Pervinca
· 3 June 2004
· Chapter 18: A Little Help From My Friends
How sweet of all of Pippin's friends to be there! And the little moments between Lilas and Pippin are getting sweeter with every chapter. Hehehehe, aren't the fathers always so sure their wife is going to have a lad (though I think in my case, my father was hoping for a girl. Too many lads in his family!).
I grinned when I saw the title for this chapter. Long live The Beatles :)
- Pervinca
Author's reply
Hehehe! Typical fathers... Very astute, Pervinca! I was wondering if anyone would catch onto the title! So far you're the only one--and the first! *high-fives Pervinca* Thank you for reading and reviewing! Take care.
Pippinfan
Pervinca
· 1 June 2004
· Chapter 17: Unlikely Companions
So now Lilas is befriending Merry as well! :) It was nice to see them getting along. It could be so easy for Merry to dislike Lilas, and to blame her for what had happened, but I don't think he would, and I was glad to see you think the same. And there were more hints of Merry/Estella! :D Paladin's line was priceless. It seems hobbits work the same way as high schools, lol.
- Pervinca
Author's reply
My lovely Merry--be he AU or the real thing, he can't keep a nasty grudge. Lilas is really a sweet lass at heart; she just makes terrible choices in her life. As I told Grey Wonderer, I don't mind dropping in on Merry and Estella every now and then to keep tabs on them, but if I do it too much, it will take away from Pippin and Lilas. Hobbits work the same way as schools, offices, and Naval Vessels! (Being an old Sailor myself!) ;-) Take care, Pervinca!
Pippinfan
I fancy another chapter, please? I would love to know how much trouble Merry is now in. Oh, and you just had to mention the stew again, didn't you? Now, I ask you, is that really fair?
Author's reply
Hehehe! It seems you and I like the same hobbity foods! I'm not going to touch on Merry too much--I'm supposed to be writing about Pippin, but we can look in on him and Estella from time to time to see how they're progressing. My point is that in the real "Shire", I believe Merry marries before Pippin...but as this is AU, the table shifted a bit! Thanks for reading and reviewing! Btw--congratulations on Caretakers! You're on Marigold's Recommendations list! Cool! :-) Take care!
Pippinfan
Beruthiel
· 31 May 2004
· Chapter 17: Unlikely Companions
Excellent story! I'm curious as to what Lilas's folks have been up to since the wedding. Do they miss her, or are they glad she's gone? Do they regret cutting her out of their lives completely? I hope her mother, at least, is wondering how she's doing.
Update soon!
Author's reply
Hello Beruthiel--and welcome! Very good questions...and trust me, none of them have been overlooked by the muse! I have a distinct plan for her family in future chapters, but of course, I can't let out what that plan is. Thank you for taking the time to leave a lovely review--so kind of you! Take care.
Pippinfan
melilot hill
· 31 May 2004
· Chapter 17: Unlikely Companions
This is such a great story! I really love it.
Author's reply
Thank you, Melilot! It means a lot to me that you took the time to leave a review. There's more to come as she gets bigger and deals with life at Great Smials. Take care! :-)
Pippinfan
Pervinca
· 29 May 2004
· Chapter 16: The Bitter Cold
Oh, I hope Lilas' baby won't be born early! I'm sure it would break both their hearts if they were to lose the baby (especially after everything they're going through to have it!).
You'll have to excuse this short review. The sound of my uncle snoring is making it difficult to think!
- Pervinca
Author's reply
Wow...I don't remember getting this review in the mail...so sorry for not answering sooner!
Short reviews are always welcome as are long ones! :-) I know how loud snoring can be--my sister and brother-in-law sound like those jackhammers they use to break up the street with! I know...I'm bad for saying that! Well, we just won't know what's going to happen with the young two/threesome until it happens, now won't we?? ;-) Take care!
Pippinfan
Grey Wonderer
· 28 May 2004
· Chapter 16: The Bitter Cold
Me again. Just thought you should know that thanks to your descriptions of Lilas' stew, I have to go and get some chicken noodle soup! LOL
Author's reply
ROTFL!! Serves you right! Now I'm off to the store to purchase some buckets! (only joking; reference to Caretakers!)
