Dwarves, as revealed in Tolkien’s works, are a stubborn people. But in most instances, it’s not the bull-headed belligerence that the fandom likes to perpetrate on Thorin (or the others, for that matter). There is some of that, but more often than not, it’s a stalwart refusal to give ground on principles that have carried them through some pretty rough treatment during their time in Arda. It is a protective wall they’ve built because they have had to endure so much tragedy and misjudgment and injustice. They aren’t intentionally bastards to other people, they’re just cautiously guarded until they know that it’s okay to drop that guard and give freely of themselves to whomever touches their hearts, i.e., Gimli with Legolas and Aragorn during the Fellowship, and of course, Thorin’s eventual trust for Bilbo and Bilbo’s contribution to their quest.
I’ve gotten a few really sweet comments on Of Iron that have really made me feel guilty for not updating in… months… so I thought I’d dedicate this Sunday Six to that fic (since, despite appearances, it will continue. Eventually.)
Anyways.
Have my first ever foray into writing Bagginshield. (Well, offscreen Carrock sex Bagginshield, buuut Bagginshield nonetheless.)
(this gif is fucking amazing. I could stare at it forever.)
yet another patron-prompted drawing done during saturday’s stream! this time featuring @mithrilbikini‘s long-haired Bilbo cuddling/grooming hair with Thorin in front of the fire ;w;
Definitely I think the lyrics would be changed around to fit whoever is approaching Rivendell. I mean, the words specifically reference Bilbo, Balin and Dwalin (in the first rendition, not the second one.)
O! What are you doing, And where are you going? Your ponies need shoeing! The river is flowing! O! tra-la-la-lally here down in the valley!
O! What are you seeking, And where are you making? The faggots are reeking, The bannocks are baking! O! tril-lil-lil-lolly the valley is jolly, ha! ha!
O! Where are you going With beards all a-wagging? No knowing, no knowing What brings Mister Baggins And Balin and Dwalin down into the valley in June ha! ha!
O! Will you be staying, Or will you be flying? Your ponies are straying! The daylight is dying! To fly would be folly, To stay would be jolly And listen and hark Till the end of the dark to our tune ha! ha!
The second time, it’s a bit more generic – no doubt the tune is nearly or exactly the same as the first, though? Tolkien’s exact words are ‘As they rode down the steep path, Bilbo heard the elves still singing in the trees, as if they had not stopped since he left; and as soon as the riders came down into the lower glades of the wood they burst into a song of much the same kind as before.’
The dragon is withered, His bones are now crumbled; His armour is shivered, His splendour is humbled! Though sword shall be rusted, And throne and crown perish With strength that men trusted And wealth that they cherish, Here grass is still growing, And leaves are yet swinging, The white water flowing, And elves are yet singing Come! Tra-la-la-lally! Come back to the valley!
The stars are far brighter Than gems without measure, The moon is far whiter Than silver in treasure; The fire is more shining On hearth in the gloaming Than gold won by mining, So why go a-roaming? O! Tra-la-la-lally Come back to the Valley.
O! Where are you going, So late in returning? The river is flowing, The stars are all burning! O! Whither so laden, So sad and so dreary? Here elf and elf-maiden Now welcome the weary With Tra-la-la-lally Come back to the Valley, Tra-la-la-lally Fa-la-la-lally Fa-la!
The metre is nearly the same, though the verses are of different lengths. That’s easy enough to adapt, though, particularly if it’s an already existing song.
((Nonnie, you do realise that this question has made me wonder: HOW DID THEY CHANGE IT FOR WHEN GIMLI AND GLOIN FIRST CAME TO RIVENDELL, were they nice to my bab or were they shady as a tree jkshdgfkja i may need to write this))
Aw Yiss 