Baggins Babe
· 22 January 2006
· Chapter 1: A Moment in the Morning in Bree
“Not many of them can sing,” Pippin said sadly. “Did you hear the Men in the pub last night? Most of them couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket.”
*giggle* That's our Pip! This story made me laugh - I loved it, and Aragorn's growing irritation and his struggle to hide it were priceless!
I used to watch my grandfather shaving with a cut-throat razor when I was about three years old, and I still don't know how he managed to concentrate with a curious chatty toddler around, but he never cut himself.
Looking forward to more of these stories
Author's reply
Good heavens, Baggins Babe - I could have used you and your grandfather as my models! I can just see you/Pippin sitting on the washstand and swinging your/his little legs, fascinated by your grandfather/Aragorn's every move. I'm so glad this story brought back good memories for you!
Bodkin
· 22 January 2006
· Chapter 1: A Moment in the Morning in Bree
Poor Strider. He must need nerves of steel to confront the amazed stares of four hobbits. Even Nazgul can hardly be more intimidating! - Well, at least Nazgul don't drive him into cut his own face.
Author's reply
Your comment about Aragorn cutting his own face struck me so funny, Bodkin. How right you are! How strange these two so-different peoples seem to each other.
Coriandra
· 21 January 2006
· Chapter 1: A Moment in the Morning in Bree
That's so cute! Men shaving is a strange concept for the hobbits, no doubt. So of course they have a ton of questions about it. Aragorn's going to need a lot patience with them. I have a feeling this is only the beginning. :)
Author's reply
Oh, Coriandra ... how right you are! I see endless possibilities with this series. One of my favorite type of story deals with the differences between Big and Little People, and the process through which strangers become friends.
GamgeeFest
· 20 January 2006
· Chapter 1: A Moment in the Morning in Bree
That was an adorable scene. I love the hobbits' fascination with shaving and beards, and Pippin's incessant questions. Merry's as sharp as ever and Frodo's allowing himself to be distracted with more menial things for the time being. Sam would bring up Elves and the lack of proper food in the inn. :)
Author's reply
It is fun to imagine the hobbits in such a situation, isn't it? Thank you for noticing and commenting on the hobbits' personalities - can't you imagine Aragorn forming his opinions of these four little people even as they evaluate him?
PIppinfan1988
· 20 January 2006
· Chapter 1: A Moment in the Morning in Bree
*snorts laughter*, oh, well, leave it to me to spell my own name wrong. Not a good night for typing. Thank you for the wonderful story--and laughs. :-D
PIPPINFAN, lol.
Author's reply
Glad you enjoyed it! I wanted to do the hobbits' POV next, but looking at them through Aragorn's eyes is so much fun!
PIppinfan1988
· 20 January 2006
· Chapter 1: A Moment in the Morning in Bree
Oh, my gosh!! This had me rolling!!
“The hair on Men’s faces keeps us warm, Pippin,” Aragorn explained, feeling obscurely he needed to defend the practice. “In winter, a heavy beard filters out the cold before it enters the lungs. In summer, it can do the same for dust. And—”
“Why do you shave it off, then?” asked Meriadoc.
Aragorn’s hand tightened on the hilt of his knife.
I especially loved that bit! Leave it to cheeky Merry to say something like that.
I loved this! Looking forward to more! :-)
Pippingan
Author's reply
Greetings, Pippingan! I'm glad you enjoyed that scene - I think Aragorn's blood pressure must have been steadily rising through the conversation. More than once (in my fics), Merry enjoys sharpening his razor wit on poor Strider...
pebbles66
· 20 January 2006
· Chapter 1: A Moment in the Morning in Bree
I am so glad that you are writing again! It seems like such a long time since you finished "Caught between the light and dark". I always love your stories, and I'm looking forward to more!
Author's reply
My respite wasn't voluntary - RL just got in the way. Thank you for looking for something new - there's a Post-Quest angst story in the works (Frodo-centered, of course) I think you will enjoy. Coming soon (I hope).
Pearl Took
· 20 January 2006
· Chapter 1: A Moment in the Morning in Bree
HEHEHE!
Such fun!!
I love watching men shave and it makes sense that the hobbits would too. Well done, Budgie!!
"Aragorn shaved over his throat apple, very carefully, before replying. “Beard hair is coarser than hair-head. I don’t know why.”
“Our foot hair is just as soft as our head-hair,” Pippin declared proudly, raising a thickly-furred foot up for inspection.
“Don’t brag, Pippin,” Frodo ordered. “Men can’t help the strange places they grow hair in. I am sure Aragorn feels bad enough about having to shave his face every day.”
“I do not—” Aragorn began.
“I didn’t mean to make you feel bad!” Pippin interrupted him, distressed. “I mean, Men already have so many things against them—”
“Peregrin!” said Frodo in a strangled voice."
Wonderfully done!!!
Author's reply
I just love 'getting to know you' stories between the hobbits and the others of the Fellowship. The cross-cultural miscommunications must have confusing, frustrating, and hysterical.
