Reviews (195)

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(I suspect that's what drew me to fan fiction in the first place, too. That, and gap-fillers. (What happened between the time the troll fell on Pippin and the celebration at Cormallen? What happened to Beregond, for that matter?) And once I'd got started, I found myself wanting more and more of hobbits. Still hooked. (*dancing with you* at this point in the story!) Thanks!

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"...use light words and say less..." So true! That's one of the endearing things about hobbits, to my mind. And now, I'm happy to say, we've won past the worst of the angst and are ready to launch into the "comfort" part of the story. Whew. (Thanks!)

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I've always seen the Brandybucks as more practical than the Tooks for some reason. Maybe I've been building off of the contrast between Merry and Pippin all this time... But it seems to work. Thanks so much for reading and taking time to comment. I really appreciate it! (I see you have a new chapter posted, so now that I've finished posting and proofreading the next installment of this one, and once I've rounded up some badly-needed protein, I'm going to indulge myself in reading as I refuel myself, at least until my eyes begin to protest. I meant to polish and post another "Bill" chapter today, but I don't think I have the eye-power to manage, so it'll have to wait a day or three.)

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Thank you for your words of praise! This chapter and the next were the most challenging of the whole story – keeping track of so many players moving in all directions at once! I think I managed not to lose any. Cheers, right back at you!

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Yikes! The Professor left such clues as to what his characters (might have) experienced over their lifetimes, but some of them sound terrifying! The Brandybucks were blowing the Horn-call of Buckland, that had not been sounded for a hundred years, not since the white wolves came in the Fell Winter, when the Brandywine was frozen over. The day I looked at the Tale of Years and realized that Bilbo lived through the Fell Winter was the day this story germinated and began to grow... And now all the pieces are coming together: Isengar (who went to sea in his youth but has a recorded death-date, and how would that be unless he'd come back to tell the tale?), the Tooks, the Bagginses, and even the Brandybucks (in Bilbo's memories, if not in person at this point in the story). Along with the White Wolves crossing the frozen-over Brandywine River. (And Fortinbras's journal will pop up again, for his story is not yet finished.) Thanks so much for responding with a review! I feel quite encouraged. (You recently mentioned a couple of your old stories in a review for Larner, if I'm remembering right, so I've been a bit distracted the past few days, but now I'm back to polishing draft chapters of the current WIPs and posting them on (some sort of) schedule. I will do my best to balance reading with writing... I tend to be such an all-or-nothing person, which has some good points as well as bad. For the past few days, I've been reading on my phone, but I'll revisit your stories on my laptop and type in some reviews since I can't seem to resist expressing the thoughts and/or feelings that arise when I'm reading satisfying fanfic.) (Don't mind me, if you please; I think I ate too much chocolate today. But Bill the Pony's next chapter ought to be posted tomorrow sometime. I can only handle so much excitement in one day.)

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Isen's walking stick will come in handy, as things turn out! Ah, Bilbo. I can quite understand why he caught Gandalf's interest as a tween. Just as Tolkien established when writing about Frodo in the barrow, There is a seed of courage hidden (often deeply, it is true) in the heart of the fattest and most timid hobbit, waiting for some final and desperate danger to make it grow. Thanks!

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People can have so many different facets; thus, Gerontius can be controlling with his offspring, especially since he's lived such a long life and accumulated so much experience that he obviously knows what's best for them, even better than they might know themselves. (Sorry, was that too sarcastic?) In real life, I've known quite a few parents who had a great reputation outside the immediate family circle, yet not so much with their own children. I suppose you might say that Gerontius reflects that kind of curious situation. Actually, I've written the Tooks as typically exerting a form of authoritarian parenting, for the most part, in contrast to Bungo's branch of the Baggins family, in particular, and the Brandybucks, in general terms, wherein parents tend to exercise a more authoritative style (balanced boundaries and warmth), as described in modern terms. Thus, Bungo's chosen and applied style of parenting deeply influenced Bilbo's outcome, just as Bilbo's parenting of Frodo (with some early influence from Drogo and Primula) helped shape Frodo into "the best hobbit in the Shire" in Gandalf's and Bilbo's eyes, according to JRRT. As I've heard it said, "That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it." Thanks for stopping to share your thoughts and impressions. I do appreciate it.

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I confess that the concept of character growth fascinates me. This story has allowed me to indulge myself quite extensively. I'm very glad to hear you are also enjoying seeing Bilbo grow and learn. Thanks!

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Grim is not the most sympathetic character I've ever written, true. He may or may not improve. We shall see. Thanks!

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Bilbo is growing up. Not only that, but Isen's sojourn with the Bagginses of Bag End, along with other events to come, will help the process along. Isn't it ironic that his heroism and self-sacrifice, along with flexibility and willingness to learn new ways, were associated with madness in the eyes of his fellow Shire-folk? To my mind, they would have benefited from allowing even a little such madness into their lives and attitudes. Thanks!

