#smaugs ramblings

[klngfili]

i log onto tumblr dot com and get a first glimpse of the pleading wet eyes of the lil supernatural guy professing his love for the upteenth time and know something has happened

[foreststarflaime]

God I love dramatic vain red fiery winged rich bitches with a flare for the dramatic and clever poetry and petty revenge who enjoy burning down towns and also the government as a hobby and who hibernate for years at a time in caves

[bitter-sweet-farmgirl]

Loyalty, Honour, A Willing Heart (Prt. 4)

4. Erebor

Bilbo has awakened Smaug in Erebor, and they’re all waiting outside, and can hear rumblings.  Ori’s like, “we should go in after him”, or “I think he’s in trouble”, and Thorin just sighs (very anxious, reminds me of myself when I'm trying to make hard decisions really fast or am preoccupied with something else) “Just give him more time.” 

Balin turns on him because that’s a very like un-Thorin-like thing to say or do essentially.  He’s like ‘this isn’t you.’  He challenges Thorin.  “Time to do what?  Be killed?”

Thorin isn’t happy with that challenge.  “You’re afraid.”  He instantly accuses Balin, and the look on his face is absolutely brilliant.  He has this look on his face that is just wide-eyed and like he cannot believe that Balin would ask him something like that.  Which, given that Balin is his advisor, he has every right to ask him something like that.  He probably has on numerous occasions.

That moment right there is where Thorin is no longer Thorin.  That is the turning point.  That moment right there.  That is where he flips from Thorin—regular Thorin—to dragon-sickness Thorin.

He grew up watching his grandfather.  He watched Thror fall into the madness of the gold-sickness. 

And we see that in the beginning of the movie in the scene where Thror is down in the treasury counting all his coins and what not and we cut to Thorin who’s up on one of the balconies watching him, and the expression on his face.  It just absolutely kills me.  Because he looks SO SAD to see his grandfather in that sort of madness.  He is absolutely devastated that his grandfather has fallen to that.

So, when we’re actually at Erebor, and Balin has said that “Yes, I am afraid.  I fear for you.  A sickness lies upon that treasure horde.  A sickness which drove your grandfather mad.”

That brings up a situation for Thorin.  I hypothesis the reason that Thorin instantly says “you’re afraid”, is because that is what he is thinking himself.  He is wrestling with fear right in that moment, and unconsciously signals that by what he says to Balin.

Thorin has never allowed himself to be scared.  That was never an option for him.  He has always been the leader of his people, in some way or form as the crown prince and then after his grandfather and father passed, he has had to be the strong one. 

He cannot show that he is unsure or is scared.  That has never been an option for him.  Also, going along with that, he knows that his family is prone to madness like that after his grandfather and father both ended up falling to madness in different ways.

So he probably spends his entire life and even more so as he gets closer to Erebor, worrying about that same thing happening to him.  It is a self-fulfilling prophecy, because if I was in his shoes, and I was worried about that, then the closer I got to Erebor, it would consume my thoughts, and I would be thinking of, “is this me being weird, is that a sign of madness?”  I would constantly be on the watch for that, and that would drive me mad.  He worries so much about becoming his grandfather, that he actually becomes his grandfather.

His next line of dialogue proves that.  “I am not my grandfather.”  Those are words I think he has repeated to himself SO MANY TIMES over the course of his life.

Balin has spent so much time with Thorin and knows him so well, which is why he instantly clocks onto the miniscule shift in Thorin.  “You’re not yourself.  The Thorin I know would not hesitate to go in there.” 

This ties back into all the other scenes we’ve visited where we are shown time and time again that Thorin cares so much for his people.  He literally cannot abandon someone.  He looks out for the little people.  So his refusal to go check on Bilbo goes so far against his morals that it is obvious that he is not in his right mind.

And his last line of dialogue proves that to the core.  “I will not risk this quest for the life of one burglar.” 

