Challenging Mahal

Tropes and genres
Related tropes/genres	Canon Divergence AU (The Hobbit), Everyone Lives (The Hobbit), Returned to Stone
See also	Canon Divergence AU
Related articles on Fanlore.

Mahal, also known as Aulë, is the Vala who created Tolkien's dwarves. In canon, dwarves go to the Halls of Waiting to await Arda Reborn with their kin. In fanon, the dwarven Halls are overseen by Mahal, not Mandos.

In many Hobbit fanworks, Mahal can be persuaded to release certain dwarves back to life if asked correctly. This trope often resembles classic stories about bargaining with death, but works usually contain a Tolkien-specific twist (for example, Mahal's personality is generally more straightforward and light-hearted than many death-related deities, and any required trials for a character to prove themselves usually come from dwarven culture).

Works based on Orpheus and Eurydice exist, many of them posted shortly after Battle of the Five Armies was released. There are also works where Thorin Oakenshield or his already-dead kin petition for his or his nephews' release.

Example Fanworks

• To Turn the Tide of Heaven by LittleBigSpoon (Tauriel retrieves Kíli's soul in the manner of Orpheus and Eurydice)
• Over Your Shoulder by northerntrash (Bilbo retrieves Thorin's soul, ditto)
• carry me anew by necrotype (Kíli is just really, really stubborn)
• wake me up (there's a light up ahead) by mayerwien (Thorin challenges Mahal for the right to redeem himself)
• Once More by ISeeFire and Lady_Juno (Durin is upset, Mahal is resigned and amused, and Thorin gets another chance)