Ariel
· 20 January 2006
· Chapter 1: A Moment in the Morning in Bree
That is charming! Thank you for this, Budgie - you gave me a smile this morning.
Author's reply
I am glad it gave you a smile. I am trying a series of 'gentle' stories for a change ... maybe just a little fire - no! No fires, earthquakes, murders, orc attacks... (OK, just a little gratuitous violence)
Lady Saruman
· 20 January 2006
· Chapter 1: A Moment in the Morning in Bree
luved ur story!!!
well, in the films aragorn is hot, but he's not so hot now, is he??
here are things i found funny:
1. “Don’t brag, Pippin,” Frodo ordered. “Men can’t help the strange places they grow hair in. I am sure Aragorn feels bad enough about having to shave his face every day.”
Re: wow, if frodo thinks growing beards is strange, what about the hair on their feet? and i think that frodo thinks men have the ability to grow a beard within 24 hours *hahahaha- THUD whoops, i jus fel off da floor LMAO.*
2. “No, Pippin,” he assured the tweenager, taking care to keep his irritation out of his voice. “That was an accident. Haven’t any of you seen a man shave before?”
Shaking his head, Pippin took his reply as an invitation to join him. Frodo shifted to the side, making room for his cousin. Merry drifted to the other side of the washbasin, his blue eyes lit with curiosity.
“No, sir,” Samwise replied for them all. Frodo nodded in agreement. “That is, I never did,” Sam continued. “Only Men we’ve seen much would be Mr. Gandalf. And he don’t ever shave.” Sam screwed up his face, thinking. “That is, I never saw him. Did you, sir?”
Re: gandalf shaving? i cnt imagin dat...
3. “We haven’t had much experience with Men,” Merry hastened to explain, “but … well, some of them seem … er, a bit clumsy to tell you the truth. And not very bright.”
“Not many of them can sing,” Pippin said sadly. “Did you hear the Men in the pub last night? Most of them couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket.”
“And they don’t know much about cooking,” Sam added with a disapproving sniff. “Meaning no disrespect to Mr. Butterbur and all, but he’d be better off with hobbit-folk in the kitchen.”
Re: whoo!!! the criticism party!! i dont doubt it, MEn here where i lve sing horrible. however, i am an elf and i sing so in-tune....perfection. ^_^
plz update soon!!!!!!
luv,
lady saruman ^_~
Author's reply
Hi, Lady Saurman! (An elf?) I'm so glad you enjoyed this little story. Can't you just see the hobbits grouped around Aragorn, telling him all this in perfect sincerity? The poor man won't have any self-respect left after a few weeks in this company.
Kitty
· 20 January 2006
· Chapter 1: A Moment in the Morning in Bree
Oh, I can see the hobbits watching fascinated this strange custom of men! Why growing a beard and then shaving it? *giggle*
It must've been difficult for Aragorn to shave himself under close observation of four curious and suspicious hobbits and to explain all this to them without accidentally cutting his throat! *grin*
And I loved the bit when he said it would attract less attention and then the hobbits looked at all his weapons *lol*
This promises to be a very interesting story, and I look forward to more!
Author's reply
Hullo, Kitty! These will be just 'snippets' bound together by the common theme of 'getting to know you,' but they are an awful lot of fun to imagine and write. For some reason, the Big People are going to come out the worst in these exchanges... :D
harrowcat
· 20 January 2006
· Chapter 1: A Moment in the Morning in Bree
Yhis gave me a great giggle Budgielover, especially as i have often thought that shaving is the only disadvantage that males have to put up with compared to us females, but then I am really not sure that I would want four hobbits watching me emerge from my cocoon in the mornings!
Author's reply
Staring at poor Aragorn, watching his every movement ... no wonder he doesn't shave in the Wild. It isn't sloppiness - it's self-preservation from the stares of curious hobbits!
Linda Hoyland
· 20 January 2006
· Chapter 1: A Moment in the Morning in Bree
Very enjoyable !I loved the Hobbit's reactions to Aragorn shaving !
Author's reply
Hi, Linda! Maybe Gandalf trying to explain shaving to the hobbits will turn up in this series. Somehow I suspect even a wizard wouldn't be able to make the practice make sense to them. :)
Inkling
· 20 January 2006
· Chapter 1: A Moment in the Morning in Bree
Poor Aragorn! Nothing in his experience would have prepared him for an ordeal quite like this! The humor in the hobbits’ unspoken reactions was well done, especially:
Aragorn continued, “I thought I might draw less attention—”
As one the hobbits’ gazes fastened on the great sword at his side, moved to the long knives he wore at his belt, those in his arm sheaths, and the two stuck into each boot. From there, their stares travelled to the bow propped in the corner behind the door, and the quiver of deadly arrows with it. Unlike himself, his weapons gleamed.
Less attention, riiiight….
A fun premise for a story and a series, Budgie! Look forward to more.
Radbooks
· 20 January 2006
· Chapter 1: A Moment in the Morning in Bree
Wonderfully, fun start to this story. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and look forward to more. Watching a man shave would certainly be a very different experience for the hobbits! :)