Shire Yule by Dreamflower
Kaylee Arafinwiel · 26 October 2011 · Chapter 2: Out of the Dark: First Yule S.R. 1380
*Oh!* Oh, poor Frodo...talk about "mood whiplash"! The last story was so adorable and sweet, with Drogo, Primula, Bilbo and little Frodo so happy together, and now...well...*gulps* Poor Frodo!! Kaylee
Author's reply
Yes, poor Frodo. *sigh*
Kaylee Arafinwiel · 26 October 2011 · Chapter 1: Frodo's Very First Yule
Oh, I do love this! Tiny Frodo is just so adorable here. *grin* It's only a couple months till Christmas, now, but these stories are already putting me in the right spirit! Kaylee
Author's reply
He is quite tiny there, isn't he? That's about the wee-est I've written him, I think. *sings* "It's beginning to look a lot like Chrissst-MAS..."
Kaylee Arafinwiel · 26 October 2011 · Chapter 0: Foreword
Well, here I go, Dreamflower. *grin* I'll be reading the linked stories, and reviewing those, in order too... Hoping your inbox doesn't implode on itself, Kaylee
Author's reply
Well, my inbox didn't implode, but I think I'm answering your reviews out of order, LOL! I just hope I don't miss any!
Virtuella · 30 December 2010 · Chapter 28: Yuletide in the Shire-lands
This is sweet, and I particularly liked teh instruction "Brush up your toes". :D
Antane · 25 December 2010 · Chapter 28: Yuletide in the Shire-lands
Everything comes back to hobbits in the end… I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks that! :) Merry Christmas, my dear! Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
GamgeeFest · 25 December 2010 · Chapter 28: Yuletide in the Shire-lands
How perfectly hobbity! I can just see our lads singing this on Yule morning with their little kiddies around them. :D
eiluj · 23 December 2010 · Chapter 28: Yuletide in the Shire-lands
Everything comes back to hobbits in the end…) -- How very true! And a Merry Yuletide to you -- and thanks for all the stories.
Author's reply
Indeed! And I hope you too have a Merry Yuletide, and that your New Year is happy and prosperous! And you are most welcome!
Andrea · 23 December 2010 · Chapter 28: Yuletide in the Shire-lands
Great song, with all the things a hobbit loves to do - especially having family around! Merry Christmas to you and your family :-)
Author's reply
Thank you! It was funny how little tweaking the original needed to make it suitably hobbity! And Merry Christmas to you and yours, as well!
Larner · 23 December 2010 · Chapter 28: Yuletide in the Shire-lands
Ah--so sweet the Yule when the family gathers in amity!
Author's reply
Isn't it though? Merry Christmas, dear!
Kaylee Arafinwiel · 23 December 2010 · Chapter 28: Yuletide in the Shire-lands
O Dreamflower, what a lovely song! I thank Meriadoc the Magnificent and Thain Peregrin I for this one, too. (I do like the original song, too, though I admit I haven't heard it much. I'll have to search it out. :) Happy Yule!) *hugs* Kaylee!
Author's reply
It's the sort of song that easily gets stuck in one's head! But I like it better with hobbity words! Happy Yule to you as well, sweetie!
GamgeeFest · 16 March 2010 · Chapter 27: Comfort and Joy
Oh, how wonderful that Frodo was able to witness Merry’s wedding. I’m glad too that Sam has truly been accepted in Frodo’s place, standing at Merry’s side.
Author's reply
Of all the things Frodo would miss, and that they would miss having him there for, I always thought Merry's wedding would be near the top of the list. I "fixed" that in my AU, and now I've found a more canon-ish way to "fix" it! Also, I thought this would be a way for Frodo to see that Sam really is his heir in more than possessions!
Larner · 28 December 2009 · Chapter 27: Comfort and Joy
I so rejoice with them all! And comfort and joy to you and yours! Finally catching up. Now, to finish my gift to everyone.
Author's reply
Thank you, dear! And I look forward to seeing yours!
Grey Wonderer · 27 December 2009 · Chapter 9: The New Year Baby
While reading you latest I found this one again and decided to re-read it. I enjoyed it just as much this time as the first time. I'm sitting here smiling just like someone brought a baby into this house! LOL
Author's reply
(((hugs))) Thank you dear! I enjoyed writing this one very much!
Grey Wonderer · 27 December 2009 · Chapter 27: Comfort and Joy
That was just lovely! I am so glad that Frodo and Gandalf were able to share in Merry's wedding. I love it all the more that Pippin and Sam felt Frodo there with them. Beautiful and a wonderful way to include Frodo in something that happened after he'd gone. : )
Author's reply
It always seemed dreadfully unfair to me that Frodo had to miss Merry's and Pippin's weddings! So, at least in Merry's case, I sort of decided to solve the problem, LOL! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
PIppinfan1988 · 27 December 2009 · Chapter 27: Comfort and Joy
I always love the thought that Frodo is able to keep up with tidings from back home somehow...once in a while at least. Wonderful story -- and thank you for sharing it!
Author's reply
I figured probably two or three times a year, he'd take a peek and see how his family is doing... I'm so glad you liked it!
Virtuella · 27 December 2009 · Chapter 27: Comfort and Joy
"But there was so much here that, while beautiful, was alien." Good point. Beauty can be unjsatisfactory where a feeling of being at home is missing, at least in the long run. What a sweet idea to have Frodo peeping in on Merry's wedding. Ah, the Palantir, precursor of video conferencing... ;-)
Author's reply
It's going to take a while before Elvenhome feels "home-like" to Frodo. Bilbo's ahead of him in some ways-- he's already lived for twenty years in Rivendell, it's not such a change for him! *grin* Well, sort of! LOL! Too bad the others can't look themselves!
