#secret project

A Fierce and Jealous Love

Rating: T

Warnings: N/A

Status: In-progress (1/9)

Collab with @raventhrush

For @fantasyinallforms (HAPPY BIRTHDAY!)

Tags: Alternate Universe - Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies | Alternate Universe - Bilbo Baggins Remains in Erebor | The Lonely Mountain | Mutual Pining | Jealousy | courting gifts | Miscommunication | Dwarf Culture & Customs | Oblivious Bilbo Baggins | Dwarf Pirates

Summary: Thorin has been struggling between rebuilding the home he fought so hard to reclaim and dealing with the hardships the war had wrought upon him physically and mentally. However, he is sure about one thing: his desire to court the hobbit of his heart. Of course, nothing can ever be simple for the newly established dwarf king as an old friend from the past returns, and while Thorin wants to help him, watching Marlok grow closer to Bilbo threatens to sour any rekindling of their friendship.

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New Chapter: Chapter 1- A Fierce Ship Arrives

“Thorin!” Dwalin’s voice called out.

Thorin spun around, his brows raised when he caught sight of the grimness of Dwalin’s face. 

“What’s wrong?” Thorin demanded.

“There’s a dwarven warship in Dale’s harbor.”

Thorin’s foot gave a twinge, causing him to falter for a step before he was able to right himself. This would not be like last time, he would be better, he would be wiser. He maintained a facade of calm as he motioned for Dwalin to follow him, trying and failing to keep from limping as they headed down to their own docks. Thorin had thought it was a possibility. The gold of Erebor too tempting to some of the other clans that had scorned Thorin for his quest in the first place, and while they were vastly improved defensively since the battle, he wouldn’t say they could hold off an invasion.

“Did you see a flag?”

“Aye, they fly two. One declaring themselves independent of any kingdom, and the other declaring they come with peaceful intentions.”

Thorin’s brows furrowed together. That didn’t make any sense. The flag of independence was seen as the pirate’s flag. Used for cutthroats and plunderers who had been exiled from any and all corners of the world where a dwarf would normally be welcomed. And if it were a warship, Thorin would think it would be Stiffbeard pirates. Why would they come to Erebor though? Especially under the guise of peaceful intentions? They couldn’t possibly think Thorin was stupid enough to trust them and let them in anyways.

“We will welcome them into Erebor’s docks, but with a host of eighty at the ready. I don’t want to take any chances. Find Fili and have him send a raven both to Bard and Kili who should still be in the Greenwoods. Tell them to be ready for Erebor’s signal should the worst happen.”

Dwalin nodded, walking off to carry out Thorin’s orders. Thorin made a beeline to his rooms. He always took to carrying Orcrist out of habit anyways, but he thought he should at least put on some armor just in case. He had just stepped inside when he froze, a horrible realization hitting him. The warship was in Dale where Bilbo had gone to do his shopping. What were the chances the hobbit would stay far away from it?

None. There was a zero chance trouble would not find him.

Lmaoooo dont worry my entire team is queers (except ONE single token straight, but we love her) so even though Woke Mob LLC got turned down, there will be a lot of gay in The Secret Project

Funny enough though one of the bits of lore we banged out recently was the idea of each "region" having a festival. I decided that the dominant culture of every region would have some kind of celebration using fire as symbolism for their values as a whole. From there I've worked closely with each teammate whose culture is being represented.

So for example, there's a region heavily based on Persia, so the Chaharshanbe Souri immediately jumped out. That's a festival just before Nowruz, which marks the start of Spring, and that lead to our other teammate bursting in HYPED about following that up with a Summer Powwow. That lead to the idea of a somber winter celebration based on the Aztec New Fire ceremony.