XtremeFrolicker
· 2 December 2010
· Chapter 2: Lesson Two
Dear Gamgeefest,
First off, I just have to tell you that i am a huuuuge fan of your stories! Your portrayal of the Frodo-Sam relationship (my obsession) is one of my absolute favorites!!
That being said, if you ever have the time, i would enjoy reading about Nell making Sam blush...especially if Rosie were to hear about it.
It's just a thought from a crazy sam fan. I hope your week is going well!
Cheers,
XtremeFrolicker
Author's reply
Thank you so much! How lovely to get a new review to an old story! I'm glad you are enjoying it. :)
It's good to hear from you again!
PS - I'll see what I can do about Nell teasing Sam. Perhaps next year sometime. :D
nancylea57
· 15 December 2008
· Chapter 5: Epilogue
there's the problem with most planners; they are too busy seeing everything to see the little details of their own life.
Author's reply
Indeed. Pervinca was so busy looking over the fields that she missed what was going on around her, which worked out quite well for Everard.
EstellaB
· 26 March 2006
· Chapter 5: Epilogue
How could you leave things like that between Merry and Estella? *sobs* If this wasn't such a good fic, I would be livid, but as it is, I will be content with severely irritated.
Please, write another one where they make up. Please??
Author's reply
LOL. You should be pleased to know that I do stick with canon and so Merry and Estella do eventually end up together, but the making up won't happen for a long while. I will eventually write the follow up to this story; there will be two sequels to be exact and I've already started on the first one, but it's coming along rather slowly. I'm glad you liked the story despite the diversion from canon. :)
Anso the Hobbit
· 13 August 2005
· Chapter 5: Epilogue
Oooh! Happy ending! *contented sigh*^And I am very glad we know that it`s Merry and Estella in the end, and I`m sure Gordi won`t treat her bad until Merry returns. Thank you for this!
Author's reply
Thank you for reading. :) Gordi will be the perfect gentlehobbit, rest assured, though Merry will find things still to be a bit complicated when he gets back from the Quest. At least Pervinca and Everard don't have any complications getting in their way - once Pervinca finds a way to tell Ev she feels the same for him too, anyway. But knowing Vinca, it won't take her that long. ;)
Isilhen Daegol
· 11 August 2005
· Chapter 5: Epilogue
Aww, how sweet. Though I still don't feel satisfied with the Estella bit. I suppose she probably marries Gordi, doesn't she? sigh. Oh well. I guess not everything can turn out how we want it to. I like Ev. He's fun, and rather sweet. Vinca got a good catch there. Well, needless to say, I loved this ever so much, and the only good thing about it ending is that I know how it turns out.
Author's reply
Nothing has been decided yet on the Estella/Gordi front. Their relationship is in a rocky place right now and it can go any number of ways, especially with all that we know it coming up.
Ev is quite the romantic, for all his cajoling ways. He certainly has Pervinca pegged. He knows her better than she does him. Now, if Vinca can just figure out how to tell him she feels the same way, lol. But then again, Ev probably already knows that. ;)
Thanks for reading.
Isilhen Daegol
· 11 August 2005
· Chapter 4: Lesson Four
And the excitement builds. What's going to happen? Will Estella ever love Gordi? or will she wait for Merry after all? And will Vinca ever figure out Ev's affection for her? But then, I guess that's the trouble with love, isn't it? It's blind. So I'll have to read the next chapter now...
Author's reply
There are going to be a lot of unanswered questions in this story, I'm afraid. Estella is certainly going to try to love Gordi and it doesn't appear that she will be waiting for Merry at any rate. Things look much better for Vinca and Ev though. Those two are a perfect match, if Vinca will just take the blinders down, lol.
Nina the powerwriter
· 10 August 2005
· Chapter 5: Epilogue
That's the end? *sobs* You can't stop there! You have me thristing for more! How will Estella and Merry get together? What will happen between Pervinca and Everard? Oh, please let us know!
Anyroad, I did very much enjoy this story. Pervinca's perspective is very interesting and fun to read.
Author's reply
LOL, sorry for having to end it there, but if it had gone on to tie up all the loose strings, it would have been a very different story, and a heck of a lot longer. Don't worry though, I have a post-Quest fic in the works that should clear everything up. I just need to actually sit down and write it. ;)
I'm glad you enjoyed the fic. Pervinca did prove to be quite interesting and devious, but I always knew she would be a handful. Perhaps that's the real reason I didn't do her POV before, lol.
