Fic Rec Fridays 2020 - part 31

Love in a Time of Politics (21075 words) by Roselightfairy
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Gimli (Son of Glóin)/Legolas Greenleaf
Characters: Gimli (Son of Glóin), Legolas Greenleaf, Glóin (Tolkien), Original Characters
Additional Tags: Cameos, No War AU, Elf Culture & Customs, Dwarf Culture & Customs, Temporary Gimli/other, Friends With Benefits, Strangers to Friends to Lovers, Politics, Diplomacy, glamping, Family, Cultural Sharing, Social drinking, Community: unconventionalcourtship

Summary:

Gimli son of Glóin has been living with an aggravating secret – a bed-partner who no longer wants to share his bed. At an annual diplomatic council, he decides that things have gone far enough and initiates a confrontation – but takes a wrong turn and storms into someone else’s tent instead. Legolas, on the other hand, is taken aback when a strange dwarf surprises him in his tent and berates him for toying with him. But the more time they spend together, the more overwhelmed he becomes by his feelings for this startling new friend . . .

No War AU, written for the Unconventional Courtship challenge.

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So, somehow, by some writerly magic, this piece manages to combine a whirlwind romance with genuine flustered and uncertain slow-burn pining in spite of the fact that the story literally takes place in the space of a week. And that’s quite something.

Also the AU is an interesting take, as in it’s fun to see the familiar personalities and character dynamics play out in a setting very different from the canon.

If you’re looking for something nice and fluffy that will make you laugh and go ‘awwww’ and occasionally bite your fingernails (the ‘oh no!’ and ‘will they or won’t they’ scenarios - we’re talking about a romcom, after all), this might just be your ticket!