#the many faces of radagast

[mask131]

The many faces of Radagast (5)

One of the most recent incarnations of Radagast is of course in the special set of cards Magic the Gathering released in collaboration with the Tolkien Estate: "Tales of Middle-Earth". Radagast has several cards dedicated to him.

Plus as a bonus this card which implies either that Radagast might turn into a ferocious bear from times to times, either that Beorn turns into a bear by Radagast's magic...

Plus the original art of the cards, released online by their creators:

[riding-with-the-wild-hunt]

"For Radagast, the fourth, became enamoured of the many beasts and birds that dwelt in Middle-earth, and forsook Elves and Men, and spent his days among the wild creatures." - J.R.R. Tolkien, Unfinished Tales, "The Istari"

@ainurweek day 2 ⇢ AIWENDIL

[ID: an edit comprised of four posters primarily in warm shades of green.

1: Congolese-dutch model Terence Munzemba sitting in a lush field. He has brown skin with light patches due to vitiligo and very short dark hair. His eyes are closed and the sunlight shines down on his upturned face and through his fingers. The image is surrounded by a thin white frame, with "Aiwendil" written in cursive in the middle of the bottom line / 2: A toucan sitting in a tree, looking away from the viewer. The image is framed in white on two sides; where the lines intersect in the top left corner, white text reads "lover of birds" / 3: A leopard on a tree branch, looking beyond the viewer. Same format as Image 2, but the frame and text are on the opposite side, and the text reads "friend of beasts" / 4: Terence Munzemba, sitting and looking seriously up at the viewer with his head resting on his hand. Purple flowers and grass are visible behind him. Same format as Image 1, but the text reads "Hrávandil //End ID]

[tamurilofrivendell]

Sleeping Beauty | Chapter 1

Read on AO3 [x]

Pairing: Thranduil/Fem Reader Summary: A Sleeping Beauty inspired tale with Thranduil the Elvenking, and a female elf living in Mirkwood under the care of Radagast, who is actually the 'lost' daughter of the late High King Gil-Galad. Note: This is x reader but I have given ‘you’ a name. Also I needed Radagast for this story but I think technically she’d have been born before he even arrived but let’s just ignore that. If you’d like to be tagged in future chapters let me know. Translations: lothíriel (flower-garlanded maiden) anarórë (sunrise) vanwa (lost) aranel (princess) melui (lovely)

“Lothíriel!” Radagast cried out the nickname he had called you since you were but a babe in his arms, standing at the door of his little cottage deep in the forest of Mirkwood. His fingers curled around his wooden staff as he looked this way and that, brows furrowed with just the mildest hint of frustration. He was rather used to this song and dance by now. You would seemingly go missing from right under his large nose, sneaking off through the trees to mingle with the wildlife and sing to the flowers. You were a daughter of the forest, sure enough, and there was seemingly nothing that Radagast could do to keep you in check. Not that he would ever wish to dampen your spirit or dim your light, but it was his job to keep you safe and sound, after all. Keep you... hidden.

A great many years had passed since the days when this task had been appointed to him. Since that fateful day of your birth in Lindon when the Enchantress had dared show her face, laying ruin to all that could have been for you. Then the darker days that followed still. The Last Alliance. Your father, High King Gil-Galad, being slain by Sauron himself, alongside King Oropher. Dark days, indeed.

You knew nothing of any of this and that was how Radagast intended to keep it. For now. You were i vanwa aranel, as the tales told, the lost princess... and you needed to remain that way for at least another thousand years or so yet. When the full danger of the Enchantress was no longer a danger to you.

“Anarórë!” Radagast called again, using the name that you had been given just before being smuggled from Lindon under the cover of darkness. Your name was the only thing your father had been able to give you and he had gifted you the name that his beloved Queen had longed to bestow upon you - naming you after her most favourite time of day - before she was killed by the evil Enchantress that was to blame for your being out here and not in the halls of a palace as was your birthright.

“Ooh!” Radagast shook his head, turning to the bird on his shoulder with a worried expression as he heaved a sigh. He was always prone to concern, especially when you were not within his line of eyesight. “Now where has she gotten to!”

You were rather far away from the cottage where you had grown up, and from your uncle Radagast, whom you loved with your entire being but who could at times, to be quite frank, drive you rather mad. He made such a big deal of keeping you safe but some days it could feel like you were suffocating. Like treading water and never being able to move forwards. Some days it seemed that he would have enchanted the cottage to keep you inside at all times if he could. Still, you knew that he simply loved you and wished to keep you from harm.

The Greenwood was beginning to change, even you could feel that. There were pockets of thick, suffocating darkness and you could have sworn that once you saw a spider. Not just any spider but the largest spider you had ever seen in your whole life. It was said that the Elvenking was preparing to lead his people further north across the forest river due to this growing shadow.

Despite being an elf yourself, you had never met any of the wood elves that lived under the Elvenking’s rule. In truth, you did not even know the King’s name. You had watched a few of them in secret but you had never dared approach them. Radagast had always explicitly told you never to speak to strangers and something about the look in his eyes made you realise that he had some genuine reason and you followed that rule rather explicitly.

Still, you did not understand why, for how could you? How could you know that evil could take the fairest of forms to trick you into its clutches? How could you know that such evils were indeed looking for you? Actively seeking you out all over this world and had been since your birth? Radagast kept your history from you to keep you safe. As far as anybody need know, you were naught but a simple elf-maid dwelling beneath the trees of the Greenwood.

Still, it could be lonely, and you often imagined yourself outing your own presence and being welcomed into the fray of others of your kind. You adored your uncle, you truly did, and you loved your life in these woods with the wizard - but some days only conversing and interacting with him and the squirrels could become quite tiresome in a sense.

“Hey!” You laughed, lifting your gaze as a little robin gently tugged on strands of your hair from where it hovered in the air beside your head. Your thoughts melted away as you turned your focus to the little creature, suddenly realising that it was not alone. A group of familiar little animals were lined up on a nearby tree branch, looking down at you rather expectantly.

“There you are!” You chuckled, moving closer and reaching out to run your fingers through some of their fur and feathers. “I was beginning to think that you had all decided to abandon me this day!”

The animals tittered and shifted, little sounds coming from some of them as they shook their heads in dismay, eager to let you know that they would never! This little group of beasts made up some of your closest friends in this wood and a lot of days you would meet them in the clearing and pass your afternoon together.

“Oh, I am only teasing.” You laughed brightly, moving over to sit upon a fallen log, gazing up at the sky.

One of the birds began chirping and you turned to look at them, shaking your head a little as they told you Radagast was looking for you. “Well, I am not ready to go back yet.” You replied. “I have barely been out of the house in the last few days.” Another little chatter from the bird came, telling you he was worried there were strangers in the woods, and you shook your head. “He needn’t bother. Even when there is, I do not approach them. Does he not trust me? Sometimes he treats me as thought I am still a child!”

A soft silence fell upon the clearing, all your little friends looking sad as they contemplated your words, your loneliness. Even they seemed to know that even though you had them, and even though you had Radagast, perhaps it wasn’t always enough.

“Come on now!” You chuckled, brightening a little. “Let us not dwell on all of that. I will go back soon, I promise. He will not start to truly panic for another while yet.” You knew him well enough to know that you had some time to spare before he came charging through the trees with his trusty rabbit sled. “Come, keep me company while I pick some berries. Tonight I am going to make some more cakes!”

A distance away through the trees, a large brown elk was moving at a gentle trot. Astride him sat a lone rider, shoulders straight and guard up just slightly. His long white hair was cascading down his shoulders, free of any elaborate adornments, and as he rode he looked about him, studying the forest.

King Thranduil was travelling alone, something that he did not always do anymore, but his trusty swords were at his side and he knew that, if necessary, his elk could outrun any dangers that they may come upon. If he did not get them first. There was a shadow falling somewhere, he could sense it, but it was still faint and with any luck it would stay that way.

Thranduil turned his attention to the path ahead of him as he moved through the forest, aware that he would have to turn back soon and return to his realm. There was a lot to do, many preparations to make, however he had been rather needing a little bit of peace and quiet. He could defend himself well enough and it had been some time since he had been able to be truly alone. He had a heavy weight on his shoulders and he had since his father, Oropher, had fallen to Sauron, leaving him to rule. Thus the Prince had become the King overnight and, while Thranduil had often had an urge to flee and hide, it was not a whim that he would give into.

As his elk moved through the trees, Thranduil suddenly became aware of a sound filtering through all the other woodland noises. It wasn’t exactly close by and it appeared to be coming from somewhere to his right, which was not the direction he needed to go, but he found himself pulled towards it somehow.

It was somebody singing, he realised, and he normally would have simply smiled and left them to it but it was such a beautfiful melody, a voice the likes of which he was not sure he had ever heard before in all his years - and Thranduil had heard a lot of singing in his lifetime.

“Melui...” He murmured to himself, lost in the beautiful tune for a few moments before he stirred again and urged his elk to the right, struck by the sudden desire to find whoever could produce such a sweet sound.

“Come on, my friend... this way." He directed to his elk as he gently tugged the reins to redirect the beast, heading off in the direction of the singing, not caring if it was perhaps a little out of his way as his curiosity got the better of him.

His elk snorted, disgruntled at going off track, though it reminded the animal a little of the prince of old and it easily gave in, shaking its large head as it trundled off through the trees in the direction its master commanded.

[mistresskayla-blog1]

The Dragon's Kiss

Characters: Thorin Oakenshield x OC mage Adenveir NSFW - smut!

Lyn's Writing Event 2024 - Day 14 - Week 2

May 14th : Week 2: Draco (the dragon)

Characters: Thorin x OC Adenveir Gana (mage)   (pronounced – Ah-den-veer)

Fandom: Richard Armitage – Thorin Oakenshield – The Hobbit

(The character of Thorin Oakenshield was created by J.R.R. Tolkien)

Timeline: AU Post (BOFTA) – No one dies, everyone lives  - And magi exist

Warnings: dragon x mage, size differences, graphic sex, dragons, magic, dwarves, fire breathing, character death??

Word count: 2.9k

            Adenveir moved swiftly through the brush, after a hare from Radagast’s crew. She needed just a bit of bunny for her spell. And she wanted one of his, they were the fastest in all the kingdoms. Mirkwood had many creatures to it, but the hares were truly remarkable. Adenveir nabbed one in her long fingers and hung it near her face, the hare thumped her forehead and tried to get out of her grasp, “Shh.. shh, its ok now. I just need a few little hairs”, the long eared hare twitched and turned itself to look at her, sniffing at her. Adenveir pinched a few hairs and dropped the hare into the brush, it scurried away, thumping his back leg and shuddering. Adenveir looked at the long strands of grey in her fingers, “Nice. That will do it,” she giggled, and put them into a satchel of reckoning. She headed back to her hut on the edge of Mirkwood, near Esgaroth.

---

Several miles away, in a clearing Thorin was wielding some staves with Dwalin. The two had managed to find time to exercise, and both were now topless in the sun, fighting playfully.

Thorin swings and nearly hits Dwalin in the jaw, “Almost had you old friend”, he jeers. Dwalin ducked, “Got to get up a little earlier for me laddy”.

Thorin smirked, “Well its only cause I don’t want to hurt an old man”.

Dwalin, “I’m not that much older than you, and far stronger too.”  

Thorin, spun around and cracked Dwalin on the shoulder, “Yeah,” he said, as he stepped closer, the stave leaning into Dwalin’s right shoulder, pushing him down, “Guess we’ll have to see that won’t we,” Thorin panted in exertion. Dwalin, pushed back up from his slouch and banged his stave into Thorin’s from underneath, wrenching Thorin away from him. They both grunted, and Thorin stepped back re-adjusting.

Dori walked up to disturb them, “Excuse me, sire”, Thorin looked to Dori and Dwalin cracked him in the jaw, Thorin went down like a ton of bricks and hit the grasses. Dori looked surprised.

Dwalin laughed, walking up to Thorin on the ground, “I told ye, still a pup. And I never get tired of setting you down.” Thorin’s eyes came open, as he sat up, “And I never get tired of the humility, apparently,” he said, allowing Dwalin a hand to bring him upright. Thorin, rubbed his jaw, “That was a good crack.” Dwalin smiled, “ye, it was. Let’s get some grub ya?”  Dori smiled and nodded, “That’s what I came to get you for,” Dwalin walked away from Thorin with Dori, leaving him in the clearing, topless and bruised.

---

Thorin looked up to the looming mountain, and sighed, happy to be home. He gathered his gear and was putting his shirt on when a streak formed in front of him. Thorin squinted thinking it was the sun playing with his eyes. A woman, tall, lean and elven like stood before him, Thorin bristled, thinking her an elf. “What do you want?” he scoffed, pulling his shirt over his head.

The voice of the woman was but a whisper on the wind, “Come with me, to riches beyond compare, my King”, the figure said.

