PIppinfan1988
· 30 April 2006
· Chapter 4: Holding On
Oh, I love dream sequences! Going from a high branch in a tree, to the river, and finally to Caradhras where the snow piled as high as the hobbits, each time holding Pippin's hand with a death-grip. Merry's tenacity both in the dream and "real-life" is wonderful.
Pippinfan
Author's reply
Dreams are so odd, aren't they? One moment you can be walking down the street in front of your house and as you cross the street you're suddenly miles away from where you took that last step.
Thanks!
PIppinfan1988
· 30 April 2006
· Chapter 3: Entering the Grove
There is such a lovely quality about this wonderful tale. Knowing how the book ends doesn't make it any easier to read what Merry is going through. I love how he has hope for his cousins and friend, however bleak it may seem.
Pippinfan
Author's reply
That sort of hope in the bleakest of circumstances seems to shine through LOTR, doesn't it...
PIppinfan1988
· 30 April 2006
· Chapter 2: Arriving in Ithilien
Wow...I had a knot in my stomach for Merry, poor lad. I don't know if I'm looking forward to his reaction...then again, ;-) maybe I am.
Pippinfan
Author's reply
;-)
I know those mixed feelings.
Andrea
· 30 April 2006
· Chapter 7: Spending Time
Wyeth regarded the hands quietly. 'He has a generous heart,' she said, 'but his hands remind me more of the Lord Faramir's, or even the Lord Aragorn's. Hands that could heal, or hold a sword, or be turned to a number of uses. Perhaps he is also a prince among his people, like the small guardsman.'
What a precise observation. I admire Wyeth for that gift. Especially Merry has a lot of talents, that will be very useful when he has become Master of Buckland. And he could be a healer, there's no doubt!
Author's reply
I have a very high opinion of Merry. Don't tell the others, but he's been my favourite hobbit since the first time I read the Battle on the Pelennor. (Drat. Can't remember just how to spell "Pelennor". It doesn't look right.)
Bodkin
· 29 April 2006
· Chapter 7: Spending Time
I'm glad they're looking after Merry, too. He would wear himself into the ground if they weren't, trying to see that the other three were looked after. And Aragorn extracted a promise. Very sensible. Although a bit of Pippin-aggravation is good therapy for Merry, you can have too much of a good thing. And Pippin's not the kid he was - he's learned a lot over the last few months.
I like the healer conversation. I should think at this point the people of Gondor must be getting numbed to wonders coming out of nowhere. Although I expect the massed arrival of the elves with Arwen will still cause some amazement.
Author's reply
Too much of a good thing, indeed. Just the right balance, sort of like that little bite of tannin that lets you know the tea is doing its job.
PIppinfan1988
· 26 April 2006
· Chapter 1: Summons
Ah...the sea! Well, okay, its a river. I miss the feel of swells underneath my feet. I don't have a lovely cup of tea, but I'm doing fine with my bottle of flavoured water. ;-)
This is an excellent beginning; Merry's trip, from Merry's pov, is something I've never mused upon. I'm enjoying this. :-)
Pippinfan
Author's reply
Have you sailed?
I grew up boating, but don't care as much for it now. I get seasick much more easily than I used to, for some reason.
A lovely cup of tea... I'm overdue to put the kettle on for today.
Thanks!
PIppinfan1988
· 26 April 2006
· Chapter 0: Notes
As I've never read this before, so this "blast from the past" will be all new to me. :-) I rather enjoy them, I'm finding. I like it that we both had similar muses at the same time in 03--though mine was/is nowhere near your calibre. ;-)
I shall go and enjoy this...
PF
Author's reply
Isn't it fun when that happens? I remember when Shirebound and I were both writing about cute little dogs at the same time. About the same time as that we both had stories by the same name, though wildly different in plot. GMTA, they say.
Your Cormallen story is new to me as well, and I am restraining myself from going to look at the full posting on ff.net, preferring to savour each new chapter as it comes up. (So keep up the good work!)
shirebound
· 26 April 2006
· Chapter 7: Spending Time
I love Wyeth's gentle manner and wise ways. A perfect healer.
Author's reply
Just what the doctor ordered! (Sorry, couldn't resist.) But you just have to imagine gentle and wise healers tending the Ring-bearers when Aragorn can't be there.
Andrea
· 19 April 2006
· Chapter 6: (Not) Getting Up
Oh Merry! Sometimes I'm wondering how one hobbit, still recovering from a serious illness himself, can have so much energy left!
