#forgotten roads

Oh gosh thank you! I’ve been feeling very down about how little interest the fic got, so your message made my day :) 

I’m sorry for how long it’s taking me to update. I finished the next chapter but something’s wrong about it, so I’m struggling a bit to make it right. :c

But I haven’t given up on the fic, I’m just very slow, and working on other things at the same time (such as my merman!Bard fic, which I decided to cut into chapters to give me more time to finish part II, and to stop making those interested in it wait... anyWAY I’m rambling!) 

Oh! I believe I haven’t left any feedback yet, which is a shame for I already love the story. It feels promising and intriguing! It contains almost everything I love and would like to see more in Barduil: road story with a mysterious quest, an interesting setting featuring a world that you’re eager to explore, interesting inhabitants (shapeshifters, soothsayers, etc.) you’d love to know more about, the characters who are very different in many aspects and who would be incompatible, did they not share something in common that could make it work. There is definitely some tension and a certain gravitational pull between the characters. I’m excited to see how their relationship will grow and develop. Additional kudos for this part: *“Why should I?” Thranduil merely replied, getting himself back together as fast as he was able to, wishing to keep the regal composure he was known for. He didn't need to say anything else to remind Bard he was the one being feared here. But this way, Thranduil also implied something else*. You have no idea how much I appreciate characters behaving according to their personalities, views, values, and a situation they get into instead of being used to flash out other characters! Well, it’s personal, but I have my reasons. It seems some of Thranduil’s original (movie) traits are transferred to Bard. Scars and a blind eye now belong to Bard as well as exceptional fighting skills especially when it comes to cold steel since so far it is Bard who demonstrates all these qualities, while Thranduil’s behaviour is that of a civilian. To be honest, I haven’t figured out what to think about it yet. For now it feels somewhat strange and maybe unusual, but it certainly does not feel ill-intended in any way and I’m interested to see how this characterization is going to play out in the context of the story. I think it’s only natural since the story has just begun and the characters are still a mystery to be explored. For the record, this part is not meant to discourage, I’m just sharing my thoughts on something I’m invested. Anyway, I’ve been enjoying the story so far. Thanks for sharing your work!

You actually left a review on the first chapter already! But I won’t complain :3

Foremost I’m sorry if I misunderstand some of the things you said, I’m tired and sick, and I’m known to be slow to get things, so my concentration is not at its best. *sighs*

So, I’m glad to know my setting and dynamics piqued your curiosity, and I hope it’ll live up to your expectations! :D

Then, yes, I try to keep a tension between them, but at the same time a kind of understanding. They are very different, and even if Bard hadn’t been exiled they still would, if only because of their backgrounds. So that’s one of the things I didn’t change from the movies.

I also tried to keep Thranduil as in character as possible, but kept in mind he’s not a 6.5k+ years old King and a leader of armies in this context. I also want to keep a sort of mutual respect between them, even though, Thranduil being Thranduil, he still thinks, even if he does unconsciously, that he’s superior to Bard in some aspect (but that’s one of the things I like about this ship; how Thranduil gets to learn/realize that he’s ‘wrong’ in the way he sees mortals/’weaker’ beings/someone like Bard in the FR context. I mean, the first time he sees Bard (in the movies) he’s still a bit... cold and distant and everything. but then Bard has the guts to ask the Elvenking to let him go talk to the dwarves (and he killed a dragon please, so that helped in the first place I think) and from there Thranduil seems to warm up to him and respect him much more. If that makes any sense) (I’m very bad at expressing myself on this subject I’m sorry about that.) That’s something I(’ll) kind of play with, too.

Then yes, I did kind of transfer Thranduil’s scars to Bard, though it wasn’t really intentional. I just wanted him to go through some serious shit and have the scars to remind him so (also because I’m a sucker for this kind of scars on my favourite characters, I admit it) BUT Bard is actually not a particularly good fighter. He’s not as good with swords as Thranduil is. He gives off this impression because thanks to time and practice he’s got good control of his daggers, but he has nothing of a skilled fighter, at least with blades. He wouldn’t be very good with a sword, and as explained in the second chapter, his daggers assure him the effect of surprise. He plays mostly on that (cf. meeting with Thranduil), and/or his reputation of being extremely dangerous, to threaten and/or avoid confrontation (cf. chapter 1 when he confronts the villagers in the tavern).

It has not yet been explained (yet), but Thranduil had sword fightning lessons in his youth, and that’s something he kept practicing over the years. However, since the land they live in is rather quiet, just like his life style, he hasn’t had many occasions to use his skills against people, which makes him able to defend himself (as he mentioned in chapter 1) but doesn’t make him as good as he is in the movies. Again, that’s a question of context!

But then, what’s a sword against, for example, giant mountain lions, direwolves, or other creatures living across the land? Only severlal skilled men (preferably with a bow), or a Shapeshifter (their animal form is as tall as a horse, and even larger) can challenge such beasts and have a chance to get out of a fight like that alive. This is one of the reasons (along with guiding him, Thranduil has no knowledge whatsoever of the land and its fauna/flora, roads, towns, etc) he needs Bard for.  But damn, he would probably tell Bard to let him deal if they were up against men. Honestly, Thranduil is more likely to win a fight between men than Bard (unless he turns, in that case they’re done). But there are some things even Thranduil can’t pretend he’d survive against.

Basically I’d say they complete each other. :3

Sooo this turned rather long-y but thanks, it’s nice to put my thoughts/headcanons down :3 I hope it cleared some things up (though I feel like I started rambling over the wrong things?? if I did I’m truly sorry, but hey, I guess that’s not useless information xD)

Thank you so so much for reading and letting me know your thoughts! ♡ :D