After a day of crazy posting, at last, the holiday gift stories are unlocked.
First of all, I must give sincerest thanks to
juno_magic, who clued me in to Deepest Sender for LiveJournal, saving me hours of inserting HTML tags as I usually do. It was much easier to cut and paste and tinker with the source rather than my usual habit of scanning the story for italics, centering, or special text and adding the tags by hand, which is fine when posting a single chapter or story, but gets a bit hairy when you have twenty stories to post.
But enough of geek stuff! It's the holidays!
I must say that I really enjoyed working on these stories this year. I've acquired a lot of new bunnies as a result and thank you all for giving me such a creative variety of challenges to keep me occupied. (I'm not sure that Bobby will agree with this...he'll probably be glad to ask, "What are you doing tonight?" and getting an answer other than "Writing holiday gifts." :^P But I didn't hear him complain when I gave him his story.)
All of the holiday stories are tagged here, if you want to see them all in one place. In addition, below the cut, is a list of them with summaries and ratings and other things that people generally like to know. Two of the stories are original fiction, and they are friend-locked for their protection, as they are part of the legends that make up the world I write about in my original fantasy stories. So if you've been reading along with my stories and haven't yet friended me but want a look at these, simply leave me a comment and I'll add you to the flist.
Of course, as I wrote twenty stories in about a month, they are rough and many need a lot of revision before I'll consider showing them outside of my LJ. Per usual, I appreciate people's thoughts on stuff--both good and bad--if you feel inspired to leave me a comment. Also, three of these stories will be part of longer works, although I've done my best to include sections that can stand on their own somewhat.
I should mention also that they are posted in no particular order, certainly not in the order they were written. More like the order in which I grabbed them at random from my Data Deposit Box! So the placement of your story is no indication of how interesting I thought your idea was (I liked them all, to tell the truth) or how long I spent on it. A lot of the posts are also backdated to keep my flist from being spammed with a half-dozen postings today.
Sincerest thanks, as always, to my readers and wishing all the happiest of holiday seasons!
Discovering Love, for
enismirdal. Maglor's wifes accidentally discovers the extent of her brother-in-law's friendship with his cousin. Rated for adult audiences only for discussions of slash and heterosexual sexuality.
Essecarmë, for
frenchpony. The naming ceremony for Curufin leads Maglor to question family hierarchies. Rated for general audiences.
Estranged, for
allie_meril. The estrangement of Fëanor and Nerdanel following his banishment. Rated for adult audiences only for reasons of some heterosexual sexuality.
Fëanor's Mistake, for
tuxedo_elf. Fëanor gets lost in the woods and has a humorous misunderstanding about the level of his son Celegorm's friendship with Oromë. Rated for adult audiences only for shameless slashy sexual innuendo and nekkid!Celegorm.
The Gift, for
rhapsody11. Celegorm recalls a gifts given and love lost on the night of the Winter Festival, on the journey to Araman, and he gives to his nephew a special gift for his first Winter Festival. Rated for general audiences.
The Last Night of the World, for
isil_elensar. On an infamous night in Gondolin's history, Glorfindel and Laitameldë of Gondolin seal their love until the world's ending. Rated for adult audiences only for graphic heterosexual sex.
The Legend of Tamria, for
tabraun. An original romantic adventure where a young Elven woman seeks to understand her strangeness and ends up greatly changing the course of history in the Midhavens. Rated for general audiences, friend-locked, and a work in progress.
Memories of Cuivienen, for
sirielle. Maedhros reflects upon the legends of Middle-earth that he learned from Finwë. Rated for general audiences, with warnings for violence.
Mercy, for
ford_of_bruinen. The deaths of Celegorm, Curufin, and Caranthir at Doriath and the desertion of Dior's sons. Rated for adult audiences only for violence, blood, and gore.
The Music of the Night, for
juno_magic. Elladan meets someone unexpected in the forest who helps heal him of wounds he didn't know he had. Rated for adult audiences only for graphic heterosexual sex.
One Last Wish, for
arandil13. A year before Fëanor is banished from Aman, he returns to his estranged wife to make one last wish. Rated for general audiences but with some sexuality.
The Puppet, for
myrsine. On the night when the Silmarils are revealed by Fëanor to his half-family, Fingolfin and his sister Lalwen discover the truth of such "miracles." Rated for general audiences.
Reflections of Curufinwë, for
alassante. A drabble series in which Curufin and Celebrimbor ponder their lineage and how it binds them to a certain fate. Rated for general audiences.
Return to Me, for
fanged_geranium. Finarfin goes to the Halls of Mandos to assist the Vala in resurrecting his eldest son. Rated for general audiences but contains some bloody and scary images; also a work in progress.
