A new story I have been working on for some time, come and check it out ^^
Aurora left Shire all those years ago, after the incident with her family and the unfortunate tasing of her late husband.
She would have not dreamed to return to the green hills so soon, but a letter from her dear sister, Belladonna, changed her mind. The letter had found her too late, so she was only able to express her condolence to Bilbo, her nephew.
She didn't stay too long in her hometown though. Not due to the shunning and mean comments of her fellow hobbits, but because of a certain dwarf stealing away her heart. Well, and she surely couldn't let her cute nephew head blindly into tagged all on his own, on the recommendation of her old meddling friend.
@shrimpsthings @kumqu4t @grunid @lathalea
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
“Da! You have to go and check on her. What if something bad happened? What if the dwarrows took all her food and tea and … and forced her to bring them to the mountain?”
“Sigrid is right, father. Ruby lives all alone there in the shadow of the mountain. She helped us all so much,” Bain intervened before his father could say anything, “she doesn’t deserve to be left all alone.”
Tilda stepped forward. She didn’t say a single word. She only clutched her stuffed animal while her lower lip slightly began to tremble. Big round eyes staring at her father.
Bard sighed, against his children he didn’t stand a chance. He once again looked at the stuffed animal his youngest was holding. It had been a present from Ruby a long time ago. Such a strange animal. Long and gracile legs with hooves like a horse. The long neck, almost too long to be real, on the thin body ending in a horse-like head with two ears and two bumps, which looked like they could have been horns at some point. Two dark beads as eyes and a pink tongue in the slightly open mouth. What a strange creature. But the strangest by far would be its colouring, yellow with brown spots. This could only be a made up creature.
“Fine, I am going,” he nodded, “Sigrid, you look after Tilda. Bain, keep them safe while I am gone. The slightest sign of danger and you take them out of here. If you have to, go to the forest and wait there for me. I won’t be gone for long.”
Bard gave each of his children a kiss on the forehead before he took his bag, a rather improvised weapon and left this home to search his lifelong friend in the shadows of the mountain.
~
The screaming subsided when Thorin abruptly stopped at the beginning of the large staircase leading into the treasury. Dwalin collided with Thorin's back, almost knocking them all down the stairs. The warrior caught Ori in the last second before the scribe could tumble over the edge, earning a dark glare from Dori, while Nori protectively snatched their youngest from Dwalins grip. Gloin and Balin ran in, shortly followed by a confused Bifur. Bombur took a while longer, but he as well entered the chamber, huffing and puffing.
Silence filled the grand halls of Erebors treasury. Ruby nudged Bilbo’s arm. The hobbit was awkwardly silent. Looking to the side she could see him shaking, hands covering his face. Was he scared that their shouting might have woken the dragon? Right before Ruby could place her hand on his shoulder he bursted into laughter. The merry sound echoes through the large hall, recoiling from the walls and transforming it into a strange layered grumble.
In an instant the weapons were risen once again, while the dwarrows built a protective circle. Poor Ori squeezed in the very middle. Alarmed they scanned the vicinity, looking for the big, scary and definitely deadly dragon. Bilbo and Ruby were hidden from their sight up on the balcony.
“Let’s go down and surprise them,” whispered Ruby to the still snickering hobbit.
Bilbo only nodded, one hand pressed over his mouth to stifle his laughter. Together they made their way down the stairs. Ruby stopped in the shadows of a large pillar, letting Bilbo go on. It might be better for the gentle hobbit to ease the tension, before she showed herself. She couldn’t be sure how they would react to the new face in their very own home.
“Bilbo! We thought you were lost!” Balin began walking towards the hobbit, but a firm hand on his shoulder stopped him.
Thorin stood there, a hand on the advisor's shoulder. He looked grim, furious even. Ruby leaned a bit in, out of the shadows. He was really handsome, even dirty and ragged as he was at this point.
“Y-you should have seen your faces! It was hilarious,” snickered Bilbo holding his stomach with one and the railing with the other to not fall to his knees out of laughter.
Thorin raised an eyebrow, looking down at the shaking hobbit. His eyes were narrowed and not as amused as Ruby had anticipated. She would have at least thought him to be happy that there was no fire breathing dragon in his ancestors home. Strangely enough, but he looked dark and cold, but only for a moment. As the king raised his gaze to face Balin.
“What do you make of this, Balin. Burglar, where is the Arkenstone?”
