Larner
· 19 October 2006
· Chapter 12: A Visit from a Favourite Nephew
And someone is already smitten, after all.
Good to see Frodo already seeing to it that Pippin is prepared for the day when it is he as Thain, and I suspect he already is starting to realize he won't remain all that long.
Yes, Frodo the Slender, slated to grow moreso that way before he finds himself again.
Author's reply
Yes, Frodo is looking ahead to the future, although I don't think at this point he completely realises--I think that happened after the October anniversary, more.
harrowcat
· 27 September 2006
· Chapter 11: The Long Road Home
My arm turned to ice as my sword turned to fire and burned all away. Shadow fell upon me and I lost myself...'
What a powerful description in less than two sentences! Fantastic Lindelea!
And I just adored the ending of this chapter. 'It is the way of hobbits to speak lightly.....etc!
Author's reply
Thanks!
(Hobbits. Just can't get enough of them.)
Larner
· 26 September 2006
· Chapter 11: The Long Road Home
Yes, trolls killed--apply to Peregrin Took, Crickhollow or Great Smials, the Shire....
Glad to see the family find out, and for Merry and Pippin to see the tale told at the last, and the grief for Frodo and what he bore.
Author's reply
I can almost see the advertisement, can't you?
Pearl Took
· 26 September 2006
· Chapter 11: The Long Road Home
This is exquisite!! Tolkien could have not done better. Absolutely perfect!!
*thunderous applause*
Just perfect!!
Author's reply
Many thanks. I had the best of material to build upon.
harrowcat
· 20 September 2006
· Chapter 10: Echoes of the Past
Oh yes! The healing is going on for everyone here. Our lads need to tell their story and the parents need to hear and understand as best they can.
I guess Pippin finally understands how hard everyone had to work to keep him in bed! *g*
Author's reply
LOL! Perhaps Pippin does understand! (Now itching to write a story where Pippin has to struggle to keep young Faramir in bed... sort of like "just desserts" for all the trouble he caused in his youth.)
demeter d
· 19 September 2006
· Chapter 10: Echoes of the Past
Whew! Saradoc is home safe in bed, and has plenty of loving watchers. Perhaps telling about the horrors they went through together can be a release for M & R. And having Merry's parents as understanding allies can only be a good thing.
Author's reply
It's funny, I've read other "takes" where Merry is able to tell his parents about the Quest, but Pippin isn't.
I have to admit I really enjoyed a story where Pippin told *his* parents what happened while he was away. The loving support, even though they could not understand, really, completely, what had happened... and words fail me. Must be time for a cup of tea. Which is why I sat down at the computer in the first place, to wait for the kettle to boil.
Larner
· 19 September 2006
· Chapter 10: Echoes of the Past
Yes, the splinter's out, and the infection can finally be released, and the healing can be given Merry and Pippin, who after all haven't had enough chance to tell their own part in the story.
Author's reply
That's right. Somehow letting it out is better than keeping it in.
Pearl Took
· 19 September 2006
· Chapter 10: Echoes of the Past
Wonderful still!! Your Pippin is so Pippin in this story :-) I love how the story telling is helping both father and son.
Wonderful!!
Author's reply
Thanks!
Larner
· 29 August 2006
· Chapter 9: Of Fish and Forest
Yes, such a year would put a strain on anyone. Poor Sara--but he'll recover well, we know it.
Author's reply
Yes, he has some good years left, even if he must be careful and allow Merry to assume more of the load. I'm so glad that JRRT gave us death dates as well as birth dates for major characters... though I might wish for more information to go on... and though sometimes those dates are darned inconvenient. (I have Odovacar Bolger living several years longer than his span as reported in "Peoples of Middle Earth", for example, because I didn't have access to that book until I'd been writing fanfic for months.)
Thanks!
Larner
· 29 August 2006
· Chapter 8: Of Mushrooms and Music
Pippin's ability to read others and coax them out of their doldrums and into other activities will stand him in good stead when he's the Thain at last.
Larner
· 29 August 2006
· Chapter 7: Coming Home
The changes must have been difficult to accept, much less appreciate. They want their sons, but what they have back are much changed and have been tried by fire. That they would bear some of the soot of the forge as yet is perhaps to be expected, I suppose.
Author's reply
"much changed and tried by fire" is an insightful description, and "soot of the forge" is such an amazing word picture!
Thanks! (((hugs)))
Larner
· 29 August 2006
· Chapter 6: Gift of a Jewel
The twin to his other pony, and now recovering and finding just the proper Hobbit to partner in Merry. And I love the idea of Frodo's smile actually reaching his eyes this time.
Author's reply
Indeed. Sort of a miracle, and restoring what was once lost, even though Bright Nose is gone.
Thanks!
Larner
· 29 August 2006
· Chapter 5: A Long-Expected Wedding
It indeed must have worked. But alas, for Frodo no wedding to come, although he will know a great deal of love.
Author's reply
Poor Frodo. His anniversary in March threw him for a loop. I think that's when he began to suspect that life would never go back to normal for him, even though he was back in the Shire.
(((hugs)))
Larner
· 28 August 2006
· Chapter 4: Moving House
Yes, it is past time to speak to Rosie; and Frodo's own words of wisdom do come from experience he's not yet sharing.
Larner
· 28 August 2006
· Chapter 3: Walking in Light
Quite a different meeting between Pippin and Diamond than I'd envisioned, but I love it. And I'm so glad Frodo was the one to come, and that he used the stargem on Merry. It's aid was so needed, and now Merry can be merry again.