Thorin shook his head again, “I don’t have time for your games today, whatever you are” He called out to someone else in the glen behind the figure. The figure hovered and was glowing a light blue. Thorin stopped just inches from it and readjusted his stance, the stave behind him. Her eyes bore into him, and he had to look up at her. “Look,” swallowed, “Whatever you want, I am sure we can make arrangements for the,” The figure touched him with a wispy hand, and Thorin dropped again to ground, landing hard on his staff. The figure materialized more solid and touched the ground, stepping towards him, lying on his back in the grass. His chest hair shining in the sunlight, in his open shirt. He was breathing steadily in a sleep, and she touched his chest tentatively, wanting to feel it, feel him. Her hand trailed up to his hair, and the braids still in it, framing his face, his hair splayed out in the grass about his head majestically. She ran her fingers through it, and the tendrils sparkled along her fingertips in bright flecks of light, nearly shifting the spell she had cast for herself.

Adenveir looked upon Thorin Oakenshield with great adoration in his slumber, and pressed her errant hand into his chest, speaking in elven tongue over him, the whispers of spirits around her, created a cloud of mist in the high sunlight. As her hand stayed, dark scales shown under her fingertips and against Thorin’s skin. It spread across his body in great flourish, as a choral sound and whispers filled her ears with cacophony. His clothes fell away, and he was stark naked in the valley, covered in scales, and growing larger by the second. A voluptuous tail unfurled from between his mighty legs and Adenveir giggled in amazement, “Its working” she said aloud.

More scales bloomed on his skin and claws appeared where his meaty hands were, and finally his mane of hair, shortened, the tendrils of braids blending into his now reptilian face, and coarse horns cropping out from his head like a crown. He was green and gold and absolutely magnificent, Adenveir thought to herself. His belly was round, and solid, and a slit along his tail, told her he would be endowed with something else very soon. Thorin moved a bit, groggry headed as he tried to sit up, not quite opening his eyes, “What in Durin’s name is going on?”

He put his clawed hand to his head, and rubbed his temple, feeling an outcropping of horn, his eyes shot open immediately, and he looked down at himself. Adenveir stood and stepped a few feet from him, giving him room to adjust. The valley was still empty, none of his kin had come looking for him. Her spell of enchantment trailed further along the valley floor, concealing them both. Adenveir was not glowing blue anymore, she looked like a wood elf, although a softened version of one, and wore grey blue hood and grey shift. Her blue eyes were icy against Thorin’s warm ones, and her white hair looked silver in the sunlight. Thorin saw her first, as he tried to make sense of himself. His eyebrows furrowed a bit, and then, as if something else took over he grinned like a cheshire cat and stepped towards her, his large tail swishing on the ground behind him now.

Thorin looked behind him a second, and the grin got bigger. He ran his claws over his arms and smoothed the scales against his exposed chest and belly. Thorin scowled again, looking up at her inquisitively. The lines on his reptilian face were mottled in thought. Adenveir spoke, quietly at first, “I wanted to give the King a gift”, she said, a shy smile.

Thorin’s eyes bore into her, “A gift? Is this my gift, mage?” Adenveir stood her ground and did not cower to him, even though he was now 2 feet taller than her, “Yes it is. I wanted you to learn what it felt like.” Thorin looked at her again, his hand still resting on his belly.

“Well, this certainly is a new sensation. And what I am supposed to do with it?” Thorin asked her. Adenveir looked nearly sullen, “I don’t know, I guess I thought it would help you,” Thorin looked incredulous, his deep voice booming even more that he had a larger lung capacity in this form, “Help me? How would being a dragon help me, or my people? Dragons are no friend of mine.”  Thorin scratched at his own skin now. His teeth shown, and gritted, his hot breath pulsing against her face.

Adenveir stepped towards him, “Even more reason to feel what it is like, so you can see the world through their eyes,”  Thorin hissed through his new found large mouth, “Maybe I should teach you lesson, I am bigger and stronger now, did you really think it was a good idea to turn me into something so vulgar.”

Adenveir stood so close, he was forced to close his mouth and breathe through his nose, She was shorter, but she still managed to make it just below his snout, “I do. I stand by my claim.”

---

Thorin grabbed her with his large, clawed hands at her waist and threw her across the field, she hit the force field around them and bounced to the ground. Adenveir smiled and stood up, two knives came out of her robes and she roared running at him and jumping off a rock, catapulting towards him. Thorin saw it, and caught her, Adenveir punched both blades into his scaly chest, and Thorin groaned. He tossed her to the ground again, and pushed his large foot down over her, pinning her to the ground. Thorin pulled both blades from his chest, blood streamed down his scales but he felt no pain. He laughed heartily, “Come again, mage, you want to try that again,” his roaring laugh reverberated through his whole form. He moved his foot and Adenveir rolled away from him, lunging at him again with a small broad sword, Thorin grabbed the sword, squeezing her hands until she relented with a cry. He threw her sword away and it landed in a tree about 50 yards away. His paws made a come-hither gesture, and Adenveir spoke from elvish, a large orb formed in her palms, she placed her palms together and threw it at him. Thorin dodged and it hit the force field, bouncing, and landing into Adenveir’s chest, throwing her back to the ground. Thorin laughed mightily.

Thorin leaned down and stepped over Adenveir’s form on the ground. She huffed, trying to process the effects of the orb as it faded away. Thorin’s snout was right in line with her face, he grinned wildly, hovering over her, “What else you got?” his eyes looked at her, ready for more.

Adenveir, reached in her cloak, trying to find a satchel, but Thorin snickered and pinned a hand down.

“Nope, not another spell, mage, you need to show me some real mettle.” Thorin said, his wild dragon tongue protruded at her, his mouth opening slightly to taste her neck. Adenveir froze, feeling it against her skin, “Please no, I just wanted, I just…” Thorin sneered, “You will be sorry you trifled with me”, his breath hot on her face, his snout snorting against her robes. Thorin took a single claw and drug it across her chest, the fabric of her jerkin broke apart, exposing her breasts to him. His long lizard tongue, lapped at her nipples, as they formed into tight nubs at his touch. Adenveir moaned, still pinned beneath him, as he stood on her robe.

“You wouldn’t hurt me, I know that, the townsfolk speak of your mercy,” Adenveir whispered against his snout. Thorin’s voice boomed, a bit softer, “Oh, I won’t hurt, you more than you deserve, but you should be careful when giving a heated man power like this,” the s’ hissed, as his tongue tickled her neck again, and played at her cleavage, her chest heaving.

Thorin’s claw moved lower, and etched along her britches, Adenveir’s breath hitched in alarm, her eyes growing wide, secretly aching in her secret place for this. She never imagined it would be this easy to entice the King in this way, it must be the dragon sickness in him that still burns underneath his skin. Thorin tore at her britches and soon she was uncovered, his dragon chuckle was throaty and divine as he licked her from her knees to her breast. Adenveir felt his warm breath on her delicate flesh and moaned again. Thorin spoke, “You taste divine, pure golden honey on my tongue”, a low rumble in his throat as he nuzzled her neck again. Something shifted between his powerful thighs, and when Adenveir looked down towards her own legs, it revealed itself in its throbbing glory. The slit opened, and a diamond shaped head protruded, and grew almost instantly before her eyes.

Thorin growled, as much as a dragon King could growl, and Adenveir moved to rub it with her thigh, he grew larger, the sturdiness of his cock as it tapered downward was remarkable. The thick throbbing base was far too big for her, but she knew that it would change her, even with a spell. Adenveir looked back into his eyes and bit her bottom lip, “Will you be gentle?”

Thorin looked down at himself then, between her thighs, “Oh, my,” he looked back at her, “I shall try, but it may leave a mark”. Adenveir gulped, “I am prepared for that”. Thorin gleamed, his eyes shining, “Then I shall prepare you,” and he dove his face between her legs, lapping eagerly at her folds, hot juices pouring from her double quick, as she whimpered and cried out.

Thorin breathed hot onto her cunt and lapped up her juices, growling again in arousal, his tail held sturdy to the ground, and he sat up, pulling her onto his lap, and easing her onto his ruddy cock, inch by exquisite inch. Adenveir shivered, his clawed hands on her waist, sitting back against a rock, and pushing deeper into her. Her eyes rolled back and she barely could whisper out, “Please.. no more”, before he pulled her up a bit, and then sank down further, groaning his dragon breath out so fiercely it brushed the hair from around her face. Adenveir touched his chest, the blood stained his scales, but the wounds were healing already.  She leaned in and licked the blood from his scaly chest, and like an animal Thorin groaned again, pushing her faster onto him, and shoving his tongue into her mouth then as she gasped up from his chest.

His tongue forced its way into her mouth, his dragon lips against hers, the tongue choked her.  His cock was savagely fucking her, deep and thick and strong. Adenveir couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, and as her core spasmed against him, she saw more than stars in her eyes, she saw the sky open up and swallow her whole. Her climax burst against her, in rolling waves, dangerous heat, and flowing juice. Thorin roared and moved faster, thrusting from the bottom, and moving her effortlessly atop him. “Oh god, your amazing, I.. I” he managed as he forced his way in deeper and Adenveir screamed an unholy scream of passion. Thorin felt a fire in his belly grow, and smoke started to emanate from his snout. The feel of his heavy balls clenching against her spasms gave him new power. Adenveir screamed out again, her mouth gaping, open.

Thorin beared down as a fire ball raised from his belly and released from his mouth, he breathed fire into her tender throat, scorching her lungs as he shot red hot cum, in delicious abandon into her tight and throbbing cunt. Adenveir was limp in his arms, ash formed at her mouth, Thorin, cradled her against him, a little panicked, as he didn’t know if he had killed her.

The veil of mist around them started to dissipate, and he could feel himself unsteady and finding himself again, as the moments crept by. Thorin set her down on the grasses and covered her with her robe. Adenveir lay unconscious on the valley floor. Thorin rubbed his belly now, the scales flaking off easily. His stature was returning to normal, as was his face. And still the mage lay still on the ground. His panic rose further now, as he found his clothes and dressed quickly. He shook at her shoulders and then her eyes flashed ice blue, coughing and gasping for breath. Her lips still ashen, her skin the palest grey he had ever seen.

“Thank Mahal you are still with us,” Thorin smiled above her. Adenveir shyly smiled back, “That was, unexpected,” she said, trying to sit up. Thorin helped her a moment sitting with her, “Are you alright?” Adenveir nodded, slowly, still swallowing a little roughly, “I think so, I certainly got, well” a slight smile as she rubbed her sore abdomen, “more than I bargained for”. Thorin furrowed his brow, “That wasn’t real was it? I didn’t mate with you?” Adenveir, “I don’t know, that was a lot more intense than I anticipated when I created the spell.” Thorin looked thoughtfully at her then, “What do I call you, if I should ever, well, come upon you again?” Adenveir looked at him hopeful, “my name is Adenveir, I live in Mirkwood, and I am the child of  a wizard and an elf,” Thorin nodded, “uh hmm, that would explain the boldness and utter disregard for my station.” Adenveir looked down, “Im sorry about that, but at least I can go on record and say, the King is hot tempered.” Thorin chuckled throatily, holding her against him then, “If I let you leave here, you can say whatever you like, my kin won’t believe you”. Adenveir shivered in the midday sun, “You didn’t kill me then, are my chances better now?” Thorin brought his hand to her chin, and kissed her softly, “We’ll have to see what kind of damage I can do, with my own body next time”. Adenveir blushed and melted into his strong arms.

THE END.

Taglist:

@scariusaquarius @legolasbadass @sweetestgbye @lathalea @riepu10 @middleearthpixie

Lyn's Writing Event 2024

[iridescentoracle]

bad wizards and shimmering rainbow-white robes

Someone else has probably already made this point—I'm late to the Locked Tomb party, I know—but I've been reading a whole lot of Locked Tomb posts (in between re-reading bits of the Locked Tomb books and thinking about The Lord of the Rings) recently, and if anyone else has made this point I haven't seen it yet, so, spoilers through Nona the Ninth:

Your gazes met. The other nascent Lyctor—the Third House saint, the Emperor’s bones and the Emperor’s joints, the Emperor’s fists and gestures—was clothed in a beautiful nacreous robe that glimmered all the colours of the rainbow: gauzy, iridescent white stuff that changed violently in the light.

(Chapter 4, Harrow the Ninth, Tamsyn Muir)

A mass of fabric whispered past you—you could not feel it on your body, but you felt the air upon your cheek—and then a person knelt in front of your chair. A shining, shimmering billow of pale fabric came into your field of vision, a rainbow-hued whiteness that ran through shades beneath the hot tungsten light, like the reflection of coloured glass on ice, the same stuff that now was draped around you. Then, awfully, your vision was lifted. Someone had pressed a finger lightly beneath your chin, and they were tilting it up so that you could see their face. You looked at the Lyctor. The Lyctor looked at you.

(Chapter 6, Harrow the Ninth, Tamsyn Muir)

‘“Radagast the Brown!” laughed Saruman, and he no longer concealed his scorn. “Radagast the Bird-tamer! Radagast the Simple! Radagast the Fool! Yet he had just the wit to play the part that I set him. For you have come, and that was all the purpose of my message. And here you will stay, Gandalf the Grey, and rest from journeys. For I am Saruman the Wise, Saruman Ring-maker, Saruman of Many Colours!” ‘I looked then and saw that his robes, which had seemed white, were not so, but were woven of all colours, and if he moved they shimmered and changed hue so that the eye was bewildered.