Before the king's advisor could race his voice Bilbo stood up, his knees still shaking and the corners of his mouth curled up into a grin. He was probably quite amused to see the leader of their company so baffled and lost for words.
“Thorin, instead of barging in on another innocent person, dragging them into your mess and eating them out of home and house you should greet our host. She was kind enough to invite me to tea and cookies as well as offering a hot bath and some new clothes. This is Ruby.” gesturing in her general direction.
Thorin's face changed from grim to utterly confused in just the blink of an eye. He looked at the pillar Bilbo had pointed at, the pillar she was hiding behind. Peeking out of the shadows she smiled brightly up at the soon to be king.
“Ruby? What is a Ruby?” he didn’t even bother looking her in the eyes, instead he looked down at the hobbit once again, as if Ruby wasn’t even there.
In the meantime Ruby had stepped out of the shadows into the flickering light from the torches. While Thorin was talking to Bilbo and Balin (generously ignoring her) she put her mind to get a closer look at the rest of the company.
Dwalin eyed her with suspicion while shielding Ori. Dori looked at her as if he was about to just wrap her up in a blanket and never let her leave again. Bifur stared at her from a bit further back, standing right next to Bombur who was still catching his breath. Gloin still held onto his weapon, scanning the halls for any danger to come.
Ruby took a deep breath to give them a big welcome, this was their home after all so it would be only right. As she opened her mouth a foul smell, even stronger than before almost overwhelmed her and made her choke. The dragon in her chest grumbled, bearing his teeth at the smell.
“You should take a bath, you know? The thing with the water and the soap? You are really stinky.”
Thorin spun around, finally looking her into the eyes. It seemed like the king was at a loss for words yet again.
“You are a girl.” he concluded not very wisely.
“Most certainly,” she nodded, quickly remembering her good manners, “Hi, I’m Ruby!” grinning she extends her hand.
~
The discussion had been tedious. How in the world could dwarrows be this stubborn? Only the argument that there would be no food if they weren’t taking a bath could finally win them over. No matter the muffled comments or confused looks, Ruby stayed adamant and would not budge.
Humming Ruby hopps through the long hallway. In her right hand she held the Arcenstone, while in the left she held one of her favorite books. She wanted to show it to Ori. The young dwarf was by far the easiest to approach and certainly a worthwhile conversation partner.
As she passed by the bathing facilities Thorin stepped out into the hallway. A very wet and naked Thorin Oakenshield. Ruby stopped her humming and skipping through the hallway. This, this was straight up fanservice! Damn, he was muscular.
Back home she had read many stories and many many fanfiction of which a few were a bit, well… hot. Luckily Ruby had enough practice in putting on a poker face. Like that one time when her teacher confiscated her phone with the website still open.
“Thorin, what can I do for you? Are the clothes perhaps not to your liking?” she pointed at the towel wrapped around the king's waist.
Thorin closed the distance between them with two large steps. Now he was towering over her. He was tall. Almost two heads taller than her. Her eyes were on the perfect height to stare right at his bare chest. Waiting all these years alone here in the mountain was definitely worth it.
“I believe you have something that belongs to me,” he said with a low growl.
Ruby took a deep breath to focus her mind, starring a bit longer than necessary before her eyes found his. His eyes were as blue as Tolkien had described them, sadly they weren’t as warm as before.
“Oh, sure. It is a nice stone. Very handy. But I guess now I have to search for a new reading lamp,” she gently places the stone in the king's open palm before grabbing his wrist in a quick motion and pulling him down to her.
“If you do anything stupid, Thorin Oakenshield, like starting a pointless war over a scratched ego, I will take the stone away as quickly as I have given it to you. You are not your grandfather. You are a great leader to your folk and even though you are sometimes a fool and a stubborn idiot you were right to come home,” she released his wrist, hoping she hadn’t used too much strength on him. Well, dwarrows were sturdy, right?
Turning around she continued her skipping down the hallway. She didn’t see the young scribe behind the corner of the entrance to the baths, his eyes looking back and forth between the small red haired girl and the speechless king, or the slight blush on the king's cheeks and ears all the way down to his neck. She neither saw the spy, tucked in a darker corner and witnessing the whole situation while glaring at her back with suspicion and curiosity.
Ruby stopped in the middle of her movement. Ori immediately held his breath while Nori made sure to stay in the shadows. Thorin on the other hand straightened his back.
“Oh, and make sure to tell the others that dinner is ready. You must be hungry after your travels. I am eager to hear your stories,” Ruby smiled warmly back at the king, leaving the thread she had spoken in a cold voice earlier nothing more than a dream-like illusion.