A Song and a Story, for
aramel_calawen. Young Elrond and Elros learn of the fates of the twins who preceded them and a bit also about their foster father and uncle, Maedhros and Maglor. Rated for general audiences.
A Symphony for My Father, for
evils_hero. Maglor is given the task to write a song for his father's begetting day and ponders their relationship. Rated for general audiences, with a warning for nudity, and a work in progress.
Tales Unheard, for
digdigil. Upon returning to Himring after being banished from Nargothrond, Celegorm discovers a city awash with vicious rumors--and an unexpected haven from them. Rated for adult audiences only for graphic heterosexual sex.
To Dream of Fire, for
ann_arien. Even after his marriage to Nerdanel, Fëanor is haunted by disturbing fantasies of Arien. Rated for adult audiences only for reasons of graphic sexuality.
The Tree of Hours, for
greenknight33. An original adventure, from the history of the Midhavens, in which an ordinary boy changes the fate of Mortalkind. Rated for general audiences and friend-locked.
When the Stars Smile, for
tarion_anarore. Caranthir discovers how easily one is made a fool by love when he falls for an unlikely woman. Rated for general audiences, although I must warn for snarky Caranthir humor and shameless boob comments. Boys will be boys, it seems.
First of all, I must give sincerest thanks to
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
But enough of geek stuff! It's the holidays!
I must say that I really enjoyed working on these stories this year. I've acquired a lot of new bunnies as a result and thank you all for giving me such a creative variety of challenges to keep me occupied. (I'm not sure that Bobby will agree with this...he'll probably be glad to ask, "What are you doing tonight?" and getting an answer other than "Writing holiday gifts." :^P But I didn't hear him complain when I gave him his story.)
All of the holiday stories are tagged here, if you want to see them all in one place. In addition, below the cut, is a list of them with summaries and ratings and other things that people generally like to know. Two of the stories are original fiction, and they are friend-locked for their protection, as they are part of the legends that make up the world I write about in my original fantasy stories. So if you've been reading along with my stories and haven't yet friended me but want a look at these, simply leave me a comment and I'll add you to the flist.
Of course, as I wrote twenty stories in about a month, they are rough and many need a lot of revision before I'll consider showing them outside of my LJ. Per usual, I appreciate people's thoughts on stuff--both good and bad--if you feel inspired to leave me a comment. Also, three of these stories will be part of longer works, although I've done my best to include sections that can stand on their own somewhat.
I should mention also that they are posted in no particular order, certainly not in the order they were written. More like the order in which I grabbed them at random from my Data Deposit Box! So the placement of your story is no indication of how interesting I thought your idea was (I liked them all, to tell the truth) or how long I spent on it. A lot of the posts are also backdated to keep my flist from being spammed with a half-dozen postings today.
Sincerest thanks, as always, to my readers and wishing all the happiest of holiday seasons!
Discovering Love, for
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
Essecarmë, for
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
Estranged, for
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
Fëanor's Mistake, for
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
The Gift, for
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
The Last Night of the World, for
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
The Legend of Tamria, for
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
Memories of Cuivienen, for
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
Mercy, for
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
The Music of the Night, for
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
One Last Wish, for
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
The Puppet, for
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
Reflections of Curufinwë, for
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
Return to Me, for
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
A Song and a Story, for
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
A Symphony for My Father, for
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
Tales Unheard, for
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
To Dream of Fire, for
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
The Tree of Hours, for
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
When the Stars Smile, for
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
Tags:
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-24 11:55 pm (UTC)*runs to read*
Have an absolutely fantastic Christmas and thank you so much for taking the time to write it for me! *huggles, sends Christmas yummies and wonderful happy thoughts*
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-27 03:25 pm (UTC)Lol! I guess it was midnight UK time, wasn't it? At that point, I think time had ceased to exist for me. I don't even remember what time it was when I posted these! ;)
And you are more than welcome. :) I had a lot of fun with it! And you made me write my first story with mention of slash. I've gone over to the dark side.... ;^P
Have an absolutely fantastic Christmas and thank you so much for taking the time to write it for me! *huggles, sends Christmas yummies and wonderful happy thoughts*
Thank you! It was absolutely fantastic (fantastic enough that this is the first I've been online since posting the stories!) and I hope yours was the same. :)
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-25 07:19 pm (UTC)YAAAAAHOOOOOOO!!!
*runs*
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-27 03:29 pm (UTC)Hope your Christmas was wonderful! :)
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-25 08:51 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-27 03:54 pm (UTC)Hope you found some peace and had a wonderful holiday! :)
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-25 09:16 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-27 03:55 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-25 11:14 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-27 03:56 pm (UTC)Dawn! Your Stories!
