Seasonal Help by Larner
Eirinn Leigh · 23 July 2015 · Chapter 1: Seasonal Help
cute! I'd never thought of a Father Christmas/LotR crossover, but this was developed quite nicely!
Author's reply
Am so glad it tickled your fancy, Eirinn. One day this story simply barged into my brain and insisted on being written down. I wish that some others would let me finish them! Aargh!
6336 · 24 May 2008 · Chapter 1: Seasonal Help
Nice, sweet and fluffy! Trust Pippin to get tangeled up with the cellotape, Fool of a Took! Lynda
Author's reply
Ah, yes, fluffy and written specifically for St. Nicholas Day. Am so glad you found it and enjoy it now, Lynda! Thanks so!
Queen Galadriel · 30 March 2008 · Chapter 1: Seasonal Help
I guess I did miss this at Christmas, didn't I? You know, being the only one in my family with any musical education, I'm always the one to get called on for carols when it's the season, and usually the first one, when somebody starts singing Jingle Bells in July to groan, "Nooo! Stooop! It's not here again yet!" The popular response to that is, of course, "Aw, what's wrong with a little Christmas in July?" Now I think I finally know what they mean. What's wrong with a sweet, rich, beautiful bit of Christmas at the end of March? Something that heart-warming can only be a good thing, at any time of the year. I absolutely *loved* Pippin with the tape! LOL! That was priceless! Hahaha...it would take a Took, wouldn't it...and a spirited one at that! Loved Boromir with the bugle, too. Frodo's poor ears...*grins* But glad he finally got some music out of it...I know the feeling! :) But my most favorite moment of all was the Christmas elves' carol (a long personal favorite--perhaps my most favorite, if I had to pick) and the snow globe. Oh, how beautiful that was...it gave me chills to see them all looking down into the globe, through all that glittering, swirling snow, at Mary and Joseph and the Christchild. I feel like I must get redundant, saying it all the time, but that was just so perfect. Thank you so much for such a lovely read. (I say, who needs hot chocolate when you can be warmed so from so much deeper inside...though hot chocolate is very nice too, of course. :)) God bless, Galadriel :)
Author's reply
You were busy and distracted, of course. I must say that this story has gotten a record number of responses! I posted it first on Saint Nicholas Day, and hoped it would be well received. It's just been approved for public posting on HASA, even. How Hobbits would respond to cellophane tape just lent itself to Pippin getting literally wrapped up in their work, of course; and how Santa might respond to such "seasonal help" was such a temptation. One of my grandfathers was a bugler in World War One, and we all tried our hand at playing the thing at one time or another, mostly with awful results. The only one who could actually play it--and Dad's violin as well--well from the beginning was my so talented younger brother. That the Heir of Denethor, who'd masted the Horn of the House of Hurin, would find a way to coax music from a type of horn he'd never seen before just seemed likely; and that he and Pippin would begin playing together also seemed right. "Silent Night" is one of my favorites, too. And the snow globe would be such an appropriate gift for Namo. So glad you found this.
Antane · 12 January 2008 · Chapter 1: Seasonal Help
I'm sorry to be getting to this so late, I've been so busy and also buried under email. But this is adorable - esp. the beginning with the confusion of the 'seasonal help' and the tape and Sam's concern over Frodo's reaction to it and then towards the end when Frodo is cradling the globe with the Nativity scene. That was neat. Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
This was a fun one to write, and Nicholas deserves a story of his own, don't you think? And I love how it keeps getting noted, even this far after it was written. Thanks so much for commenting on it.
Inkling · 28 December 2007 · Chapter 1: Seasonal Help
How delightful, Larner…funny and heartwarming, just as a good Christmas story should be! Sam the Boy Scout…Pippin wound up in the tape, and Frodo getting all twitchy over the sticky stuff…Gimli’s axe as ribbon curler…all had me grinning from ear to ear. And loved the caroling, and hot chocolate with Lord Namo. Lovely fluff indeed!
Author's reply
Yes, now and then we just NEED fluff! This year was better than last year when I had the tenants from the nether regions here until we FINALLY got rid of their you-know-whats. But it will take quite a long time to get all cleared out again after what they left in their wakes. Yes, as we grow older we lose more and more of those we love each year. It's part of the aging process. My brothers, sister, and I are now orphaned, and few enough of our aunts and uncles remain now. Anyway, take care and God bless you. I can understand the grief you've known this past year and how it can knock you off your regular interests.
Iorhael · 25 December 2007 · Chapter 1: Seasonal Help
Oh, Larner, this is so cute and sweet. The Fellowship meet Santa, yay! And again Pippin brings a bit of trouble. :D Love this, dear. ♥
Author's reply
Am so glad you do, Iorhael. And hope that the Twelve Days of Christmas fill you with wonder and joy.
