#thranduil head canon

[galadrielspeaks]

just thinking about thranduil and how he categorises his life and how the events of his life affects the way he rules his kingdom…. how so much of his development was defined by huge cataclysmic tragedies… thinking about how his youth is defined as before Doriath and his adulthood is defined as After Doriath… how when he became a prince he probably held on to his more idealistic beliefs only to be sternly reminded of the fickleness of life during war….. how the entire kingdom of the woodland realm probably has a Before Dagorlad and an After. how could you not after losing your king and the majority of your people? it is incredibly telling how these events of Thranduil’s past has affected his rule and everything about him down to his parenting. he understands he’s alone. that’s tragic. but he also understands his kingdom is alone. he’s a lonely king. there's no one higher than him, no one to seek advice from. he understands he is the final defender of a kingdom and he is fighting an inherited war, he has first hand witnessed the tragedies of this war and has been directly critically affected by it, he is just as much a victim of Sauron as his people. his nobility offers him zero protection, at any point he could lose everything, and yet he remains empathetic. he remains kind. he remains generous. he obviously sees the worth in fighting, he refuses to give up fully. he is (reasonably!) incredibly cautious which some call him an isolationist or consider him fickle for, during events like his refusal of gandalf’s invitation to the White Council but it becomes incredibly clear why he is like this when it’s put into context of his past. he has trusted allies before, he has seen what has happened. to join an organisation full of ring bearer’s as the sole leader of a nation with no ring to protect his people is almost an insult. they would not and do not understand what it takes to lead in that situation. Thranduil and all of his people are living in the after of the war of the last alliance. why would they join another? Thranduil has put his people first. He recognises that they themselves are the only ones who understand just how at risk they are. and yet with all of this in mind it should noted that he allies himself with men (who historically have experienced and understand the dangerous climate of their respective nations) and creates trade routes with them to provide for his people and also provides aid to them. and it is noted in the text that Legolas has been raised incredibly happily, and he is well-adjusted. throughout fighting a seemingly losing war thranduil found it implicitly important to raise his son with joy and hope. i like to believe he understands the importance of childhood whimsy and enchantment and worked to instill and maintain his child’s innocence. he raised his son as trauma-free as he could (saying this bc we do not know if his mother is dead or sailed or not but either way to be without the mother is traumatic but besides that Legolas appears to be generally mentally healthy). despite knowing first hand just how cruel and painful life is he did not feel the need to raise his child to be prepared and worried about very real threats. rather he raised his child happily, and simply worked to give his son the skills he needed to survive and to defend himself. usually military father's who have expreienced a great deal of trauma and haven't processed it correctly tend to succumb to the urge to raise their children to understand the cruelty of the world, and loathe their children for their innocence. i think that in thranduil not doing this with legolas, we can infer that he has taken time to healthily process his experiences. I believe that Thranduil is an incredibly important figure in the Lord of the Rings because he is truly an incredible example of someone who learns from their mistakes, learns from tradegy, who learns from life. i think that Thranduil never wanted to be a King, it is a responsibility that fell into his lap unwillingly and that is why he is a successful and well-loved ruler.

#didn’t really get into the war of five army’s bc i just don’t know enough about it #but yeah #just some random thoughts i had inbetween lectures today #also the military thing comes from experience i am a military brat i Know #i can write soooo much on how Legolas’ behaviour is a direct representation of Thranduil’s character like it’s just so telling #also i personally believe that thranduil’s wife died but since that isn’t canon i didn’t include it in this but yeah i think that has a lot #to do with a Lot about him #but that’s more headcanony so i held off on diving too into it #also sorry if any of this is a bad take this is off the top of my head inbetween classes i’m not double checking things rn #thranduil #woodland realm #mirkwood #greenwood #long post #meta

[tathrin]

If Finrod is Legolas's other dad, explain Lorien.

Reference is to this post, and also I'm tagging @z-h-i-e because this is their ship-baby, I just popped in to sprinkle some additional inspiration because my brain went "ooh hey!" when their post crossed my dash because that's the kind of supportive community fandom is supposed to be made of fyi.

Right, so. There's no sense of tone in straight-text communication on the internet, so I know that it's entirely possible that this ask was sent in the spirit of giggling-with-popcorn delight while you eagerly await the resulting explanation. It's equally possible that you're playing at being The Ship Police and challenging me in the expectation that I won't be able to make this Just For Funsies ship sail without floundering on the rocks of canon.

Either way: buckle up. Because the boats of Lórien don't sink.

Because when Legolas gets to the woods of Lothlórien with the rest of the Fellowship, he's delighted. He's never actually been here before! He's heard all the stories, and listened avidly, but. well. Thranduil and Galadriel both blame the other a little bit for the nasty way Finrod died (they know it's not the other's fault so they don't say anything, either to each other or anyone else but, well. it feels like it ought to be the other one's fault, somehow).

And there's all that tension re: Doriath still, and why Galadriel couldn't just pick-up where Melian her teacher left off and maintain the Girdle afterwards—because I'm not a maia, Thranduil, you ass! Oh, so you couldn't even TRY?—especially because she then proceeds to do basically that for Lórien just a few thousand years later...and of course Galadriel thinks it's Oropher's fault that so many of Lothlórien's elves died in the Last Alliance, because if only he hadn't been so reckless and pig-headed then surely Amdír would never have thought up that idiotic suicidal charge on his own...and if she'd maybe tried a little harder to rein-in the son/nephew of the Kinslayers, maybe Sauron would never have even made the Rings, and Mirkwood would still be Greenwood, which you'll note she can't be arsed to extend her convenient semi-girdle to either...and if he wasn't so damn prideful maybe somebody could help his precious stupid spider-forest...etc etc.

They aren't like. enemies. but they don't really get along anymore, either. They don't talk. (There's a reason the elves of Green/Mirkwood were moving north even before Sauron took up housekeeping in Dol Guldur.) So even though Lothlórien is like maybe a week's walk away, Legolas hasn't actually been here before. And he is stoked! Because he's always wanted to visit, but he didn't want to hurt his remaining dad's feelings by being like "bye, gonna go visit my aunt whom you haven't spoken to in like three thousand years, nbd!" so he never did — but here they are now, and it's part of the Quest, so it's not like Legolas just popped in for a visit, is it? He's doing something that just happened to bring him here, so Thranduil can't take it personally, and...well, here he is! At last! This is awesome! He's so excited to see his aunt's fabled forest!

And then they want to blindfold him!? He's FINALLY in Lórien, and he's not even allowed to look at the place!? This is his aunt's forest, for fuck's sake — he is an elf and a kinsman here, dammit! No wonder he goes from zero-to-sixty re: "golly Gimli don't be so stubborn" => "hOw dARe yOu!?!?!?" when the blindfold is suggested. He's not just pissed, he's taking it personally. Because he's family.

Okay so far so good, but when the Fellowship comes before Celeborn and Galadriel why doesn't anyone say anything about Legolas literally being their nephew, one might ask? Ah! Well, that's because we have Hobbits for our narrators, and they simply don't know elvish family trees well enough to catch that detail. Which is why when Celeborn says "Welcome son of Thranduil! Too seldom do my kindred journey hither from the North," it's perhaps a little more pointed of a statement than the Hobbits know. Celeborn is saying long time no see nephew, how nice of you to visit FINALLY. But Legolas and Thranduil have called themselves "Wood-elves" since moving to Greenwood, so the fact that he's actually half-Noldor just never gets mentioned, because it's not like it's relevant, is it? He doesn't mention being half-Sindar either. He calls himself a Wood-elf because he is a Wood-elf...by adoption. So why would the Hobbits even think to ask?

