katajainen

Summary:

The brave line of Thorin Oakenshield was not meant to survive the Battle of the Five Armies. But the love of a hobbit and an elleth might just change the path of history.

A fix-it inspired by my story "Of the Stone of Erebor and the Gardens of the Shire"

I recently reread this, and it still made me so happy I want to share the joy :)

Now, this is by far not the only fic to use the “cabbage patch hobbits” trope (or the “dwarven children carved from stone”, for that matter), but I feel it’s a classic for a reason.

Most importantly, the worldbuilding is solid and drives the plot like a steam engine, which is a good thing, since I doubt the two resident dorks could manage to resolve the romance plotline without some external incentive (lack of communication is a thing, here). The story also makes good use of the supporting cast, and the ending is appropriately fluffy without being sickeningly so.

In case you want a less sugar-coated take (aka no fix-it) of the same idea, try Of the Stone of Erebor and the Gardens of the Shire by the same author. It’s incomplete, but updated with a summary at the end, and the existing story is a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Summary:

Sometimes, Bilbo finds, not everything goes according to plan.

First an injury and the coming winter delay his leaving Erebor, then word from the Shire leaves him mourning his beloved Bag End. And because getting added to Thorin's council isn't trouble enough, Kili is in love with an elf, Fili may or may not have his eyes on a certain little scribe, everyone seems to think he is a lady hobbit, and Thorin needs to find someone to marry.

Okay. So the last part might not be trouble, exactly, except for the part where it makes Bilbo's rather hopeless attachment even more painful. Or it wouldn't if he hadn't possibly accidentally promised to provide Thorin with an heir... and Dáin just might still be scheming something.

Fortunately, if there's one thing hobbits are good at, it's growing things. And Thorin did promise him a garden.

As befits the date, this fic is a lot of firsts. It’s one of the stories that first pulled me into the Hobbit fandom, and into reading and writing more fic. Also it’s the first (if I remember right) longfic that I ever started reading as a WIP and followed until it was finished -- and that’s a very special journey that never gets old. And last but not least, this is the story that got me shipping Fíli and Ori, and my heart will forever have a soft spot for those two.

In all, it was a fascinating experience to watch this whole vast, sprawling thicket of a story unfold and put down deep roots into a rich and solid foundation of imaginative worldbuilding that allowed the main plotline to branch out into unexpected -- and wonderfully dramatic -- directions.

And it was an additional delight to see some of those secondary plotlines take on a life of their own, developing into more than mere offshoots of the main story, yet remaining rooted to it and adding a layer of depth to the entire tapestry.

TL;DNR: in my opinion, still one of the best long fix-it stories out there, extremely easy to get lost in, darker themes skillfully used to balance the fluff without sacrificing the guaranteed happy ending.

Of all the children of the Lonely Mountain, there is none who have loved her like Thorin Oakenshield.
He has lived for her, and died for her.
It is time he lived for himself.

Recommended for a well-executed and unusual point of view that gives a slightly, but significantly different angle to familiar events. Both heart-breaking and hopeful.

Because there’s the part where “canon” becomes “canon-ish” and the tragedy gets a little twist when a push comes from the right direction.

Summary:

Bilbo is left to tend Thorin as he hovers on the brink of death after the Battle of the Five Armies. Is love enough to save Erebor's king, or is this the last farewell?

"It reminded him of plucking daisy petals to the litany of loves-me, loves-me-not. Yet nothing so simple as love lay on his mind. He barely dared to think it, but his question was not a matter of the heart. It was more basic, more instinctive, and he couldn’t help but feel that with each strand of hair he tended he was divining Thorin’s destiny."

Now, how to review this without giving too much away? It’s tricky, but I’ll do my best.

Perhaps it will suffice to say that the premise is remarkably original, and enchanting in every sense of the word. Or that the rich, evocative prose is a delight to read, and the deliberately unhurried pacing combined with the intimate, atmospheric character of the narrative will keep you spellbound until the very last line.

And that is all I dare to tell you, save that this lovely little tale is best enjoyed with growing anticipation and a bated breath. Mood-uplifting properties solidly demonstrated on a limited sample size of one (1).

