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Where Roses Grow  by PIppinfan1988 4 Review(s)
BeruthielReviewed Chapter: 29 on 7/18/2004
I just realized something. You forgot about Sam and Rosie's wedding!!!! This chapter takes place on May 1, right? According to Appendix B in Return of the King, in 1420, "May 1: Samwise marries Rose." Merry and Pippin wouldn't stay at the Great Smials and miss Sam's wedding, would they?

Author Reply: Dang!! I was hoping no one would catch that oversight until my next update! I caught it the day after I posted it. I'll go ahead and adjust the date here at SOA because it's easieer than at that "other" site...ff.net will have to wait!

FYI...I decided to back the chapter's date to Astron 30, so that Merry would (in imaginations everywhere) be able to attend. I don't want to go back and write up a wedding ceremony because this is more a Pippin story--and AU at that. Also, my co-authors are running me ragged with my upcoming chapters--I'm trying to get them to press (published).

There are plenty of lovely Sam and Rosie romances for all of Sam's fans. ;-) Pippin, however, may not want to leave his wife so close to delivering. And traveling in the manner that they did would be too uncomfortable for her. It's the price of being an expectant father--and Sam, being the wonderful hobbit that he is, would understand...I hope you agree. :-)

Thank you for your sharp eye!!

Pippinfan

Bluegrass ElfReviewed Chapter: 29 on 7/11/2004
How sweet! That was just wonderful!

BeruthielReviewed Chapter: 29 on 7/9/2004
Just out of curiosity, how long is this story going to be? I hope it doesn't end soon after the baby arrives. The story so far has been extremely interesting, but we still haven't really seen Pippin as a parent, and preparing for a baby can't compare to actually having the baby and trying to learn how to deal with it, especially if you're young and not ready for such a responsibility. The summary gave me the impression that the story was going to focus on Pippin dealing with fatherhood *after* the baby is born. From your opening paragraph, I'm sure you're going to kill off poor Lilas and the baby at some point, but if it's too soon after the baby's birth, it would be seem anticlimatic to me.

Of course, the opening doesn't say they die at the same time, does it? Hmm, if Lilas were to die and leave Pippin to raise the baby alone, that would be *really* interesting (not to mention tragic, since the baby has to die as well eventually. Poor Pip!).

I'd better stop imagining possible outcomes, 'cause whenever I do that I am inevitably way off. I'll be waiting for the next update and hoping to see plenty of the baby before you're through with her (fingers crossed).

Keep up the excellent writing!



Author Reply: Nothing escapes you, does it Beruthiel? ;-) Very good questions, indeed, and I shall answer them.

How long... I don't know how long this story will be, as it's not finished. I wrote the story this way (unfinished) on purpose for many reasons. One was in case one of my "resources" gave me an idea later in the tale. I figure that there are many "pregnant stories" out there, and no two are the same, as neither are the mothers. I've known from the start exactly what I wanted to convey and when, and so I've kept up with that idea.

Fatherhood... You are on the money, there, Beruthiel. Of course I plan to cover Pippin as a father, but unfortunately I can't get too deep into this particular answer, but I *will* answer it as best as I can. I originally was going to skip all through the pregnancy but then realized that I was missing a chunk of the emotions and detail of the "preparations" for parenthood. There would also have to be an adjustment period for Pippin and Lias as husband and wife in order to be successful, or at least, loving parents towards the baby. That "adjustment" was done over the course of many, many, chapers as I believe something like this would need time--even for our beloved AU Pippin, to warm up to. Nothing truly prepares a person for actual parenthood until the baby arrives.

Dying at the same time? Well...you'll just have wait and see!, er I mean, read! I won't hide that some folks will be needing tissues or cyber-hankies for some upcoming chapters--myself included! I painted most of the picture, as a sort of warning, like you said in the opening chapter. I truly, never expected readers to fall for Lilas...even me.

Thank you, Beruthiel, for your questions and sweet words of encouragement--and I believe you've even called me on a bit of a slip at one time...thank you! :-) Thank you for reading Roses, and for all of your wonderful responses!

Pippinfan

ConnieReviewed Chapter: 29 on 7/9/2004
Oh, what a sweet, sad chapter. I feel so much for Lilas. To think she had to ask if Pippin would give their child good-night kisses even when he was not pleased with something she had done, that is just so sad. I know there are families where affection is tied to behavior, but I couldn't live like that. Heck, I felt bad when we were camping this week and I sent my daughter to bed without a goodnight kiss. I didn't remember until she and her friend were both asleep, so I didn't wake her; but I made sure to tell her I loved her the next morning.

Thank goodness Pippin has a good family and understands that love for your children is unconditional. Even when you're so mad at them that you can't see straight, you never stop loving them. You know, I wish I had him for a relative. I think Pippin would make a great big brother.

Thanks so much for this chapter. I'm nervously, and excitedly, waiting for more. Nervous because I know something "not good" is going to happen.

Connie.

Author Reply: Connie, you are fantastic! Telling your daughter how much you loved her in the morning because you forgot to kiss her the night before is far better than anything I could've ever written! That was so sweet! I love it when mothers and daughters are very close.

I purposely wrote Pippin and his family with much compassion (with lots of help from Pearl and Myst)in this story, and likewise in my other non-AU canon-ish fics. Though I can't say the same for *all* of my canon characters--and I can accept that many folks don't agree with it.

Nervous??? Over what, pray tell? Over the course of this story, even the author has taken a shine to Lilas. She almost caved in when the readers wanted Pippin to fall in love with her. But no, she stuck to her guns. I've written this story with a purpose from the start, and I almost hate to see the ending draw near myself, but alas! We must make room for Pippin to go on with his life and discover another love so much deeper and beautiful. Thanks again, Connie, for your words of kindness and encouragement.

Pippinfan

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