And we know that Galadriel uses ósanwë on everybody, so why wouldn't she be using it with her own nephew? What better way to have a private family chat, after all? And she doesn't say anything aloud to anyone while Celeborn is greeting everybody else, and it's not like Galadriel really needs to listen to the "hellos" either; perhaps she and Legolas have a little mental confab just the two of them while everybody else is settling in. You could easily write that in, if you wanted to, without breaking any of the existing canon.

After that, we actually have a perfect textural opening for Legolas to go hang with his aunt and uncle some more: while the rest of the Fellowship doesn't see Galadriel and Celeborn again until the Mirror and then their departure, the book says "Legolas was away much among the Galadhrim, and after the first night he did not sleep with the other companions, though he returned to eat and talk with them." So we know that Legolas is going off to hang-out with the Lórien elves...a.k.a. Aunt Galadriel. Probably sleeping in the guest bedroom and pestering her for embarrassing stories about his dads. And maybe asking her for tips on how to talk to dwarves without putting your foot in your mouth since she's clearly got experience.

And no, none of them went in for stuff like gushing hugs when they meet...but if they haven't spoken to one another in a few thousand years, and probably didn't spend all that much time together even before that (Galadriel and Thranduil weren't much in any of the same places after Doriath fell) then they wouldn't likely be all that cuddly with one another anyway, would they? Distant-but-fond seems like the order of the day to me, and you can definitely read their fleeting interactions in the book that way. (A kickass bow potentially strung with your own hair is a great gift for a nephew you don't know well who's about to go off into danger! I bet he could even shoot-down a Ringwraith with a bow like that!) Tense-and-awkward-but-trying-to-be-polite would work too, of course; depends on what kind of drama you want.

So yeah, actually I think it's perfectly reasonable to posit that Galadriel could potentially be Legolas's aunt; I've seen several fics that present Celeborn and Thranduil as cousins or some other close relative, and nobody gets shirty about the canocity of that kinship re: the Lórien scenes, so why wouldn't the connection be just as acceptable to come via Finrod and Galadriel instead? There's nothing in the text that I know of that says it can't be canon.

Anyway, Finrod-as-Legolas's-other-dad wasn't actually meant to be a serious "look how well canon supports this idea, it's definitely a very plausible thing that people should embrace in a wholly serious and canonical manner" theory to begin with. I was just having fun. Somebody said, "hey check out their weird rare ship, it's a lot of fun!" and my brain had a lightbulb moment and went "ooh what if you took that silly fun ship and leaned-in even harder with it, though?" and here we are.

Does a marriage between Thranduil and Finrod actually fit with all the canon of the Silm? I don't know, probably not; then again it might, simply because so much of the Silm is vague, especially when it comes to the elves of Mirkwood who barely even get mentioned once or twice. Personally I prefer having Legolas be born in Mirkwood and to be relatively young for an elf when Fellowship starts (there's no canon about that either way, I just like the vibes of it). However, this ship is a lot of fun too. In fact, I think it's already my favorite idea for an older-Legolas-with-ties-to-important-people take on the character, if that's how you want to take the character, simply because it is so much fun.

Do I think it's canon? No, of course not. But who cares? We're not writing Academic Articles on Accurate Tolkien Scholarship, we're writing fanfiction. We're having fun. So if you're a giggling-with-popcorn anon: good, awesome, glad to have you here enjoying the fun too. If you're a Ship Police Anon...well, acab and farewell because I frankly just do not have the time to give a shit about what somebody else ships or doesn't. Block the tag and move on.

#anon i grew up on x-men comics #AND the original star wars EU which fyi was an absolute clusterfuck #and spent my childhood plotting the most detailed and accurate AUs with my brother and our action figures that you can imagine #it often took an hour just to get the backstory set up so we could start playing #you think i can't make something with continuity as vague as lotr work the way i want it to? #please. i've never met a plothole i couldn't either pave-over or squirm my way around #believe you me anon: i have not yet begun to contort canon #this was easy this was nothing i could have concocted this in my sleep #my only weakness in this fight is that i simply don't KNOW silm-era canon off the top of my head #but i assure you that whatever nitpick you can present i will find a way through over or around #it's a weird and generally useless skill but i have a ridiculous knack for tap-dancing around canon #so go ahead bring it on i'm invested now let's spite-ship this all the way back to valinor XD #thranduil #finrod #legolas #thranduil x finrod #bling kings #shipping #my stuff #lotr #legolas has two daddies

[meteors-lotr]

Leena, holding a mug that says "World's Best Mom": Oh Legolas, you shouldn't have!

Thranduil, holding a mug that says "a dad": Yeah Legolas, you shouldn't have

#Leena is who I head canon as Thran's wife and Leggy's mom #incorrect quotes #incorrect lotr quotes #incorrect the hobbit quotes #lotr #lord of the rings #the hobbit #leena #legolas greenleaf #Thranduil #Thranduileena

[lenin-it-to-win-it]

do you remember that scene near the end of the hobbit where bilbo gets all flustered while giving thranduil a necklace and thranduil calls him bilbo the magnificent and declares him an elf friend (with benefits)? anyway happy almost birthday bilbo

#the hobbit #thranduil #bilbo baggins #dare i say it... #thrandilbo #ANYWAY bilbo is canonically down horrendous and the only thing that funnier than that #would be if thranduil was even BIGGER simp #so in my head theyre just horribly in love and banging constantly and its great for them and absolutely miserable for everyone else

[a-world-of-whimsy-5]

Just finished typing a bunch of HCs for Daemon and Aemond Targaryen. Daemon’s post will be up tomorrow, and Aemond’s will be up on Thursday. This was honestly a lot of fun to put together. 

Next month: Heraldry for Melian and Thingol, Doriath, Beren and Lúthien, and a once a month off-canon set of mini stories based on Thranduil’s life, called “Tales of the Elvenking.” 

#head canon #house of the dragon #thranduil #Tolkien

[distinguisheddwarffriend]

Inspired by that post about Thranduil being all defensive/protective over Gimli in Valinor:

We all know the head canon of Thorin being all "no nephew of mine even associates with an elf" BUT

Just imagine, in a world where all three Durins survived, and Tauriel saved Kili (again), and some other elf healed his and Fìli's wounds last minute.

Thorin saw both his nephews almost die before him, has LIVED through how the gold sickness twists the mind and perception of things, and after coming to terms with Bilbo's theft of the Arkenstone, he for a while questions EVERYTHING.

And yes, he totally has a dramatic phase of self pity, holing up in his rooms, drinking Elvish wine (cus thats all there is atm) and smoking Gandalf's pipeweed, and mourning how "everything i knew is a LIE" and "if elves can make such amazing wine there HAS to be some good in them" and "I almost got my boys killed I am such a failure boooohoooo", and after Bilbo kicks his ass out if depression (and a STRONG worded letter from his sister) he is like "okay FUCK y'all I have TRAUMA TM and will do WHATEVER I WANT!!"

So when Kili all shyly comes forward one day asking if Tauriel can please stay with them in the mountain because she's banished from the Woodland Realm he's all "OF COURSE she can stay, you do you my precious boy, if Thranduil is stupid enough to let such a great warrior go we'll stick it to him"

and BAM, Tauriel joins Dwalin in leading Erebor's guard, and Dwalin is torn between "excuse ME u want me to share my job with a pointy eared maiden?" And "holy hell that lass has fire can't show how impressed I am".