(“The Council of Elrond,” The Fellowship of the Ring, J.R.R. Tolkien)

I told them, This is it. We were put here to save the planet. We’re going to save the planet. We’re not going to let them run away. We’re going to fix this. And they were all, Yeah, John, because they were my friends and they loved me. But because they were also dicks and most of them had multiple tertiary degrees, they were also like, How though. We know you can do X and Y and Z. That’s still not A or B or C. We love the bone magic, but how are you going to pull this off? And it was P— of all people who said, First things first. If they’re going to let us fix the world, you’ve got to make them take us seriously. Get some leverage. If they want to make you into a bad wizard, be a bad wizard. We can write the history books to say you were a good wizard. Or at least an okay wizard. They’re not going to listen because we talk nicely, they’re going to listen because we scare the shit out of them.

(“John 5:1,” Nona the Ninth, Tamsyn Muir)

Ironically, of course, John himself doesn’t wear the shimmering rainbow-hued robes of the Lyctors—but his crown of infant fingerbones is first described as “a wreath of ribbon and pearlescent leaves in his dark hair, rustling prismatically in the windless docking bay" (Chapter 6, Harrow the Ninth), and frankly I think rainbow pearlescent leaves each “intertwined with a match-sized infant fingerbone” sounds significantly more evil than Saruman bothered looking, so eat your heart out Curunír I guess.

Of course, there's lots of irony about John adopting the trappings of that particular evil wizard, but I think the most ironic part might be the extent to which he really should've taken notes on the rest of the passage in question:

‘“I liked white better,” I said. ‘“White!” he sneered. “It serves as a beginning. White cloth may be dyed. The white page can be overwritten; and the white light can be broken.” ‘“In which case it is no longer white,” said I. “And he that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom.”

[the-starry-seas]

was thinking more about mar'eyce zenith's job as forest service pilot and did some googling about smokejumpers and is anybody really surprised that i have more OCs?

Manaia, the ICT3, they/them, early forties. Co-parenting everyone with their pilot, Zenith (ey/em). They're 5'10" and built like a brick wall which tends to make people intimidated, but when they're not working, they're laid-back and like to laugh. But when someone tries to get fresh with their team... yeah, there's gonna be trouble. In their downtime, they're a photographer and pole dance for exercise (and to make people wonder if their poker face is really that good [it is]).

Waimarie, the spotter, she/her, mid twenties. Fashionista, gardener, and astronomer. She knows Nīkau's name as her buir <3 She always picks up a box of two-bite brownies on her way in to work, because while this girl should not be in the kitchen, she's got a need for baked goods. She can be bribed into doing about anything with macademia nut cookies. Likes to ride the bus on random routes to see more of the city. Has made many friends with old ladies on the bus, and on four separate occasions, has helped a kid with homework.

Nīkau, late thirties, he/they. He always has tea on hand and he never shares. Got his scar in a bar fight that he started by cold-cocking a homophobe. Thinks it's pretty cool. Also thinks fire puns are funny. He's always showing off pictures of his dog, a Boston Terrier named Rose Tyler. His three boyfriends look after her while he's at work. Doesn't actually own any of his shirts or jackets, they're all stolen from his boyfriends. The collar, on the other hand, was a gift from them. Has the TARDIS tattooed on the inside of his left wrist.

Christopher, mid thirties, he/him. A one-man survival team who always has a gallon bucket full of peanut butter cups on his desk. Likes some water with his ice cubes. Avid gamer. Face paint as self-expression. His car always smells like vanilla. Has four bearded dragons named Gandalf, Radagast, Alatar, and Pallando.

Tama, early thirties, he/him. Has an innate need to dive into literally any body of water even when explicitly told not to. Likely swimming somewhere right now. A year older than his brother, Tipene, and will never let him forget it. Car Guy™, who needs romance when you can spend three weeks disassembling a Ferrari engine and infodumping about pistons. Has dated two girls, both ended dramatically, might be time for him to realise he's into boys instead. Had several near-death experiences while cave diving and still required an intervention to stop. He still cliff dives.

Tipene, early thirties, it/its. Polyglot and polyamorous. Collects belt buckles and most of them are hideously gaudy tbh. Has a life-sized taxidermy shark hanging from the ceiling of the office and constantly scaring newbies with it. Always has the radio set to a classic country station. Stocks up on sour fruit candy like the apocalypse is coming. Would probably be fine in an actual apocalypse. Binges horror movies but can't watch anything where the dog dies. Consults the farmer's almanac daily and tracks how accurate it is in comparison to the local weather station. Has two full tattoo sleeves of indigenous birds, and it's a game to see if the team can spot all the birds on hiking trips.

Benjamin, late twenties, he/him. Takes heavily after his mother who died when he was born. His father remarried last year and he hates the new chick. Cotton candy is his main food group. Weaver and woodcarver who constantly gifts things to his friends or donates to charity auctions. Whenever someone asks to borrow a pencil, he takes out a jumbo pencil from his desk and pretends he doesn't have anything else. Flirts with everyone, nobody can tell when it's serious. Dramatically pulling off his sunglasses at least once a day. Only has one jacket that's red leather. Heavily tattooed from fingers to elbows but nowhere else. His lipstick is UV reactive and he's hooked up with half the city at some club or another.

Epoxy, late twenties, they/them. Transmasc swag cancelled out by inability to flirt. Seemingly never wears the same necklaces twice but they've kept the same shade of lipstick for the last ten years. Kiri is their best friend. Never seen without a backpack, but nobody is exactly sure what's in there. Constantly annoying everyone else by always having their earbuds in. Listens to Chappell Roan half the time and local indie artists the rest of the time. Hangs out at their other BFF Anahera's tattoo parlour on Thursdays because they have a crush on her. They got their name because they tried to wipe extra epoxy off on their hands on their first day and you can guess how that went.

Kiri, mid twenties, she/her. Everyone underestimates the skinny blond chick, which she uses to relentlessly fleece strangers at pool, darts, and contact sports. Highly competitive and will get in over her head if a dare or bet is offered. She's also an animal lover and keeps bringing home random insects and rodents that are considered pests around the airstrip. Constantly arguing with Chris about LOTR lore and drives him nuts talking about her Star Trek crossover fanfic bc they have wildly differing opinions on which hobbits would actually want to join Starfleet.

Oliver, nineteen, he/they. His cat is named Oreo and she's the love of his life, humans need not apply. He got the cat ear headband to match her. Goes all out on Halloween costumes every year. A friend to all insects, even the ones that bite him, they have their reasons. Designated remover of spiders from bathrooms. Keeps trying to grow flowers and failing miserably. Deeply invested in his neighbour's koi pond. Usually seen in a bomber jacket and jeans. Do not mention butterflies around him unless you're ready to hear more than you could ever remember. Keeps his Christmas lights up year-round. Has never thrown away a plastic bag in his life.

[potatothatcanwrite]

~Arrows and Dragonhide~

Kili Durin x {Dragonshifter}FemOC Part 4/?

A/N- my tummy hurts

Word Count- 3.0k

Summary- Radagast is a bloody menace and Rivendale is like a pretty princess (can you tell idk what to put here?)

Warnings- Cannon typical violence, mentions of scars, torture and death

italics=elvish bold=dwarvish

Previous Part Next Part

The troll cave smelled like a giant pile of shit and dead bodies. Eyja carefully makes her way downwards into the cave until Gandalf stops in front of her, turning and holding an unlit torch out to her. "Eyja, can you light this please?" She sighs and takes the torch from his hand. Bringing the foul smelling thing up to her face, she brings in a deep breath before letting out a mighty puff, flames passing over her lips and catching on the torches material. "Thank you." Gandalf turns back around, the now lit torch illuminating the gold and other treasure lining the walls.

Kili steps up beside Eyja, watching as she sifts through the weapons tossed haphazardly about. "How were you able to light that torch?"

She continues running her hands over blades and bows as she answers, "I am a skin changer, while the outside is me shifts from one form to another, the inside, remains the same, though it does shrink and grow to match my body." Kili hums a sound of acknowledgment and points to a long wooden bow she hadn't gotten to yet,

"This is a great bow if you're looking for such a weapon, the curve is strong, and the string appears to be taught." The shifter turns to the weapon, lifting it from the ground, dusting it off with the corner of her cloak, revealing a dark wood and leather grip.

Eyja nods, "You are right, this is a fine bow, do you see a quiver anywhere?" Kili's smile widens at her praise, the matching quiver of arrows already in his outstretched hand. "Thank you Kili, are you in need of any weapons?"

he thinks to himself for a moment, "No I think I have all that I need." Eyja nods and starts off back towards the entrance of the cave, passing Gandalf handing Bilbo a small sword. As they reach the top, and Eyja begins reorganizing her small stash of blades and new bow the rest of the company begins to file out, many of them inhaling deep breaths of the fresh air. Eyja turns her back to the dwarven prince and looks back over her shoulder at him.

"Could you undo the sheath on my back, I can't seem to reach it?"

"Ya I can do that." Kili's hands brush lightly over her hair on the way to the strap holding her sheath to her body, and Eyja stills at the contact. As his hands fiddle with the clasp, she reaches back and pulls her hair to the side so to get it out of the way. As the clasp finally lets go and Kili lifts her sword from her back.

Eyja turns smile wide on her face ready to thank him when through the trees barrels huge rabbits towing a sled holding a small man cloaked in brown, lopsided hat pulled low over his ears. the dwarves quickly pull tightly into a group blades at the ready, but Gandalf steps forward laughter in his voice.

"Radagast the brown, what on earth are you doing here?" Kili shoots a questioning look to Eyja as if to confirm this is the wizard she had spoken of the day prior. The shifter meets his gaze for a fleeting moment, nodding, her brows furrowed in confusion. She had never seen the wizard in such a state of panic as he explained to the grey wizard how the greenwood is sick. As they wander away from the group Eyja turns back to the dwarf at her side.

"So that's Radagast," Kili's tone is light as he watches Eyja secure her sword to her waist.

"Yes, though I've never seen him look quite so worried before, normally he is quite calm, something must be terribly wrong to have him so upset." As she slings her new quiver over her shoulder and across her body, a menacing howl pierces the air, chilling the blood in her veins.

"Was that a wolf?" Bilbo's question is spoken swiftly his voice laden with fear, for the hobbit had never heard such a noise before.

Bofur's response is shaky and uncertain, "That is no wolf."

Movement behind the two catches Eyja's gaze, "Wargs!" her shout rings through the air and every dwarf turn weapons out as the beast hurtles down the hill towards them, it tackles Dwalin to the ground, only for Thorin to bring his new elvish blade down with bone crushing force. As another warg comes barreling at them, Kili readies an arrow and lets it fly, the arrow sinking deep in the creatures leg, causing it to tumble the rest of the way down the mossy hill, Eyja brings her blade across its throat with a quick twirl, the dark blood splattering across her cloak and face. She bares her teeth at the foul animal as it let out one last whining howl.

Thorin wrenches his blade from the neck of the first warg, "Warg scouts, which means an orc pack is not far behind."

"we have to get out of here." Dwalin's voice is tense and he looks to Thorin.

Ori rushes to the group, "We can't, the ponies have run off."

Radagast volunteers to draw them off and Gandalf turns to face his companion, "These are gundabarg wargs, they will outrun you."

A wild glint enters the brown wizards eyes, "These are ruskavelle rabbits, I would like to see them try." He climbs back onto his sled, commanding the rabbits forward, and he takes off like an arrow shot from a bow, here one moment, gone the next.

The howls and wails of the warg pack draw closer only for them to be drowned out for a moment by the sound of Radagast yelling obscenities at the orcs as he rushes past. As the orc pack take off after the wizard, Gandalf ushers the company to move, he runs in front of them leading them into the open fields. Eyja brings up the back of group, making sure that none of the dwarves get left behind, ushering them forward when they start to slow.

The group runs down the hill and moves to pass a large boulder when Radagast flies past, manic giggles escaping him, and the large pack of orcs soon follows. Many times in their mad dash across the plains are they cut off by the parade of orcs chasing the gleeful wizard. The group slams their backs against the boulder as Radagast darts in front of them once again and one of the orcs moves his steed atop the rock which they try to hide under. Thorin turns to meet his nephews eyes and nods at him. slowly Kili draws an arrow, and knocks it on his bow, taking a breath, he steps away from the rock revealing himself to the orc atop it. Letting the arrow loose, it flies into the chest of the warg, and as the orc brings his horn to his mouth intending to call for the others, Kili looses another arrow into the chest of the orc. The wail of the dying orc and warg ricochet off the rocks echoing at deafening volumes. Eyja sinks her blade into the orc's skull silencing it as Dwalin dispatches the warg, but not before it lets out another agonizing howl.

"Move, run!" Gandalf's yell is heavy with panic, "This way quickly!" he leads the company towards a rock surrounding by a small stand of trees, Thorin's shouts for Kili to shoot the beasts has Eyja readying her own bow, letting arrows fly in every direction, as more and more wargs pour over the hills.

Dwalin yells that Gandalf had abandoned them, but as Eyja turns quickly to seek out the wizard, her mind connects the dots as to where they are. She resumes shooting at the orcs as they advance, Kili by her side mirroring each other.

