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Kilidoescartwheels
Valinor
Dec 22 2015, 12:56am
Post #1 of 9
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Latest fanfic - Tauriel's Story
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This fanfic starts about one month after the death of the Durins, and this is only the first chapter. I have a feeling this will be a long one. This is also posted on my blog, hobbitized.wordpress.com. Chapter 2 should be up sometime around Christmas. As usual, feedback is greatly appreciated. Tauriel’s Story Tauriel guided Sigrid’s arm as she pulled the bowstring. “Keep your eye on your target, line up the arrow, and release.” The arrow flew through a small window into the crumbled ruins of a house in Dale. “Oh, great shot Sigrid!” She turned and smiled at Billy, a friend of Bain’s who had fought Orcs in the streets of Dale – and survived. Bain was not so impressed. He rolled his eyes before saying, “You shouldn’t be doing that, you’ll give Tilda ideas.” “Well, why shouldn’t she get ideas?” Sigrid glared at her brother, adding, “If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that women without weapons can still die from them.” “Pay him no mind,” Tauriel cautioned. Bain turned away from his sister. “C’mon, Billy, let’s go practice.” Billy glanced back at Sigrid, smiling and blushing a little. Clearly he was infatuated. Tauriel smiled, but it was a sad smile. She knew that look, she had seen it on Kili’s face when he looked at her. The memory brought pain, too much pain. She couldn’t stay here. “You have a strong arm,” Tauriel remarked. “Just keep practicing. Perhaps come spring your Father will take you hunting.” Sigrid’s eyes swelled, as she realized what this meant. “You’re leaving us?” Tauriel looked away, not answering. “But why? Da said you can stay as long as you’d like, and didn’t King Thranduil say you could return in one year’s time?” “Yes,” Tauriel started, “but ….” How could she explain it to someone so young? She had defied her King, even threatened his life, for the love of a Dwarf. Kili died in front of her; despite her best effort she could not save him a second time. And for her love she had lost everything. Her friend Legolas had already gone, likely as heartbroken as she was. Thranduil did not rescind the banishment, although he did specify a time for her return. She could come back in one year, but not as Captain of the Guard. Elros had been appointed to her former post. So what would she do? What was left for her in Mirkwood? Unable to explain this to Sigrid, she simply replied, “I must be going.” “Where will you go,” Sigrid asked forlornly. She saw Tauriel as a hero, a view that Tauriel didn’t share. “I go to Dorwinion.” Sigrid looked puzzled. “Why go there?” “I may be of use there.” Tauriel recalled the day, not long after Kili’s death, when Gandalf approached her. She had never felt so lost and useless. She had considered going south to Lothlorien, in hope that Galadriel would take her in. She had even considered the Undying Lands, where perhaps she could forget her pain. But the Wizard had been most persuasive. She looked at Sigrid, adding “There are people to the East who may be able to help us.” Or not. In truth, Gandalf was sending her to spy on the Easterlings; to see if they were aware of Sauron’s return, and if they would still serve him. Perhaps some of them could be persuaded to do otherwise. “When will you go?” Tauriel looked toward Erebor. “I will stay with you tonight, and leave in the morning. But first there is something I must do.” She told Sigrid to keep practicing, before heading down the road to the mountain. Tauriel approached the entrance to Erebor cautiously. The gate had yet to be repaired, and was heavily guarded. Several Dwarf masons worked on scaffolding overhead. She steeled herself as she walked past, expecting insults and resistance. Sure enough, one of the guards blocked her way. “Where d’ye think you’re going?” The Dwarves still harbored suspicions and hard feelings over the conflict with the Elves that occurred before the were-worms came. “I’ve come to pay my respects to the Fallen.” “Oh yes,” the guard said as he shook his pike. “More likely you’re spying for Thranduil!” “I assure you I am not.” “Well you’ll have to give us more than your assurance.” He motioned for another guard to join him. “You’ll not be coming into the Mountain unless someone vouches for you.” “Lad, let her pass.” The guard turned to see Oin walking forward. “I’ll vouch for her.” The two guards stepped aside, saying nothing further. “So, you wish to pay your respects? Follow me.” They walked silently down several flights of stairs, passing dwarves along the way. Their reception ranged from curious to hostile; yet no one said a word. Finally they entered a vaulted