Now, I took one for the team and checked what Thorin called Bilbo during the quest. I stopped my tally after reaching the above dialogue sequence, as what comes after isn't as important. The tally is as follows:

Bilbo: 0

Master Baggins: 4

Burglar: 3 (broken down into 'your burglar' to Gandalf after the troll escapade, 'Master Burglar' once they are in Erebor and he's afflicted by the dragon-sickness, and lastly, 'burglar' in the above dialogue sequence).

Hobbit (in any variation): 3 (Halfling being one of the three)

Mr. Baggins: 1

So in an overwhelming majority, Master Baggins is Thorin's default method of addressing Bilbo. He only actually ever calls him 'burglar' to his face once he is afflicted with the dragon-sickness, or in some way annoyed (as we see with the trolls).

So, Thorin has always been fairly polite to Bilbo. Something I think is very important to note is that never has this quest been more important than someone's life.

It was made very clear at the beginning that every member of the company joined of their free will.  They chose to follow Thorin on this suicide mission because they believed in him and his cause. 

And again, that suspicion that Thorin doesn't normally address Bilbo as 'burglar' is confirmed by Balin’s final line of dialogue.  “Bilbo.  His name is Bilbo.”

[idontcarecarebear]

I adore the friendship that Bilbo and Aragorn share in the book and wish that more had been said on it in the movies. One of the aspects about J.R.R. Tolkien that I enjoy is the friendships and bonds that characters have to each other and think it would have been interesting to see the friendship between Aragorn and Bilbo in depth on screen.

They’re besties your honour

[whoslazy]

time to watch the third hobbit movie. i sure hope they don’t kill my husband (smaug)

[halogalopaghost]

Being the oldest of four kids with a mom with severe untreated postpartum depression and residual anger issues from her shitty childhood, then getting deputized at age ten and moving around a lot and not having a lot of money will really. Do it to ya.

This whole. Gestures broadly. Disability thing...it's making me depend on other people a LOT more than I'm used to...I'm starting to get used to it and accept it though. Especially where friendships are concerned. I'm starting to think that maybe friendship isn't a competition and I don't have to reciprocate EVERY gesture in kind because like.........the laws of equivalent exchange don't apply here, do they? It's okay to let myself be cared for. It's okay to let myself be the metaphorical little spoon. I'm so used to being the oldest and the person that's depended upon that I just never even considered an alternative. It's okay for me to need a friend even when that friend does not need me.

[lunova-rambles]

I’ve been watching the extended edition of The Hobbit for the first time (despite being obsessed with Middle Earth for my whole life) and PLS why does Alfred do the stereotypical thing where he describes a strong man character he supposedly despises LMAO

Alfred: “Bard 😡…modest…strong…handsome…dreamy”

[psalm40speakstome]

You know what I love? Thinking you’re shipping this super random ship that’s will have ZERO content and getting on here every time to find that all the rests of you hooligans are shipping it with me.

[klngfili]

lord of the rings bigatures my beloved

[foreststarflaime]

More people in the dragons au bc I am still thinking about it :) Kunsel, Aerith, and Tifa my beloveds, the not-quite-dragons

Kunsel: There is a dragon whose hoard is of knowledge, a currency far more valuable than gold for those who know how to spend it. For those resourceful enough to find his well-hidden lair, he offers a trade of knowledge for knowledge—but one must speak carefully, lest they give up more than they realize. No one has seen any eyes under the impenetrable plate helmet the scales of his head have grown into, but there is no doubt that he can see just as well as he needs to. The oracle, they call him in hushed whispers, for there is a sense that he is always watching, even far from his lair. There are rumours that he may not even fully be a dragon, for a figure helmeted and cloaked has been seen going to and from the valley he calls home around times when the dragon vanishes or returns. The figure in the corner of the tavern smiles a sharp-toothed smile, unnoticed, hearing just as much as he needs to.

Aerith: There is a dragon whose soil-brown scales can hardly be seen beneath the wealth of greenery that cloaks her—for she is not quite a dragon, but a nature spirit that can take many forms, dragon being one of her favorites. A crest of weeping willows are her horns, their drooping branches braided together carefully. Her wings are cherry blossoms, stretched high towards the sky. Wildflowers of every color adorn her like jewelry, though most beautiful among them are a type of yellow lily that grows nowhere else. It is said these lilies can grant miraculous healing, if she offers them to you freely.