And Tauriel Takes No Shit even from her own boyfriend, so Kìli is forced to take his new responsibilities seriously because "I did NOT lose my home to live with a CHILD, Kili", and Fili gets dragged into the whole thing without really understanding what happened, but hey, his lil brother is happy so who cares really.

And whenever someone at council (like Dain) complains about an Elf in the mountain, Thorin goes absolutely FERAL like "are you saying I don't know what's best for this mountain I just won from A DRAGON?! are you suggesting that my perfect baby nephew has bad taste? Huh? Exactly, didn't think so!!!!" And is a protective Papa bear "listen Tauriel if someone gives you shit you SHOOT them. No, not killing them, but, you know, just maim them a little to make a point. Trust me I'm the king."

And once Kili and Tauriel have their first child Thorin constantly kidnaps the kid and has them in the forge before they can even talk because "need to keep up that good old dwarven influence".

Anyway I'll go cry myself to sleep now.

#the hobbit #fili and kili #middle earth #tolkien #fili durin #fíli #the hobbit fanfiction #thorin oakenshield #kili durin #kíli #tauriel #kili x tauriel #bilbo baggins #dis durin #thranduil

[the-silmarillioning]

Oropher and Thranduil in Doriath.

Prince Oropher is a workaholic sometimes-over-protective-dad who manages the financial aspects of the kingdom of Doriath, as well as making sure the agencies that regulate the development of the infrastructure, military, rations and economics, etc. are working correctly. He's the Secretary of State, basically. All these qualities served him well when Menegroth was no more and he had to raise a whole new Kingdom in Greenwood. Rivendell and Lorien are elf settlements but small compared to the Oropherion halls which are basically a Menegroth 2.0. where most sindar survivors and green elves live.

As an adult and a King, Thranduil eventually realizes that the workaholic sometimes-over-protective-dad part is genetical. He thinks Oropher would find that hilarious. Somewhere in the Halls Of Mandos Oropher definitively does.

My stories and head canons: AO3

#tolkien #my art #While the whole deal with the silmarils war with the dark lords of angband impending doom involving the Noldor and the naugrim is happening #Oropher has his fourth cup of extra strong black tea and lavender while sitting on his desk trying to fix everything while he keeps telling #himself in an almost manic voice 'this is fine. this is fine. everything is perfectly fine' *literal fire around him* #the silmarillion #Oropher of Doriath #Oropher #thranduil son of oropher #lotr

[anxiteyandsleep]

I'm so sorry if I made you flustered about the smut question- didn't mean to! 🫢🫣😆

Okay so I'm gonna try and request this: 🙏

Could I please request Thranduil x Male reader who's this tall and buffed tiefling (big horns, long strong tail) who looks scary asf but is actually a total sweetheart? He only looks intimidating bc he's always wearing his armor, covers his face with a cloth/a mask, has dark makeup around his eyes and basically looks like a fricking demon?

He wears a cloth/a mask around his mouth bc he has a big open scar on his cheek (naaah nothing too graphic he just can do this trick with food where when you're facing his healthy side he sticks a carrot into the opening (scar) on the other side and chews without even opening his lips- totally normal- he did it in front of Legolas once and that poor child didn't sleep for a week). He's not ashamed of it, he just doesn't like the stares.

Even tho I'm as old as the first LOTR movie I only just now became a fan and I saw that Thranduil has an injury on his face as well (but hidden) so that got me thinking...

Maybe reader and Thranduil are a couple (reader was treated badly for being a barbarian tiefling -> not by Thranduil <- but proved himself when he saved him) and he then made reader his personal guard, became friends and then lovers.

Thranduil is curious about reader hiding his face but never pushes him to uncover himself (Like why are you hidding yourself from me hmm? Why don't you kiss me? Your other facial features are gorgeous asf, for a tiefling barbarian who rips goblins in half with his bare hands you could even compete with some elves I know-).

One day Thranduil has some issues with his own injury which reader sees and comes to his aid, Thranduil is embarrassed and nearly breaks down, tears fill his eyes bc his love saw his hideous face and is afraid he will leave him (god I'm so bad at romance bro) but reader just chuckles, takes the cloth/mask from his face and shows Thranduil his own injury.

Now they both have scars! They know each other struggles! And they love each other like never before! Happy ending- No but really, angst with fluffy comfort for our two boys and mainly for the elf himself, he needs the love.

Maybe even emotional way back to their shared bedroom by sunset all lovely dovely bc why dafuq not- just Thranduil giggling kicking his feet and twirling his hair as he's princess carried-

Jesus...I got way too into this. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Sorry for it being so long, I honestly don't know how to write short requests...also sorry for any mistakes, english is my second language.

Add something, remove something, it's up to you. You don't even have to write it if you hate it or you're not comfy with it. 😘😘

This is adorable ahhh and dw you didn't make me embarrassed or anything! I may have missed some details, this was written over the course of multiple days with very little sleep😭

I included my head canon that Thranduil is blind in his one eye from the dragon fire, as well as that when low on energy he can't keep the disguise up.

Slight TW for blood, scars and such???

It has been almost a year since you and Thranduil had started dating, you were his personal guard and beloved boyfriend, he adored you so much. He never knew why you hid your face but he didn't pry, especially considering he hides his face in a way too.

Thranduil had always been impressed by you, a strong tiefling with a kind soul, much like a gentle giant. Sure you were rather... Gruesome in battle, using your bare hands to fight and always returning covered in blood and gore. It was truly terrifying but Thranduil loved it, especially after you had saved him from a spider attack.

Today, however, Thranduil was hiding away from his beloved barbarian, tucked away in his room with nothing but a small candle dimly lighting the room. He had overworked himself again, his head was aching and he had no energy left to maintain his disguise, the burnt skin and muscle visible, a sight he despised.

When you heard that Thranduil was taking the day off and locked himself in his room, you grew worried. He's never done that before, usually on his days off he spends them with you, taking a walk through the garden or getting some much needed sleep. So of course you immediately went to check on him, making your way to your shared bedroom.

"Thranduil? Are you alright? I heard the guards say you weren't feeling well and I-" you fell silent as you entered the bedroom, squinting as you adjusted to the dim light but you knew exactly what you saw. You never knew Thranduil had such a scar, it covered the left half of his face and his eye was completely white.

Thranduil had to turn his head completely to actually see you, quickly attempting to cover up the scar but alas, he couldn't manage to use his magic in such a state. He never wanted you to see this side or him, he wanted to keep this horrid scar hidden from you.

"(Name)... What... What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be on patrol?" He managed to get out, clearing his throat and doing his best to speak in his usual tone but his voice still sounded shaky. Perhaps if he didn't bring attention to the scar, you would just ignore it as well

"I just got back, my love..." You replied, slowly walking closer to Thranduil, head tilted slightly in curiosity as you examined the scar. When you reached the edge of the bed, you knelt down before him, resting your chin on his legs. "is that from the dragon you faced?"

Thranduil sighed softly, closing his eyes as he couldn't bare to look at you, afraid he'd see disgust in your eyes. "yes...I managed to survive but..." He vaguely gestured to the scar, shaking his head slightly. Thranduil finally opened his eyes again when he felt your strong hands holding his, the touch was so gentle and caring, he just had to see you.

The way you were looking at him surprised him, your eyes were full so of love and admiration, it made his heart swell.