room. In the center were three stone coffins; atop each was a carved likeness of the fallen line of Durin: Thorin, Fili and Kili. “What’s she doing here?” The gruff voice echoed in the chamber. Dwalin stood near the head of Thorin’s statue, where he stood every day, grieving and cursing his failure. Oin was quite concerned about him. “Dwalin, you can’t keep doing this to yourself. All of us are grieving, but for Thorin’s memory we must go on! We must rebuild this Kingdom for our people.” Dwalin looked at Oin, but said nothing. Oin tried again. “There’s talk of sending an expedition to Moria – word is the Goblins are all gone.” “I know,” Dwalin replied, “Balin told me. But I no longer have the stomach for combat. And it’s so wrong,” his voice cracked as he spoke, “Dain would not help us on the Quest, yet he takes Thorin’s place on the Throne.” “Aye, it’s not what I hoped would happen.” Oin sighed as he looked at Fili’s casket. “If only one of them had survived.” Tauriel ran her fingers along the stone cold image of Kili, touching the fingers wrapped around the sword pommel. “It’s so lifelike,” she whispered, “you Dwarves are so talented.” Yet another aspect of Dwarvish culture she hadn’t been aware of. She touched the face, so like Kili’s, but no more than gray stone devoid of life. No, she could not stay here, wasting her days in grief. “Goodbye, Kili.” She turned back to Oin. “Thank you for allowing me to come here.” The old Dwarf nodded kindly. “I must go now,” she continued, “I am leaving tomorrow, and I must prepare.” “I’ll show you out.” Oin turned back to Dwalin. “Are you coming?” Dwalin slowly turned and left with them. He glanced at Tauriel as they walked. “I remember you. You were there with Kili.” “Yes. You said you wanted to bury him.” “Aye.” He paused for a moment. “You fought with him?” She nodded. “You tried to help him?” “Yes, I tried.” Her eyes became wet, but she blinked back the tears. Dwalin nodded, and started walking again. “So, where will you go?” She saw no harm in telling him. “I travel to Dorwinion, and then East.” “Why?” “To see what’s out there.” Tauriel was now certain that she was doing the right thing. “I do this for all our people – Dwarf, Elf and Man.” “I see.” They had reached the front gate. “Well, good luck to you. Before you go,” Dwalin added as he loosened a heavy pouch from his belt, “take this.” The pouch was filled with gold coins – a small part of his share of the treasure. “You may need this more than I do.” “Thank you.” She gave both Dwarves the Elven salute before leaving. That night she shared a last meal with Bard and his family. Technically Bard was the new King of Dale; it was a title he accepted reluctantly. He chose to live in a modest home, only slightly bigger than his Laketown shanty. However, the walls were made from cut stone and the roof was intact, which was important to him. And the pantry was well-stocked. Merchants from Dorwinion had traveled upriver, bringing wine, wheat and other foods – and charging well above market rate for these. But Dain had paid handsomely for the Arkenstone, so he could afford it. “I have packed some supplies for you,” he told her, “and procured a boat and some thirty hunting arrows as well. The bow is satisfactory?” “Oh yes, thank you.” Tauriel had retrieved her Elven daggers from Ravenhill, but her severed bow could not be repaired. Bard gave her a plain bow, not as strong but certainly adequate. “I still don’t understand why you must leave now,” Bard continued. “It is mid-winter. You are most welcome to stay with us until spring.” Tauriel thought of Dwalin, moping around the halls of Erebor. “It is better for me to leave sooner rather than later. But I thank you for your hospitality.” “It’s the least I can do, after what you did for my children. There’s one more thing I must tell you.” Bard pushed his empty plate away and pulled a knitted cap from his pocket. “I’ve never been to Dorwinion, but Hilda-Bianca has. Her family came from there. She says there are no Elves in that region, except for the Dark Elves of Rhun, and people fear them.” He handed her the cap. “It would be best if you kept your ears covered.”
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OldestDaughter
Rohan
Dec 24 2015, 5:44am
Post #2 of 9
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I was skim-reading your Tauriel's Story, I have to say, I like it a lot! It is very well written and I like the inclusion of Bard's family with Tauriel! Very neat!
"Keen, heart-piercing was her song as the song of the lark that rises from the gates of night and pours its voice among the dying stars, seeing the sun behind the walls of the world; and the song of Lúthien released the bonds of winter, and the frozen waters spoke, and flowers sprang from the cold earth where her feet had passed."