"This way you fools!" Gandalf's cry from the rocks reaches Eyja's ears at about the same time as an unseen warg pushes her to the ground, teeth bared and saliva dripping. She wrenches her dagger from its place on her thigh, driving it home in the underside of the beasts jaw and dragging it downwards, towards its neck. Kili turns to find Eyja covered in blood, pushing the now deceased warg off her.

Thorin's shouts for Kili and the shifter to run, has them turn from the orcs, they begin to sprint, Eyja dragging Kili along by the wrist as she out paces him. As she dives into the crevice, pulling the brunette dwarrow with her, Thorin jumps down sliding after them. As her feet hit the bottom of the hole she steadies herself on the cool rock wall. Kili stands beside her, out of breath, and unsteady himself. A horn sounds from outside the cave and the sound of hooves pounding the earth sounds in the air. As the sounds of orcs yelling and wargs dying grows louder Eyja and Thorin begin pushing the company away from the entrance, trying to remain concealed from the newcomers. An orc comes rolling down into the cave, arrow protruding from it head,

"Elves." Thorin's voice holds distaste as he tosses the retrieved arrow aside. Bofur calls that they should follow the path and starts walking, the group filing down the twisting hall. Kili and Eyja fall to the back of the group, and she rests a hand on his shoulder.

"Are you alright Kili?" Her eyes dart over his face, "Do you need to rest?" His breaths are still coming in momentous heaves, but he shakes his head, face turning red at her show of concern.

"Ya," his eyes meet hers and he pauses for a moment at the concern swimming in them, "I'm alright, what about you?"

"I'm perfectly fine." Her voice is soft, and her eyes dance over Kili's face, and they catch on the leaf stuck in his bangs, "Hold still." She reaches out gently pulling the debris from his hair, the strands are soft against her fingers and she drops the leaf on the ground between them. "There was a leaf in your hair."

Kili's face is now a bright red, and he avoids her gaze, "Thank you." The sounds of the company are getting farther away and Kili turns to face the hall, "We should probably catch up to the rest of the group." Eyja nods, and they walk down the path, side by side hands occasionally brushing.

As the pair round the last corner, they come across the company, standing in awe as they lay their eyes on Rivendale, home of the elves. Kili jaw drops open at the waterfalls and architecture. the company makes their way down the hills, and across the bridge approaching the elf standing at the base of the steps. Eyja, bounds forward, bringing the dark haired elf into a hug, which is quickly returned by the ellon. "Lindir, it's lovely to see you, it has been far to long old friend." While Eyja releases the elf from her grasp, Gandalf approaches, and begins speaking with the tall man over the whereabouts of Lord Elrond. Kili stands beside his brother brows furrowed at the elf Gandalf and Eyja are conversing with.

"Brother if you continue to glare at him, he might spontaneously combust." Fili's teasing only serves to make his brothers scowl deepen.

"It's nothing." Kili walks away from his brother, stopping only when he's standing at Eyja's side chin held high as he watches the exchange between the three taller beings. A horn sounding across the valley turns the heads of all those present to the incoming procession of horses. The dwarves quickly bunch up, Kili pushing Eyja to the center of their circle alongside bilbo who had been put there by Thorin. The shifter just laughed and waved at the elven lord as he stepped off his horse.

"Eyja, what a wonderful surprise, it is lovely to see you again," Elrond steps forward and Eyja steps out of the circle of defensive dwarrow, "What brings you here this time dear shifter?"

She bows slightly before responding, "I'm afraid you're going to have to ask Gandalf for the details, for he is leading us." She smiles at the elf before rejoining her dwarven companions, standing next to the very prickly looking Kili. "Are you alright Kili, you look ready to remove somebodies head?" The brunette prince looks to her, the yellow of her eyes reflecting the sun in such a way they appeared to glow.

He nods curtly, "Yes I'm quite alright, how do you know the elves?"

Eyja smiles gently as she looks up to see Elrond and Thorin discussing something, "I met Lord Elrond many years ago, I was passing nearby and was attacked by a band of goblins, Lindir and Lord Elrond were a part of the hunting party that helped me that day." Her smile widens remembering the day, and how she had thrown Lindir to the ground at first mistaking him for an enemy. Kili nods, and tenses once more as Elrond begins to speak in the elven tongue to his uncle.

Gloin brandishes his weapon, "Does he offer us insult?" Eyja laughs quietly.

"No Master Gloin, he offers you food." Her lilting voice is joyous as she explains Elrond's words to the company, causing them to go quiet before Gloin says to lead the way.

The group is led to an open area, where they are told to leave their bags and supplies. Eyja shrugs off her cloak folding it carefully before placing it on the floor, laying her weapons down beside it. Kili watches the skin changer closely, and mimics her actions. Eyja walks over to kneel beside the prince, who is placing his things on the ground in a not so neat pile, "I am going to go and wash all this blood off, follow Lindir, he will show you to a table and provide you with food, I will join you all in a moment." The dwarrow turns his head, pleading silently for her not to leave him alone in the unfamiliar place, but the shifter nods once, before rising and walking swiftly and surely down the hall. Kili moves to stand by his brother, whispering quietly to him the same thing Eyja told him.

Once the rest of the company has finished organizing their bags, Lindir turns to face the group, "Follow me," His voice is smooth and he spares no eye contact for any of them, instead turning on his heel and starting down a new hall. The thirteen dwarves and singular hobbit are quick to follow, not wanting to get lost in the unknown city. The raven haired ellon leads them down the white hallway, before opening a large wooden door to a ginormous room. the room is lit by the setting sun, and filled with a long table with many dwarf sized seats and one regular sized chair. on a raised platform at the end of the room, sectioned off by towering floor to ceiling pillars is a separate table, where the elf lord already sits with the grey wizard.

"Ah welcome, Master Thorin, please join me at my table and do bring your Hobbit, the rest of you my take a seat, the food will be out shortly." Everyone moves at once, the promise of food has them scrambling to find a seat. Kili seats himself beside the larger chair, hoping that when you return, you will sit with them instead of the other table.

As promised, elves are soon bustling around them bringing platters and bowls of food to the long table. But as the dwarves sift through the many dishes, they find no meat. As the company grumbles and complains over the lack of protein, the doors open once more. Eyja steps into the room, skin no longer covered in blood, and dressed in a pair of loose brown pants, that are sinched at the waist and tucked into her boots, her shirt is flowing and white, cuffed at the wrists and tucked in at the waist.

She rounds the long table heading to the empty chair next to the raven haired dwarven prince, but pauses as Lindir grabs her arm. Kili doesn't hear what the elf says to her but at the way her fists clench and her brow furrows, he suspects it can't be anything good. Eyja nods grimly at her friend before stepping past him to rejoin her dwarf companions.

As she pulls the chair out and sits down Kili turns his head, watching her through the curtain of his hair. She quickly dishes some of the leafy meal onto her plate, eyes unfocused. He lifts his head and turns to face the skin changer fully, "Are you alright?" His question seems to shock her out of her trance like state.

"Yes, I'm quite alright, there's just some new information that's been brought to my attention," Eyja shakes her head, "but no matter, it is of little consequence now." Kili raises a brow, but leaves the subject alone for the moment.

"If you say so, hey me and Fili have been thinking-"

"That's never a good thing." Eyja tone is teasing and she smiles at the dwarf.

"Choosing to ignore that, but anyways, we were wondering why Bilbo is called a burglar and not just a robbit." The timing of his words couldn't have been worse, as the shifter had just taken a large drink of water. Eyja bursts out laughing, spewing water over the unfortunate Dwalin seated across from her. As her laughter dies down to giggles and coughing she chokes out an apology as the burly tattooed dwarf scowls. Kili and Fili howl with laughter as they watch the shifter try and mop up the mess with the napkin on the table.

It was then that Bofur leapt onto the table, declaring the music to be unfit for the company and bursting out into song and dance, stomping over the food. The commotion draws the attention of those at the other table and Lord Elrond grumbles as the company sings along, Eyja smiling joyfully.

[apuckishwit]

Steddie, “You’ll look so pretty in this, sweetheart.” *coughs awkwardly* You can make it dark if you want.

Ummmm...okay, let me preface this by saying you DID ask for dark.

Warning for Kas!Eddie, captivity, and a little bit of light torture. Ummm. Yeah. Love you!

“Honey, I’m home!” Eddie sings out, snickering to himself as he always does. He doesn’t care what Steve thinks, that’s never not going to be hilarious. He carefully balances the grocery bags in his arms as he toes off his boots by the front door. Radagast comes bounding into the foyer at the sound of his voice, and he manages to maneuver both bags into one arm so he can lean down and pat his head. Radagast nips at his fingers playfully bounding back and forth between Eddie and the entrance to the living room. “Stevie?” he calls.

“Yeah, in here,” Steve calls back, his voice thick with sleep. Eddie glances at the big grandfather clock that sits in the foyer, frowning to himself. It’s a bit late for an afternoon nap…he hopes his boy isn’t feeling sick.

He moves through to the kitchen, setting the bags down on the island, Mithrandir now trotting in from the living room to greet him as well. He bends down to give Mith a good, thorough scratching, laughing when he immediately rolls over to give Eddie access to his belly. “Who’s a good boy? Have you been taking care of Mommy for me today? Yeah? Yeah?”

“How many times do I have to tell you, stop calling me that thing’s mother,” Steve says from behind him. He turns to find his boy leaning tiredly against the kitchen doorway, Radagast hovering at his side. He’s wrapped in the quilt from their bed, still in the clothes he slept in last night.

“Aw, but they love you so much, baby!” Eddie says, springing up to stride forward and gather Steve into his arms. His boy goes willingly, resting his head on Eddie’s shoulder and turning his face up slightly so Eddie can pepper him with kisses. He’s pale, even in the less-than-stellar light from the camping lanterns they have set up on the counters, bruise dark shadows under his eyes despite having obviously slept most of the day away. “Are you feeling okay?” Eddie asks, planting a gentle kiss on Steve’s forehead. His skin is warm under Eddie’s lips, but that’s not really unusual.

“Just tired,” Steve mumbles, resting more of his weight on Eddie as Eddie tsks softly, sways him back and forth a bit.

“What did you eat today? Did you drink any of the water bottles?”

There was a time when Steve would have bristled at being questioned like a child who can’t be trusted not to trade the contents of their lunchbox for cookies and chips in the cafeteria, but now he just sighs and nods. Finally understanding that Eddie just wants to take care of him. Finally accepting that care. It’s a heady thing, especially given the amount of work it’s taken to get to that point. “Had the last of the powdered eggs for breakfast. Peanut butter sandwich for lunch. And yes, I drank two of the water bottles.”

Eddie nods along, kisses the corner of Steve’s mouth when he falls silent again. He wishes Steve would eat more—Eddie worries about his protein and iron levels—but it’s hard to work up an appetite for the kind of rations that are available in and around Hawkins, now. A mischievous smile worms its way across Eddie’s mouth—hopefully his surprise will perk his baby up a little.

“Hey guess what?” he asks, letting go of Steve’s waist. Steve straightens immediately, leaning back against the doorway.

“What?” he asks, his voice turning wary when he catches sight of Eddie’s expression. Eddie bounces on his toes a little.

“There was a new supply drop in the camp right outside the west gate. Not a whole lot of variety, but I got you some chicken soup, a neat little water filter, whole bunch of MRE’s…I know they suck, but at least they store easy. Annnnnd…” With a flourish, he pulls a small package clumsily wrapped in a newspaper comics page. “Happy six months!”

Steve swallows, staring at the package. “Has it been six months already?” he asks softly.

“Hard to believe, huh?”

“I, uh, I don’t have anything for you…” Steve trails off, a little helplessly, and Eddie tsks again. He reaches up to run his fingers through Steve’s hair, cupping his cheek and leaning forward to kiss him soundly.

“You stayed with me. You don’t have to give me presents, baby. You’re here.” Steve swallows again and gives a jerky nod. Eddie runs his thumb over his boy’s lips before bouncing back to the grocery bags to start unloading his bounty. “Soup okay for dinner? Or do you want to try—” he grabs one of the shiny silver packets of military food, “refried bean burritos?”

“Soup’s…soup’s fine,” Steve says, shuffling over to the island and slumping down onto one of the stools. Poor thing, he really must not be feeling well. Well, hopefully he’ll have a little more energy soon.

Eddie fishes a can opener out of one of the many, many drawers (seriously, who needs a kitchen this big? It blows his mind sometimes, thinking of his boy just rattling around in this big house all by himself for so long) and makes quick work of opening a couple cans of soup. There hasn’t been electricity in Hawkins for months, but Eddie had scrounged up a propane camp stove to just rest on the stovetop. He hums to himself as he heats the soup, moving between the stove and the island to skate his hand down Steve’s back, lift his hand to place a soft kiss on the scabbed-over wounds on the inside of his wrist, draw his boy close and just breathe in the scent of him at the juncture of his neck and shoulder.

When the soup is hot, he ladles some into a bowl and sets it down in front of his boy with another flourish. “Eat up!” He sinks down onto the stool beside Steve as he starts slowly eating, twining his fingers into the hair at the back of Steve’s neck and just playing with it, content to bask in his boy’s presence for a little while.

Steve’s eyes never leave the newspaper-wrapped package on the island. Curious, Eddie follows his gaze, and sighs when he realizes there’s a spray of blood spatters on the paper that he missed. “Ah, shit. Sorry, sweetheart.”

