his briefs. You didn’t know why you were turned on by the sound of his heavy breaths fanning over your skin, and you couldn’t find it in yourself to care because Ben was using you to get his cock off. He pushed his fingers deeper against your pussy as he continued to twitch beneath you, smiling when he saw...felt even, you coming in his arms.

Very slowly, he removed his hands from you and turned around to make sure his friends didn’t just see what happened. Per usual, Poe was yelling at Finn about how the meme of “you cannot simply walk into Mordor” came about and Ben couldn’t be more thankful for their lack of care. He turned back and looked at you, unable to stop his chest from filling with pride when he saw the blissed-out expression you held.

He cleared his throat and squeezed your hips to catch your attention, smiling softly at you when you barely managed to open your eyes and look back at him through a heavy haze.

“You alright?” He swallowed the lump in his throat and hissed when you unintentionally moved against his crotch, making him more aware of how wet his pants were.

“Never better.” You smiled before leaning forward and capturing his lips with yours, gasping when you felt his large hand close around your neck and pull you closer to him. But the kiss was over as soon as it began and you frowned at him when he pulled away.

“Need to change sweetheart...but, we’ll continue this after the movies.” You almost laughed at how sheepish he suddenly became, almost breaking the silence and teasing him about what the two of you had just done, in the company of your lifelong friends of all people.

“Does that mean I get to sleep over?” Ben’s eyes rolled to the back of his head when you combed your fingers into his hair and pulled on the nape of his neck.

“You’re not going anywhere.”

[maaaddiexo]

The Within Series | Legolas Greenleaf

Book 1: The Devil Within - 1.8

Mainlist | Serieslist

Nyx of Tyndall does not know love or kindness. Cursed at a young age by a jealous witch, Nyx has lived a life of solitude and death.

Until Gandalf the Grey requests her presence and uncontrollable skill in assisting a young Hobbit across Middle-Earth with nine others to destroy a ring so powerful all fall victim to its evil.

Not only must Nyx face Orcs, demons, and creatures she’s never seen before, but also the devil inside. Controlling the devil is the key to finding freedom in a spell that can’t be broken. But it will not be so easy for Nyx when every obstacle she faces pushes her to an edge she cannot return from.

Chapter Eight

Nyx marched through the halls of Rivendell angrily. Flight of stairs after flight of stairs she went until she was at the highest lookout point the Elves of Rivendell had built. The sound of water cascading down the mountain drowned out the sound of blood pumping angrily in her ears, but she could still feel it nonetheless. She crossed a small arched bridge in front of waterfall. The mist that came off put out the smoke on her cape.

Nyx discarded her cloak angrily, throwing it on the floor and kicking it away. Her face burned with anger and she rubbed her face, frustrated tears running down her cheeks. Not even a week she’d worn the ring and already it had torn down the defenses she’d spent over a decade building up. She braced herself against the stone balcony railing.

“Focus, Nyx. Like Gandalf taught you.”

“Milady Nyx?” An Elf stood timidly at the top of the stairs. Clearly, he knew he was interrupting something. “Dinner will be served in fifteen minutes.”

“Tell Elrond and Gandalf I will not be attending. They will understand.”

The Elf hesitated and then bowed. “Of course, Milady Nyx. Would you like to have it sent to your room?”

Nyx hesitated and then nodded curtly.

The Elf bowed once more and then descended the stairs quickly and Nyx felt her knees give out, splitting when they hit the stone. Her fingers gripped the stone spindles and her head rested against them. Nyx couldn’t find it in herself to move. Not even as the sun began to set and the temperature dropped.

Nyx was tired. She could go no further.

⍥⍥⍥

When Nyx woke up the next morning, she was still on the outlook, her cloak wrapped around her like a blanket with leaves in her hair.

Someone was touching her shoulder. She saw the familiar staff before she heard the voice.

“My dear, why sleep on the floor when you’ve been offered a bed.”

Nyx looked away. All around her were burnt leaves and grass. Her fingertips were black with ash. She’d spent a long time trying to control her anger the night before. And though she hadn’t burned down a gazebo, Rivendell wasn’t completely unscathed. “What time is it?”

“The Council is about to begin but Frodo refused to start without you. He insists you be part of the meeting.”

Nyx frowned. She wanted no part of the Ring and its journey, wherever it led. Not after what it did to her in less than a week. She felt the anger in her, glowing bright. She closed her eyes and breathed in and out slowly.

“Come on. Up you get.” Gandalf helped Nyx to her feet and began to fret over her, pulling the leaves and twigs out of her hair and brushing down her cloak. “That’ll do.”