Tifa: There was a knight whose valor was great, a warrior princess from a remote kingdom whose kindness matched her skill in battle. In her youth, she showed kindness to a young dragon with coal-black scales; years later, her kingdom was razed in the flames of a red dragon with a silver tongue, and with nothing to tie her down she roamed across the land, learning to fight to protect those who couldn’t. She found the little coal-black dragon again (yet now his scales were of diamond), and through him came to know the dragon with the yellow lilies. She fought valiantly for many long years, and when one day she finally breathed her last, the dragon placed a flower on her lips, and she was changed, granted more time. Now, there is a dragon whose silvery scales were once steel plate, whose sharp claws were once the weapons of a knight, whose kindness is just the same as it always had been.

[yelmor-boots]

okay, so this is a beast of a post.

since i've officially watched all 'the hobbit' movies now (as well as 'lord of the rings'), here is my personal ranking of all the movies in a list.

LoTR: Two Towers

LoTR: Return of the King

LoTR: Fellowship of the Ring

Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Hobbit: Battle of Five Armies

Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug

i talk a lot about the movies under the cut ( i accidentally started rambling, whoops ) don't feel like you have to read it all but if you want my supper cluttered opinion, go ahead (spoilers btw)

favorite one overall is clearly 'Two Towers'. it follows three groups of characters in the best fucking way. (Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas | Samwise, Frodo, Smeagol/Gollum | Merry, Pippin) it's been a while since I watched this one but i would really love to rewatch it one day. (we rented this one so we don't have it anymore)

i initially had 'Return of the King' as #4 but i honestly can't rank it that low. everything about this one is perfect and it gave me and my sis some good fucking inside jokes. also aragorn and eowyn slayed imma be real

'An Unexpected Journey' almost came above 'Fellowship of the Ring' but then i remembered the other half of fellowship and i had to rank it higher. maybe i just love the lotr characters more, i dunno, but their journey impacted me more and had me more excited. also, 'one does not simply walk into mordor.'

'An Unexpected Journey' is the only one I've actually rewatched (even if it was only the beginning) solid movie, something old and charming to it. i did watch it when i was younger but i fell asleep multiple times and just caught tid bits of it, so going through it again i annoyed the piss out of my sis by yelling 'i know that part!' over and over again

'Battle of Five Armies' was structured really well. the fight scenes could not have gone any better. the elves, the dwarves, the orcs, all their different unique styles. solid three hours of fighting if you want that. (i would gush about this a little more but i would probably end up repeating myself a bunch and sounding more a mess than typical) ((also this is going on too long))

'Desolation of Smaug' by all intents and purposes should've been ranked higher. if something has a dragon, I'm gonna watch it. (i recently realized i had a not-so-secret love/obsession for dragons) and Smaug being that gold-obsessed dragon from storybooks gave him such an interesting twist and gave me a real appreciation for that trope and he looked really cool and he was probably my favorite part of the movie- (unfortunately i just had a bad experience watching the movie because i was being constantly interrupted to the point that i completely lost track for like two hours. but even with a rewatch, i probably wouldn't rank it higher, but i would definitely have more love for it than i currently do)

Favorite Characters

LoTR: Gimli (i can finally remember his name), Frodo (pathetic bitch, like me fr), Pippin (protect this tree-loving, goofy ass, bard at all costs)

