Stories of Arda Home Page
About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

Shire Yule  by Dreamflower 10 Review(s)
Kaylee ArafinwielReviewed Chapter: 15 on 10/26/2011
Legolas and Gimli! What a wonderful surprise, Dreamflower!! And I like both the tradition of switching between the Hall and the Smials, and the new tradition of not being grumpy! Heh!

Kaylee

Author Reply: I thought it might be something that would really cheer Merry up! And the not being grumpy seemed like a very reasonable new tradition to me!

NeiliaReviewed Chapter: 15 on 12/23/2007
A right good and proper 'new tradition'. No grumps welcome for Yule! *g* Happy Holiday to you, Dreamflower!

Author Reply: And Happy Holidays to you as well!

I think Merry has finally come to terms with *why* he was being grumpy--he won't do it again, I don't think!

GamgeeFestReviewed Chapter: 15 on 1/14/2007
What a delightful surprise! Pippin must have had great difficulty keeping that one secret, though I always felt that he was better at keeping secrets than everyone gave him credit for. And I'm glad that Merry has decided to stop being grumpy at Yule. :D

Author Reply: Pippin was better at keeping secrets than most people thought--after all, he was in the Conspiracy, and walked all the way across the Shire without Frodo figuring anything out!

And Merry has wisely decided that grumpy is unfair to everyone, himelf included--and that Frodo would probably thump him upside the head if he knew Merry was acting that way, LOL!

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 15 on 1/4/2007
I like Mistress Moss's voice! And the presence of Legolas and Gimli was probably a dual-edged sword - a delight and a reminder of who was absent. But I'm glad Merry has decided to try to avoid grumpiness at Yule - it'll make Yule in Tookland a good deal more pleasant for the permanent residents.

Author Reply: Nistress Moss has come a long way since she was a new little maidservant the first year Pippin returned (and she had a bit of a crush on him) and she's had years to observe Pippin and Merry and their interactions.

Yes, they will be a reminder of those who are not there; but they'll be a delightful distraction, as well. Merry has known all along he was behaving badly, but he's finally resolved to do something about it. And it's never going to make the heartache any less, but grumpiness and fault-finding never made it any less either, and only added guilt to the burden. It's just taken Pippin and Estella a while to get that through his head.

Pearl TookReviewed Chapter: 15 on 1/1/2007
Bravo!

"Pippin shrugged. "If it will make you feel any better, I shall try to be grumpy at Brandy Hall next year." "

I love Pippin's solutions to life's wee problems, LOL!

Author Reply: He knew how Merry would react to that, LOL!

Pip does tackle problems from a very different angle than most folks do--that's what's so adorable about him!

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 15 on 1/1/2007
Oh, I can so empathize with poor Merry. It must be deathly difficult wishing Frodo were there as he ought to be.

LOVE the surprise!

Author Reply: Yes, it's often that way, wishing for the presence of a loved one who is gone, under any circumstances.

I thought that might be the one thing that could snap Merry out of his holiday doldrums. I'm glad you liked it.

Baggins BabeReviewed Chapter: 15 on 1/1/2007
I've loved each and every one of these tales but this one was especially poignant. Poor Merry - and poor Pip, being made to feel that the Smials was somewhat inadequate!

Legolas and Gimli being there was a wonderful surprise and a joy to all - wonder if this can be another new tradition?

Yes, I wonder what sort of Yule Frodo is having in Tol Eressa......... *shoves bunny towards Dreamflower and wanders off, whistling....*

Author Reply: Yes, poor Merry. And poor Pip, though I don't think that was Merry's intention. But he had all these rosy memories of his wonderful childhood Yules, and it seemed nothing could ever live up to them.

It would be nice if it were! I thought if anything at all could help take his mind off Frodo, it would be that!

Yes, you and a couple of others...I don't know...that will take a lot of thought...

PIppinfan1988Reviewed Chapter: 15 on 1/1/2007
Fortunately, in spite of Merry's grumpiness, one can't miss the joyous excitement of the children. That magic always comes through, no matter what. :-)

Poor old Merry--and Pippin. And bless Pippin for doing his utmost to make his cousin's Yule happier than previous ones. The sad part is that life goes on, regardless of the missing pieces of one's heart. Frodo's absence will always be sorely missed.

Yet another excellent tale!

Author Reply: Sometimes it's best to see things through the children's eyes!

Merry has never liked the idea of letting go--a good thing in some circumstances, in which he can make a difference by hanging on (such as during the Quest) but a very difficult trait, when the circumstances are those in which one has no control. Pippin, on the other hand, has always found it easier to "go with the flow", and to understand when letting go is the best thing to do. But for his cousins, and for Sam, Frodo will always hold a missing piece of their hearts.

Thank you!

harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 15 on 1/1/2007
Now that would be a good New Year resolution for me too. I have just got back from a week at home! I do try.... I really do!

Author Reply: *grin* It's sometimes hard not to be grumpy at the holidays, LOL!

Queen GaladrielReviewed Chapter: 15 on 1/1/2007
This makes me want to cry, even though there's joy in it. Maybe the blend of grief and happiness is what makes it so poignant. Poor, dear Merry. And how does Frodo fare, there across the Sea, on this Yule? *coaxes plot bunny in your direction* :)
God bless,
Galadriel

Author Reply: Well, they are always going to miss him, aren't they?

I don't know if I will ever write Frodo in Tol Eressea--but I will keep this in mind...

Return to Chapter List