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A Small and Passing Thing by Lindelea	249 Review(s)
FantasyFan	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 10/4/2003
Poor Freddy! He certainly is in a bad way. His thoughts remind me of Merry's, "Are you going to bury me?" after the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. There's no black breath for Freddy to fight, but in a different way the voice of Saruman is just as poisonous. Perhaps this is an example of the infection Merry hopes to burn out of the Hobbit's memories. Hunger is awakened, but fear prevents Freddy for asking for more. Death will be a release, though he will try to be brave. Frodo is in a position to understand a little of what is going through Freddy's mind - but even he doesn't realize the whole of it. Saruman's voice has gotten deep in Freddy's mind, and I wonder what it will take to exorcise it for good. The scene where Frodo becomes Deputy Mayor is pure fun. Sometime's Merry is like a sharp pointed stick poking at his cousin. Merry's had years to refine the art of pulling Frodo out of himself, just as Frodo's perfected his role of softening Merry's sharp edges (and pulling Pippin down off the ceiling). Then, Lobelia. Grief is a funny thing. She's heartbroken over the death of her son. Does she now see the long, twisted path that lead to his death, and her own part in opening Lotho to arrogance and greed? I don't think she's just acting out of a rigid interior view of 'the way things ought to be done.' Frodo's reluctance to open the note, in case it might burst into flames in his hands, is quite amusing. I like, "Ah, well, he’d faced Shelob. Surely Lobelia could be no worse." The troubles have changed a few for the better, like Lobelia and Fatty's father, and even Farmer Cotton. A few will be heavily scarred by the experience, like Frodo himself, Lobelia I think, and possibly Fatty.

FantasyFan	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 10/3/2003
Just some disjointed thoughts today. I meant to add to the review of the last chapter, that I finally understand the title now. The focus is not to be on the troubles, but that the troubles are over and did not change the hobbits. Sometimes it takes me a while. Frodo's forgotten already that Bag End is ruined, and besides doesn't belong to him any more. He's quite resilient himself, as I suppose would be essential to the task he's completed. We don't see much yet of the darkness that will eventually leave him without peace. Odovacar and the Bolgers have come down in the world a bit - hiding in a gardener's closet and sleeping on a cot. Perhaps a little lessening of the class system would be a good thing to result from the troubles. Shirefolk could use tragedy to learn how to pull together in a closer-knit community, similar to the feelings in the US after 9/11. Some memories of adversity are worth keeping. Poor Freddy! He will have to have all his fingers rebroken in three or four weeks. It would have been a kindness to do it while he was still so out of it, but I can understand not wanting to add to the shock. He doesn't even remember what he did to keep Estella safe. Stella's been at the Smials for quite a while: perhaps here's where we see Paladin evaluate her as a wife for Pippin? There's been no time yet for such thoughts, so something must bring it to his mind - if not now, maybe later should Estella return to the Smials to visit the friends she's undoubtedly made there. You've got plenty of time for that particular scenario to play out. But I would love to see more of Stella here, and both Pippin and Merry will be there for interaction. Then, the last two lines: again, Merry's determination that the hobbits take no more harm from the troubles, and retain their core of goodness. Only those who witnessed it will remember the violence of the scene where Saruman's throat is slit, and Wormtongue is executed. There's a hint of Frodo's regret for the fall of a being who once was great, just for us who love that part of the book.

