Fanfic / Sansûkh

Sansûkh is The Hobbit fanfic written by determamfidd .The battle was over, and Thorin Oakenshield awoke, naked and shivering, in the Halls of his Ancestors. The novelty of being dead fades quickly, and watching over his companions soon fills him with grief and guilt. Oddly, a faint flicker of hope arises in the form of his youngest kinsman, a Dwarf of Durin's line with bright red hair.

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Sansûkh provides examples of:

• The Ageless: The Elves. The angst and difficulties that this causes is explored in some detail.
• All There in the Manual: For the sake of length, a lot of backstory can be found in the Appendices.
• Anguished Declaration of Love: Legolas has this moment, though his confession isn't to his actual love interest — it's to Aragorn. Aragorn's reaction is, hilariously, relief that Legolas has finally realized it.
• Anyone Can Die: Be prepared with tissues. Everyone meets their canonical fates, and in several cases, we see what is only related briefly in the books, such as Ori's and Óin's deaths in Moria, and Dáin's and Brand's deaths.
• Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking: Kíli, on learning he will see Tauriel again (even though not for many years).
  Kíli: With a hope like that, I could move Taniquetil pebble by pebble! I could swim the sundering seas! I could eat a whole bowl of salad! I will see Tauriel again!
• Audience Surrogate: The Dwarves in the after-life fill this role nicely.
• Audio Adaptation: There is a massive audiobook in the making with a full cast of voice actors.
• Awesome Music: In true Tolkien tradition, the story is full of beautiful songs. This is what happens when not only is the author a talented writer, but also a composer, lyricist, and musician; as are many of the fans, whose fan efforts have included recording whole songs.
• The Baby of the Bunch: Frerin. Though he's been dead for almost 200 years, his apparent youth prevents most of the cast from treating him as an adult.
• Bathtub Scene: The three hunters enjoy an obligatory bath scene.
• Battle Couple: With a cast full of warriors, there was bound to be a few of these. Perhaps the most classic example is Dwalin and Orla, who not only fight together, they train whole armies together! After finally getting themselves figured out, Gimli and Legolas have become one as well.
• Blood Knight: The Orcs who enjoy killing just for the sake of destruction.
• Body-Count Competition: Between Legolas and Gimli, of course.
• Bookends: The first and last chapters have a dead character waking up in the Halls of Mahal, with the opening paragraphs of both being almost word for word. The story also ends the way it began; with the death of a dwarf of Durin's line.
• Caretaker Reversal: Dori helps Nori learn to walk after he loses his leg below the knee in battle and fusses over Ori. Many, many years later, when Dori enters the Halls of Waiting, it's Nori who helps him walk and Ori who fusses over him.
• Cast of Snowflakes: Even minor characters have well fleshed out personalities. The author sometimes throws tidbits from their backstories into notes for readers to enjoy.
• Character Development: Thorin in particular goes through this in spades, working through his traumas, and working through his reflexive hatred of Elves, the latter of which fades with time. The trigger for the latter is Galadriel's kind welcome to Gimli, her sympathy for him after the events of Moria, and her pointed rebuke to her husband simultaneously startle him and gain his reluctant respect, and Legolas's increasing kindness, though he has something of a mental breakdown when his prejudice is shattered. It gets to the point where he's an active Shipper on Deck for Gimli and Legolas, and he is genuinely sympathetic towards Elrond when he realises that he's both happy and sad for Arwen - something Gandalf comments upon. He still really doesn't like Thranduil, though.
• Cheerful Child: Frerin, the youngest son of Dwalin and Orla. Gimízh also qualifies.
• Child of Forbidden Love: the Brothers Ri are descended from one of these.
• Child Soldiers: The story brings to light just how young several characters (Frerin and Dáin for example) were when they fought (according to Tolkien's timelines) especially when you take into account that Dwarven childhoods last much longer than human childhoods. The topic is handled with the weight it deserves.
• The Clan: All the dwarves, almost literally.
