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Burying The Hatchet  by Jay of Lasgalen 13 Review(s)
LarnerReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/27/2005
Yes, a lovely use of the American Indian practice, and a needed one.

Only quibble I have is that to sit downwind is to sit with the wind blowing FROM the one you are sitting downwind of. Thus, Gimli ought to have been UPWIND of Legolas if he was smoking to annoy the Elf. Also, you may need to think of a different article of clothing than Old Toby's socks, you know.... (GRINNING)

Author Reply: I wanted to use this particular phrase because of Gimli's response to it!

You know, I sat and tried to visualise the wind direction - upwind or downwind? In the end I guessed!

What could smell worse than Old Toby's socks???

BudgieloverReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/27/2005
How I loved seeing Frodo as the voice of reason! He does have an air of authority which we rarely see in fics, unfortunately. And Gimli listens, which he certainly did not have to do. I especially enjoyed the remark about Gimli's recitations of cave-ins and lost wanderers in the dark ... I can just imagine Gimli's enjoyment over telling such tales, knowing they would disturb the elf. What a lovely glimpse you have shown us of inter-Fellowship relations.

Author Reply: Gimli may not have *had* to listen, but Frodo made sure he did! He'd seen how Gimli knew just how to rattle Legolas - elves don't like tales of darkness, or pipeweed.

I'm really glad that Frodo sounded realistic here, as he's not a character I usually write.

KittyReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/26/2005
What was Gimli smoking?  It was surely never Old Toby, nor Longbottom Leaf.  It was more reminiscent of Old Toby’s socks – unwashed ones, at that.

*giggles* Oh yes, I can imagine - I'm non-smoker ;-)
That was fun. Frodo did a great job here as a peacemaker. And it was wise to refer to Bilbo as an eye-witness, particularly as Bilbo is in quite high esteem among the dwarves.

Author Reply: I'm not sure what Gimli was smoking - but it was certainly deliberately foul, just to annoy the elf.

Gimli only had his father's slightly biased opinion of events, so it was useful for him to be reminded that Bilbo was there as well.

EllyBagginsReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/26/2005
i enjoyed this. it's nice to think that frodo created that friendship between elf and dwarf. and i really love it when authors use situations from the books, in this case parts of 'the hobbit' are referred to. well done.

Author Reply: I read and loved the books long before the films came out, though I love those as well. I'm also a Thranduil fangirl, so I had to show him in a good light!

TithenFeredirReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/26/2005
I like your wise, reasonable Frodo taking the initiative here. It would not be easy to win over Gimli. Hobbits are peace-lovers, so why not peacemakers? This was lovely. ~TF

Author Reply: Thank you - Frodo's always seemed very wise to me, even though he's not a character I write about usually. I certainly don't think hobbits would like their friends being so antagonistic to each other.

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/26/2005
This is perfect.

Your Frodo is exactly the Frodo I always imagine: responsible and wise, insightful, and most definitely inclined to be a peacemaker. He's clearly using his authority as Ringbearer here, as well as Gandalf's express wishes, to get what he wants: an apology to the Elf. And I can quite see him using that in reverse if Legolas had rejected the offer. Aragorn may have taken Gandalf's position as guide when the wizard was lost, but even though he's quiet about it, and inclined to follow the advice of those who know more about the wide world outside the Shire, he still has an authority over them and he knows it.

I love the reasoning he uses, and the reminder that neither Gimli nor Legolas were exactly unbiased in their views of what happened when Bilbo most certainly was.

In point of fact, this is a gap-filler that to me could actually have taken place in canon.

As to "bury the hatchet"--well, other cultures used hatchets as well. It's probably a reasonable modern translation of the original Westron phrase.;)

Author Reply: Dreamflower, it's great to get a review from a hobbit writer like you, especially as I've never attempted to write Frodo before. Thanks! Your comment about canon is especially welcome.

I think that if Legolas had spurned Gimli's offer of friendship, Frodo would have had a little talk to him as well. Hopefully it won't be necessary.

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/26/2005
So Native Americans invented the saying - there's no reason to suppose that any other hatchet-using peoples couldn't have invented it too!

And mature Frodo! Acting as a go-between - using his neither-a-dwarf-nor-an-elf status to lower Gimli's blood pressure. He is (barring Gandalf) probably the very best person to act as an advisor for Gimli - his uncle was, after all, the Dwarves' Burglar and helped re-establish Erebor.

He's using his position cleverly, too. Gimli is obliged to support him and defend him - even to the point where he has to agree to get past his suspicion.

Mind you, Legolas has just had his nose filled with noxious fumes. He might not be so prepared to overlook the offence just yet.

Author Reply: That's a good point about the saying - I'm sure there's a Middle-Earth culture that coined it as well!

I've not written from Frodo's POV before, but he seems like a person that the others all respect, and not just because he's the ring-bearer. There's a great deal of strength of character there.

Legolas has shaken hands with Gimli - he can't change his mind now. He's an elf of honour.

Rose SaredReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/26/2005
Loved the line about Old Toby's socks, some pipes really were foul in their heyday, aye? I wonder about Legolas not being there, though. He may not have been but equally, as Thranduil's son, could well have been. Another eye witness perhaps and a reason for his initial dislike of dwarfkind? Hey, in your story he was not, and a fine little tale it was.
Rose

Author Reply: In my mind, Legolas was off on a patrol, and got back in the middle of all the hoo-ha after the dwarves had escaped. He was at the Battle of Five Armies, though.

I don't think Gimli's pipe was normally that foul. I don't know what he put in the mix this time!

elliskaReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/25/2005
Frodo's reaction to Gimli's pipeweed still has me laughing! Gimli rather deserved the bow upside the head, didn't he? But the conversation between Gimli and Frodo was great (of course it would come as a shock to you that I would approve of any manner of defense of the Elvenking). Great story, Jay. And I liked the 'bury the hatchet' line. :-)

Author Reply: The title for this story was a headline I saw in a magazine last week. I suddenly thought of Frodo suggesting it, and could hear Gimli's response so clearly!

I don't know what Gimli was smoking, but it was deliberately foul. I think Legolas' reaction was rather restrained, don't you?

Mum's the WordReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/25/2005
Very nicely done, Jay.

Maybe they WILL be friends someday. A nice thought, that ...

Mum's the Word

Author Reply: An elf and a dwarf being friends? Surely not!

I was going to use the line 'This could be the start of a beautiful friendship', but decided that would be too clichéd!

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