Larner · 14 May 2005 · Chapter 1: Pale Spring
Ah, very much Eowyn and Merry as I have imagined them, too. Read these backwards, and enjoyed every one of them. Thank you for a wonderful early afternoon.
Many Paths to Tread by Citrine
Reviews (45)
Larner · 14 May 2005 · Chapter 2: The Dark Places
A worthy gap-filler for the horrors of Moria. Well done, and I see why Lindelea cheered this one on.
Larner · 14 May 2005 · Chapter 3: In His Dream
Whether AU or just anticipation by one or both of our boys, this is all too likely a scene. Thank you.
Author's reply
No, thank *you*! I'm stunned that you slogged through all these ficlets, and in so short a period of time, too! In my first draft Merry's dream was an actual visitation from Pippin's spirit, since I had the idea that while he was dreaming, Pippin had already had his encounter with the troll at the Black Gate. That would've been nicely angsty, but then I realized my story took place too early in the timeline for that-Pippin's company would've been somewhere around Osgiliath, if I got it right. (My middle-name is 'Slavishly Devoted to Canon';o)So it's more likely just Merry's worry expressing itself...and boy howdy, listen to me ramble. But still, I appreciate your reviews, and thank you so much!
Larner · 14 May 2005 · Chapter 4: Tookish Luck
Excellent gap-filler, and superbly written. Love it!
Larner · 14 May 2005 · Chapter 5: And Sleep To Meet
And so Merry hints he has heard Aragorn's news, and Pippin realizes that they might just go here and now. Very sweet, and a sweet ending for our two fellows.
Larner · 14 May 2005 · Chapter 6: Tomorrow
Yes, you have been angsty, haven't you? Poor Legolas.
Larner · 14 May 2005 · Chapter 7: Hope and Memory
So, in this AU we have lost both Pippin and Frodo. Yes, very proper way to lose two of our favorites.
Larner · 14 May 2005 · Chapter 8: Another Shortcut
You have me laughing out loud with this one. Poor Arargorn, finding his friends are hiding MUSHROOMS from him--very, very purely Hobbit behavior there! Ahh, how wonderful this one is. And even Frodo is taking part in the conspiracy? LOVE it!
Larner · 14 May 2005 · Chapter 9: April 6th, 1420
A beautiful drabble, and fully in keeping with Tolkien and our understanding of Frodo's condition at the time. Very bittersweet, and well written.
Eruanna · 10 April 2005 · Chapter 8: Another Shortcut
LOL! This is grand! You had me laughing all the way through. :) >>A great patch of mushrooms was a thing to be cherished, more precious than gold (gold being highly inedible)<< That line is brilliant! Really, hobbits are much more sensible than men. After all, what use *is* something you can't eat? ;) Thanks for a cheerful little fic to brighten my day. Blessings, Eruanna
Dreamflower · 1 April 2005 · Chapter 7: Hope and Memory
You're very brave. I couldn't have done it, much less done it so eloquently. Did you know JRRT *almost* did?
Author's reply
Really?! I always felt, just from the way the chapter The Black Gate Opens ends, that he might have been toying with the idea, but I thought it was just one of those 'fanon' ideas that tend to pop up. That's fascinating, and some twisted part of me would love for someone to find his unpublished draft of it so I could read it...but still, I'm *really* glad he changed his mind!
TithenFeredir · 22 March 2005 · Chapter 5: And Sleep To Meet
The imagery in this one is as pleasantly sweet as the tone. "...bright eyes like two chips of green glass caught in nets of wrinkles" Very nice. ~TF
TithenFeredir · 22 March 2005 · Chapter 6: Tomorrow
This was beautiful. It conveys deep sentiment with dignity in a simple,lyrical, heartfelt way. Lovely. ~TF
Author's reply
Thank you so much! This was my first attempt at something like this, and man, drabbles (even a double-drabble that gives a bit more slack,) are harder than they look. I'm glad you liked it.
Grey Wonderer · 20 February 2005 · Chapter 4: Tookish Luck
I enjoyed this very much. I somehow missed it on the Challenge site but am very glad to have found it here. I thought that Merry's urge to laugh was so real in such a tense situation. I liked that moment of desperation on his part and also the conversations between Pippin and him with nothing more than their eyes. It shows how well they know one another. Great story!
Dreamflower · 24 January 2005 · Chapter 3: In His Dream
This is wonderful, so sweet and melancholy and dear. I love Merry's embarassment, Eowyn's practicality, and the way they comfort one another. Poor Merry.
Esamen · 23 January 2005 · Chapter 3: In His Dream
Citrine, this is just beautiful. You really are a gem. A gorgeous collection of ficlets. . . . and I'm not really a ficlet fan, but these are too good to not reviw. "But Eowyn, without any of the embarrassment a well-bred Lady should show, casually yanked the blanket off and shook it out over him, tucking it around him as if she were his mother." Wow! what a sentence! This is so immediate and fresh and real--Tolkien might not ever have written that Eowyn "yanked" anything, but he should have. This is fantastic. And that whole last paragraph -- poetry in motion, for lack of a better phrase. Sheer joy to read, and to feel. I can smell the air and see the sky. Such a beautiful ending. You are TALENTED, woman! Love it, love it! So deep, so special, so canon, such great fic. Please write more. I'll be watching down the road for you. Happy typing, Esamen
Author's reply
Eep! Please, I'm blushing! *Feels ego expanding* Wow, thank you so much! But I'm afraid it may be a while before I add another ficlet, since I want to concentrate on something else that's taking up all my brain-space at the moment. But hang in there, and I'll get back to it as soon as I can. And you know, the word 'yanked' feels...not quite right to me, but I just couldn't think of anything else that fit-'pulled' seemed too bland, 'jerked' seemed too harsh, and 'tugged' seemed too cute. Ah well, back to the thesaurus...
Chibi_kaz · 23 January 2005 · Chapter 3: In His Dream
Adorable. I'd love to see your Merry's reaction to Eowyn's whirlwind romance. Here, have a bunny. --Chibi-Kaz
Author's reply
Thank you so much for reading, but if people keep handing me these critters, I'm going to have to stock up on carrots;o)Hmm, Merry did seem to be rather sweet on Eowyn here, didn't he? *nibblenibble* Down, bunnies, down!
esamen · 20 January 2005 · Chapter 2: The Dark Places
Beautiful! Beautifully and tenderly written. I love both the ficlets. You can write! I hope you have more like this up your talented sleeve. More, please! Happy typing Esamen
Saoirse · 15 January 2005 · Chapter 1: Pale Spring
I absolutely love that quote from TTT, and I just loved this line: 'Her eyes sting with tears, and in her heart she feels a sudden warmth and thaw, like spring.' How beautiful! (Merry through his breakfast? That little devil!)Very good job! :)
Lindelea · 15 January 2005 · Chapter 1: Pale Spring
I know I read and commented on this one elsewhere, but I was glad to read it again! The picture of all these great Big people afraid of a hobbit in a temper! You had me laughing. Such a lovely story. Thanks!
Author's reply
And how kind of you to review it again! If not for your recommendation on your live journal, this story might never have escaped *my* live journal! Oh, I was happy enough with the story, but I had concerns that Merry's off-screen fit of bad temper might seem too out of character. Thanks so very much...again:)