Hobbit: (no character really stuck out to me in the way lotr characters did but these ones did stand out) Balin, Gandalf, Galadriel

and special shout out to:

aragorn (king, literally), legolas (especially from lotr where he's only quiet until he says some wise shit), smaug (big, fire kitty), galadriel (yes, again, i didn't think much of her until the hobbit but lowkey what the fuck, awesome, talented amazing, showstopping, hot as fu-what?), and eowyn (pick your head up queen, your crown is slipping)

and because i can't shut up and this is such an impeccable series

i couldn't pick one, so the two most impactful scenes for me was-

lotr: when the ring had been destroyed and frodo and sam are on the rock surrounded by lava. frodo is remembering everything about the shire and home and he probably finally feels normal again. they were also giving ship vibes, true, but their dynamic in that moment is also so special and i want to rope this into the end where he gives him the book before leaving and the ethereal lighting of it all is everything and-

hobbit: i wasn't too 'wowed' by thorin (he just doesn't match up to aragorn for me) but his character direction is something i can gab about on a later date (cuz i fucking love it dude) . other than that, he didn't touch me emotionally or anything. but holy fuck when the credit mucic started playing?? the song is 'the last goodbye' and i immediately thought of his death scene and the funeral of all of who passed and let me tell you, i have never teared up for movies or songs or stories but i got fucking close during that song man and that's gotta account for something (I've watched endgame with tony stark as my favorite character if that gives you any inclination how much that credit song fucked me up)

and lastly, my favorite songs

The Last Goodbye (this fucking song made me love thorin so much more and it also stole my lunch money, yes 911? i would like to report a crime-)

Edge of Night (wasn't expecting it, thought i'd hate it -because i get uncomfortable with characters singing in movies- fucking loved it, obsessed)

Misty Mountains Cold (had no reason to go so hard, jesus christ-)

I See Fire (i knew this song since i was a kid, never knew it was from the hobbit, got really excited when i heard it at the end of of desolation of smaug)

if you read this, you deserve a reward. but I'll settle for requesting you either reblog or comment with something about lotr/hobbit that you really love. like your favorite movie, character, scene, whichever. i'd love to see all the different things that was special to others (and it doesn't need to be as long as this, please, save yourself the stress)

[acornsandoaktrees]

i'd say this is more a 'long-campaign-too-cumbersome-to-wear-when-battle-could-start-at-any-moment' kind of crown.

this excerpt from The Hobbit,

"On his head was a crown of berries and red leaves, for the autumn was come again. In the spring he wore a crown of woodland flowers."

is at least to me kind of ambiguous? does the crown itself change, or does the foliage? now, (and i cannot say enough, this is only my opinion) i think it means foliage, because crowns tend to be quite an important image. and a hefty investment. it's safe to say there's probably something special/unique in the wood Thranduil's crown is made from or some sort of sentimental/cultural value, so it doesn't make sense to me that he would have up to 4 crowns. i've heard elsewhere that in the summer/spring his crown was occupied by beech leaves (the symbol of Greenwood), so the facts around it aren't quite concrete.

also (and i add this as a matter of what i believe is headcanon because i have yet to find it mentioned by tolkien, so take it with a large grain of salt) some people believe the crown to be a gift from the trees themselves/Ents, etc., which would make it precious and something Thranduil would be unwilling to risk.

so, during Smaug's arrival (probably visible only as a plume of smoke from Greenwood, which could've meant any old sacking) Thranduil has to quickly send out scouts, amass his army -- get them all equipped and in heavy armour -- and march across the marshes between the Long Lake and Felegoth (his halls). as we know, it was a rather sudden invasion, over quickly. Thranduil probably knew he himself wouldn't be fighting, rather strategising, if they even arrived before its end. and they didn't.

i'd imagine Thranduil's primary reason for showing up was really to make sure Smaug didn't set his sights on Greenwood. if he did, then it was in Thranduil's best interest to be as prepared as possible (and meet him before he could reach the forest and set it aflame, which Thranduil then has to devote crucial resources towards mitigating, with obvious great loss of fauna and flora). when he arrives at Erebor and sees the dragon going after the horde in favour of killing fleeing Dwarves, his experience tells him that the danger to his own land is now negligible.

also, as @mirkwood-hr-department stated, if the Dwarves couldn't defeat Smaug then Thranduil must've known his forces stood little-to-no chance. and of course, he's a flawed character! his interests are with his own people, and that made him insensitive to the plight of the Dwarves.

