The Archives Incident by Dreamflower
PSW · 3 March 2016 · Chapter 999: About That Poem...
Very good! It's easy to forget how very difficult it must have been for the Hobbits in a city of Men -- even everyday adventures can turn stressful when everything was made for people who were so much larger. And that poem... Ha! Fantastic follow-up. :-) Thanks for writing!
shirebound · 7 April 2013 · Chapter 1: The Archives Incident
I re-read this wonderful tale once in awhile, and enjoy it so much every time! This is truly a timeless gem, full of such love and gentle healing.
Author's reply
Thank you once more! You know, you get the credit for that second chapter, because you asked for it! *grin* (((hugs)))
shirebound · 9 July 2011 · Chapter 1: The Archives Incident
It was nearly dawn by the time that Frodo and Pippin were tucked up together in the big bed the hobbits shared on the ground floor of the guesthouse. They had been washed and dressed in clean nightshirts, and fussed over I love this story so much! This was my pleasurable re-read this evening to send me to sleep with happy hobbity thoughts.
Author's reply
*grin* You are such a dear! I'm so glad that you still enjoy this one!
Agape4Gondor · 4 February 2008 · Chapter 1: The Archives Incident
especially with the incentive of stopping at an ale-house on the way back. *giggles* I like the reminder that the Hobbits are good shots - whether with stones or with wood! Very nice chapter indeed. I'm glad Aragorn decided to carry them and I'm glad Frodo still has the parchment! And I hated the rats............ *shivers*
Author's reply
Well, it *would* be a good incentive for Pippin, wouldn't it? *grin* I love any chance I can get to show off their ability on that score. I think it's fascinating! Aragorn is not going to allow his patients to wear themselves out--and Frodo has plans for that parchment, as you will see in the Epilogue! I hate rats, too, and so does Pippin!
GamgeeFest · 4 February 2008 · Chapter 999: About That Poem...
*snickers* Poor Aragorn! At least the hobbits only had Menelcar recite the song at their house, and not, dare say, in front of the court!
Author's reply
Frodo's too intelligent to embarrass the new King in front of *everyone*! Besides, it's much more fun among just friends, so they can tease him!
Bodkin · 4 February 2008 · Chapter 999: About That Poem...
Poor Aragorn. Having such delightful poems written about him might well have caused him to flee Gondor much earlier. Imrahil did a good job in hiding it. And in noting and accepting hobbit rules of conduct.
Author's reply
Indeed. I think he might have found an infatuated princess a far greater threat than corsairs or even than the son of the Steward, LOL! I enjoyed writing Imrahil--I hadn't done so before.
Daynawayna · 3 February 2008 · Chapter 1: The Archives Incident
AWWW! What a neat story! Frodo is a clever cousin, to be sure! :) And I can just see Aragorn's face when his bard sings that *Lovely* Poem! LOL :D
Author's reply
So glad you enjoyed it! I love to show Frodo being clever, competent and caring! Yes, I imagine they would have to invent a whole new shade of red for his embarrassed face!
Elena Tiriel · 26 January 2008 · Chapter 999: About That Poem...
You wrote that, that, that, that thing??? *Barbara looks at Dreamflower in utter awe* That must have been HARD! Bwahahahahaha! Seriously, I enjoyed this story, and the tale behind the, er, um, "poem" was just perfect... Imrahil was a hero already, at age 9! LOLOL! Though I bet Ivriniel did not appreciate his valor at the time. Well done! ;-) - Barbara
Author's reply
*giggle* Guilty as charged! It was indeed, I, who put those words in Ivriniel's mind! LOL! And it *was* hard. I actually had to go in and change some of the lines so they *wouldn't* scan right. Coming up with cliches was easier, but making them sound as though the person who wrote them actually *meant* them was difficult--I had to make sure I didn't sound sarcastic. *shakes head* Yes, Imrahil was a hero--he saved the world from that horrible verse, and kept poor Thorongil from being embarrased. I'm glad you liked it! Thanks! -the other Barbara! LOL!
Hai Took · 25 January 2008 · Chapter 999: About That Poem...
Oh dear, that is why you have to open every door and and yell "the library is closed!" before actually locking the doors ;) Poor Frodo and Pippin but they seemed to be a good balance for each other even in such a horrible circumstance, although I think sometimes having someone else there keeps you from falling apart. They looked after each other quite well. I did like the Epilogue though, added a nice bit of humor to the end of it. Merry and Sam would insist on knowing when who is going where after that :) What lovely hobbits anyway! Thank you for the story!