Baggins Babe · 27 December 2009 · Chapter 27: Comfort and Joy
What a beautiful story, Dreamflower. I'm so glad that Frodo is feeling better and that he was able to witness Merry's wedding - an event which he would not have wanted to miss, I'm sure. And how lovely that Sam and Pippin were aware of his presence. I think you captured Gandalf perfectly - grumpy but loving. Merry Christmas to you and I hope 2010 will be a good one for you.
Author's reply
Well, in the Eucatastrophe-AU I figured out how to have Frodo at Merry's wedding, and now I figured out how to do in in my more canon-friendly universe! I can't imagine that Frodo's presence would have gone unnoticed by his friends, even if they did not quite understand it! And I hope you and a lovely Christmas as well, and that your New Year will be bright!
Antane · 26 December 2009 · Chapter 27: Comfort and Joy
Comfort and joy indeed! How wonderful for all of them but especially Frodo. And I love that you say having Sam be 'best hobbit' made Frodo be more present. What a tremendous gift they all received and a sweet one for us too! :) Hantanyel. Frodo, Sam, Pippin and Merry Christmas to you, my dear. Christ is born! Glorify Him! Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
I figured as Merry's "older brother" figure, Frodo was always Merry's first choice to "stand with" him; when Frodo left, and left everything to Sam, I think that as far as the others were concerned, that meant Frodo's responsibilities as well as his possessions. Sam would have felt that he should take care of Merry and Pippin the way Frodo always would have done. And for Frodo, seeing them honor Sam, his choice of heir, would help him feel better about everything. I hope you had a blessed holiday as well, dear!
Lindelea · 25 December 2009 · Chapter 27: Comfort and Joy
How lovely! The next best thing to being there? I wondered if perhaps the others would sense his being there in spirit, and so glad that they did!
Author's reply
I don't think distance was much of an impediment to the close link those hobbits had. It was fun to let Frodo get to witness Merry's wedding! (((hugs))) I hope you and yours had a lovely holiday!
Soledad · 25 December 2009 · Chapter 27: Comfort and Joy
Awww, lovely! I'm glad Frodo got to see the wedding! He must be lonely sometimes, the poor thing, without other Hobbitses driving him to distraction. But yay for Celebrían for helping him! And I really, really loved the description of the Tower.
Author's reply
Somehow, the idea that Frodo missed Merry's wedding seems to me to be horribly sad-- I was glad to be able to "fix" it just a little. I am certain he does get lonely for other hobbits, especially his best friends. And somehow I think that he and Celebrian would get along very well. Describing the Tower was a hurdle for me-- I'm glad you think it came out well!
Andrea · 25 December 2009 · Chapter 27: Comfort and Joy
My dear Dreamflower, That was just lovely :-) Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Author's reply
Thank you! And Merry Christmas to you, as well! ((hugs))
shirebound · 25 December 2009 · Chapter 27: Comfort and Joy
he watched the dancing and the Feast and, though he could not be heard, he joined his voice in as they sang I love your description of the tower, and the progress of Frodo's healing. And then... Oh, such a joyous event! This is a wonderful Yule story; I'm grinning so big right now.
Author's reply
Oh thank you! I had wanted to write this as soon as I realized I had an opening for it in "Ancestress"-- but I was hesitant, because I didn't know how to describe the Tower and I wanted to do it justice. The other day I decided to just go for it, and began to describe it "off the cuff". And I really felt that Frodo deserved to be at Merry's wedding, one way or another!
Kitty · 25 December 2009 · Chapter 27: Comfort and Joy
Dreamflower, that was lovely! To have Frodo witnessing Merry's wedding through the Palantír is just perfect, and that Pippin and Sam (and very probably Merry, too) felt as if he was there was the icing on the cake. Even if Frodo could not be there himself, that was the second best outcome I could think of.
Author's reply
I had long ago decided that in my regular universe (as opposed to my Eu-AU) Merry got married the Yule after Frodo left. It always seemed so sad to me that he could not be there for such a joyous and momentous event in his cousin/brother's life-- something I am sure both of them had thought about for years. I just had to try and rectify it a bit!
Theresa Greenfalcon · 12 July 2009 · Chapter 22: Good King Elessar: Epilogue, Shall Yourselves Find Blessing
I had to review the Good King Elessar story set. I like the story of redemption in this set - I'd like to think that a few of Saruman's Ruffians either felt remorse for what they'd done or gotten in with the wrong crowd and wanted to not do harm to others again - people are people, and this is true of many a young man or woman in prison today. I really enjoyed this.
Author's reply
Why thank you! I'm so glad that you enjoyed it. It had seemed to me for some time that it was possible not every "Ruffian" was really a "Ruffian" at heart--surely at least one or two found themselves in a situation they'd never bargained for. And thank you for the lovely review!
Raksha The Demon · 6 January 2009 · Chapter 26: To Wait for Sun's Returning
Nice capture of Gandalf's voice, grandfatherly but much older, and with a mix of compassion and humor. Lovely ending, too.
Author's reply
Thank you! That's the most Gandalf's ever said to me. But for some reason the story insisted on being in his voice. I'm glad you liked it!