#smaug necklace

[skeletuneplayer]

okay, so

Reblog and put in the tags how many pieces of jewelry you wear on a daily basis (like rings, piercings, necklaces, bracelets, etc.)

[fili-urzudel]

Second - Thorin Oakenshield x Reader

Summary: The reader realizes something about Thorin's priorities.

Part 2 Part 3

Word Count: 0.8 k

Warnings: slight cultural misunderstandings, a little heartache

"Thorin!" You called with a smile, striding towards him at your usual meeting place. It was just a forgotten, low stone wall among an even more forgotten old plot of land. But it had a great view of the sunset, and sitting against it kept the wind out on cold days. It had become one of your favorite places.

He called back to you, a faint grin accompanying it. "You're late."

"Perhaps you're early," you pointed out, jumping up to sit on the wall next to him. 

He gave one short chuckle.

"You seem preoccupied," you commented, trying to keep the comment light.

Thorin sighed through that long, angular nose of his. "I turn one-hundred years of age today," he stated. 

"I know," you said, drawing a small package from your bag. "Congratulations."

He swallowed. "It's been seventy-six years now, since I saw my home. The ravens still have not returned to the mountain."

Your brow furrowed. "Thorin, maybe it's best not to focus too much on that," you consoled. "Focus on living your life well and fully now, instead of just... waiting for that day," you said, instead of a day that may never come in your lifetime.

He didn't respond. "Here," you passed the package to him, pressing it into his palm. 

"What is it?"

You smiled dryly. "Open it and find out."

Thorin studied the round silver object. It looked almost like a ring—that meant something to most men. Or perhaps a bead—which definitely meant something to dwarves—but it was neither, having a narrow incision through it. "What is it?" He asked again.

"It's an ear cuff," you smiled. "I know that most dwarves like jewelry, but a ring or a necklace didn't seem right, and I don't know if you have piercings..." you trailed off. "So I figured an ear cuff could be a good compromise. I tried my best to sort of make it match your beads."

Thorin hoped his face didn't look as warm as it felt. 

To you, it appeared his mind was still far away from you. "Here, I can help you put it on." You turned to straddle the wall, brushing his hair away from his ear. 

Thorin tried his best not to shudder.

"Tell me about something," you requested. 

"Like what?" He tried to keep his voice even as you didn't drop his hair once the cool metal was wrapped into the shell of his ear. You ran your fingers through it instead, gently untangling the knots, your knuckles brushing his shoulder.

"I don't know, something important to you," you suggested, and he swallowed. Would he be able to tell you what hair meant to his people? To him? Would you stop? "Tell me about your creator."

He swallowed. "I suppose... Where to begin? Aule was one of the Valar, and Eru was the only one allowed to create life..."

You listened intently, humming with understanding, until at some point the sun was very nearly set and Thorin's head was in your lap. You didn't know how he had gotten there, only that you had never stopped running your fingers through his hair and he had never told you to. You thought you could stay like that forever.

"Do you remember what Erebor was like?" You asked, filling the silence after he told you about how the dwarves had only narrowly escaped being removed from existence. You felt him tense.

"No," he said, and it sounded as though he had never admitted that to anyone. "I was a child when it happened. I... I see glimpses, but... I don't remember what it was really like, aside from what I've been told."

You brushed another piece of hair out of his eyes after the wind had put it out of place. "And yet you still love it."

Thorin breathed for a moment before answering. "I do."

"You would do anything for a homeland that you hardly even remember?"

Thorin sighed, closing his eyes. "Perhaps it is not the Lonely Mountain that I love. It is my people. They deserve to have their home back. They deserve for revenge to be exacted on Smaug."

"You would do anything for your people," you said, and it was no question.

"Anything."

And me? You couldn't bring yourself to ask. You withdrew your fingers from his hair, balancing on the stones again. "I admire that about you."

Thorin sensed the shift in your tone. His eyes blinked open again, piercing blue staring into your eyes. "Have you ever had something that you would die for?"

"Die for?" You repeated softly, fidgeting with your fingernails. You gazed back at him, unable to look anywhere else. "Worse, I think. Something that I would live for."

[teawithmadalice]

THE DRAGONS DAUGHTER

Thranduil x daughter!OC • CHAPTER 2

SUMMARY: Thranduil lost his beloved daughter 500 years ago, on his search for the white gems of Lasgalen- his wife's final gift to him, he finds a young elf who reminds him of his lost daughter.

