Anonymous · 24 March 2008 · Chapter 1: Midwinter
This is really cute! All of it!
Midwinter by Bodkin
Reviews (23)
daw the minstrel · 8 January 2006 · Chapter 2: Midwinter - part 2
I always thought of Tolkien's world as a masculine one, but you bring all these women to life here.
Author's reply
It is very masculine - but they had to have had wives and mothers. Mostly unnamed and unheralded, but definitely there. Doing what women do best. Good to have you back - even if you'd rather still be on the other side of the world!
daw the minstrel · 8 January 2006 · Chapter 1: Midwinter
This was lovely, Bodkin. I liked the perceptions of all these women as they contemplate snow in its different roles in their lives.
Author's reply
Thank you. These were great fun to write - and were intended as a single burst... but then I remembered Eowyn and Redheredh put some other ideas in my mind.
Jay of Lasgalen · 30 December 2005 · Chapter 1: Midwinter
I'm sorry, I've got behind with reviewing. These were lovely snippets of different lives, and I loved the differing viewpoints and tales each character told. I think my favourites were Celebrían and Arwen, but perhaps that's because they're characters I know best. Has there been a lot of snow where you live? Jay
Author's reply
We had five whole minutes of snow! Which is about as bad as it ever gets here. Snow is - well - intellectually seasonal, but in fact it is as rare as hen's teeth. I enjoyed writing the more joyful reactions to snow - but I must say there were so many tragic scenarios that leapt to mind. By part 2 it got much harder to put in playful elements - there are only so many ways to build snow-elves! It was great fun doing this - the orc one was written on actual paper at about midnight on Christmas Eve - and I'm glad you enjoyed them.
elliska · 29 December 2005 · Chapter 2: Midwinter - part 2
One good thing about going back to work in a few days will be that I will check my email more regularly and not miss updates. This was great, Bodkin! The sad ones are somehow the most interesting to me because I have trouble seeing snow as anything but delightful (primarily because I have always been warm and I only had to drive in it for a few years). The poor dwarf missing her stores of food over her stores of gold! And the whole paragraph that started The elf saw, of course.--I loved that. As sad as it was, I think I actually liked the orc one best. I was amazed by how much you showed about the poor orc's past in so few words. I don't think I often felt sorry for an orc, but I did here. I also loved Elwing and Eowyn's POVs; thier initial sadder memories of snow and their willingness to play in it now. Elrond and Elros were adorable. You need to write a young Elrond and Elros story (ok, I'll shut up now ;-) ) And the Ent was great. I wish Tolkien had broken down and told us the Entwives were safe someplace rather than saying he didn't know what happened to them. And I love the idea of their gardens, so I loved that mentioned the reason the Ents and the Entwives went their separate ways. And the image of the harvest was great. The snow it brought was a blanket that protected the forest’s sleep and slowed her deliberation. Great line. These were a wonderful idea, Bodkin!
Author's reply
Thank you! I found the sadder ones easier in many ways - because there is really only so much fun you can have in the snow! It gets a bit repetitive - although I did enjoy seeing Elros go wild and Elrond patting piles of snow into walls! I found it - interesting - disconcerting, maybe, how little feel I have picked up of many of the females who must have been involved in the production of all these lines of ancestors, yet who do not even merit a simple name on the family trees. And I like to think that, in some ways, she was more of an individual to an elf who hadn't spoken to her than she was to her father-in-law. The orc - I enjoyed writing that one. Her fate seemed particularly horrible - I would like to think that when these orcs were killed their fear were released to Namo's Halls and that, eventually, they might be healed enough to return as the elves they were born to be. Ents - like elves - have time on their side, so they might wander back in each other's paths some time and the ages apart could be dismissed. Or perhaps not. I'm glad you liked them. I hope you are feeling lots better now.