  • The Brothers Ri are revealed to be related to the Longbeards from the 'wrong side of the sheets', and are therefore also related to Thorin Oakenshield, Dís, Balin, Dwalin, Óin, Glóin, and Gimli.
  • Bombur has twelve children, a brother, and a dead cousin. (His brother marries Gimli's sister Gimrís, and their son, Gimízh, unites both bloodlines.)
• Common Law Marriage: Bomfrís and Thorin Stonehelm don't marry but are as good as.
• Cool Sword: Anduril and Sting, of course. Also, the Orcrist-inspired sword that Thorin forges, although it has yet to see battle.
• Culture Clash: Gimli and Legolas have to navigate through a few of these.
• Dark and Troubled Past: A lot of the Dwarves have this, as does Celebrimbor. In the latter case, by common consent he is at the top of the sparring leaderboard for all time, and no one is ever going to make him get in the ring ever again. Given that he's mentioned to have beaten one of the greatest Dwarven warriors of the Third Age in less than twenty seconds, no one particularly wants to argue with this.
• Dead Guy Junior: Dwalin and Orla have named all of their sons after dead members of Dwalin's family.
• Dead to Begin With: The story begins with Thorin awakening in the Halls of Mahal, the Dwarven afterlife, after his death in the Battle of the Five Armies.
• Dead Person Conversation: Gimli and the departed spirit of Thorin Oakenshield have quite a few of these. Gandalf can also see and speak with the deceased Dwarves, as can the other Wizards. Legolas has a couple, though prior to the coda, save for on the way to the Stone of Erech, they're pretty much entirely either one-sided or via the relay of Gimli.
• Death by Adaptation: Bifur and Nori, who have both entered the Halls of Waiting by the time Frodo reaches Rivendell. In the original book, both were mentioned by Glóin to still be alive.
• Death by Despair: What Aragorn fears for Arwen and Gimli for Legolas. Aragorn explains to Gimli that when an Elf dies of love, they lay down and their fëa departs their body.
  Aragorn: Thus they lie as though they merely sleep, for century upon century. They do not age, they do not wither, but they are dead and lifeless nevertheless. They are gone from their flesh, forever seeking after their lost love.
• The Determinator: Two words. Samwise. Gamgee.
• Did You Just Yell At Another Vala?: Thorin does his fair share. As does Bilbo in chapter 49.
• Eldritch Abomination: All of the Valar and Valier are depicted as variations on this and Humanoid Abomination to one extent or another. Mahal/Aulë is the affectionate and reassuring kind. Manwë and Námo are more or less Reasonable Authority Figures, if a little weird. Irmo and Yavanna, however, are utterly terrifying, particularly from the Dwarvish point of view for the latter, as the Danukinh - the Green Lady - is not overly fond of Dwarves.
• Empty Nest: Dori, once Nori is killed and Ori goes to Moria.
• Everyone Can See It: Even dead people know what is going on between Gimli and Legolas. Except Thorin, but he finds out. He didn't take it well, oh, he really didn't.
  • Depressingly, this is also the case for Thorin and Bilbo, and Thorin doesn't recognize his feelings for what they are until after his death.
• The Exile: Orla turns out to be the exiled queen of the Blacklocks. She was deposed after her mother was assassinated and she was framed for the deed.
• Expanded Universe: Sansûkh itself is an expansion on the Tolkien established Middle Earth, done in a fairly faithful style (the author has slightly toned down the flowery and sometimes overly descriptive aspects of Tolkien's writing style to suit modern readers). There are also several side fics done both by the author and fans.
• Family Theme Naming: Thranduil's sons have names involving leaves, branches, and trees.
• Fantastic Racism: The deep rift between Dwarves and Elves based on mistrust and "the old lies" recurs both as a problem in Legolas's and Gimli's friendship, then relationship and for Thorin as one of the deeply-embedded issues he has to work through as part of his Character Development. It doesn't help that Legolas's father was of Doriath, which was sacked by the Dwarves of Nogrod, Firebeards... of whom Gimli's grandmother was one. They reflect on it ruefully.
