This is pretty awesome! 

After President Biden finished his speech then walked over to the barrier and pointed down below, my nerdy brain automatically made this reference...

I thought it would be fun to show just how we’ve deviated from the original story so far! The blue lined map is the original path that Thorin’s Company took in the Hobbit. The red lined map is the new path to include the detour to Tooksborough and the silver/blue/green line is their adventure under the mountain instead of over the pass.  Follow along and see where the map will take us! Reclaiming Erebor...Again has been completely edited and can be found here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/6896161/chapters/15734659 The original map came from the LOTR Project which was fun to play with! - http://lotrproject.com/map/#zoom=4&lat=-1107.5&lon=1174&layers=BTTTTTTTT

Reclaiming Erebor...Again EDITING IS COMPLETE!

I am excited and happy to announce that I have completely read over and edited Reclaiming Erebor...Again! It took a little less time than I expected, I removed some choppy writing, expanded other pieces and overall added in another couple thousand words. I’m very proud of this work and I can’t wait to continue the series!  You can check out the completely finished version here on AO3 - https://archiveofourown.org/works/6896161/chapters/15734659

The missing chapter has been returned to #ReclaimingEreborAgain! The editing continues! 🤓 A re-read wouldn’t hurt, I’ve added in a new memory! Looking through everything again, I realized that I haven’t fluffed up the BilboXThorin tag as much as I could and I’m fixing that!  Check it out on AO3 <3 - Reclaiming Erebor...Again

I have returned! I decided to make myself a priority this year given the amount of craziness I have had to deal with in the past several years, nevermind the chaos of COVID-19. My fanfictions may take a little bit coming out as I am currently reviewing what I have and planning some outlines but I have quite a bit planned for my tumblr beyond that. I hope those that have enjoyed Reclaiming Erebor and other fanfics of mine are up for the journey!

The Parting Glass

Finally have some time to write! I had this floating around in my head for a few days and I’m so happy to get it out now. I had come up with it after listening to Celtic Woman’s version of The Parting Glass, which had given me goosebumps. I’ve listened a lot of versions of this song but holy crap that was amazing. So I used their version as inspiration for this. I hope that you enjoy it! Summary: Atypical girl from Earth drops into Middle Earth trope. In which she falls beside her princes, Thorin is King and Bofur sings a dirge for the daughter of his heart at the 10 year anniversary of the Battle of Five Armies.

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Ten years. It have been ten years since the reclaiming of Erebor and the Battle of the Five Armies.  Thorin King sat on the dias of a large public hall within Erebor, Bilbo to his left and Dis to his right, observing the feasting crowd of dwarves of Erebor and the Iron Hills, men from Dale that accompanied the also newly crowned Bard Dragonslayer, and a few elves representing King Thranduil. Even Gandalf and Beorn had been convinced to attend, seating with the other big folks towards the back of the hall. The crown felt heavy on his brow as he struggled not to look at the three smaller crowns that lay on empty plates on a smaller table before him.

The feasting after a long day of ceremony and speeches had barely begun when Bofur approached his King and bowed, the crowd behind him slowly becoming quieting as they watched curiously.

“Yer Majesty.” Bofur bowed, his ever present hat in his hands.

“Bofur Steelheart.” Thorin nodded in return, his heart pounding in his chest.

“I was hoping that ye were still agreeable to the...” Bofur’s gaze moved to the empty plates as his voice trailed off.

Thorin swallowed with difficulty, ignoring the hard stare from his sister. He nodded and stood as Bofur turned around, placing his hat back on his head. Upon raising his hands, the last of the whispers fell away and all eyes were on the dias. “Bofur Steelheart wishes to remember those who are no longer with us.” 

Thorin returned to his seat, his hands clenched around the end of his armrests.

Bofur took a deep breath. “It has been a very busy ten years, has it not?”

A roar from the crowd answered him, mugs raised. He grinned and waited for the sound to die down. “When we left the Shire on the quest to take back Erebor from a dragon of all things, we numbered 14. By the time we made it through the mountains, we picked up another member of our company. She had been captured by the Goblin King and hailed from a land so far away that many of us have never heard of it nor will ever visit it. She had no cause or reason to join us, but join us she did.”

The miner turned lord paused, looking to the crowns once more. “Her laughter and spirit was a balm even in the darkest of moments. It was quite surprising how quickly we all came to love her, as a daughter, as a neice, and of course the Princes found their One in her as well as each other.” 

Bofur’s voice continued to boome throughout the room, bouncing off the acoustics to be heard in every corner. “One of the many things that we talked about, the differences between our peoples, was how her people courted and marriage traditions. We all had bets on how long it would take before she got fed up with the Princes and took matters into her own hands.” He paused when the crowd laughed. “Bilbo and Ori won the bet of course, turned out they were encouraging her without anyone knowing!” 