Redheredh · 28 December 2005 · Chapter 2: Midwinter - part 2
Oooh! You did them! :D Orc was fascinating. Was she once an elf or is she an orc 'trained-up and made docile' for slavery. Perhaps given as a reward to an ambitious captain. Perhaps an original Firstborn taken captive. Hers was a sad reflection about the deceiving comforts of dark and light. I could not help but think of Smeagol. Elwing was such a relieving contrast to the first. and yet knowing what was coming... I liked the distinct characterization of her two sons. Ent was totally amusing in the distracted way she experienced the seasons and how the thought of him took a year to complete. :) Exiled was a human reflection of Orc, imho. I suppose that sounds odd, but a warrior's wife often has a different feeling of self-worth than the wife of an adventurer such as Elwing and Ent-wife. Her world has drastically, deceptively changed too. Elrond :) kind as summer. Dwarf reminded me of Hobbit. It has that same 'down to basics' feeling; both are about living and not just surviving. To me, Eowyn was reminicent of Elwing. She had to let go of tragedy and chose happiness - the blizzard had passed. But, what I found most interesting in this set was an age-old theme. Until the last segement, when Eowyn joins her husband and children in the snow, these wives were defined not only by the men in their lives, but by their men's absence in their actual lives. In the first set, there were some supportive male kin and spouses in the segments with them. In this set, only for Eowyn. I was grateful for the happy ending segement in both sets. All are just wonderful and the writing all the more wonderful for being so creatively structured. Triple drabbles+ ;) Thanks so much for sharing these.
Author's reply
I pictured the orc as a Firstborn, captured and twisted. I felt that allowing her some apparent freedom would appeal to the perverted - especially if any of the Firstborn who saw her might be in some way aware of what she was. I hadn't thought of Smeagol, but you're right. Elwing and Eowyn were the happiest here - although the dramatic irony of knowing that this was probably Elwing's last winter with her sons adds a certain sorrow. Although the Dwarf has survived and will survive and her small group of kin will find refuge - and, if an Ent has anything, it is time. I felt for Isildur's wife - women in much of the histories seem to be robbed of individuality, frequently not even being dignified with a name and existing merely to produce a list of sons. She had twice been robbed of the familiarity of home and is now about to be abandoned in a strange land among different people with only her youngest son - while the rest go off to a war from which none of her close family will return. The orc - very alone. Elwing - well, we all know about Earendil! The Entwife did the leaving, I think - but there is still some possibility of rapprochement(although not much). The dwarf isn't alone - she has her son and a few of her kin with her, but they are in shock. But Eowyn is the only real happy ending. Thank you. I am glad you liked these. They were fun to do.
perelleth · 28 December 2005 · Chapter 2: Midwinter - part 2
Uh, you got me there... Which are the self-imposed rules in "Reflections?" (Apologies, but I´m a very very Aftercomer to that.. ;-)
Author's reply
They're very boring rules, really. Each Reflection can be no more than two pages of Word and nobody can speak except Elladan, Elrohir or Legolas. Which is why any other characters who feature are usually asleep! I think Aewlin is sleeping on her adar's lap in one - and various babies have had non-speaking parts. They vary in word count - I think (since the word count feature arrived) the shortest is about 750 and the longest is about 1100. It depends how much they interrupt each other. There have been one or two that only had two of the three - the one after Elladan's wedding and, I think, when Elrohir's babies were being born. Though I'm not entirely sure without checking. I think Legolas has been in all of them.
Dreamflower · 27 December 2005 · Chapter 2: Midwinter - part 2
Oh these are just as brilliant as the first set! I think my two favorites here are Elwing, with her little sons, and the Dwarf, dealing with the displacement from the Dragon. Beautifully done! It's amazing how much can be done with a single word, and a single theme!