but i'm getting off-track: as far as the movies go, when Thranduil later takes his army to Dale, he 1) had already offered to help Thorin slay Smaug in return for the white gems of Lasgalen, an offer Thorin refused, and 2) knew a seige was likely in order.

the Dwarves had already made it inside the mountain and fortified themselves, to say little of the very dramatic death of Smaug. without a dragon in the equation, Thranduil is more willing to commit to the cause. in my eyes, the supplies he brought were at least in part to feed his own army -- and they are there for a little while: his tent is set up, he has the luxury of wine and glass, and his home is nearby should he require anything.

yet he doesn't have his crown. because this is a military situation he has prepared for, probably since the Dwarves' escape. and, look at that thing. it's intricate and visually powerful, but the longer spokes make it heavy and unbalancing. Thranduil can't be turning his head around to see approaching enemies with the ease and speed that might save his life. also, the way it sits on his head is... somewhat precarious -- you can see it is loose by his ears/cheeks.

this crown is a decorative piece, meant to look impressive, not be practical. (a common trend in irl royalty -- the English crown is so heavy that most monarchs suffer through wearing it for their coronation then never again, instead using a lighter mock for special occasions. Thranduil's is made out of wood so that's notsomuch an issue, but it is still cumbersome.)

the smaller circlet, meanwhile, is small, better fitted, and holds his hair out of his face. perfect to spring into battle at the slightest provocation.

(i've just thought of this: i headcanon that as promise of his commission of the white gems of lasgalen, Thranduil was given one of the gems ahead of time, which he gifted to his partner. upon her death, he took possession of the gem in remembrance -- and unless my eyesight is just Bad, that might be a diamond set into his circlet. if so, what better to wear when going into battle to reclaim said gems?)

For the people of the internet out there saying Thranduil didn't intend to fight because he was wearing his fancy crown and not the circlet he fights in during Battle of Five Armies can I remind y'all that canon Elvenking picks his crowns based on season not occasion. So this is obviously his fall crown both thematically and based on when we see him wear it in the films. Now it's repeatedly stated that Thorin & Co arrive on the last day of autumn.

So this isn't so much his battle crown as it is his winter crown

[whoslazy]

just finished watching the second hobbit movie and

isnt he dreamy

[smolestboop]

🍄 Wooo boy! Here goes my attempt at writing an ambitious fic. Let's see where this leads me. Chapter one is up! Based on my ramblings that sparked this whole thing ahdsfkkl 🍄

My Arrows Aim True by smolestboop / my_dear_man on AO3 | Pairing: Bilbo/Thorin | 2.6k words | Incomplete | Rating: Teen

Summary:

Bilbo Baggins discovers a secret that Smaug can be killed but he must first seek out a bowman in Laketown. The hobbit has to take on his own Quest to finish another. He is scared but he is not alone. They will never believe him once (or if) he returns to the Shire! (What if Bilbo Baggins shot down Smaug?)

Happy reading! 🍄🌿🌱

[kierongillen]

This week's newsletter! A plug for X-men Blue: Origins! A run down of everything I'm working on! Dragonmeet! My guide to writing RPGs! Book reviews! Rambles!

[toasterdrake]

fanfic writer interview

i wasn't tagged, but i saw a couple floating around and this immediately stuck out to me as something i wanted to fill in myself. complete with my usual ramblings

i've only used fics posted to my ao3, but i have a variety exclusively on tumblr hidden in the depths of this blog. did not feel like battling the search function

~

How many works do you have on AO3?

24

What's your total AO3 word count?

49, 431. oooh, so close to 50K... maybe i should post something soon.

Your top 5 stories by kudos/likes:

1. Two Spoons in a Bowl (Encanto)

2. Two Heartbeats (Encanto)

3. my way through (RWBY, unfinished at 3 chapters)

4. we don't have to fall so fast; take it slow (RWBY, month challenge - 17/30 entries)

5. heavenly view (Stardew Valley)

take it slow was actually my first time posting on ao3, and my encanto fics ended up leading me to my closest friends today, that's nice 🥺

Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

i do my best to. more often than i'd like i chicken out for fear of managing to say something that comes across as offensive or annoying, but i appreciate every single one.

