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In Empty Lands  by Larner 7 Review(s)
AndreaReviewed Chapter: 29 on 2/22/2015
And once again Boromir finds new aspects about hobbits he would never have expected.

What I find mostly intriguing is the story about Holmwise from the Breelands who fought at the side of his master against Angmar. Not only the name suggests that he is Sam's ancestor!

Author Reply: Oh, yes, he's learning more about Hobbits by the day.

The story of Holmwise Goodchild and Ladro Baggins is told in the chapters dealing with the final war between Angmar and Arnor in my longer work-in-progress "Stirring Rings," and Ladro's death in the chapter "The Battle of the Queen's Tower." The chests of treasure and the Sword are described in the following chapter, I think it is. It was very hard to write those stories, as it is difficult for me to write about Hobbits being killed, and yet Tolkien indicates only Bucca returned of the forty that left the Shire.

TariReviewed Chapter: 29 on 2/20/2015
Excellent!!!

Author Reply: Thank you!

AntaneReviewed Chapter: 29 on 2/19/2015
Glad to see another chapter here and this 'getting to know you' session. Boromir continues to learn a lot. Don't worry, Aragorn (and any hobbits who might be wondering), you do your parents proud!

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Author Reply: There is a good deal to learn about one another, as there is in any serious relationship. And there is no question they are all doing well, and I'm certain those watching from Beyond are indeed proud of their children. Thanks so!

MattReviewed Chapter: 29 on 2/18/2015
I've just caught this up and like it a lot. I'm generally not a fan of Bormir because Tolkien doesn't necessarily portray him in a very sympathetic light and for whatever reason I've bought into that. You do a very nice job of softening and deepening his character here. the last chapter is particularly powerful and gives a glimpse of one of the great mysteries from the main works aka how did the Shire come together? Thanks loads for your hard work on this, I will be far more attentive for updates on this fic in future.

Author Reply: I decided in "Stirring Rings" to indicate as much of the whole history of Middle Earth from the Tale of Years as possible, and touched upon some of the migrations of the Hobbits from the valley of the Anduin into Eriador, indicating various settlements prior to the King sending them out of the path of the wars with Angmar and Rhudaur and Dunland into the Breelands, the decision of Marcho and Blanco to seek a land just for Hobbits, and so on. Gandalf has a variety of meetings with the Hobbits during his time in Middle Earth, and sees the final battle with the Witch-king after Arvedui and his other son died in the grinding ice at Forochel. Holmwise is totally my own original character, but I do believe the Master would have approved of him and his place in the history of the Shire.

Am so glad you are enjoying this. Chapters don't come as rapidly as I'd like, but that's true of several stories I have going! Thanks so for the feedback.

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 29 on 2/17/2015
How I love stories set in that little span of time between Rivendell and Caradhras, a time when the Fellowship was whole and stilling forming their bonds of friendship.

*grin* I love Frodo darting to Pippin's rescue! I adore Frodo in protective older cousin mode; it's one of my very favorite things. The conversations afterwards were natural and flowed from one topic to the next in an unforced manner. I love Gandalf's account of Bilbo hanging from Dori's legs, LOL! (I don't think the Eagles would have let him fall either.)

A really nice long read! Thank you for sharing it.

Author Reply: If other works this past month have been short, it is because I have been so engaged in writing something worthy of Fiondil's memory. I do believe that Frodo would have taken the lead in any situation that threatened the other three Hobbits, or at least at this time during the quest. That he would fuss around Pippin after such an accident seems logical as well as likely. And it was fun to add in the little bit engendered by "A Stone and a Half of Nothing." Nor do I think that the Eagles would have missed that there was someone small hanging onto the leg of a Dwarf who just might let go and fall, and provide for it!

Thank you for reading this despite its length and commenting on it. You know how much it means!

FreyalynReviewed Chapter: 29 on 2/16/2015
Another lovely detailed story, as ever from you. Thank you.

Author Reply: And I am glad you enjoyed it, Freyalyn. Thank YOU!

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 29 on 2/16/2015
Boromir leaned over to take up Pippin and Merry’s packs, but paused. “He’s not been under any discipline today, has he?” the warrior asked.

*grins*

Oh, this is a wonderful story! I love it when the Fellowship learns more about one another, especially those things that they have in common.

Author Reply: Well, Boromir has good reason to hope he's not taking on more than he bargained for in picking up Pippin's pack, doesn't he? (Grinning!)

Loss through death is the one constant all of those in the Fellowship have in common, and they need to appreciate that they are bound together as much through this truth as for any other reason. None of them is ignorant of what such losses cost. And they need to realize there is a common history that also binds them all together as well.

Thanks so, Shirebound!

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