Pippin's fast recovery is due to one simple fact: Merry is there holding his hand and telling him stories. The same he does for Frodo and Sam.
The hands of the King are the hands of a healer, but they can not replace family!
Author's reply
Well, hobbits seem to be sturdier than Big Folk as a rule, don't they? I still boggle at the idea of Frodo getting up the next morning after having that sliver dug out of his shoulder/chest/wherever it had got to.
Good point about the fast recovery; I'm in firm agreement!
Thanks!
Grey Wonderer
· 19 April 2006
· Chapter 6: (Not) Getting Up
Loved the teasing between Pippin and Beregond. Wonderful chapter and Merry certainly is working himself nearly to death in all this. Sometimes I wonder if he was truly lucky to have been uninjured at the last.
Author's reply
Ah, yes, I love to think of their friendship, especially when I read the passage about their first meeting. Beregond is so open and positive and curious, he's practically a hobbit in comparison to the dour Denethor.
Good point about Merry.
Thanks!
Bodkin
· 19 April 2006
· Chapter 6: (Not) Getting Up
Well - Pippin had to try, now didn't he! Although he would have been as surprised as anyone if his minders had encouraged him to jump out of bed and get back to work. He'll resist all the way, in spite of himself. A sign he is feeling better, I suppose.
Hand-holding and story-telling are a gentle way of drawing back the sick to a familiar world - I'm not surprising it helped.
Author's reply
Hmm. Do you suppose "reverse psychology" would work in this case. "Now, Pippin, I want you *up* and *out* of that bed without delay!"
Nope. I think he'd do just as ordered and (at least try to) spring out of bed.
Thanks!
shirebound
· 18 April 2006
· Chapter 6: (Not) Getting Up
Merry reached out his left hand, laying it atop the other two hobbits' joined hands. He began to talk in a low voice, telling one of Bilbo's old stories, as the healers worked quietly around him.
****
'That's how it's always been done in the Shire,' he said cheerfully. 'You get someone bad sick in bed, you hold their hand and talk at them until they get well just to have some peace and quiet again.'
So delightful! And I love Pippin trying to wear down his caregivers with the same question, over and over.
Author's reply
Ah, so very Pippish of him...
Thanks!
Anso the Hobbit
· 17 April 2006
· Chapter 5: Waking Up Again
Oh good! Happy ending. :D This is so very Merry, lol! You write him just perfectly. And the others too for that matter.
Author's reply
Ah, thank you! Coming from a Merry connoisseur (cannot take credit for the word; my spell checker did it all with only a hint from me) that is high praise indeed.
Anso the Hobbit
· 17 April 2006
· Chapter 4: Holding On
Poor, poor Merry! He is holding on for dear life himself. I am excited to see how this develops! :D
Author's reply
Yes, exactly! For dear life itself.
Thanks!
Bodkin
· 12 April 2006
· Chapter 5: Waking Up Again
I wonder if Pippin is sharing Merry's dreams - and they are helping hold him in a world that seems familiar? Things are looking up at the moment - Gimli seems a lot more cheerful. And Aragorn has learned (if he didn't know it already) that not all medicine comes in bottles.
Author's reply
Sharing dreams... y'know, I've heard of that in real life. My dad was a history buff, and he had lots of books on WWII and the Flying Fortresses (he flew in one of those). Anyhow, one of his books recounted an anecdote about a pilot and co-pilot, both asleep in their bunks. One of them cried out that the wing was hit, engines damaged and the other one snapped out in reply orders for "feathering" the damaged engine and whatnot, and between the two of them (talking in their sleep) they brought the badly-damaged plane safely home for a landing.
I bet Aragorn already knew that from Elrond. Doesn't seem to me as if Elves' healing would all be in bottles...
Grey Wonderer
· 12 April 2006
· Chapter 5: Waking Up Again
Gimli knows his hobbits, if they are willing to eat then things can't be too bad. I liked Gimli's honest answer to Merry's question about whether Pippin was all right or not.
Author's reply
Ah, yes, that Gimli--I see him as plain-spoken and gruff with a heart of gold underneath. My favourite Gimli chapter remains in "Where the Merlin Cries" where he falls asleep while "watching" the little hobbits and they "decorate" his beard while he's sleeping...
Thanks!
harrowcat
· 11 April 2006
· Chapter 5: Waking Up Again
I couldn't wait Lindelea I just had to go and find this on the other site. But now that means I can savour it chapter by chapter. Just the sort of writing to get me through the busiest week of the year for me. Thanks Lindelea.