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This chapter reminds me (and maybe even came out of, originally) of riding Amtrak all the way across the country, coast to coast and back again. Even though we rode "coach" (getting beds in a sleeper car would not have fit our budget), at least the seats reclined, and the seats even had USB ports we could use to charge our phones (meaning I could play an audiobook all night with a droning reader to shut out train noises and get a fairly decent sleep). Between the West Coast and Chicago, the train had an "observation car" that was mostly big windows and offered a panoramic view, and I spent a lot of time there just marveling at the passing landscape. We met some interesting people, including a well-traveled pit bull. I wouldn't mind traveling by that means again. Thanks for taking the time to share your impression! I really appreciate it.

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I suspect it's easier to see the flaws from the outside and much harder to perceive them from having been born into a family and having grown up within its structure and traditions and relationships (and toxic elements, not that I see Hobbits as having the same capacity for toxicity as Men – still, the Shire has its bad apples too, like Lotho and Lobelia and Ted Sandyman, though in my stories Lobelia and Ted saw the error of their ways. Eventually. Which fits Tolkien's universe well, with his belief in second chances.). The TOAST just seemed the right thing at the moment! Very hobbity, I should think. Thanks!

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Poor Isen... how could he go all the way through the grief process and emerge on the other side if even the mention of the Sea was prohibited, much less his memories of the ship that was his home for so long, and the crewmates that became his family? Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. I really appreciate it.

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It makes such a difference when expectations are light and reasonable instead of heavy and oppressing (and, frankly, depressing)! It's been such fun to imagine Bungo and Belladonna, what their personalities might have been like and how they raised Bilbo, considering how their son turned out. Thanks!

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As I wrote that part, I was remembering the time when my dad received the gift of a Meerschaum pipe. I was very little at the time, but I still remember the smooth white surface that such a pipe displays before its first use, and the intricate carving of a man's face – a bearded fisherman, perhaps? It's so long ago, I don't remember it clearly anymore. I do remember hearing the gift-giver explaining how the pipe would darken over time with use and careful handling. I don't know what happened to it after his death, but hopefully someone has that treasure and it remains intact to this day. Thanks!

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Very mysterious! It would probably have remained secret if Bilbo hadn't tagged along. Thanks so much for continuing to read and comment. It's always encouraging to hear from you. (((hugs)))

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It's no wonder that Gandalf had his eye on Bilbo from his youth! I just re-read some of Unfinished Tales, specifically the parts that talk about Gandalf becoming interested in Bilbo in his early years and maintaining contact with the hobbit until just before he came of age. In fact, according to those accounts, Gandalf had formed such a positive impression that he recommended Bilbo to the Dwarves sight-unseen, only to find that Bilbo had grown rather fussy and complacent over the years the wizard had been away, such that he double-guessed himself but ended up forging ahead because of a feeling that the Dwarves' quest would only succeed if Bilbo was a part of it. He is thoughtful and clever, and I seem to remember that Gandalf was especially impressed with his kindness as a youth. (It's late, and I'm tired, so take that observation with a grain of salt.) Anyhow, wouldn't it be interesting if Bilbo's actions in defense of his uncle are part of what Gandalf remembered so favorably about him? Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to comment. I really appreciate it.

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Thank you! I'm not completely sure what a "spidery hand" might look like, but Tolkien said it so I'm sticking with it. What is it that hobbits like to say? "Can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs...", I think it is. Thanks for coming along on the ride and putting in a good word or three along the way. I do appreciate hearing from you.

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Oops, I said you'd see inside Isen's head in the "next" chapter (this chapter), but I misspoke. I hadn't realised it while knitting the draft, but I dropped a stitch and almost left off an essential plot point. Thus, this chapter got inserted to smooth the narrative flow and provide better support for Bilbo's actions going forward. With that taken care of, we can jump out of the nicely warming frying pan and into the fire. If I'm reckoning right, Bilbo is at about the equivalent age of a 14yo human. Thus, he's capable in some ways and still rather childish in others – which has the double-edged potential to both get him into and out of trouble. I'm sure Isen would thank you for your concern, probably with the same wry twist to his mouth that shows up when he thanks his big sister when she worries about him. He's doing his best to put a good face on the matter, but I think he's worried too. Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to share your thoughts! I really appreciate it. Author Reply: (p.s. By "seeing inside Isen's head", I mean you'll get to hear his thoughts from Bilbo's POV. Hope that suits.)

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You're very welcome! The next chapter provides a glimpse of Isen's perspective in retrospect, so hopefully that will suit. The upcoming family conference should be rather interesting, though maybe not what you're thinking... Thanks!

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I'm so glad you liked it! I love living in the Shire part-time, whether the hobbits I'm spending time with are celebrating some festive occasion or just having a quiet picnic in the meadow. I actually think Ferdi doesn't mind too much. I'm sure I've mentioned before how he does his best to sneak out of the great room when someone starts telling stories about his exploits... Bungo and Bella's story, which starts with their first meeting and goes on up to Bilbo's birth, exists only as a story outline at the moment. The draft may get written, but there are a lot of WIPs that are already written in draft form and just need beta-reading and polishing lined up ahead of it as things stand right now. I'm encouraged to hear that you'd love to read it; that's a motivating thought. Thanks!