"We kinda match" you hum in a soft whisper, reaching up to remove the mask you always wore and revealing your own scar. You weren't ashamed of it, you mostly hid it for everyone's comfort as the sight of your open cheek often made people uneasy and you hated the looks they'd give you.

it was now Thranduil's turn to stare in awe, one of his delicate hands reaching up to gently trace around the scar, his fingers soft and gentle as always. "hm I suppose we do, my love" he replied softly his hand trailing up to gently trace over your horns, following the pattern and ridges of them.

"forgive me for keeping this from you... I... I do not like people seeing me in such a state but I should've told you" Thranduil apologized, moving his hands back to gently cup your face, being careful to not disturb the scar

You couldn't help but chuckle a little, leaning into his touch while your tail wagged slightly. "there's no need to apologize, I kept a secret from you too"

Thranduil felt as if a huge weight was lifted from his shoulders, the stress slowly melting away as he held you in his hands. "Well now that we both have told the truth, how about we rest?" He whispered sweetly, leaning down to capture your lips in a tender kiss, one you eagerly returned.

Without breaking the kiss, you got off your knees, cradling the back of Thranduils neck with one of your hands. You kicked off your boots, accidentally sending one flying across the room but you didn't care. "a nap sounds good, yeah" you muttered against his lips as you carefully push him back onto the bed, climbing on top of him to continue the kiss.

Thranduil couldn't help but chuckle, pulling back from your lips just enough to talk. "My love, this is not napping ~" he didn't really mind as you continued to pamper him with kisses, his delicate hands reaching up to gently tangle themselves in your hair.

"mm we'll nap after, then"

#the hobbit #thranduil x male reader #thranduil #lord of the rings #lotr elves

[sotwk]

Hobbits and the Greenwood Elves

Happy Hobbit Day! In honor of Bilbo and Frodo’s birthdays, please enjoy these headcanons regarding the history and friendship between the Hobbits of the Shire (Bilbo’s people) and the Silvan Elves of Greenwood (Thranduil’s people). 

Requested by my dear @laneynoir a while back--thank you for your patience!

Disclaimer: Please note that a good portion of the info below are SotWK AU headcanons only, inspired by official Tolkien canon.

Hobbits and the Greenwood Elves

Early Hobbits in Rhovanion

The Silvan Elves of Greenwood (Thranduil’s people) encountered the early “breeds” of Hobbit centuries before they came to the attention of the peoples who dwelt west of the mountains. 

All three Hobbit breeds (Fallohides, Harfoots, Stoors) resided in the lands surrounding the Woodland Realm as early as the start of Thranduil’s reign, but for many years they kept to themselves and avoided contact with other races. 

The Fallohides, from whom the Brandybucks, Tooks, and Bolgers descended, initially dwelt in the southern eves of Greenwood and first made friends with the Northmen in their area. Hearing tales from the Men regarding the benevolence of the Elvenking and his family, the Fallowhides accepted the outreach of Thranduil and his people, and eventually formed friendships with them. 

The Stoors, who lived a little further away in the Vales of Anduin, quickly followed suit. They even established low-level trade with the Silvan Elves, exchanging their catches from the Anduin for products from the Greenwood. 

The Harfoots were shyer of the Elves and lived closer to the foot of the Misty Mountains, and therefore did not have as close relations with the Silvans as the other two clans.

Two Greenwood Princes were more familiar with the Fallohides and Stoors than the rest of their family: Princes Turhir and Gelir, since the western lands under their guardianship were closest to the dwellings of the hobbits. 

Prince Gelir had a special fondness for Hobbits, delighting most especially in their simple yet lively customs and culture. He continued to value friendship with them long after he departed from the Elvenking’s realm. 

Dol Guldur Drives the Hobbits Away

As time passed into the Third Age, the Shadow that grew upon Dol Guldur was felt by the Hobbits as well as the Elves, and soon began to pose serious threats to their lives.

Thranduil and his sons did everything they could to protect both the Hobbits and the Northmen from the worst of Dol Guldur’s creatures. But the Hobbits in particular were incapable of withstanding the Necromancer’s strange and dark evils, and their attempts to evade the Shadow’s reach by moving northward failed. 

While the Harfoots were quick to retreat across the mountain to Eriador, the Fallohides and Stoors lingered in the east for a century longer, less willing to abandon the home they loved near the Elves. 

However, as the dangers continued to grow, Thranduil and his warriors could no longer guarantee the safety of the Hobbits on top of protecting their own people. 

Despite their friendship, the Hobbits refused the Elves' invitation to reside amongst them in the forest. They planned instead to migrate further north toward the Grey Mountains. 

Elvenqueen Maereth counseled the Fallohides and Stoors to head westward instead and “rejoin” the Harfoots in Eriador, with a vague foresight of the foundation of the Shire and its importance to the future of Middle-earth.

Only after the Fallohides and Stoors had safely crossed into Eriador did Thranduil pull back the last of his defenders north of the Emyn Duir, essentially abandoning the southwestern region of the Greenwood. 

Connection with Smeagol 

Around TA 1350, the Stoors residing in the Angle fled from the growing threat of Angmar upon Eriador, and some of them returned to Rhovanion to reside in the Vales of Anduin once more. From this community of Stoors, Smeagol descended. 

Although Thranduil received word of the reemergence of Hobbits in the Vales, he could not spare any resources to oversee their protection. 

However, Prince Gelir continued to send out his own patrols into the Anduin to check on the Stoors once every year, during the summer season. 

In TA 2463, when the One Ring was found by Deagol and taken by Smeagol, the Mirkwood Elves were too preoccupied with the resurgence of Dol Guldur to notice the evil that had transpired. 

Five hundred years later, when Gandalf brought the captive Gollum to Mirkwood for guarding, the Silvan Elves recognized the wretched creature as a Stoor, a race they remembered with fondness as friends. This stirred their pity towards Gollum and led them to treat him more gently. 

The Long and Fell Winters 

The care of Thranduil and his family for Hobbits continued from a distance well into the Third Age, even as death began to claim the lives of the princes.

In TA 2759, the Long Winter occurred in Eriador and a terrible famine followed in the Shire. Gelir, the only Thranduilion left who continued to travel across the west, learned of the plight of the Hobbits and beseeched his parents to send aid. 

In response, the King and Queen sent Gelir, Itarildë (their daughter-in-law), and Anariel (their granddaughter) to ride out with provisions, provide healing, and abate the effects of the famine. This was done so discreetly (they did not reveal their identities as Elves, much less royalty), the deed went unrecorded in Shire history. 

This outreach was replicated once more during the Fell Winter of TA 2911 to 2912, when Thranduil permitted Itarildë and Anariel to join Gandalf in helping the Shire Hobbits. 

Bilbo was already alive and 22 years old on this occasion. He had the memory of encountering the two extraordinarily beautiful women in the Shire, whom he suspected, but could not confirm, were Elves. 

Bilbo and Thranduil’s Friendship 

Bilbo never truly “met” an elf before first meeting Elrond in Rivendell. However, his ancestors’ ancient friendship with the Greenwood Elves still resided in his heart. Even during his misadventures with Thorin’s Company in Mirkwood, Bilbo never really felt fearful of the Elvenking or his people, even though he could not explain to himself why. 

Bilbo’s instinct to trust Thranduil and stand by him during the Battle of the Five Armies echoed the sentiments of his ancestors, who once also loved the Elvenking and trusted him to protect them. 

Bilbo and Thranduil’s initial interactions with each other felt like the reunion of “old friends”, which led to their feelings of kinship and the long bond that remained between them for years after. 

