Dreamflower · 1 February 2005 · Chapter 71: Showers of Joy
Rain! (For some reason, "Singin' in the Rain" is now running through my head.)
Author's reply
Well, they were certainly dancing and singing in the rain at the end! (Thanks and hugs!)
At the End of His Rope by Lindelea
Reviews (245)
Dreamflower · 1 February 2005 · Chapter 70: Where the Shadows Lie
Poor Sam, having to trek through the Black Land again. (I'm back by the way. I never took decorations off the tree that fast in my life, LOL! Just killing some time now till the DH gets home from work.) I've often thought that if Frodo's life had not been interrupted by the death of his parents that his personality would have been a lot like Pippin's. It makes sense that as Pippin grows older, he would seem to be a lot like Frodo.
Dreamflower · 1 February 2005 · Chapter 69: Remembering Day
And on this lovely and hopeful note, I am going to have to quit for the time being, and get myself busy. I have laundry to put away and (gulp) a Christmas tree to de-decorate. (I know...I know...) It's all your fault for writing such an engrossing story...(How's that for passing the blame?)LOL!
Author's reply
Bless you! LOL.
Dreamflower · 1 February 2005 · Chapter 68: Hobbit Hospitality
In spite of the seriousness of this chapter, I had to chuckle. It's more humorous to me now than it was before, since I have made more acquaintance with Ferdi since then. It is amazing that the Tooks *didn't* shoot down the poor guardsmen.
Author's reply
What really astonishes me is that this was the first story Ferdi appeared in, and yet what is here is true to the "Ferdi" that emerged in all the subsequent stories. Even though he "grew" in the telling, he is still recognisable in his earliest form. Sometimes I wonder if there really *is* a Muse there, with all this marvellous world fully formed and firmly in mind, whispering bits and pieces to me in the quiet moments... Thanks for all the lovely comments! I hope to answer more than just this one, but dh wants the computer now!
Dreamflower · 1 February 2005 · Chapter 67: Object Lesson
And I remember this scene very well...it teared me up the first time I read it...and it teared me up again the second time around. *sigh* Beautiful!
Dreamflower · 1 February 2005 · Chapter 66: A Dose of Reality
Oh, I forgot that Merry lost those weeks. Does that mean he forgot his dream? Guess I'll just have to keep reading...
Dreamflower · 1 February 2005 · Chapter 65: A Sip of Royal Tea
'Thank you kindly, Sir, I will do that,' she said, dipping her head. The King of Gondor and Arnor followed the Mistress of Buckland out of the kitchen, bearing the tea tray before him. And no better picture of the kind of King and Man Aragorn son of Arathorn was than this.
Dreamflower · 1 February 2005 · Chapter 64: The Hands of the King
AAaawww...this scene is so sweet. *sigh* Good old Strider.
Dreamflower · 1 February 2005 · Chapter 63: All the King's Horses and All the King's Men
Oh lovely! Strider's come. Like I didn't know that. I love it when I get so caught up in what's happening that I forget I already know...did that make any sense? It's like re-reading LotR.
Author's reply
Because I was answering a recent review on this one, I went ahead and put in something for each review on the chapter. I don't know why so many chapters have reviews without replies... I thought I was better at answering reviews than I seem to have been, for I treasure the back-and-forth with others on SoA. In any event, "like re-reading LotR" is both heartening and humbling. Thank you. Hoping this finds you and yours well. (hugs)
Dreamflower · 1 February 2005 · Chapter 62: Conundrum
And now we see the result of that stupid edict. If there is one canon thing I could go back in time and talk JRRT into changing it would be that stupid edict. At least the guardsmen have enough compassion and sense to know an emergency when they see one.
Dreamflower · 1 February 2005 · Chapter 61: Dark Days
And now we see Pippin's practicality, that he learned from Sam. I'm so glad that the guard was Bergil. I remember now, but had forgotten how it was that he entered the Shire. At least he's the Thain's permission.
Dreamflower · 1 February 2005 · Chapter 60: Red Arrow for the Riddermark
Oh boy! I forgot this part--Eomer and Faramir and Eowyn going also! Yaay!
Dreamflower · 1 February 2005 · Chapter 59: To Sleep, Perchance
And Pippin's own precarious health for years on end. It's one thing to have a sudden near brush with death in a battle or an accident, something that is acutely frightening, but soon over, and it's another to live day after day knowing that the odds are against you surviving an illness, and that it is likely you will succumb sooner than later. That's where Merry's baby cousin got a lot of his wisdom. And then he also got a good deal of it from two older cousins who loved him dearly and taught him well.
