B2MeM09:: Day Two: Mercurial Monday!

[dawn_felagund]

Mondays are generally awful. So, to make our Mondays a little easier for B2MeM, we will offer two prompts on Monday. Choose whichever one you like best and, if you like them both, the second entry can be substituted for any other prompt during the month!

Think of the most dangerous situation you can face. Have you ever been in such serious danger? What is the greatest danger that you have experienced? Think or write briefly about your experiences (or lack of experiences!) with danger. Write a story, poem or create an artwork where the characters face a great danger or where characters reflect on their reaction to a great danger.

What is the most tedious, routine work that you have to do? Write down a few tedious or routine tasks that you're sometimes required to perform. How does doing routine work make you feel? Would you like to have somebody do it for you? Now write a story, poem or create an artwork where characters have to deal with tedious jobs.

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Project guidelines can be found on our homepage here. Banners and icons for B2MeM09 participants are available here. Previous prompts and links to responses can be found here--remember, it's never to late to write for a prompt!

Comments

[whitewave16.livejournal.com]

My response for today:

http://whitewave16.livejournal.com/26704.html

[dawn_felagund]

I think you have the best sense of humor of anyone I know! These are great again, absolutely perfect! :D

[telperion-fic.livejournal.com]

And mine: a double drabble about Sam.

http://telperion-fic.livejournal.com/52652.html

[telperion1.livejournal.com]

Eh, that was me. Was still logged in to my fic-posting account. Dunno if you need to know for your records.

[dawn_felagund]

Marta, I love this! You do so much in so little here, showing Sam's practicality as well as his affections for Rosie. :)

The House of Hurin - Dwim

[(Anonymous)]

For the "danger" prompt.

---

The House of Húrin

They were born free, yet Fate abides, like the hangman's noose.

For hardship weighs: the soul, unrelieved of suffering,
shrivels, grows husk dry. Tears find no more purchase; the soul
hardens as drought-blighted earth and no more opens or gives forth,
lest even little loves shatter it.

Nienna dogged Túrin, yet sorrow that scorns pity kills. Húrin she
strove with every tortured step, yet her gifts he refused, following
Nienor to death by water.

Dry, dry, their wells run dry and barren! Húrin's House sows grief and
greatness, itself reaps gracelessness – ruin worse than nothing!

For Fate abides: Ambar turunië.

----

(That last bit may or may not mean "By fate mastered." I'm hardly a
Sindarin language expert.)

Re: The House of Hurin - Dwim

[dawn_felagund]

This is such an amazing drabble and, as I noted on the HA list, I'd somehow never thought of Nienna's connection with the House of Hurin. Excellent work! :)

[independence1776]

Here's mine, using the danger prompt: http://indy1776.livejournal.com/2855.html

[dawn_felagund]

Wow, I think that's the perfect choice of scenes! :) This is very atmospheric: the iron chamber and the torchlight and the pervading fear of the Dark.

B2MEM: March 2nd

[rhyselle.livejournal.com]

Here's my contribution!

http://rhyselle.livejournal.com/70594.html

Re: B2MEM: March 2nd

[dawn_felagund]

Poor lad! Talk about having one's hopes dashed! Another entry on another list dealt with a similar theme, and I said there that I've always wondered how "honor guards" do it. I'll be the first to admit that imaginary friends muses make good company during lonely tasks, but I think that such a duty as you describe here would be beyond even my tolerance! :)

[lanyon.livejournal.com]

i sort of couldn't decide? so i combined both in today's drabble: ennui (http://community.livejournal.com/100_indecisions/13387.html)

[dawn_felagund]

I laughed out loud that "they don't make Orcs like they used to." Kudos on working in both challenges--that was innovative!

[applegnat.livejournal.com]

I, too, attempted to write Sam, here (http://community.livejournal.com/applefic/10974.html#cutid2). Thank you!

[dawn_felagund]

Wow! Both drabbles are gorgeous! I confess to being mostly a Silmarillion-type o' gal, but your drabble about Sam is really amazing, very powerful. Thanks so much for sharing these!

[dolamrothdame.livejournal.com]

Here's mine for Day Two-chose the danger prompt:

http://www.tolkienfanfiction.com/Story_Read_Chapter.php?CHid=4356

[dawn_felagund]

Oh my! I love the action in this and those final, fading moments ... beautifully and poignantly written! :)

[morethmusing.livejournal.com]

Here's (http://morethmusing.livejournal.com/66661.html) mine for tedious, routine work.