FantasyFan	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 10/2/2003
There's quite a fine line Merry is trying to walk here. Frodo is going to write their story in the Red Book, and he hopes that the Hobbits will know and remember what happened, in order to love their freedom all the more. But Merry sees the danger in the hobbits losing their innocence, internalizing evil by dwelling on it. Merry's view eventually prevails, and the rest of the Shire neither knows nor cares about what Frodo has done for them. Here, Frodo understands and agrees with what Merry is trying to do - Pippin is young and has already seen more evil than is good for him. He will eventually occupy a position of great influence, and more than anyone else he will have to balance the authority and power of the Thainship with hobbit sense and humility. He's already had more than a taste of terror, he'll end up with a fair bit of adulation, and the young are always in danger of idealistic zeal. Merry wants to hear pity and mercy from Pip, but he sees bitterness here, which probably dismays him more than the outrage. You've spoken a bit before on the idea of the innocence of Hobbit culture. It's quite interesting here to see Merry (and to a degree, Frodo) making a deliberate decision toward preserving it, similar to the protective attitude of the Rangers. The innocence, however, comes at a price. Frodo ends up bearing that burden as well. In the light of all of this, Sam ends his story for the younger Fairbairns without a happily-ever-after. The rest of the story comes tomorrow. Will he make his history vague for them? When he's finished his tales, he'll be gone to the Havens. What does he want to leave as parting wisdom? He's going to leave the Red Book for Elanor. It's so sweet that he wants to take a little time with it before he goes - spending a last few hours with Mr. Frodo - even though in his heart he hopes (knows?) he will be reunited with the real thing very soon. Author Reply: It is a fine line, and I'm not sure Pippin is mature enough to understand it, yet. I honestly do not think Frodo minded bearing that burden, in the interest of preserving the Shire. Tolkien said that "he quietly dropped out of all the doings of the Shire" or something to that effect.

Miriel	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 10/2/2003
I'm in agreement with Merry on the matter. I wonder why Pippin disagrees. Um, quick question. If Sam and Fastred and Elanor are reading from the Red Book, would Merry and Pip's POV and conversation be in there? Or is this simply the finishing of the tale? I do love reading this. Update soon, please! Author Reply: To answer your quick question, Tolkien often assumed the voice of the omniscient narrator even as he purported to be writing the Red Book. (Doesn't that sound fancy? I got it from a commentary on Tolkien). The assumption I'm working from is that Frodo interviewed everyone he could, to get their thoughts and feelings as well as their actions. A nice picture of Frodo doing this is in Jodancingtree's story, "Sam's Rose", where Merry and PIppin visit Bag End in order to share their memories with Frodo, so that he may write them down.

Miriel	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/2/2003
Oh, I am delighted to have more Lobielia! There was hardly enough of her in "The REbel." (Although, that was about Fatty, not her. :) Her specially pointed umbrella! How DO you come up with all of these lovely things? I certainly hope that they make it hot. (Although, I'm sure that they wouldn't dare not to.) Excellent so far.

Hai	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 10/2/2003
You are into the recovery of the Shire right now, eh? I must say these are really good and I guess I never thought of it in this depth, what they actually had to come back to recover from and try to forget, or mostly the other hobbits who watched the Shire fall apart. I hope to see more of Lobelia! I love how you wrote the Ruffians being afraid of her! Lets you like her more then in pre-Quest stories. Looking forward to more! Thank you! Author Reply: You're welcome! I appreciate the encouragement. This is an interesting time period, and I have only written it in parody before ("Going, Going, Gone"), so a serious effort is like opening up a whole new world. Whew! (O and there will be more Lobelia in future chapters.)

FantasyFan	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 10/1/2003
The stories are just pouring out! I love it! It seems that between the last chapter and this one, there wasn't quite enough time for the prisoners to die. It's a good thing Frodo and company didn't delay any longer. I like the idea of Sharkey putting a curse on the storage hole, so that the townspeople would be afraid to enter. It's perfectly in character. Intimidation was a big part of what happened in the Shire, like the fear that kept the hobbits in the cells with no doors. Frodo has a wonderful idea to use the Phial to light the way. If the power of Galadriel could strengthen Sam and him at Cirith Ungol, perhaps it would strengthen the cowed hobbits here too. It's too bad that the use of 'Elven magic' is likely to make the insular hobbits distrustful of Frodo - they don't want anything to do with magic in any form. Merry's courage in entering the doorway before the spell was broken is what is most likely to be remembered. I am still struck by the characterization of Lobelia. As sour and angry and greedy as she had been, there was a core of decency buried deep down. Not a shred of her unpleasant personality has changed, but she has finally focused outside herself. If that isn't metanoia, I don't know what is. She is reconciled to the community, who spontaneously acknowledge her deeds with cheers, as personified specifically by the Bolgers, who offer her a place to stay. All that remains for her redemption to be complete is remorse for her past, and she clearly has accomplished that by the time she restores Bag End to Frodo and leaves her money to help hobbits left homeless by the troubles. The concept of second-chances is so important to Tolkien. Every major baddie is given a chance for repentance, mercy deliberately offered - none take it, although Smeagol comes closest, and Saruman wavers for a long second before he is conquered by hate and fear. Lobelia's change of focus seems to have been entirely internally generated, without a specific moment of insight or deliberate invitation. I would like to hear some of that recognition in her thoughts, perhaps during the mopping up to come. Write on!

