(no subject)

[skygiants]

I spent a significant chunk of this weekend's at a boozy traveling Lord of the Rings marathon and have now seen the films in their almost-entirety (except for the bit of The Two Towers that I missed for chorus practice) for the first time in probably fifteen years.

So, if you have a favorite work of LOTR fanfiction, please recommend it to me! I make no promises to actually read everything that's recced to me because I still have to actually get through most of Yuletide, but the iron is hotter now than it may ever be again (also I'm honestly very curious what everyone's favorite actually is, here, now, in the year 2020.)

Comments

[makamu]

It's technically fanfic for The Silmarilion , but as it also covers the most important backstory for LOTR (the forging of the Rings), it might still fit:

These Gifts That You Have Given Me by thearrogantemu (E, Celebrimbor/Sauron, 114k)

Plus as a bonus:

And What Happened After by the arrogantemu (Gen, 74k, Teen and Up) , a great coda to the whole Legendarium.

I'll dig up some more recs tomorrow if you don't mind - I am on my break now, and keep an eye on this thread because I am actually due for a rewatch and re-read myself *g*

[chestnut_pod]

Definite second on "These Gifts." And the rest of Thearrogantemu's Silm work, come to that.

[aria]

I'm sorry to report that I have no favorite LotR fanfiction and have instead been doing my level best to write my ideal Frodo/Sam story for MANY years now. ONE DAY!!

[skygiants]

ONE DAY. no one else in this entire thread to date has recced me ANY Frodo/Sam so you clearly have to finish it to fill this important niche!!!

[luzula]

I don't really read much LotR fanfic, but if you want, you can read the melancholy and botanically accurate ent smut I wrote where I figured out the reproductive biology of ents.

[chestnut_pod]

I cannot WAIT.

[sally_maria]

I must admit most of the Lord of the Rings fanfic I read is technically post-LotR.

One favourite is The Master and the King by rhymer23, which is written from the point of view of a later historian, who's found the letters written between legendary figures Meriadoc the Magnificent and King Éomer of Rohan, a correspondence revisionist historians denied ever existed...

[skygiants]

Thank you, epistolary and historiographical fic is a genre that's dear to my heart!

[chestnut_pod]

I'm not sure what your Silmarillion tolerance is, but I adore gogollescent's a double dream for being gorgeous, Elwing-forward, and heart-wrenching. Also, the most fun fandom trend I've ever followed is "Tar-Míriel is the Witch-King of Angmar," and for all your devious, villainous femslash needs, see lupinely's something dark is coming and Sath's What the Sea Knows. God, the tumblr flowering of Silm fandom was such a good time.

As for the main trilogy, if you ever wanted to have FEELINGS about Sauron and Gollum, Prackspoor's Duplicity is so good and also a fun debate about the differences between Augustinian and Manichean evil.

[skygiants]

Thank you for the recs! I've never read more than the first two chapters of the Silmarillion, and that was many years ago, but I definitely watched the tumblr flowering of Silm fandom from the sidelines and was anthropologically fascinated, if also frequently confused.

[castiron]

A Game of Chess has long been one of my favorites.

[lirazel]

I was never super into reading LOTR fanfiction (I just watched the special features on the Extended Edition DVDs over and over), but I have to admit that the only one I actually remember reading was a multichapter Eowyn/Legolas fic on fanfiction.net. Which is suitably embarrassing.

[skygiants]

lol, we all read many things on fanfiction.net back in the day! I admit, part of the reason I asked is that I'm really curious what people have to say now, 20 years after the initial movie-fandom boom. Trends have changed so much since then!

[dimestore_romeo]

My absolute guilty pleasure reread once a year is Sansûkh by determamfidd.

I think I needed something to distract me a few years ago when I was in a really bad place, but now it's one of those where, when there's an update, I end up rereading the whole damn thing.

I've always been a sucker for some Gimli/Legolas culture clash, so...

[skygiants]

I'm very pleased that Gimli/Legolas is making such a strong showing in these recs, good job everybody!