OR Thorin confronts Thranduil, and he reminisces.

WORD COUNT: 1.6K

1 • 2 (YOU ARE HERE) • 3

The halls of the kingdom of mirkwood were large, tall and extravagant, with curving branches of trees and wooden walkways wrapped around stone, even the dwarf prisoners could not insult the domain.

King Thranduil sat poised a top his throne, elevated above the kneeling not-king dwarf, peering down and sneering cruelty, "Some may imagine that a noble quest is at hand, a quest to reclaim a homeland... and slay a dragon."

The elf scoffed, standing from his carved wooden throne and descended the tall steps that lead up to him, approaching the kneeling dwarf. "I myself, suspect a more prosaic motive- attempted burglary or something of that ilk"

Thorin Oakenshield stood up, meeting the elven kings eye.

"You have found a way in, you seek what would bestow upon you the right to rule- The Kings Jewel. The arkenstone." Thranduil spoke, a reserved knowing smile flittering across his features.

"it is precious to you beyond measure, I understand that. There are gems in the mountain that i too desire, white gems... of pure starlight."

Thorin Oakenshield son of Thrain knew of the stones he was talking about, the white gems of Lasgalen, gems owned by the former queen of Mirkwood, and taken from her cold corpse by orcs and later found by wandering dwarfs, taken to their kingdom of erebor and stashed amongst the hoards of gold. It was soon after that, not even ten days later, that a fire breathing dragon of the name of Smaug wreaked havoc on the Dwarvish Kingdom. The gems of Lasgalen were lost amongst the horde stolen by a dragon.

"I offer you my help."

Thorins gaze hardened, "I am listening."

"I will let you go, if you but return what is mine"

The dwarf scoffed, "A favor for a favor."

Thorins Oakenshield remembered the day the dragon had come for Erebor, slain his kin, killed his brothers, sisters, the young and the old.

Thorin Oakenshield remembered looking up and seeing a vast elven army. An army that could have turned the tides. An army that could've saved his people and reclaimed his home.

Thorin remembers how he screamed at the king of Mirkwood, begging the elf for aid.

He remembers how the elven king turned around and refused to join the fight against the great dragon Smaug, and how in consequence the battle was lost.

"You have my word, from one king to another'

"I would not trust Thranduil, the Great King, to honour his word, should the end of all days be upon us!" Throin sneered, his posture growing with his anger as he seethed.

"YOU! WHO LACK ALL HONOUR?! I HAVE SEEN HOW YOU TREAT YOUR FRIENDS! We came to you once, starving. Homeless. Seeking your help. YOU TURNED YOUR BACK! YOU, TURNED AWAY FROM THE SUFFERING OF MY PEOPLE! THE INFERNO THAT DESRROYED US- IMRID AMARÂD URSUL" (to die a firey death)

Thranduil was blinded by grief, although the dwarfs did not know that, the day he marched towards the battle of dwarf and dragon. His actions are a haze, and he could not recall the events that happened the days after he heard his wife was dead and his young babe missing, he is told that he sent a letter to the Kingdom of Erebor, requesting for the return of his late queens necklace, the letter was answered with a short formal reply.

'To whom it may concern,

We understand you wish to reclaim the Lasgalen Gems, However due to Section F, Clause 5 of the Dwarvish code and regulations for Gold and Treasury affairs, which states: "Any belongings of any value found on a deceased person discovered by an inhabiting Erebor dwarf is rightfully property of the Dwarven King of Erebor, and cannot be reclaimed after being added to the Treasury horde." We cannot fulfill this request.

Regards, The sector of Gold and Treasury keeping for the great kingdom of Erebor.'

Thranduil is told that when he heard news of the great dragon Smaug spitting Dragonfire onto the Dwarven kingdom, he laughed.

No, his reaction could not be explained with the mere word 'laugh'. He was maniacal, his eyes were blown wide and he was erratic, he ordered a troop of 2000 elves strong to march for the lonely mountain the next dawn.

No elf knew if they were truly going to the battlefield to fight that day, their king had not explained the plan of action, but no elf had the courage to ask the grief striken king his reasoning, not even his closest advisors.

When Thranduil stood on the hill and looked down on the grotesque scene of fire and blood, he did not pity or grimace at the picture. Those insolent, greedy, cruel beings didn't deserve to live. Their deaths would be a mercy, and middle earth would be a better place with them gone... So Thranduil, Great King of Mirkwood, turned away.

