Kaylee Arafinwiel
· 4 November 2009
· Chapter 12: Home Cooking
Dreamflower,
This story is wonderful! I've been reading every chapter and I absolutely love Mirime (Adamanta). I've been meaning to ask you...is Mirime Olorin's sister in the Thought of Iluvatar, or does he just introduce her as his sister to save explanation? (I'm thinking the former, but I still wonder. *grin*)
I hope Mirime (and you too!) will not be offended when I explain I can't stomach either mushrooms or onions in large quantities...but as Miss Dora has said in her wonderful book of Advice, certain vegetables might prove quite Toothsome when cooked another way, so perhaps I should just go for it! I'll give the recipe to my mom, anyway...I wish my grandmother was still with us, she loved to cook! She was very hobbity that way!
More soon please!
Kaylee Arafinwiel
Author's reply
is Mirime Olorin's sister in the Thought of Iluvatar, or does he just introduce her as his sister to save explanation? (I'm thinking the former, but I still wonder. *grin*)
A bit of both, you might say. Of course as Maiar they have no physical brothers or sisters, but just as Gandalf thought of Saruman and Radagast as "brothers", he would consider Mirime a "sister"-- not simply in the Thought of Iuvatar (though most certainly that) but also as a follower of Nienna, she would have been a fellow "disciple" or "sister". Bilbo and Frodo are knowledgeable enough of the nature of those they live among now to realize that the Gandalf and Mirime are not "physical" siblings, but also to understand that the relationship is more than just friendship, as well. "Brother and sister" explains it better than anything else.
I hope your mom likes the recipe! I have to say, the mushrooms in this are quite "mushroom-y", but the onion, chopped fine and cooked beforehand, loses its bite, and becomes just an excellent flavor enhancer.) (I myself dislike onion if I have to bite into a piece--and cannot tolerate raw onion, but I like its flavor distributed through a dish.)
Celeritas
· 4 November 2009
· Chapter 12: Home Cooking
First of all, let me commend you for tribblifying that recipe as well!
Am amused that Frodo still refers to Adamanta by her Valinorean name, because he still can't quite accept her as a hobbit.
Also, if that line about the eyes going grey when she's nostalgic means what I think it means (have you really given her Sue eyes?), I wholeheartedly approve! *giggle!snort!grin*
Just as long as blue doesn't equate to angst...
Author's reply
Well, after my reply to you in the last chapter, I got to thinking.
I *wouldn't* be cheating to include the recipe if I "tribblified" it as well! (Love that word by the way!)
It was not easy to get it to 300 words, as I had to make sure it still worked as a recipe. First time I went way under, then I went way over, and then I had to cut and cut without losing any clarity in the directions!
Well, yes, I confess to "Sue eyes" (though you will NEVER see them turning *violet*!!!! or worse, *silver*!!!!) but I am only gradually beginning to learn what colors signify what moods...
But no, not blue for angst, LOL!
Baggins Babe
· 8 October 2009
· Chapter 11: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?
*giggles* Now we know Adamanta lived with hobbits! Offering to cook - and something with mushrooms!
I love Frodo's excited gabbling - sounds just like Pippin indeed. :-)
Lovely as usual, Dreamflower.
Author's reply
*grin* I love cooking hobbits!
I've always felt that Pippin and Frodo had a lot of similarities in personaltiy, but Frodo's early trauma of losing his parents tempered him too young. Pippin, on the other hand had no early tragedy to make him lose his enthusiasm.
And now that Frodo's in the West, he's regaining some of that joy of life that he lost.
Antane
· 6 October 2009
· Chapter 11: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?
Frodo was so full of news and excitement when he arrived at home, talking of what he had seen going on in the Shire during his visit to the Stone, that it was some time before he finally came to a breathless stop.
Bilbo chuckled. "I swear, Frodo, you sounded almost like Pippin!"
Frodo blushed. "It was wonderful to see them," was the response. A hint of wistfulness touched his voice, now that the news had been shared he felt the sting again of not actually having been there with his cousins and Sam.
How wonderful that he could see them, but bittersweet as well, Still better to have this sight than nothing perhaps, even if it increases the longing to be with them and the sadness they are apart. But apart only physically and the pain would fade into happy memories again and the realization that they are still very connected in heart and soul. I look forward to coming over for dinner too!
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
I do not think he would have been at all happy in the West, nor found the healing he needed, without the occasional reassurance that those whom he loved and left behind were doing well.
And no, their connection will never be broken.
Virtuella
· 6 October 2009
· Chapter 11: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?
What a delightful chapter, light and sweet as a lemon souffle! Now, if there was any doubt remaining about Mirime's claim to Hobbitdom, the offer to cook something with mushrooms would have removed it. Well done! I wish I could come fore dinner, too...
BTW, you might want to check double "touch" here: "A touch of wistfulness touched his voice"
Author's reply
She's deifinitely been thoroughly "hobbitified", so to speak! And cooking mushrooms is just the surface evidence of that!
Thanks for the "heads up". Sometimes when focussing too much on word-count, it's easy to miss little things like that. Fixed now, I think!