And it IS time for Sam to ask Rosie, after all!
Author's reply
"and now Merry can be merry again" is a lovely thought and turn of phrase.
Thank you!
Larner
· 28 August 2006
· Chapter 2: Walking in Darkness
They are giving up entirely too easily, I think.
Bless Pippin for staying by Merry. But tomorrow is the New Year; and in Bywater Frodo has been going through his own painful memorial for the season.
Author's reply
You're exactly right, Frodo is going through the anniversary as well. Poor Pippin, he's still only a tween, after all.
Larner
· 28 August 2006
· Chapter 1: Rescue of a Wee Cousin
Sam will kill them if they seriously hurt themselves, as well, and they know it.
Okay, Pippin--get to his side.
Love the hobbitling rescue!
harrowcat
· 8 August 2006
· Chapter 9: Of Fish and Forest
Oh no! Poor Saradoc. What a lovely, peaceful afternoon and then it all goes wrong!
BTW - I am so glad that RL is giving you more time to add to your stories. Long may it continue.
Author's reply
I'm glad, too, that I've been able to set aside an hour or two a day for writing, at least up until this week, which has held more than its share of distractions.
I have an editing job that was just dropped off today, and so I won't have as much time, at least until I get all the way through that book and am able to call the author to come and pick it up again. So there may not be a lot of chapters posted through the end of the month. Hope the readers don't lose interest!
Thanks for the faithful reviews. They are an encouragement and an incentive to keep posting, I must admit.
Pearl Took
· 8 August 2006
· Chapter 9: Of Fish and Forest
A blessing that Merry and Pippin were with Saradoc. They will do a fine job of helping The Master :)
And I like that Saradoc knows Tom Bombadil :)
Author's reply
I thought that it might make sense that a few of the older and wiser Brandybucks might know Tom Bombadil, and that they might have ventured into the Old Forest on occasion.
Of course, I could be wrong!
Thanks!
demeter d
· 8 August 2006
· Chapter 9: Of Fish and Forest
Late night, and early morning too? Dear lady, do you never sleep? (I know i don't!) Even with food still short before the next harvest after the Scouring, Hobbits are still resourceful about drawing food from the land. In a very real way, we see the Master providing for his Hall. So nice to see Merry and Pippin able to talk to Merry's father about their adventures, even if it is about some of the lighter moments. Too bad sometimes it takes something serious, like a heart attack, to make us slow down and take time for each other. I very much liked Merry holding his father, and comforting him with the old song and the childhood nickname, as his father once comforted him. Little Merry has grown in more ways than up. Was it Theoden, or no, I think it was Gandalf after Theoden's death, who said that Merry had a good heart, and his griefs would serve to make him wiser and more compassionate. You express that notion very well, here. I liked the parting shot. The Healer said it was good he had his strong son back to act for him while he rested. Merry said, Peregrin and I will try not to run the place into the ground! Saradoc will just have to get well very soon! Nice touch having the healer give him willow bark. Modern aspirin is derived from it, as most know. And now we give folks aspirin for heart attacks. Well done!
Author's reply
Sometimes I drink too much coffee, trying to wake up, and it hangs on into the wee hours. I do better when I'm "off" coffee, but I'm hooked again and not quite ready to brave the four-day headache involved in quitting.
When I used to take pseudofed for my allergies, it seemed I never slept! I got a lot of writing done in those days, at least until I crashed for lack of rest.
I very much enjoyed reading your impressions. I think it was Aragorn you're thinking of, in your quote, in the scene in the Houses of Healing after the Pelennor.
Thanks!
harrowcat
· 7 August 2006
· Chapter 8: Of Mushrooms and Music
Yep, being stricter with Pippin sounds like a notion that has always started 'on the morrow' and never today. But he has turned out alright anyway.
demeter d
· 3 August 2006
· Chapter 8: Of Mushrooms and Music
All of the details required to feed so many hungry mouths. the Shire-folk pulled together to help each other through. Well done.
And, you mean he does NOT have his uncle and everyone else wrapped up?
Very nice!
demeter d
· 3 August 2006
· Chapter 5: A Long-Expected Wedding
I have gotten some behind reading this. i loved the cousins needling each other and Sam. Very nicely in character. The song becomes such a delightful wedding gift!1 I am sure Mama Cotton forgave Merry, eventually!
Author's reply
I'm sure she forgave Merry, especially since he more-or-less nagged Samwise into proposing! (Even though his teasing had rather the opposite effect for too long a time...)
Thanks!
Pearl Took
· 2 August 2006
· Chapter 8: Of Mushrooms and Music
"Ponies saddled already? He must start being stricter with the rascal; Peregrin seemed to think he had his uncle wrapped neatly around his little finger. All right, then, he would start on the morrow. But today, he intended to enjoy himself."
Saradoc *is* wrapped around Pippin's wee finger, as are most of the lad's relatives :)
I'm fearing a relapse on Merry's part, which I don't think will bode well for his father either.
On with the tale!
Pearl Took
· 30 July 2006
· Chapter 7: Coming Home
"He stood a long time gazing into the face of his sleeping son."
This whole chapter has a very beautiful, haunting quality to it - hard to describe, and this last sentence is just perfect.
Wonderfully done, Lin. Artistry.
Author's reply
Thank you so very much, Pearl.
(Takes one to know one.)