Thranduil lowered himself to the dwarfs level, faces inches away from each other. "Do not talk to me of dragon fire, I know it's wrath and ruin." He spat, as his face contorted, skin shredding to reveal a large scar that covered the expanse of his left cheek- a scar left, undoubtedly by dragon fire

"I have faced the great serpents of the North. I warned your grandfather of what his greed would summon, but he did not listen. You are just like him."

His face reverted to its previous appearance, porcelain skin shifting back into place, some sort of cosmetic magic to restore the elven kings perfect image. He slinked away from the dwarf captive, signalling his guards to detain him once more as he climbed the stairs to his throne once more

"Stay here if you will and rot - 100 years is a mere blink in the life of an elf. I'm patient. I can wait..."

•••••••••

Aewneth knew from even a young age she shouldn't have survived.

Her origins were like a puzzle, a heap of jumbled up mismatching pieces that all had a place, but her fumbling hands couldn't seem to get them all too fit- and even if they seemed like, even for a second, that they were all falling into place, the picture they made was still too blurry to be seen.

But she was good at puzzles.

She was born prematurely, she assumed, her mother had abandoned her because she thought the girl was too weak to be among the strong wood elves of her kin. Miraculously, she survived a few seasons in the wilderness- maybe a pack of wolves or a lonely bear mistook her for a cub, or perhaps just took pity on her weak miserable circumstance and provided for her.

She was malnourished, and premature, still looking like a new born, the townsfolk of Laketown decided to sacrifice a babe to the dragon Smaug in order to gain favour, but did not want to send their own flesh and blood, so they sent her, an abandoned elfling orphan.

And for whatever reason, Smaug did not burn the girl and eat her when she was placed at the mouth of the cave in which was once the great Dwarven kingdom of Erebor, instead he took her in, gave her books and clothes, taught her ancient languages thousands of years old from when the 6000 year old dragon was just a hatchling.

And that is what the puzzle illustrates.

The picture is clear, but blurry. The picture is complete, but pieces are still missing.

Aewneth was good at most puzzles, but this one she still hasn't gotten right, but she was wise enough to know that.

Her room was once the kings quarters, it was a large room, with a view of the hoard from above, she could look from her window and see the slumbering dragon beneath the gold, the glistening gems that reflected the torch lit room like stars. The kings quarters was once rather drab, with stone grey walls, archaic, minimalist lines and patterns carved into the wall and no colour- but having inhabited the place for 500 years, Aewneth had added her own touch to the place.

The walls were now covered in painted murals, she had copied the illustrations of flowers, plants and trees she had found in the many books of the great Erebor library onto the walls. The soft blankets and elegant clothes she had scavenged from other rooms were tailored to fit her taller physique and were hand embroidered with bugs and greenery.

Aewneth could not remember ever seeing the outside world with her own eyes, although she knows she has once- when she was an infant, before she was given to the great dragon Smaug.

So she sought inspiration though depictions, paintings and novels, because Erebor had no windows, it was a dark, dingy forge, dwarves did not need to leave the mountain and had no yearning too, while most would feel it was oppressive and imprisoning, the she-elf had never known anything different.

She knew she did not belong here. A sense of unease and discomfort had settled in the pit of her stomach all her life- but she did not know where she did belong.

She was not a dragon like her adoptive father, she was not accepted by her birth mother, and the people of lake town did not care for her either

And perhaps the day that a small halfling stumbled into her father's hoard, and woke him from his 60 year nap was a blessing from fate, or a gift from Eru Ilúvatar. Whoever set this chain of events in action changed the life of Aewneth, lost princess of Mirkwood, for better or for worse, that is yet to be decided.

••••••••

WOOOOO!!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!! I hope you all have a great day and don't get into too many family arguments, I know i probably will 😂

not proofread

TAGLIST:

@sunroxic @trishfullertonwriting75 @ringwraith1261 @sanwhs2 @aduialel @kittysspam @prettyself @dipping-dots @carnivore-spikachu @monchaeri3 @kaorisakamotofan

[a-loverspoetry]

Book Thranduil and elves in a nutshell (more or less):

————- Mirkwood

Mirkwood: *party noises* Utz utz Utz

Thranduil: sooo since is autumn I’m wearing this really pretty crown with yellow leaves and berries and—

Elves: My King! These dwarfs interupted our party three times already!

Thranduil: oh Common... - What are you doing here?

Thorin: starving in the woods.