Steve is silent for a few minutes, just mechanically eating his soup. Finally, though, a small shudder wracks through him. “Did you kill them?” he asks dully. “The soldiers that were making the supply drop?”

Eddie lets his hand span the back of Steve’s neck, his claws coming to rest on the delicate skin just under his ear. He chuckles, leaning over to rest his chin on Steve’s shoulder. “Of course I did, sweetness! It took me and the demogorgons two days to clear out that camp—can’t have them setting operations back up. And hey! Now I won’t have to go foraging for supplies for you for a while.” He tightens his hand in Steve’s hair, pulling his head back so that he can nuzzle at his throat, his tongue flicking out over a pair of the barely-healed puncture wounds that litter his boy’s throat. Steve shakes under his hands, and when Eddie lifts his head, his boy is biting his lips, a sheen of tears in his beautiful, beautiful eyes.

“Hey, hey now, none of that. I’m keeping my promise, sweetheart. None of the kids were with them. I haven’t even seen any of group since you agreed to come stay with me.”

That’s not entirely the truth. He’s run into Nancy Wheeler, Buckley, and Jonathan Byers several times since the confrontation where Henry had Eddie reveal himself and his new…upgrades. The confrontation that had almost cost Dustin and Lucas their lives, the confrontation where Eddie had had the fucking brilliant idea of offering his baby a trade. Safe passage to retreat for their woefully underprepared group in exchange for Steve returning to the heart of Hawkins with Eddie. Staying with him.

Giving himself to him.

But he truly hasn’t had any run-ins with the kids. And Steve doesn’t need to know about the times he’s skirmished with Nancy and Robin, the way they scream at him, demanding to know what he’s done with Steve, where he is, if he’s safe. He’s not a fool. He doesn’t need to give Steve anymore reasons to hope. To try and find a way to escape. To try and leave him.

Bad enough Eddie keeps having to drink his boy to the point of unconsciousness so frequently, keep him drained and too weak to really mount an escape attempt. Bad enough he has to leave Radagast and Mithrandir with Steve every time he has to go out on Henry’s orders, leaving the demodogs with strict instructions not to let Steve leave the house. He’s pretty sure Steve thinks all his friends have given him up for dead. If he knew how hard they’re still searching for him, how many rescue missions they’ve mounted into the Upside Down (and honestly? He’s a little disappointed that Henderson hasn’t figured out he’s hiding Steve right under their noses…wasn’t the little shit paying attention to any of Eddie’s campaigns? He should know how Eddie thinks!)…well. Eddie loves how damn stubborn his boy is—but he doesn’t want that stubbornness turned on him. Not when every day seems to bring him a little closer to Steve just breaking down and accepting that he belongs with Eddie, now. To Eddie.

Steve has finished most of the soup when he finally pushes the bowl away and just sits there, waiting for whatever Eddie will do next. Eddie smiles as he pushes the blanket off Steve’s shoulders, letting it fall to the floor and puddle around the legs of the stool. His boy is dressed in just one of Eddie’s own band t-shirts and a pair of boxers, not having bothered to get dressed today. Not that it matters. Eddie loves the sight of his boy dressed in his clothes, surrounded by his scent. He reaches across the island and grabs the bloodstained present, handing it to Steve.

“You’ll look so pretty in this, sweetheart,” he whispers, watching with barely-restrained excitement as Steve plucks and pulls at the newspaper, trying to avoid touching the bloodstains at all.

When the paper falls away, he feels Steve stiffen beside him, hears a sharp, indrawn breath. He indulges himself a little, pretends it’s excitement and not horror that’s stealing his baby’s breath, causing the fine tremor that runs through his fingers. One day. One day. Once he’s helped Henry achieve his goals, and their enemies have been wiped off the map. Once Steve has no reason to cling to his love for his friends, no reason to fight Eddie anymore.

The collar isn’t as elegant as someone like Steve deserves. Not as fine or supple as Eddie would have chosen. But the leather is thick and sturdy and the locking mechanism is tamper-proof unless you have the key. There’s soft padding on the inside, extra covering over two metal prongs that will sit just at the base of his boy’s skull when it’s wrapped snug around his throat. It’s meant to be worn long-term.

It was meant for Eddie.

“We’ll get you a better one when this is all over, sweetness,” he says, plucking the collar from Steve’s frozen hands and running his fingers along it as he stands to move behind his boy. “But anything will look beautiful on you.” He goes to slip the collar around his boy’s neck and now Steve moves, starts to throw himself off of the stool, starts to cry out. In a flash, the collar is lying on the island and Eddie’s hand is wrapped around his boy’s throat, claws digging into the vulnerable flesh there. “Don’t,” Eddie growls, his voice more animal than human. He knows his eyes are glowing red, can feel his fangs lengthening in his mouth.

“Eddie,” Steve whispers, his hands tightening on the edge of the island. “Eds, please…”

“Shhh. Don’t fight me, baby. You know what happens when you try to fight me.”

He can feel Steve clench his teeth so tightly his jaw creaks, but his boy doesn’t move again when Eddie picks up the collar, winds it around his throat. There’s a soft sound of despair when Eddie clicks the lock into place, running his finger along the edges to make sure it’s snug, but not too tight.

He doesn’t know how the soldiers that had this in their possession thought they were going to get it on him, but they’d clearly had high hopes for using it to subdue him. Maybe someone on the other side still thinks they can “cure” him of Henry’s changes. Maybe they just wanted to be able to control him. Whatever the reasoning behind it, it’s Eddie’s now. And it’s definitely going to make things easier. For both him and his boy.

He fishes in his pocket for the little device that the collar was packaged with. He left the box with the sensors out on the front porch, not wanting to give Steve a chance to see it before he was ready. He’ll get them set up around the perimeter of the house tonight, after his boy is asleep. Then he won’t have to worry about leaving Steve with the demodogs, won’t have to worry about someone figuring out where they’re staying and coming to try and steal his boy away from him in the night. They won’t be able to. Not without hurting Steve.

“How’s that, baby? Comfortable?” He sits silently, waiting Steve out until he finally gives a short, hopeless nod. “Good. Now, I have to make sure everything works right, okay? Nothing to worry about.” He takes one of Steve’s hands and brings it to his mouth, nuzzling the palm before he kisses the back of his knuckles. “Just a little bit of pain, okay? I promise, I’ll make it up to you. But I want you to know what’ll happen if you try and leave now.”

Steve has time to shoot him a confused look of trepidation, and then Eddie presses the button on the little remote. Steve screams, the shock of electricity racing through his body. His muscles all lock up before he goes completely limp, only Eddie’s inhuman reflexes keeping him from crashing to the floor.

“Shh, shh, you’re okay, you’re all right. I’m so sorry, baby, but it’s over now. You’re safe, you’re all right.” He gathers his boy close, stroking a soothing hand through his hair as he twitches in Eddie’s arms, his breath coming in rapid pants. Eddie hums quietly, scooping his boy up into his arms and standing. “Don’t worry, pretty, I won’t do that again. I’ll show you where you’re allowed to go now, tomorrow. Okay? As long as you stay in the boundaries, you won’t ever have to worry about it.” He carries his boy up toward their bedroom, murmuring soothing nonsense as he goes, Mithrandir and Radagast trotting along obediently behind him. Steve’s head rests gently on his shoulder, and his boy turns to press his face into Eddie’s shirt as Eddie trots up the stairs. The fabric is wet by the time he reaches their room.

[munsontm]

that is… literally illegal. you’re describing something illegal.

Duh, of course, it was illegal. Lots of fun things were exceptionally illegal, taking drugs, underage drinking, arson (in the form of letting off fireworks in abandoned buildings), stealing from the supermarket, and vandalising school property. All things that Eddie had done at one point or another. He still did some of them because life was boring without risk, and he didn't want to lead a boring life, especially since he only had one, which Vecna temporarily ended, but he didn't want to think about that right then.

He threw another Red Vine over to Will (yes, he paid for these ones), his new potential partner in crime, where they sat in the remaining pitiful woodland of Hawkins. Unfortunately, much of the greenery had been taken over by death and decay and showed no signs of slowing down anytime soon. If Vecna had his way, the whole world would perish beneath the disease, and it was up to a bunch of nerds and kids to somehow stop that. Jesus fucking christ, they were all so dead. Eddie swiftly shoved some more candy in his mouth to soothe the internal dread that flared up. That kept happening; he wished it wouldn't if only to allow him to keep up appearances in front of the others.

"It's not like many folks are still around the town to stop us, kiddo. It'll be like taking candy from a baby. If the baby were an industrial warehouse full of salt. But that's what your sister needs, right? It amplifies her superpowers?" Honestly, he figured they'd be thanked for it in the end if it brought them one step closer to wiping Vecna's face out of existence. And Byers was a great choice to get it on this with because no one would suspect him with his sweet little face and polite demeanour. But in his experience, the quiet kids were always the ones the surprised people the most. There was a lot more to Will Byer's than met the eye. He just knew it. Normal kids didn't survive in hell and make it out to the other side twice. Nah, this kid had badass written all over him, even if he himself didn't get that yet.

Another Red Vine headed Will's way once Eddie saw he was done, and he took one for himself, chewing on it while wild ideas formed in his squirrely head. "We'll be like Gandalf and Radagast going to raid the tomb of The Witch King of Angmar or something for dark artefacts. Ain't that shit hot enough for ya, Byers?" He pointed his finger at his companion, lips curved into a daring smile. "If I clear out all the shit in my van. We could pull a huge fucking haul, dude. Vecna would be pissing his tighty-whiteys---or whatever he wears...flesh, I guess." A shudder ran through him from intrusive images that Eddie did not wish to imagine again. "But my point stands. Illegal or not. Jane is gonna need what we can get her, and I say you're just the man for the job. So what say you, Will The Wise?" Eddie finalised, brandishing one of the Red Vines like a twirly wand.

@cleryc

[mask131]

The many faces of Radagast (4)

The Brown Wizard other video-game apparition is in the game "Lord of the Rings: War in the North", where he is to be saved by the heroes from the clutches of the Spider Queen of Mirkwood.

With as a bonus the original character model by John Turner:

[shiinata-library]

Imagine: Without your medication

Thorin, Fíli, Kíli, Bilbo's reactions when you started to be sick because you didn’t take medication you used to take in your world.

Little warning: I'm being vague about the reader's illness, so it may not be suitable for everyone.

[ 📚 Main Imagines Masterlist 📚 ]

You woke up in the middle of nowhere on a sunny day. After looking around, you don't recognise anything. Everything is just arid land, seemingly uninhabited, with no food in sight. Fortunately for you, a dwarf company, a hobbit, and a wizard find you. They take you with them, telling you they would leave you in the future town they would reach. Unfortunately, there are no towns on the way, and you know it. You know there will be a troll attack and you will be chasing orcs before you end up in Rivendell. All this without medication you used to take in your world, medication essential to your health.

Kíli

Since the company adopted you, the two young nephews often play jokes on you. Especially the youngest. Not a day passes without Kíli having fun with you.

At first, it didn’t bother you, you felt integrated, and thankfully, you weren’t the only target of their jokes. But now, you are tired of his jokes and of your weak health as well.

You don’t tell him because it makes him smile every time, and you like seeing him smile.

Expect an evening when you are very tired. The lack of your medication is really felt, and you ask him to let you alone. If his brother didn’t intervene, you’re sure he would talk to you for a long time.

The Trolls’ attack was that very evening. You stayed in the camp and they joined you after the cavern.

Before Radagast comes, Gandalf walks to you and asks you if you’re alright. Did he realise that there is something wrong with you? Or that you lacked something instead.

You just say you’re not totally awake yet, and Kíli teases you, “Don’t worry Gandalf, she’s not a morning person.”

You laughed with them until Radagast’s arrival, then the orcs pursuit, then…

After falling in the hole between the rocks, you fall unconscious. Later, you open your eyes when everyone is walking in the tunnel. As Dwalin was carrying you, he puts you down on the ground.

However, some minutes after, you fall unconscious again, and the next time you open your eyes, you’re in a very comfortable bed.

“Are you alright? Are you hurt? Do you need something?” you hear in a panicked voice. Kíli runs to you, takes your hand, and touches your cheek.

You’re oddly fine. Your pain and weakness are over, but it doesn't confirm you’re alright. You’re about to say something but he speaks first, “Why didn't you tell us you were sick?”

Why? There were many possible answers to this question. “There is nothing we can do about it anyway,” you reply with a smile.

“Of course, we can! Elrond saved you. He treated you. You’re cured,” he said with a big smile.

“No, it’s impossible. It’s not something that can be cured, let alone here,” you try to explain, but Kíli had to fetch Elrond for you to believe him.

So now you’re truly fine and cured, you have no excuse to avoid Kíli’s jokes. But who would want to avoid such a cute dwarf anyway?

Bilbo

Bilbo is observant, so he quickly notices something is wrong with you. Not a day passes without him asking if you’re alright, and you always tell him you’re fine.

His concern is cute, but you’re afraid the dwarfs would understand you truly had something wrong and you don’t want to be abandoned on the road. So a night when Bilbo sits next to you and he is about to ask you again the same thing, you forestall him, “If you ask me one more time if I’m fine, I promise you, Mr Baggins, I won’t talk to you again.”

