Trotter by Dreamflower
Celeritas · 6 June 2009 · Chapter 26: Interlude: Choices and Consequences
Foreshadowing. I love it. *wibble*
Author's reply
*wibbles with you* One of the more brilliant and fun things about writing fanfiction is that it takes very few words-- the merest allusion-- to evoke an emotional response from the reader. It's one way in which original fic is at a disadvantage, as the subtleties available to a fanfic writer aren't there.
Celeritas · 6 June 2009 · Chapter 25: Hard Truths
Gosh, this was intense! For some reason even though Hildifons normally sounds... well, normal, his angry/angsty outburst came out in Ian Holm's voice. But what a tragedy that now--for whatever reasons--he can't/won't return home. That's horrid to have that cut off from you. But I loved seeing Trotter seeing destiny fulfilled. He really did do something important in his own little way--as a hobbit should.
Celeritas · 6 June 2009 · Chapter 24: Bad News
Gaaah! This was really tragic, especially Trotter's weeping at the end. I have the feeling this is the worst injury he could have sustained, psychologically.
Author's reply
I imagined that hobbits are quite vain about their feet, and that having them maimed and unsightly would have been a greater blow to him than it would have to a Man, who would have been more worried about the walking again part of it.
Celeritas · 6 June 2009 · Chapter 23: Disaster
Argh, this was nervewracking!!! And what a feat of strength that was, too. As an aside, I loved this little bit: He was muttering under his breath in Sindarin, and I was too fearful to try and translate what he was saying. That is how you know a Took is afraid!
Author's reply
Too afraid to be curious, you mean? It was a little nervewracking to write! Especially as I had to figure out how they would survive. (And did you mean a pun in that first sentence?)
Celeritas · 6 June 2009 · Chapter 22: Thorn Returns
Speaking of side tales, I love the bit of Oriel/Nethon going on here. And orcs, and Hildifons killing one! Rather exciting! I do wish Thorn had showed a bit more common sense, but that is, I'm afraid, what youths fresh from Rivendell will do...
Author's reply
LOL! Yes, Thorn's little sister had a good idea of who she wanted from a very early age! He did! Of course, he did it in a very hobbity fashion, but was just as deadly for all that! Well, Thorn did have reasons for what he did, but he did not think through to possible repercussions if he failed to take out the Orc sentry at once. Impulsive, as many youths, whether Men or Hobbits, are prone to.
Celeritas · 6 June 2009 · Chapter 21: Rangering
I love this aside about the honorable Dunlendings! (Gee, that's really something you only see in tales.) Fornost must have been an amazing place, even in ruins. *geeks out*
Author's reply
A few years back, I read an Aragorn story (alas, can't remember author or title) but it involved a group of the Dunlendings, who turned out to have a strict, though crude, warrior code of honor. The idea kind of stuck with me. I'm sure it was! Author Reply: A few years back, I read an Aragorn story (alas, can't remember author or title) but it involved a group of the Dunlendings, who turned out to have a strict, though crude, warrior code of honor. The idea kind of stuck with me. I'm sure it was!
Celeritas · 6 June 2009 · Chapter 20: Interlude: The Wizard's Point of View
It looks as if a lot of time is going by--which means, I presume, that Trotter is having adventures Bilbo's reading about that aren't included in this tale? Oh, and I love Bilbo's pretending not to be startled at Gandalf's return!
Author's reply
Yes, you presume quite rightly. Which also means that *IF* the right bunnies come along, there may be more Trotter stories. *grin* I'm guessing that sort of thing was a bit of a game between the two old friends...
Antane · 6 June 2009 · Chapter 31: The Last Homely House
Alas that Thorn fell, but what a nice little 'gap filler' you have made here, filling in his life. Now Trotter will be friends with Estel too for a little while. I love the connection here and cute to have a hobbity room in Imladris. Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
I did really, want to let him have a chance to meet the son and grandson of his dearest friends. I had always envisioned Bilbo's quarters as being sort of hobbity, and when the prologue to this story came to me, I suddenly realized *why*.
Antane · 6 June 2009 · Chapter 999: Epilogue: Full Circle
Yes, the greatest Adventure awaits us all. I love this ending and Pippin's words. Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
It does. Pippin will be glad to bring back this bit of unknown Shire history! Thank you so much for all your reviews!
Antane · 6 June 2009 · Chapter 32: Interlude: A Life Well-Lived
Yes, good advice. Thank you, my dears, both of you. *hugs* Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Thank *you*!
Antane · 6 June 2009 · Chapter 30: The End of an Era
I was wondering if that was *the* Gilraen and it is! :) Joy and grief in this chapter as life is. Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Yes, joy and sorrow mingled, as we so often see in RL as well as in Arda.
Antane · 6 June 2009 · Chapter 28: My Return to Two Rivers
He is healing and have carved a new road for himself - very good. Forgot to mention liked the mention of the hobbit archers in last chapter and nice to Glorfindel again. Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
I thought it a good idea to have Glorfindel tell him of their fate, as a way of honoring him.