Grey Wonderer
· 10 August 2005
· Chapter 5: Epilogue
This was so much fun! I loved Pervinca. I hope there will be more about her courtship in future stories. Ev seems to have won her heart. I do hope he knows what he's in for with that one.
Author's reply
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Pervinca has a special place in my heart after this, lol. She's quite unlike any character I've ever written and she certainly kept me on my toes. Ev is fully aware of how wily Vinca can be, and she likewise knows what a hassle Ev can be. It should be interesting to watch their courtship develop.
RenaissanceGrrl
· 9 August 2005
· Chapter 5: Epilogue
THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE FIC, SHOULD ANYONE ELSE SEE IT...
*bangs head on desk repeatedly to clear it well enough to type*
POST! QUEST! FIC! ASAP!
It was good...but your cliffies are BEYOND frustrating!!! The Pervinca/Everard parts were sweet and well-done...but MERRY! ESTELLA! *gack!*
*wishes for her Tale of Years to appear so she can research Gordi and Ella* Did Gordi die in the War? Was Estella a widow when she and Merry...well...married? Are they going to break up again? ARRRRGH!
I understand how satisfying it can be to frustrate your readers. So I get why you did it. BUT ARRRRGH!
I really did enjoy it...but...POST! QUEST! FIC! ASAP!
Author's reply
LOL, hm, seems I have the perfect incentive to get someone to start working on her backlog of reading. *evil laugh* And I did warn you at the beginning that the cliffies would only get worse. ;)
Gordi is actually an OC. He doesn't appear in any of the family trees or in the Tale of Years. He first appeared in "A Tale..." and was briefly mentioned in "Walking Trip", and he has a brief appearance in another fic I'm working on, but this is the first time I've used him to any great extent. I haven't quite figured out what will become of Gordi and Estella so I can't even hint about what might happen in the future, except that Merry and Estella do get married.
RenaissanceGrrl
· 9 August 2005
· Chapter 4: Lesson Four
NO NO NO NO NO!!!! I CANNOT ALLOW THIS! The only thing keeping me from coming out to California and taking Squiggy hostage to make you write it differently is that I know you stick with canon better than I do! *bangs head against wall, is tempted to do the same to Gordi...and Ella and Merry* You've got me hopping mad, I'm actually sitting here literally BOUNCING in frustration...
You wouldn't change your mind and start writing extreme non-canon on me, would you?
*pouts and glues self to computer screen, awaiting last chapter*
*even though by the time she posts this it's already up*
Author's reply
I would never go AU, this is still canon, have no fear. So please refrain from going full out "Misery" on me and Squiggy, lol. I assure you that Merry and Estella do wind up together as they're supposed to, just not in this fic.
Things being as they are, with Merry and Pippin worrying for Frodo and Estella feeling that she has to settle down and the circumstances surrounding her and Gordi, this was the only outcome that could have happened. Any attempts to make it a "happy" ending for everyone involved would have made this seem incredibly false (and it still wouldn't be a happy ending for Gordi).
Andrea
· 9 August 2005
· Chapter 5: Epilogue
“To the loveliest shrew I ever knew,” the card reads. LOL! Ev and Per are the perfect match, that's for sure!
And I think, that's also true for Merry and Estella. But we have to wait till after the quest. I'm curious to know, how you will solve this problem.
I have something in my mind, but like Dreamflower I just love to be surprised :)
Thank you, GamgeeFest!
Author's reply
Ev and Per are a match made in heaven. Their temperaments are just right for each other, both of them being coniving and devious. They'll be a formidable team.
Merry and Estella have quite a few obstacles standing in their way, Gordi being only one of them. I'm getting the pieces together and hope to start writing a follow up within the next month or so. How soon I'll get it posted is another matter.
Thank *you* for reading!
Bodkin
· 9 August 2005
· Chapter 5: Epilogue
Well - at least the end of scheming on the Merry/Estella front has enable Pervinca to notice Everard's attentions. Does he realise just how dangerous that could be? Although it will probably keep her mind off Pippin and Merry long enough for them to head off on the quest - by which time she will be kicking herself for not checking up on the information they have let slip.