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Fereth
Rivendell
Dec 24 2015, 4:56pm
Post #3 of 9
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I like her relationship with Bard's family as well, appropriate since she was spending a lot of time with them during BOTFA. I look forward to more.
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Kilidoescartwheels
Valinor
Dec 25 2015, 5:32am
Post #4 of 9
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It seems to me that Bard would be grateful that Tauriel saved his daughters from the Orc attacking their home, along with helping to get them out of Laketown. And if I were Sigrid, after that I'd want some weapons training for sure! But most of this story will take place far from Laketown. I've nearly completed Chapter 2, and after Christmas I should have time to upload it. I hope you like it!
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Kilidoescartwheels
Valinor
Dec 25 2015, 5:34am
Post #5 of 9
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I hope to finish Chapter 2 & get it uploaded this weekend. Hope you like it!
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Otaku-sempai
Immortal
Dec 25 2015, 1:08pm
Post #6 of 9
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It seems to me that Bard would be grateful that Tauriel saved his daughters from the Orc attacking their home, along with helping to get them out of Laketown. And if I were Sigrid, after that I'd want some weapons training for sure! But most of this story will take place far from Laketown. I would be surprised if any of the story is set in Lake-town since the survivors seem to largely relocate to Dale. We can't even be sure that a new Esgaroth is constructed in the film-continuity. Bilbo speaks of wanting to return to it in the LotR films, but that might be confusion on his part! Bard's formal coronation would probably be put off for a while -- sometime between the next Spring and the completion of the rebuilding of Dale in four or five years time. I do think that Balin and others would not start looking towards Moria for at least a few years. There would still be a lot of work involved just in restoring Erebor. Then again, you do just introduce this as a rumor; it doesn't necessarily have to have a basis yet in truth. I do have to wonder if Tauriel covering her ears with a wool cap should be enough to allow her to pass as a human woman. Elves should be more in appearance than just Men with pointed ears, although the differences might be subtle.
"Things need not to have happened to be true. Tales and dreams are the shadow-truths that will endure when mere facts are dust and ashes, and forgot." - Dream of the Endless
(This post was edited by Otaku-sempai on Dec 25 2015, 1:20pm)
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OldestDaughter
Rohan
Dec 25 2015, 2:26pm
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I love how you made Sigrid so main!(Sigrid is actually one of my favorite Middle-earth characters!) And I like the way you have Tauriel teach her how to defend herself, it makes sense with her learning such skills, and it lines up with Hilda Bianca and Eowyn knowing how to defend themselves! I like it!
"Keen, heart-piercing was her song as the song of the lark that rises from the gates of night and pours its voice among the dying stars, seeing the sun behind the walls of the world; and the song of Lúthien released the bonds of winter, and the frozen waters spoke, and flowers sprang from the cold earth where her feet had passed."
(This post was edited by OldestDaughter on Dec 25 2015, 2:30pm)
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Kilidoescartwheels
Valinor
Dec 26 2015, 1:30am
Post #8 of 9
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Probably should have said Dale
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I suppose I meant that section of Middle-earth. I am not sure when the first expedition to Moria takes place, I imagine that there would be some scouting before Balin arrives with enough Dwarves to actually reclaim Moria. Someone (possibly you, or Elizabeth) told me Dwalin didn't go to Moria because he no longer had the stomach for combat. I was thinking about the funeral scene, with Dwalin just standing there, looking at Thorin. I imagine he would be pretty distraught. I'm not sure yet what he's going to do, but I imagine Tauriel will see him in one year's time, I'll work it out eventually. As for the ears, well, that's a good point but from what I've seen in the movies they should be able to pass for human if you don't look too closely, and in a bustling town no one will. However, in the next chapter or two her apparent grace, reflexes and lethal behavior will make some people suspicious. I'm typing Chapter 2 tonight, might get it uploaded tomorrow.
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Otaku-sempai
Immortal
Dec 27 2015, 8:10pm
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In Tolkien's legendarium Balin's expedition to reclaim Moria sets out in TA 2989; but if we consider the shortened timeline of the films then it might have been more like 2972 (seventeen years earlier). There is no reason to believe that Balin started thinking about recolonizing Moria until sometime after he and Gandalf visited BIlbo at Bag End eight years after the Quest of Erebor. Of course we don't know for sure that this visit ever occurred in the film-continuity.
"Things need not to have happened to be true. Tales and dreams are the shadow-truths that will endure when mere facts are dust and ashes, and forgot." - Dream of the Endless
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