Thranduil: you gonna tell me what you will to do next?

Thorin: no? F*ck you..

Thranduil: okay.. will wait for an answer then. In the dungeon with you!! Also here some food and drinks

————- some weeks later, Thorin and gang escape

Mirkwood: *party noises and drunk elves* Utz utz Utz

Elves: *singing some songs* those barrels are kinda heavy...well as long we have enough wine for the king

————- 2 days or so later (Smaug’s dead), marching to the lonely mountain

Thranduil: the birds and trees are talking to meeeee. Smaugs dead, people. Let’s bounce and get some jeeeeeewels. Also bad vibes about Thorin.. is it winter? I think I need my winter crown

Bard: yo heard you were actually kind and good people..? Can you help getting us some food?

Thranduil: okay.. we’ll take the long route and help

————- lonely mountain

Elves: *party noises* Utz Utz Utz

Bard: yo give us some gold!

Thorin: no! F*ck off!

Bilbo: okay Ill take that arkenstone and bounce

————- elven and human camp

Bilbo: *gets some elvish armour from the elves* here the arkenstone!

Thranduil: oh pretty Stone!!! you earned yourself that armour more then some elf prince. Even though he would look better in it

Bilbo: thanks?

Bard: WE WILL MARCH AT DAWN

————- war Part 1 - no Deal

Bard: they don’t want to make a deal! F*ck them!

Thorin: yeah let’s fight!!

Thranduil: children children.. it’s just gold. We don’t have to kill each other for that..

…

Elves: my king! The dwarfs keep attacking us! Do we defend????

————- war Part 2 - the orcs are coming, the moment the elves see them

Thranduil: excuse me?? Do my elven eyes see FILTHY. DISGUSTING. HATEFUL. orcs?? Unacceptable!! *stabbing noises*

————- war Part 3 - at Thorins Grave

Thranduil: here is your sword. Bye

————- going home with Gandalf and Bilbo

Elves: *party noises* Utz Utz Utz

Bilbo: soo here is a pretty necklace

Thranduil: for what?

Bilbo: I stole lots of wine and bread from you while the dwarfs were in jail

Thranduil: oh cool! Thanks Bilbo the great! But dare you to steal again from me... Bye Gandalf come visit us sometime!

Mirkwood: *party noises* Utz utz Utz

————-

Party King Thranduil out here, having a feast with his buds and being constantly interrupted. Just let this man talk to his trees and wear some pretty jewels!

[dark-elf-writes]

I forget if I said it but did you know that Bard in book canon gave Thranduil his grandfather's fancy dwarven-made lost-in-erebor-thanks-Smaug emerald necklace as some kind of peace gift? And its canon that Thranduil (or the Mirkwood Elves culturally) have a thing for silver, pearls/white gems, and maybe also emeralds. (Its possible the necklace is also silver, not 100% sure tho.)

I'm picturing Modern AU Photographer Bard giving Model Thranduil the one (1) super expensive luxury item he has (family heirloom, could sell it but like maybe he promised his parents he wouldn't?) either as a kind of engagement gift or flat out the first thing during their marriage. And like he'd be happy about it no matter how "costume jewelry" it'd look but the moment he sees it its like

damn.

(Also cute image of Kid Legolas getting a turn wearing the Expensive Necklace and both dads think he looks handsome in it even though it reaches halfway down his torso or something.)

The image I just god of Thranduil in full glam with the most gorgeous necklace brought me to my knees but the image of Legolas (and Tilda who I am imagining as Legolas’ age for this au) wearing it took me out entirely like it’s so precious.

Also very much making me think about them both still wearing the wedding bands for their wives because they still love them and miss them and choosing to honor each other in a different but equal way has me feral. Like the mutual acknowledgment that they can both have more than one love of their life and be so grateful their the time and love they shared with their respective wives while also loving each other just as deeply is so akkxjsjajzmxnsbbzbdbd you know?

Like I imagine Thran has the necklace (or two one that’s just as beautiful but more understated for everyday wear) and Bard getting either a bracelet or a tattoo or something along those lines. I just really like this idea

[thehazeldruid]

Smaug's Shimmer

~A glamour/ enchantment spell to let your inner strength shine like gold~

What you need

Any piece of gold jewelry- a ring or necklace or what have you (or gold highlighter or eyeliner or any kind of gold makeup, if you prefer that)

A white or gold candle

A few crystals to charge the spell/ enchantment (i used a few small quartz points)

Dragon’s blood incense (if not that one, any that you associate with strength)

What to do

Prepare yourself and your work space however you must. Meditate, cleanse, center, ground, or just get to it.

