I am sorry not to have reviewed before. I only just found you here and am catching up on all the lovely new chapters.
I particularly liked this one as a break. Love drunk Merry. You have him sounding so perfect.
So looking forward to reading the rest. I just love this story and glad to see it is ongoing.
angie
Author's reply
Thanks so much for your wonderful review!! I truly am enjoying this fic, but now its time to get some serious recovery in ;D Keep reading and by all means, reviewing. Tree
Time for some nice quiet recovery. I just hope the merriment hasn't set Frodo back too much!
Author's reply
Thanks so much! Youre right its time for some serious recovery work now, but dont worry about Frodo, I would never do any permanent injury to my favorite character.
Thanks again for your review, Tree
I felt so sorry for poor Merry. He tried so hard to help. This is such a wonderful story and I am enjoying it very much. Loved the slurred speech when they were so drunk, and it must have been very hard to write too! LOL Looking forward to more.
Author's reply
Merry did a great job and youre right, it is incredibly difficult to write drunken hobbits (I dont remember it ever being that difficult to be a drunken individual, but I'm sure I was VERY annoying ;D) More to come, Tree
shirebound
· 7 April 2004
· Chapter 37: Chapter 37
All this tender care! Can't Frodo stay in Pippin's bed so they can keep each other company?
Author's reply
Wouldnt it be wonderful to curl up with a couple of cute little hobbits??? Sounds like a dream come true for me ;D Im so glad youre enjoying the story, its about done, which makes me sad and happy at the same time....Ill be borrowing one of my favorite authors fics to use for my next fic (Avalanche---I think Ive read it 10 times minimum) thanks again for your review, you always brighten my day! Tree
shirebound
· 7 April 2004
· Chapter 36: Chapter 36
Oh, I was so happy to see an update, I devoured this chapter as greedily as a hobbit.
"I am not hungry, Pippin. I fear I have made myself uncomfortably drunk and ruined my appetite."
"Frodo! How could you? And not even ask me to join you?"
Love it! Oh, what a warm, loving chapter. Arwen is so perceptive and strong, and I'm so happy Frodo has the pendant back again. And there's just something so endearing about a bedful of hobbits.
Welcome back, dear tree! I hope everything is well with you.
*hugs*
Author's reply
It is so good to be back. I am very slow witted still, but I have been told that that will pass eventually. You made my day, as usual, and I just love you for it!!! tree
Kat...aka...chickloveslotr
· 6 April 2004
· Chapter 35: Chapter 35
o do continue!i love it! frodo singing?*heart melts* i hope he shall sing more!
Author's reply
I loved it too!!! My heart melts everytime he does ANYTHING....more to come tree
cpsings4him
· 8 March 2004
· Chapter 35: Chapter 35
Hello! I just wanted to take a moment to tell you how very much I am enjoying this story! It is WONDERFUL! I am especially enjoying the interaction between Merry and Frodo...helping each other to heal. I can't wait to see what happens in the next chapter. Thanks for a great story!
Blessings!
cp
Author's reply
Thanks so much!! Ive been in the hospital for the last couple of weeks and havent kept up but I promise more to come soon. tree
Elwen
· 7 March 2004
· Chapter 35: Chapter 35
The mischievious exploits of an inebriated hobbit.
I loved the stumbling, giggling, singing, loveable hobbit activity in this chapter.
Author's reply
Elwen- I had a lot of fun writing this chapter....but boy, will they be feeling it tomorrow, huh?
Are you happy with the way I'm taking your Elwen's Challenge Fic? If not, let me know. And thanks again for the review, I love to hear what people think. tree
This was too cute... I suppose everybody in Minas Tirith---especially Aragorn---should be angry at them, but what's not to love about drunken hobbits? I will really enjoy it if Frodo has a horrible hangover and throws up. And maybe gets a stern rebuke. :)
You write lighthearted moments as well as angst... this was so amusing---loved Frodo's singing and everyone's reactions and practically the whole Fellowship having to pry the door open! Drunk Frodo is so cute.
Author's reply
Lil- I really had fun with this...LOL through the whole chapter while I was writing it. Yep, Fro' is gonna feel it in the morning (weve all been THERE) and Merry too....Merry, tho' is the main one that's gonna get into trouble...a little angst, but not much in the next chapter. Love ya and thanks for rooting for me, tree
Ahhh... I ADORE stubborn Frodo here, insisting on getting out of bed, and especially Aragorn's thunderous yell! That was my very favorite part of the entire chapter, yep. Awww, two soon-to-be very incapacitated hobbits... Merry is probably going to get into such trouble. You know, you've painted a very beautiful and true-to-the-book friendship between Frodo and Merry here. Enjoyed this chapter greatly, as always.