FantasyFan	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 10/1/2003
I see you've added a prologue to this story. It seems as if Sam has found the secret treasure-trove of stories I was wishing for. LOL! I suppose I have as much eagerness as the Fairbarn hildren to read a new story about the hobbits - that's what brings me here, after all. The crossed out titles remind me of Bilbo more than Frodo - Frodo seemed to have a firmer grasp of what he wanted to say. But it does call attention to the title, which is somewhat enigmatic. I remember a conversation in Mordor, about evil being a small and passing thing, and light and beauty existing above it all. It's comforting in a way, but it also speaks to the smallness of our entire lives in the grand scheme of things, which is humbling at least if not downright depressing. Once again a hobbit looks at Fredegar's emaciated, pointed face and thinks they are seeing a Took. I know Fredegar is part Took, although I can't remember the exact lineage. Perhaps is it a measure of his Tookish obstanancy and spirit coming to the fore. Fatty is a Bolger through and through, but the Rebel is just as much every bit a Took. (By the way, when you think of how a Took looks, are you influenced by Billy Boyd?) There are a couple of important points in the last chapter that certainly make the plot flow plausibly. The ruffians think Lobelia may be a spy - therefore they are less eager than they ever were to challenge her. That makes it easier to swallow their fear of an old hobbit harridan. And, once that fear is removed by Sharkey's visit, they drug her in order to safely move her to the cell. A very sensible move on the ruffian's part. In the dark, all alone, will they even bother to feed her, now that they are back in control? Will the treatment of the other prisoners return to its former brutality? Once again I am wishing for the travelers to rescue the hobbit prisoners soon. Oh- and I love "They were not at all trustworthy, to her thinking." Only Lobelia would think any of them should be. Author Reply: To answer your question, I don’t know how influenced I am by the movies. I try to write strictly in book canon, though if I can give an occasional nod to Peter Jackson’s efforts without stepping out of book canon, I will. I think, mostly, I took JRRT’s description of the Fallohides being “fairer and taller” and thought of them as perhaps a bit narrower in the face as well, so it would describe Pippin and Frodo (and possibly Merry, being half Took and his Brandybuck side descended from Tooks, though the Brandybucks probably mingled some with the other hobbits in their area—what a story that would make! The move from Tookland to Buckland...), though the average hobbit has broad cheeks and a good-natured, rather than handsome, face.

FantasyFan	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/30/2003
I do enjoy your knack for writing scenes from several points of view. Here you focus on Lobelia's righteous indignation. She definitely knows what is right and what is not. It doesn't matter that Fatty, lying on the floor of the cell, reminds her of her son - he is not being treated justly and it is to her credit that she insists something be done about it. She, and her deadly umbrella, will brook no interference with putting things right. The telling line is, "Young Lobelia hadn’t been one afraid to get her hands dirty, though she hadn’t had to do so in quite awhile." I think of the oft-told assertion that a bully will back down when confronted by strong resistance from a potential vicitm, even when the victim is much smaller. The ruffians prove the point here. I suppose that Bilbo and Frodo can be forgiven now for never finding the exact way to deal with Lobelia, as the ruffians can't figure it out either. It makes one wonder what things would have been like, had someone found a way to harness Lobelia's energy to kinder ends, for all those miserable years. I'm looking forward to seeing the encounter with Saruman from Lobelia's perspective as well.

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