When you see his sad, embarrassed face, you understand you went too far. And it’s too late to talk to him since he is already left to join Fíli and Kíli with the trolls. Why did you talk to him like that the night of Trolls’ attack? It was very stupid and you have to apologise as soon as you can.

Against the trolls, you prefer to stay in the camp when they are captured and released by Gandalf. You spend a quiet night with the fire Glóin had made and Bombur's stew.

When they come back to the camp, you try to talk to Bilbo, but he seems to avoid you. It’s fine, you will talk to you in Rivendell.

Then Radagast’s arrival, the orcs pursuit, and… The race was too much for you. Once you’re in the tunnel, you run to Bilbo to see if he is fine. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. Are you, hm, oh, nothing. I say nothing,” he says nervously, afraid to upset you.

“I’m fine, Mr Baggins. Totally fine.” It’s your last words before falling unconscious.

The light is too bright when you open your eyes in a very comfortable bed. As you try to move, you feel a warm hand on yours, then you notice Bilbo sitting on the floor, sleeping on the side of your bed.

You smile and take your hand back to stroke his hair. He opens his eyes slowly before noticing you’re awake and then immediately standing up. Seeing his worried face, you laugh, “I’m fine, Mr Baggins. No need to hurry.”

“You weren’t fine,” he starts, frowning in an upset attitude. “During the whole journey, I knew something was wrong but I didn’t know you were sick, very sick. Why did you hide it to m– to us?”

“Neither I nor you could do anything about it. I can't be cured, let alone here,” you explain with a sad smile. “But I’m sorry for what I said to you. I shouldn’t say that.”

“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it. The most important thing is that you’re better now. Lord Elrond was able to cure you, you know? I won't have to worry about you anymore,” he says with a generous smile. A smile so warm that it warms your whole body.

“It’s perfect! It means I can follow you for the quest!” you laugh as Bilbo’s face quickly changes.

“No! Absolutely not! You will stay here until I– until we come back safe! It’s not negotiable. Lord Elrond has already agreed for you to stay here.”

“If Lord Elrond had already prepared my room, I can’t refuse,” you smiled, seeing his attitude relax and his warm smile coming back.

Fíli

You were glad a company found you in the middle of nowhere, so you help them as much as possible while saving your energy.

As you were on a pony all day, it’s quite easy, but you don’t know how long you will last, so you enjoy the moment.

When you arrive at an abandoned house, you know the trolls’ attack will happen, and you don’t want to miss the opportunity to see it, even if it's only from a distance.

You go with Bilbo when he is going to give Fíli and Kíli their bowl while they were supposed to be looking after the ponies.

When they learn it was trolls who stole the ponies, Fíli refuses to come with them. You don’t give him a choice and follow them anyway.

But even though you stay at distance, a troll notices you and you end up with them in a stinking bag.

Oh you almost vomit! Luckily for you, you’re thinner than the dwarfs and you free yourself quite easily. You’re about to run away when a troll catches you by your foot and lifts you upside down. “Do you really think you can run away like that, little thing?” the troll laughs with his brothers. “Maybe we should eat your first!”

Bilbo doesn’t have the time to stop them when he approaches you to his mouth. After quickly smelling you, he yelled “Ugh! This thing is sick! The others are sick too?”. Then he throws you away. Your body falls loudly on the ground and you lose consciousness.

You don’t see it but later someone will tell you that Fíli yelled in rage at them, freed himself from his bag, and tried to run to you until a troll caught him. Gandalf arrived just in time to change them into rocks, and Fíli was finally able to join you.

That’s why when you regain consciousness, he is on top of you asking you to wake up. The unplanned nap did you good despite some bruises. So, you could run with them during the pursuit with the orcs.

When you all arrive in front of Rivendell, you feel tired, but you say nothing. But your body decides otherwise. When Elrond arrives with his guards and the dwarfs put you and Bilbo in the centre of the circle, your body betrays you and you fall unconscious again.

You don’t know how many days have passed, but when you open your eyes, it’s night. You’re lying on your back in a comfortable bed. A light breeze blows over your face but you’re not cold. The strong arm around your waist seems to come from the dwarf sleeping next to you. At the view of Fíli so close to you, your body’s heat increases even more.

Then you notice Kíli as he enters the room. He is smiling, not surprised at all by his brother next to you. “I’m sorry but your bodyguard didn’t want to let you alone,” he whispers.

“Don’t be sorry. He’s quite warm, it’s enjoyable,” you whisper. “I’m the only one who is sorry to be so weak.”

“You should have told us you were sick,” Fíli grumbles next to you as he is waking up slowly, his hand grabbing the blanket covering your waist. “You shouldn't come with us to the Trolls.”

You remain quiet and look to Kíli until you realise he left, leaving you alone in the arms of his brother. “I didn't want you all to abandon me and I wanted to enjoy the time I had with you,” you sighed, knowing it was stupid to go with them to the trolls.

“Don’t talk as if you’ll die. Lord Elrond cured you,” he says as he sits up, now totally awake. You find it hard to believe but his gentle smile convinces you of the opposite.

“But you’ll abandon me anyway,” you say as you try to sit until Fíli’s hand pushes you down.

“We'll see about that later. For now, rest a little longer,” he says before leaning toward you and planting a kiss on your forehead. “I never want to see you faint again.”

Thorin

You always follow them with a smile and enthusiasm, but with seriousness and calm. You try to be useful even if you feel your body becoming weak day after day.

You never talk about your lack of medication and you will never tell them, especially Thorin. You don’t want him to abandon you on the road.

“I’m just tired, don’t worry about me,” is your easy excuse. As you’re a woman not used to this kind of environment - and they quickly noticed it, they don’t doubt it.

When the trolls’ attack happens, you remain hidden until they’re in bags. You sneak up behind them and try to free them but the ropes are very thick. You have neither the strength nor the weapons to free them. By the time you go to get a knife or a sword, Gandalf arrives and turns the trolls into stone. You’re very useless…

As you wait for them outside the trolls’ cavern, you watch them going out with smiles and happiness. “Did you find something good?” you ask Thorin, hoping he would show you The Orcrist.

During the journey, he was never once mean to you, and you hope it stays the same. So, you’re able to talk to him more easily than you thought at the beginning. “Yes, I found this. Here,” he then hands you a small sword. A light, shining sword at your size. You can’t help but smile and try it on the air.

If you don’t see it from your eyes, you would never believe it. Thorin laughs when he sees you testing your sword. “There is still a long way to go…” he chuckles as he places himself behind you and adjusts your posture. “Here, put your feet like this, and your arms like that,” he advises you. “Maybe Dwalin can teach you some bases when we–”

He can’t finish this sentence. Radagast arrives in a rush, then the orcs pursue you…

During your walk in the tunnel to Rivendell, you hold steady. You’re weak, but it’s not the time to falter!

Later, Elrond invites you all, and you stay with the dwarf. When he notices you, he offers you a room just for you. You hesitate and glance at Thorin to see what he thinks. After a positive nod, you follow an elf to your room.

In your calm, clean room, you take a warm bath and have a little nap, thinking it will give you enough energy to make it through the dinner with Elrond and the company.

As you have no other clean clothes, you put on the clothes lent by the elves. A long night blue dress. You’re uncomfortable but you can’t go to dinner naked, right?

When you arrive in the dinner’s room, everyone is already here. Still impressed by the architecture and the view from the balcony, you look for a place in the dwarfs’ tables but Gandalf calls you to his. Could you be more uncomfortable than being at Lord Elrond’s table? Oh yes, because your place is just next to the left of Thorin, the opposite of Elrond. To your surprise, there is less tension between Thorin and Elrond than you expected.

“Thank you for the dinner, Lord Elrond,” you timidly say as you sit down. If you aren’t impressed by everything (architecture, sunset, silverware, music, the nice, fresh spring smell, oh and Lindir, and Lord Elrond himself!), you could have seen the displeased look on Thorin’s face.

You remain quiet during the whole dinner because of your shyness, Thorin very close to you, but mostly because you were feeling tired. So tired. You have never been so happy for a dinner to end, even though it was a very fun dinner thanks to Bofur.

When everyone starts to live, you get up from your chair and feel dizzy. With a slight shake of your head, you come to your senses.

It's going to be a long way to your room…

Thankfully, nobody saw you. You’re about to leave when you feel a strong, warm hand in your lower back. “Allow me to take you back to your room,” Thorin says as he pushes you a little to encourage you to walk. In other circumstances, you would be delighted, but now you’re uncomfortable.

Did he understand that something was wrong? “It’s alright. I can go back to my room alone,” you try with a smile. But you quickly understand it wasn’t a question when he doesn’t remove his hand of your back.

On the way, you both remain quiet until Thorin clears his throat. “I ask Elrond to check on you,” he says in an unpleasant tone. “He will come to your room tomorrow.”

“You what?” you exclaim, losing all your polite manners as you step away from him. This excess of energy makes you wobble. You raised your hand to stop Thorin from getting closer to you. “What did you ask to Lord Elrond?”

Thorin frowns, maybe from your behaviour or your ‘Lord’ every time you talk about Elrond. “It was easy to guess you’re not fine, and as you don’t seem injured, Oín could do nothing for you. So I asked Elrond to check on you.” It seems to rip his throat out to ask Elrond for help, but he did it for you.

Except that… “He can’t do anything for me. It’s not a thing he could heal,” despite your smile, your tone changes in a serious way that Thorin never heard. He is about to argue with you when your vision becomes dark and your strength abandons you. If Thorin hadn't been there, you would never have reached your room…

Before opening your eyes, you hear Elrond’s voice in a language you don’t know. Gradually, your pain and your weakness disappear. When you slowly open your eyes, you see Elrond, Gandalf and Thorin around you. You’re lying in a bed so comfortable that you almost want to fall asleep again.

It’s when you hear Thorin’s voice that you keep your eyes open. As Elrond is silent, Thorin moves closer to you and takes your hand. You try to sit up but your body doesn’t let you do.

“You’re fine now,” Elrond starts. “I don’t know what your sickness was but I could heal you. Now, you must rest. You pushed your body too far.” Elrond leaves the room before you’re able to thank him, and Gandalf follows him with a smile.

You wait until they leave to talk to Thorin. “I'm sorry to be so useless,” you start, avoiding his gaze. “You were sick, not useless,” he sighed.

You see him hesitating to say something, but stay quiet finally. He is about to leave when you take his hand and pull it. “Can you, hm, stay with me until I fall asleep?”

His head turns to you and a genuinely smile appears on his face. He nods and sits on a chair next to your bed, not letting go of your hand. Even though you try to stay awake to enjoy the moment, you end up falling asleep, holding Thorin's hand firmly.

[tamurilofrivendell]

Sleeping Beauty | Chapter 17

Previous Chapters [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16] Read on AO3 [x]

Pairing: Thranduil/Fem. Reader Summary: A Sleeping Beauty inspired tale with Thranduil the Elvenking, and a female elf living in Mirkwood under the care of Radagast, who is actually the ‘lost’ daughter of the late High King Gil-Galad. Taglist: @jinlizz-dragondrama @firelightinferno @bubbleyukismile @coopsgirl @achromaticerebus @sleepyamygdala @smalltownbigheart @qmabailor @genderfluid-anime-goth @0chemicalwaste0 @silvercobra @thesunschild777 @atlanticowe @whore-of-many-hot-men

Anarórë.

She had said your name. Your true name. You had always known it. With the name being wiped from the books of history entire, to keep you safe, lost to time and forgotten, Radagast had had no problems with telling you that was your name. But the wizard had made it so that, to you, it was second to Lothíriel. It was still not wise to go around introducing yourself that way to all and sundry just in case - it could never be known who the Enchantress' spies were. So it had become the name that you'd mostly just be called if you were in trouble. He only ever used it in moments of great need, most often when he pushed his call into your mind when you strayed too far away and he could not find you.

You had not told Luithien that name.

It hit you then, far in the deep recesses of your mind.

Luithien. It meant Enchantress in the Sindarin tongue.

Another cold chill ran up your spine and you felt a sense of dread gnawing in the pit of your stomach. You took another step back, eyes locked on the woman's face. "How do you know my name?"

She stood with her hand still outstretched, the corner of her eye twitching slightly when you did not immediately move towards her as she had commanded of you. Slowly, she lowered her hand, clasping both of them together in front of her. She looked you up and down very slowly, in a calculating sort of manner that seemed to make your very soul feel uneasy. When her gaze landed back on your face, her smirk returned. "You are a clever girl." She said softly. "You already know. Don't you?"

You swallowed hard, a lump in your throat. You felt suddenly trapped, cornered, a fawn before a wolf. Yes. You knew. You had walked right into her trap. She had been here the whole time, plotting, watching you. She had already made contact and you were too stupid to realise it. Her name! She had made it so obvious but you were too dense! Oh, how you cursed yourself!

The Enchantress.

"Come. Here." She said again, her voice louder this time, more commanding. Her smile had vanished.