PF
Grey Wonderer
· 28 May 2004
· Chapter 16: The Bitter Cold
Lilas loved him so much it's almost painful isn't it? I loved her reaction to having rung the bell. If ou did n't know by now, you 've made a believer of me on this story. I wasn't too sure at first, but I think that you wre right to do it. You have handled it all very well. Your Tooks are a very close family and it comes across well in this story as they support Pippin and his little bride.
Author's reply
Why thank you, Grey Wonderer! I'm glad that you see the closeness I try so hard to portray in all my stories--even the AU ones, though this is my one and only AU that I know of--and perhaps my last AU. I wasn't so sure about Lilas falling for Pippin, but hey, it really shouldn't be difficult there. But Pippin falling for Lilas?...now this issue is something I'm trying to stick to my guns on, though for a short while, I was getting swept up into some of the reviews I was getting here and a the other site. It was one of the main reasons I began this story (besides the other one I told you about). LOL...glad you liked the bell sequence! The girl's coming into her own little by little.
Now that I've talked your ear off, I'll let you enjoy your chicken noodle soup! Take care.
Pippinfan
Pervinca
· 24 May 2004
· Chapter 15: Heart to Heart
Well, this chapter was certainly not what I expected, but I loved it. It's good that although Lilas is a simple-lass, she's not stupid. And the little hints about Diamond (well, I assume that's who you meant when Pippin spoke about the lass in his dreams). I really like how, even though this is an A/U, you're still managing to include a lot of aspects from the original story (ie, Merry and Estella - and you know how much I love those two!)
- Pervinca
Author's reply
Thank you, Pervinca! That's the thing with Lilas; she is a simple lass, but with her newest life experience and the Tooks guiding her and teaching her new things, her intelligence will rise more and more to the surface. She's learning how to express herself better. In the beginning of the story, I had her get frustrated with certain tasks or with trying to express her feelings--but that will slowly dimish as time goes on.
The lass in Pippin's dream can be whomever you want it to be--that's what he's doing!;-) I really want to try and stay away from Diamond until I have no other choice--who knows? Somewhere down the highway I may like to try a Diamond story and I wouldn't want ghosts of an AU Lilas appearing between the lines! :-P
Take care,
Pippinfan
p.s. I may dabble a bit with Merry and Estella, but not too much. Again--the same goes here as for the Diamond story!
Mistress Holblyta
· 23 May 2004
· Chapter 15: Heart to Heart
Wow! Each chapter is getting better and better! I must say, this chapter was heartwrenching and beautiful. As was the last one! It is quite sad that Pippin and Lilas came together because of their pre-marital relation, but now that they are married they still haven't consummate their vows. Though Pippin's heart wasn't in it, it was sweet to see him try for his wife as well as hanging up the sign with their names on it. I was near tears when Lilas said, "My heart breaks just as easily as yers." and also the last line of that scene:
Pippin wiped a wayward tear running down his cheek before he turned towards his wife, “Yes.”
I enjoyed seeing Pippin go to both his father and Merry for his problems. I also thought you did a wonderful job showing that Merry is, though intelligent and with a good heart, not all-knowing or quite as mature as Paladin is. I especially like that Merry had to ask Pippin for advice for a change! Paladin had wonderful wisdom for Pippin. I love the way you portray his character - I've noticed that many writers portray Paladin as more of an authority figure, cold and distant. But I can't picture a father like that having a son like Pip! ^_^
I am being constantly amazed at this story and your gift for writing and character portrayal. I love Lilas and I also wanted to let you know that I think that the accent and speech pattern you have given her is something that really adds to her character. It is realisitic and not over the top, but extremley different from Pip and his family's way of speech. I cannot wait to see where this story goes. I never thought I'd fall in love with a story like this, being Pip's premarital relations and taking of a wife other than Tolkein's Diamond, but you have done a superb job!
Author's reply
Mistress, I honestly don't know how to respond to such wonderful reviews such as this one. I'm staggered, but I am also delighted that you're enjoying the story! Thank you for noticing all the little nuances; the turnabout of Merry asking for Pippin's advice, my characterization of Paladin, and Lilas' accent. Yes--and please remember, *my* regular Pippin keeps himself until marriage! :-)
Take care!
Pippinfan
Rosie-Ann
· 23 May 2004
· Chapter 14: Dear Friends
Oh, Pippinfan, you continue to blow me away with every chapter! What can I say that I haven't already said at least twice? Your characterizations are wonderful, the plot is engaging...I love how you wrote Pippin and Lilas in ben in Chapter 13. 'Twas very enlightening and sweet and...Oh, I can't even put it in words.