“What a curious creature,” Nori whispered all but to himself, observing his king closely.
Thorin stood in the empty hallway, nothing more than a towel around his hips, the Arkenstone in his hand and staring with a dazed expression down the hallway where not long ago a small child-like girl with fiery red curls had skipped away. And as it looked she had taken more from the king than just his voice.
(non-romantic pairing) thranduil/legolas and stars
oohhhhh i likey okay...
"Legolas, why don't you and I take a walk?"
Legolas nodded and stood, following his father out of the hall and out onto one of the many terraces looking out upon the forest.
"It has been several weeks since the battle, my son. Have you taken a moment from your training to look at the skies, as we once did so often when you were but a child?"
Legolas shook his head. "No, Ada, I've stuck to training and reading since our return to the forest. Has something in the skies changed?"
Thranduil nodded. "They have darkened. The stars are not as visible as they once were. Do you see?" He pointed a long finger up towards the sky, robe sleeves sliding down his arm.
Legolas fixed his gaze on where his father pointed, noting that the stars had, in fact, become less and less visible. No longer were galaxies upon galaxies, planets and everlasting stars shining the way they once had.
"But Ada, what has changed? I know that you had spoken of a darkness in the wood, but for it to have reached the stars, it must be serious."
Thranduil nodded. "Within our lifetimes, there will again come a time where many will battle over the fate of Middle Earth. Only then, my son, will the darkness be lifted and we will once again be able to see the stars."
Legolas glanced at his father for a moment before turning his gaze back to the night sky. "I just hope I live through such a battle so that I might see their shine once more."
send me a pairing and a key word and I'll write you a ficlet!:)
(eeeee I hope you liked it, it's kind of a between the hobbit and lotr)
Kili stared at his uncle unabashedly from his seat at the table. “Kili,” Thorin warned. Patience was not one of his strong suits – and his nephews, most notably Kili, could test the patience of a saint.
“But Uncle, I am not even next in line, and unless Fili plans on dying sometime soon, my taking a wife is not of consequence and, really, shouldn’t he be the one looking for a wife?”
Thorin groaned and rubbed at the bridge of his nose. “It is not a marriage, Kili, it is a ball. And Fili will be looking to find himself a bride at the ball, and this was your mother’s idea, was it not, Dis?”
His sister took a sip from her goblet, looking at Thorin with steel in her eyes. “Now, brother, is it really such a travesty to have some enjoyment in our halls? The ball is simply a means to celebrate our return home to the estate. Should any of you happen to meet someone you find suitable, then that is up to you. After all, Thorin, you yourself have been alone for quite some time, it might do you some good to meet someone.”
Thorin groaned again rubbed at the bridge of his nose even harder, smoothing his fingers under the bags of his eyes.
Fili, having remained quiet, finally spoke up. “I believe the ball to be a wonderful idea, mam.”
It was Kili’s turn to groan. “I like the idea of the ball, the matchmaking our mam is attempting is what bothers me.”
“I was not aware what I chose to do or not do was to be put under your scrutiny, young man.”
“Yes, mam.”
Fili snickered at his brother’s plight.
The brothers were riding through the farmlands which surrounded the Lonely Mountain Estate, known within the family and throughout the town as Erebor, and it was approximately one month after the Durins’ dinner conversation. Dis had spent the month planning and coordinating and planning some more, making sure that everything was just right. No one would be able to attend that night and say they had not attended the most grand event in the town in at least fifty years.
“Fili, do you really expect to meet someone tonight? After all, Uncle has many years ahead of him to rule yet, so why mam wants us to marry so soon is beyond me.”
Kili’s fair-haired brother shrugged. “It is a possibility, of course. I believe that mam just worries that with us being away so often while the war continues that we will never meet anyone to share our lives with.”
The younger, darker brother sighed. “We have just as much chance finding someone while we are away at war as we do by attending this ball, brother.”
Fili, though he agreed, simply made a noncommittal noise. “We should most likely begin returning to Erebor. Mam will have our hides should we not be ready on time for our own ball.”
Kili sighed again and the two turned their mounts around and began their return, waving to the farmers in their pastures as they rode by.
The rest of their afternoon was spent in baths and being bossed around by their mother, who seemed even more irritated than usual.
“What’s the matter, mam?” Fili asked as a handmaiden dried his hair. His mother was pacing in front of his wardrobe, glaring at it as if it had personally offended her.
