Tag: Anonymous

So speaking of Alris and Bombur, she’s way older than him, right? How did they meet?

Alris is forty years older than Bombur, but in Dwarven terms that doesn’t really mean all that much tbh. They are long-lived, after all.

Ohgosh, I had a sort of idea? That Alris, being a tanner, would have been rather, um. Well. Tanning is a smelly job. Very smelly. Animal hides are stinky at the best of times, and then there’s all the things that people have used over the centuries to cure them (the most well-known is urine, lol, but other rather less salubrious things have also been used).

Alris isn’t smelly, not when she’s not at work, and she’s a bubbly and happy and gregarious Dwarrowdam. She’s stout and clever and rather pretty, with brown hair and green eyes and a pair of truly awe-inspiring hips (she got the booty, DO SHE EVER). 

But her job turned others away. She liked her job, it was interesting (Alris is not in the LEAST afraid of muck: see also, 12 kids. Lots of muck involved) and she isn’t intimidated by hard work either, but she was a trifle lonely now and then. She didn’t really resent the way people drew back when they found out she was a tanner (resentment’s not really a part of her mental landscape tbh), but she would sigh now and then in a manner that was very unlike her normal cheery self. 

Alris would sell her wares at the markets on Thatrnarât (Saturdays), when craftspeople and food vendors would gather and try to make a small living from what they had managed to create through the week. There wasn’t much to go around (and the hunters and trappers charged an exorbitant price for the skins they sold her) but Alris was scraping by. She would sell her tanned leathers and furs, and now and then would have enough time to make a few pieces – a satchel here, a jacket, a hat.

She wasn’t really expecting? To meet a young, handsome Dwarf. He ran a stall a few aisles away, and he was admirably built, with the most delicious beard. But he was so shy.

He hung around her stall now and then, and she would watch him from the corner of her eye. At first she though he might be a thief, but soon discarded that notion. He was far too obvious to be any good at it. 

After a few Thatrnarât of this, he managed to pick up his feet and approach her. He was so quiet when he spoke that she had to lean right in to hear him. It was as though he rarely bothered speaking. “The hat,” he said, soft as a little mouse. “Um. That one.”

She tipped her head in acknowledgement, not wanting to scare her delicious little dormouse away. She wrapped it, and then asked, “for someone special?”

Well, it didn’t hurt to discover if he was attached or not. Though a Dwarf as lovely as he was wouldn’t be…

“No – no, I’m not – it’s for. Bofur. My brother,” he mumbled. “S’ his nameday.”

“Oh.” She thought a moment, and then squeezed his hand reassuringly and gave him her sunniest, friendliest smile. “Then it’s half-price, and I won’t hear a word otherwise. May he wear it in good health.”

He looked a little poleaxed, and then gulped. “No, I couldn’t possibly…”

“You can and have,” she said firmly, and put the parcel before him and shook his hand. “Done.”

He clutched at her hand, looking at her with big, lovely brown eyes – like she set mithril in the earth. “You’re so nice,” he blurted. “Can I make you dinner? To say thank you. I mean. Oh, I should say. Thank you. Thank you!”

She smiled. “I don’t know. Can you cook?”

–Some time later-

Alris leaned back in her chair, a bit dazzled.

Bombur (his name was Bombur, her delicious dormouse was called Bombur) actually beamed at her. “I can cook,” he said, a trifle smugly.

“I’ll say,” she said faintly.

do you think one day you’ll explain what the dark names mean? some make sense but some are really abstract

*squints at list of dark-names* I’ve explained Thror’s, Gimli’s, Dwalin’s and Frerin’s in more detail before, but here’s a blurb or two on some of the others? I hope they’re the ones you’re talking about. They’re not always meant to be obvious: they can be interpreted in all sorts of ways, generally. As I’ve mentioned before, the name does not shape the Dwarf’s life, it is not a prophecy. 

Dis – Mutûkhamthur – Song of Steel
This can refer to several things. My version of Dis is hard as hard: she has been slowly made into a Dwarrowdam of purest steel. She is also cold now: icy, just like steel. And like steel, she remembers the fires of her forging. As for ‘song’ – she still has the ringing mithril voice of her youth, beautiful and melodious. She is also an expert swordswoman.