Bofur turned and grinned at the blushing hobbit behind him, the laughter louder the second time. “Among some of her people, there is a jest that men who are about to be married are walking to their deaths, the death of the freedom, the death of their bachelordom. As part of this jest that she witnessed a group of friends lamenting a bridgegroom with a dirge. And yet he was the happiest, and they for him, when he wed his love.”

Bofur walked to the edge of the dias and motioned for Nori to hand him his mug of ale. “I had adopted her into Clan Ur and in the tradition of her people, I was to escort her down the aisle when their betrothal was announced with the blessing of our King. I’m no bard but I had intended another song to sing for her on her wedding day. On this day, I believe the song she taught us is fitting. Not only for her as the Princess of our hearts, or our Princes but for all the dwarves, men, and elves that fell in the Battle of the Five Armies.”

“Of all the money that e'er I had I spent it in good company And all the harm I've ever done Alas it was to none but me And all I've done for want of wit To mem'ry now I can't recall So fill to me the parting glass Good night and joy be to you all So fill to me the parting glass And drink a health whate’er befalls And gently rise and softly call Good night and joy be to you all Of all the comrades that e'er I had They're sorry for my going away And all the sweethearts that e'er I had They'd wish me one more day to stay But since it fell unto my lot That I should rise and you should not…” Bofur paused, choking on his words. His dashed away the tears streaming down his face and opened his mouth only to find that no more words would come. After a moment of struggle, the sound of a viol and another voice continued on.

“I gently rise and softly call, Good night and joy be to you all” Ori, brave little Ori now the youngest of the company, stepped onto the dias with his own mug of ale. He joined Bofur next to the crowns, Dwalin following with his viol. “Fill to me the parting glassAnd drink a health whate’er befallsAnd gently rise and softly callGood night and joy be to you all”

As Dwalin played the melody of the song, joined by Nori with a tamborine, the rest of the company joined them on the dias. Bilbo stood up, his lighter voice joining with the deep rumbles of his dwarves, Bofur finally having found his voice again. Thorin could barely feel the hand Bilbo rested on his arm, unable to remove his gaze from the crowns. 

“But since it fell unto my lotThat I should rise and you should notI gently rise and softly callGood night and joy be to you all”

Crowns that he had forged with his own hands for the 1 year annivarsary. Crowns that he would never place on the brows of his nephews, the sons of his heart. Crowns that they would never wear when they were presented as formal heirs to his kingdom. Crowns they would never wear to their wedding. The Crown that he would never place on her head and declare her princess of the realm. He would never see the children they would have had, the future of his line cut short. A small sound of grief from his right quickly reminded him that he was not the only one. Guilt swirled through him as he thought of his sister, her grief when she had arrived to find that her sons had fallen in battle. She had returned to the Blue Mountains soon after and it had taken many letters to convince her to come for this day. Swallowing back his own grief, he stood next to Bilbo and lent his voice to the final verse.

“So fill to me the parting glassAnd drink a health whate’er befallsAnd gently rise and softly callGood night and joy be to you allGood night and joy be to you all.”As the last notes faded away, the company tipped back their mugs until they were emptied. One by one, they laid each mug at the foot of the table and stepped down to return to their seats. 

Thorin waited until Bilbo had returned to his seat before speaking. “May we always carry the memories of the ones we lost, these ten years past. Our grief is shared, each one of us in these halls. Knowing them as we do, our friends and kin would not want us our sadness to ruin the joyful events yet to come.” He raised his newly filled mug of ale. “To the dwarves of Erebor and the Iron Hills!” A roar answered him and had to raise his voice as he gestured to the men. “To the men of Laketown and of Dale!” A cheer rose up from the smaller group in the back to join the dwarves. His hesitance was not noticable to anyone but Bilbo and his sister as he gestured to the smallest group. “To the elves of the Greenwood!” The quieter response from the elves was almost lost amoung the pounding and stomping from the rest.

Thorin nodded, sipped his ale as a toast and sat down, his gaze returning once again to the crowns.

A New Path - Chp 3 Sneak Peek

Good lord, I feel as though I’m running on empty! Luckily I found some time to come back and work on the next few chapters. This one will be up in full soon! 

Stay tuned for the full chapter on A New Path AO3!

Don’t forget to check out my Masterpost to keep track of everything. <3

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“What happened?” A feminine voice asked frantically.

The voice was familiar but he was treading between conciousness and the abyss. He felt as though he was riding the waves as he tried to remember just who he was.

“He just collapsed.” Another voice, male this time, responded. “He hadn’t started practicing yet.”

“He didn’t hit his head on anything?” Another brisk female voice asked.

He could feel fingers lifting his head and moving it gingerly to the side. He tried to move it himself but couldn’t. He tried not to panic when his body didn’t respond.

“No.” The male voice answered. “He was wearing his helm even.”

The examination went on for a few minutes as he concentrated on his hand. Finally, he could feel his hand twitch.

“He is waking up!” The first female voice announced. “His hand moved, I swear it.”