This time you did move, taking a step back towards her, though your mind screamed against it. You felt as if you had no control, as if you could not stop yourself, as if you had to walk towards her. Your eyes widened at this, as you realised finally that she must have laid some spell upon you, that she had such powers of persuasion. You didn't realise that you were stronger than most, that you had already fought against it where usually she met no resistance.

She seemed to relax just slightly as you did as you were commanded. She decided that whatever grip you had kept on your own free will was surely overcome now by her own power. She was stronger. She felt satisfied in that knowledge. "Closer."

Another step, your eyes wide, your heart racing in your chest so fast it was a wonder you did not pass out at her feet. The knowledge that you had walked so dumbly into the very trap Radagast had spent his life protecting you from filled you with despair and anger and shame. How could you be so stupid?

As you stared up at the Enchantress, who somehow now seemed so tall that she was looming over you, her presence no longer comforting despite her pretty exterior, you thought about Thranduil. He flickered unbidden into your mind and it was almost as if the image of him snapped you out of something for a moment.

You blinked.

Your gaze shifted to the side slightly, across the room, to where a large black door stood ajar.

One more glance at the woman in front of you and then you turned and ran.

"Oh, for goodness sake, just get on here!" Radagast urged Feren, who was still having trouble with the horse he was attempting to mount.

The beast wanted to be anywhere but near him, it seemed. Feren was beginning to panic, not wanting his king to be too far away without him, not if there was a chance the Enchantress could come close again. If the girl was out there alone, she was an easy target. Nobody knew how long she had been gone from the palace! And Thranduil should not have run off alone like that!

He glanced at Radagast, looking like he'd rather not get on the back of the rabbit sleigh, but he was too intent on getting after Thranduil as quickly as possible so he gave in very rapidly and hurried towards the wizard and his impatient rabbits.

Just then, there was a commotion from up ahead, in the direction of the settlement. The thundering of hooves and voices crying out in the wind as they called out the name of the new rider who had appeared so suddenly from the trees.

"Ah!" Radagast's eyes lit up at the sight of the approaching figure, who eased his horse to a stop just beside the two.

Gandalf had come at last.

Gandalf looked down at Radagast from beneath his bushy brows as he sat upon his horse. "Something tells me I have arrived later than you expected." He mused, looking around, seeing nothing of The Elvenking and sensing that he was not there at all.

"As usual." Radagast muttered under his breath.

This was heard and quite easily ignored by Gandalf as he turned his attention back to the brown wizard. "Where is Thranduil?"

Thranduil, as it turned out, had made some progress already in the brief time since his departure. His horse was swift and knew its way through the forest well enough to know where to avoid the most twisted of roots.

The Elvenking was making for the clearing where he usually met you. He didn't know if you would even have been able to find your way from the palace back to where Radagast lived, where you'd grown up, but something inside him was screaming at him to go in that direction and so he listened to it.

Still, the longer he rode without seeing you simply lost under the trees, the more his anxiety began to grow. Something didn't feel right about any of this. How was it possible that you had gotten out of that room, out of his hall, and past the settlements without anybody seeing a thing? It did not make sense and the longer he went without seeing anything (you, a trail left behind, something) the more he began to get suspicious.

Surely not...

Surely she could not have gotten her hands on you. You had been safe in his realm, nobody could touch you, not even the Enchantress could get inside and he knew that. Right? Thranduil gritted his teeth as he spurred the horse faster, the poor animal going as quickly as it could go through the forest. A tree branch bit at his face but he barely even felt it.

He didn't like this one bit and the sooner he found you again, safe and well, the sooner he could relax.

"Come on." Gandalf's voice was gruff as he urged Feren and Radagast to hurry.

Feren had relented and gotten onto the back of the wizard's sleigh, uneasily holding on as the rabbits bounded through the forest. Gandalf was running alongside the sleigh on his great steed, which Radagast thought was quite something considering how fast the rabbits could go when they really wanted to.

"Your letter was rather vague." Gandalf stated. "Tell me exactly what has happened."

Feren held on, unsure how the wizards could carry on with a normal conversation while moving so quickly and haphazardly through the trees. The slight swaying of the sleigh was making him feel dizzy.

Radagast filled in the blanks that his letter to Gandalf had left out, the grey wizard's face growing more and more grim with each word uttered. This was not good.

The Enchantress.

Gandalf had actually started to believe that she had vanished from the world altogether. Scarcely had she been heard of or seen in the last few centuries, though of course his own mind had been elsewhere.

This situation troubled him. He had not been in Lindon that day but he knew the story well. He also knew Radagast had been hiding you all these years and for good reason.

His mouth set into a thin line as he pondered all of this information, thinking about how the Enchantress would seek to destroy not only you, but perhaps Thranduil himself as well, who was now alone somewhere up ahead of them, cut off and vulnerable.

"She has her Gandalf, I know it." Radagast said then, voicing what he had not said out loud to Thranduil when they all discovered you missing. But he could sense it, he could feel it in his bones. The Enchantress had you in her grasp.

"Then we'd better hurry." Gandalf said grimly, urging his horse faster as Radagast did the same with the rabbits. Feren squeezed his eyes shut, feeling sick.

[sips---tea]

Thraundil x reader // Home again

Thranduil's beloved partner had been missing since a battle at Angmar, pulling Thranduil into great grief. What happens when it is discovered you are not dead and return to your husband.

1617 words

You had been in this dark place for longer than you could record. You remember the battle at Angmar, fighting beside your husband the neverending barrage of orcs and then being distanced from him by seeing your son Legolas in danger. You thought it was won and for a second put your guard down which allowed your leg to be caught by an orc sword and for you to fall and soon lose consciousness. The last thing you saw was your husband, fighting orcs, he had not noticed, too busy fighting to save himself and Legolas from the newest wave of orcs.

You woke in this dark pit, you tried to fight the orcs who would visit you and torture you for their sick, twisted fun. You gained very little food, the orcs only keeping you alive for their humour. Soon however even the orcs stopped coming, leaving you in the dark pit to rot. You were thankful that you had little food and water which you tried to ration to the best of your ability. The thought of home kept you going, of Thranduil, your son and of the beauty of Greenwood, one day you would return.

Once again you tried the door in case somehow it was unlocked. You slump back down, it is still bolted shut. There was little you could do in this place, only think of home, scratch the walls, check your food supply. This was no life for an eleven noble, an eleven (king/Queen), one who had seen the fall of Melkor and fought in many, many wars, this capture was humiliating. You closed your eyes and sighed, you regretted everything and just wished to return, praying to the Valar to save you from the torture you were facing. They seemed to have never answered, you were still here, on a dirty floor in an unknown place.

You heard something. You closed your eyes and sighed, a bird probably, false hope. You shivered and heard the noise again. It sounded like voices? This might be your brain, going mad from isolation, however, your heart skipped a beat and you stood, bashing the door. Muffled voices, you could hardly believe your eyes, as you saw light at the cracks of the door. You stumbled back, terrified that it might be a foe and with nothing to protect yourself with, the only thing you could do was hope and pray the Valar brought you saviours. The door swung open and Gandalf stood in the entrance, his staff held high, illuminating the dark pit you had spent your days in for the first time. Your heart rose and you stood, blinded by the light of the staff. Gandalf's eyes were wide in shock.

"My dear (y/n)" he said. "I thought you were lost"

"I did also" you said, your voice hoarse. You blinked and almost collapsed, Gandalf quickly supporting you. "Where am I?" you asked.

"Amon Lac" Gandalf said, slowly leading you out.

"I do not understand" you said quietly.

"And nor do I" he said quietly. Gandalf led you across a bridge and toward Radagast who stared, confused at the dirty, pale, zombie looking elf Gandalf was supporting.

"Who is this?" Radagast asked in confusion.

"I am returning to the fortress" Gandalf said. "But I must ask that you take (y/n) to the woodland kingdom"

"(y/n) of the woodland realm?" Radagast asked, confused, but realisation dawned on his face. "Oh yes, of course" Radegast busied himself to make sure there's space as you sat heavily on it, exhausted but finally free.

"Will you be okay? Will they be?" Radagast asked.

"If you return them to the woodland realm then they will" Gandalf said, turning to go back into the fortress.

"But what about you?" Radagast called. "What if it is a trap?"

"It is undoubtedly a trap" Gandalf replied, walking back toward Dol Guldur, even more questions now clouding his mind.

Radagast stared for a few moments before looking down at the elf who laid on his sled. In a few moments of muttering, Radagast had started the sled, he was very paranoid you would fall off and was also unsure of what it would be like for you to return. He had seen Thranduil's decline of happiness and his grief from his place in the forest, would you help his grief or would he not believe you were alive.

"Radagast?" you calling his name jumped him out of his trance. "Are my husband and son alive? " you asked.

"Yes they are" Radagast Answered. You smiled, closing your eyes and laying back slightly. You were glad that you could finally see them again, that you could finally go home.

Radagast stopped the sled close to the main gates and looked down at you, worried. "Can you walk the way?" he asked, wishing to as soon as possible send the message to Lothlorien and Rivendell.

You nodded slightly, shakily getting up and smiling, feeling the grass under your feet. "Thank you Radagast," you said. He nodded and left, leaving you alone in the forest you knew so well. Slowly you started to walk toward the doors of the halls of Thranduil, it was a walk you had taken many times alone and with Thranduil beside you. Nothing had seemed to have changed, the grass bouncy and the trees blowing gently in the wind. You breathed heavily, thanking that no longer you breathed in the musty and stale air of Amon Lac.

Slowly you crossed the bridge and were faced by guards on both sides who quickly arrested you for trespassing on the King's land. You didn't fight or struggle, too tired to do so, letting the guards guide you into the halls. It was as you remembered it, nothing had changed apart from new statues, was that you? You didn't have much time to linger, looking at your face, moulded in stone as the guard made sure to keep a fast pace. You recognised the route, you were going to Thranduil.

The guards stopped and dropped you. At this point, you were completely exhausted, without the energy to even try to get up. "Stand" the sound of Thranduil's voice was like music to your ears, his voice was firm and without emotion. You slowly stood, shaking slightly as you slowly looked up at your husband who sat on his throne. He hadn't changed, apart from his eyes. As soon as they met yours they widened in shock.

"Impossible" he whispered, he almost tripped as he rushed down the stairs and pulled you into a hug. "It cannot be you" he whispered as you leaned into him, allowing Thranduil to completely smother you in his chest. You could tell Thranduil was struggling, almost unable to keep the tears back. Quickly he dismissed the guards and guided you down to the floor, still holding you in his arms. He cupped your cheek and stared into your eyes. "Where have you been (y/n)?" he asked in disbelief.

"Gandalf found me" you said quietly. "In Dol Guldur"

Thraundil's face was full of mixed emotions, from disbelief, sadness and confusion. He could not understand, Thraundil had searched for you, day and night through the dead bodies of orcs and elves to find you, to hold your body one last time. He had a funeral for you, he had grieved, he had closed his heart to any further help toward the men of the wood against orcs.

"You have been gone for 150 years" Thraundil said. Your heart stopped at these words.

"No. I" you couldn't believe it. You rested your head against his chest and fainted into it, completely exhausted. Thraundil held you close, not wishing to let you go. He had missed you terribly, losing the fire which kept his heart warm so it froze over and he vowed never again to fight for the needs of men. If he didn't then you would have never gone and would have been with him.

Slowly Thranduil got up and picked you up into his arms. He grimaced at how dirty and matted your hair was. He carried you to the healers who washed you and checked your wounds. Thraundil watching over, cringing at the marks which now littered your body. He found it hard to keep his anger in check, he wanted to hunt down and kill every orc he could get his hands on. He wished he had kept you safe, denied you from fighting in Angmar, he criticised his past self for this as he watched you now, laying on his bed, tucked up in the warm sheets and furs. For the first thirty years, Thraundil did not sleep in his royal chambers, the memories of you and him together being too much to bair, being unable to sleep without you in his arms. Thirty years it took for him to have the courage to enter and sleep in your and his room again, the large bed feeling strangely empty without another presence.

Slowly he sat on the bed, feeling your hair between his fingers. Your hair was now smooth and clean, just as he remembered. He got into bed next to you, listening to your gentle breathing. Valar how he missed this, he missed you. He wrapped his long arms around you immediately moulding into your side. You smelt perfect, just as he remembered, he kissed your cheek and rested his nose against it, glad you were home with him. Thranduil smiled slightly, he should plan a large feast to celebrate you being home, his lover finally back with him. Thranduil closed his eyes and slowly fell asleep, finally happy again.

