Dreamflower
· 2 September 2007
· Chapter 35: For Old Times' Sake
Tolly's really being given some food for thought now. I liked the way he suddenly realized that Lotho, too, was a ruffian of sorts.
And the confusion over how to send any sort of message to Tolly is all too realistic for that sort of turmoil...
Author's reply
Yes, with the Shire off-limits, how does one find a particular hobbit, especially if he was always the one who visited you, and not the other way around? If the woodcutter's family weren't literate, they'd not even have Tolly's address, for the exchanging of letters...
harrowcat
· 31 August 2007
· Chapter 34: All Trussed Up and Nowhere to Go
And so Tolly is taking full and lone responsibility for this nightmare journey. It is those we love that can hurt us most. Ordinary 'ruffians' would not cause such heartache.
Author's reply
So true. With ordinary ruffians, he'd've done his duty as quickly and efficiently as possible, and while their deaths would be on his conscience, he'd have been able to dismiss it somewhat as a necessary unpleasantness.
Dreamflower
· 30 August 2007
· Chapter 34: All Trussed Up and Nowhere to Go
Oh, suspicious Tolly still mindful of the past--and two different pasts warring with him: his friendship with the lads and their family, and the troubles of the Ruffians.
I do have a hunch of what's coming, though!
And I don't know if I have ever told you this or not, but you have a positive genius for naming chapters and titles, really you do! I don't know *how* you do it--I'm *so* lame at titles!
Author's reply
Oh, thank you! Titles are such a bugaboo for me--I hate the chore, and so I try to make it a game. It's fun to have a whole list of things, like the titles of Bach cantatas (those were Merlin's chapter titles) or a list of aphorisms, or the lyrics to a song (While There's Breath, I think, and Where the Lovelight Gleams) and choose from the list an appropriate title after the chapter's written.
Larner
· 30 August 2007
· Chapter 34: All Trussed Up and Nowhere to Go
Forever and a day and a fortnight more...LET THEM GO, Tolly, for the sake of your soul! What a situation, and not believing the Thain? Really, Tolly!
Author's reply
Really!
I do hope Tolly is listening.
Larner
· 27 August 2007
· Chapter 33: Like Lambs to the Slaughter
Ah, Tolly--let them go when the time is right! No, not on pony back, but on their own feet!
What a dilemma for the Hobbit!
Author's reply
Definitely. And at this point he doesn't know just what he's going to do... and neither do they.
Dreamflower
· 26 August 2007
· Chapter 33: Like Lambs to the Slaughter
...but these won’t come living to the Bounds a-ponyback, I swear that much.’
Uh-huh. Did Tolly take his class in, er,*ahem* *disguising* *ahem* the truth from Pippin or from Ferdi?
Author's reply
Uh-huh. Those devious Tooks. Tolly may be a bit slow to speak, unless he's well limbered up with spirits, but he's been rubbing elbows with some of the best-skilled of the lot, at diverting attention that is, for some years now...
And he really is doing this for Mugwort's own good.
Author Reply: p.s. and as you noticed, he did tell the absolute truth. He is a truthful hobbit, after all, and very much on his honour.
harrowcat
· 25 August 2007
· Chapter 32: Shoot First, Ask Questions Later
I think that Tolly's honour is one of the things that will help him pull through all this. Loved seeing mention of your other men characters.
Hmm..'wanders off to re read favourite Lindelea stories...'
Author's reply
LOL! Music to the Muse's ears...
You know, you're right, Tolly's honour has a great deal to do with the workings of this tale.
Haven't written much about the tinker, I must admit (I think he was a descendant of the one who sold the thistle-painted teapots mentioned in Healer's Tale, actually), but the wandering conjurer was fun to mention!
Dreamflower
· 23 August 2007
· Chapter 32: Shoot First, Ask Questions Later
Yes, Tolly, indeed.
So, these are the "ruffians" that preyed on Tolly's mind, poor fellow!
Oh, Tolly! Poor Tolly!
Author's reply
And they're the ones that got him in so much trouble in Runaway--that he escorted ruffians safely out of the Shire, past the Rangers, made it easier to suspect he might be in league with them. *sigh*
Larner
· 23 August 2007
· Chapter 32: Shoot First, Ask Questions Later
Oh, let them go, Tolly--get rid of Mugwort here somehow and let them go. You know these mean no harm.
Author's reply
Too true! Tolly is not the most imaginative hobbit in the Tookland... sure wish Pip or Ferdi were along to mastermind a solution...
harrowcat
· 19 August 2007
· Chapter 31: Paved with Good Intentions
Awful memories to be re-living. Come on Aragorn! There is more than Tolly's life that needs saving
Author's reply
You are so very right, there's definitely more needing saving than just Tolly's life!