Larner
· 5 October 2009
· Chapter 11: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?
Hooray! Questions may well be both asked and answered, and may they all find refreshment in the exercise!
Author's reply
Yes, the questions will begin to be answered...
Kitty
· 5 October 2009
· Chapter 11: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?
Glad Frodo got to see his friends in the Shire again, even if it was only through the Palantír.
That's quite a fuss about the meal - somehow I think for Hobbits it should not be that much of a work to prepare a meal, guest or not. But a Maia seems to be different ;)
Author's reply
Yes, I think it would have been very hard on him if he could not at least check up on them from time to time...
Well, yes and no. Cooking is no hard chore to a hobbit, of course. But being hospitable and having things "just so" when company comes is also very important to them, and this will be a very special guest...
Andrea
· 5 October 2009
· Chapter 11: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?
"Is there something going on I ought to know about, Uncle Bilbo?"
*grins* He will soon find out! And I hope it will be a pleasant surprise for him!
Frodo's reaction is so typical of him! He's always trying to be the perfect host, to care for others - not being cared for.
I'm looking forward to seeing his reaction to Mirime's strategy! Starting with cooking is, of course, a very good beginning ;-)
Author's reply
I think he is only going to gradually realize... I think if Bilbo or Adamanta told him she was going to try and mother him, he might object. But sooner or later he will realize what she's doing...
Hospitality is a very important virtue to a hobbit!
Yes, the way to a hobbit's heart...*grin*
GamgeeFest
· 5 October 2009
· Chapter 11: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?
Sounds like it will be a delightful dinner. I'm glad Frodo had such a wonderful experience looking into the stone as well. It appears everyone back home in enjoying Yule, despite missing their cousin and friend.
Author's reply
I very much hope it will be delightful...
Frodo *did* have a wonderful experience, and it is going into a little story of its own, so all will soon learn what he saw there!
Celeritas
· 4 October 2009
· Chapter 11: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?
I cannot wait until Frodo is the recipient of some good old-fashioned mothering (and you do know how to ratchet up anticipation, my dear!) at the hands of Adamanta. I love the idea of a hobbit potluck, and you've really outdone yourself by giving us a glimpse of the one thing in Arda that must be better than hobbit cooking: Maia-in-hobbit-form cooking!!
I would almost request a recipe!fic for the occasion of the dinner, but I'm afraid anything we mortal Men (or Women) have come up with wouldn't do such a fictional dinner justice.
Author's reply
It's hard not to leave minor cliffies when you are restricted to telling the story in 300 word chunks, LOL! But they will get to see just what kind of a cook she is!
We will begin to get some of her story as she cooks for them...
*grin* I was tempted to *do* a recipe!fic for the occasion, but I think it would be cheating on my word-count. *sigh*
Kitty
· 16 September 2009
· Chapter 10: A Walk in the Garden
So Adamanta has noticed that something is still amiss with Frodo? I am curious what she is planning now!
Author's reply
She has, and I think she may not have a plan-- she will probably just play it by ear!
Kitty
· 16 September 2009
· Chapter 9: Adamanta Calls Again
Comforting idea to have this palantír in Aman and to allow the Elves who have sailed an occasional glimpse of their old home. It must mean so much for them.
So Adamanta wants to talk about Frodo? Now I am curious! *off to read next chapter* (at least *one* advantage of being so far behind ...)
Author's reply
I think they would need that sort of comfort; while the Blessed Isle was beautiful, it would not quite yet be home, especially so long as they had loved ones on the other side of the Sundering Sea.
Kitty
· 16 September 2009
· Chapter 8: Where Mercy, Love and Pity Dwell
Oh yes, I can understand why Olórin feels so well as Gandalf. He's not only used to it after all that time, he made so many friends in that form, too. And I think the Hobbits will prefer him as Gandalf anyway.
Half-starving Hobbits offering him something of their own food really means much, considering how much they usually eat. No wonder he lost his heart to them! After all, we did the same even without such an experience with them ;)
Author's reply
Hobbits are immensely charming, and Tooks even more so. Add to that the circumstances of his meeting them, of course he would! *grin* And you are quite right: we love them too!
pandemonium_213
· 16 September 2009
· Chapter 10: A Walk in the Garden
Just popping in to say what a lovely series this is, Dreamflower, and that I am thoroughly enjoying it. "Adamanta" is a wonderful OFC and so fitting as the wife of Tûk -- as the great foremother of some of the most illustrious hobbits known, but no doubt of some ordinary folk, too. A wonderfully creative take on "the fairy wife" and one that I thoroughly buy into -- actually would fit seamlessly into the Pandë!verse!
Author's reply
I'm so glad! I've had this as backstory for a very long time-- the idea that the "fairy wife" was a Maia, I mean. I was content to let it remain "backstory", but the Muses had other ideas. I suppose you know how *that* is!
"as the great foremother of some of the most illustrious hobbits known, but no doubt of some ordinary folk, too."
Absolutely, as I hope to show in future chapters.
*grin* As to it fitting into your universe, I find that a huge compliment, thank you!