Nyx frowned and self-consciously pulled her hair into a bun at the nape of her neck. They descended the stairs quickly, Nyx trailing behind the grey wizard. “Gandalf, I do not want to go with the Ring.”

“You do not have to. But attend for Frodo’s sake. Here,” he grabbed Nyx’s scythe and placed it in her hands. There was still dried blood on it from the last time she used it. “Come.”

Everyone was already seated in the Council Room and Nyx moved to stand behind Frodo’s chair. He smiled gratefully at her over his shoulder. She tried to smile back but wasn’t sure how convincing it was.

“Strangers from distant lands,” Elrond began. “Friends of old. You have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor. Middle-Earth stands upon the brink of destruction. None can escape it. You will unite, or you will fall.”

Nyx found Aragorn’s eyes across the circular room, fear brimming in her eyes. Her gave her a calm smile before turning to look at someone else. The Elf from the day before. They shared a familiar look with one another. A look of familiarity and friendship.

“Each race is bound to this fate – this one doom,” Elrond continued. “Bring forth the Ring, Frodo.”

Frodo stood on shaky legs, looking at Gandalf and then Nyx behind him. She nodded encouragingly at him. He reached into his pocket as he walked towards the small stone table in the middle, octagonal in shape. He placed it on the stone gently but still, everyone heard it thud, like a boulder hitting the bottom of chasm.

Immediately, the Ring began to hum and sing, and everyone sat forward in their chairs, drawn to it. Except for Nyx. She took a step back in fear. Her fingers began to warm.

“So, it is true,” a man murmured. He stood up slowly. “In a dream, I saw the eastern sky grow dark. But in the west, a pale light lingered. Voices crying. Our doom is near at hand.” He moved closer to the Ring. “Isildur’s Bane is found.” He reached his hand forward. “Isildur’s Bane.”

“Boromir!” Elrond shouted. The man stood up with a fright, shaken out the Ring’s lure, and looked to the sky in shock as it began to darken.

Gandalf stood, reaching a hand to the sky. He began to chant in Black Speech.

Ash nazg durbatulûk

Ash nazg gimbatul

Ash nazg thrakatulûk

Agh burzum-ishi krimpatul

Nyx stared at the Ring, reciting the translation under her breath. It was the inscription on the Ring.

“One Ring to rule them all,

One Ring to find them,

One Ring to bring them all

And in the darkness bind them.”

With Gandalf’s word, the sky brightened as fast as it darkened and everyone sat back down except for Nyx, who had no seat.

“Never before has any voice uttered the words of that tongue here in Imladris.”

“I do not ask your pardon, Master Elrond,” Gandalf said to Elrond. “For the Black Speech of Mordor may yet be heard in every corner of the west. The Ring is altogether evil,” he reminded the people in front of him.

Boromir shook his head. “It is a gift. A gift to the foes of Mordor. Why not use this Ring? Long has my father, the Steward of Gondor, kept the forces of Mordor at bay! By the blood of our people are your lands kept safe. Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy! Let us use it against him!”

“It cannot be used against its true master,” Nyx said angrily. “All it does is pull the evil from within and make you a monster.”

“And what do you, a mere girl, know about the Ring?” Another man spat at her. The rage bubbled in Nyx and her fingers did more than warm. Someone laid a hand on arm. Gandalf.

“Nyx is right,” Aragorn said. “You cannot wield it. None of us can. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master.”

“And what would a Ranger know of this matter? You are no more experienced than the girl!”

“This is no mere Ranger.” Nyx watched as the silver-haired elf stood up. “He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance.” Aragorn and the Elf did know each other.

“And it would not be wise to insult Nyx,” Elrond added. “For she has the nasty habit of catching fire.”

“Witch!” A man hissed. Nyx glared at him, her eyes flaming orange. It was one of the few tricks she’d picked up over the years. The man gasped and then fainted, and Nyx smirked. She swore she heard Gandalf chuckle too.

Boromir looked at Nyx and then Aragorn. He chose to focus on the latter. “This is Isildur’s heir?”

“And heir to throne of Gondor,” the Elf added. Nyx winced. Salt in the wound, if you asked her.

“Havo dad, Legolas.” Nyx glanced at the elf as he obeyed his friend’s words to sit down. So his name was Legolas.

“Gondor has no King,” Boromir said. “Gondor needs no King.”

“Then what does that make you?” Nyx wondered.

Gandalf spoke before Boromir could respond to Nyx’s angry words. “Aragorn is right. We cannot use it.”

“You have only one choice,” Elrond added. “The Ring must be destroyed.”