Place the jewelry or the makeup you will be using at the center of the altar/ work space.

Align the crystals around the item, if using quartz points as I did, have the tips of the crystals pointing towards the jewelry/ makeup.

Light the candle and incense, let it burn for a moment, focus on the way the light from the candle dances across the crystals and jewelry (or the makeup). Notice the way it catches your eye if you shift your focus. That is what the spell will do. Your strength will appear as that glimmer for people to see.

Visualize yourself shining like gold everywhere you go, walking tall, strong, and full of all the power of the universe.

Hold your hand over the item and say “From now on I shine like gold, with dragon’s fire in my blood. Let my shimmer and shine, and let the dragon’s strength be mine.”

Put on the makeup or piece of jewelry and focus on your strength being plain for all to see, as if you were a golden dragon.

Good luck and Happy Casting Witches!

M.G.

/|\

The Hazel Druid

[dulcimergecko]

Sunday Six delayed-

It's my anniversary and Spouse and I have plans to gorge ourselves on Irish chips, Guinness and Jameson's when he get home from his last gig. In the meantime, enjoy a bit of a BaggenShield AU that bit my brain the other night. Basic premise is post Battle of 5 Armies. Bilbo's the one injured, Thorin's sane again, and he's got a lot to atone for. Mostly, though, I like the idea of dwarves being master brewers.

~*~

“The gold is cursed,” Thorin said bluntly.  “Even if it wasn’t cursed, I wouldn’t wish to destroy your economy by flooding it with gold that nobody can use in the winter.”

“So what do you propose, then?” Bard demanded harshly.  “Nothing for our aid?”

“No, not nothing.  What I have to offer is far more valuable than gold would be to you right now.”

“And what is that?” Bard asked skeptically.

“Seasoned wood,” Thorin replied, raising his chin.  “Coal.  Rock oil.  Salt pork.  Tanned leather and furs.  Wool.  Quarried stone.  Mortar.  The skills of my masons to rebuild Dale.”  Seeing Bard’s confusion, Thorin’s smile became grim.  “Thror was a gold-sick fool, plundering the kingdom and hoarding everything for his own.  Contrary to what you men think, the true scope of Erabor’s wealth lay not in the gems or gold of its stone.  As I have been so brutally reminded, my kingdom’s greatness came from its people.  Our wealth came from our alliances and our ability to trade our skills and craft for goods and resources.  As a very wise hobbit once told me, food, cheer and song are far more valuable than hoarded gold.”  Thorin lowered his chin and met Bard’s gaze evenly.  "I do not deny that the riches Smaug’s plundered from Dale lie within our halls; they shall be restored to you in due time. As shall the hobbit's share of the treasure, but all that must come later.  The wizard said the gold must be melted and reformed to remove the wyrm’s taint, first.”         

“And what of the elves?” Thranduil interjected sarcastically.  “The White Gems of Lasgalen were always ours.” 

Thorin took a deep breath through his nose to stem the rising tide of anger. “I would give you the necklace of Girion,” he began.  “Once it is located, that is.  Five hundred emeralds as green as grass seems like a fitting reward for the ruler of the Mir–Greenwood.  Furthermore, I would offer this.”  Thorin picked up the small cask he’d brought with him and set it down in the middle of the table.  “Here,” he offered, edging it towards Thranduil whose eyes began to gleam with unmistakable interest.

“What’s that?” Bard asked. 

“Something that a wood elf would appreciate more than ordinary gems,” Thorin replied dryly.  “Well-aged Dwarven mead.  That’s but a sample,” Thorin continued, turning to meet Thranduil’s gaze.  “The wyrm had no interest in the cellars; we found mead, wine, brandy, Uisce beatha, and more, some dating back to the beginning of Thror’s reign.  I offer you fourteen barrels of each; one for each member of my company.”

[coopsgirl]

Book Thranduil seems very much like a pacifist. It's Bard who is ready to fight the dwarves after Laketown is destroyed and multiple times Thranduil talks him down in favor of diplomacy. He only agrees to fight when all diplomatic efforts fail and he does so to help the people of Laketown who are his friends.

FYI, the part in the movie with Thranduil not helping when Smaug first attacks Erebor and then later being willing to risk his soldier's lives for a necklace are NOT canon.