Author's reply
Elwing's is quite happy - and yet I found I was being affected by knowing that she was unlikely ever to be able to play in the snow with her sons again! The Dwarf is a very determined female - and would happily surrender gold to protect her son - but she is in a totally alien environment and is finding it rather a culture shock. I'm glad you liked them. I find drabbles just too short for me - I'm too wordy - but this length works well. The theme is great as well, because snow is a dislocation even to those who are used to it and expect it. It makes you stop and look. We actually had about five minutes of snow yesterday - it's rare enough to be exciting! Thank you.
perelleth · 27 December 2005 · Chapter 2: Midwinter - part 2
Of course, you made me go and do a random word count to check that wonder! 315! the magical number! Wonderful! I suppose that´s why I like drabbles. To impose onself a certain number of words and fitting into them is entertaining and kind of challenge... so congratulations there. I also like the beginnings, with that dry, reflective sentence that sets the mood for the piece. It is -to me- as it made snow-silence all around and called for attention. Even Eowyn´s, with its inner happines seems reflective and a bit melancholy. Cold has that effect, I think. I liked the dwarves´very much, the isolation and the shock and the memories... Don´t know why Isildur´s wife did not hit me the same way; maybe because this dwarven female seems to be alone, and at night, and in the middle of the forest with her little child... and they seem far more vulnerable to me. All in all, this has the air of a BBC´s wildlife documentary, Bodkin, full of hinted details, striking images and a good narrator! Thanks!
Author's reply
I don't know why 315 turned out to be such an easy number to write! The count was never more than a few each way and it proved quite simple to trim or add a few words - I quite like self-imposed rules, really. Like the Reflections - I'm sure it's one of the reasons I'm still happily writing those. I read somewhere once that being protected from winter is what people enjoy - but that can be quite isolating. And snow is very sound-absorbing and it is different - it sort of cuts you off from normal life. The dwarf female appealed to me - she had a practical humour and a determination to survive. She is dealing with a world that is very strange to her - but she is indomitable. Isildur's wife - like so many females (moan, moan) she is pretty much a non-person. One who must have existed, since Isildur couldn't have cloned his four sons, but who doesn't even merit the dignity of a name, let alone a character. Yet she has been twice rent from her security and sent to seek a new home - and she is just about to lose her husband and three older sons to war. She is, I think, in shock - and I don't know how well she will cope with it. She is, I suspect, used to being looked after and conducting herself according to rules. I'm glad you liked them - they were a sudden seasonal temptation, but, as you can see, some of them are making me think far too much about certain characters! Thank you.
shirebound · 27 December 2005 · Chapter 2: Midwinter - part 2
Yet now – even the bitter Edoras wind and the lingering drifts from the week-long blizzard could not freeze her. There was a warmth in her that nothing could chill: a warmth that had found its origins in Faramir’s eyes and deepened it hold on her with the touch of his hand and twined itself around her very being with his love. Pulling on her gloves, she ran briskly down the steps where once Wormtongue had been thrown. It might not be ladylike: it might not fit Gondor’s perception of suitable behaviour for the Princess of Ithilien, but she was going to play in the snow with her husband and children. Another fascinating series of points of view! And again, I so appreciate you ending them with hope and love.
Author's reply
I was glad to be able to end them with a happy experience. It was harder to be fluffy with these few - there are only so many times that youngsters building snowmen can be interesting! - and so many of those thrust into experiencing snow would be under stress. These were such fun to write - I'm glad you liked them. Thank you.
Larner · 27 December 2005 · Chapter 2: Midwinter - part 2
Ah, more beautiful glimpses of snow from different perspectives. That of the orc is most chilling; that of the slow thought of the Entwife is very sad; that of Elwing somehow reassuring; that of Eowyn wonderfully warm for she who is no longer frozen by reserve and despair. So wonderful to see her run to play, and to perdition with protocol expected of a princess! Love that she and her family all were playing in the snow!
Author's reply
I found it harder to come up with the fluffier ones here - there are only so many ways of having fun in the snow and yet, sadly, there are a lot of people who would have less joyful experiences. I felt very sorry for the orc - and was glad to end with Eowyn's happiness. Elwing's experience is actually quite happy, but coloured by the knowledge of how little time she had with her children. Thank you - I think this is now it for experiences of snowy winters! I'm glad you liked them.
elliska · 25 December 2005 · Chapter 1: Midwinter
I just read the other reviews: 315 words--even more cool. :-) And I would love to see a Rohan one, but believe it or not, I would also love to see an Ent one. Ent must have a very unique view of snow.