Even with everything that he was dealing with in his own kingdom, Thranduil managed to discreetly visit Bilbo at least once in the Shire, during which the Elvenking was introduced to the recently born Frodo Baggins (too young to have any memory of this encounter). 

Regarding Legolas and the Hobbits of the Fellowship 

It is a common joke in the fandom that Legolas is scarcely mentioned as directly interacting with Frodo or the other hobbits, and almost never in the films. The SotWK AU does not accept this distant behavior from the Prince of Mirkwood, but does offer an explanation for Legolas’s mental state during the Quest of the Ring. 

I plan on eventually writing a separate post discussing Legolas’s mental health (which logically took a hit after everything his family and kingdom had suffered), but being around Hobbits, and in such close quarters, was a bittersweet experience for him. 

Because his brother Gelir had a special closeness and bond with Hobbits, just seeing Frodo, Sam, Pippin, and Merry reminded Legolas of him. Gelir, though still alive as far as they knew, was estranged from the family at the time of the Quest of the Ring, and he and Legolas had parted on ill terms.

Observing the Hobbits in their shenanigans also caused Legolas to remember all his brothers, and the joyful times they shared when their family was complete. 

Distancing himself a little from the Hobbits (but not treating them coldly or badly in any way), was simply Legolas’s method of coping with his complicated emotions.

In the SotWK AU, Legolas most certainly demonstrated a great deal of care and affection for the four Hobbits in his own ways.

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[wild-lavender-rose]

Queen of Mirkwood

Pairing: Legolas x fem!human!reader

Category: Hurt/Comfort

Backstory: You and the rest of the dwarf company were taken captive by King Thranduil. But while Thorin’s hate for elves grows stronger, you find yourself developing feelings for Prince Legolas. He visits nightly and stays to talk of the adventures you’ve been on. When Bilbo comes to free the company, you follow without hesitation. The last thing you expected was an orc attack, or the terrible consequences that would come after...

Warning: Description of injuries, canon typical violence 

     “Kili, no!” You screamed, watching in one of the barrels as Kili collapsed from an arrow to the leg. 

     Thorin roared. The dwarves surrounding you were scrambling to fight. But fight what? Enemies were on all sides, elves and orcs attacking both the company and one another. Thorin had ordered you to stay by his side, but once Kili went down you could not simply stand by. 

     Giving Thorin an apologetic look, you scrambled out of the barrel and hopped back onto the river bank just in time to fight an orc barehanded. With a few skillful blows you pushed the beast into the water, but not before disarming him of both his swords. 

     With a terrible snarl, the orcs turned their attention from Kili to you, surrounding you on every side. Blades poised, you met each one head on, dispatching them with ease. 

     “What kind of magic is this?” An orc howled. 

     A smile played along your lips. “I take it you’ve never fought a woman before.” 

     You continued to fight them, glancing over at the dwarves whenever you could. They were nearly past the gates. Kili was with them, after having all but fallen into one of the barrels. The wound that they arrow caused seemed severe. And the chance of poison was great. Your heart twisted painfully at the thought. 

     Thorin called your name. “Hurry!” He gestured to the barrels. 

     You fought through the last of the orcs and broke into a run, shoving an elf out of the way as you started for the top of the gate where Kili had just been. But this proved to be a fatal mistake. The elf behind you drew his sword. You heard the slash of metal and turned, just barely blocking his blade with yours. 

     It wasn’t enough. Thorin gave a cry of anguish as the tip of the blade sank into your shoulder, withdrawing only to slash along your legs. You fell to your knees with a cry of pain, staring up at your attacker as your only way of escape disappeared down the river. 

     You tried to say something smart but found yourself struggling for air, a hand clasping your shoulder as the elf aimed his sword at your chest. You tried to stand and were met with a shock of pain, sending you back to your knees with a barely repressed whimper. You stared up at your attacker through tendrils of wet hair. “Do it then.” You hissed. “Kill me.” 

     “Lower your weapon.” 

     The voice caused you to look, the labored breaths in your chest growing even more stuttered at the sight of Legolas approaching you. You struggled to get up again, this time using a nearby tree for support. 

     “Stay down before the prince.” The elf shoved you back down. 

     “You will stand down immediately!” Legolas sheathed his sword and knelt down beside you, taking in your bloody, disheveled state. “What do the orcs want with Thorin?” 

     “I’ll die before I tell you.” You winced as the wound in your shoulder began to hurt, badly. Blood was soaking your shirt through, causing it to stick to your skin. 

     “Please,” the softer sound of Legolas’s voice betrayed the nights you had spent talking to him, the sensation you felt when his hand first touched yours. Part of you wanted to trust him, the part that had grown to long for his visits to your jail cell. But you knew what side he was on, and it was a side you would never agree with. 

     But as your blood mingled with the dirt below and Legolas moved closer all of these thoughts and reasons began to blur. You shook your head and moved away, your back hitting the tree behind you. “Just kill me.” 

     “Thranduil will want to question her.” The elf who attacked you was watching you with disgust. 

     “You are dismissed.” Legolas shot him an icy look before returning his attention. “Listen to me, you are bleeding.” 

     “I will not become a prisoner again.” You hated the way your voice broke, revealing your fear. 

     “And I will not have you die.” Legolas moved once more, ignoring your weakening resistance as he pulled you into his arms. 

                                                      # # # # # 

     “Did you ever tell him?” 

     You looked over at Thorin seated atop his throne, the two of you observing the great celebratory feast being held in his great hall. It was a wonderful gathering, and it warmed your heart to see men, elves and dwarves getting along. Even Thranduil seemed to be enjoying himself, talking amongst his soldiers as he drank from a luxurious silver goblet. 

     “Tell him what, my king?” You looked over at where Thorin was regarding you. 

     “After you were captured, and Legolas cared for you until you were well enough to follow our trail. Did you tell him anything?” 

     You smiled. “I did not. An orc they captured supplied everything. I promise I was faithful to the quest, Thorin.” 

     “I am not so sure about that, my lady.” Thorin smirked, his eyes alight with a happiness unlike any other you had seen before. 

     “My lady,” 

     You looked to see Legolas approach where you sat, bowing before you with a gentle smile. He held out his hand. “Will you dance with me?” 

     You smiled back. “Of course, my love.” You glanced back at Thorin. “My king.” 

     Thorin nodded, his warm chuckles sounding in your ear as you and Legolas, your love, your betrothed, made your way into the middle of the room and began to dance to the music. 

And that was how you became queen of Mirkwood. 

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[lucy-verse]

You know what really makes me mad?

Don’t get me wrong, I love Legolas. But aside from having some badass action scenes and hilariously stating the obvious, he isn’t very fleshed out in LOTR - which is completely understandable, as the focus is on Frodo and Aragorn’s personal growth.

But the Hobbit really had a chance to explore Legolas’s relationship with his father to give a popular, but otherwise rather one-dimensional character some depth. To show a side of him that no one had seen before and make him more than just eye candy.

They could have shown the wise and experienced elf of the Fellowship being viewed as nothing more than a child to his fellow elves. Shown his struggle to choose between remaining in the realm he loves and spreading his wings like the restless little bird he is. Shown him being vulnerable and making mistakes, and realising that despite his age, he still has a lot to learn about the world and how cruel it can be.

Instead, they threw him into a stupid love triangle with a female character they promised wouldn’t be shoehorned in for a romance plot (as if anyone was falling for that).

They had him turn his back on his home at the drop of a hat and side with dwarves just to make said love interest happy, which not only goes against Legolas being canonically attached to his home, but also takes away the significance of his initial resentment and eventual friendship with Gimli.