Kudos! *showers Pip with the chocolate-covered granola bars* heehee. Really. Wonderfulwonderful.
~Rosie-Ann
Author's reply
*Deeply blushing*. What do I say to a reader who has an absoulutely fantastic story of her own (The Fellowship of the Greenholms) that I WILL manage to get back to?? I'll make a point of it. This darn Roses! ;-)
Pippin thanks you for the Granola Bars! :-) And I thank you for a beautiful review! Take care!
Pippinfan
Pervinca
· 22 May 2004
· Chapter 14: Dear Friends
Poor Lilas - there's too many nasty lasses taking advantage of her. But the scene between her and Eglnatine was beautiful. Very sweet.
Hehehe, Merry asking Pippin for advice! That can't have happened too often. Now Merry's gotten my curiousity stirred. I'm beginning to wonder what you have planned so far as consummating vows goes.
- Pervinca
Author's reply
Hmmm! Just wait and see... I'm not the graphic sort, so don't worry! Thanks Pervinca!
Pippinfan
FantasyFan
· 21 May 2004
· Chapter 14: Dear Friends
Oh, I was half afraid someone was going to ask about comsummating the marriage. Merry at least is more tactful than most, but it's given Pip one more thing to worry about, when if things could have proceeded slowly and nature left to take its course, there might be no worries.
Thank goodness for Eglantine. Shepherding Lilas and protecting Lilas and teaching Lilas could be a full time job. I'm glad she's also taking the time to comfort her as well.
Author's reply
Hello Fantasy Fan--wonderful to see you again! I don't quite follow what you're saying about someone asking about consummating the marriage. You can email me if you like--to humor an old lady!
My take--without giving the story away--is that it's a "forced marriage", to use another reviewer's description (or a Shotgun Wedding, as some of us know it in the States!), and the "consummation" is going to be a difficult subject for Pippin and Lilas. They're married, and they're going to be faced with "married things"; its all part of the drama. Though I don't want it to seem cheap--or cheaply written--which is why Pearl and Myst are such a great help to me.
Thank you, Fantasy Fan, for taking time out of your busy schedule to read Roses and send a review. Take care! :-)
Pippinfan
Pearl Took
· 20 May 2004
· Chapter 13: Providence
You are still doing a marvelous job of walking this path. You are handling this with great care and sensitivity. Wonderful!
Pearl Took
Author's reply
Thank you so much, Pearl! Your compliment means a lot to me--and you know where I get my guidances from... :-) Take care, and thank you again!
Pippinfan
melilot_hill
· 18 May 2004
· Chapter 13: Providence
I'm really enjoying this fic. Luckily Pippin and Lilas are starting to like each other. But something will go wrong. Wonder what that is and when it's going to happen..
Author's reply
I'm sorry you feel that way, Mel. I'd say some things to help cheer you up, but I can't.
Pippinfan
Bluegrass Elf
· 18 May 2004
· Chapter 13: Providence
Yay!
Author's reply
Glad you liked it!
Pippinfan
Pervinca
· 18 May 2004
· Chapter 13: Providence
Awwww - this was such a lovely chapter! I'm so glad that Lilas and the baby are all right. And it was so sweet that Pippin's teaching her to read (weird thing is, I've read a P/D story where Pippin has to teach Diamond to read because she was overlooked as a child).
Again, you've managed to make me care so deeply for your OC. It's very rare that I get like that, but Lilas is so real that she can do that :)
- Pervinca
Author's reply
Thank you Pervinca! The only P&D story I've read was...P&D! ;-) Peregrin and Diamond by Pearl Took, that is! Life is running amuk right now, but I do plan to read your sequel to JTBWY. That's cool that you like Lilas, ufortunately though, this will be her only story! So sorry. Thank you for taking the time to read Roses!
Pippinfan
Grey Wonderer
· 17 May 2004
· Chapter 13: Providence
Here's a surprise. It's me again. You just never know who might be reading these things. Anyway, seems Pim is the organizer in you Took family. She did an excellent job of keeping everyone calm during this. Liked Pippin teaching his new wife to read, but my favorite part of this chapter is the last sentance.
In the deep of night, as husband and wife quietly reflected on their circumstances, sleep crept in and stole husband and wife away to slumber.