[ilovedainironfoot]

You tell them about Greek Mythology, how do they react ? ( Elrond + Thranduil + Radagast + Gandalf + Gimli

( none of the gifs or pictures are mine )

asked by @iwenttomordor​ to celebrate my 100 followers \^o^/

WARNING : really slight mention of sexual assault in Radagast and Gimli part

Elrond

-when he invited you to Imladris he did not expect such a conversation when he asked you to speak from your world

-you have captured his attention from your first words

-because you are passionate about Greek mythology, it is the first subject you have chosen

-as you omitted to say that the stories were not true, he is shocked and horrified (the father of Zeus who eats his children, who cheats on his wife, all the curses that the gods cast)

-he clearly prefers that you are in Middle-Earth than in your world where obviously the gods are cruel and have no mercy

-he finally understands after several hours and then he becomes extremely  impressed with the ability of humans to invent such stories 

-Everything you say is written down, and since Greek mythology is full of stories and anecdotes, a new section of the library must be built to house the new manuscripts

-he is rather relieved that their gods are less...bizarre than yours

-he is not very surprised when you talk to him about creatures such as fauns, mermaids, gryffon, sphinx, since they have dragons and eagles that speak

-he insists on doing the illustrations for the books himself and it has become a game between you, to see him try to draw the strange creatures as you have described them

Thranduil

-he prevents himself from laughing, really he prevents himself

-you are into what you are saying but you are going fast so he really has a hard time following and understanding what you are telling him (this man died because he got an arrow in his heel which is the only part of his body that his mother didn't put in the water ? what ? )

-nevertheless, the fact that you are so passionate about the subject makes the discussion interesting, even if he often cuts you off because of anything he finds too strange

-his favorite story is that of Hercules

-the birth of some gods surprises him, like the birth of Aphrodite or Athena ( ok who is the baby who was sewn in the thigh of his father already ? )

-if he has guests and he doesn't like them too much, he will ask you to tell the worst stories from Greek mythology

Radagast

-he doesn't dare to say anything but as soon as you start talking to him about it, he thinks that you are either in shock of your arrival here or you have sniffed or swallowed something that you definitely shouldn't have

-he is really very uncomfortable

-but the moment you tell him about monsters like the Hydra of Erne, Charybdis, the Chimera, the Lion of Nemea, he thinks that you may have faced one of them and that these stories you tell are a way for you to overcome the trauma

-when you talk to him about all the horrible things that some gods have done (assaulting women for example), he is really not well because he thinks it might have happened to you, like for the monsters

-it was only after several hours, after having exclaimed how exciting Greek mythology was, that he understood everything and felt more than relieved

-he finds the story of Medusa too sad

Gandalf

-a bit like Radagast he thinks at first that you have smoked and that you are not used to it

-being convinced that every legend has a basis of truth, he takes your stories with care

-he will search all the archives of Rivendell, Rohan, Gondor and Lothorian to learn more about all these creatures you tell him about

-he finds certain gods detestable and makes this known in a half-spoken way

-his favorite character is Ulysee, for his ingenuity and trickery (even if he does not approve of everything the warrior did)

-there are so many things, stories, anecdotes, details in Greek mythology that he loves it when you sit around the fire in the evening and suddenly remember something and start telling him

-he finds many lessons to learn in your stories that he enjoys giving in a mysterious way

Gimli

-you are both in the tavern when you start telling some stories from Greek mythology

-he is so confused that he confiscates your drink and sniffs it, wondering what's in your mug to make you say such weird things

-he has nightmares for several weeks after you tell him about Styx, Hades and the underworld

-no matter how much you tell him that these are just legends, stories, he is not comfortable

-not to mention some of the stories where women are subjected to things that he calls abominable ( sexual assault, transformed into horrible creatures, married by force, etc)

-but he likes very much the stories of warriors like Ulysses or Achilles (even if he does not approve of everything they did)

-he tries to carve on wood the monsters you describe to him

[none-ofthisnonsense]

COUNCIL OF ELROND PT 4 (END OF RECAP)

i’m stopping putting things under a cut this is tagged spoilers

'"I have been told that wherever they go the Riders ask for news of a land called Shire." '"The Shire," I said; but my heart sank. 

Gandalf WILL defend hobbits even when facing the Ancient Evil Descended From Morgoth.

It cannot be reached save by passing the circle of Isengard; and in that circle there is only one gate. 

“They’re taking the hobbits to Isengard” started playing in my head here.

'"So you have come, Gandalf," he said to me gravely; but in his eyes there seemed to be a white light, as if a cold laughter was in his heart. '"Yes, I have come," I said. "I have come for your aid, Saruman the White." And that title seemed to anger him. '"Have you indeed, Gandalf the Grey!" he scoffed. "For aid? It has seldom been heard of that Gandalf the Grey sought for aid, one so cunning and so wise, wandering about the lands, and concerning himself in every business, whether it belongs to him or not." 

COLOUR SYMBOLISM COLOUR SYMBOLISM COLOUR SYMBOLISM colours being inverted from their usual meaning I LOVE THIS SO MUCH

What brings you now from your lurking-place in the Shire?" 

To be fair, Saruman DOES say “the Shire”.

'"Radagast the Brown!" laughed Saruman, and he no longer concealed his scorn. "Radagast the Bird-tamer! Radagast the Simple! Radagast the Fool! Yet he had just the wit to play the part that I set him. For you have come, and that was all the purpose of my message. And here you will stay, Gandalf the Grey, and rest from journeys. For I am Saruman the Wise, Saruman Ring-maker, Saruman of Many Colours!" 'I looked then and saw that his robes, which had seemed white, were not so, but were woven of all colours, and if he moved they shimmered and changed hue so that the eye was bewildered. '"I liked white better," I said. '"White!" he sneered. "It serves as a beginning. White cloth may be dyed. The white page can be overwritten; and the white light can be broken." '"In which case it is no longer white," said I. 

COLOURS AGAIN!!!!!!

And both my fear and my hope proved ill-founded. For my hope was founded on a fat man in Bree; and my fear was founded on the cunning of Sauron. But fat men who sell ale have many calls to answer; and the power of Sauron is still less than fear makes it. 

I don’t know why, but I really like this.

'I saw you!' cried Frodo. 'You were walking backwards and forwards. The moon shone in your hair.' Gandalf paused astonished and looked at him. 'It was only a dream,' said Frodo, 'but it suddenly came back to me. I had quite forgotten it. It came some time ago; after I left the Shire, I think.' 

prophetic Frodo? don’t remember this ngl. cool though!!

Gandalf the Grey caught like a fly in a spider's treacherous web! Yet even the most subtle spiders may leave a weak thread. 

coughs in spiders in tolkien coughs in shelob coughs in ungoliant

'He set me down in the land of Rohan ere dawn; and now I have lengthened my tale over long. The rest must be more brief. 

Oh are you saying this now Gandalf? Now that we’re two-thirds of the chapter in? I daren’t wonder what it might have been had you not quit talking.

'"Butterbur they call him," thought I. "If this delay was his fault, I will melt all the butter in him. I will roast the old fool over a slow fire." He expected no less, and when he saw my face he fell down flat and began to melt on the spot.' 

I love the creativity of the threats, like “he likes food? i’ll torture him with food”

'"Strider!" I cried, shouting for joy. '"Yes, sir, I am afraid so, sir," said Butterbur, mistaking me. "He got at them, in spite of all that I could do, and they took up with him. They behaved very queer all the time they were here: wilful, you might say." '"Ass! Fool! Thrice worthy and beloved Barliman!" said I. 

Gandalf really went from cursing him (derogatory) to cursing him (affectionately) in a second there

'Well, the Tale is now told, from first to last. Here we all are, and here is the Ring. But we have not yet come any nearer to our purpose. What shall we do with it?' 

Ngl this recap was shorter than I thought! I recall it being longer in my book. But maybe it feels that way because I’m not turning pages.

[devilshalf]

Unexpected Treasure - Chapter Seven

Fandom: The Hobbit

Summary: A stubborn headed ranger joins the company unaware of the treasure she is about to find.

Pairings: FilixOC  ThorinxBilbo

Chapter warnings: mention of death

Chapter One    .     Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Fili and Arabelle began straightening their clothes, looking as though they were children caught sneaking a sweet treat past bedtime “Was wondering if you might know if a wizard Gandalf is about these parts?” The brown wizard politely asked, seemingly unaware of what he had interrupted.

“You are in the right place, just up that hill.” Arabelle pointed up the hill and the man tipped his hat, releasing a bird at the same time. “We should go see what that is all about.”

“Belle can we speak?” Fili grasped her wrist, the entire thing fitting in his hand she looked back to him as she wondered if he would waste their time trying to swear her to secrecy, or would he make sure she knew this to be nothing more than attraction, or as Fili had put it; practice.

“Oi you two come on we need to find the ponies!” Nori called out from above them, stopping any further conversation.

“Radagast I’d like to introduce you to Thorin Oakenshield.” Gandalf was making polite introductions that Thorin cared little for, instead asking “Can you help us with some horses?”

“You have a mighty fine horse, pretty girl.” Radagast cooed at Eryn who was the only horse to remain after the Trolls captured half and spooked the others, she whinnied in response to his compliment.

“Yes, but that is just one horse and we need more.” Thorin sighed with exhaustion as Radagast began counting those in the company; Thorin’s face dropping as he realised this wizard was as helpful as his current one.

“We could find some in Rivendell.” Arabelle noted.

“I will not travel to the home of those pointy eared-“ Thorin might have continued his rant but Arabelle interrupted “Watch your insults, I consider many elves friends.” Arabelle’s eyes narrowed, she was over Thorin’s blatant hate for any but his own. She wondered if dwarves were more accepting then perhaps Fili would see her as something more.

“The elves are no friends of dwarves.”

“Yet I know that to be false, I have heard stories of friendships between the two. The very Doors of Durin were made in such friendship, yet you take one offense and make it a reason to have discord with an entire race.”

“The turning away of my people is more than just insult!” Thorin argued and the dwarves jeered him on.

“That’s enough! I am so over the stupidity of dwarves. The lot of you need to see further than your own pricks and realise something beyond your own selfish pride.” She had begun a tirade of curses but had been cut short by one very distinct howl; wargs.

“I can distract them!” Radagast seemed all too pleased to be leaving as the others waited at the outskirts of the field, a field Arabelle knew well she smirked as she would enjoy the moment Thorin would see their destination.

“Run!” Gandalf hurried them to the first boulder, Arabelle beside Bilbo with Thorin just in front of them he kept a hand on Bilbo’s chest scolding the halfling for trying to run too early.

It was a mad race after the first warg fell alerting the others to their location, they sprinted to follow Gandalf as Arabelle effortlessly climbed a boulder to release a few arrows before jumping down to join them; it almost seemed she was enjoying herself. Finally, Gandalf began to lead them into the secret passage which would shield them as no evil could pass through the magical barrier. As the dwarves began to file down the opening Arabelle watched as Fili looked to her before Thorin pushed him in and yelled for Kili who had remained with her shooting down their approaching enemy. She barked at him to go and though reluctant he retreated. She continued to back up releasing arrows to the last moment, she turned to see Thorin waiting for her, arms motioning her to run. That is when she saw the creature coming from above him, ready to pounce she yelled for him to jump as she used her last arrow to kill the rider whose sword aimed for Thorin’s head. Thorin disappearing into the ground Arabelle swung around to see the circling pack of wargs. Arabelle had often thought of battle as just another dance and while some fathers would teach their daughters to twirl around a room her father had taught her how to draw blood. She began to count in her head.

One; feet apart. Two; ready sword. Three; wait. Four; duck. Five; strike. Six; swing. Seven; strike. Eight; breathe. And repeat.

Each sequence gained traction, each breath becoming harder. Until finally bang! The conclusion to her dance. A spiked ball to her shoulder blade had her reeling for the ground, she could hear the clambering of the dwarves trying to make it back up to her but once in the tunnel none could get out. She thought she could perhaps make it to the edge, roll herself in, but it became clear her shoulder was not just dislocated. Pain shuddered through her body as blood trickled down her arm, vision fading as she uselessly clasped her sword unable to swing it. Death had been a familiar concept to her. She had met death on her very first day when her mother passed bringing her into the world, her father’s death witness when she was not even fifteen, she had lost uncles and cousins in every manner possible. She had accepted it long ago it would be her fate to die an early death and join her family. She had been close too. In the past she had taken injuries, faced enemies twice her number and size, yet for the first time in a long time she felt it; fear. Clutching at her smaller hand blade, her heart hammered against her chest, breath ragged as her eyes widened realising, she wished to live. Her vision was scattered with black the wargs approaching slowly knowing her dead, she wanted to move but her body no longer listened. As her vision faded to black, her mind drifted to Fili for she wished to live if only to see him once more and a part of her yearned to know if he felt the same.

—

Fili had been clambering up the slope, his voice beginning to break from his screams and yet every time he would near the edge an invisible force pushed him back down. His brother softening the blows each time Kili would catch him, until they were both beaten and bruised. Eventually when all the sounds from above stopped his brother held him. A silence fell amongst them all, Dwalin was the first to speak ushering everyone into the tunnel he led the way until it was only the royal family left behind; Fili’s breath was still ragged as he looked to his uncle.

“You left her.” He accused softly, drained from all strength, all hope.

“I-I had no choice.” Thorin tried to defend himself, though his mind began to doubt.

“You had a choice!” Fili launched for him, Kili holding his brother back pleading for him to stop.

“Fili you weren’t up there, you don’t know.” Bilbo whose presence had gone unnoticed spoke up, tears in his eyes at the loss of his friend “The elves would have helped her, she is their friend they would have saved her.”

“If she is gone.” Fili’s voice stopped, he took a calming breath before pulling his hand through his royal braid, removing the bead Thorin had recently given him he forced it into Thorin’s hand, levelling his eyes to meet his.

“I am travelling to Rivendell to find her. I intend to make her my wife. I do not care that I will be exiled. And if she is gone…I never want to see you again.”

Chapter Eight