  • The inter-Elf clan tensions are noted from time to time, with the Sindar being a bit touchy around the Ñoldor due to a feeling of being looked down upon, and general historic tensions (again: Doriath).
• Feuding Families: The Line of Durin and the Line of Azog have a long-standing feud.
  • Several specific instances of Elves vs Dwarves (taken from The Silmarillion) pose stumbling blocks to Legolas's and Gimli's relationship as well.
• Fiery Redhead: Gimli, Glóin, and especially Gimrís all have fiery personalities to match their hair. As does Tauriel, come to that.
• Friend to All Children: Both Dwarves and, in a more subdued way, Elves, are this, possibly because their own children are comparatively rare. Gimli in particular is a complete soft touch around children and is very good with them, thanks to having helped raise his nephew.
• Greek Chorus: All of the Dwarves in the afterlife. Affectionately referred to as the "Dead Peanut Gallery" by readers.
• Guilt Complex: In earlier chapters, Frís (and the rest of Thorin's family) frequently has to remind Thorin that he is not the only cause of the Battle of Five Armies and its repercussions. It takes some time to sink in. Balin similarly suffers after the fall of Moria.
• Happily Married: Almost all of the married couples portrayed in this fic follow this trope. It is averted twice — Zhori's first marriage broke up when her husband found his One True Love, and Ymrís being Óin I's One True Love eventually caused his wife to leave him.
• Headbutt of Love: Legolas and Gimli have a notable (and illustrated) moment in Meduseld during the celebrations following their victory at Helm's Deep.
• Her Heart Will Go On: Invoked by name. As asked of Bilbo when he advises Arwen to love someone who won't break her heart by dying:
  Arwen: Yet your heart went on without you, did it not? You know something of this yourself.
• Heroic Sacrifice: Dáin Ironfoot to protect the body of his friend and fellow King Brand.
• Interspecies Romance: Thorin and Bilbo (Dwarf and Hobbit), Kíli and Tauriel (Dwarf and Elf), Aragorn and Arwen (human and Elf, even if she eventually becomes mortal) and, of course, Gimli and Legolas (Dwarf and Elf again). And, it turns out, Narvi and Celebrimbor (Dwarf and Elf again).
• I Know Your True Name: Doubles as Meaningful Name.
  Every Dwarf was born knowing his or her true-name, their dark name, their Deep name, the name of names. It was their gift from their Maker, to be whispered in darkness and underneath stone, never to be said under the naked sky.
• Immortal Procreation Clause: Laerophen is initially fascinated with Gimizh, causing all the Dwarves of Erebor to bristle, until he apologises and explains that the Elves of Mirkwood haven't had a child in a century and he is understandably curious about Gimizh. They end up becoming lifelong friends.
• I See Them, Too: At first Gimli is the only one who can hear Thorin, or at least the one who hears him the clearest. He and Thorin are surprised when, in chapter 34 in the Paths of the Dead, Legolas hears Thorin too. Later on, he and Gimli are both able to see the dead Dwarves of the Halls of Waiting, though Aragorn, Elladan, and Elrohir do not.
• I Want My Beloved to Be Happy: Both Aragorn and Gimli flirt heavily with this trope, though instead of pursuing their love interests' happiness, they are trying to prevent their love interests from dying. Though they are immortal Elves, Arwen and Legolas can die from love.
• Killed Off for Real: And already welcomed to the afterlife because they may be dead but their story isn't done yet! Averted in the case of Aragorn's little tumble.
• Killed Offscreen: Frerin and all the other Dwarves residing in the Halls before Thorin arrives.
• Living Forever is No Big Deal: At least not to the Elves. It's just how they are. Averted and falls into Who Wants to Live Forever? territory when certain Elves grow close to mortals.
• Long-Haired Pretty Boy: Legolas.