Thanks.
Larner
· 19 August 2007
· Chapter 31: Paved with Good Intentions
Oh, heavens--such an encounter, with those who saved him? Oh, Tolly!
Will be down the week after Labor Day, it appears--Meesh is busy the week previous.
Author's reply
Mmm. Do you mean the first week in September? We'll have out-of-town guests that week, though I might be able to steal a couple of hours away early in the week.
...unless you'd like to join us for tea? We're to have a proper British tea at one of the local shops.
And you're right, Oh, Tolly! What *are* you going to do now?
Larner
· 19 August 2007
· Chapter 30: A Sight for Sore Eyes
Now both are back with word on the advent of Sharkey. Betrayal by their own would be a terrible thing indeed.
Author's reply
Oops, almost missed replying to this one!
Of course, it's Hally who betrayed Ferdi to the ruffians, on Ferdi's suggestion, to save his sister's family from the ruffians' revenge. But Hally had tied the knots loosely enough to hope for Ferdi's escape (too bad the ruffians discovered this and re-tied the bindings), and was part of the rescue party that cut him down from the hanging tree, in the end, and shot the ruffians who were in the act of murdering him.
But of course, Tolly didn't know this; he only knew what he overheard the ruffians say. A hobbit betraying another hobbit to his death... definitely a terrible thing.
Dreamflower
· 19 August 2007
· Chapter 31: Paved with Good Intentions
Oh my! So *that's* why he was so certain the Men meant no harm...
Author's reply
Yup. At last we've come full circle, joining the two threads (far past and recent past) and it's clear, at last, why Tolly let the intruders go, why he could neither shoot them himself, nor turn them over to the Rangers...
Tough spot to be in. What comes first, the oath he swore, or the debt he owes?
Dreamflower
· 16 August 2007
· Chapter 30: A Sight for Sore Eyes
Oh, this was wonderful! I especially loved Pippin holding his own breath as he watched for Tolly's.
And Tolly's arrival at Great Smials, and his reunion with Ferdi was perfect. I loved the tense and ominous feeling you built up with the news of Sharkey's arrival.
*sigh* But Pippin will be home soon! (well, I mean, past Pippin will be home soon--present Pippin is still waiting for Tolly to recover--but, oh dear, I'm rambling, so I hope you know what I meant!)
Author's reply
LOL, wouldn't it be something if Pippin met himself coming and going? (boggling at the thought)
The part I've been looking forward to (name-dropping, what fun!) is coming up in the next installment, I think! Hoorah, at last.
Thanks!
harrowcat
· 16 August 2007
· Chapter 30: A Sight for Sore Eyes
Perhaps knowing that not all men are evil willhelp him totrust Elessar enough to help himfind his way back. Good reading this Lindelea.
Author's reply
You know, I hadn't thought of that, but you're probably right! Will have to give it some thought. Don't know if I can work it in, or not, but that underlying assumption makes a lot of sense.
Thanks!
harrowcat
· 14 August 2007
· Chapter 29: While There’s Breath, There’s Life
Useful for this man to have a foster sonship to call upon eh? *grin* Still loving the Lindelea.
Author's reply
Very useful! (Hope I'm not stretching credulity to its breaking point, to where this would have to be labelled "AU"!)
Dreamflower
· 13 August 2007
· Chapter 29: While There’s Breath, There’s Life
What a wonderfully brave pair of little boys! Will we ever really know Tod and Teddy's ultimate fates?
And Elessar has a stubborn Took on his hands. As stubborn as the Took, Brandybuck, Baggins and Gamgee he's dealt with before? Maybe so.
Author's reply
Hmm. Their fates? Well, there just might be something to that. It would be a shame if they ended up decorating trees outside the Bounds of the Shire in future years.
I do think Tolly is quite stubborn, though perhaps a notch below Ferdi and two notches below Pippin.
Larner
· 13 August 2007
· Chapter 29: While There’s Breath, There’s Life
Remember--Aragorn is a 63 or 64 times great NEPHEW of Elrond's! Dreamflower can tell you--she worked it out, IIRC. Heh! Yes, Elvish blood in them-there Dunedain! (Which is why I've taken delight in ascribing Aragorn's scruffiness in the movies to a beard that grows painfully s-l-o-w-l-y.
Author's reply
Yes, I knew he was great-great-great-something nephew of Elrond's, though I never took the time to work out the generations. Dreamflower is amazing.
