Dreamflower
· 2 December 2009
· Chapter 18: Thanksgiving
What a lovely feast! You described it all so well, it made me feel as though I was there!
One of the things I like best about a Shirebound fic is the way that the love between the characters shines through-- and it does so here in abundance, from Merry and Pippin's gentle waking of Frodo and Sam to the mock argument between Legolas and Gimli, all the way to Bilbo's secretive appreciation of Arwen and Aragorn's romance...
*happy contented smile*
The only bad thing is that I sense it's winding down, and I don't want it to end...
Author's reply
Thank you so much... I don't want it to end, either! It's such a strange feeling to be wrapping up a story, especially one that I've been writing for nearly a year.
Yay for love and hobbityness! LOL, I'm not sure how 'mock' that argument is, but don't try to convince dear Sam that it's anything but the same gentle teasing that hobbits enjoy so much.
6336
· 2 December 2009
· Chapter 18: Thanksgiving
Oh, lovely feast! Everybody had a good time and plenty to eat, 'rained drink and snowed food'!
Liked Arwen and Elrond's speeches, as Merry said just long enough.
Loved Gimli and Legolas spat! Those two will be 'discussing' all the way to Valinor and beyond!
Sorry to see this coming to an end.
What's next?
Lynda
Author's reply
Those two will be 'discussing' all the way to Valinor and beyond!
I love that notion. What an unlikely and wonderful friendship. It's been fun exploring where and how it might have begun.
I have no idea what's next! I'm certainly open to ideas. :)
Larner
· 2 December 2009
· Chapter 18: Thanksgiving
A most propitious chapter, this! And may they all continue to rejoice! Wish I could have been there, too.
Author's reply
Indeed, even as they give thanks for the present, they look to the future. At least we can attend these joyous events in our imaginations. :)
Cairistiona
· 2 December 2009
· Chapter 18: Thanksgiving
What a fun chapter, all light and happiness and everyone together. I enjoyed Gimli and Legolas' arguing, and this line made me smiled: “Long enough to satisfy, but short enough so the food doesn’t get cold.” Hear, hear! I hate long speeches before dinners! And of course, the moments between Arwen and Aragorn, especially when he took her hand under the table, were perfect.
Nice way to start the day, reading this!
Author's reply
Everyone certainly deserves a carefree evening. I'm so glad you enjoyed this chapter, especially the Arwen and Aragorn part! :)
grumpy
· 28 November 2009
· Chapter 17: A Puzzling Tea Party
Poor Boramir, know wonder he is confused, the story, being told by the hobbits, is not coming out to straight. Love how Aragorn warns Boramir not to play and word games with the hobbits.
Author's reply
Glad you enjoyed this, Grumpy. Boromir wants "just the facts", but that's not exactly what he's getting. :)
Althea
· 27 November 2009
· Chapter 17: A Puzzling Tea Party
What a charming chapter. It's nice to see everyone recovering so nicely, but poor Boromir must be completely lost. Pippin does have a rather unique way of relating news. I love Aragorn's warning to Boromir about the Hobbits and riddles.
Author's reply
Thanks, Althea. At least Boromir will have a lot of time on the journey to unravel the meaning of Pip-speak. :)
Kara's Aunty
· 24 November 2009
· Chapter 17: A Puzzling Tea Party
Hello shirebound,
what a lovely story! Drama, adventure, angst and humour all nicely rolled into a delightful tale. I very much enjoyed reading about all the dramas various characters got involved in. Bad Nazgul for enspelling the cave! But then, if it hadn't, I wouldn't have spent an enjoyable two hours learning how everyone got themselves out of their own particular pickles!
And it was [i]very[/i] interesting to see the usually indestructable Elrond succumb to an (albeit temporary) episode of illness. I don't think I've read that anywhere before. How lovely that his daughter and foster son where the ones to help call him back to the land of the living!
Thanks for a very good read, can't wait for the next chapter,
M :)
Author's reply
Thank you so much! It's always a challenge to try to come up with unique story ideas. The hobbits were in Rivendell for severak months, and the Professor was kind enough to let us imagine what 'might have been' during that time.