Author's reply
And they are 315 words, too. I don't know why 315 seemed to be a relatively easy number of words to write, but it was! I only ever ended up needing to add or reduce by about 10 words. And there is now an Ent one. And a Rohan one. And a few more.
elliska · 25 December 2005 · Chapter 1: Midwinter
This is really cool...erm, no pun intended. Having not seen snow in 10 years, I enjoyed seeing everyone's perception of it. I'm not sure which I enjoyed the most--the serious views of Galadriel, Haleth and the hobbit or the playful views of the elflings and Arwen. It was fun to see so many different reactions. This was a really clever idea. :-)
Author's reply
We had six flakes of snow yesterday! It was really exciting - I don't think we saw any last year, although there might have been a little the year before. We really don't get very much experience of it here - which is why the whole region seizes up at the sight of it. I liked trying to mix the wonder with the dread - snow is wonderful if your store cupboards are full and the heating is efficient and you can snuggle away from it when you want, but it's not so good if you are unprotected. Thank you - I'm glad you liked it. I immediately realised Eowyn's point of view was missing and Redheredh suggested some other viewpoints, so there are now a few more, but I think that's enough snow!
ellie · 25 December 2005 · Chapter 1: Midwinter
this is excellent. so much feeling and so many visions an interpretations and perceptions of a simple snowy tome. exquisite.
Author's reply
Thank you, I am glad you enjoyed it. I will admit it was easier to be angsty than fluffy! There are only so many times you can have young ones building snowmen! But it was great fun to do.
Rose Sared · 24 December 2005 · Chapter 1: Midwinter
‘We will visit the North Kingdom,’ he promised. ‘And spend a winter there.’ He looked at her appreciatively. ‘You can dance in the snow as much as you like.’ Arwen touched his cheek with her cold hand. She missed white winters, but some things were more important Winter through the ages - which is funny as I am sitting here nice and hot in the middle of summer -hah - antipodes rule! Lovely writing Bod - Merry Christmas - Rose
Author's reply
Ha, but when we're having summer, you are having winter in July! We actually had six flakes of snow yesterday - it was quite exciting. Snow here has rarity value. I just had this sudden urge to be seasonal - and this emerged. And then I realised I'd forgotten Eowyn and Redheredh mentioned Orcs, Ents and Dwarves - and part 2 followed. But now the seasonal excitement has died down, I must try to finish a few things! Thank you. A Happy New Year to you - and may it be as productive as it is joyful.
Nilmandra · 23 December 2005 · Chapter 1: Midwinter
This really is wonderful - the ways you have captured winter - the bleakness, the glory, the fun, the dread - times to play and times it led to a fight for survival. Winter is something to be enjoyed, but only after its been conquered. We can glory in it only when the hope of spring is near and food and warmth are near. Nice to see all the perspectives, from Maiar to elf to human to hobbit, ancient to child. But... no Eowyn? :D
Author's reply
Thank you - they just jumped into my head when I was thinking 'seasonal'. Winter is a hard season - I think it toughened Galadriel a lot and made her grow up. And I noticed that she wasn't playing in the snow with Celebrian. The hobbit was right - together with whoever said that being protected from winter is what we enjoy about it - sledging and snowballing are great if you can go back into the warmth and feast. No Eowyn. I did realise that afterwards. And no Dwarf, Ent or Orc perspectives. I'm not sure about Orc, but I think I can see a rather displeased Dwarf mother after Smaug had evicted them from the Lonely Mountain... When I get a moment to myself, I might just have to produce a few more of these to include Eowyn and the Dwarf at least. I'll see.
