rusc-of-airgead:

morgynleri:

So, I’m prodding at two potential complications of working this out into the future past events of the Hobbit and just after.

One is a plot sort of question – does Bilbo ever return to the Shire? (Which of course needs to know if he survived the battle – yes – and where the fuck is Gandalf at that time – ???)

If Bilbo does return to the Shire, than Frodo is the one bringing the Ring to Rivendell for the Council of Elrond, and the rest of the complications of plot are from other directions.

If he doesn’t return to the Shire, how is the Ring discovered? When is it discovered? And who is the one to carry the Ring to Mordor, because Bilbo is getting old and may not be up to such a journey. Or it would possibly be a one way journey for him.

The other is more a world-building question, but does effect plot – for the purposes of numbers of the Fellowship, do wargs count as people or beasts? Because if people, then no wargs. If beasts, than at least two wargs, and do either of those who have wargs and send people to the Council of Elrond send packs with riderless wargs?

Neither of these questions is necessarily relevant to anything until after I’ve worked out what happens in the aftermath of the Battle of Erebor. (I have some general ideas, and plans, but I kinda want to have things written before I try to plot heavily about things in the time period of Lord of the Rings.)

@lynati @poplitealqueen and @ anyone else who’s interested in Tolkien and/or my massive set of connected AUs with shared world-building.

For the transport of the Ring:

Offering up the possibility of Bilbo not permanently returning to the Shire, but visiting around the time that Frodo gets orphaned and taking him back with him.

Or maybe when Frodo is a little older and the relatives who did take him in are at their wit’s end with his wandering.

If Bilbo doesn’t return, perhaps have Gimli take it, as he’s person that attends the Council.

Or have Bilbo and Gimli take it to Rivendell (though I don’t have a map to hand, the Council may end being held elsewhere) and have adventurous nephew Frodo (who has not been attacked by ringwraiths, and doesn’t know what he’s letting himself in for) who happens to be visiting Rivendell for the first time volunteer to take it?
(Maybe he was visiting Bilbo who he has heard so much of, but has only met a couple of times)

I have no thoughts on its discovery at the moment, but I would count Wargs as beasts personally.

I’m leaning toward not wanting Bilbo to raise Frodo himself in this AU, so having Frodo being the adventurous nephew who is finally going on an Adventure like his uncle to go to Rivendell meeting Bilbo there for the first time during the Council of Elrond. And volunteering to take the Ring. Yes. *rubs hands together and grins evilly*

I do think the Council will still be in Rivendell, if mostly because it’s the safest option. There’s protection there that nowhere else save Lothlorien has, and… yeah, I don’t see Galadriel being particularly open to having the Council there. Plus there’s the shared vision/dream thing that Faramir and Boromir have that directs them there.

(Although that’s going to be entertaining. I’m still not entirely decided on if Boromir goes, or Faramir goes, and whichever of them goes, there’s going to be an encounter with orcs on the road north and a meeting with Dazbol, because she’s somewhat important. Also, she will be thrilled to have the chance to make rude gestures at Sauron. Because I have a loudly cranky orc-muse who is quite cranky that pretty much everyone has Opinions on whether or not she should be allowed to exist. And would like very much for people to stop telling her to cease to exist, and leave her be to build her personal idea of a self-sufficient fortress-city, and if they won’t, she will gladly make them dead so they do stop.)