Fic Rec Fridays 2020 - part 27

hush of the battle-weary (3083 words) by Etharei
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Hobbit (2012), The Hobbit - All Media Types, The Hobbit - J. R. R. Tolkien
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Kíli, Bifur, Thorin's Companions, Bilbo Baggins, Fíli, Thorin Oakenshield
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, War, Trauma, Muteness, Sign Language

Summary:

Sometimes he worries that he will never get the sounds of battle out of his ears.

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Because I felt like something sober yet hopeful, and I have a terminal weakness for stories handling the tangible consequences of violent endgame events - and also for unexpected friendships.

This piece does a fine job recounting Kíli’s struggle with an invisible injury, with a credible amount of frustration but without undue melodrama - and with help and hope arriving from a surprising quarter. In a way, it’s a story about learning to look forward to a future that’s different than you expected.

And that’s an encouraging thought.