I'm going to be controversial and say this: Thranduil was not in the wrong for not helping the dwarves.

He was protecting his people first and foremost. That should be a leader's #1 priority. Die mad about it.

[doberbutts]

"how can I have called for a boycott 20 years ago when I was a kid" you couldn't have. But it's been 20 years for you to find out that there were problems with the OG trilogy and you are still recommending them to people over other adaptions, even though the reason you don't like the other adaption is something that was a problem in the OG trilogy.

You can't boycott something when you're 12. You can, however, decide 20 years later to be consistent about the hill you choose to die on.

So anyone saying "PJ's OG trilogy is better because the Amazon adaption does this thing I don't like" better make sure that doesn't also apply to the OG trilogy.

[worstloki]

Loki: if I were a creature from Lord of the Rings what do you think I would be

Tony: A fellow Slytherin.

[mirach]

"Arrow! said the bowman. Black arrow! I have saved you to the last. You have never failed me and always I have recovered you. I had you from my father and he from of old. If ever you came from the forges of the true king under the Mountain, go now and speed well!"

J.R.R.Tolkien: The Hobbit

A set of a soutache necklace depicting Smaug and hand-painted t-shirt with Bard('s hands) and the trush.

deviantart: https://www.deviantart.com/mirachravaia/art/Black-arrow-766256797

[redbootsindoriath]

I just realized I never posted the pirate AU drawings I did for LOTR.  Shame on me.  These are from like 2020 and I forgot about them.

The Maiar are sea spirits.  Gandalf has chosen to take a mostly-human form but his eyes glow and his ears are shaped like seashells.  Aragorn’s tattoo is the Evenstar necklace from the LOTR movies.  For anyone who asks if there’s any particular significance to Legolas’s necklace, no there isn’t, it’s just a merfolk necklace of some kind.  Also “The Fellowship” is literally a ship.  And it gets sunk when Frodo and Sam leave and Merry and Pippin are kidnapped and Boromir gets shot (with a sea-Uruk flintlock, of course) and all that good stuff.  Speaking of Frodo and Sam...

Also a bonus Bilbo.  In the pirate AU, the hobbits are, appearance-wise, basically the same as they are in canon, but they can hold their breath for much longer than humans can (even for hours if they’re only minimally exerting themselves) which is why Gandalf keeps bringing them on adventures: they’re great at sea travel and all things water-related, whether or not they’ll admit it, and specifically Bilbo was able to swim through the tunnels that the sea serpent Smaug had flooded.

[herbwitchery]

Feeling like I’m wearing a little bit of Smaug’s scales around my neck 🐉 Thank you so much for this gorgeous necklace @marine_saria 💚 #necklace #snakeskin #dragon #smaug #hobbit #thehobbit #jrrtolkien #tolkien #tolkienfan #tolkientribe #hobbitpipe #bilbo #bilbobaggins #tartan #green #book #bookaddict #booklover #bookworm #read #reading #readingtime #readingaddict #tolkienbooks #johnronaldreueltolkien https://www.instagram.com/p/CJLlpJLBOtX/?igshid=1y2neo1yappel

[thorinds]

Okay, so one thing that has bothered me for a really long time is the discrepancy between the Balin we see in the beginning of AUJ and the Balin that eventually goes to reclaim Moria and search for the last of the seven dwarf rings (and thus disregarding Dain counselling him against it!). Because the Balin we see in the beginning of AUJ has qualms about going on the quest to reclaim Erebor to the point where he is the only dwarf trying to dissuade Thorin. Hell, he even tells Thorin outright that he has built a new life for them in the Blue Mountains, a life that is worth more than all the gold in Erebor. And so to me, Balin’s decision to travel to Moria just didn’t make sense in view of his hesitancy seen at the beginning of AUJ. 

And so I tried to account for his change of heart, and I came up with three possible explanations.

Firstly, his change of heart could simply come down to the success of the first quest. Balin knows better than anyone that trying to reclaim Erebor is going to be extremely dangerous. After all, there is a live dragon who breathes fire(!) inside the mountain. Judging by that alone, trying to reclaim Erebor is essentially a suicide mission because their chance of success is almost non-existent. In addition, besides defeating a living dragon and finding a jewel buried beneath a massive treasure, the journey itself if fraught with dangers. Balin doesn’t know what they’ll meet, but considering orcs, goblins, wolves, trolls, Stone-giants and elves exist within this world, it’s not impossible that they’ll have to fight for their lives at least once. And so embarking on this quest is, if we’re going to be honest, one of the most dangerous things you could do, and Balin knows that. But, against all odds, they succeed in finding the Arkenstone (thanks to Bilbo), killing Smaug (thanks to Bard), reclaiming Erebor, and restoring it to a proper Dwarf kingdom. And so, Balin’s reasoning when trying to reclaim Moria may simply be that because a small band of Dwarves have done the impossible once (reclaiming Erebor/finding the Arkenstone), doing the impossible again (reclaiming Moria/finding Thror’s ring) is, in fact, possible. 