Baggins Babe
· 18 November 2009
· Chapter 17: A Puzzling Tea Party
I meant to review thischapter last week but the internet connection decided to play up!
Poor Boromir - no wonder he's confused. He goes away for a few days and comes back to find Gimli playing nurse to an Elf and Pippin babbling about attacks, rocks, caves.............. It will take weeks for him to unravel it all.
Great chapter, Shirebound. Sorry the review is so late.
Author's reply
Thank you so much, my friend! I'm really happy you liked this. I suspect Boromir never imagined a situation he couldn't handle... until now. :)
I've been re-reading "Reunion in Minas Tirith", and enjoying it just as much as the first time. Your stories are among my "go to" hobbitfics for when I need to feel warm and fuzzy and comforted.
lovethosehobbits
· 12 November 2009
· Chapter 17: A Puzzling Tea Party
Yay! I'm catching up a bit today. Loved this line:
"Faramir would fit in easily here, he mused. His imagination brings him often to places like this, and he dreams of lands and peoples we believed to be legends only"
So great to read another chapter!
Author's reply
Thank you, Tree! :D
Larner
· 10 November 2009
· Chapter 17: A Puzzling Tea Party
Poor Boromir--they ARE befuddling him, aren't they? Heh! And innocence is never to be taken for ignorance when Hobbits--and particularly Frodo and Sam--are concerned! Heh!
Nicely done, Shirebound!
Author's reply
Thank you. Maybe Bilbo should open a tutoring service, in what time remains, to prepare certain people for what lies ahead. :)
Shelley6441
· 9 November 2009
· Chapter 17: A Puzzling Tea Party
I love the interaction between the hobbits and Boromir - especially between Boromir and Pippin. But where was Merry?
I must admit that I was sorry that Boromir did not live to see the destruction of the ring. But without his death there would not have been a breaking of the Fellowship.
Thank you, Shirebound.
Author's reply
I promise to bring Merry back in time for the feast! I suspect he's taking a wee nap before the evening's revels.
Glad you're enjoying this! :)
Lily Baggins
· 8 November 2009
· Chapter 17: A Puzzling Tea Party
Poor Boromir---even more over his head than usual when it comes to hobbits! I can only imagine how hobbit wiles would work on the poor man.
I'm gratified to see everyone is slowly recovering and gaining their strength back---they have a quest to go on, after all! But hopefully they'll get some more rest before that.
I enjoyed this chapter!
Author's reply
Thank you, Lily. I'm *really* glad you're enjoying this. The healing aura of Rivendell (and eaach other) will ensure that everyone recovers in time for the Quest... although it would be interesting (and quite a different story) if they didn't!
*hugs you*
Lily Baggins
· 8 November 2009
· Chapter 16: Contemplations
Oh, it's priceless to have Aragorn at Frodo's beck and call, carrying him about and responding to a bell like a lowly servant. I love it!
Hobbit games and wiles, indeed. I can't help but think, though, that it's not ALL bad, getting to carry Frodo about all day. :)
Adorable.
Author's reply
Aragorn *must* be secretly enjoying it, don't you think? How could he not? :D
AspenJules
· 8 November 2009
· Chapter 17: A Puzzling Tea Party
Great chapter, Janet, and so much fun! I think my favorite thing though is the contrast between how Boromir found himself quite at home and at ease with the Elven warriors, who might have been quite disconcerting and overwhelming, and then found himself totally lost and at sea when confronted by the hobbits, who one might be tempted to underestimate. Capped off by Aragorn's advice to him at the end, a brilliantly crafted chapter! Well done!! (And too funny!)
Author's reply
Thank you! Boromir probably thought he could handle any situation, but leave it to hobbits to make him sputter and founder. What fun.
AspenJules
· 8 November 2009
· Chapter 16: Contemplations
Ahhh, a lovely read on a quiet sunday morning. Some of my thoughts about the chapter - I also (as another commenter said) would love to wake up to the same repast that Gandalf did. It would be lovely to have breakfast just appear at my bedside like that!