They dropped hints about his mother’s death, but never really went anywhere with it, so it was very hard to get emotionally attached to the subplot, to the point where it may as well have not been included at all.

They gave him daddy issues, but again, didn’t really go anywhere with it, as he and Thranduil barely interacted, and when they did, it was never relevant to their father-son relationship. There might have been time to properly explore this, if that shitty ass romance wasn’t constantly taking up screentime.

They made him invincible to the point of absurdity, like defying gravity as he walked up falling steps, balanced on dwarves heads as if it was nothing, and walked away from being thrashed by Bolg with only a tiny nosebleed. I know elves are hardier and more agile than men, but that was ridiculous.

It feels like such wasted potential, like they only included Legolas’s character for the purpose of over the top battle scenes and fan service. I would much rather have seen a proper exploration into Thranduil’s grief, the effect it had on Legolas, and the two of them overcoming it together in a way that could tie into Legolas’s character and motivations in LOTR, than watch another two hours of Orlando Bloom doing OTT fight scenes with those hideous contact lenses.

#lord of the rings #the hobbit #rant #legolas #thranduil #thranduil and legolas

[oceanmoonwitch]

Have a snippet of the fanfic I'm writing. This is late late in the story, set after much of the events of the fic and events in canon, when Legolas returns home to Mirkwoood. The fic is called With You, written under the same username I use here, and it's about Thranduil, his wife, and Legolas.

After the fanfare of Legolas's successful journey home, father and son decided to walk through the forest together as they had done when Legolas was a child. After a long silence, Legolas spoke in a soft but hopeful voice, "Father, what was mother like?"

Thranduil froze. It was a question he had not heard for a long time. He remembered trying to comfort a tiny elven babe who cried for his mother. A young child who wanted to know when his mother was coming back. Then a moody teenager who shut him out entirely when he could not answer this simple question. He felt his son's eyes on him, and was acutely aware of his sigh of exasperation and the sound of him walking away. "She was the sun," Thranduil replied quickly. It was Legolas's turn to freeze, apparently afraid to spook his father out of his forthcoming mood. The elder continued, "She was brilliant, passionate, and kind. More joyous over winning the titles 'wife' and 'mother' than 'princess' or 'queen'. She was a particularly gifted healer, that is why our people are regarded as reckless and dangerous. They always had her to depend on." Legolas turned to meet his father's eyes, shocked to see them misted over, "She was everything to me, the song in my heart, the breath in my lungs, the warmth of the sun on my face. Her love made me whole. It was pure and she made me stronger. Just being around her was enough to make anyone feel instantly better. I protected her physically, but she took care of my heart and mind. She was a blissful dream come true in the midst of a nightmare. I didn't want to feel joy if she wasn't with me because it all felt pointless without her." Thranduil paused and shook his head, a faint smile bloomed across his stern features, "When you were born, I think that was the first time she had ever felt fiercely about something. She had always moved through the world with a soft, gentle way about her. You were the first thing she really felt her claws form over."

Read more on AO3

#lotr #lord of the rings #thranduil #mirkwood #tolkien elves #legolas greenleaf #legolas #fanfic #ao3 fanfic #lotr fanfic

[sunnyrosewritesstuff]

New Chapter: Chapter 2- A Smial Full of Dwarves

Rating: M

Warnings: Graphic Violence, Character Death

Status: In-progress (1/?)

Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence | Alternate Universe - Werewolf | reverse werewolf au | Bilbo trying to break his curse | Quest of Erebor | Wolf v. Warg Werewolves | Character Death | Werewolf Lore | Thranduil Hates Werewolves

Summary: A mistake made during the Fell Winter has turned Bilbo into a werewolf. Having always wondered if there was a way to reverse his curse, Gandalf believes he has found the answer. And it will require Bilbo to travel with a company of thirteen dwarves determined to take back their homeland from a dragon.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bilbo felt his breath catch. There he was! The dwarf he had rescued. The one that had named him ‘friend’. He’s never been a friend to anyone before. The dwarf gave everyone a once over, smirking at someone behind Bilbo before removing his coat.

“Mahal, Thorin! Took a mud bath there, did ya?” The bald dwarf teased.

Thorin! His name was Thorin. Bilbo liked it. It was a name that carried weight and seemed to suit his dwarf well. Thorin rolled his eyes in response.

“It’s like this land was trying to kill me.”

“What else is new?” The red head laughed, making everyone burst into loud guffaws.

Thorin smirked, clearly in good spirits even reaching for the bead no longer attached to his braid. Bilbo gripped it tightly beneath his shirt.

For more of this chapter, please click the AO3 link above!

#sunny's wips #the hobbit #bagginshield #a mother's curse #reverse werewolf au

[bluebellhairpin]

Thorin Oakenshield X Fem!Reader

Summary; Bilbo saves everyone from the Mirkwood prison. But the next challenge is just as hard - making you way down the river in one piece. Then - possibly even worse - convincing the bargeman to take you across the lake.

Warnings; Mentions canon injuries. Reader has a little panic attack. Reader is female-body-coded, uses she/her pronouns, and is Human.

Listening to; 'The Forrest River' by Howard Shore

Part 8 || Part 10

Series Masterlist || Masterlist || Ko-Fi

You’d dozed off again. There wasn’t much else to do in the cell other than quietly talk to Thorin and sleep - maybe eat, if it were the time of day for it. 

By the start of your third day locked away, you were beginning to lose your appetite. Between fiddling with the new bead in your hair and digging the dirt out from under your nails, you wondered if maybe you should’ve struck a deal with Thranduil. Maybe if you’d offered to stay in return for Thorin and his Company being able to leave safely, he would’ve agreed. 

Even so, you couldn't decide if it was the right thing to do - it definitely was not what you wanted, you’d much prefer to stay with Thorin. But you knew you all were running out of time. Durin’s day was drawing closer, and you were still too far away from Erebor. 

You hoped Bilbo was okay. 

When you woke, it was with a start. Your cell door was opened, and standing before you was Thorin. You didn’t want to go so long without seeing his face again - seeing it now had your breath catching and it hadn’t even been three days. 

“We need to move quickly,” he said. 

“What? What’s going on?” you asked, hauling your still half-asleep body to stand and follow the Dwarf. 

“Bilbo is here, he has the keys. Found a way out.” You practically skipped a step in joy. 

As cells unlocked and more of your friends joined you, you did a head count - a habit you picked up from Gandalf, and in your opinion a very important one. You’d hate to have left someone behind in a place like this. 

With everyone accounted for, Bilbo led the Company across the halls and down deeper into the building - to the cellar. He then presented empty wine barrels for you and your companions to get into. There was quite a protest. 

You wanted them to listen to Bilbo, you swore you could hear people coming - soldiers footsteps getting louder by the second. You didn’t have time to make a fuss about the way you were getting out - you just needed to get out. When Thorin told everyone to listen to Bilbo you breathed a sigh of relief. 

With incredible speed, all the Dwarves were in their own barrels - Bilbo and yourself however, were not. Bilbo because he was still needed elsewhere, you because there weren’t anymore barrels left that you could fit into. 

You decided very quickly that this would be a problem for later. 

Running over to Bilbo, you pushed on the lever he was trying to pull, sending the floor under the barrels disappearing, and your friends tumbled into a ravine below. The door closed behind them, and you and the Hobbit were left alone. 

“What now?” Bilbo stuttered after a moment of blissful success. 