Author's reply
Busiest week of the year? Poor thing.
Spring is the busiest time of year for us, as busy as the Christmas holidays. It seems that every musical group we're involved in has an end-of-term concert, and there are all these other special end-of-term activities too. I'm looking forward to the summer, when we cut back a bit.
So will I still get to enjoy your comments, I hope?
Larner
· 11 April 2006
· Chapter 5: Waking Up Again
And the memories continue. Dear Pippin is getting better, Frodo and Sam are deeply asleep and healing, and Merry's arm and hand are warm once more. He's definitely doing what's needed.
Faithful Merry is doing what's necessary, helping all hold on to life.
Author's reply
Yup. I'm not sure exactly when it was Merry got to Cormallen, but I do think he might have been the only hobbit awake for awhile, and if Pippin only got up the day before Frodo and Sam awakenend then he was the only hobbit on his feet for at least a week!
Thanks!
shirebound
· 11 April 2006
· Chapter 5: Waking Up Again
"Aragorn was able to ease them into a healing sleep last night, and now they rest easily, with no knowledge of pain or memory of sorrow, to give their bodies a chance to heal."
That's such a simple and soothing explanation. (I do wonder how Aragorn did that, btw! I don't think the Professor ever explained it.)
Author's reply
I don't think he did, and I certainly don't think that he thought about feeding tubes and the like. Or did he envision some sort of magical state of limbo where no food or water was necessary?
Thanks!
Grey Wonderer
· 8 April 2006
· Chapter 4: Holding On
Good ole Merry knows exactly what Pippin needs and that is a familar hand to cling to. Seems to be working too. I don't know who is more exhausted, Merry or Strider. Both are doing more than their share in this. Lovely story and I am enjoying it very much.
Author's reply
There's something about a familiar touch when you're under the weather. Really, Aragorn as healer ought to investigate this innovative approach, don't you think?
Thanks!
Bodkin
· 8 April 2006
· Chapter 4: Holding On
Physical contact and familiar voices telling familiar stories. Such a good thing Merry's there! He's providing a kind of health care it never occurred to Strider to offer.
Although foster brother Elladan did tuck Aragorn up in his bed - about time too, I would think!
I love Merry's dreams - I wonder if he is sharing them with Pippin.
And it looks as if Aragorn will not be losing these two hobbits.
Author's reply
Hmmm. Hobbit health care. Wonder if that's on our list of health choices? PPO, HMO...
D'you think Elladan and Elrohir might ambush Aragorn, tie him hand and foot, and carry him to his bed at some point? Or merely offer him a drink with something quietening? (Or maybe he wouldn't drink anything from their hands, for that reason...)
Am being silly today. Really need to go back to bed, but little hobbits are due up at any time.
harrowcat
· 7 April 2006
· Chapter 4: Holding On
Oh this is great, Lindelea You describe the link between these two so well and the effect it is having on their conditions is brilliant.
Author's reply
Thank you!
SlightlyTookish
· 7 April 2006
· Chapter 4: Holding On
I just found this story and I read what you've posted in one sitting. It's just lovely, I especially love the vividness of Merry's dreams in this last chapter. I'm looking forward to more of this.
Author's reply
Thanks!
Pearl Took
· 7 April 2006
· Chapter 4: Holding On
"Merry understood suddenly, and smiled. He renewed his grip on Pippin's hand as the cup was held to his lips again and he sipped the sweet, hot tea."
Wonderful!! I liked the memory dreams. Well done, Lin!!!
Author's reply
Thank you, Pearl!
I need to print out your latest chapters and put them in my "reading pile" for the summer! We're out of ink, though, so I am waiting impatiently for our new ink to arrive. (The drawback of buying a "cheap" printer with all the features we wanted, except that ink cartridges are only available by mail.)
How I am looking forward to reading Pippin-and-Diamond, in your wonderful style.
demeter d
· 6 April 2006
· Chapter 4: Holding On
I enjoyed reading your "chatty' reply to my chapter 3 review. This one is anpther very good one. "he would hold on to the end of the world, if need be".So perfectly summing up how all four Hobbits made it through their amazing adventures, by holding tight to one another. Well done.
Author's reply
I just love the way the hobbits were written in LOTR, and the hints at their society and customs, and the obvious love between the cousins.
Thanks!