• Longing Look: Thorin puts in whole decades of this as he watches Bilbo's life from beyond death.
• The Lost Lenore: There is evidence throughout the story that Bilbo considers Thorin this way.
• Love at First Sight: Thorin Stonehelm for Bomfrís, though she is oblivious at first. Bofur and Gimrís also fit this trope; though they don't fall in love at first sight, likely because Gimrís was massively underage at the time, they do fall for each other when being reintroduced at Gimli's centenary.
• Love Confession: The big one between Legolas and Gimli FINALLY HAPPENS after more than thirty chapters, and only then because Thorin intervenes. As it turns out, Gimli already knew Legolas loved him, but he thought he would be causing Legolas's death if he encouraged it.
• Love Epiphany: Legolas in chapter 26, but like Aragorn points out, that was pretty obvious.
• Love Hurts: Thorin and Kíli both feel this most keenly. Both of their love interests aren't Dwarves, leaving the two of them with only the prospect of a long, single afterlife to look forward to.
• Love-Obstructing Parents: Neither Thranduil nor Glóin is thrilled about their prospective sons-in-law.
• Love Transcends Spacetime: In his old age, Bilbo dreams of Thorin. As it turns out, he's also doing some sort of strange astral projection, and the two are finally able to converse with each other for the first time in 80 years since Thorin's death. It is eventually revealed that this is due to Irmo, who considered Mahal's gift to Thorin incomplete and so 'strengthened the thread' between him and Bilbo.
• Manly Tears: They are usually very cathartic.
• Master Archer: Elven archers as a whole tend to be this, but Legolas takes it to new heights, leaving even Thorin stunned and - begrudgingly - awed.
• Master Swordsman: Thorin has a deep and genuine admiration for Aragorn's truly ridiculous skill, regarding him as the single best swordsman he's ever seen.
• Mayfly–December Romance: One of the reasons Gimli is reluctant to express his love to Legolas. This may still occur if Legolas doesn't die from grief.
• Meaningful Echo: Legolas unintentionally paraphrases Thorin's own words to Bilbo.
  Legolas: In all my summers under leaf and bough, I have never been so wrong.
• Meaningful Name: All Dwarves are given one by their Maker. Bilbo, as an adopted Dwarf, gets one too.
• Messy Hair: Gimli often forgets to brush his.
• Missing Mom: Thoroughly averted. Everyone has a mother, frequently with whole backgrounds described between chapters in the notes.
• Multigenerational Household: In the afterlife, all previous generations live together in the Halls of Mahal.
• Must Make Amends: Thorin receives a special gift to make this possible from the afterlife.
• My God, What Have I Done?:
  • The whole story is triggered by Thorin's, as he demands a way from Mahal to make amends for his mistakes.
  • Bilbo gets one of these when he realizes the trials his surrogate son must face to destroy the Ring Bilbo found.
  • Balin has one over the disaster of the Moria campaign.
• My Greatest Failure: Several examples:
  • The Battle of Azanulbizar, for Thrór.
  • The Battle of Five Armies, for Thorin.
  • Succumbing to gold-sickness for Thrór, Thráin, and Thorin.
  • Attempting to retake Moria, for Balin.
• Named by the Adaptation: This fic provides names for many of the characters who weren't mentioned in the original works, such as Thorin's mother, grandmother, Dís's husband, Dáin's wife, and Gimli's and Legolas's mothers.
• Not Growing Up Sucks: Frerin, forever frozen in his late forties.
• "Not So Different" Remark: Kíli points out to Thorin that Elves and Dwarves are not so different in their prejudice to each other.
  Kíli: You say you do not believe they feel as we do – aren't you just parroting their stupid lies about Dwarves?
• Oblivious to Love: Multiple instances.
  • Thorin is oblivious to Bilbo's affections throughout the first few chapters of the story.
  • Barís's love for Bani is similarly unnoticed.
  • Thorin Stonehelm's infatuation is unnoticed for two chapters by Bomfrís.