“We need to get down there too, come on!” you said, quickly making your way towards the end of the door with Bilbo's hand in yours, dragging him behind you. Together, with both your weights tittering on the edge of the trapdoor, it began to tilt, and soon you were both free falling through the air. 

A cold shock ran through you as you hit the water, and your instinct to open your mouth for a breath was suppressed until your head was above water again. The side of the barrel you clung to belonged to Kili, the young Dwarf clapped your shoulder as you pushed your wet hair away from your forehead. 

“Nice work Master Baggins,” Thorin said, “Now let’s go.” Everyone started paddling their barrels down the river, away from underneath the cellar. 

Eventually the river current started pulling you along, the need to paddle was no more. Soon after, the river turned to rapids, and the banks beside you were filled with Elven soldiers. Legolas included. 

He yelled ahead to a guard, and the gate beyond was closed, narrowly missing Thorin at the head of your barrel convoy. Legolas then took a few steps towards where you were acting like a half-drowned rat, and then spoke again as if you could understand Elvish - but boy, you sure could notice how you both had the same nose. 

 A horn blew from behind you, and you saw the Elven guards above draw their swords. However the one closest to you was shot with an arrow before he could even think. He dropped to the water between the barrels, and you managed to snatch his sword before he floated out of reach. You felt it might come in handy later. 

Then a huge number of the Orcs swarmed out of the nearby bushes, meeting with both the Elves and your group in a clash of weapons and bare fists. 

“Kili quick, the leaver!” you said, ushering him up onto the bank and towards the lever that would get everyone moving again - staying right here would be a death sentence. 

Kili fought his way up the stairs with help from the others below, and reached the top without too much trouble. For some strange reason, you began to get a sick feeling. As if that was far too easy considering the circumstances. 

The whistle of an arrow shooting through the air had the thought leaving your mind. 

You heard Thorin yell your name, and right beside your head you saw an arrow in Kili’s barrel. It would’ve only missed you by mere inches. You turned to see where it came from - a huge Orc with half his face twisted around metal was aiming his bow right at you. 

You thought you were going to watch yourself die, unable to do anything to stop it. 

Then an arrow hit him in the shoulder. He let go of his weapon, distracted by his new foe on land. Legolas burst from the bushes along the river, searching the river and barrels with a hard gaze. When his eyes met yours, you swore you saw him smile seeing you were okay.  

You supposed a brother like Legoals wouldn’t be so bad. 

A yell from Kili snapped your attention back to your group. He got shot by another Orc’s arrow. He crumbled to the ground in pain - he’d even almost had the gate open. 

You spared a glance at Thorin, whose eyes seemed to read your thoughts. He shook his head as if to tell you no, and leant against his barrel as if to come forward to stop you. You ignored him. 

You would not be stopped. 

Hauling the sword - previously hidden underwater - onto the bank beside you, you followed in a heap of wet clothes and cold flesh, and started the climb up to Kili. 

An Orc approached, blocking your path ahead, and you readied your weapon to strike, but it was shot down before it could get close. 

You turned to see Legolas again, running towards you and destroying every Orc in his path as he went. He was speaking to you in Elvish again, which was starting to get on your nerves. How he came to the assumption you knew how to speak it, you didn’t know - but you didn’t have the time to pull his socks up about it right now. 

You ignored Legolas’ attempts at speaking to you and went back to helping Kili, an act that made Legoals’ tone more harsh and demanding. As you went, you mostly ignored the Orcs, seeing as Legolas would take care of them before you got the chance, and put your full focus on helping Kili. 

You reached him, stepping past to throw the sword away and yourself into the leaver, opening the gate for the Company below, before turning on your heel and heaving an arm under Kili’s to help him stand. You’d managed to clamber back down safely, and helped see Kili back into his barrel - but before you could jump back into the water a hand grabbed your arm and pulled you back. 

“Why have you not been listening?” Legolas said, keeping you beside him and away from the ledge. “You have to go back to Thranduil.” 

You weren’t listening, only seeing how the barrels were moving away. If they went any further it would be horrible trying to catch up when the water was so rough. You tried tugging your arm away from Legolas, but his grip was like steel. 

“Let go!” you said, tugging again. 

“No, you must return -” 

“That hurts!” you yelled. For a moment it was like the world stopped. The forceful declaration of pain seemed to shock your half-brother. You took his weakened grip as a chance to break free, and without thinking further you took off running to jump into the river after your friends. 

After being out of it, the water felt warmer, however the chill still crept into your bones. You would’ve only been under for a few seconds, but when you resurfaced the gate and the Company seemed to be about as far away as each other. The current kept pulling you along, and since you were smaller and lighter than Dwarves in barrels, you caught up with them fast. 

Like a cat in a bathtub, someone grabbed you by the back of your coat collar, pulling you up so your head was out of water and your shaking hands could grab the edge of their barrel. 

“Dinna fash none lass, just hang on.” Dwalin said. You coughed, both because you still had water in your mouth and also because you had no idea what half of what he said was. Maybe there was water in your ears? No matter, you took to hanging onto his barrel like it was a lifeline as he went back to fighting off Orcs alongside everyone else. 

You had no idea why, but suddenly you couldn’t breathe so easily anymore.

Thorin couldn’t be more thankful that everyone had made it out of Mirkwood. 

Actually he could be, if his attention wasn’t on fighting off Orcs from every direction. He was glad all his friends were safe, that they were all able to fight, that Kili was able to get back in a barrel, that Bilbo was holding on - that you were holding on. 

Then he actually saw you. You, mostly underwater, looking half like death, barely able to keep your eyes open. You were panicking. If you were lost in the water now, you’d be lost forever - just like the Orcs they were all fighting. Thorin couldn’t have that. 

“Dwalin!” Thorin called, voice rough and half desperate, “My One!” 

Thorin watched as Dwalin reached over to grab your arm - pulling you further out of the water and speaking to you in a tone far too quiet for Thorin to hear over the fighting and rushing water. The Dwalin looked up, concerned. 

“I think your human has lost it!” he yelled. “Talking nonsense they are!” 

“What?” Thorin asked, brow furrowing in complete confusion.

“She’s speaks about a tree -”

“What tree?” 

“That tree!” Fili said, pointing behind Thorin. He turned to see a tree that had fallen across the river. On top of it were Orcs, crowding ready to reach the Dwarves that would float below. Thorin looked at the tree, and the weapon in his hand, and an idea sparked. He hoped those behind him would follow his lead - they usually did. 

He raised his weapon as he was about to pass under the tree, using his strength to cut into the trunk. He didn’t get it the first try, but a few more and it would fall. Luckily Bofur and Dwalin both followed suit, and the tree fell with the Orcs following. 

Those bastards never were good swimmers. 

The river ran faster, and soon the Orcs and Elves along the banks alike dwindled to nothing. Thorin knew it wouldn’t last - they needed to keep moving, keep a few steps ahead of those hunting them. 

One more sharp bend in the river had the rapids disappearing like dust in the wind - the river was much more calm, and there was an accessible embankment just ahead. He paddled over, discarding the barrel for dry land - even though he felt like he was taking half the river with him with how water-logged his clothes felt. 

The Company followed behind, all scrambling onto the rocky shore - he watched as Fili helped Kili out of his barrel, concern working onto his brow at his nephew’s new injury - there was no time for it now, but it would need to be looked at soon. All the more reason to get moving. 

Then Thorin found you again. You looked better now - before t was like something had shaken you - and he watched again as Dwalin and Balin both helped and looked over you. You shook your head - physically uninjured - and even from such a distance Thorin could see life return in your cheeks. 