[sophia_sol]

After I finally read the books, I never really found the sort of LOTR fic that I was most wanting, which was basically good hobbit-focused stuff that is not about The Hobbit. Probably aria's unwritten Frodo/Sam is what I'm looking for!

But in absence of that I enjoyed some Aragorn-focused fic I found, my fave being The Reins of Power by rhymer23, about Aragorn's backstory.

[skygiants]

Probably aria's unwritten fic is what I'm looking for as well, but I am sure I will enjoy the Aragorn fic in the meantime. :D THank you!

[qian]

I haven't reread in ages, but They Say of The Elves is probs my fave LOTR fic of all time, because I'll be a Gimli/Legolas shipper to the end!

[skygiants]

Thank you! Despite having been a big book and movie fan as a child, I don't remember shipping anything in my youth, which meant I missed most of LOTR fandom completely - I am very excited to catch up on all the Gimli/Legolas that I missed over the years. :D

[silverblade219]

This is technically a Hobbits fic: lay down your sweet and weary head by Elenothar, a Thorin time travel fic (https://archiveofourown.org/works/938431/chapters/1828199)

[skygiants]

Thank you for the rec!

[greenygal]

I haven't read a lot of LotR fic, but On the Cold Hill Side is a sweet post-canon Legolas/Gimli story.

[skygiants]

Excellent, thank you for the rec!

[pedanther]

Seconding the rec for thearrogantemu's works.

The other one I've found myself recommending to people recently is Knowledge and Light by Flamebyrd (30K, Teen and Up, Gimli/Legolas) which is Lord of the Rings: The College AU. Now, when I say "college", I don't mean in the American sense; it's a very English college, at a very English university, one Tolkien might have felt at home in. And it's not a mundane AU; the elves are still elves, the dwarves still dwarves, and so on. But the plot mirrors the plot of the trilogy at a more down-to-earth level, and nobody dies.

[skygiants]

Oh, fascinating! I love the idea of a college AU that's not actually a mundane AU - thank you for the rec!

[theodosia21]

These are (mostly) Silmarilion rather than LOTR fics, but hopefully you'll find something to enjoy. :-)

Mirkwood Royals: https://archiveofourown.org/series/269389

The Splintered Light: https://archiveofourown.org/series/304197

In Full Measure I Return To You (64974 words) by thearrogantemu
Chapters: 3/3
Fandom: The Silmarillion and other histories of Middle-Earth - J. R. R. Tolkien
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death
Relationships: Celebrimbor/Sauron
Characters: Celebrimbor, Annatar, The Valar - Character, Nerdanel, Laicanis (Curufin's Wife), Fingolfin, Finrod, Curufin, Ambarussa
Additional Tags: Eregion, Second Age, canon-divergent, AU - Celebrimbor wins, Torture, Emotional Abuse, Well-Intentioned Extremist Sauron, Vader Gambit (There Is Good In Him I've Felt It), Theomachy by Other Means, Don't Try This At Home, Sauron's (un)Sexy Conlang, Alternate Ending for These Gifts That You Have Given Me, Fanfiction of Fanfiction, The Most Self-Indulgent Thing I Have Ever Written, Death and Rebirth, Backpacking in the Blessed Realm, Blatant Appropriation of Laws and Customs of the Eldar, soulbonding, Fade to Math, Trauma and recovery, Halls of Mandos, Many Awkward Conversations, Forgiveness and its limits, Reconciliation, Moral maturity is difficult okay
Series: Part 1 of To Morning Through the Shadow
Summary:

“Think about it. What if you get everything you want? What if this works? What if, in pain and in the fear of pain, I yield to your will? Where you once had a friend, you will now have a cringing slave. Then, Annatar, and only then, will we both be lost beyond recall.”

Now available in podfic form thanks to the skills of WolffyLuna.