Summary:

After a life dominated by a strange form of sickness, Thorin is sent to the Shire to seek a cure only Bilbo Baggins can offer.

A perennial favourite I reread regularly, of the variety I call "comfort reading."

The lasting charm is a sum of many parts: to begin with, this is a fairytale with a delightfully original premise, but that’s not all. It’s also a Romance writ large, the kind of lovestory that kindles slow but burns oh-so-very-hot once caught. Yet it’s not overly sweet, for both Bilbo and Thorin are grown people, and the past has not always been kind, nor is the present without its troubles.

And true love, to be worth the name, is no easy gift of the fates. You have to want it, and choose it. But then it’s all the more precious. Then, it is sweet as strawberries, vast as the summer’s blue sky, soft as a lover’s voice, and warm as firelight on bare skin.

A final, special mention goes to the prose for vivid imagery and description that caters to all of the five senses, quite literally. To return to it feels like coming home.

(Also be sure to check the outtakes, if you like a peek at the steamier side of things.) I know I certainly do.

biarritz
vtforpedro
Rating: General Audiences

Archive Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Category: M/M

Fandom: The Hobbit - All Media Types

Relationship: Bilbo Baggins/Thorin Oakenshield

Characters: Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield, Fíli, Kíli, Dwalin

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Modern Royalty, Fluff, Beach Holidays, Sappy

Language: English 

Stats:

Published: 2017-10-26

Words: 16023

Chapters: 1/1

I just started my holiday and my brain's kind of fried, so have a thematically appropriate rec.

Have a story about a writer who only wants a quiet holiday (feat. his weight in French cuisine and an inadvisable number of cocktails), only to be distracted from this goal by a king, who -- in addition to being disturbingly handsome -- is surprisingly good at building sandcastles.

Have a soft, sweet, sunshine-warmed romance that I've tagged with "in case of sads" for a good reason.

Summary:

They say that everything can be cured by saltwater - sweat, tears or the sea. Bilbo Baggins chooses the last option, taking his recently orphaned nephew and moving to the charming Oak Cottage, overlooking England’s grislier shores. The house charms him instantly, and though he knows nothing at all about the sea, or about making ends meet on his own so far from everything he’s known his whole life for that matter, he’s quite determined to stay, and see his nephew get better, odd sounds in the night be damned. He’s living in a modern world, after all, and the nonsense he’s been hearing about the house being haunted by its former owner, the mysterious Captain Durin, is just silly superstition… isn’t it?

I read this over summer holiday a few years back, and although I don’t remember it as a cheerful read, it’s delightful in many other ways, some of them heartbreaking.

Also there’s a moving, well-paced, slowly unraveling mystery with enough twists and turns to keep you tapping that Next Chapter button.

And no matter how much it hurts, I can’t help admiring the devious way the canon tragedies are interwoven into the historical reality of this particular AU.

In short, it’s a moving, expertly crafted tale of love and loss and daring -- and patience rewarded. And if I said I didn’t cry over it, it would be a gross lie. But they were not all sad tears. Enjoy!

Undress Me: Bilbo (6059 words) by Bead
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Hobbit (Jackson Movies), The Hobbit - J. R. R. Tolkien
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Bilbo Baggins/Thorin Oakenshield
Characters: Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Romance, Love at First Sight
Series: Part 4 of To Kiss A Stranger

Summary:

The last in the video-inspired "To Kiss a Stranger series!" This particular fic was inspired by this video, which was a promotional piece for Showtime's "The Masters of Sex."

Many, many thanks to my beta squad!

So this is the fic that I read (and reread) and marveled how it actually did not melt my screen. Also an excellent example of how falling in lust love at first sight is done properly.

For one, it's funny; it has witty sparkling banter, dry humour and gentle needling. But the other aspect that gets me every time is the incredible, tangible chemistry between these two so-called strangers. And I'm not only talking about physical attraction (although this is rated M for a reason), but also the emotional connection that's evident starting from the first spoken exchange.

I just... this is one of the stories I go to when I need to smile at something fine and lovely and sweet. (And also one I need to pick apart someday to see how it's made.) Have a go, and I promise you won't regret it.