“Then what are we waiting for?” The Dwarf with ginger hair and a thick Scottish accent stood up and swung his axe. His axe should have shattered the Ring. Instead, the axe splintered into pieces and the Dwarf was thrown onto his back.

Frodo flinched, grabbing for his head. Sauron’s Eye flashed in his mind.

Nyx dropped to the ground, feeling a stabbing pain in her chest as images flashed in her mind. White hair. Fire. A blade dripping in blood. Somebody screaming. She coughed and black liquid splattered onto the stone. Ichor. Her cheek burned.

“The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Glóin, by any craft we here possess. The Ring was made in the fires of Mount Doom. Only there can it be unmade. It must be taken deep into Mordor and cast back into the fiery chasm from whence it came.”

Nyx wiped at her lips with the sleeve of her dress and stood up on weak legs. Gandalf offered her his arm.

“One of you must do this.”

There was silence all around.

“One does not simply walk into Mordor,” Boromir argued quietly. “Its black gates are guarded by more than just Orcs. There is evil there that does not sleep. And the great Eye is ever watchful. It is a barren wasteland, riddled with fire and ash dust. The very air you breathe is a poisonous fume. Not with ten thousand men could you do this. It is folly.”

“Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said?” Legolas demanded. “The Ring must be destroyed!”

“And I suppose you think you’re the one to do it!” Gimli argued.

“And if we fail, what then?” Boromir added, standing up. “What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?”

Gimli stood up �� not that it made him any taller. “I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf!”

The other Elves stood at Gimli’s insult and, soon enough, everyone was standing and yelling over one another. Frodo sat still, staring at the Ring as it called for him.

“Nyx?”

“Yes, Frodo?”

“I think it needs to be me.”

“Are you saying that because It calls to you or because you are strong enough to fight Its call?”

“I’m doing it because I don’t want to do it. Everyone is fighting to be the one because they don’t want somebody else to do it. I just want it done.”

Nyx smiled. “Then say so.”

Frodo’s announcement went unheard the first time. And the second. Nyx huffed and grabbed her scythe, which she had placed on the ground at the beginning of the meeting. She lifted it and swung it down against the concrete as hard as she could. The blade embedded itself in the concrete until no more metal could be seen. The crack echoed all across Rivendell and across the ponds and ocean, bouncing off the sides of the cliff. The Men, Elves, Dwarves, and Wizard stopped arguing instantly.

Elrond sighed indignantly. “Why must you always break something when you visit?”

“Because you ignorant and stubborn men never listen. Now, shut up and sit down. All of you.” She stepped back as Frodo stepped forward, swallowing thickly. His hands were so sweaty.

“I will take the Ring to Mordor. Though…I do not know the way.”

“I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins.” Gandalf gently touched the young Hobbit’s shoulder in reassurance. “So long as it is yours to bear.”

Aragorn stood. “If by my life or death, I can protect you, I will.” He walked across the circular room and knelt at Frodo’s feet. “You have my sword.”

“And you have my bow.” Legolas moved to Frodo too, passing Nyx on the way.

“And my axe,” Gimli promised.

Boromir stepped forward slowly. “You carry the fate of us all, little one. If this is indeed the will of the Council, then Gondor will see it done.”

Nyx stared at Boromir a moment longer. She didn’t like the way he spoke to Frodo, and she certainly didn’t like the faraway look in his eye.

“Heh!” Something brushed the side of Nyx’s skirt and she watched as Sam jumped from behind some bushes and ran to Frodo’s side, crossing his arms. “Mister Frodo’s not going anywhere without me.”

Elrond looked down at Sam in both disappointment and pride. “No, indeed. It is hardly possible to separate you even when he is summoned to a secret Council and you are not.”

“Doing some gardening again are we, Master Gamgee?” Gandalf asked with a pointed look in his eyes.

Sam looked down at his feet awkwardly. Nyx smiled.

From the other end, someone shouted. “Oi! Wait! We’re coming too!”

Nyx bit back her laughter at Elrond’s expression as the two cousins rushed to stand beside Frodo as well.

“You’d have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us!” Merry insisted.

“Anyway, you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission. Quest. Thing.”

Merry looked at Pippin. “Well, that rules you out, Pip.”

Pippin looked offended. Frodo turned around to look at Nyx, who was standing separate from the group.

“What about you, Nyx? Will you come with me?”

“You want me to?”

“Why wouldn’t we?” Aragorn said. “We could use a dragon in our company.”

Nyx smiled. For once, the name she’d been given wasn’t be used in anger or fear. “Then you shall have her.”

“Ten companions. So be it,” Elrond announced. “You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring.”

Part 1.9 ➺