Gloin – Idhêrmarku – Striking Shield
Gloin will always leap to the defensive – and it’s not because he is an aggressive or violent Dwarf. It is because he is protective. He is a shield. Gloin will protect will his entire self, his whole being – and he will take anyone to task. Anyone. He will strike to keep safe those he cares for. He will move swiftly to protect, be it with his fists, with his financial acumen, with his tongue, with his axe. Gloin will not EVER stand idly by.

Thrain – Mazarnûn – He who is unyielded
Though Thrain’s life has irrevocably altered and scarred him, he never capitulated. Even after nine years of torture, he would not yield. He never gave up hope. He is not broken, no matter how he believes that he is. He did not ever passively accept his fate. Thrain does. Not. Yield. Not to Sauron, not to the Dwarven Ring, not to fear or his nightmares. He might bend, he might quake, he might weep and he is forever changed – but he is not broken.

Ori – Ulkhuduthaku – Miner of Light
Several things this can refer to! Ori is a seeker after knowledge. That is one meaning. He is also an optimist compared to his brothers. He is a guide to many through his work as scribe, he ‘unearths’ Bifur’s communication skills after his wound is reopened. He is a miner, no less than any other. His diggings are just a little different!

Bofur – Inzêgid-‘abbad – Ringing Mountains
I am fond of Bofur’s name! This can refer to a couple of things as well: Bofur IS a miner, after all, and his pick can make mountains ring in a very literal way. But it also refers to his jokester nature and his laughter. Bofur is a funny fellow, after all!

Bifur –  lanzulkhud – Evening Twilight
This one is probably the one that could be accused of obscurity, I guess! I got a little creative here. Twilight is a time of cusps, and Bifur hovers perpetually between two states. He is gentle: he is a berserker. He speaks Khuzdul: he speaks Westron. He is a miner: he is a toymaker, etc etc. It can also be seen as a reference to his work (a miner lives in perpetual evening, after all). Twilight is when nocturnal animals go berserk. But evening is also very beautiful and can be very calm too. So there we have it.

Balin – Kibiluik-kemath – Silver Voice
This is a reference to Balin’s smooth-talkin’ ways. He does manage to wrangle Bard, after all – and Bard isn’t the most trusting of fellows. It’s also a nod to his persuasiveness. 😀

If you want more info on them, there’s always my dark-names tag 🙂

Gimris and Baris are best friends, right? Does Gimris ever call Baris her “little niece” just to wind her up? omg does Baris ever call Gimris “auntie Gimris” when she needs something done?!

Baris only ever called Gimris ‘Auntie’ once.

The look her friend gave her was enough to make her wish she hadn’t ever done so. Not because Gimris was cross, oh no. Because she looked gleeful.

Ever since, Gimris has teased Baris by calling her ‘dear little niecey’ and ‘our Baris’ and the like, just to watch her normally rather cheery, jolly friend roll her eyes and scowl in mock-annoyance back at her.

Gimris is a snarky younger sister. Mock her at your peril. Older siblings, be warned.

(it’s actually not all that annoying – and who knows? Snarking with Gimris might build a bit of Baris’ social confidence. She’s not very assertive when she’s not onstage, after all.)

I sent some questions about Durin about a week ago but I think they got snatched up or something. So here goes, first: Since Durin has lived several lives he must have several families, right? Does he still visit them in the Halls (when he’s not out again). I can’t imagine he wouldn’t, given how important children are in dwarf culture. Second: I get the feeling the sayings by Durin’s ___ are going to get a might awkward in Erebor soon

Yeah, I think he definitely would. And of course, Durin has had children in past lives, and would still love and care for them. 

Oh, that saying! Durin gets really uncomfortable about all those sayings!!

Oh geez, Barur would be so pissed that he was limited by the whole siege thing when making food for his little sister’s wedding. Still, Special Efforts are made, which means that the food was amazing. Just a little low on certain ingredients, especially fresh ones.

YES ❤ Awww, Barur. Such a good big Bro.

(ohgod, he would be so surly. SO surly. Bomfris why why get married in the middle of a siege, what the hell are siblings, mahal dammit all, this recipe isn’t going to work without berries…)