Author's reply
I think the poor Archivist has learnd that lesson well, now! But I have a feeling that perhaps the Archive had not seen many visitors for several years--he wasn't used to actually having anyone else there! Frodo and Pippin certainly did better together than either of them would have alone. I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Hai! Thanks for coming by to comment!
Antane · 25 January 2008 · Chapter 999: About That Poem...
He turned and looked into the hobbit's face--only merriment and laughter was there, and not a trace of sorrow for the moment. Even if this joy only lasted briefly, it was worth it. Indeed! And Sam basically telling his master to straighten up and fly right after teasing Merry for his concern...that's a surprise, but a rebuke deserved and taken well. Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Yes, Aragorn would put up with any amount of teasing if it would bring a smile to Frodo! I think, by the time the Quest was ended, Sam was able to let his Master know when he was out of line--Frodo's not perfect by any means, and Sam knew just how frightened he and Merry had been to not find them the day before. And Frodo did take it well. I think, though, he sometimes got a bit tired of being worried about and fussed over!
Baggins Babe · 24 January 2008 · Chapter 999: About That Poem...
"They are hobbits. The more people whom they can feed, the better they like it." My thoughts exactly! I have often wondered whether Aragorn ever got to hear this poem and I was thrilled to discover this story. I loved Imrahil's description of how it came to be in the archives (and as an archivist I know what sort of things can turn up there!) and this made me howl, "......... so I did what any little brother would have done: I opened the door, and offered a bit of literary criticism." I'll bet he did! The idea of Faramir's auntie as a fangirl..........! :-) Brilliant, as always.
Author's reply
Yes, indeed! I cannot imagine any hobbits being comfortable with the idea of having a meal while someone else stood outside their door and did without. And they'd assume the guards were hungry, whether they actually were or not, LOL! I'd intended to write the follow-up at some point, but Shirebound gave me the nudge to do it sooner rather than later. I'd always known this was the backstory that I wanted for the poem, but I had to get in and do the research before I knew if it was canonically possible. All the stories I've read with "Aunt Ivriniel" have depicted her as rather staid and prim, so I thought it would be funny if she was a bit of a "fangirl", as you say, in her youth!
Andrea · 24 January 2008 · Chapter 999: About That Poem...
All of Gondor sang his praise, But he was humble always. Oh dear, dreadful indeed :) But I can understand how a girl of seventeen who fell in love with the handsome Thorongil can be driven to write such a poem! I have a little brother myself. It's the same age difference, eight years. And so I can very well imagine how things went. Imrahil was really a rascal! Like Aragorn I think that any poem, how dreadful it might be, that makes Frodo happy, is a good thing and should be endured ;-)
Author's reply
Yes, it's pretty awful, isn't it? And a lot of work to *get* it that way!! I think she was pretty smitten with him--and so the poetry! Little brothers and big sisters--it's pretty much the same dynamic the world over, no matter what the race or culture, little brother thinks big sister and all that "mushy stuff" is fair game for teasing! And it was worth it to him to see Frodo smiling!
Queen Galadriel · 24 January 2008 · Chapter 999: About That Poem...
ROTFL! Ahahahahaha...oh my, poor Aragorn...*giggles* I'm so glad you finally did this! I really, really needed a laugh this afternoon, and all the better if I could get that and a Hobbity fix at the same time. Oh dear me! *wipes away mirthful tears* And Imrahil's sister wrote it! Even better! I love the end, so sweet! God bless, Galadriel
Author's reply
Well, my dear, I am so glad I gave you a laugh! (((hugs))) Yes, poor Aragorn! Imrahil's sister is the dreadful poet, poor girl! That's what I'd had in the back of my mind for it all along. *sneaky smirk*
Kitty · 24 January 2008 · Chapter 999: About That Poem...
You wrote an epilogue! Yay! Just what I wanted! It is so completely in character that the Hobbits feed Aragorn's guards, too. They couldn't conceive why they should not be allowed to eat on duty. Honestly, of all the ways this poem could have ended up in the Archives, that's most definitely the last one I'd ever imagined! *Ivriniel* wrote it, and Imrahil stole it and hid it in the Archives? *LOL* No wonder it was ... ahem ... not the best piece of poetry ever! And thinking about how poor Aragorn would have reacted if a lovesick Ivriniel had wailaid him to declaim this poem ... *ROFL* so I did what any little brother would have done: I opened the door, and offered a bit of literary criticism And of course, nine-year-old Imrahil was the perfect literature critic! *snicker* Oh well, it may have been a bit embarassing for Aragorn, but he's so right - to see Frodo so merry is worth more than a bit of embarassment! And the one who would have been most embarassed was not there anyway - the author of this questionable piece of poetry! Thank you so much for this fun - I'm still grinning from ear to ear!