I also loved the idea (and mental image!) of Elrond in his jammies.
I have to ask - did you make up these riddles? If so, I'm very impressed. They are quite good.
Ok, on to the next chapter - yay!
Author's reply
Thank you. Glad this was a peaceful read for you this morning! I *did* make up the riddles for this story, and am proud of myself. They were challenging!
Awwww, Elrond in his jammies. You can't wear ornate robes *all* the time. :)
lbilover
· 8 November 2009
· Chapter 17: A Puzzling Tea Party
Oh, I'm very glad Boromir decided to enter the story! Although I could feel his head whirling, lol, poor man. And aww, I'm just loving Gimli more and more. This totally cracked me up: “As you know, over the past few days someone took it upon himself to strip the House of every ornamental tree and pile them on top of me.” *g* I love every bit of the interaction among the Fellowship, and I hope it will continue for many more chapters!
Author's reply
Oh, thank you so much! I think the hobbits are so endearing and open-hearted that Legolas and Gimli -- who might speak more formally in other company -- would be more relaxed and comfortable joking around among them.
Estelcontar
· 7 November 2009
· Chapter 17: A Puzzling Tea Party
A most delightful and enjoyable chapter. Trust Pippin to confuse Boromir most thoroughly.
The 'foot hair in a frazzle' just made my day. LOL
Author's reply
I'm glad this chapter gave you LOLs! Warriors are skilled in many things, but Pip-speak isn't necessarily one of them.
Grey Wonderer
· 7 November 2009
· Chapter 17: A Puzzling Tea Party
LOLOLOL
Poor Boromir! Getting the story from Pippin of all folks.
Loved this:
(“If anything Sam does or says displeases me, cousin,” Frodo said calmly, “I will let him know.” )
I doubt Sam could ever displease Frodo. : )
Author's reply
And here Boromir was probably anticipating a calm, peaceful afternoon. :)
Awwww, thanks for highlighting that line! It's one of my favorites.
Ainu Laire
· 7 November 2009
· Chapter 17: A Puzzling Tea Party
Oh, poor Boromir! He's so confused. I really like your characterization of him; he is very likeable.
I absolutely love your Gimli- love love love him! His matter of fact-ness and gruff care of the elf is absolutely wonderful.
One minor critique- the likelihood of there being a language barrier between Boromir and the elves of Rivendell is very unprobable- indeed, I'd say impossible. All Elves that appear in the text of LOTR use Sindarin for daily use (if they are not speaking Westron instead), and Minas Tirith has many cases of usage of Sindarin by common people- calling Pippin the Ernil i Pheriannath, for instance. Tolkien mentions that Sindarin was spoken by few in Gondor by LOTR, but those that did dwelt primarily in Dol Amroth and Minas Tirith. Considering Boromir's heritage (mum from Dol Amroth), not to mention that he was heir to the rule of Gondor, he would have most certainly been fluent in Sindarin, learning it at a very young age and keeping up with it through his adult years (since Minas Tirith and Dol Amroth were very much bilingual cities). While the Rivendell tongue would certainly have its own accent and its own "slang", just like I can understand British English and most of its inferences, Boromir would be able to as well.
Lorien Sindarin is interesting- Frodo could not understand it (as stated by Tolkien), but he has not spoken it like a second language, only studied it. He is like me to Spanish- he can understand relatively well one accent, but when it comes to another (for me, European Spanish), it sounds like gibberish, though the sounds are familiar. I would think that Boromir, in that instance, would understand it a little bit less- think about a really, really heavy Scottish or Irish accent. If spoken too quickly he may not catch it all, but he would understand the gist of it (if you ever decide to write a Lorien fic that includes this as a plot point, hehe). Aragorn would understand it more, considering his own background, and Legolas likely the best, since Mirkwood likely had both Silvan and Sindarin as languages (and considering Lorien's language heritage).
His knowledge of Quenya was likely much more sketchy- Faramir would certainly be more fluent there- but Tolkien refers to Quenya as the 'elven Latin', and so it would not be spoken often.