What's the fic you've written with the angstiest ending?

i consider plenty of my writing to contain angst, but i typically end on at least a slim note of hope, so my search for an angsty ending was surprisingly difficult. i would say the most impactful one to qualify is fac fortia et patere, because it ends in the midst of Smaug's beseiging of Lake-Town, with only the omniscient position of knowing key events of AaOT as a whole to promise the characters survive it. (and technically Alphes doesn't without serious injury, so i say it counts).

What's the fic you've written with the happiest ending?

a hard choice, because unless it's complete unhindered fluff, my fics usually end with breathing room. hope, and achievement of a goal, but not quite bliss. in that light i say sunkissed, because it exists purely to be sweet romance between an adoring couple that achieve their mutual goal of a perfect first kiss. and if that's not happy, i don't know what is 😁

Do you write crossovers?

write, not yet. think about and plan, often enough. usually RWBY or Pokémon, as both have been with me since i was single-digits old. Inheritance Cycle has definitely crossed my mind at least twice as well. oh, and even Power Rangers!

Have you ever received hate on a fic?

hm, not that i recall. most of what i write is very niche so there's not a very high ratio of nice readers to spiteful ones. if you click on one of my fics, it's because you want to read it.

Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

privately. never say never, but i can't imagine it ever seeing the light of day, and i'm happy that way.

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

not that i'm aware, nor do i ever expect it to happen as again most are very niche. however, i do have my fics locked to account-holders only nowadays to prevent bot scrubbing to train AI. they don't discriminate.

Have you ever had a fic translated?

no, but i'd like to one day be fluent enough in something to translate it myself.

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

i've beta'd a few, but not yet had the pleasure to co-write. the only people i've encountered who i knew were open to it, i didn't feel our styles would mesh well. but i'm definitely willing with the right match!

What's your all-time favorite ship?

over the past few years i've noticed a decline in the intensity of my interest in ships. i'll always stand tall as a whiterose truther, though 🫡 until the end.

What's a WIP that you want to finish but don't think you ever will?

i like to think i'll eventually scrape together conclusions for all of them. there's probably a number floating around from old fandoms, but there's always the potential to rekindle an interest. the path of life is a mystery.

What are your writing strengths?

dialogue, and environment descriptions. dialogue has always come easier to me than what i've heard from other writers, and is often the first step i need to take to break the ice on a blank page. but i thrive just as much in the quiet moments where dialogue drops away and the world is left to speak.

What are your writing weaknesses?

...um, actually finishing things 😅 i really need to learn my lesson that as many times as i try, multi-chapter/long-form fics don't work for me. i am a oneshot guy through and through. it's an achievement just to drag myself over that finish line. i like writing, i promise, i just... lose motivation rather quickly. hand in hand with that, it takes a long time to actually finish fics.

What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic?

i love writing it and reading it!!! big fan!!! i try to dial it back because i'm conscious it can make fics harder to read and turn off someone who might otherwise like my writing, though. for all the small lexicons i add to make it accessible, it isn't easy to disrupt the flow to inform. i have to remind myself that my happiness to persevere isn't always shared. that said, i can rarely resist sneaking a few words in, especially terms of endearment or curses in a character's native language.

What's a fandom/ship you haven't written for yet but want to?

Inheritance Cycle, a book series by Christopher Paolini. i can't tell you how instrumental it was in creating the person i am today. i know when i was young i wrote something for it, but i've since tried to dig it up and it's long gone. i have vague memories of what it was about, so i'd like to give it another shot someday.

What's your favorite fic you've written?

ad meloria, without a doubt. i consider it my current magnum opus. it was the culmination and payoff of so much within AaOT, and i think sums up my identity as a writer pretty well.

~

i imagine pretty much every writer i know enough to be brave and tag already has been, so i leave this open to you, dear reader, should the whim strike you!