Cover art by Sumeria

The Starless Road (62157 words) by orphan_account
Chapters: 9/9
Fandom: The Silmarillion and other histories of Middle-Earth - J. R. R. Tolkien
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Fingon/Maedhros
Characters: Fingon, Turgon, Finrod, Frodo Baggins, Sam Gamgee, Gandalf, Maedhros, Maglor, Fëanor, Sons of Fëanor, Elrond, Elros Tar-Minyatur, Dior Eluchíl, Eluréd, Elurin, Amras
Additional Tags: Fix-It, Hobbits, Valinor, The Void, Finrod and Turgon Build A Hobbit Hole, Elves Love To Party, Spirit Quests For Your Rubbish Ex, Maedhros Ruins Breakfast, Void Spiders, How Many Things Can Fëanor Set On Fire, Teen Rebellion Haircuts, Sad Twins, Kissing, Significant Gifts, Platonically Ideal Dragons, Thangorodrim, Self-Pity Seldom Helps, Maedhros Ruins Second Breakfast
Summary:

"Maedhros sought destruction body and spirit, and found both. When Mandos summoned him, he refused, and first of them all he has been taken by the void that they swore themselves to. He is not in the world, and will not come again. Deeper darknesses are there than that which Morgoth made below Thangorodrim!” Fingon paused and looked at Finrod. “Should I not then have killed him as he asked me?”

“No!” said Finrod, but Turgon said nothing.

Sam grew even more upset. “Now that’s not right,” he said, “that can’t be right! Just or not – and I don’t know that it is, begging your pardon, sir – still, no story should end that way!”

Conditional Release (24552 words) by Anna_Wing
Chapters: 26/26
Fandom: TOLKIEN J. R. R. - Works & Related Fandoms, The Silmarillion and other histories of Middle-Earth - J. R. R. Tolkien
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Manwë, Varda, Nienna, Melkor, Yavanna, Nessa, Vána, Vairë, Estë, Námo, Ungoliant, Finwë, Findis, Fëanor, Nerdanel, OCs, Indis (Tolkien), Salgant (Tolkien), Oromë, Irmo, Tulkas
Additional Tags: Happy Ending, Humour, One of these is the Silmarillion AU where everything goes right
Series: Part 9 of Vignettes of the Blessed Realm
Summary:

In which the Valar make a decision about the conditions of Melkor's release from Mandos which is in my view rather better than the one that They actually made.

The Sky, the Sea, the Birds Between (17011 words) by HerenorThereNearnorFar
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Silmarillion and other histories of Middle-Earth - J. R. R. Tolkien
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Elwing/Eönwë/Eärendil, Eärendil/Elwing (Tolkien), Elwing/Eönwë, Eönwë/Eärendil, Elwing & Melian (Tolkien), Elwing & Olwë
Characters: Elwing (Tolkien), Olwë (Tolkien), Eönwë (Tolkien), Melian, Eärendil (Tolkien), Teleri (Tolkien)
Additional Tags: Polyamory, Grief/Mourning, Separation, Married Couple, Valar Critiques, The Dubious Philosophy of Angels, Aurora Borealis, Birds
Summary:

"Hail Earendel, brightest of angels
Sent over Middle-earth to men."

Eönwë plays messenger as Elwing and Eärendil begin to adjust to their new lives as a lighthouse keeper and a star respectively.

The Most Valuable Resource (13509 words) by HerenorThereNearnorFar
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Silmarillion and other histories of Middle-Earth - J. R. R. Tolkien
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Celebrimbor | Telperinquar & Sauron | Mairon
Characters: Sauron | Mairon, Morgoth Bauglir | Melkor, Celebrimbor | Telperinquar, Fëanor | Curufinwë, (Feanor Is Present Spiritually), Thuringwethil (Tolkien)
Additional Tags: Kidnapping, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Look Some Children Absolutely Got Murdered But It's In The Background, Child Murder, Child Neglect, Terrible Childcare By Sauron, Celebrimbor's Life is a Tragedy, Elf Children Are Fragile, Sauron: "When Celebrimbor was a child I was already the Lieutenant of Angband", "If we'd hung out back then I would have been hanging out with a baby!", "I absolutely would have killed him!", Platonic Relationships, It's Weird But Only In Regular Minor Deity Faced With A Small Child Kind of Ways, fractals, Languages and Linguistics
Summary:

The children of elves die easily, for their souls are thinly bound to their bodies and their fate is to endure but not survive. So when faced with a young hostage he really can't afford to let fade away, Sauron is very careful not to do anything too traumatizing.