Thorin realized, in that moment, that he no longer needed to watch to see if you were well. He had spent months silently watching out for you, wordlessly making sure you were okay after every encounter - an old habit he felt was going to take a while to get used to breaking. Now it was his every right to get to ask you - in fact it was expected. He wasted little time in getting by your side. 

“Are you alright?” he asked, eyes searching your face, and your hair - the braid your bead was in was in-tact, and the bead itself was still fixed in place. That was good. 

“I’m okay,” you nodded at Balin and Dwalin, thanking them. You looked up at Thorin, smiling slightly, before turning away again, searching for someone else. “Everyone else? Is Kili alright?” 

“I believe Kili is the only one walking away hurt.” he said, “We need to move though, before the Orcs reach us again.” He watched your brow furrow. 

“Should Oin take a look at Kili first -” 

“There’s an Orc pack on our tail.” Thorin interrupted, then his voice rose as he addressed the Company, “Quickly bind Kili’s leg. We need to keep moving.” 

“Where do we go?” Balin asked. 

“What about the Mountain? It’s so close.” Bilbo suggested. He was half out of breath, but Thorin was starting to think the Hobbit was enjoying his adventure - with how enthusiastic he was about offering help. 

“There’s a lake between us and Erebor, we’ll never cross it on our own.” Balin replied. 

“Walk around it?”

“Orcs will catch us.” Dwain said, “With no weapons to defend ourselves? We might as well die here.” 

You were sitting half wondering what to do. 

Thorin wanted to keep moving - but all suggestions to where were shot down. Your Company had nowhere to go. 

You had brought your hand up to rest your head on your palm when you were scared half out of your skin. Ahead was a man. He had approached undetected, and he held up a longbow. At your startled rise to your feet, others also noticed. Dwalin first, defensively raised a stick only to have it shot out of his hands - Kili likewise with a rock. 

You felt that this man was not there to hurt you. If he was wanting you dead he would be shooting you all in the back, not defending himself. 

“Try it again and you die.” His words were spoken at Kili, but he was talking to everyone. The skill this man had with a bow rivalled the Elves accuracy - you didn’t want to test him. 

Still at the back of the group, you watched as Balin spotted something further down the river. He then approached the stranger. 

“You herald from Laketown, yes?” he asked, watching as the man’s attention went to him. “That barge wouldn’t be for hire by any chance?” 

The Company helped gather the barrels for this stranger - an effort to smooth over the attempted transaction playing before your eyes. 

You helped too - he looked at you like you were a sore thumb. Catching his eye as you placed a barrel before him told you his name - Bard. You also saw how he knew dragons, how he would do anything for his children, and how deeply he missed his wife - all before you were even told. 

“So what makes you think I would help you?” The Bargeman said. You felt yourself biting back a smile - you understood his caution, in fact if you were in his shoes you’d be reacting the exact same way. 

“The boots you have there have seen better days, like your coat.” Balin said, “No doubt you have hungry mouths to feed too.” He finished with a laugh. “How many bairns?” 

The man gave him a look, then answered. “A boy, two girls.” 

“No doubt your wife is a beauty too.” You felt yourself cringe - unknowingly knowing what was to come next. 

“Aye, she was.” You felt your heart ache for Bard. You felt a life - one that was hard, and spent all alone. The last thing you wanted for this man was to cause trouble.  

Balin started apologizing, and you heard Dwalin grumble beside you. 

“Enough of the niceties, come on now.” You were sure he was thinking he was being quiet, but you had half a mind to drag him away by the ear and scold him when you turned around to hiss his name in warning. 

“Why the hurry?” Turned out you weren’t the only one who heard. 

“What’s it to ya?” Dwalin said, shifting closer. 

“I want to know who you are.” Bard said, walking off the boat and back onto the dock, eyes scanning over the Company - stopping on Bilbo, but fixing on you. “And what you are doing in these lands.” 

“We are simple merchants, journeying from the Blue Mountains to visit our kin in the Iron Hills.” It was a good lie - Balin both told stories true and fake in the same way. You felt though that this man was just as clever. 

“‘Simple merchants," you say?” he looked at you again. “And what kin may you have in the Iron Hills?” 

You supposed a Human did stick out more in a band of Dwarves compared to a Hobbit. 

“The kind I would rather see sooner than later.” you replied, trying to find words you had not yet thought to speak. You thought, looking at Thorin by your side, that you would soon have kin there anyway. What was the difference to this and an early trip to visit in-laws? “But we will not be able to reach them without supplies.” you said, putting the conversation back on track, and Bard seemed to let the matter go for the moment. 

“Food, weapons, the like. Could you help us?” Thorin asked, directly stepping forward now that Balin’s subtle approach wasn’t working. Bard looked at Thorin, then down at the barrels you’d rode the rapids in. 

“I know where these came from,” he started, touching a scratch an arrow left in one of them. 

“And what of it?” Thorin said. Bard smiled lightly, tilting his head to one side. 

“I don’t know what business you had with those Elves, but it doesn’t look like it ended well.” You watched as Thorin’s shoulder rose - if he were a cat, oh how his hackles would rise. After a Hard stare between Thorin, and Bard, Bard began again. “No one enters Laketown unless let in by the Master. All his wealth comes by trade with the woodland realm. He would rather give you up then risk that, or King Thranduil’s wrath.” 

Bard turned away and Balin looked at Thorin. He spoke something you weren’t able to catch, gesturing to the bargeman, before Balin moved to Bard’s side. 

“What are you doing?” you whispered, leaning over Thorin’s shoulder to speak - and to watch Balin and Bard wager. 

“Making sure we get across this lake in time.” Thorin said.

#the girl who knew the end #thorin oakenshield x reader #thorin x reader #the hobbit x reader #thorin x you

[mellethernil]

Going off my last reblog

I LOVE the idea of Thranduil and Elrond being besties and having their kids grow up together (idc about ages this is my head canon)

like omg little play dates w the twins and Legolas

Thranduil getting mad that the twins are corrupting his sweet little leafs mind w tricks and pranks as if Legolas isn’t coming up w half of them

Thranduil teaching Arwen how to braid bc let’s be honest idk what Elrond had going on w his hair but he didn’t braid his kids hair LOL

#AH SO CUTE #I have more but I have to go back to work #thranduil #Elrond #thranduil oropherion #elrond peredhel #legolas greenleaf #Elladan #elrohir #Arwen

[scary-grace]

For the fandom asks: #7 (clothing you think a character is particularly fond of) and #24 (what's your favorite thing about the character) for Thranduil? Thank you!

7) Is there a piece of clothing you think [character] is particularly fond of/that you imagine them wearing a lot or like to draw them in?

I picture Thranduil wearing long coats a lot. He has those elaborate robes in canon, and in my head I'm always translating those into AUs for him to wear. Usually in silver, light blue, or varying shades of grey -- anything that makes his eyes pop. I also think he's an earring person. He has multiple ear piercings in almost all of my AUs.

24) What's your favourite thing about [character]?

One of my favorite things about Thranduil (and one of his movie!canon flaws) is how much of the past he keeps alive within himself, and how much weight he places on memory. In The Unfinished Tales there's a line about how he saw the horror of Mordor "and could not forget it". And as time in Middle-earth moves on, he's a living memory of the time before -- his kingdom is the only Elf-kingdom that survives well into the Fourth Age. The tug-of-war between the importance of that memory and the importance of the present and future is something really compelling in my eyes, and it's something I really enjoy working with/writing about.

Thank you for the ask!

fandom asks

#asks #thranduil