Redheredh · 23 December 2005 · Chapter 1: Midwinter
Wow, this is marvelous! Just the perfect seasonal treat! I liked your choosing a lady from several different species for each segment. (double-drabbles!) Noldor(Caliquendi), Maiar, Human, Sindar(Moriquendi), Silvan(Avari),Hobbit,and Peredhil. All you had left were Ent, Orc, and Dwarf. But, these viewpoints would be more difficult, I guess. And I suppose then there are Balrogs and the various races of men as well. But, your choices were perfect for these realizations about winter. The connection between segments was brilliant. White has such significance in Tolkien's depictions. They are also chronological too. The opening segment, A Darkened Sky, was excellent in every aspect. Visions had a perfect difference of perception, white light being of all the colors. Haleth's segment was so much like Galadriel's and the Hobbit's. Almost like they were made less fortunate by their own natures, but made greater for facing what is for them a greater challenge. Which contrasted nicely with Celebrian's and Laerwen's in Playing with Ada and Tucked In. Theirs were more like Melian thoughts; intrigued by the contrast, knowing what was actually below the surface - capable of experiencing nature as itself and not as a punishment or test. I like that Wolf Winter and The Courts of Kings were beside each other. Warm and chill, white and colorful, fear and hope. Both were Third Age and connected by Aragorn's decision and Arwen's choice of summer colors to white. And the whole piece is just about Nature and our place in it. About how we must make a safe place within it to survive it and also to be fulfilled by it. As you can probably tell, I really enjoyed this. ;) Especially the last segment. Partly because I have heard Elond saying the same sort of thing as Arwen about the warm weather in Aman and then there was Arwen dancing. Endurance and now this! Please just keep it coming!
Author's reply
A double-drabble is 200 words, isn't it? So they would be treble-drabbles and a bit - because they are all 315 words. I realised afterwards that there is no Eowyn - and I have an itch about a Dwarf female that might demand 315 words if I ever escape from the kitchen, so I might just have to put together a few more thoughts on snow. Some turned out to be quite bleak - but the fluffy ones were more than sweet enough, I thought! (I quite enjoyed Celeborn shaking snow from his hair!) Winter is fun - when the store cupboards are full, you are bundled up in warm clothing and you have a comfortable place to retreat from the cold - but it can be very cruel. I am so pleased you endoyed this - it was fun to do. And there just might be a few more to complete the set.
Larner · 23 December 2005 · Chapter 1: Midwinter
So many ways to receive, perceive, conceive of, and reject the snow, as each sees it as it has touched them--in terms of blankness, colors, light and shadows, the bringer of the cold which brings death, that which hides the path, the delight of play, and the delight of dancing in the weather. And I DEARLY love the King poking his head into the courtyard, and the Queen responding from the midst of her delight. Thank you, Bodkin.
Author's reply
Winter can be a dangerous time as well as a time of pleasure - and so much of how you see it depends on how safe you are from its depredations. I noticed later that Galadriel wasn't out in the snow - and concluded that it probably brought back memories she would prefer to bury. Arwen - barefoot and in her petticoats, dancing in the snow! Shock, horror - I don't know how Gondor would cope! But Aragorn understands - and sees the elleth who resembles her ancestress Luthien and promises to take her home to the north for a while. I think he would want to give her anything he could - and this is well within his power. And they have a moment of delight to themselves. Thank you. I'm glad you liked it.
shirebound · 23 December 2005 · Chapter 1: Midwinter
What a fascinating series! Truly, everything (even snow) can only be experienced through the eyes and memory of those who perceive it. How lovely, and thank you for ending this with joy and love.
Author's reply
Snow - (well, most things really) - can seem so different depending on what else is happening in your life. Some of these are rather bleak, but there are moments of joy and wonder. Thank you - I am glad you enjoyed these.
meckinock · 23 December 2005 · Chapter 1: Midwinter
See, this is why review replies are so great. So they're all 315 words exactly? Another thing I saw in a review reply was the observation that we don't so much love winter as we love being protected from it. That's true, isn't it? Winter wouldn't be quite so fun if we didn't have a nice, warm house to retreat to when it gets awful outside. It's interesting to think about how snow can be both beautiful and brutal. I'm very glad you told us who the players were in the summary; otherwise I'd still be working it out! Brilliant work; using the experience of snow to draw together women from disparate races and ages. You really brought each of them to life; from Melian's other-wordliness to the hobbit's determined pragmatism. Of course my favorite was the last segment, with the banter between Aragorn and Arwen - the queen gone mad, LOL.