Author's reply
Thanks Lil- I had alot of fun with these two. I wanted a little fun added into the healing. Glad you liked it and thanks as usual, for the wonderful review. tree
OMG! I love this chapter! Drunken hobbits are so sweet and funny. (at least these two are.) You painted a perfect image of a completely soused Frodo. BTW, your song was beautiful. The line ".. a blur of ribbons and golden hair." so aptly describes the future Gamgee family. Loved it! Hehehe, now that they've had a brief respite in their drunken revelry, it's time to pay the price. Oh, this is gonna be agony... :D
Author's reply
LOL! Agony indeed..they have no idea. I loved your review. Thanks so much for sending it on to me, it really made me laugh. Im glad you liked the song, I really struggled over it and still had one line that ended the same as its rhyming line, *sigh*, but it was fun. Thanks for reading, and hopefully (no promises what with RL) we'll have another update sooner than later. tree
shirebound
· 5 March 2004
· Chapter 35: Chapter 35
*snicker* What a delight of a chapter, after so much angst for poor Frodo! Tipsy hobbits are such fun to read, and you did a great job with this. I think Frodo's well on his way to recovery (and a city-sized hangover).
Author's reply
Janet- Thank you so much! I had the best time with this chapter, all except the drunk talking. A couple of times, I thought perhaps *I* needed a stiff drink. I thought the story could use a bit of levity, after so much angst. So tickled you liked it. Thanks so much for a wonderful review. tree
chickloveslotr
· 10 February 2004
· Chapter 34: Chapter 34
I will truly miss it when its over!
but then again i cant wait until your next story!i am writing 1 myself,and i hope it shall appear on s.o.a..if it is not accepted i'll post it on fanfiction.net and send you the link!
lol
by the way i hope to hear from you via email! lotrgirl1415@yahoo.com
god bless you!
--Katie
aka:chickloveslotr
Author's reply
I will miss it too. Since August my mind has been so caught up in this fic that I sometimes let real life slide just so I can spend more time with my favorite people (hobbits, Frodo in particular). I look forward to reading your fic! And when the new fic is finally up, Ill try to let you know. tree
Anso
· 10 February 2004
· Chapter 34: Chapter 34
Another update! Yay! People have said it before, and I fully agree: This is wonderful, angsty and lovely. The interactiong between Frodo and Merry are beautiful. I look forward to more.
Author's reply
Ahh shucks, thanks Anso you have made my day. So glad you are enjoying the story. I hope to continue entertaining you for a few more chapters at least. tree
This was very good. Glad to see that at least Merry is doing better with his dreams. I hope more is on the way as I really do enjoy this one.
Author's reply
How are you? I havent heard from you for awhile and wondered if I had lost one of my best reviewers. I enjoyed writing this chapter, although it was very time consumming. I hope to get the last few chapters up pretty soon (notice how I didnt specify a timeframe....I always hang myself if I do), thanks for your kind review, as always, and please continue to enjoy the fic. tree
kate
· 9 February 2004
· Chapter 34: Chapter 34
Hi you have a really good story here. Am patiently waiting for the rest.:)
Author's reply
Thanks so much Kate. I am very pleased that people are enjoying it. And I am glad you all are so patient with me, sometimes real life just gets in the way of the things that are truly important,,,,like writing fanfiction. ;D I appreciate your review and will do my best to get the next chappie up sometime soon tree
chickloveslotr
· 9 February 2004
· Chapter 34: Chapter 34
Dear LoveThoseHobbits,
You're very welcome!
Thanks for replying!
Someone with your writing abilities SHOULD be recognized (even if the "recognizer" is me :)!)
I really do hope you'll write A LOT more chapters for this story. As I said before it was very intriguing!
Even if you do not, I hope you shall keep writing.
If you do please don’t waste your talent on writing slash! From my personal opinion slash, with LOTR characters are just…..wrong. Please take no offence to that if you "enjoy" it. Feel free to contact me. lotrgirl1415@yahoo.com
All the best,
Katie F.
A.k.a.: chickloveslotr
Author's reply
Katie--you are so sweet. Unfortunately, this story is slowly drawing to a close. Of course, I HAVE been saying that since chapter 13, but this time I think it is true. I have loved writing it, and the reviews have been beyond my greatest expectations. I have another story rattling around in my brain, that I can hardly wait to start on. It has some unusual themes in it that I havent read in any other story and Im hoping to get that started after this one comes to completion. Im not very good at splitting my attentions between too many things, so I didnot want to start this new story before I had finished with Smoke and Mirrors, giving it my undivided attention...since my mind flits around constantly, that is no mean feat. I am so glad you are enjoying it, and the praise you have given me just makes me blush terribly, Ive never written anything before, and I feel great honor when people like yourself, say such wonderful things. I have your address, so Ill let you know whats what. thanks again, tree
shirebound
· 9 February 2004
· Chapter 34: Chapter 34
Oh, the physical therapy is wonderfully described! It's great to see Frodo back on the road to health. (And speaking of wonderful descriptions -- that drink tasting like 'apples and light'! My goodness.) I love the way Merry is instructing Frodo on how to take control in his dreams, and not have the dreams forever control him. That's a very valuable technique.