Lindelea · 16 December 2007 · Chapter 1: Seasonal Help
Awww. So nice to see them all together again. Ah, Boromir. I could almost imagine my Thorn and his Fallohides chipping in to help. After all, they celebrated the return of the Light with the Elves of Rivendell, upon a time. Looking forward to seeing you. Do you like your hot chocolate plain, or mint-flavoured? (Young hobbits convinced me to buy both kinds, together with hand-made mint marshmallows.)
Author's reply
Ah--they guessed my weakness! Hot chocolate and mint! Ah--how wonderful. Oh, I LOVE mint hot chocolate--Stephen's mint hot sipping chocolate is my favorite! Yes, your Thorn would have done well alongside our nine, wouldn't he? Am going to review the first few chapters of Thorn and Thain before I write the next chapter of "Stirring Rings." And I've noted that poor Boromir sort of gets short shrift in my stories, so I sought to right the balance at least a bit this time! (I think I wrote him into "Light on the Way" and this one.) Poor Boromir! We love him so, in spite of his falling.
Sûlien · 11 December 2007 · Chapter 1: Seasonal Help
Fluff says you? I call it absolutely wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing it! I'm definitely posting a link to this story on my live journal.
Author's reply
Thank you Sulien--I am truly honored. (But it's still fluff! Heh!)
Iteralday · 10 December 2007 · Chapter 1: Seasonal Help
Very cute. I love how you tied them all in with St. Nicholas=] I especially liked the part with Pippin and the tape.
Author's reply
I'm honored, Iteralday. And it was fun to see Pippin getting literally all wrapped up in the experience! Heh! Thanks for the feedback.
Baggins Babe · 9 December 2007 · Chapter 1: Seasonal Help
This was absolutely delightful and makes me even more determined to find a copy of "the Father Christmas Letters." Liked the fact that Lord Namo loves hot chocolate - I wouldn't have thought of that, but why not? How sweet that the Polar Bear liked the singing.
Author's reply
I think it was my mother who got me my copy of "The Father Christmas Letters" some years ago. I do know that I adore them, and that the Polar Bear was always getting into some trouble or other. Living with Father Christmas, wouldn't he come to love music? I would think so! And why shouldn't Namo like hot chocolate, living as he is able somewhat between dimensions? So glad you enjoyed it.
EpiscopalWitch · 9 December 2007 · Chapter 1: Seasonal Help
Funny and endearing - and of COURSE St. Nicholas and Gandalf are old friends!
Author's reply
Well, what else might one expect? After all, it's likely St. Nicholas is himself a Maia, don't you think? Glad it gave you a chuckle.
Edlyn · 8 December 2007 · Chapter 1: Seasonal Help
Oh, I LOVED this! How perfect! Happy Christmas, Larner -- and a propsperous New Year! Dancingkatz
Author's reply
Am so glad you enjoyed it. And the same to you, however you celebrate the Season of Light.
Andrea · 8 December 2007 · Chapter 1: Seasonal Help
"fluff-buster usually reserved for shirebound" - LOL!!! I love that expression :) A wonderful story, Larner! I enjoyed it a great deal! And you even included the Polar Bear! Happy holidays to you and your family! And now I'm off to read the next chapter of "A Maid Waiting"!
Author's reply
That was a wonderful one from Harrowcat, wasn't it? Of COURSE the Polar Bear was included--'twouldn't be a Tolkien Christmas without him, I suspect! And the same to you and yours.
harrowcat · 8 December 2007 · Chapter 1: Seasonal Help
OOoops, I meant to add that I am very glad that the cellotape did not make it down as far as the hairy toes!
Author's reply
I am, too--that could have been painful for Pippin!
Soledad · 8 December 2007 · Chapter 1: Seasonal Help
Hey, not fair! You made me cry! *sniffles* Poor Boromir. A lovely story, Larner.
Author's reply
Poor Boromir? But he does receive the silver bugle! And I've always loved that line from the movies as he thinks on his city. He deserved something to replace the cloven horn that the river brought back to his own people. Thank you!
Raksha The Demon · 7 December 2007 · Chapter 1: Seasonal Help
A lovely holiday confection - good to see the Fellowship getting out and being useful. I loved it that Namo had such a jolly outlook, not to mention the sweet tooth...
Author's reply
Yes, they are enjoying a time together once again, just the guys of the Fellowship, doing what they do best--seeing to it that things continue on in hope. And am so glad you like the idea Namo liked the holiday treats. Thanks!