Author's reply
Yes, thank Shirebound for that! I had not really intended to write it quite yet, but when she requested it from my time-stamp meme, I couldn't resist! Of *course* they'd feed the guards! What respectable hobbit wants a hungry person standing outside their door? LOL! *grin* This is the backstory I'd had for the poem all along. I've never really written Ivriniel, but I have to confess from my own reading of those who have, she has always seemed to be depictied as rather staid--so I thought it was funny to imagine her as young and susceptible, and sort of fangirling poor Thorongil--and you are absolutely right--that's exactly what she wanted to do with that poem! I seriously doubt that Thorongil would have hung around long if he had realized the teenaged Princess of Dol Amroth had developed a passion for him! Well, as much as any nine-year-old brother--at least he knew that "dread" and "raid" don't rhyme! *snerk* It was a bit embarrassing for him, but yes, he was glad to see Frodo happy. And at least Frodo and Menelcar had enough sense not to spring it on him in front of the full court! And I'm very glad to have brought you a smile.
elanor winterflowers · 24 January 2008 · Chapter 999: About That Poem...
I always liked Prince Imrahil. Very good instincts! :)
Author's reply
Indeed, yes! He does know what rhymes, anyway, LOL!
Larner · 24 January 2008 · Chapter 999: About That Poem...
Oh, but this is such terribly awful rhyme! Poor Ivriniel! And Imrahil ran away with it and hid it in the archives? Hehehehehehehehehe! Oh, but this is SO excellent. Poor Aragorn! No wonder he's red in the face! And this is as bad as the Dwarven phrase I had him spouting after all of Bodkin's jokes at the expense of the brother's El! So good to see Frodo pulling such a prank on poor Aragorn! And Aragorn's being such a good sport about it! Wonderful!
Author's reply
You have no idea how terrible! It's *hard* to write something *deliberately* bad, LOL! Yes, poor Ivriniel! Just at that age to be smitten with the romantic and mysterious Captain, and Imrahil at just that age to be a most annoying younger brother! I'm sure when Aragorn thinks it over, he'll be retroactively grateful to Imrahil for making off with that poem. Can you imagine if he'd had to fend off Ivriniel's possible attentions, without offending her or her father? *snerk* I think that Aragorn counts any chance to bring a smile to Frodo's face as worth the price--especially if it's only a little embarrassment. I'm glad you liked it!
Tigger · 23 January 2008 · Chapter 999: About That Poem...
Oh!! I re read this just the other night and was wondering if we'd ever see Aragorn hearing Menelcar's version of that poen. This was perfect!! However, the sister of Imrahil I thought would have written that was a certain then future Lady of the Steward. This still was excellent though and what a wonderful baby brother, although he didn't know it at the time, Imrahil was for hiding where he knew no one would look for it. Leave it to Pippin to find. :snicker: Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!!! :oD
Author's reply
Well, I had not planned to do it so soon, but thanks to Shirebound's request, I did it much earlier than anticipated. By the timeline I was considering, Finduilas would have only been about four or five years old--a teensy bit too young to be writing purple poetry!
Grey Wonderer · 23 January 2008 · Chapter 999: About That Poem...
I love a happy Frodo and Frodo did enjoy this little bit of teasing. Also good to see more of Menelcar again. Lovely! Frodo should have more moments like this.
Author's reply
He should, shouldn't he? I like seeing Frodo happy, too, especially post-Quest. And according to JRRT he really did not begin to go downhill until his first Weathertop anniversary. So in Minas Tirith, I think he was *mostly* pretty happy--though of course, he also had his bad days... And I love to have a chance to show Menelcar!
Antane · 29 April 2007 · Chapter 1: The Archives Incident
This is one of the reasons I love Frodo so much - he is one of us, a scribe and reader. He was definitely in heaven in that archive until he saw hell and then got locked in with rats! :( The poor dears, but they had each other. Like all the hobbity love of course. :) Namarie, God bless, Antane
Author's reply
Yes, he certainly was enjoying the archives! But he and Pippin *did* have one another and their own courage and ingenuity!
