Anonymous · 15 March 2016 · Chapter 5: E: Like an Evil Elrond
I could well see that happening. Poor Elrond for having to inflict more pain and poor Frodo for having to suffer it.
An Alphabet for Middle-earth by Dreamflower
Reviews (235)
KathyG · 6 November 2014 · Chapter 2: B: Like a Bathing Boromir
Oh, gosh! Little do they know! =)
Author's reply
Little do they know. Small ironies like that are something I really enjoy putting into drabbles--no need to spell anything out, since readers will be able to appreciate it anyway! Author Reply: Little do they know. Small ironies like that are something I really enjoy putting into drabbles--no need to spell anything out, since readers will be able to appreciate it anyway!
Szepilona10 · 9 April 2008 · Chapter 7: G: Like a Gasping Galadriel
I read all of your Eucatastrophe stories! I really liked them! When are you going to write more of them? ~Szepilona10~
Author's reply
*grin* Actually, I had begun work on one when I lost part of it to computer troubles. Now that problem's solved, so I hope I will be able to start up on it again.
Lily · 21 November 2007 · Chapter 12: L: Like a Legacy of Legolas
I love it! Poor Merry. What a great instrument to play though. I love the sound of pan pipes... so mellow. It's amazing what a little confidence can do.
Author's reply
Yes, my Pippin plays several instruments. Legolas made the pipes for him when they were in Lothlorien, and taught him to play them. Pippin also plays the fiddle (taught by Aunt Esme), the lap harp (taught by Auntie Peridot) and the Tookish pipes--bagpipes (taught by Cousin Ferdinand). As for Merry, he doesn't play anything but the tambour, and that's only because his mother made him. He never plays it after he's grown if he can help it--but he loves to listen to Pippin play. And Pippin is so good that he's kind of spoiled Merry for listening to anyone else, LOL!
Antane · 13 June 2007 · Chapter 26: Z: Like Zooming Around Zirakzigil
I'm done, I'm finally, finally done! :) Very nice little poem here - darkness cast down, light prevailing, then silence. Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Thank you, dear! I'm glad that you enjoyed them! This last one was very hard!
Antane · 13 June 2007 · Chapter 25: Y: Like a Yawning Yavanna
Cute and sweet! I wonder how that brown hand belonged to. :) I love the idea of them being watched over. Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Just a little anonymous proto-hobbit at the dawn of hobbit history! My own little theory which I made up for "my" hobbits is this: Eru gave the hobbit race to Yavanna to watch over. She noticed how small and defenseless they were, so she gave them a little enhancement--an extra bit of charm, charisma, you might say, so that any of the bigger races that were not already fallen under Morgoth's influence would feel the need to take care of them and protect them. And to a certain line of hobbits, she gave even *more* of that charm, so that they became the Fallohides--ancestors of our heroes! And she asked one of her lesser Maia to watch over them as well. And *that* Maia eventually fell in love with one of her little charges, and became the "fairy wife" of Took legend.
Antane · 13 June 2007 · Chapter 22: V: Like a Visiting Varda
“I wished to thank thee, Perhael.” Sam could feel her reading his confusion. What would the Lady of the Stars be thanking *him* for? “As did Iorhael, in calling upon me when thou wert in direst straits and by that calling, allowed me to help thee, as I could not have without thy plea. Thus I was permitted to send thee Light, and in so doing, helped to foil the Foe.” What a wonderful meeting! I never thought of that and Varda/Elbereth's humility in thanking Sam is so neat. It reminds me of something I heard before that God and His Mother have so many blessings they want to give but remain ungiven because no one asks for them. I love what Varda said to Sam about that. Gives you a whole new way of looking at things. Hantanyel! Did you ever get to read my Dreams come true that your letter R inspired? I tried finding that No Living Man story you recommended but couldn't. Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
That really is the sort of thing I had in mind here. After the War of Wrath, the Valar bound themselves not to interfere directly in the problems of Middle-earth; but I think that when asked, there was still help and blessings they could give. It's by Elana: http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=1672 and it's extremely funny! And I shall have to go and find your fic!