Date: 2005-12-25 11:43 pm (UTC)Re: Dawn! Your Stories!
Date: 2005-12-27 03:58 pm (UTC)Yes, I work well under pressure. Can ya tell? :^P I tend to procrastinate things, so having a solid deadline and an objective in mind is helpful.
XMAS FICS! Two of them!
Date: 2005-12-26 01:34 pm (UTC)Re: ‘Tales Unheard’: Mine! SQUEEEEE!!! OMG, Dawn, however did you come up with this wonderful story? It’s so dark and sad, but so touching and sweet as well! I just love the fact that the girl is deaf so she cannot hear what the others say about Celey and his brothers, so she loves him for only what she sees in him from her own narrow PoV. And Maedhros also. And wow! – you’ve made Maedhros so pathetically damaged that it’s heart-wrenching. You must have cried while you wrote this. I had tears by the end. This was one story I didn’t want to be finished. The old woman was hideous – great description, Dawn! I winced when I thought of the squickiness that Celey was ‘dipping’ into! Yecccch!! And great perception too – that Celey’s so flawed now that even she is too good for him! Oh, my poor baby! And I love your description of Curufin! He comes across as less flawed but more remote and beautiful than the others – as if he were less touched by all the tragedies that occurred. I love the references to Luthien. I was thinking that this deserves its own story: a tale of Celegorm’s lust for her, and her attraction to him, but she must make a choice between him and Beren – and perhaps even that she is more attracted to Curufin than Celegorm, but he not to her, and because he is Celegorm’s brother, they cancel each other out in Luthien’s mind, so this decides that she chooses Beren in the end. (That plus the fact that she slept with Beren and knows how a certain urgency burns within Men and she ultimately prefers this to the languidity of Elves. Mmm --- could work. A verrry hott love triangle – or quadrangle?) The other story I’d like to mess with is another slashy fic involving Beren, Beleg, Mablung and Turin, but I’m not sure where the slashes should go: Man/Elf, Elf/Elf or Elf/Man? Hmmmm. Oh Gods, I’m getting way off track here. Anyway, you outdid yourself with my story! I was blown away by it and I will treasure it forever and read and reread it many times! I love the darkness in it. It reminded me of the wonderful job you did with Rúmil the loremaster in that chapter of AMC. You’re kind of getting into a whole other area of horror there with a little voodoo or something really darkly weird going on. You should definitely write more dark stuff. You have a real knack for it! I also think you’ve created 3 plotbunnies for me with this story, so don’t be surprised if you see in the future – either in an existing story or a new one from me –
1) The Celegorm/Luthien/Curufin/Beren thing.
2) The Beren/Beleg/Mablung/Turin one. (I’ve already been thinking about this for a while.)
3) Something involving some escaped Elf-Orcs, perhaps discovered by Elladan. Isil wants me to write her an Elladan/OFC fic for her birthday, and I’m toying with the idea of Elladan and a female Elven-ranger (disguised as a male) discovering some Elf-Orcs up in the northern regions of Arnor. He’ll discover after being in the wilds for a while that she’s a female and there will be hott sex! (Oh, yes.) (You know, the twins are really hott. I’ve been reading Alassante’s “Paradox” and she made me see what a hottie Elrohir is too!!!) See what you’ve done? Anyway! Thank you, thank you, thank you, for my wonderfully inspirational holiday gift! It was brilliant and truly inspiring!
Re: XMAS FICS! Two of them!
Date: 2005-12-26 07:59 pm (UTC)*squueeeee* Really?? Ohhh, I can't wait to read this! Two weeks of waiting is going to be excruciating!! :-)
Re: XMAS FICS! Two of them!
Date: 2005-12-27 04:11 pm (UTC)He was swimming in the creek, of course! ;)
Re: ‘Tales Unheard’: Mine! SQUEEEEE!!! OMG, Dawn, however did you come up with this wonderful story? It’s so dark and sad, but so touching and sweet as well!
*blushes* Thank you! I don't know where my stories come from. Sometimes, they just...arise. Like magic! :^P
But for this project, I was trying really hard not to keep all of my stories confined to Valinor, where I tend to be most comfortable writing because there's less pesky canon to be concerned with. I actually had to do some research for this story to get the timeframes right *gasp* Lois would be proud! But that's how you ended up with a tale set in Himring instead of Tirion, Formenos, blah blah blah...Felak's usual suspects. ;^P
You should definitely write more dark stuff. You have a real knack for it!
