Fic Rec Fridays 2019 - part 4

[katajainen]

A Tangled Web (87660 words) by TAFKAB, Roselightfairy
Chapters: 37/37
Fandom: The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings - All Media Types, The Lord of the Rings (Movies)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Gimli (Son of Glóin)/Legolas Greenleaf
Characters: Legolas Greenleaf, Gimli (Son of Glóin), Aragorn | Estel, Arwen Undómiel, Thranduil, Galion (Tolkien), Éomer Éadig, Elfhelm (Tolkien), Glóin (Tolkien), Original Male Character(s), Original Female Character(s), Other Character Tags to Be Added
Additional Tags: Fake/Pretend Relationship, Mutual Pining, Angst, Unresolved Sexual Tension, Unresolved Romantic Tension, Politics, Eventual Happy Ending, Excessive Drinking, Slow Burn, Slow Build, Miscommunicating morons, Everyone Is A Drama Queen, Aragorn and Arwen are done, the level of stupidity in this story is UNREAL we are not kidding, every time you think they're as dumb as they could possibly be they get even DUMBER, Hair Braiding, Mutual Masturbation, Sharing a Bed, Fake Marriage, Dwarf/Elf Relationship(s), Elf Culture & Customs, Mild Sexual Content, Awkward Sexual Situations, Dwarf Culture & Customs, Cuddling
Summary:

Five years after the War of the Ring, rumors have been spread all around Middle-Earth that the lords of Aglarond and Ithilien are closer than mere friendship. Threatened by Legolas and Gimli's obvious preference for doing business with one another, the leaders of Erebor and Mirkwood turn suspicious eyes to their trading relationships.

Infuriated by the rumors and scheming, Legolas and Gimli decide to pretend they're married in order to prove that their realms would treat fairly with others no matter what. But can they maintain the deception? Will it end their legendary friendship-- or could it lead to more?

---

I’ve been trying to think how to recommend this without giving too much away, and decided that at least anything in the tags is fair game.

To start with, the set-up already ticks all the right little boxes for me: fake relationship, mutual pining, UST, political intrigue, exasperated ship captains, and so forth.

And the execution is so. very. enjoyable.

The prose is fluid and beautiful, the dialogue snappy or eloquent as needed, and the mood swings effortlessly from the passages that make you giggle yourself silly to those that make you clutch at your chest because you’ve been struck RIGHT in the feels. I call it humour and melodrama, blended in measure.

Not to mention the wonderful character chemistry that makes this such a very thirsty story. It’s tangible. Thick enough to cut with a knife, I tell you. And it only gets worse. And worse.

Which brings me to pacing; the plot moves unhurriedly enough to justify the slow burn label and build some lovely suspense, but not so sluggishly as to be frustrating; in fact, I often found myself simultaneously rooting fiercely for these two doofuses and bemoaning their continued wilful idiocy (aka “this is almost TOO MUCH but damn it’s TOO GOOD” feeling.) And the resolution… well, I won’t spoil that for you :)

Or, to quote myself from a comment about halfway through the tale:

TL:DNR: IT WAS GREAT AND I'M A FLAILING OCTOPUS OF GLEE.

Comments

[urbanspaceman]

Right about here is where I would hit the hell out of the "reblog" or at least the "like" button, if not both. X-D Thank you so much! Your lovely recommendation makes me giggle and writhe in my chair with pure embarrassed joy. No one could ever ask for a better cheerleader than you when it comes to fanfic! ^_^ I know Roselightfairy will be beside herself with joy too-- unfortunately she's horribly, miserably sick, of I know she'd have beaten me to this.

Thank you for everything- -the constant support and the unflagging comments, the lovely recommendations-- all of it has made us both humbly grateful and eternally beholden to you. It means more to us than I know how to say. I mean, if you need someone to knit you a hat or make you a lovely piece or three of chainmail jewelry, just say the word and it's yours free of charge as soon as I can put it together. :-D

*HUGE HUGS!!!!!!!*

[katajainen]

Awww.... thanks :)

And I hope you do realize this is a win-win scenario? You get cheerleading and I get good stuff to read; both free of charge!

Although, I think you've just made me an offer I can't refuse; I'd love me some chainmaille.

[urbanspaceman]

YAY! Feel free to come on discord for a more private talk; we can exchange info! :-)

[urbanspaceman]

Here are some recent things I've made; in some of them various colors are available!

[katajainen]

OOO, shiny!

Thanks for the ideas - I'm mostly an earring person these days; haven't really worn anything on my hands since the kids came along. And those flower pendants are SO pretty!

(asdfghj I stg I'll get to the discord as soon as I have a free moment that aligns with your timezone...)

[urbanspaceman]

I make lots of different kinds of earrings! :D I'll look forward to seeing you. ^_^

[roselightfairy]

*surfaces from brain fog*

this is a placeholder thank you for when I have the mental faculties to write a better one. you are lovely <3

[roselightfairy]

OKAY ACTUALLY COMMENTING NOW only to find that there's nothing I can say that urbanspaceman hasn't already said! Your comments, recs, and readership make us so so happy - and you've become one of Those Readers to us; we think about how you'll respond to the stuff we've written and hope you like it. It's so wonderful every time we hear we succeeded. This review made me smile in the depths of misery yesterday, so thank you for that also. :)

Argh I can't eloquence right now; just THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU <3

[katajainen]

*insert awkward-embarrassed delight at being bombarded with compliments from two directions*

Ahem.

I assure you, I'm very, very happy to be your Special Target Audience; it's a job with super great perks XD

But I was sorry to hear you were ill, and glad to cheer you up even the little bit *sends long-distance feel-better wibes*

[roselightfairy]

Well, hey, as long as it's working out both ways... :D

And thank you for the good wishes; I'm a lot better today and able to appreciate your kind words! <3