Antane · 6 June 2009 · Chapter 27: Finding My Feet Again
So we learn how a hobbit came to wear shoes! I had forgotten about that and so enjoy having another piece of the story put together. This is very well thought out. Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Yes, it was always my intention from the start that *this* Trotter, too, would have wooden shoes!
Antane · 6 June 2009 · Chapter 26: Interlude: Choices and Consequences
Alas another hobbit did have to face that. An interesting chapter and a bit of a heartache because of that last bit. Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Yes, I was doing a bit of echoing and foreshadowing here. One of the delights of writing fanfic is that it takes very few words to evoke a certain feeling, because the reader already knows what will happen...
Antane · 6 June 2009 · Chapter 25: Hard Truths
I love the bond between Thorn and Trotter. And that Gandalf came. There are hard truths but I love Gandalf's words about the true nature of Trotter's wounds and that Thorn - and therefore Aragorn - is/will be alive because of him. We have no idea how many ripples our actions will have. Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Yes, Trotter saved the line of Isildur! And at great personal expense to himself.
Antane · 6 June 2009 · Chapter 24: Bad News
Well, maybe I should change my opinion that it wasn't a disaster, but I'm sure Trotter will cope with it, though it would hurt to lose one foot's hair also, that was just the last straw wasn't it? Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
I think that it being his *feet* was what made it so dreadful to him. I always imagine most hobbits as being a bit vain about their feet, so it would have been awful to have them maimed!
Antane · 6 June 2009 · Chapter 23: Disaster
Very brave of Trotter and another delicious cliffhanger too - I don't doubt he would be screaming from the strain to his legs. This could have indeed been a disaster but he and the Elven twins saved this from being so. Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
It was very brave of him! The idea that he might use his feet to hold something up and keep it from falling on someone was actually my husband's, and I loved it.
Antane · 6 June 2009 · Chapter 22: Thorn Returns
Now that's an exciting cliffhanger isn't it? There are advantages after all of being so behind, now I can go happily right away to the next chapter... Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Yes, sometimes a WIP can leave you biting your nails!
Antane · 6 June 2009 · Chapter 20: Interlude: The Wizard's Point of View
I love Bilbo's first words to Gandalf and his friend's laughter. Lucky hobbits to have such fireworks and lucky us to have seen them in the movie. Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
*grin* I loved that little exchange from the first time I ever saw it in The Hobbit-- and I imagine that over the years, it became a little in-joke between them. My Gandalf has a very soft spot for hobbits!
Antane · 6 June 2009 · Chapter 19: The Grey Wanderer
Gandalf's heart speaks true once more and the world will see in this case, I'm sure, and in ones to come, what very small hobbits can do in the big world! :) Nice to see the wizard and that he will bring news back to Trotter's family. Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Yes, Gandalf's heart usually speaks true, and he has a unique perspective on hobbits-- perhaps the only "expert" in the field among the Wise.
Antane · 6 June 2009 · Chapter 18: As Time Goes By
Sorry that I've gotten so far behind here. But love Arathorn running out to hug Trotter, and that Trotter is able to take care of those ruffians all by himself and by hobbit means also. Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Don't fret-- I really got in a rush the last few chapters! Arathorn would have been so glad to see his best friend again! I could never imagine Hildifons ever trying to learn to use a sword the way Merry and Pippin did. But his skill at archery and at stone-throwing would have made it quite possible for him to defend himself anyway.
Andrea · 6 June 2009 · Chapter 999: Epilogue: Full Circle
"Take his words back to the Shire, Peregrin, back to the Green Hills of Tookland that he missed for so many years. It is time for Hildifons Took to go home." *Applause* That was the perfect ending! Hildifons "Trotter" Took is brought back to the Shire by his descendant Peregrin who experienced himself a dangerous adventure much like his ancestor's. Thank you very much for this story. I enjoyed it a great deal :-)
Author's reply
Thank you very much for all of your kind words and encouragement. It was not an easy story to write sometimes, especially with the time pressure I was under, but reviews like yours kept me going! ((hugs))
Andrea · 6 June 2009 · Chapter 32: Interlude: A Life Well-Lived
"Thank you, Uncle. You have given me good advice, whether you know it or not." How wonderful! So, Bilbo was still wondering if he had made the right decision? Now he can be sure of it.
Author's reply
I'm sure that at first he second-guessed himself a lot-- he'd miss his family and the Shire. Knowing that Hildifons had a good life in spite of it all would have given him a little more confidence.
Andrea · 6 June 2009 · Chapter 31: The Last Homely House
On the opposite side of the room was a door: a round door. Oh, I would have loved to be there at Trotter's side to see his joy! The Elves must have had someone who described a hobbit's home to them. Was it Gandalf? And far too soon poor Trotter loses another dear friend! But if any ever should read it, I hope they know it was a life worth living for all its sorrow, I knew great joy as well. He's a special one!
Author's reply
It would be a nice thing to see, wouldn't it? I'm sure Gandalf did advise Elrond, and possibly he remembered some of the things Trotter had said about the Shire during his previous convalescence in Rivendell. I know. Blame the Tale of Years.*sigh* Poor Trotter! Well, going by the other members of his family that we know, