Númenorean Hobbit Lass at your service

Simple days in the Shire

Thank you @hobbitwrangler for tagging me! I am SO close on chapter 12 of my super (book) canon compliant Houses of Healing Farawyn gap-filler, I brought the sun and stars, I can taste it! I plan to send draft 2 to my beta today and it should be on AO3 pretty soon. We're getting into some heavy stuff now, and this chapter has been difficult to write. It's also difficult to know what to share without giving away anything critical that I'd like y'all to experience in situ, but here is a little snippet that I am especially proud of. Here is Éowyn deciding to tell Faramir about Gríma:

He looked at her now with that same quiet patience. He was waiting for her to make her choice; he would not make it for her. She considered what she might say. In truth, she had never spoken to anyone of what had happened with Gríma, not in its totality. She had mentioned, in passing, to her brother and cousin and at times her closest handmaid, that Gríma intimidated her. She told them that he made her uncomfortable, that he leered at her like a gold object that one might covet in a market stall. But always she had used metaphors and vague language to describe her discomfort. She had recalled her feelings in a dispassionate, removed way; the way one might tell of an event that had happened to someone else. Éowyn had always told herself that it was better if she kept the details of these experiences to herself; that she she should not burden Éomer, that she should not share the fullness of her terror to avoid being dismissed as overly dramatic. But, in truth, she did not want to speak of these experiences because she did not want to give them substance. If anyone else knew the truth, then what happened to her would be real. But if she buried the memories within herself, she retained full control over them, and she hoped that one day she might compel them to disappear entirely.  But now, beneath Faramir’s sharp-eyed gaze, she could not deny that this plan had failed. She took a deep breath. Speak plainly, he had said. He would not coax the words out of her; he would not beg her for the truth. He would wait for her to say what she would. “I am sorry, lord, for misleading you,” she began, tremulously. “It’s just that I did not think that anyone would understand the truth.” “I will do my best,” said Faramir gravely. Éowyn swallowed and nodded. Somehow, she trusted him.

I'm on the penultimate chapter of my @troprewatch prompts series. This one is Mirdania and Celebrimbor POVs, in their journals // process logs. (After this series, into my 3rd Age list!!)

It happened, I did it, as the other smiths and I have discussed: I was more direct with Lord Celebrimbor about our concerns. Earlier in the day he got incredibly flustered at not being able to find his hammer. Not long after that, he claimed that our work has not been up to par – that “sloth and hubris” has emerged (the idea of it! …we have done nothing but toil: open, curious, and inexhaustible). He bemoaned having to “do everything himself” (in fact, he must not, and does not).

After all that, I just had to speak the worry and confusion we have all been feeling. I looked to my allies before speaking, and their gazes bolstered my resolve – a strengthening alloy in the moment. His reaction was not what I expected; I was bracing myself for angry dismissal of my claims.

Yet he gave me a confused, even bemused, look. Then he forgot my name. For all of my service, my devotion to his vision, that stung. Shocking, yes, but also – in all honesty – plain hurtful. After that I had to sit down and let the surprise and sting of it fade. I wish I were stronger, that such feeling was inconsequential in the shadow of the duty – but that is what I felt, I still somewhat feel.

*Aggressive stress rendered this lmao

First of all, I will just say how incredible it is to have Star Wars back in the theater. It feels special that it is a movie based on the show that turned me from a casual Star Wars enjoyer to an intense fan. It was Ahsoka's appearance in season two that finally made me watch all the animated shows, and the rest is history.

I loved this movie so much, and it was even better on the second watch. It's fun, and reminds us why we love star wars in the first place. I love the depressing Galactic Empire Era of Star Wars as much as any other angst addict, but this is what we need right now. Not to bring politics in, but the world is very f'cked, and we need an escape. Escapism has always been a big reason why I personally was drawn to Star Wars. If you go rewatch A New Hope, you will be reminded of that, even if the stakes might have been higher. This movie has so many nods to the original movies that it just feels like a comforting blanket honestly.

What I enjoyed most with this movie is not surprisingly, Grogu. But it's not as simple as he is so cute. I mean, he is, but... I really loved his growth in this film, and people who were expecting him to speak must have been watching a completely different series than I was. It's a slow process, yet he communicates with Din Djarin in ways that we might not be able to grasp. I have seen arguments that he doesn't understand him, but I think he does in many different ways. They might not communicate in a secret language, but it works just as well. And in this movie, Mando finally learns that he can trust Grogu. he doesn't always need to be saved or protected.

Grogu is taking charge more than he ever has before. If you compare him just to the s3 finale, you will see a clear difference. This is why I espcially loved the second half of the film when he works together with the Anzellans to rescue Mando. And when he chooses to stay, that too, is a very active, hard decision for him. (And no, he shouldn't have taken off his helmet, he respects him too much for that.)

Most of the positive reviews I have seen underline the fun and inconsequential events of this movie: "your kids will love it", etc. Well, I am a single 30+ childless woman who just happens to love the bond of Mando & Grogu, and I think this movie has a deeper meaning, but it isn't on a "we are going to save the galaxy" level. It's about found family and looking out for each other, in true Star Wars spirit. That might sounds simple, but it's powerful imho.

Maedhros: Do NOT forgive me Father, for I have sinned.

C&C: Praise me Father, for I have sinned.