Bits & Pieces by Edoraslass
Elena Tiriel · 31 December 2006 · Chapter 39: Her Contempt (haiku)
Oh, nice! I don't recognize the verse form... something like haiku? but it packs a real wallop... - Barbara
Author's reply
Yep, haiku. I think I have some more rattling around, somewhere... Thanks!
Elena Tiriel · 31 December 2006 · Chapter 37: A Small Gift
Oh, what a perfect companion piece! I love the details of the carved pony, and of Sam's daily routine... and Boromir's fleeting pleasure. - Barbara
Author's reply
For some reason, I've decided that Boromir likes to carve. I don't know why; it just seemed to fit. And it also seems like a nice, unobtrusive way for Boromir to share something with Sam, who always appears to be rather suspicious of him, to me. Thanks!
Elena Tiriel · 31 December 2006 · Chapter 36: Different Kinds of Patience
I really like this extended conversation between the two Men of the Fellowship. And I appreciate Boromir's creative process... some drabbles are like that, too: you don't know what you'll end up with when you start with just a phrase. LOL! - Barbara
Author's reply
I've had so many phrases ambush me and then just sprawl into something completely different than what I intended! Thanks!
Elena Tiriel · 31 December 2006 · Chapter 35: Guest of Honour.
Oh, I just adore this! Éomer is so brave in the face of such adversity! *very, very big, sappy grin* - Barbara
Author's reply
The one thing they didn't cover in Rider Training - little sister's tea parties. :) Thanks!
Elena Tiriel · 31 December 2006 · Chapter 33: Following Orders
"Just following orders"... yet these are men he knew. Faramir has much reason to feel so betrayed. - Barbara
Author's reply
He really does, IMO - but I'm also sure that he did, at some point, manage to forgive those men. Thanks!
Elena Tiriel · 31 December 2006 · Chapter 30: Reproach
Ah, yes, a return to alertness is bittersweet... you can't have misgivings when you can't think at all. - Barbara
Author's reply
And at this moment,he probably still wasn't used to thinking for himself, which likely made it all the harder. Thanks!
Elena Tiriel · 31 December 2006 · Chapter 27: Barren
Oh! That last line is a killer! - Barbara
Author's reply
Thank you! I often have trouble making Denethor sympathetic.
Elena Tiriel · 31 December 2006 · Chapter 26: Memories of Warmth
Another more personal view of Denethor's decline... and the unspoken harm it did to his sons. - Barbara
Author's reply
And they probably didn't actually realize what harm had been done til they were much older. Thanks!
Elena Tiriel · 31 December 2006 · Chapter 25: What History Does Not Tell
So sad... that's one of the things that doesn't really come through in Tolkien's more epic descriptions of battles: the very personal cost to individuals and families. I also like the reference to Sparta; the Spartan view of death was jaded, and this warrior is anything but. - Barbara
Author's reply
Yes, he does tend to focus on the larger-than-life characters, and I often prefer to go with those more common. Their stories are just as interesting, and sometimes easier to identify with. Thank you!
Elena Tiriel · 31 December 2006 · Chapter 24: Riddle
Beautiful language! - Barbara
Author's reply
Thank you! Another that took forever to get just right...
Elena Tiriel · 31 December 2006 · Chapter 23: Sister's Grief
Ah, another unusual POV! Minas Tirith, bereft.... Well done! - Barbara
Author's reply
Oh, I love anthropomorphic fics - those definitely turn out to be the most unusual POVs. Thank you!
Elena Tiriel · 31 December 2006 · Chapter 21: Provisions
Okay, I have been accused of having a... special affinity for creatures of the Dark. And Mirkwood spiders certainly qualify! The more... unusual POV is well done! - Barbara
Author's reply
The Mirkwood spiders scared me to death when I was little; now they amuse me for reasons I don't understand. :) Thank you!
