Clarity of Vision, Chapter 32/32

[mithen]

Title: Clarity of Vision, Chapter 32/32
Relationship: Thorin/Bilbo
Characters: Bilbo Baggins, Thorin, Kili, Fili, Balin, Dwalin, Dís
Fandom: Hobbit
Warnings/Spoilers: None
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1700
Story Summary: In a Middle-Earth where Erebor never fell, a shadow remains in the heart of the Lonely Mountain. Bilbo Baggins finds himself drawn

Comments

Part 2!

[starsandsea]

They add that King Thorin kissed him farewell, and all the people of the Lonely Mountain cheered "until the very rocks seemed to cry out."

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!

The Red Book does not record if he wept as he turned his face at last to the west; nor do the Annals tell us if the King of Erebor returned to his quarters in silence and spoke to no one for hours, gazing into the fire and thinking long on things he locked in the chambers of his heart and shared with none.

Ahhhhhhh! Oh, oh, I love how you structured these last paragraphs with the Red Book and the Annals... *flails quietly*

But then, these events marked the end of but the first of their journeys together, and by no means the greatest or most difficult; but of those later travels in the lands beyond Dorwinion and the Sea of Rhûn, and their effects on the world of Middle Earth, much has been written elsewhere. Yet for many years an uneasy peace ruled the land, and the might of the dwarves of Erebor grew, and trade flourished between the Shire and the Lonely Mountain; even as a

Re: Part 2!

[mithen]

Oh, oh, I love how you structured these last paragraphs with the Red Book and the Annals... *flails quietly*

I wasn't sure it would work! But I couldn't resist, somehow...just that hint that Bilbo is still going to go on to write chunks of the Red Book (and Ori writes a lot of the Annals!) Tolkien's style seems especially apt for bittersweetness (I've been re-reading the tale of Aragorn and Arwen in the Appendices, and my God, that formal language only seems to make the pain more transcendent...)

I'm enjoying the letter fic so much! It's been a long time since I've written something like that and there's a fun challenge to it--especially since we only see the letters FROM Erebor and not the letters TO! :)

Thank you so, so much for all your wonderful comments--and your support and fun discussions in email as well, they've always been so helpful and inspiring!

[ilovetobefree]

"It looks like we'll be too busy. Uncle says he relies on our help so much lately." He tried to sound regretful, but his delight shone through his words and he bounced on the balls of his feet, the braids in his beard quivering with his smile.
:lol

"I must say, you dwarves are certainly ones for lavish gifts."
Yes, so many wonderful gifts!
"Yes, I can tell you're totally in control of the situation," Bruce observed. "That's why you're half-naked and I'm still fully dressed."Kíli's lower lip was trembling and he rubbed his sleeve across his face. "Mother says it's not shameful to weep at partings," he muttered.
"Of course it's not," said Bilbo, and pulled them both close for a long embrace.
hugs them all

"Just come back and see us now and then," said Balin.
Bilbo brightened. "That's a good point! I can bring more biscuits and sweets then."
Balin smiled as if Bilbo had somehow missed the point, but all he said was "Those would be pleasant too."
:)

"Do not speak to me of this again," he said in a whisper. "For my own sake." Thorin

[mithen]

Yes, so many wonderful gifts!

Oh, it was so fun to come up with what presents everyone would give him! Dwarves are so over-the-top...

Thanks to you and your awesome writing I’ve become a fan of Thorin, Bilbo, Kíli, Fíli and all other characters of the story.

Yay! *bounces* It's been fun to flesh them out a little and find what's interesting about them...the movie doesn't give a whole lot, and the book gives even less! And yes, "Clarity of Purpose" is going to be a series...there's a good chance it'll be longer than this one, actually. *grin* Thank you SO much for coming along on the journey, it's been so much fun!

[jlvsclrk]

*sniffle* Why, oh why, did Bilbo have to go? Poor Thorin!

But I'm deliriously happy to hear that there's more to come. Love the idea of "Letters from Erebor".

[mithen]

I definitely couldn't leave it like this, although there will be a long sad time for both of them before the next part starts (thus my desire to skim over it with letters as much as possible!) :)

[zolac_no_miko]

AAAAAAAAAAAHHH THAT ENDING IS MAGNIFICENT!!!

AND THERE ARE SEQUELS!!!

I'm...kind of enjoying this sad but beautiful ending, where they love each other but must live apart. It's hard to imagine a Bilbo who would thrive in mountain tunnels, and hard to imagine a Thorin who would abandon his duty to his people.

Beautiful work all around, I enjoyed every bit of it. And am looking forward to more! :D

[mithen]

I'm...kind of enjoying this sad but beautiful ending, where they love each other but must live apart.

It's sad, but it also feels kind of...right, somehow? I agree with you that neither of them is in the right place to leave their world behind right now--I'm hoping the sequels will get them there eventually!

Thank you for all your wonderful comments and your enthusiasm, it has meant the world to me!

[ranger_girl0301]

This was a lovely, gorgeous ending. You did an amazing job with this, it was a delight to read.

[mithen]

Aw, thanks so much! I'm so glad you've enjoyed it, I really came to love this AU (like I sometimes forget the canon is very much not going this way, lol...next December might be a horrible shock for me!)