“In A Hole In The Ground There Lived A Hobbit. Not A Nasty, Dirty, Wet Hole, Filled With The Ends Of

San Francisco Details (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, 2014)

Ploop ploop ploop

Even the Raven King - who was not a fairy but an Englishman - had a somewhat regrettable habit of abducting men and women and taking them to live with him in his castle in the Other Lands.

I am Obsessed with this sentence.

- this is one of the first real pieces of information that we are given about the Raven King. Before this, we know 1) he's a magician who lived centuries ago and 2) he's associated with Newcastle. You know, basic stuff. And now we get 'Oh yeah and he used to kidnap people sometimes.'

- it's incredibly creepy, actually. And I think it's quite significant that we get this so early on, that as you go through the book and learn more about the Raven King you've always got the knowledge in the back of your head that this is a man who randomly abducts folks when he fancies it.

- 'who was not a fairy, but an Englishman'. I mean, yeah. Nothing so far to suggest that he might be. All the magicians we've seen and heard of have been human. But the very fact that the author makes a point of telling us this plants the idea that there might *be* reason to mistake the Raven King for a fairy, that maybe he *isn't* quite human.

- he takes them not to his home in Newcastle but to Faerie (or possibly Agrace? I think that also counts as the Other Lands). That's very... well, *fairy* of him. And also ensures that it will be extremely difficult for them to escape and get home (do they want to get home?)

- the fact that we still know so little. Why does he take these people? Is it a romantic thing? Is it for their skill in magic? Something completely different? How willing are they? Does he ever let them go? The footnote ballad gives suggestions but I feel like there's still an awful lot left up to interpretation.

- 'A somewhat regrettable habit' like he tracks mud through the house or something. I'm dying this is so funny 'ah yes this is john uskglass. nice guy. Shame about the whole abduction thing, but hey, nobody's perfect.'

midsomer murders + text posts (part 2 / x)

4th of October: Crown / An Ceathramh Latha dhen Dàmhair: Crùn

English Translation:

Unlike his forebears, Thorin wore no crown. The people of Erebor placed their trust in him and he would not lead them astray, but when they came with a crown - forged in the halls they built in the west - as a way to honour his leadership, he refused them.

As a king in exile, Thorin would not bear any crown until he sat upon the throne of his fathers'. In the same way he kept his beard short, in memory of those lost to the dragon's fire, he remained unadorned in the traditional garb of his royal line.

Not until the mountain was theirs once more and the loss of their past washed out would he do so. Thorin took the crown made for him and placed it above the seat, hewn from the strong mountain rock, where he spoke to his people.

"Let it there rest," he said, "and every day I will work to reach its honour."

For in his heart, Thorin felt less than worthy to wear any crown, beggar-prince that he had been.

Scottish Gaelic Translation:

Aocoltach ris a sinnsearan, cha robh crùn air Thòrin. Chuir an t-sluaigh Erebor earbs air agus cha robh e ‘s gun cuireadh e iad air seachran. Ach nuair a thàinig iad le crùn, air dèanamh san tallachan a thogadh anns an Iar, mar onarachadh dha, cha ghabh e e.

Mar rìgh fògraich, cha robh Thòrin airson crùn a bhith air mus do sheas e air an rìgh-chathair nan athraichean. Anns an aon dòigh gun robh e a’ cumail na fheòsag goirid, cha bhiodh na aodaich rìoghail traidiseanta air mar chuimhneachan de dhaoine a chaidh a losgadh san teine an nathair-sgiathaich. Cha dèanadh e gus a bha a’ bheinn aca a-rithist.

Chuir Thòrin an crùn a bha air cruthachadh dha agus shuidhe e e air os chionn an rìgh-cathair a rinn an t-sluaigh às na clachan. An àite far am biodh e a’ bhruidhinn riutha.

“Leig an sin e,” thuirt e, “agus gach latha, obraich mi gus an urrainn dhomh an urram sin a’ ruigse.”

Air sgàth, anns a chridhe, cha robh Thòrin a’ faireachdainn gun robh e airidh air crùn sam bith—prionnsa dhìol-dèirce a bha e uaireigin.

i hope y'all know that when the new lord huron album drops i will very quickly become the least normal person on the planet

Uhm help, I really have a crush on DS Ben Jones from midsomer murders. I can't help he is charming and precious 🙈🫠

LYCAN CHRIS LYCAN CHRIS

Mourning Bucky After His Death in 1945

(Inspired by^ this channel is wonderful, their ambiences always get my head in the right place for writing: beware, angst)

You got the news late, when the Commandos came back from the mission...and there was one missing. They didn't need to say a thing - the gap in their ranks, and the look on Steve's face, said it all.

Being a nurse, you couldn't stop to feel the pain or even really process it. But once the rush ended, and you stepped into the quiet street, everything fell on you at once. Tears poured, and your heart felt like it could burst. Bucky usually picked you up when your breaks came. His absence hit you like a truck.

Instead, you walked along the street in a thin army uniform and shivered all the way. A bitter wind blew through Brooklyn this time of year, but the cold you felt had little to do with the weather.

Somehow, your feet brought you to the old docks where Bucky worked through the summers. That was years ago, now, and seemed like a different life. You couldn't help but smile, recalling the laughter and choice language that used to fill the air.

Once, when you began to realise the full extent of your feelings, you came to the docks and watched him for the whole day. Instead of hiding away how you felt, you relished in it.

Sixteen was a hell of an age to fall in love, especially in the thirties. But reciprocated love...it blossomed and bloomed so beautifully. With Steve, your brother, you and Bucky built a life together.

It was always Steve who talked about their future...without him. The sickly boy never expected to live past thirty, and, despite how painful the idea was, neither did they.

Never in a million years did you imagine Bucky going first.

You couldn't hold it anymore. The sobs ripped out, and you sank to the ground by the water. One hand tightly clasped the other, a cold, glinting ring pressing into your skin. A promise, a commitment...now nothing but a memory. The life you talked about, planned so dreamily, even in the face of the war, gone. Destroyed in an instant.

Deep hatred and a desire for vengance reared its head in you. Bucky always said you and Steve were too alike. But the decision already cemented itself in your mind.

When Steve crashed the Valkyrie, no one was left behind. Two days before, you had vanished on a mission in Switzerland - presumed dead. He had nothing, not even Peggy, really, to keep him on Earth.

Little did he know, that the two sweethearts had been reunited. And Hydra would make good use of them both.