Elena Tiriel · 31 December 2006 · Chapter 20: More Important Things
... and cabbages and potatoes that need tendin'. ;-) You captured the Gaffer's voice well! - Barbara
Author's reply
Another personI should write more often; I think he probably is my favourite minor character. Thank you!
Elena Tiriel · 31 December 2006 · Chapter 19: End of the Second Line
It always struck me as so sad that the Rohirrim had their valiant, wise king returned to them, only to be snatched away so soon. He is facing death with the great heart of a Rohirric warrior. - Barbara
Author's reply
I agree. It would have nice if Theoden could have lived after the Ring War, to see peace brought to M-e. Thank you!
Elena Tiriel · 31 December 2006 · Chapter 17: Choosing a Road
Definitely an "Out of the frying pan...." moment! - Barbara
Author's reply
And quite literally "into the fire" for Gandalf. Thanks!
Elena Tiriel · 31 December 2006 · Chapter 16: Respite
Oh, chilling.... and Denethor began to look aged in this time period. I like how you put a very personal lens on this obscure bit of canon. - Barbara
Author's reply
I just thought he'd be looking for any way to hide from his sorrow, and this seemed a natural answer. Thanks!
Elena Tiriel · 31 December 2006 · Chapter 13: Becalmed
I like how you bring in the reference to the North Star, that sailors navigate by, in Imrahil's lovings thoughts of his wife. Two aspects of his life intertwined.... - Barbara
Author's reply
Again, here's Imrahil with his romantic streak. He's such fun when he's smitten. Thanks!
Elena Tiriel · 31 December 2006 · Chapter 11: Distant Harmony
From despair to hope... you capture the deep despair of the soldier on the walls of Minas Tirith so well... and the horns of the Rohirrim always give me goosebumps. - Barbara
Author's reply
It must have been a very surreal thing to hear, in the midst of such all-encompassing fear. Thanks!
Elena Tiriel · 31 December 2006 · Chapter 9: The Earth Knows No Difference
It seems like there is such a river of sadness flowing through the Rohirric history... and Théodred's death is one of the most heart-wrenching to me. You captured it well. - Barbara
Author's reply
They do seem to have more than their fair share of family tragedy, don't they? And it doesn't seem fair that Theodred's death is barely touched upon in canon. Thank you!
Elena Tiriel · 31 December 2006 · Chapter 7: Superstitious
Ah, nothing's better at getting the heart pumping madly than facing a ghost ship! And Imrahil likes the night shift because it leaves him alone... so there's no one else to witness the apparition.... I like it! - Barbara
Author's reply
Thank you! One day I may decide to do the whole tale of the Amroth Rover.
Elena Tiriel · 31 December 2006 · Chapter 6: Memory
I really feel the love Imrahil had for his wife, as well as the deep melancholy he now feels. And I really like how much you say by not saying it -- his night guards unblinking -- clearly he has trod this nighttime path many times. - Barbara
Author's reply
Thank you! For all that we've little information about him, and none (I think) about her, I just always have the feeling that there was a deep romantic streak in Imrahil.
Elena Tiriel · 31 December 2006 · Chapter 5: Aftermath
You delineated the differing reactions of the Riders very realistically here -- not easy in the space of a drabble! And a chilling last line.... - Barbara
Author's reply
Oh, that took me forever to whittle down to 100 words, so I'm very glad it worked! Thank you!
Elena Tiriel · 31 December 2006 · Chapter 4: Glimmers of Memory
And well we know why Éomund holds his loved ones so tightly.... *Sniffle* - Barbara
Author's reply
I think every fighting man before the Ring War would have held on just as tightly. Thanks!
Elena Tiriel · 31 December 2006 · Chapter 3: Extended Family
This pairs nicely with the Théoden one. - Barbara
Author's reply
I really wanted to show a bit of closure to Theoden's wishing for more children, and this just presented itself to me. :) Thanks!
Elena Tiriel · 31 December 2006 · Chapter 1: For the Sake of Us Both
Théoden is nicely introspective here. - Barbara
Author's reply
Thanks! I really don't write him enough.