Antane · 6 May 2007 · Chapter 18: R: Like a Radiant Radagast
I had forgotten about Radagast - perhaps one day he took Sam to Mordor and it had indeed turned into a garden - hmmm....do I see a plotbunny blinking its eyes at me? Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Yes, Radagast still had a good deal to do!
Antane · 6 May 2007 · Chapter 13: M: Like Marrying Merry
Proud indeed Frodo would have been and somehow maybe he knew all about it or learned of it when his brother came to him. Lovely story of life going joyously on. More moving because it's Merry-lad. Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
I think Sam would indeed have filled him in thoroughly on all the goings on in the Shire, and the intertwinings of the Tooks and the Brandybucks with the Gamgees, LOL! And, you know, I really did not expect it to be Merry-lad--but he certainly knew his own mind!
Antane · 6 May 2007 · Chapter 12: L: Like a Legacy of Legolas
Very sweet of Pippin to be so patient and to give such a great gift - that of confidence. Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Yes indeed, that *was* the gift he gave! and I think Legolas would have been pleased at the use Pippin made of his gift.
Antane · 6 May 2007 · Chapter 11: K: Like Kissing the King of Númenor
“They owe this moment to you,” whispered Elrond. Indeed. Very nice comment, especially when you think what that moment and the coming part is going to cost Elrond. I remember from the film that look of agonized joy - so much like a father letting his daughter go. (Sorry if you just got a kinda non-review right now - pressed the wrong button so feel free to erase that one.) Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
I thought I had replied to these already! Mea culpa! Yes, Elrond really sacrificed a great deal to put an end to Sauron. I think he knows how hard it has been for Frodo.
ant · 6 May 2007 · Chapter 11: K: Like Kissing the King of Númenor
“They owe this moment to you,” whispered Elrond.
Antane · 29 April 2007 · Chapter 10: J: Like Juggling the Jewels of Fëanor
Glad I'm not alone in having trouble keeping everything straight in those tales! I gave up almost right away I think. Too bad I can't have Frodo explain everything to me... Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Those First Age tales were very confusing!! LOL! Poor Folco! But Frodo was a patient teacher.
Antane · 29 April 2007 · Chapter 9: I: Like Inspiring Ilúvatar
Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come ‘Twas grace that brought me safe thus far And grace will lead me home. Somehow that verse seems very appropriate to Frodo. Very appropriate indeed - I never thought of that but it's so obvious! Love his hymn to Iluvatar - I can forgive you for not naming F for Frodo because of it. :) Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
I am glad you liked it. Actually, I didn't pick any of the titles--they are all from the prompts we were given at the LiveJournal community "There'n'Back"--a different one each day.
Antane · 29 April 2007 · Chapter 6: F: Like a Fearful Faramir
I love the idea of this grown Man who has been through fearful battles all nervous about the idea of his wanting to marry Eowyn being rejected by Eomer and being comforted and assured by hobbits. I'm sure if he had been there, he would have comforted Sam in his turn when he was nervous about Rosie. That would be have a cute scene. And of course Sam had his turn being comforted by his fellow hobbits as well. Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
It was quite funny--originally, it was going to be a drabble with only Pippin! I was so surprised when the others spoke up, LOL! But being comforted by hobbits can't be beat!
Antane · 29 April 2007 · Chapter 5: E: Like an Evil Elrond
I never thought of that before - that if Frodo was aware, it would seem much the same to him - the stabbing at Weathertop meant to kill and the stabbing at Rivendell meant to heal and have him live. The shard was a tiny foe to Frodo, but he was a tiny foe to Sauron - the first didn't succeed and the second did (with Iluvatar's help). Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
You are quite right about that. I don't think Frodo was fully aware, but he was aware enough to register the pain. Hopefully he would not remember this later.