(Mostly.)

Luckily Feanor's grandson is an interesting child to babysit.

Five Golden Rings (5705 words) by HerenorThereNearnorFar
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Silmarillion and other histories of Middle-Earth - J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Major Character Death
Relationships: Celebrimbor | Telperinquar/Sauron | Mairon
Characters: Celebrimbor | Telperinquar, Sauron | Mairon, Annatar (Tolkien), Frodo Baggins
Additional Tags: Narvi Gets One Line, The Only Major Character Death Is Sauron's And That One Is His Own Fault, Recovery, Formenos, Deductive Worldbuilding, Post-Lord of the Rings, Jewelry, Some Non-Explicit Torture
Summary:

Barad-dûr has fallen. Celebrimbor does some light metalworking for the sake of sentiment (and maybe something more).

alteration (5129 words) by simaetha
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Silmarillion and other histories of Middle-Earth - J. R. R. Tolkien
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Celebrimbor/Sauron
Characters: Celebrimbor, Sauron
Additional Tags: Trauma, abusive relationship tactics, boundary violation, Consent Issues, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Vampires, Horror
Summary:

Sauron brings Celebrimbor back from the dead. More or less, anyway.

Beware of women with beards and men without (4792 words) by TheLionInMyBed
Chapters: 2/2
Fandom: The Silmarillion and other histories of Middle-Earth - J. R. R. Tolkien, TOLKIEN J. R. R. - Works & Related Fandoms
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Maedhros/Azaghâl
Characters: Maedhros, Azaghâl
Additional Tags: Gender or Sex Swap, Cultural Differences, Beards, Dwarves, Elves, Maedhros is a slut for military resources, Azaghâl Is Definitely Not A Dirty Elf Fetishist Nope, half of this is intelligent people respectfully discussing cultural gender markers, ...the other half is reprehensible sex
Summary:

The wise rulers of two noble peoples come together. And make common council.

[makamu]

I would love to second The Starless Road ; it's one of my favourite Fingorn/Maedhros stories and a great examination of Arda's metaphysics

[castiron]

I'm seconding the rec of Anna Wing's "Conditional Release". Silmarillion rather than LOTR, but hilarious, with moments of spine-tingling numinousity.

The Game of the Gods by Limyaael is a fun story with commentary on bad fanfic tropes.

[skygiants]

Thank you for the recs! :D

[vass]

This is Silm rather than LOTR, but it's short and I am confident you'll like it: Alizarin, by simaetha. Relevant tags: Economic Protectionism, Aniline Dyes, Fashion & Couture.

[skygiants]

Those are indeed a number of relevant tags! :D

[aquamirage]

yessssss

I will be watching this with interest and also to see how many linked fics are by people I used to know Back In The Day

[skygiants]

I look forward to hearing your stats!

[reconditarmonia]

https://archiveofourown.org/works/18025313

All Who Are Hungry, by CenozoicSynapsid - Jewish hobbits!

[chestnut_pod]

That is all you have to say ever to make me pledge my undying loyalty to a story.

[gogollescent]

I'm going to graciously bypass the temptation to which so many others have fallen and not "rec" "Silm" fanfic here, but I'm fond of River of Stone (Legolas/Gimli, bitch Legolas) and the all-essential Galadriel-takes-the-Ring-and-Eowyn-sexually-harasses-Faramir AU which you may have read. NEVERTHELESS.

[skygiants]

I have read absolutely nothing, everything is fresh to me! SOMEHOW EVEN THIS WORK OF ART ... I'm going to guess at the time it was published I probably just assumed it was Silm.

[genarti]

I'm not going to rec any Silmarillion stuff, since you've asked for LotR. (Uh, except one edge case, as you'll see.) So, hmm! What do I have in my AO3 bookmarks?