Armariel · 7 December 2007 · Chapter 1: Seasonal Help
Ahhhh as heartwarming as hot spiced cider and caramel chocolate brownies with marshmellow cream..........and I hope the polar bear got a nice big bottle of coke;););) ~~~~{~@~~~~{~@~~~~{~@~~~~{~@~~~~{~@~~~~{~@~~~~{~@~~~~{~@~~~~{~@~~~~{~@
Author's reply
One of my favorite pictures in "The Father Christmas Letters" is of the Polar Bear falling downstairs, as I remember it (can't reach it at the moment, as it's buried behind some records I was going through). But to get a big bottle of Coke would be appropriate, wouldn't it? Hee! Thanks, Armariel.
harrowcat · 7 December 2007 · Chapter 1: Seasonal Help
*wields fluff-buster usually reserved for shirebound stories, sneezes mightily and sighs very happily indeed!*
Author's reply
You have me giggling, Harrowcat. Thanks for the response.
Kitty · 7 December 2007 · Chapter 1: Seasonal Help
The perfect tale for the occasion, Larner! Our dear Fellowship is always helpful, and I am sure they would have volunteered to do this. It was amusing to watch them struggle with modern day inventions like cellotape, but of course they proved to be apt pupils. Every time Sam and his skillet are mentioned I now see him standing beneath a tree, waiting for Merry and Pippin to come down :D The delicacies described at the end made my mouth watering. Sheer paradise, indeed! They were well deserved after all their help. And I love the presents they got from Saint Nicholas. Thank you so very much - that was lovely!
Author's reply
Yes, now that image of Merry and Pippin taking refuge from Sam and his skillet within the tree is impressed on all of us. I'll admit that came from the movie use of it in FOTR in the Chamber of Mazarbul, by the way. But he did use it primarily to cook, after all, and I so loved seeing it put to THAT use so repeatedly in the films. And I rejoice that you enjoyed it as much as you did. Thank you!
Aearinneth · 7 December 2007 · Chapter 1: Seasonal Help
This is absolutely wonderful! Thank you!
Author's reply
Thank you! I am honored!
eliza61 · 7 December 2007 · Chapter 1: Seasonal Help
Sweet Lord, Hobbits and Tape!! Now that's an image. Thank you for the wonderful holiday tale, I do think it will become a yearly classic (hey, "A christmas carol" had to start some where.) A very Yule to you also and a happy New Year! Eliza
Author's reply
And a joyous season to you as well. I'm honored some would think to put this on the level of "A Christmas Carol," but I would suggest the following as well: "Sent Unto Men" by Allasiel--one story I now read annually. http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterview.asp?sid=3121&cid=12074 And the thought of Pippin and the package tape will stay with me as well. Thank you so much!
Linda Hoyland · 7 December 2007 · Chapter 1: Seasonal Help
This was utterly delightful.I loved the idea of the Fellowship being allowed to be together again like this.The crib was an especially nice touch. I pity Pippin and the sellotape!Well I know the feeling!
Author's reply
Yes, that is an image to stay with one, isn't it? Heh! And it is fun and warming to think that they MIGHT have been given the chance to serve in this manner, even if they aren't privy to what particularly the scene in the snow globe references. Thanks so much for the feedback, Linda.
Grey Wonderer · 6 December 2007 · Chapter 1: Seasonal Help
OK, I loved every word, especially the bit about Legolas insisting he was an Elf and the other elves not at all certain about that. Enjoyed Pip with the tape too and Sam and his cooking. It was all lovely! Happy Holidays to you and thank you for another year of entertaining fictions!
Author's reply
You, who write some of the most hilarious and yet thoughtful stories known to mankind, seek to thank me? I am most honored! And I can't tell you how much your work has meant to me, lifting my heart when my problems have seemed overwhelming. I think we all love the image of poor Pippin wrapped with cellophane tape now, and what's NOT to like about Sam and his being prepared to see to the culinary needs of his companions? Heh! A joyous holiday season to you as well.
Fiondil · 6 December 2007 · Chapter 1: Seasonal Help
Seasonal help indeed! And they say Ilúvatar has no sense of humor! LOL A lovely tale of the season, Larner. I think you must have been very sleep deprived to come up with this little gem. And Námo has a sweet tooth. Even I didn't know that! *grin*
Author's reply
I don't know who it is that thinks the Creator has no sense of humor. When the rector of the church I was attending at the time was made Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia some decades ago, one of the Bishops from the east coast who attended his investiture admonished him, "Anytime you would think that God has no sense of humor, remember that He has just made you a Bishop! That was told to me when I came to my ordination, and I pass this wisdom on to you." And I have always remembered that, and have made reference to it in my own stories, that Eru has at times a wicked sense of humor indeed. And shouldn't Namo enjoy the traditional treats for the season? Why not? Heh! (Although he also appears to love Ritz crackers and cheese balls, you'll note! Or would they be Townhouse? Heh!) Merry Christmas!
SurgicalSteel · 6 December 2007 · Chapter 1: Seasonal Help
That was absolutely adorable!
Author's reply
Thanks so much! I just hope you can get some writing done again soon! Miss reading your updates and short stories.