The Roots of Ivy by Aranel Took (Adult)

[cloudtrader.livejournal.com]

Fandom: LORD OF THE RINGS
Pairing: Merry Brandybuck/Éowyn of Rohan, Éowyn/Faramir, Merry/Estella Bolger, Peregrin Took/Diamond of Long Cleeve, Sam Gamgee/Rosie Cotton, Pippin/OC, King Elessar (Aragon)/Arwen Undómiel, King Éomer of Rohan/Princess Lothíriel of Dol Amroth, various and sundry other pairings
Length: 215,000ish words
Author on LJ: aranel_took
Author Website: Aranel Took's Fanfiction: Stories from a Fancrone, on FF.net
Why this must be read:
I enjoy angsty, plotty stories full of blood and battles just as much as the next girl... but sometimes I also want stories about families and love and babies and LIFE. That's not to say that this is a simple story, because it isn't, truly. There is angst aplenty for Ivy, the accidental daughter of Merry and Éowyn. Growing up neither Hobbit nor Big Folk and feeling rejected by both peoples (but never by her family, which is large and caring) is tough on Ivy, but she is a Brandybuck AND a Shield-maiden of Rohan -- she can handle it.

I was pretty leery of this premise and I was actually pretty shocked at myself over how much I was drawn into the stories and relationships of the characters. Give this story a try, even if the premise seems as odd to you as it did to me. This author handles it all delicately and delightfully. Be sure to check out the side-stories in this universe, too.

The Roots of Ivy by Aranel Took

Comments

[kittenmommy.livejournal.com]

the accidental daughter of Merry and Éowyn

What.

I think my brain just imploded!

[cloudtrader.livejournal.com]

I know, right? But it actually works. Merry and Éowyn have a desperate, tomorrow-we-die tumble in the tent before the Battle of Pelennor Fields. Éowyn meets Faramir in the Houses of Healing and falls in love while Merry goes back to the Shire after all is said and done... but Éowyn realizes she is pregnant. She decides that her daughter would be better raised in the Shire, since Hobbits are more understanding about illegitimate children then Men, so Merry takes her. Merry and Pippin raise her until Merry falls in love with Estella and... yeah.

Do try it, even though your brain imploded! It's actually written VERY well and is perfectly canon-compliant (well, except for a few bits from the appendices that get thrown out).

[kittenmommy.livejournal.com]

I actually began reading it just to see WTF happened, LOL. I've never read the books (I find them duller than watching paint dry), but I did enjoy the movies. I have to admit that this fic is sucking me in against my will; I thought I'd just read a couple of chapters, but now I want to see what happens next. LOL

[cloudtrader.livejournal.com]

Yay, I'm glad it's working for you! ^_^

[kittenmommy.livejournal.com]

I haven't gotten through the whole thing, but I suspect it's one I'll come back to when I have some time.