Gordi's future doesn't look too promising, though - unless you are intending to Implement Change. I hope he is very happy at the moment, as his satisfaction is likely to be short-lived. Like, possibly, him.
I love the Pervinca-centric tale. More Pervinca! Please.
Author's reply
Ev considers himself quite prepared to handle whatever Pervinca may throw at him, but she'll still be able to surprise him. Pervinca will either become distracted from Merry and Pippin, or try to talk Ev into spying with her. Ev is quite a bit curious himself, being a Took and all, so anything at this point is possible.
Same goes for Gordi. I haven't quite decided on his fate as of yet, but as we know Estella does end up with Merry, we know that his happiness with Estella will not last long.
LOL, Pervinca did turn out to be quite a character. I always knew she was devious, but she even surprised me here with some of the things she said and did. It was fun getting to know her better and we just might see more of her in the future.
Thanks for reading!
Dreamflower
· 9 August 2005
· Chapter 5: Epilogue
A brilliant ending to the story! Of course you left strings hanging, how could you not? But we already know a good deal of it, thanks to JRRT! I really look forward to seeing how you resolve the knot you have made. Actually, last night I woke up, and a solution was in my head as to what you could do, but I'm definitely not putting it in my review. I'm not sure I want to know if I've guessed right, and I think I'd rather continue to be surprised.
I do have to say I want to see more of Ev and Vinca--that lad has nerves of steel and a mind quite the match of Vinca's!
Author's reply
Thank you! I'm glad you approve of the lack of ending, as the case may be, lol. There really simply was no way of wrapping anything up here without this turning into a completely different (and much longer) story.
I would be interested to hear your idea, if I weren't afraid it might influence what I have in mind. Maybe afterward, if you still remember what it is, lol. I'm still putting all the pieces together for the post-Quest fic, and as is often the case, I probably won't have it completely figured out until *after* I write it. ;)
Vinca and Ev are the perfect match. I see much arguing and making up in their future, lol. But Ev is prepared for that. As he said, the best part is the arguing. He might not be prepared for the making-up part though. *snickers evilly*
Platy
· 9 August 2005
· Chapter 5: Epilogue
Awwwwwwwwwwwww!! This was so adorable!
I think a sequel detailing how Merry and Estella end up together is in order. *firm nod* I'll even buy you a plot bunny if it will help! *holds up a wee black bunny enticingly* Come onnnnn, you know you want it! ;)
Anyway, this was very well written. You've got these hobbits DOWN, man... it's like reading what Tolkein would have written if he was a girl and prone to writing romances where the lovebirds in question actually, you know, interact. ;)
FFN is missing out, and it serves them right for being so anal retentive.
Now to catch up on Return of the Dude... maybe if I wind up watching the desk tomorrow... *shifty eyes*
~Platy
Author's reply
A post-Quest fic is in the very early stages of work. As soon as I get a couple of other stories finished and done, I'll put my full attention to that, as it's promising to be even more involved and complicated than "A Tale...".
I think the lasses do get more than a bit short-changed in Tolkien's world, so it's fun to go in and try to figure out how certain things might have happened.
Larner
· 9 August 2005
· Chapter 5: Epilogue
We know things turned around for Estella while Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin were gone, but it's nice to see what happened with Pervinca.
Lovely story and well told. Thanks!
Author's reply
LOL, Pervinca will have much to keep her distracted and preoccupied over the next several months. Now she'll understand what Estella was going through, though she will get things resolved much more quickly. It won't take her long to figure out how to tell Ev of her feelings.
Thanks for reading! I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)
Rabid Penflinger
· 9 August 2005
· Chapter 5: Epilogue
I adore your works dear! You truly have talent, and have a strong way of working a plot and a good balance between dialogue and description. I also enjoy your characterization and the ways the characters interact and have evolving friendships with each other in your ficts.
But this ending has interested me greatly! Now I wonder how Estella and Merry end up together in the end, or if they even do! Are you keeping them apart in your work of fanfiction? Or not? You've got my interest, that's for certain! But remember now: Curiosity killed/incapacitated the Took, as they always say. I'm sad to say that as my forbearers were Mennonite, and that after painstaking research I've discovered that Menno Simons was actually a hobbit descendant of the Thrain Peregrin I insist I've got some Took in me. Please don't condemn me to a horrible fate of not knowing! Excuse me as I roll on the floor making inarticulate sounds and blubber.