Warnings for AU and X-over to those guys for whom it squicks. *Shrug*

ETA link. Hey, it was late here :P

[dawn_felagund]

Forget warning for AU and X-over, this needs a beverage warning! I lost it at The Mother of All Battles and the welcome pack ...? Moreth, you kill me! :D This is brilliant!

[hrymfaxe.livejournal.com]

My take on this prompt is here (http://hrymfaxe.livejournal.com/33402.html#cutid1).

[oloriel.livejournal.com]

Again, I'm a week late, and going for the obvious. Still, here's Fingon in a dangerous situation. (http://livingshapes.livejournal.com/21438.html) :)

[dawn_felagund]

Obvious shmobvious! ;) Do you know how long it would take me to achieve what you have in this "quick sketch"? Years--because I no way draw that well! ;) This is excellent work, and I'm going to echo Nefret's comment that the details are superb: the clothing, the chainmail, even the serrated edges on the spears.

And don't worry about lateness. These prompts are good for forever. ;)

[watersandwilds.livejournal.com]

Done! :D I'm having so much fun with these -- thanks for kicking my M-e muse back into gear. :P

Tedium (http://watersandwilds.livejournal.com/52721.html) - Fëanor has a unique way of curing boredom. (In response to the second prompt).

[dawn_felagund]

Oh, I love this! What a creative interpretation of the prompt! And as a scribal arts student myself, I recognize your Feanor ... only my bad habit is licking the tips of my brushes or sucking the ink down into my pens, so my teeth turn black and my lips multi-colored. What a delightful image, eh? Like some kind of flamboyant Orc. ;)

Tedious work

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

Title - Tedium
Author: Linda Hoyland
Characters/Pairing:Aragorn
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Book/Source: LOTR book-verse
Disclaimer - These characters all belong to the estate of J.R.R. Tolkien. This story was written for pleasure and not for financial gain.

Aragorn gritted his teeth and reluctantly prepared to start on his paper work for the day.

He knew the common folk sometimes regarded his life with considerable envy, considering it consisted of wearing fine clothes and eating sumptuous meals off golden plates. Indeed it did, but only on special occasions. With every day that dawned, the King was faced with stacks of papers.

Parchments detailing archaic laws, details for raising taxes, trade tariffs, warrants for executions, orders for deployment of troops. Each and every one requiring his personal attention.

Sometimes the King yearned to be a simple Ranger once more!

Re: Tedious work

[dawn_felagund]

Yikes! In honor of Aragorn's tedious work, I offer him my disgruntled bureaucrat icon, from one disgruntled bureaucrat to another. ;)

I feel his pain, though. That sort of work isn't as "easy" as people think that it is, especially when one is accustomed to traveling and excitement and adventure. Of course, in the end, it really underscores what a wonderful king he was, that he could manage both very well.

[f-ireworks.livejournal.com]

Dawn, I worked with prompt #2:

Not Every Important Job has to be Glamorous
http://f-ireworks.livejournal.com/44382.html#cutid1

[dawn_felagund]

My inner-heretic (which is most of me, truthfully ;) is squeeing that you've made lembas-making into something tedious and not necessarily the most desirable job in Lothlorien. This is such an interesting perspective, and the romance makes it even more delightful. Lindir is just adorable!

[oloriel.livejournal.com]

The second prompt kept niggling it me, so eventually I humoured it. Here's little Tyelko annoyed by his chores. (http://livingshapes.livejournal.com/22715.html)

[dawn_felagund]

I'm so glad you humored it! :D I love this, with its humor and the glimpse of family life ... and lessons learned the hard way. Tyelko's voice is just wonderful.

Oddly enough, the subject of whether the nobility among the Elves of Valinor would have done their own housework was what inspired Angelica to create this particular prompt. It was under discussion on the email group a couple of months ago, and people had pretty strong views on both sides. Personally, I see it much the way you do. :)

Oh, and the idea of Feanor pushing around a broom by the wrong end? Too funny for words!

Did you really used to like chores? I've always disliked housework ... which probably explains why I'm sitting amid a pile of books, papers, and paints--all of which should have been put away days ago--at the dining room table writing this! :D