The answer is, apparently, a preponderance of Legolas/Gimli because of izilen's recs, and also a preponderance of post-canon stuff. Also, much fewer bookmarks than I'd thought. I always mean to do more going out looking for good LotR fic, and then I think about sorting through the fics that aren't up my alley and I wander off and do something else.

Faves

I definitely second the rec for all Altariel's stuff! I associate their work particularly with post-canon Éowyn and Faramir stories, which seems perhaps relevant to your interests, and more generally with the characters of Gondor and Rohan, especially but not only post-canon. A lot of fleshing out of cultures and cultural mixing.

The Sound Below Sound, by Dorinda -- set mid-canon for once! 35K, Legolas/Gimli, with a fair amount of Aragorn also. Gimli is a great deal more disturbed by the Paths of the Dead experience than he would really like to admit, to himself or to anyone else, and also there's not exactly much chance to stop and process one's feelings in the middle of the last-ditch war against Sauron. Legolas POV, full of character study and culture-building and really excellently done.

And What Happened After, by thearrogantemu -- Okay, so, disclaimer, first off: I debated about whether to include this, because it is to a significant extent actually Silmarillion fic, which I said I wasn't doing. (Also, it's like 74K.) But I decided to anyway, because it's also the best hobbit fic I have ever seen, in the specific (and very difficult) register that is the power and unexpectedness of hobbits meeting powerful ancient beings and being, well, hobbits at them. Bilbo and Frodo and Sam -- but especially Bilbo -- in the Undying Lands, after the end of canon, meeting up with a number of very ancient and sometimes technically dead Elves who never got the chance to be confronted with good hobbit-sense in their lives and really could have stood some. I've seen lots of fic that does good hobbiting when everybody's at home in the Shire, but I can't think of another that throws hobbits up against the ancient and numinous and has them hold their own in this way.


Second Tier That I Still Think Is Worth Reccing

Eadwyn of Rohan, by hannasus -- a pre-canon story about Théoden's sister, heavily featuring a man who goes by Thorongil here but has some other names before and after like maybe Strider. Doesn't 100% match up with my interpretation of him, but I like Eadwyn and the culture work with her. This is mostly a story about OCs and might-as-well-be-OCs.

We Remember, by opalmatrix: a short but well done character study of Elanor, Sam's eldest daughter.

we who are forever, by WerewolvesAreReal: a young dwarf's view of Legolas, long after.

A Road Bright and Swift, by Dorinda -- long (15K) Legolas/Gimli fic. Immediately post-canon, Legolas works on coming to terms with Gimli's mortality and they both work on coming to terms with cultural differences and commitment.

They Say of the Elves, by Brancher -- Legolas/Gimli, and some cultural misunderstandings.

[skygiants]

As you know, I consider your recs both valuable and reliable. :D Thank you for pulling these out for me!

[izilen]

!!! My time has come.

I too will attempt to recommend LotR rather than Silm fic, with the proviso that I will call it LotR fic if one or more main characters therein (or their environment) are in LotR and might be appreciated by someone who does not know or does not care for the Silmarillion.

* marks particular favourites!

On A Stormy Night by Ellynn
Faramir and Aragorn post-canon friendship fic with a dash of worldbuilding on a small scale.

The Gates of the Kingdom by Azalais
Post-canon. Gimli fulfils his promise of making new gates for Minas Tirith.

*Unripened Fruit by Gwynnyd
Post-canon. Aragorn's son Eldarion sneaks out incognito during a visit to Pelargir, and makes some friends his own age. Great fun, more worldbuilding on a small scale.
I would also recommend the author's other stuff generally, in particularly the following:

*Necessity and Desire by Gwynnyd
In which Arwen arranges the table setting for the feast before the Council of Elrond.

The Keys of the Realm by [Bad username or unknown identity: https://archiveofourown.org/users/Larner]
Outsider POV. The Keeper of the Keys of MInas Tirith prepares for the Return of the King.