All hail thee, Gamgeefest. May you computer never suffer memory loss or software error!
Author's reply
Hello Rabid Penflinger! Good to meet you. :) Thank you for your kind words. It's such an honor to know that others enjoy what my work.
This is, in fact, canon, I just have something different in mind for Estella and Merry. That will, however, have to wait for my post-Quest fic, whenever I have time to actually sit down and work on it. I'm also still figuring out a few of the details.
Thanks for reading!
RenaissanceGrrl
· 8 August 2005
· Chapter 3: Lesson Three
"I have our shawls tucked up beneath the door so no light will spill out into the hall."
I've done that! ^_^
Did the post messengers live in the houses? *hadn't ever thought of how the letters got about the Shire*
*sniggle* Pervinca isn't quite so smart as she thinks she is, is she? I knew what Everard was doing from the moment he wheedled the red and white roses thing out of her, and it seems she's still in the dark. Lol...
Author's reply
The Great Smials is quite large and houses at least 200 hobbits, if not more. Plus, the Thain does all his business from there, so I figured it would only make sense if a certain number of post messengers lived on the premises. Most hobbits though would have to go to their town centers to the post master's office to send their mail.
Pervinca was a bit distracted, you have to give her that. She was in a "all boys are evil" mode, and so only saw Ev's teasing as, well, teasing. Plus, this is her kid brother's good friend, who she has known most of her life as a "pest and a pain". Even if she did figure out he was talking about her, she would have made the natural assumption that he was only teasing her further. And Ev did mean it as teasing - mostly. ~_^ She won't be in the dark for too long.
RenaissanceGrrl
· 8 August 2005
· Chapter 2: Lesson Two
"Yes, they were growing fungus because you watered them too much after they died." XD
Yay! Merry loves her! Should be simple. SHOULD. I would be disappointed in you if it WAS that simple.
*has suddenly figured out the timeline* OOH! *keeps mouth shut to wait and see if she's right*
"Oh, Vinca, did you hear? Merry’s in love with me!"
"Imagine that?" I say, trying not to sound sour and hurt for being ignored every single time I had told her the same thing.
Hehehe, I can so relate, being the resident "good listener" among my friends...
Oh, and I forgot to mention, but the thing in the first chapter with Pippin and the word count on the essay rather cracked me up. ^_-
Author's reply
I wanted to keep this simple, but love can be tricky that way. Of course, the timeline doesn't help either. Merry and Pippin may not know about It yet, but they do know that something serious is about to happen, even if it is only that Frodo will be leaving soon. Merry had long ago decided to keep an eye on Frodo for just such a moment, knowing that he would go with him when the time came.
LOL, I figured modern-day school kids couldn't be the first ones to try to "write large and cover the page" in order to get a paper written. Paladin is wise to his son's ways. :)
Andrea
· 8 August 2005
· Chapter 4: Lesson Four
"To be concluded..." Does that mean, there's only one chapter to follow?
Oh my, there are still so many problems to be solved!
I must admit, I really like Gordi. He's a fine hobbit lad. He has fallen in love with Estella and I can understand, that he only wants to marry her, if (or when) she feels the same for him.
So I think, there is still time for Merry to react.
Or, to say it in the words of Pervinca:
“Never give up, no matter how fruitless the pursuit may seem.”
Author's reply
The epilogue will be posted shortly, and I'm afraid it doesn't solve any problems, lol. That will have to wait for my post-Quest fic, whenever I have time to get around to working on that.
Gordi's a good guy, who would never want to force himself upon the girl he loves, or anyone else for that matter. Vinca hasn't been very generous to him up to this point, knowing that Estella would have rather been with Merry. But now that Merry does seem to be out of the picture for once and for all, she'll give Gordi a fairer chance.
Larner
· 8 August 2005
· Chapter 4: Lesson Four
Okay, I've been dense, thinking this was post-quest, but it's PRE-quest. No wonder poor Merry is saying no for now! Poor, poor lad, finally getting what he wants when he can't accept it, for not knowing what's coming! Poor, responsible Merry!
And Pervinca is still being totally dense as to her own situation and Ev's feelings toward her.
