Clarity of Purpose, Chapter 16

[mithen]

Title: Clarity of Purpose, Chap. 16
Chapter Summary: Lost in the woods of the Dark Elves, Bilbo searches for his companions.
Relationship: Thorin/Bilbo
Characters: Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield
Fandom: Hobbit/Lord of the Rings. Begins in 2968, twenty-six years after the events of "Clarity of Vision" and fifty years before the canonical events

Comments

[shirebound]

Hoom! Oh wow, that took me totally by surprise. I never try to anticipate what's coming next in your tale, or how the next bit of canon will be woven so seamlessly into it, but it's always a pleasure.

Perhaps it was that he had started to grow used to voices in his head that were not his, perhaps it was just natural hobbit resilience, but Bilbo shook his head fiercely.

Love that.

[mithen]

Ah, thanks! I'm so glad it works together--I've had it in my head for a while now so I'm never sure!

And I'm really glad you picked out that little line--I do love the idea that Bilbo has gotten kind of used to hearing impulses and voices that aren't his own (poor Bilbo!)

[jedibuttercup]

Eeeee, the Entwives!!! And I like this perspective on the Avari: that they consider themselves the Faithful. Makes perfect sense.

[mithen]

It was really interesting to try and imagine what the Avari would see themselves as! And of course it makes sense that they'd see themselves as more loyal to Middle Earth and their forests, whatever the price might be... Thank you for the sweet comment!

Part 1!

[starsandsea]

“Thorin?” he croaked, staring around him wildly. They had been running, he remembered that. Thorin had been carrying him, screaming at him to--to do something. With a flash of terrifying clarity, Bilbo remembered a searing weight on his finger, remembered looking behind them to see--

Meeeep! *pets Bilbo gently* And oh, Thorin is the very first thing he thinks of-!

Alone! He felt his knees trembling and it took an effort to keep standing. Always Thorin had been with him, giving him strength, helping him in. Now here he was alone in a haunted wood, far from Thorin--who could be dead or dying, slain by those terrible wraiths! The Nazgul could be coming for him next, slipping silently through the trees, coming up behind him--

Eeeeep, BILBO! I hadn't even thought how upset he would be to be parted from Thorin after all his doubts, oh Bilbo...

“No!” he said out loud. “I’m not staying here. I’m keeping away from those dark riders, and I’m going to find Thorin and the rest. So there,” he added as if he were a stubborn child, and the

Re: Part 1!

[mithen]

Meeeep! *pets Bilbo gently* And oh, Thorin is the very first thing he thinks of-!

Mmmm, I love writing that...

Eeeeep, BILBO! I hadn't even thought how upset he would be to be parted from Thorin after all his doubts, oh Bilbo...

He's gotten a lot of confidence back, but he's wrapped a lot of it up in Thorin, and that can be a problem!" But he's tough!

Oh, oh! I LOVE what you've done with that, it's so perfect!

I suddenly realized this while I was writing it! "Why would they hate Ringwraiths more than dwarves? What were the Ringwraiths? Ooooh!"

I ended up pretty happy with the Avari! I got worried I wouldn't do them justice or they'd be too hostile or too friendly, but I kind of liked how they ended up...

Part 2!

[starsandsea]

A vista of snowdrops and crocuses stretched out before him, dotted with forsythia bushes in riotous golden bloom. Here and there a tree leaned over the flowerbeds: ash and hawthorn and birch, one of them a cherry tree covered with pale pink blossoms. Winding through the beds of flowers were paths not of stone or pebbles, but lanes where rosemary and thyme were planted like a carpet. He stepped onto the green path and the sweet scent of the crushed herbs reached his nose, causing a wave of dizzy homesickness to rush over him.

And this was where I started flailing! :D

For a moment Bilbo’s heart thudded to a stop, for he lay so still. Then he saw one mail-clad hand move slightly, and before he could think he was running along the green path toward him, calling out his name and throwing himself down on his knees next to him under the spreading canopy of leaves.

Thorin’s eyes flickered open and he smiled at the sight of Bilbo’s face. “Heart’s-ease,” he murmured. “I feared I had lost you forever.”*flails and squees* THORIN. Thorin. *

Re: Part 2!

[mithen]

And this was where I started flailing! :D

Me toooo! I was so happy to write this, I could see it so clearly! And Thorin asserting that he loves gardens just made my heart fill up. I can totally imagine Wandlimb being totally surprised by that: a dwarf with a garden? How interesting!

The next chapter is ALL Bilbo and Thorin, the rest of the party is still lost but we'll find them soon! :)

[ranger_girl0301]

You just had to bring the talking, slow-as-molasses trees into it, didn't you?

Giggles.

More, I cry, more!

[mithen]

On the plus side, the Entwives are much more hasty than their spouses! So it won't be 4000 words of introductions coming up... *grin*