*Rock and Hawk by Adaneth
BEWARE: this is novella that is the start of a series of novels set in the world of the Lord of the Rings.
I cannot recommend these highly enough for worldbuilding.
This particular novella, which does stand on its own, is about a woman of Aragorn's people who, while living alone, finds herself nursing a dwarf back to health and befriending him. A+ worldbuilding.

*On the Cold Hillside by marycrawford
I seconded this one in one of the comments above but I really must list it again: for me it's the Legolas/Gimli to end all Legolas/Gimlis, as far as canon compliance and narrative and tonal satisfaction.

The Days of Rejoicing by Flamebyrd
Someone recommended the fantasy-Oxbridge AU by this same author above and I will co-sign that rec, but I also wanted to link to this one. It's a tropey "Woke Up Married" which takes to its logical conclusion the peri-canonical assertion that to the Elves, to bed someone is to wed someone. Legolas/Gimli, crack taken seriously.

Uh, there is more where that came from?
Apparently my preferred genres are: Legolas/Gimli, common people worldbuilding and Royalty in Disguise?

[skygiants]

As you know, I'm in full concurrence with your belief that these are all excellent genres! I'm excited to dive into your recs :D

[tamsin]

Two favorites:

deep roots are not touched by the frost (2980 words) by dirgewithoutmusic
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Lord of the Rings - All Media Types
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Aragorn/Arwen, Éowyn/Faramir, Luthien/Beren
Characters: Lúthien Tinúviel, Aragorn, Elrond, Elrohir, Elladan, Éowyn, Faramir, Arwen Undómiel
Summary:

This was not a story about love or about death, not in the end, not the part that mattered. It was a story about choosing the life you wanted to live and hanging onto that, against all perils, all harms. Arwen wrapped her hands around Aragorn’s, the sword calluses on one, the ink stains on the other, her Ranger, her soldier, her king and her friend. She held on tight, kissed his brow, and thought about the rebuilding of the north wall.

Arwen and Luthien both had been asked to choose between peace and creation; eternal light, or lighting the flame themselves. They were Prometheus, the titan descended to earth. Every death they pulled out of Arwen was worth it for the things she got to build.

Lords of Misrule (11509 words) by FabulaRasa
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Lord of the Rings (2001 2002 2003)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Legolas/Gimli
Summary:

After all battles are over and all victories declared, Gimli and Legolas take a journey to Fangorn together.

[skygiants]

Awesome, thank you!

[princessofgeeks]

Here is the link to Teasel's page on AO3.

https://archiveofourown.org/users/lydiabennet/pseuds/teasel

Lots of Frodo/Sam, lots of smut, but also her story On the Plains of Gorgoroth is an amazing look at Frodo and Sam in Mordor and won all the fanfic awards back in the day.

I have lots to read here!

Other hobbit centric authors who were popular when the movies first came out, who may or may not be on AO3, were Cara Loup, Bill the Pony, Willowwode, Singe, RubyNye...Is the Frodo/Sam archive West of the Moon still live? Lots of good stuff there.

I wrote some Frodo/Sam in my time as well. It's on AO3 or tagged here.

You have given me a ton of reading material!!! Thank you.

[skygiants]

Thanks for the recs - I said somewhere above, I was surprised I hadn't gotten more Frodo/Sam recs before now!

[thady]

This is Hobbit fanfiction, but it is among my favourtite fanfiction stories:

Garden in Dol Guldur and its sequel Elf in Dol Guldur,by esama.
The Hobbit (Jackson Movies) | Gen; Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf, OCs, Tauriel | G | ~ 2,000 & 17,000 words
"If you wouldn't mind it terribly, I would like to take a small detour south on our way through Mirkwood."
-- > The first story and the sequel are wonderful. I love the hope that permeates the story, and the quiet and peace and healing and hope.

