EstellaB
· 26 March 2006
· Chapter 19: Taken By Surprise
Why haven't you updated this sooner?? You can't leave me waiting for the last chapter like this, you cruel, cruel person! *sobs*
Please write a Pippin and Diamond fic (unless you have already, in which case I will read it). I would love to see your take on their relationship.
Author's reply
Sorry I don't update this story much! I write for a lot of fandoms and LOTR has been put around the middle of the list *sighs*
I'd love to do a Pippin/Diamond fic! My problem is coming up with a good storyline. I tried starting one a while back, but it didn't work out :(
hanci
· 19 March 2006
· Chapter 19: Taken By Surprise
I'm sorry you don't get reviews for this story. It's really good, I like it. Can't really add any constructive comment, but couldn't stay lurking.
Author's reply
Thank you for reading and letting me know :)
Brenda
· 14 March 2006
· Chapter 19: Taken By Surprise
hi sorry i did not yet reviewed this great storie but i wil today i love every chapter you are a great writer i am writting too but i stil cant get my stories up here sadly :( i love to read about Merry and Estella only my favorite couple wil be Pippin Diamond thats were i am writing about :) bye bye greets Brenda til next time
Author's reply
Thank you for reading and letting me know :) I'm glad you have enjoyed the story!
Ariel
· 9 February 2006
· Chapter 0: What Happened
I read this prologue ages ago, but never realized you went further with it! Thank you! I just finished my own Merry/Estella and am intrigued to see your take - the beginning was promising then and still.
One question though - I see the formatting of the document is very strange. It looks like you have too many hard returns in it breaking up the lines. Is that something you could edit? It would make it easier to read.
Pervinca
· 18 September 2005
· Chapter 15: More Than Just a Letter
I feel so bad - I promised you so long ago that I would read the newest chapters of Ashes, and when I finally get around to it, you've written so much more! All of it was wonderful of course. Such an interesting relationship that you've worked between dear Merry and Stella - and I nearly cried when I read his proposal (though it was nearly *her* proposal, wasn't it?).
I'm guessing it may be some time before you get a chance to write again (and I really hope everything is still fine with you). Make sure you drop me a line when you do update to remind me to get off my behind a read it!
- Kate
Dreamflower
· 7 May 2005
· Chapter 14: Behind the Door
Very nice! Now, when's the *next* chapter? *hint*hint*
Author's reply
Thanks! The next chapter is half way done. Worked on it just last night :P
Dreamflower
· 5 April 2005
· Chapter 13: At a Glance
Good to see this up! I think the italics make a big difference! Looking forward to more...
Dreamflower
· 19 March 2005
· Chapter 12: No More Running
Oh yes! It's good to see this chapter up at last! I *love* the paragraph you've added at the end, with Estella. It really gives the chapter more "oomph!" at the end, as well as a nice symmetry: we see Merry at the beginning, thinking of Estella on ponyback, and then at the end, she is on a pony as she rides away. Well done!
Dreamflower
· 11 January 2005
· Chapter 11: Conversations
All Right!!!! It's out in the open now! Good old Rose, and good old Frodo: those two *did* need just a little prodding, didn't they? I especially liked Frodo's giving Merry advice, it's just the kind of thing he'd do, and Merry would actually listen to, whereas with Pip he would probably just joke around and not admit anything--there *are* some advantages to being the oldest cousin!
I did spot about three little grammar nits. I'll send you an email with them, so you can fix them if you like.
Good job: now where's the *next* chapter? Back to the salt mines, LOL!
Author's reply
Thanks! I don't know why I had been dreading that chapter. It slipped out like a bar of soap in hands...lol! I actually was debating if Frodo or Sam would talk with Merry, but thought it better and more thick is Frodo did.
Next sure when the next chapter will be out. I wrote it several months ago, but since the storyline has changed somewhat, I need to re-write it. AH!
Dreamflower
· 6 December 2004
· Chapter 10: Come Together
This is terrific! I'm so glad you added all the gifts, and expanded it! I was very surprised when Merry gave her a handkerchief--I was sure it was going to be the painting, and then you saved that to end the chapter! Keep up the good work; looking forward to more!
Author's reply
Thanks! The last part would of never been included in this chapter if you hadn't looked it over first. I've had that scene in my head for a couple months now just waiting to be written, lol.
I just posted the plot bunny I got from one of your stories!
Larner
· 21 November 2004
· Chapter 9: It's Only Fair
I've followed this story for a while, and am glad to find this chapter done. Am waiting anxiously to see how Merry and Estella come together at last!
Author's reply
Thank you for following and reviewing my story! I was wondering if anyone was reading it, but some people seem to be. The next chapter is up now, and it's fairly long. Thanks again!
pipinheart
· 20 November 2004
· Chapter 9: It's Only Fair
A very nice story... Merry and estella should get together soon...
Update soon
Author's reply
Thank you!!!
Dreamflower
· 4 November 2004
· Chapter 9: It's Only Fair
This was wonderful, Nina! I really like the changes you made--the stopover at Bag End really helped deepen the plot, as well as fixing the time/distance thing. And the ending was quite funny--the first time he kisses her, he's drunk and misses his aim, LOL! It reminded me of that old Loretta Lynn song about "Don't Come Home A-Drinking with Loving on Your Mind".
Poor Merry, he's not only going to be hungover in the morning, but he's going to have an angry Estella. I just hope she remembers that people tell the truth when they're drunk, and that he thinks she's beautiful.