Secondly, Balin’s decision to leave Erebor for Moria could actually be the result of grief. Judging by Balin’s reaction when finding Thorin’s body on the ice and during the funeral of Thorin, Fili, and Kili, it’s clear that Balin is absolutely heartbroken. I mean, look at this!

Balin is DEVESTAED by Thorin, Fili and Kili’s deaths. But that’s not the only loss Balin has suffered. He lived in Erebor during it’s days of glory, not only seeing the Longbeards prospering, but living good lives within the safety of the Mountain. But he also saw the devastation first hand, returning only to find the corpses of men, women and children who did not survive Smaug’s attack. For Balin, returning to Erebor must have been traumatizing in itself, and losing Thorin, Fili and Kili shatters him. And so I imagine that through seeing Erebor restored, living there must constantly remind Balin of everything he and his people have lost. There are memories of tragedies and deaths everywhere, and to be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised if going to Moria is a way for Balin to escape heartbreak. That is, going to Moria may actually be a coping mechanism for Balin because though Moria itself tells of a mindless tragedy, it’s not as personal to Balin as Erebor’s tragedy is.

Thirdly, and this is the explanation I support the most, Balin not wanting to embark on the quest may actually have to do with Thorin. More specifically, Balin tries to dissuade Thorin not because he doesn’t believe in the quest and their goal, but because he tries to protect him. Just like Thorin, Balin saw Thror becoming consumed by gold sickness, going mad in the process. He saw how Thror was consumed by greed, shunning former allies and friends, making a fool of himself (remember the incident with Thranduil and the necklace), caring only for gold and gold alone. As he says to Bilbo: “It sent [Thror] mad.” And more importantly, he knows the same thing might happen to Thorin. The sickness runs in the family, and gold on which a dragon has slept is especially dangerous. 

And the thing is, Balin loves Thorin. Where Dwalin’s love for Thorin can be described as fraternal, I’d say Balin’s love for Thorin is in many ways paternal. Apart from being the oldest in the Company, Balin also takes the role of a parental figure, and tough Thorin often sees Balin as an advisor, close companion and brother, Balin is also a sort of surrogate father. To take case in point, when they can’t find the hidden door, Thorin looks and sounds like a child when he says “That’s what it says. What did we miss? What did we miss? Balin?” Thorin isn’t the one to seek comfort from others, but when he does, he turns to Balin.

Apart from looking at Thorin like a son, I think Balin also loves him like a son. I mean, when he realizes that Thorin has become inflicted by the dragon-sickness, Balin sits alone and cries. 

He’s heartbroken by the realization. And I think THAT also explains why Balin tries to dissuade Thorin from going on the quest in the first place. Balin knows that Thorin is vulnerable to the madness that drove Thror mad, and Balin knows that going on the quest could destroy the Thorin we meet at the beginning of the story. 

Balin tries to tell Thorin “You don't have to do this. You have a choice. You've done honorably by our people. You have built a new life for us in the Blue Mountains, a life of peace, and plenty. A life that is worth more than all the gold in Erebor.” I 100% believe Balin is being sincere when saying this. But I also believe he says this to protect Thorin. Balin knows the dangers of the dragon-sickness, and the only way to protect Thorin is to hinder him from embarking on the quest. And so he tries to dissuade Thorin because for Balin, protecting Thorin is more important than reclaiming the Arkenstone and potentially restoring Erebor to it’s glory. He values Thorin’s life and wellbeing above a whole mountain of riches, status, and glory.

(As a side note, can we talk about the beautiful parallel of Gandalf failing to persuade Bilbo to join the quest, only for it to immediately be followed by Balin failing to dissuade Thorin from embarking on the quest. ;___;)

And I think Balin’s love and desire to protect Thorin explains the discrepancy I mentioned at the beginning of this post. Balin doesn’t want to go on the initial quest because he’s afraid of what will happen to Thorin and thus tries to protect him by dissuading him from going, but when the quest for Moria comes up, Thorin is dead, and Balin doesn’t have anyone holding him back anymore.