... yea, did I ever mention I was a language geek? XD I still enjoyed the chapter, of course, I just thought you'd like to know about the above for future reference ^^
Author's reply
Geek away! I appreciate your comments. For my assumption of a language barrier, I was remembering that the Rangers Sam and Frodo met in Ithilien had never met Elves; and that Boromir had to go to Denethor to ask what the riddle's mention of 'Imladris' meant. I felt that Boromir, spending his life as a warrior, might not have been as versed in lore and languages as his brother.
Glad you enjoyed the chapter! :)
Aiwen
· 7 November 2009
· Chapter 17: A Puzzling Tea Party
I can't help but feel sympathy for Boromir here. It IS all very confusing, especially when explained by Pippin.
Author's reply
Yes it is! Boromir will just have to learn 'hobbitspeak' in addition to Elvish. :)
Antane
· 7 November 2009
· Chapter 17: A Puzzling Tea Party
Glad to see another chapter up! Like mention of Faramir, a hobbity man if there was one. Poor Boromir though - so much has happened and he missed everything and is quite at a loss. Love Pippin's chatter to him. I had a lot of trouble myself telling Pippin and Merry apart from the movies for a long time so I'm glad I'm not the only one! :) Love also the hobbity idea of calling the journey to Mordor a 'walking party' - would that we could also carry ourselves so lightly.
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
I do think a young hobbit would be naturally bubbly, and eager to be the one to 'explain' things to Boromir. And luckily for Boromir, he'll have a lot of time on the journey to learn to interpret Pippin's chatter!
Bless the Professor, for bringing us hobbits. They're very special.
Thank you! :)
Dreamflower
· 7 November 2009
· Chapter 17: A Puzzling Tea Party
Poor Boromir! To return from his patrol just in time to get barraged with an avalanche of Pippish, LOL!
Really, his confusion was a lot of fun, as *WE* of course know all that happened, and can laugh at the garbled attempts to explain it all to him!
A wonderful chapter, I love the way you've portrayed Boromir here! You show he still has his pride as the son of the Steward (as he muses on riding into Minas Tirith) yet you also show his concern for the hobbits and his respect for Aragorn.
I really liked this chapter a lot!
Author's reply
Oh thank you, I appreciate that. I don't think Boromir ever loses sight of who he is, versus his uncertain role among all these varied folk.
LOL, there really is no defense against a concerted barrage of Pippish, as Boromir is just finding out.
cookiefleck
· 7 November 2009
· Chapter 17: A Puzzling Tea Party
Poor Boromir, having to suffer through so many interruptions and incomplete responses. I enjoyed the part where he spots the group and then realizes something is not quite right as he notices the bandages, etc. (I'm glad that you haven't rushed Sam through his healing process.) And, of course, the final conversation between Aragorn and Boromir brought a chuckle.
Author's reply
Poor Boromir no doubt thought he could handle anything... up to now.
Sam might have wanted to rush the healing so he could get back to tending his master, but the healers -- and Frodo -- are having none of it. He's just had to endure more coddling and pampering than he's used to! So glad you're enjoying the story. :)
Inzilbeth
· 7 November 2009
· Chapter 17: A Puzzling Tea Party
Oh that was a lovely, fun chapter, Shirebound, especially the scene that greeted Boromir as he walked towards the gathering. I wonder what was going through his mind at that point! The poor man realy does have a lot of catching up to do where Hobbit's are concerned!
Author's reply
Thank you! That whole scene was so implausible, it couldn't have really registered at first. Our warrior has never met a force quite like hobbits, that's for certain. :)
GamgeeFest
· 7 November 2009
· Chapter 17: A Puzzling Tea Party
I love Boromir's confussion, and Pippin's attempt to explain everything certianly didn't help! I also loved the fact that Boromir's greatest wish, other than to bring Aragorn and Frodo to Gondor, was to see his father smile again.
Author's reply
Pippin did *try* to explain!
I think Boromir is always thinking of Gondor -- the land, the people, and its steward. It's wonderful that the films helped make him even more 'human' for us.