Dreamflower · 1 February 2005 · Chapter 58: To Beg Aid of the King
A good little nuts and bolts chapter, emphasizing all those nasty little details that have to be ironed out. It struck me this time at how evasive Aragorn was when they talked about paying "We'll work it out later"... surprised Pippin didn't catch that; it's an evasion he's used himself from time to time.
Dreamflower · 1 February 2005 · Chapter 57: Bedside Chat
Another lovely bit. I like the way that it is Frodo's words which have kept his cousin going over the years. I was very briefly puzzled at the reference to Long Cleeve, and then I remembered "Jewels".
Dreamflower · 1 February 2005 · Chapter 56: Ruffled Feathers
Of course Estella wouldn't take their word for it, she'd have to see for herself that Merry was only sleeping. After all, no one wants to give an expectant mother bad news. Pippin is handling all this beautifully. If Merry were awake to watch, he'd be rather proud of him.
Dreamflower · 1 February 2005 · Chapter 55: Chickens in the Pot
And so now it begins...
Dreamflower · 1 February 2005 · Chapter 54: Sleeping Tight
Oh the stubborness of hobbits. Brandybucks are just as bad as Tooks...
Dreamflower · 1 February 2005 · Chapter 52: Five-Hobbit Consultation
Yay, Frodo! And isn't Merry going to be surprised when he wakes up and finds out he doesn't even need to tell his dream...
Dreamflower · 1 February 2005 · Chapter 51: In Dreams
This dream is one of my favorite parts of this story, and I re-read it twice. You have so captured Frodo's gentle spirit. I am sure that it was no common dream, but a special grace of Lorien, to allow Frodo to communicate with his beloved cousin in a time of trial. It's nice to think that perhaps Frodo was able to somehow know what was happening in the Shire during his absence, and that his care for his loved ones could still bear fruit...
Author's reply
I am comfort-reading old chapters, and in doing so, I came across this old review. I don't know if this reply will reach you at this late date, but I had to say that the "dreams" where Frodo's cousins are able to connect with him, even briefly, are some of my favorite scenes to revisit as well. I love thinking of him as healed and whole and waiting patiently for Sam to sail, when the time is right, of course, and his faithful companion will no longer be split in two. Hugs. I hope this note finds you and yours well (if it finds you at all, that is). Blessings to you.
Dreamflower · 1 February 2005 · Chapter 50: Examination
Poor Merry. And Poor Pip! He must have been completely taken aback to realize that all the healers in the Shire knew how precarious his health had been, when such care had been taken to keep it secret.
Dreamflower · 31 January 2005 · Chapter 49: Eastfarthing Pony Races
I love the toast to Bilbo and Frodo. Merry, Pippin and Sam are not going to let that custom go by, no matter *what* other hobbits may think of it. And now it's begun: it's Pip's turn to take care of Merry, and the rest of the bad news soon to follow, if I remember correctly... I have to leave off again, errand time again, bills and groceries, bummer...just when I was really getting into the story...
Dreamflower · 31 January 2005 · Chapter 48: In Memoriam
Poor Merry and Estella, *sigh*. But I have to say, I was tickled at Merry imagining his obituary "drowned in his bath" LOL!
Dreamflower · 31 January 2005 · Chapter 47: Return from Lake Evendim
Dear me, now it's Merry's turn. I am remembering as I go along, but it's been so long that bits and pieces of it still seem new to me...
Dreamflower · 31 January 2005 · Chapter 46: The Hobbit Giant
Is this story covered in "Thain"? I need to get back to that one as well...you do keep me busy...
Author's reply
Actually, "Hobbit Giant" was supposed to be set during the time the Witch King was overrunning the Shire (as was just covered in Thain) and driving the Arvedui's sons across the Lune, but then I got hold of a list of birthdates and found that Aranarth's son wasn't even born yet... so I had to re-write part of "Thain" to bring it in line with the fact that Aranarth's wife gave birth and died *not* while escaping the fall of Fornost, but some later disaster, undoubtedly when he was the first Chief of the Rangers. Who knows, maybe they'd established a "safe haven" that was discovered by evil forces. Whew, hope I'm making sense. I'm working at top speed while I have a few minutes "free" time. Thanks for the reviews. It is so lovely to see the story through fresh eyes!