Author's reply
Janet--Thanks so much for reviewing!! It will be interesting to see how Frodo handles his next nightmare, huh? I foresee some more angst coming up, but he will be making more progress than anything else. Glad youre enjoying it.tree
Shireling
· 9 February 2004
· Chapter 34: Chapter 34
What a wonderful chapter, full of love and pain and hope.
I love your Merry...much more in keeping with book Merry.
Author's reply
Thanks Shireling- It does my heart good to know that my characters are coming across as believable, thats very important. Im grateful for your review and hope you will continue to read on. thanks again tree
I could have sworn I reviewed this before... This is an amazing piece of work. I am in awe and eagerly awaiting the next chapter.
Author's reply
Thank you so much. I cant believe how well received this story has been. Its my first, and I am rather proud of it. This chapter was LONG and so full of angst it took me awhile to post, and I apologize for that. I am very happy you are enjoying it. I love to hear positive reviews, so I hope to hear back from you again. tree
Katie
· 6 February 2004
· Chapter 33: Chapter 33
Dear LoveThoseHobbits,
"Smoke and Mirrors" is an excellently written story. It pains me to think of Frodo's agony but yet also intrigues me to witness the hardships he had to face in Cirith Ungol. I look forward whole heartedly to reading more of this story. And may I add it is a great honor to of read it so far. Please inform me when it is updated by emailing me at lotrgirl1415@yahoo.com
Sincerely,
Katie F.
Aka: chickloveslotr
Author's reply
Katie- You are so sweet! I am so pleased you are enjoying the story. Im working on the next chapter which has been intense and longer than the others, I hope to post tomorrow if real life doesnt interfere. Ill let you know, and thanks again for a wonderful review, it makes all the difference in the world when someone appreciates what you are creating. tree
Awww... how I loved hearing Frodo's laugh! Been too long, too long. :) Enjoyed every minute of his and Merry's talk---especially Merry's ire and flashing eyes at Frodo's underestimating his own importance to them. So well done.
I'm looking forward to seeing Frodo tell his story... I would think he'd need to, as a sort of catharsis. And of course, though I know you said you planned to wrap this up soon, you know I'll never have enough of Frodo convalescing and Aragorn being so caring and yet a leetle bit stern. :) Feel free to give us baths and chamber pots and more recovery and such as long as you want, please...
Author's reply
This actually may go longer than the 35 chapters I had envisioned. It takes time to heal, like you pointed out. I dont believe I wish to just suddenly say 'and they lived happily ever after'. I want it to be more gradual, like real healing. Worry not, lots of H/C coming up. I so enjoy your reviews, thanks so much for the kudos tree
Well, you know how I liked the angst in this chapter... I think it helps to clearly show us just why Frodo is so traumatized. Anything less, and I might wonder why he wanted to die in earlier chapters. And wow---you do a gut-wrenching job with the Orcs and with the torture. Thank GOODNESS that Frodo is given such love and tender care and such in this fic to help him over it.
Wonderful job, Tree... I'm fonder of this fic than I can get across in writing.
Author's reply
You are so sweet. I am writing two versions of this story to make everyone happy. I think of you as a true friend for all your wonderful encouragement and reviews. It is a great feeling to know that you are 'fonder of this fic than I can get across in writing'. Much thanks tree
shirebound
· 21 January 2004
· Chapter 33: Chapter 33
Oh, how wonderful! That's a great analogy about how Pippin thought of Merry the way Merry thought of Frodo.
"His gaze was far away. Frodo watched him over the rim of his cup and thought,' That's what I look like. Lost in another world, a world of darkness.'"
Wow. And this...
"Because we all have such deep regard for each other, that is what carried us through the endless dark days and nights and formed the very heart of our fellowship."
Sigh. I do love this story, tree. What an insightful, healing, incredible journey for all of them.
Author's reply
Janet you are an angel. I am so glad to hear from you!! I am so glad you are still reading my little fic, keep it up there's only a few more chapters and then *sigh* it will be done. Love your reviews, tree
HobbitLass
· 20 January 2004
· Chapter 32: Chapter 32
Evil!! I can't believe you would leave us hanging there like that. It's like you're favorite show is on the telly, and then it stops at a good part and makes you wait a bloody week! ;-P Ah well. C'est la vie eh? lol. Well, I just want you to continue as soon as humanly possible! I love this story and will follow it through to the end! Once again, lovely writing style and plot. You're an excellent writer!! :-D See you next chapter then luv? hehehe. Toodles.
Author's reply
I am so sorry to leave you hanging like that. I have plans to upload the 33rd chapter tomorrow, so hang in there ok? I am so pleased that you are enjoying the story, thank you so much for your review. tree