• Odd Friendship: Gimli's young nephew Gimízh and Legolas's older brother Laerophen, the former getting through Laerophen's hauteur and awkwardness because Children Are Innocent.
• One-Steve Limit: Averted. There are three very distinct Thorins running around.
  • Lampshaded when they all wind up in the same conversation. Though the author utilises different appellations to distinguish each from the other,
  Balin glanced between all three Thorins with an air of resignation, and then he turned to Thorin with his hands spread.
• One True Love: The idea that khudz have one true love, whom they often (but not always) recognize on sight, is a central component of the story.
• Only Known by Their Nickname: Wee Thorin will be known as Wee Thorin no matter how big he grows.
• Our Ghosts Are Different
• Outliving One's Offspring: One of the major sources of Dís's lingering grief, especially in the earlier chapters of the fic.
• Puppy-Dog Eyes: The dreaded Hobbitish eyes. Ori is good at them.
• Really 700 Years Old: The Elves. Gimli has made a joke out of guessing Legolas's age, and inflating the guesses to the point of absurdity.
• Risking the King: All of the kings in this story, but perhaps none more so than Dáin.
• Royals Who Actually Do Something: Quite a few of them! The Royal families of all races are not afraid to get their hands dirty, whether in battle or general labour.
• Scatterbrained Senior: Bilbo, once he gives up the Ring and his age catches up with him. At first, the effects are just physical, but by chapter 21, Thorin sees that he can no longer recognise his own handwriting and is suffering losses of memory. He also begins to hear Thorin's voice more clearly, spending much of the last years of his life in a dreamlike state where they can converse with one another.
• Shell-Shocked Veteran: Every Dwarf who dies in battle, absolutely.
• Shown Their Work: The author complains about so much research in her tags. She has the right to do so.
• Shower Shy: Gimli. Due to views on acceptable nudity in Dwarven culture.
• Sole Survivor: Dís is the last living member of her family, and it is a heavy burden to bear.
• Star-Crossed Lovers: Kíli and Tauriel. Even after both are dead, it takes nearly eighty years before the author even hints they will reunite before the Second Music.
• Struggling Single Mother: Referenced, with regards to the Brothers Ri.
• Talking in Your Dreams: A rare example in which the dreamer is visiting the dead. It makes sense in context.
• Third Wheel: Aragorn gets slotted into this role when the Fellowship becomes the Three Hunters.
• Together in Death: Upon dying, Dwarrow are reunited with their loved ones in the Halls of Waiting; however this does not apply to Dwarves who have loved ones outside of their race. It takes a long time but eventually Tauriel, Celebrimbor, and Bilbo all make it to the Halls of Waiting, and it's all but stated outright that Legolas will be able to do the same when Gimli dies - something eventually demonstrated Tasalakhud, in the appendices.
• Trauma Button: More than a few:
  • Thorin cannot bear to work gold, silver, or mithril in the Halls, as it reminds him of the dragon-sickness and the gold-madness that ruled him in his last days of life. References to madness also tend to have this effect.
  • The deaths of the Dwarves who went with Balin to retake Moria triggers Thrór and Thráin.
  • Frerin cannot bear to be in the midst of battle, as the sounds bring back memories of his death at Azanulbizar.
• War Is Hell: It is shown to tear apart families, drain resources, and leave long-lasting physical and mental trauma.
• Would Hurt a Child: The Orcs are ready and willing to kill anyone no matter their age.
• You Can See Me?: In chapter 16, when Gimli looks into Galadriel's mirror and momentarily sees the dead Thorin with him. It is at this point he learns that Thorin has been watching over him.
• You Can't Go Home Again: For all that he made it to the mountain, Thorin never got to live in Erebor restored and can only visit it through the star pool. Dáin also never got to return to his beloved Iron Hills. And Orla can never return to the Blacklocks because she is their deposed queen; by the time the cult that took over is overthrown she's been married to Dwalin and settled in Erebor for too many years to consider going back.

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