Author's reply
Yep, pre-Quest. A very bad time for all this to come to the fore. Merry is doing the responsible thing, as far as he can see, and it is quite trying on the poor lad.
Pervinca is stuck in the mind frame of seeing Ev only as a "childhood rival" but she'll soon find out what he's up to. At least she's now *thinking* about him when he's not around. ~_^
Larner
· 8 August 2005
· Chapter 3: Lesson Three
And Pervinca thinks LADS are dense? She is the one at the moment not seeing what is right in front of her! Poor lass, and poor Merry, still unable to discuss what's happened to him and the rest.
Bless them all.
Author's reply
LOL, she certainly isn't seeing the point, is she? But she can prehaps be excused for that, considering it's her kid brother's pesky friend come to tease her again. And he is teasing her - and getting very valuable information in the process, lol.
Poor Merry and Estella. Merry's just trying to get through this week and the lasses aren't making it very easy for him. Estella just wants what she's always dreamt of, but has come to realize, like Merry's known all along, that some dreams aren't meant to come true - seemingly.
Bodkin
· 8 August 2005
· Chapter 4: Lesson Four
I'm left feeling sorry for Gordi. He seems a pleasant upright kind-hearted hobbit - who just happens to be courting a lass who loves someone else. The scene is set for a whole series of broken hearts as everyone works at cross-purposes.
Except Everard. He knows what he wants. And if Pervinca managed to avoid administering a right hook to his nose - I just like the sound of it, I suppose; like a contented cat that’s curled up, sleeping in your lap - (them's dangerous words, Everard Took), then he can be hopeful that she's not as indifferent as she might pretend.
And as for Merry / Estella - well. Hopeless. Apparently.
Author's reply
There is hope for Gordi and Estella, but not much. By the time their relationship is stable again, all hell will be breaking loose in the Shire. Gordi is getting the short end of the stick though, both here and what's to come later, if I ever get around to writing my post-Quest fic that is.
Ev is even more one-track minded than Pervinca, lol. Once he sets his sights on something, he's rather relentless, and he doesn't mind playing with fire to get it. Which is a good thing, considering *who* he has set his sights on, lol. He's rather confident on how things will turn out for him. Let's hope he's right. *crosses fingers*
And Merry/Estella - they do appear hopeless at present. But this is canon, despite how it ends. Again, I really must get started on my post-Quest fic. ^_^
Anso the Hobbit
· 8 August 2005
· Chapter 4: Lesson Four
Oh, so much happening in one chapter! Poor Merry! I can`t help but feel sorry for him now. And I sense that this will be a tough time for both Estella and Gordi.
Author's reply
Merry seems to be out of luck here. He's lost Estella, as he always knew he would. The only good thing to come of that is that he can now focus on Frodo without wondering "what if". Estella and Gordi have a long way to go in patching things up, and it will be more difficult than either one of them could anticipate.
Grey Wonderer
· 8 August 2005
· Chapter 4: Lesson Four
I love this part:
The trouble with love is that it takes two to make a match. Estella had her match, until he turned out to be an imbecilic ass with an intelligence equal to that of a garden slug, with the personality to match. I decide to declare my first plan of attack a bust and move onto Plan B.
Pervinca is such a character. I enjoyed her talk with Everard too. I did feel very sorry for Merry and was glad that Pippin talked to Pervinca and managed to get the letter from her. I enjoyed this story very much.
Author's reply
Merry was barely holding on to self control, poor guy. This hasn't been an easy time for any of them, him least of all. Pippin didn't want to see either one of them do or say something they would regret later.
And Pervinca - compassion is not thy name. She still likes to consider herself in charge here, and yet she still isn't seeing what's right in front of her, is she? Even after that talk with Ev. She is starting to come around though. At least she was up *part* of the night thinking about him. ;)
Platy
· 7 August 2005
· Chapter 4: Lesson Four
Woo, I missed the last chapter and was really confused for a few paragraphs. :P Then I went back and caught up.
Per and Ev are MERRY WAR LOVE! *cackles*
And I'm quite interested in reading this conclusion. You are brilliant, I say! BRILLIANT!
~Platy
Author's reply
Pervinca and Ev are rather starting to steal the show. But then, it was always their show to begin with, lol. They have a bit of a Beatrice/Benedict thing going that makes it quite amusing to write their scenes together.
Brilliant! Oh my *blushes*