[edensrose]

( ❀ ) ˙ ˖ characters I write for ⠀〳 ⠀reader ❜᭡ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ╰·⊰ MISC : imagine them giving you a gift ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ( masterlist ) ( taglist form )

ㅤ ㅤ THRANDUIL

ʚ jewellery in general but specifically a necklace

ʚ a very lavish looking one made with the finest of gemstones

ʚ probably got it commissioned especially for you

ʚ it's not modest in the slightest, however, it is elegant. anyone can see how extravagant it is

ʚ alternatively, when you become his queen: a crown similar to his yet personalised to your signatures

ㅤ

ㅤ ㅤ LEGOLAS

ʚ loves giving you things like flowers

ʚ you're always getting bouquets from him, he never misses a month

ʚ somewhere along the line he's going to get the blacksmiths to craft roses of silver with little gems embedded in them

ʚ gifts them to you and says that "they'll never die out"

ʚ likes plopping little flower crowns on your head

ㅤ

ㅤ ㅤ MAIRON

ʚ a ring

ʚ no not THE ring but a ring. being a blacksmith he would craft it himself

ʚ it's silver with little stones that perfectly match the colour of your eyes

ʚ also makes you little trinkets as well, just mini little things that are not necessarily jewellery

ʚ probably has made you a little jewellery box or something of the sorts where you store all his gifts

ㅤ

ㅤ ㅤ MELKOR

ʚ obsidian earrings

ʚ honestly be happy that you're getting anything at all, he considers his presence as a gift enough

ʚ in all honesty he isn't really the type to give you gifts so it makes the obsidian earrings even more special

ʚ until the day he gave you a baby dragon which would remain in that state

ʚ in reality it was one of his failed attempts at creating the more devastating ones but it's the thought that counts

ㅤ

ㅤ ㅤ MANWË

ʚ a rather simple but still as beautiful bracelet

ʚ probably has little wings as pendants or something

ʚ or a necklace similar in style

ʚ would probably also really be into giving you flowers and would personally ask yavanna for some of her best just for you

ʚ can give you one of his hawks if you'd like but they're already your shared babies

ㅤ

ㅤ ㅤ FËANOR

ʚ a sword

ʚ crafted by yours truly. he meticulously designed it to complement your character yet still have that cutting edge to it

ʚ but would probably also craft you jewellery at times

ʚ mostly earrings and necklaces. he once made you a little headpiece as well

ʚ if you really wanted he'd make you mini sword earrings like the blade he has crafted you

ㅤ

ㅤ ㅤ SMAUG

ʚ gold

ʚ straight up, just gold. like, what do you want from him — he thinks that it's the highest of all gifts

ʚ just plops some gold nuggets into your hands and you don't have it in your heart to ask what is wrong with him because of the sincerity in his eyes

ʚ please don't tell him when you want something because he will steal it for you

ʚ a lot of your gifts are stolen gifts

taglist ━ @kiatheinsomniac @augustwithquills @blueberryrock @a-chaotic-dumbass @m-shade @nerdydcfan @flowerchildishere @camilomyshiningsun @bugnug @algae-rave @perwaineintsomi @yellowbadgermole @spoopy-fish-writes @rurifangirl

[demonscantgothere]

So because Charlie Vickers can sing and Sauron is a Maiar, do you think they’ll have him sing at all during season 2? Let’s be honest anything Tolkien related can be a musical in my eyes. Or am I hoping for too much?

. . . No, but now I want Sauron as Ariel in a Saurondriel AU à la The Little Mermaid. Galadriel can be Prince Eric. Morgoth can be Ursula. Smaug can be Scuttle. Saruman can be Sebastian. Ulmo can be King Triton. Let's just write Flounder out. It's not a seashell necklace, but the One Ring. And Sauron doesn't lose his voice, but half of his soul. And if he can't get Galadriel to fall in love with him with only HALF A SOUL, then he becomes Morgoth's prisoner for eternity. And yes, Morgoth swoops in and tries to steal Galadriel out from under Sauron in order win the contract. Title it "Poor Unfortunate Souls." Rated T. Lots of comedy and humor. The one rule? He has to be called Sauron throughout the whole thing. NO HALBRAND.

Jesus, where is my head right now? Shit. Do I need another work in progress?