“I just received word that the House of Mirkwood will be joining us tonight, despite telling me over a month ago when the invitations were sent out that they would be unable to make it, owing to his Highness Legolas’ being away in battle.” She ‘hmphed’ and pulled Fili’s court dress from his wardrobe, laying it on the bed.
“I suppose he must be back then, and they decided to attend after all, mam. The more the merrier, right?” Fili looked up at his mother, wincing as the handmaid rubbed particularly hard at the top of his head. Honestly, his hair could have been left alone with how short it was, but Dis had insisted the moment she stepped into his room.
She fixed him with a look, and he promptly turned his head forward. “Of course, dear, the more the merrier. I just do hope there’s enough room. There will be quite a large number of people here. Now hurry along and get dressed. I am going to make sure your brother has not fallen asleep in the bath again.” And with a flurry of robes she was gone, down to hall.
Kili, who had not fallen asleep in the bath, thank you very much, stood in front of his own dresser and was tucking his dress shirt into his kilt. “Hello, mam.” He said when Dis appeared in his doorway. “Shouldn’t you be getting ready for the ball?”
She glanced him over a few times and demanded he turn full circle for her, if only to check that his hair was brushed and his shirt tucked all the way in. “Alright, Kili, just make sure you do something with that hair of yours – brushing it is not quite enough, dear. And make sure you shave.”
“Yes, mam. Now go on and get yourself ready.”
She nodded her acceptance of the way he looked, and left to get herself ready.
The handmaiden standing behind Kili tapped on his shoulder. “Would you like me to style your hair now, sire?”
He nodded.
The Durins stood in the grand hall of Erebor, each in front of their respective seat; Thorin at his throne, Dis at his side in what would be the queen’s throne, and her sons beside her. They watched as guests flooded the room, each and every one decked in their finest robes and gowns. A majority of their family had turned out for the event, as well as other nobles from throughout the kingdom, and from other countries.
“I see what you meant about room, mam.” Fili mentioned, glancing at his mother. She nodded curtly, scanning the crowd.
“Ah, here they are.” She spoke quietly, nodding towards the door.
A large group of people stood in doorway, being greeted by Oin. They were easily some of the most beautiful people Fili or Kili had ever seen, and they had been on many travels to many kingdoms.
The tallest among them, slim and pale with a commanding air, made his way to where the Durins stood. “Your Majesty, your Highnesses,” The man bowed, as did the young man and woman who had followed him to the steps. The young man at his side was the spitting image of the man, while the young woman had hair of flaming red and tanned skin.
“Hello, King Thranduil, Prince Legolas, Lady Tauriel. Welcome to our home. Please, enjoy yourselves.”
The Durins bowed in return, and when Kili rose, his eyes locked with those of the Lady Tauriel – Kili had never seen eyes so fantastically green, and he could feel the blush rising steady on his cheeks.
He was done for.
He stood straight rather quickly, appearing as if he had been snapped straight in one swift motion. The others jumped a bit, surprised. “Forgive me,” he mumbled, cheeks burning.
Thranduil looked down at him, a tad imperiously, before bowing again and taking his leave, Legolas and Tauriel following him. Tauriel spared a glance over her shoulder, a small smile gracing her features.
The Durins took their seats as Oin stood to announce the proceedings for the rest of the night, following which the band began to play, the sounds of piano and a string quartet filling the hall.
Thorin and Dis made their way to the floor to open the dance, followed by Fili, who sought the company of a young fair-haired woman who looked faint when he smiled at her and held out his hand.
Kili scanned the crowd, hoping the Lady Tauriel had remained close by, but saw that she was near the back of the room, speaking with Prince Legolas. He chose a young woman who stood near the band, bowing and holding his hand out. She accepted, hands trembling, and he led her out onto the floor.
After the first dance, Kili bowed and thanked the girl for joining him before heading to the edges of the room to search for Tauriel. He found her dancing with Legolas, and tapped him on the shoulder.
“Might I cut in, your highness?”
Legolas glanced down at him – the entire family was honestly just so tall – before glancing back to Tauriel, who nodded. “Of course, your highness,” he replied, bowing and stepping away so that Kili could take her hand.
“Hello, Lady Tauriel,” he said, smiling up at her.
She smiled back, her cheeks flushing. “Hello, your highness.”
“Please, call me Kili.”
“Only if you’ll call me Tauriel.”
He smirked. “Deal. So are you enjoying yourself, so far?”