Antane · 29 April 2007 · Chapter 4: D: Like a Dirty Dragon
He knew before he spoke his words would not help. “It’s not your fault, Mr. Frodo.” Listen to your Sam, darling, not to any voices in your heart that say otherwise. Poor Sam too to know that his words were in vain. Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
But unfortunately it was not something Frodo could see; between the Ring's hold on him and Saruman's curse, he could not blame anything on anyone but himself at that point.
Antane · 29 April 2007 · Chapter 1: A: Like an Antagonistic Arwen
Nothing like hobbity love - so Frodo's influence continues long after he's gone. Elanor learned that not only from her uncle but I'm sure from her father, knowing how much he forgave and continued to dearly love when said uncle was, shall we say, not himself? Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
No, nothing like it. Frodo's influence on those he left behind was profound, I think.
Bodkin · 3 April 2007 · Chapter 25: Y: Like a Yawning Yavanna
A good protectress. And she's right - they are charming!
Author's reply
It's part of one of my crack-pot theories about hobbits, that Yavanna was made their protector by Eru, and that she made a few enhancements to them.
harrowcat · 2 April 2007 · Chapter 26: Z: Like Zooming Around Zirakzigil
Well done Dreamflower. I have enjoyed every one of these.
Author's reply
Thank you very much! It was a fun challenge.
Andrea · 2 April 2007 · Chapter 26: Z: Like Zooming Around Zirakzigil
Dreamflower, your poems are great! Perfect use of language and of the dribble format! "Silvertine"! I had nearly forgotten about that name. In German it is "Silberzinne", which shows how close together our languages are. BTW, it was only yesterday when I thought about Middle Earth names or places with "Z". And "Zirakzigil" was the only one I could think of ;-)
Author's reply
I just realized that I had never replied to this! I apologize for being so late! Yes, you know, I checked the indexes, and it really *is* the only "Z" name I found!
Raksha The Demon · 2 April 2007 · Chapter 15: O: Like an Ornery Oromë
There aren't enough stories, in my opinion, that make use of the connection between Faramir Took and Faramir of Ithilien. This is a fine example of the benefits of the friendship between Steward and Thain; and I love stories with animals in them. Minor quibble - Faramir shouldn't have had to send to Dol Amroth for a pony, I would think that his wife would breed them as well as horses. But that's just me and my own vision of Fourth Age Ithilien. Loved Orome the Pony, of course! Fam will have a lot of fun with him, both seemingly high-spirited young fellows. And "Peridoc" is a great name for Merry's son.
Author's reply
It always seemed to me that Faramir of Ithilien would take an especial interest in his small namesake, and that this would work itself out in letters and perhaps special gifts on major occasions. Having the pony come from Dol Amroth was a nod in part to my own "fanon"--one of Pippin's first gifts from Aragorn *after* returning to the Shire was a Dol Amroth pony named Sable--and it was sort of in the back of my mind that Orome might have some bloodline connection to that pony. I'm glad you like the name; it always seemed rather likely to me.
Larner · 2 April 2007 · Chapter 26: Z: Like Zooming Around Zirakzigil
How utterly perfect, Dreamflower! A wonderful and perfect drabble!
Author's reply
Thank you!
Raksha The Demon · 2 April 2007 · Chapter 25: Y: Like a Yawning Yavanna
Awww; Yavanna succumbs to Hobbit cuteness - a wonderful response to the Y prompt. Congratulations for taking on the entire Alphabet Challenge, btw!
Author's reply
How can *anyone* resist hobbit-cuteness (except for Orcs and ruffians, of course)? It was hard. Some of the prompts I thought were deliberately difficult. I confess, however that I didn't do the special character prompts at the end. I had some things going on in RL that prevented it. But I was determined to get at least the whole *regular* alphabet, no matter what!
Raksha The Demon · 2 April 2007 · Chapter 26: Z: Like Zooming Around Zirakzigil
Lovely poem; I particularly liked the last two lines - simple but very eloquent.
Author's reply
Oh, I am glad! The last three lines were the most difficult to write, trying to get the word count on each down to 3-2-1 was *hard*! I'm glad it worked!