Author's reply
I really enjoy reading reviews and replies! Why 315 you might ask - and the answer is 'duh'. (The first one was 315. And then the second was 319 - so I cut four words - and then the rest had to be as well.) I came up with a rationale, though! A guinea was one pound one shilling - or 105p. So that make them three guineas. OK. Stupid. And winter is great fun when you have warm clothes and hot food and comfortable shelter - but not so good if you are trying to survive. I was going to put the names at the top - but then the hobbit didn't have a name - and if had made one up it wouldn't have been a known character. Some of the segments were rather bleak - so I was pleased to have the fluffy elfling parts, and I was glad to see Arwen shed the controlled queen and dance in her petticoats in the snow. And I suspect Aragorn was, too! Thank you - I'm glad you liked them. They were fun. Although a little niggle has been telling me that a Rohan one would work nicely.
Elflingimp · 23 December 2005 · Chapter 1: Midwinter
This wont be a long review, but that was lovely these stories are like Christmas presents I really love them Thanks Merry Christmas!
Author's reply
Thank you! They jumped into my head as seasonal stories - I thoroughly enjoyed writing them and I am so pleased you liked them. Have a very Merry Christmas!
perelleth · 23 December 2005 · Chapter 1: Midwinter
THis had the quietness of a snowed landscape, bodkin, the mute vignettes and the contemplative moods of these female characters... Great! Winter is a hard, unforgiving season, and it is surprising how deeply embedded this is in our western culture: the silence, the numbing cold, the dangers of freezing and the lack of food... I'm just come from a land with no seasons, where cold only happens on top of the highest mountains, where only the gods live, and I was missing the true sense of winter, so these vigenettes are particualrly welcome :-) Of course I loved the last one, even if I prefer warm climates, yet I can understand Arwen only too well. Seeing plump Santas sweating in their costumes is the best way of murdering christmas spirit! Melian was great too, (all are, indeed) and how she would understand the play of light and water in the apparently solid, colourless flakes... and how the snow reminded her of her earlier freedom from flesh... The rest show perfectly the harsh beauty of this hard season and the struggle for survival, be it Elves on the Helcaraxë or Edain in their trip West. Yet, underneath the cold, one can feel the solidarity, the sacrifice, the selflessness and all the good things that sustained them. Wonderful, Bodkin. If cold! ;-)
Author's reply
Thank you, perelleth. People say they love winter - but I read somewhere that what they really enjoy is being protected from it. It is a hard time - and early spring, when food supplies run short can be even worse. I loved the idea of Arwen shedding her queen-persona and running outside bare-foot in her petticoats to dance in the snow. Echoes of Aragorn's first sight of her - and of Luthien. And Celebrian and (presumably) Legolas as elflings playing in the snow. But I was most moved myself by the plight of Noldor crossing the Helcaraxë - and Haleth seeking safety for her house - and the plight of the hobbits in the Fell Winter. I had to force myself to stop in the end! And I still wouldn't be surprised to find that the Rohirrim insist on an episode. And, just as an aside - they are all 315 words long!
Dreamflower · 23 December 2005 · Chapter 1: Midwinter
What a lovely set of little ficlets, ranging from angst to fluff and back again! I love the image of snow that ties them all together, showing all the different aspects of it. Very beautifully done!
Author's reply
Thank you. I decided I had to post them in the end, because I kept looking for other female characters who could be out in the snow! (And I have to go and finish my wrapping.) I'm glad you liked them. (I thought about naming the hobbit - but I don't know much about hobbit history - and I didn't want to make her a chronologically impossible character.)