Weary Heads To Rest (2291 words) by icarus_chained
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings - All Media Types
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Gimli/Legolas Greenleaf
Characters: Gimli, Legolas Greenleaf
Additional Tags: Post-War of the Ring, Aftermath, Sleep, Literal Sleeping Together, Sharing a Bed, Friendship/Love, Falling In Love, Declarations Of Love, Teasing, Hopeful Ending, Happy Ending
Summary:

In the quiet after the war is won, Gimli watches Legolas sleep that strange half-sleep of the elves, and slowly and perhaps begrudgingly comes around to the realisation that he loves him.

Ways and Customs (4903 words) by appleapple
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Lord of the Rings - All Media Types
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Gimli/Legolas Greenleaf
Additional Tags: First Time
Summary:

“The ways of the Elves are strange,” he said at last.

“The customs of the Dwarves are strange,” Legolas was quick to retort.

The Stubbornness of Dwarves (6871 words) by khazadqueen
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Hobbit - All Media Types, The Lord of the Rings - All Media Types
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Gimli/Legolas Greenleaf, Dwalin/Thorin Oakenshield, Dwalin & Legolas Greenleaf
Characters: Legolas Greenleaf, Gimli, Dwalin
Additional Tags: Courtship, Dwarf Culture & Customs, Friendship, Gift Giving, Tragic Romance, Older Characters, Snark, Matchmaking, The Desolation of Dwalin's Patience
Summary:

Legolas's attempts at courting Gimli have fallen flat on their face. Somehow, Dwalin finds himself playing matchmaker--neither of them are really sure how it happens.

The Long Road Home (95516 words) by Scribblesinink
Chapters: 22/22
Fandom: Lord of the Rings (2001 2002 2003), Lord of the Rings (Novel)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Faramir, Aragorn, Boromir, OFC, OMC
Additional Tags: Adventure, bookverse, movieverse, Future Fic, What-If, Alternate Universe, Boromir!Lives AU
Series: Part 1 of Long Road Home (LotR)
Summary:

Against all odds, Boromir survives Amon Hen. Ashamed and filled with remorse, he goes on a quest for redemption. Bound by his promise to a sick man, Faramir keeps the secret of his brother's survival. But as secrets are wont to do, the truth comes out eventually and Aragorn journeys north to bring Gondor's prodigal son home.

A Withering of the Frost (7810 words) by dirgewithoutmusic
Chapters: 2/?
Fandom: The Lord of the Rings - All Media Types
Rating: Not Rated
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Éowyn/Faramir
Characters: Éowyn, Éomer, Theoden-king, Aragorn, Merry Brandybuck, Faramir
Summary:

There is no killing a deathless thing. There is no saving the man gurgling his last on the ground behind you. But you raise your sword in challenge. You are a shieldmaiden of Rohan and you will stand by your king. You are Eowyn, Theoden’s daughter in all but name, and you will defy this horror until the very end of you.

But you are no man. They do not tell any stories of your end.

So you do not end here.

The Undying (20197 words) by Angela
Chapters: 5/5
Fandom: The Lord of the Rings - All Media Types
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Major Character Death
Relationships: Gimli/Legolas Greenleaf
Characters: Gimli, Legolas Greenleaf, Original Female Dwarf Character
Summary:

“I was wondering,” Gimli had said at the beginning of it. “Isn't it about time you get started on that boat of yours?”

It has been over one hundred years since the War of the Ring. Gimli and a dwarf girl named Mâglah help Legolas build his ship to sail into the west. While they are working, Legolas realizes that there are a lot of things that have been long unexpressed between him and his dearest friend, things that must be said and done before it is too late.

Through the Gloaming, by hikarievandar.
Fandom: The Hobbit/Lord of the Rings
Rating: PG-13
Genre: I have no idea Mystery/Romance
Pairing: Legolas/Gimli
Warnings: AU, slash, timetravel, vague weirdness
Disclaimer: I do not own The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings and I am making no profit from this story.
Summary: Before they reach Mirkwood, a strange mist from the Mountains brings the Company of Thorin Oakenshield into contact with a strange future.

This made me ache.



And I can't recommend rhymer's stories enough. A few have already been recced, but I can really recommend all their stories.

[skygiants]

Thank you so much for all these recs!!