She nodded. “I am. You have a beautiful home.”
He shrugged. “The hall is not the most beautiful part of Erebor, believe me. The gardens are among the most beautiful I’ve seen, even in all my travels.”
She raised an eyebrow as he spun her, “Do you travel often?”
“Yes, if only thanks to the war. I am glad it’s over. It is good to be home.” Kili spun her out and away from him, admiring the way her dress complimented her skin – a dark, forest green that reminded him of the forests and gardens of his home here at Erebor.
Tauriel spun back in and his hand reclaimed its place at her waist. “I would imagine so. His highness Legolas too, fought in the war. Mirkwood was lonely without him.”
Kili nodded solemnly, imagining how it would feel had he been without Fili during the war. “Are you and his highness close?” He asked, hoping the jealousy that he had no right to would go unnoticed in his voice.
Tauriel showed no sign of detecting it. “Well, he is a close friend of mine since childhood, so I would suppose so.”
“I see.”
They danced to a few more songs in comfortable silence before Kili spoke again. “Would you like to see them? The um, the gardens I mean? They truly are the pride of Erebor, and of the town.”
Tauriel nodded quickly. “Oh, absolutely.”
Kili spun her towards the end of the hall, to the door, and out into the hall. The halls were lit and the paintings of his ancestors were hung high on the walls. He led her outside and onto the path which led to, and through, the garden.
The path was lit by lanterns, casting a soft light on the flowers in the not-quite-darkness of the dusk. “Oh, my.” The red-haired lady traced slim fingers over petals, and Kili simply walked behind her, content to watch her amble throughout. He silently plucked each flower she touched, hiding them behind his back until they reached the fountain at the end of path.
She turned back to face him, wonder in her eyes and a smile once again gracing her features. “You were right,” she breathed. “This is much more beautiful than the grand hall.”
“And yet,” he mumbled, motioning for her to sit on the bench positioned to see not only the entirety of the gardens, but back towards the estate. “Still not as beautiful as you.”
“I’m sorry?” She asked, looking up at him.
“No-nothing.” Kili sat down, still holding the flowers behind his back. “So, Tauriel, are there any lords back in Mirkwood who are…to say, er, interested in you?”
The Lady looked at him, a bit shocked. “Oh, no. Well, I mean, his highness Legolas has expressed interest,”
Kili couldn’t stop himself from seeing red.
“However, I have spoken to his Majesty Thranduil and expressed my severe disinterest. My father was once his Majesty Thranduil’s advisor, so I believe that he will respect my wishes in order to honor my father’s memory.”
Kili relaxed and sank back in the bench. “Oh,” he mumbled, holding the flowers out to her, “I picked these for you, my Lady.” He was glad for the darkness, so that his blush wasn’t as noticeable as it could have been in the halls.
Tauriel took the flowers, a soft gasp escaping. “Th-thank you. They’re beautiful.”
They say in silence for a while, no sounds other than the calls of birds and gurgling of the fountain.
“Would…would you like to go back in and dance for a while? Until the ball is over?” Kili asked, standing and holding his hand out.
Tauriel remained seated for a few moments, thinking. “Well,” she replied, “we can hear the music pretty well out here…would it be alright if we danced out here? Just you and I?”
“A-absolutely.”
She took his hand and they began to sway, simply holding each other. They remained like this until one of them noticed that the music had stopped, and promptly stopped moving.
“We should most likely head back to the hall.” Kili sighed. The last thing he wanted was for Tauriel to leave, for this night to be over.
“I suppose it would be best.” Tauriel agreed.
They made their way back to the grand hall, just in time for Thorin’s closing speech of thanks.
“Tauriel, there’s something I’d like to give to you.” He pulled a small stone from the pocket of his jacket, with a word etched into it. “My mother gave it to me before Fili and I left for the war. It’s a symbol of a promise. A promise to return.”
Tauriel took the stone from him, cheeks reddening. “Kili…”
“Promise me that you’ll return here? So that I might…court you? Properly?”
Her hand closed around the stone and she clutched it to her chest. “Oh, Kili, of course. I promise.”
Her eyes sparkled in the light of the hall, and Kili swore he’d never see anyone more beautiful.
“I look forward to seeing you, again, my Lady.”
“And I you, my Prince.” She leaned down and place a kiss on his cheek, clutching his hand quickly before running off to find Thranduil and Legolas.
Kili stood there dumbly, a hand coming up absentmindedly to rub at the spot where her lips had met his skin.