Antane
· 15 September 2009
· Chapter 10: A Walk in the Garden
That would be great! This is getting more intriguing all the time. Looking forward to more! :)
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Thank you! 8-)
Andrea
· 15 September 2009
· Chapter 10: A Walk in the Garden
Bilbo sighed. "His aunts tried their best, but..."
"It was too soon."
She's so right!
And her offer to be like a mother to him is a wonderful gift.
Like GamgeeFest said, it will fill the void within them both.
Author's reply
Yes, I think it will be healing for both, and I hope to show how much.
Lindelea
· 15 September 2009
· Chapter 10: A Walk in the Garden
*sigh* So glad to have a few moments to catch up on this.
"found his joy in the joy of others" --how telling, and how tragic!
I am glad that Adamanta is taking a hand.
Author's reply
The idea that Frodo, most especially after the Quest, and to some extent even before the Quest, tended to live vicariously through his friends is one that came to me fairly early on as I began to examine his relationships with them.
I think that he was a loving and large-hearted person, but the loss of his parents at such a young age left him with inevitable survivor's guilt. Too young to understand why he felt he did not deserve to be happy, he coped by somehow thinking others deserved happiness more than he did.
In a way, it helped him develop the armor he needed to cope with the Ring later on. How could It tempt him when all he truly cared about was the well-being of others?
Larner
· 15 September 2009
· Chapter 10: A Walk in the Garden
Oh--wonderful--that she would wish to do this for him!
Author's reply
Well, of course she would wish to help one of her "grandchildren". And I think it will be of benefit to them both.
GamgeeFest
· 14 September 2009
· Chapter 10: A Walk in the Garden
Sam will indeed love those gardens when he eventually comes. It'll be very hard to pull him away, I think. ;)
So, Adamanta is offering to foster Frodo, and thus fill the void within them both. That would be truly healing for them. I hope that Frodo is responsive to the idea.
Author's reply
I think so-- there are going to be flowers he's never seen before, after all!
I think it will help with the healing of them both. I think that his presence on the Blessed Isle and the company of Elves, Maia, and perhaps even an occasional Vala-- will enable him to face the truth and heal from his wounds of the Ring and the Quest. But the more recent wound of losing the Shire, and the old wound of losing his parents, those are not in the purview of Elves.
And the chance to "mother" one of her "grandchildren" will also be of benefit to Mirime/Adamanta.
Virtuella
· 14 September 2009
· Chapter 10: A Walk in the Garden
Ah, yes, very good point. Do you remember how we talked, a little while ago, about the lack of mothers in LOTR?
Author's reply
Oh yes! There are so many reasons for the lack of mothers, of course. First of all, there is the folkloric element-- you can nearly always spot the hero of a tale-- he's an orphan, or at the very least, motherless. Second there's the matter of convenience: a dead mother does not have to be taken into consideration when the hero goes off on his Quest. Third, and I think in the case of LOTR, most important, was the author's own state of being an orphan.
I've always interpreted the death of Frodo's parents as an especially traumatic experience for him, one that impacted all his future relationships with others.
Antane
· 13 September 2009
· Chapter 9: Adamanta Calls Again
That would be a great gift to be able to see loved ones parted from. And what does Adamanta have to say? Hmmm.....
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Now you know what she had to say! *grin*
Andrea
· 7 September 2009
· Chapter 9: Adamanta Calls Again
"It's like Lothlórien," said Frodo, "only more so."
Perfect description!
So, now I'm really curious to find out what Adamanta has to say about Frodo!
P.S.: Silly old hobbit! I'm sure that the S.-B.s will never bother him again ;-)
Author's reply
Thanks! I thought that would get across the timelessness there without a lot of explanation.
As for what Adamanta will say, soon.
No, they never will. Which to Bilbo, of course, is part of the joke.
GamgeeFest
· 7 September 2009
· Chapter 9: Adamanta Calls Again
Hmmmmm, interesting! I wonder what Adamanta has to say about Frodo! I can imagine that with her experiences, she is prehaps understanding more of what Frodo is going through than Bilbo is, despite their mutual missing of the Ring. Will we get to see what Frodo sees in the stone? Had to laugh when Bilbo thought about the SB's! Even after all his years away from the Shire, he still thinks of them when someone comes knocking!
Author's reply
I think she will understand a lot!
Frodo and the stone? Let us say it's a precursor to another little bunny I've been carefully feeding for a while. It's still too young to call a story yet, though.
I think that Bilbo will always remain Bilbo. And I think that he is careful to hold on to all the little habits that remind him that no matter how long he's been gone, no matter how many Elves he dwells among, he is first and foremost a hobbit of the Shire!
Virtuella
· 6 September 2009
· Chapter 9: Adamanta Calls Again
Like Lothlorien, only more so - good description! I like that Bilbo refers to the S.B.s.
And now I'm curious what Adamanta will ahve to say.
Author's reply
I imagine that Tol Eressea would have even more of that timeless quality than the Golden Wood did!
Larner
· 6 September 2009
· Chapter 9: Adamanta Calls Again
Ooh! I can't wait to hear what she has to say of him!