I took this chapter to Cracker Barrel with me, to read while I had supper!
Author's reply
Glad you liked it! Yeah, the changes really gave more depth to the chapter. Thank you so much for helping with that! I had been wanting for months now to write that scene with drunk!Merry coming onto Estella. Thought it'd bring a little humor into the story. The next chapter is already written, just got to touch it up and send it off to Pervinca for beta-ing.
Dreamflower
· 5 October 2004
· Chapter 8: To Tell a Tale
As I told you, I like a perceptive Frodo. Your Frodo is a very nice one indeed.
A good description of the restless nights of three troubled souls sharing the same home, their efforts not to disturbe one another are painful and realistic.
Once more, I noticed you put "couple weeks" instead of "couple of weeks". Not a difficul fix.
I hope to see a new chapter very soon now! I am intrigued as to how it will continue--you haven't left too many obvious clues lying around.
Author's reply
All righty, I'll have to go fix that 'couple weeks' mistake.
I started a new chapter yesterday. Hit a lot of bumps in it though. Hopefully they'll get worked out.
Dreamflower
· 5 October 2004
· Chapter 7: No Fear
Well, they are beginning to acknowledge their feelings at last!
I like that Merry gave in on Estella coming because he remembered Eowyn. He would know, if anyone did, that being female did not make one helpless. But of course there was a difference; Eowyn *knew* what she was doing.
Very good to have Pippin be the one who saved her from the ruffian. It would have been a little too pat and obvious if that had been Merry as well.
Wonderful description of the fight and its confusion. Sometimes fights can be difficult to deal with--too little description, and it seems boring; too much description, and it sounds bloodthirsty. You struck the happy medium.
Author's reply
Yeah, Estella wasn't too wise to go with them, but she's such a caretaker and when her charges' lives are in danger, nothing stops her. I can't wait to make her a mother :P
I try to balance out Merry and Pippin's part in her life. It's good not to lean to one side.
I'm glad the fight scene wasn't confusinf or bland! It's hard choregraphing those.
Dreamflower
· 5 October 2004
· Chapter 6: Not a Care
Ah, at last we are beginning to get to the courtship--how long will it take Estella to realize Merry's interested in more than friendship?
I am hoping that you will eventually deal with the rift between Fredegar and his sister. After all, we know he's not really a coward, when he stood against ruffians in the Shire. But she is referring to emotional cowardice, a different thing altogether.
I like the picture of Sam's and Rosie's wedding. Very nice.
Author's reply
hehe, a courtship they don't even realize they're starting! lol.
There will be a time for Fred and Stella to finally work things out. I'm trying not to dwell too much on that plot, and Pervinca has told me it's going along at a good subtle pace. Fred isn't a coward bravery-wise, but yeah, emotional he has issues. I'm having a good time wading through them too ;)
Dreamflower
· 5 October 2004
· Chapter 5: Exploring Common Ground
I like Merry telling Estella of the Quest, and her calm acceptance of it.
And I love the little sublety, that he says "lady" instead of "lass". He is, after all, a knight, and a knight will have his lady. ;-)
Dreamflower
· 5 October 2004
· Chapter 3: Hiding Place
"Forgive me if I'm a bit impatient."
"What's to forgive? You're always impatient."
Absolutely beautiful. Merry and Pippin in a nutshell! Wonderful characterization.
I like that Fredegar seems to be somewhat resigned to, if not completely understanding of, his sister's need to be away from home right now. This is a very nice chapter.
Dreamflower
· 5 October 2004
· Chapter 2: Just a Little Slip in the River
Gallant Merry to the rescue! A good beginning for a romance, but right now of course, they are just friends. I like the details in your description of the flowers and countryside, as Estella realizes she doesn't *really* want to drown.
Since this story is post-Quest, will you at any time deal with Fredegar's attempt to resist the Occupation? His imprisonment might also account for his difficulty in dealing with his father's death? Estella does not seem to have any understanding of that time in his life.
And there are two small little nits--you may want to put "of" in, as "couple of years"; it sounds better that way. And I am assuming Pippin heaved a sigh, and not his last meal, LOL!
Dreamflower
· 5 October 2004
· Chapter 1: No Rest for the Weary
Your prologue deals with the mother's death, and now we have the father's death, and are shown the conflict between the siblings. I am personally very familiar with the fact that sometimes one sibling will be in denial about a parent's decline, and leave all the dirty work to another sibling. It creates a very sticky situation.
Author's reply
Usually the relationship between Fred and Stella in other fics is happy-go-lucky and all, but I wanted to have conflict between them. They love each other very much, but they also have faults and different opinions. Estella is outspoken, so that adds to the tension.
Dreamflower
· 5 October 2004
· Chapter 0: What Happened
Very interesting and different take on Fredegar. Good beginning; sets up your situation well.
Bluegrass Elf
· 21 September 2004
· Chapter 8: To Tell a Tale
More more!
Author's reply
Thank you reading! The next chapter will be posted hopefully in the next couple of weeks :)
Bluegrass Elf
· 10 August 2004
· Chapter 7: No Fear
More! More, more!
Bluegrass Elf
· 30 July 2004
· Chapter 6: Not a Care
How lovely! Please write more soon!
Bluegrass Elf
· 11 July 2004
· Chapter 5: Exploring Common Ground
Oooooh, very nice. You're gonna' write more aren't you?
Author's reply
Thanks for reading! Yes, the next chapter should be out soon. I keep this story (miraculously!) updated pretty often :)