Lindelea · 23 March 2007 · Chapter 1: The Archives Incident
Ooo, suspenseful beginning. Pippin was bored, and not at all averse to accompanying Frodo, especially with the incentive of stopping at an ale-house on the way back. Ah. That's our Pip. (And our Frodo.) Dreadful poetry! Just like Cousin Bilbo! Hoorah! (Shaking my head in amusement, too.) Aha. Feeling very curious, along with Pippin. (Peers at ancient, dusty manuscript, trying to make sense of the faded lines.) and the room was fairly silent except for the rustle of parchment, and the occasional sound of one of them blowing dust away. Lovely bit of detail, puts the reader right into the scene. (You know, I was thinking of Gandalf, going through the old records, and wondering if it was him who left the scrolls there, to grow dusty over the passing of years.)scrol Hobbits cooking together! Nice use of carrots to convey Merry's emotion. Rats! (shudder) So glad to see Menelcar. Good man. Hoorah! Rescue! Humor me. Snork! The other document! *g* (Such presence of mind.) Nicely done. Glad I ran across it and had a bit of spare time to comment.
Author's reply
I'm glad you did too! I love the way you pick your favorite bits out when you review! *grins and preens* The second I thought of the Archives as a setting, I got to wondering about that scroll Gandalf found. It seemed obvious to me that *at that point in time* with the War heating up for Minas Tirith, and Denethor beginning to rely not on written records, but the palantir, that the Archives were probably neglected for a few years to say the least. This was a heap of fun to write. Dana always gives me the coolest bunnies!
Larner · 28 February 2007 · Chapter 1: The Archives Incident
How wonderful that the two of them were able to protect themselves, and what a couple of finds they found! The poem is indeed awful, and I love the idea of how hard you must have worked to write it! Love to think how Aragorn will cringe when that is sung to him. And love how Frodo managed to deal with that particular scroll. I'd wondered if he'd find that. So, it hadn't managed to get pulled away in the last two years? Heh!
Author's reply
I think that our lads had enough ingenuity to take care of themselves in the short term. It really *is* harder to write something deliberately bad, than it is to at least *try* to write something moderately good, LOL! I had to rewrite some lines so they *wouldn't* scan! *grin* I thought it quite likely that Gandalf had been the last real visitor to the lower Archives--after all, it was only very shortly after that, that the War began to heat up, and probably there were not many people who would be looking to do that kind of research as life in the City grew worse. In one way, it was a good thing for Frodo that their situation came up. He did not have time to brood over his find, as his mind had to be taken up with getting *out*, and with taking care of and protecting Pippin.
Bodkin · 27 February 2007 · Chapter 1: The Archives Incident
Get Menelcar singing that! Although it might be best if it's at a private gathering. Poor Frodo - trapped in a library. Halfway between horror and euphoria. But without food and with rats. Yes, it's a good job they were rescued when they were!
Author's reply
Uh--yeah! Probably it would not be good if its first performance was at the wedding, LOL! When I was a kid "trapped in a library" was one of my favorite fantasies! But the lack of food and the presence of rats did rather take the shine off!
GamgeeFest · 27 February 2007 · Chapter 1: The Archives Incident
Oh, those poor rats! They finally get rescued, only to have things thrown at them! LOL What an exciting little adventure for Pippin and Frodo, though it may not seem that exciting to them at the moment. I imagine that Merry and Sam will be extra protective of Frodo and Pippin after this, for awhile at least. And I do hope that Pippin gets to show that poem to Meneclar! That would be a hoot if Meneclar actually sang it! :D
Author's reply
*snerk!* I hadn't thought of it from the rats' POV, LOL! Well, not exciting in a good way, certainly. And yeah, I can see Merry and Sam doing a bit of extra hovering for a while. I think it's inevitable that we see more of the poem--I just have to wait for the bunnny to get large enough...
Fiondil · 26 February 2007 · Chapter 1: The Archives Incident
Oh but you have to do a sequel Dreamflower! I had the same terrible thought as Tigger — that "Thorongil" himself wrote the poem in retaliation for all the other poems and songs being written about him at the time. LOL Lovely story.
Author's reply
I'm glad you liked it. And I already have a tiny idea as to the poenm's provenance. It just needs to grow a little first.
Andrea · 25 February 2007 · Chapter 1: The Archives Incident
Great story, Dreamflower! I like Frodo's protective side. Even if Pippin is now taller than his cousin and regarded as a hero, he's still very young and there are times when he needs his older cousin. I agree with all the others that this story needs a sequel, with Menelcar performing the "Thorongil Song" if he agrees to vocalise real bad (but funny) poetry, that is ;-)
Author's reply
Thank you! I love to see Frodo being protective, and being the caregiver for once--I just like the "turnabout" aspect of it. And I think Frodo being protective of Pippin would always remain--if Frodo had stayed and lived in the Shire, he'd have been trying to protect Merry and Pippin even after they were all old gaffers! It looks very likely as though there will be a follow-up to this--everyone's clamoring!