In the deep of night, as husband and wife quietly reflected on their circumstances, sleep crept in and stole husband and wife away to slumber.
Very sweet and paints a lovely picture.
Author's reply
Ah, but a pleasant surprise it is! That was one of the things I loved about reading Sisters, is that our Took sisters have pretty much the same characteristics, but different sisters hold certain ones. Thank you for the compliment! Take care!
Pippinfan
Pervinca
· 15 May 2004
· Chapter 12: To the Market
That was a very cruel and wicked cliff-hanger, so I hope that means that another update will be coming soon (hmmm, I suppose I can't really go off at ou here. I'm notorious for leaving my readers hanging for several weeks in some cases :P). Poor Lilas. I have my fingers crossed that nothing is wrong with the baby!
I suppose I can forgive you also since you managed to squeeze Everard into this chapter :) Just because you've paired me with a handsome Brandybuck doctor, doesn't change me opinion of Master Everard ;)
Great chapter! You can tell I'm insanely tired (lousy cold )
Author's reply
So sorry about the wicked cold! Okay...and the cliffhanger. I want to post another chapter today, but if not, then it should be no later than tomorrow. I hate to keep people waiting too long after a cliffie. I actually forgot about it being a cliffhanger until I got a few reviews taking me to task! :-P
Glad you like Everard's cameo--he'll get another soon. LOL...and don't give me sauce about my marrying you off to a Buckland doctor! :-)
Slainte,
Pippinfan
Bluegrass Elf
· 14 May 2004
· Chapter 12: To the Market
Oh no! Poor Lilas!
Author's reply
Oh, no! What will happen next? Stay tuned! ;-)
Pippinfan
Lady Jaina
· 14 May 2004
· Chapter 12: To the Market
Oh boy!!!! Who cares that it's a cliffie---for this I can make myself wait.....about three seconds TOPS. Great job!!!! Can't wait until the next chapter is up!!
Author's reply
I'm finding out this is not an easy story to write, so as I get chapters written and edited by the lovely Pearl Took and Mysterious Ways, they go up. There are no "cushions" at this time. I'm *guessing* before the weekend is over, I'll get ch. 13 posted.... so sorry about the cliffie! Thanks for reading, though!
Pippinfan
Rosie-Ann
· 12 May 2004
· Chapter 11: The Inevitable
*laughs* This'll be a short review, but well done once again! *grin*
Oh, I don't know if you'd be interested, but I recently recieved author status and have a couple stories up...if you wanted to check them out. I'd be very honored. *blush*
Author's reply
*I'm* the one blushing! I am the one honored in such a request! btw--I did check out part of Fellowship of the Greenholms...very good writing, and very nice story! :-)
Pippinfan
Lady Jaina
· 12 May 2004
· Chapter 11: The Inevitable
Wow!! I am really enjoying this story!!
Author's reply
Thanks! I'm glad that you are! :-)
Pippinfan
Pervinca
· 12 May 2004
· Chapter 11: The Inevitable
I almost made an audible "awwww" sound when Pippin and Lilas snuggled up together. But I'm at a friend's place, and she'd probably mock me for it :P
I'm wondering just as much as Pippin is as to where in his story Lilas fell asleep - hopefully not some point that would give her nightmares!
(In regards to my previous review - yes, I do remember now that Pim's husband was killed. It had simply slipped my mind, especially with me being very tired. Of course, I should have guessed something from the total lack of husband for poor Pim!)
- Pervinca
Author's reply
Chicken! LOL...just teasing! No, no nihtmares for Lilas...that I know of, anyway. Thanks for reading!
Pippinfan
Melilot Hill
· 12 May 2004
· Chapter 11: The Inevitable
I think this story is really good. I love the way both the characters grow and yet have so much to learn. You describe the proces really well. I can't wait for the next chapter(s).
(I spotted a very small mistake in line 2, you have a word to many "but he would change THE it" (hope you don't mind that I mentioned it :))
Author's reply
Oh...I've had a lot of help! Between Pearl and Myst...but I sincerely thank you. And I don't mind you mentioning typos and edit errors at all! This was a redundant word pointed out to me by one of my co-authors, so I took it out and replaced it with "it". I was so focused on the one word that I forgot about the preceding word... Thank you, Melilot!
Pippinfan