LOL--I always thought it made an effective disguise. Do you suppose Elrond took him in hand and taught him how to look as disreputable as possible so that enemy agents hunting for him would never target *him* as a prospective King?
Larner
· 13 August 2007
· Chapter 29: While There’s Breath, There’s Life
Oh, I am so proud of the boys and Tolly, and glad Aragorn's there now!
Author's reply
I'm glad he's there, too, for both Tolly's and Pippin's sake! (And Meadowsweet's, and Tolly's brothers, and his children...)
Larner
· 11 August 2007
· Chapter 28: Will Wonders Never Cease?
Aye, there's hope, particularly with THIS particular son of Elrond. And his throne name was NOT taken in vain! Blessings on them all.
Author's reply
Yes, indeedy! It is fortunate that in the course of writing this I visited one of Bodkin's stories and was reminded that Aragorn was a foster son of Elrond's... (even though that story had nothing to do with Aragorn, Elladan and Elrohir. Isn't it interesting how the mind works?)
Looking forward to (hopefully) seeing you next month.
Dreamflower
· 11 August 2007
· Chapter 28: Will Wonders Never Cease?
"Son of Elrond"! Well, yes! Of course! No fault of Pippin's if they misunderstand *which* son!
Ah, Pippin is *so* devious! He reminds me in this more of Bilbo than of Frodo!
I have to say, I loved the part where he began to dream of his long ago ride with Gandalf--that was a lovely bit!
And now the hands of the King can do their work!
Author's reply
LOL! Somehow the Muse arranged it so that Pippin could tell the absolute truth and yet be misleading his hearers... He seems to excel at that, somehow. (As Ferdi well knows.)
Hmmm. Well, Frodo was once known as the greatest young rascal in Buckland, so perhaps he practiced his share of deception upon a time.
It'll be such a relief to get Tolly out of that dreadful hole and moving along in the flashback. Greatly looking forward to the startlement at a certain revelation. *g*
Thanks!
Author Reply: (and p.s., I love to be told about lovely bits. Um, that sounds funny. Ah, well. I need another cup of tea.)
Bodkin
· 10 August 2007
· Chapter 27: A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed
Surely, with Thain, Master and Mayor, the inconvenient Edict can be set aside. Especially for the King'n'all, who is the Law.
But I can see Aragorn enjoying playing the mischief-maker. And Tolly's need, after all ...
Fingers crossed the King arrives in time.
Author's reply
If only JRRT had *not* explicitly mentioned how scrupulous Elessar was in observing his own Edict. *grumble*
There's a bit of funny business in the works.
(And of course, Aragorn is descended from an elf. sort of. if i have my facts right. isn't he a distant cousin of Elrond's, in point of fact?)
Bodkin
· 10 August 2007
· Chapter 26: We'll Cross that Bridge When We Come to It
Poor Pippin. He's lost enough that he's willing to risk all.
Whereas Sweetie has no chances to take.
I hope Pippin manages to work out what's amiss - and why all this banishing from the Shire is such a bad idea. Whether for hobbits or men.
Author's reply
Poor Sweetie. Must be hard to be married to a hobbit whose calling is somewhat adventurous.
Pippin is something of a gambler, I think! I do wish that JRRT had left us more notes about how the Edict was supposed to work. What little he did write sounds like a complete and utter ban, and so it's very difficult to work out compromises.
Larner
· 8 August 2007
· Chapter 27: A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed
How wonderful the decision, and how desperate the diversion! Ah, Aragorn--there is no shame in using your great gift.
Author's reply
Yes, true. We've talked about this before, but I must say once again, I do wish JRRT had written more about the whys and wherefores of the Edict...
Dreamflower
· 8 August 2007
· Chapter 27: A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed
Yaaayyyyy!!!!! AT LAST!!!!! Whee!!!
er...um...*clears throat*...I'm very glad to see this chapter posted.
*happy sigh* I really am; I love the way all three hobbits plus Arwen ganged up on Aragorn--who, I think, was not truly wishing to deny Pippin anyway. And if he can pass through and do what needs doing without drawing *too* much notice, then all the better.
And I'm *very* happy to see this chapter, in case you were in any doubt.
Author's reply
Ah. So good of you to drop by. *g*
Poor Aragorn. He's all too aware of the fact that canon says he honoured his Edict. It was very difficult to argue him into this... it really did take all three hobbits plus Arwen to argue him round.
But of course, if he sneaked into the Shire and wasn't caught at it, then even canon would be none the wiser.
Don't know if I'm making sense; it's been a busy week and precious little sleep lately. Whew. Am trying to whip this thing out as quick as I can because I am really looking forward to a particular chapter, myself.
Thanks!