“Gimli.” Ah yes, that’s what his name is. “Can you open your eyes?”

Straining, Gimli changed his focus and slowly opened his eyes, wincing at the bright light. A murmer sent one of the persons scurrying to partially cover the lamp before Gimli tried again. Finally he opened his eyes and remembered.

A New Path - Chp 2 Sneak Peek

Hello Beloved Followers!

I cannot believe how long it has been since I have updated ANYTHING. This semester was quite busy but I only have one class left this week. I have completed all the assignments for that so I am now free to return to writing until February or so. Hopefully I will be able to squeeze out as many chapters as possible to provide regular updates. 

And now....a little peek into how Thorin and Bilbo are doing! <3 Stay tuned for the full chapter on A New Path AO3!

Don’t forget to check out my Masterpost to keep track of everything. <3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Thorin allowed himself a small grin as he followed behind his hobbit. They had left their company in the dining hall in favor of exploring the surrounding forest in the moonlight. In truth, Thorin was quite nervous as he thought of the small wooden bead in his pocket. Bilbo hummed a tune, his face turned slightly to the moon. Thorin stopped breathing for a moment when the moonlight highlighted Bilbo’s smile.

“What do you think of the meeting today?” His hobbit turned to look at him, smile still adorning his face.

Thorin forced himself to breath again. “I think it went well. It is clear that Sigibert and a few other elders aren’t against our quest.”

Bilbo nodded, his eyes returning to the path in front of him to prevent any tripping. “I think that is because of their truthsayer. Had we tried to lie, I doubt we would have had as much favor with the council.”

“Well it is lucky that I had you by my side to recognize what she was.” Thorin chuckled as he let his hand brush against Bilbo’s.

Bilbo shrugged. “I only ever heard of them in the stories my mother used to tell me as a faunt. They are a part of our history, although of course everyone back home thinks they are myths.”

“Mayhaps now that they are aware of the Shire, there might be some contact between the two.”  Thorin said thoughtfully. “It might completely upend the Shire.”

A warm feeling filled Thorin as Bilbo threw his head back and laughed. “I can imagine that Lobelia would just about keel over at the improprity of the whole thing.” The hobbit responded, brushing aside a large fern.

Thorin chuckled in response. “That would be an agreeable sight to see.” As their laughter faded away, Bilbo pulled Thorin along a smaller path to the side. “May said there was a field that had a night-blooming mock orchid. I haven’t ever had a chance to see one.” 

“What is a night-blooming mock orchid?” Thorin frowned but allowed his hobbit to drag him through the trees.

“Well there is only one flower to each plant and they only bloom once every 40 years to release the seeds and then they wither and die. It is quite a sight to see.” Bilbo’s excited bounce in his steps were amusing to Thorin as they continued. “I doubt that any of the flowers are ready to bloom now but I still can’t wait to see them.”

Thorin was content to let Bilbo guide them through the forest, their hands still linked. Their silence was companionable as Thorin’s free hand rolled the wooden bead with his fingers in his pocket. Ten minutes later, there was a break in the trees and a moonlit field beyond.

A New Path - Sneak Peek

I’m baaaaaack! This summer has been horrendously busy as I prepare for homeschooling my 3 year old, get my 5 year old ready for the new school year and of course I have my grad classes that are starting up again. I’ve been cleaning my house from top to bottom and purged a ton of crap so there has been little time or motivation or energy for writing.

But here we are again! This is the sneak peek to Reclaiming Erebor...Again’s Sequel - A New Path!

Stay tuned for the full chapter on http://archiveofourown.org/works/6896161!

Don’t forget to check out my Masterpost to keep track of everything. <3

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“As much as this posturing is entertaining, we have not slept nor eaten in days and we have a few injuries as well.” Ferembras spoke up from his seat. “I don’t know about anyone else, but I would like to lay down and sleep for a week.”

“Well that’s what happens when you antagonize several goblins at once.” Aldagrim muttered.

“I was protecting you, you muffinhead!” Ferembras glared up at his brother.

“Muffinhead?!” Aldagrim turned around. “If you weren’t so injured, I’d -”

“Enough!” Baldarick interjected. “We will rest here the night and tomorrow you will be taken to our Elders to discuss passage through the mountains. You are trespassors here so we will need to take your weapons until the Elders have heard your case.”

Bilbo sighed in relief as his company were released and quickly made his way over to Thorin.

“Are you alright?” Bilbo couldn’t help but ask.

“I am fine, ghivisha.” Thorin pulled him closer for an embrace. “You and your cousins handled that well.”

Bilbo snorted. “Aldagrim and Ferembras play off each other’s ridiculous antics to get others to bring down their guard. I’m sure that Fili and Kili will be that way as well.”

Thorin shook his head and looked over to his nephews. “I hope they will because that means they survived this terrible mess.”

Bilbo pulled back and gave him a smile. “I hope so, too.”