katajainen

Summary:

No one is thinking much about the Library as Erebor is being rebuilt, no one but Ori.

Because I’m always soft for these two, and this piece is all about them being young and sweet and discovering love together. And for such a short thing, it manages to pack in plenty of meaningful backstory detail and some excellent shippy chemistry.

And that’s it. That’s the story.

Oh, it’s set in a library, you say? Why yes, that’s one of my big ‘YAY’ buttons, too. (Apart from the everyone lives fix-it.) Take a warm cuppa -- guess what, it’s snowing here again -- and enjoy a nice solid moment of fluff!

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:

Fíli's hungover enough not to notice that the pile of laundry in his armchair is actually not a pile of laundry for a few minutes.

Pure, unadulterated, escapist fluff.

Or: the meet-cute where a drunk Ori can climb in through a window without a sound but not tell left from right, and Fili has a cute cat, an unexpected (but increasingly welcome) visitor, and oodles and oodles of flirt.

To be honest, this rec is chiefly me being nostalgic, because this piece (by one of my all-time favourite authors!) showcases precisely the sort of dynamic that drew me to the ship in the first place. I hope you’ll enjoy it as well!!

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.

Dwalin is sure that Bofur - famous knockerman, luck-touched, gorgeous - wants nothing to do with the likes of him, grizzled old warrior that he is. And Bofur is equally sure that Dwalin - royal blood, war hero, solid as the mountain itself - wants nothing to do with a dead dwarf walking.

Good thing they're both wrong.

A rare ship, yet one that works like a charm here, and it’s not solely due to the borrowed concept of knockermen (though I love the idea, and how seamlessly it fits into Tolkien’s world). However, what it does is add a wonderful depth to Bofur’s happy-go-lucky character and put him on an equal footing with Dwalin, at least as far as reputation is concerned.

Which brings me to my second point: the only thing that’s better than mutual pining is mutual pining where both besotted parties are equally star-struck. And on the receiving end of some merciless familial teasing from people who (quite rightly) think they’re being idiots. (Honestly, there’s not enough fic of Bombur being a brotherly little shit.)

But there’s little point in pining without a proper resolution, and when these two get on to the same page, they really get there, if you know what I mean *winkwink*. In all, a wonderful read that’s good for a second (or third, or fourth) helping as well ;p

Saw this prompt and couldn't help myself:
'I went to a museum to get some inspiration to draw and then I saw you staring at one of the paintings in awe so I drew you and then you saw my picture and I am dying of embarrassment AU'

Self-explanatory: this is my soft little ship of cute in a silly 'n sweet meet-cute tale.

Ori's an adorable artsy nerd, Fili’s too full of flirt, and the whole thing just makes me smile -- and not die from vicarious embarrassment, which is always a good thing.

Anyway, it’s Friday, time to wind down, enjoy something self-indulgent and have a lovely weekend!

Summary:

Balin and Bilbo court slowly and carefully, which is as it should be, for all things come to fruit in their own good time. It is possible, however, to miss the harvest, and then winter will be upon you before you know it.

Today, let me present you with some high-quality pain wrapped in tender slow-burn fluff.

The author does a sterling job weaving a subtle, unhurried romance that fits neatly into the cracks of the canon text, without ever letting the reader forget that it’s all going to end in tears, no matter what. (Yet you keep wishing it wouldn’t and that makes it hurt SO good.) Extra kudos for fine Tolkienesque prose and excellent use of Middle-earth-flavoured folktales.

P.S. You can blame Roselightfairy for reccing this to me. P.P.S. This is also the one that made me cry over a simple tomato leaf.

Summary:

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

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.

Summary:

In the beginning, Nori and Bofur find common ground from family gossip (and shared love of a good smoke) - in the end, that's a start for sharing something more.

A fairly plotless but sort of cute something I apparently wrote back in 2016, recently rediscovered and decided to post after tidying it up a bit.

Summary

Dwalin, Spirit of Battle Fury, just wants to enjoy his bath in peace. Nori, the ever-annoying Spirit of Nimble Fingers, has other plans for him.

Surprisingly enjoyable plans, it turns out.

art and concept by MarieJacquelyn. writing by Thorinsmut

An absolutely, entirely and utterly delightful “Studio Ghibli meets Tolkien” AU piece, where Nori is being Nori and Dwalin is somewhat damaged goods, but they have top-notch chemistry, and the naughty bits have an enchantingly creative flair ♥

A sweet, hot and truly original feel-good gem with the added bonus of stunning art -- hope you enjoy!