Lol! Yes, the irony that someone as cheerful and friendly as me should wile away her hours writing about murder, treachery, rape, torture.... ;) But if you like my darker stuff, you'll love the NaNo fic then because it's probably the darkest thing I've ever written. (Well, I'm still writing it, but you know what I mean. I hope!)
I also think you’ve created 3 plotbunnies for me with this story, so don’t be surprised if you see in the future – either in an existing story or a new one from me
I think they all sound really intriguing! The ease with which you take on such a wide range of topics amazes me. I feel so confined in comparision: It's always Finwion, usually Feanorian, usually set in Valinor.... You have my admiration for this. :)
(You know, the twins are really hott. I’ve been reading Alassante’s “Paradox” and she made me see what a hottie Elrohir is too!!!)
E&E? Hott? *looks around* I have no idea what you're talking about. >:^P
Actually, E&E are two of the only LotR characters whom I actually feel tempted to write without nudging from friends, usually for gifts. And I wish they'd been in the movie.... *shoots PJ a dirty look for forgetting my two favorite LotR Elves*
I have to read Paradox. It's on my reading list for the new year.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, for my wonderfully inspirational holiday gift! It was brilliant and truly inspiring!
You're so welcome. :) Good friends deserve good stories! (At least, I try my darndest for the last part!) I hope your Christmas holiday weekend was wonderful. :)
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-26 05:09 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-27 04:13 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-26 07:08 pm (UTC)Oh, Dawn, I never expected this and I am about to sign off within minutes, but this is my only Christmas present I received this year and I am going to put my feet up tomorrow & enjoy a Celegorm story... written for me. Wow..
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-27 04:15 pm (UTC)I had me at Elves.... ;)
I hope your Christmas was lovely! Happy holidays. :)
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-26 07:58 pm (UTC)Thank you so much, Dawn... ((((((((((massive huggles)))))))))))
*sniffle*
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-27 04:19 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-27 07:36 pm (UTC)It's a happy sniffle! A happy happy happy sniffle. You did so wonderfully well with keeping it happy (for my sake), and I'm... you guessed it... happy. ;-)
Thank you! *runs off with hott!nekkid!Elves...*
Holiday Gifts
Date: 2005-12-28 02:30 pm (UTC)Re: Holiday Gifts
Date: 2005-12-28 04:38 pm (UTC)Re: Holiday Gifts
Date: 2005-12-28 08:29 pm (UTC)Re: Holiday Gifts
Date: 2005-12-29 01:39 am (UTC)Perhaps you should? >:^D *wicked grin*
But thank you! I was feeling a bit uncertain about this one, as I've never slashed before. But it was fun, actually, especially given Eni's rather intriguing set of stipulations!
Oh, and I have spread myself way too thin!
Do I ever know what you mean! :) The story of my life...I'm hoping to get your beta to you this week. Johnny the Boss is out of the office until 4 January, allowing me to really slack off and therefore get important stuff done. "Important stuff" like betas and writing and Nelyo's.... :^P I generally limit myself on projects, but I understand your plight. Maybe keep a notebook of ideas? And commit to 2 or 3 WiPs at most, at a time? But your idea book won't let you forget what you have going...even LJ is good for this, I've learned. I make private-locked entries with outlines and notes so that I don't forget things and tag them as things like "amc notes" or "nanowrimo prewriting" so that I can pull them all up again easily. Well, for me, it's a matter of convenience too since I write both at home and at work and can then have everything right at hand.
Rambling, yes, I know..., ;)
*have you seen that guy, Dawn?*
>:^D <--wickeder grin. Noooo....
The fic is coming long nicely. Erm - I mean ALONG nicely!
ROFLMAO!
Oh! I wanted to rec a good, naughty slashfic to you, featuring the very hott twins and Erestor, written by my pal Alina....
It's even called Damn This Heat, so you know.... ;)
But seriously, as I was reading it, I was thinking, "I must tell Jenni!" Hey, we pervs gotta stick together. ;^P
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-29 05:11 pm (UTC)I've especially enjoyed "Return to Me" (that background noise you hear right now is Caranthir pacing angrily because of the very fact...), feeling very, very, sorry for Finarfin (probably even more than for Finrod) while reading it. Which remind me that I still have to go and make a crappy icon... :-)
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-29 07:53 pm (UTC)"Return to Me" seized me and would not let go...I wrote over 6K words on it in one day. I plan on SSPing it (despite the fact that it's not revised) for Finarfin Appreciation Month.
And yes, I'm still looking forward to that crappy icon. ;) (Although I'm sure it'll be less crappy than one I'd conjure!)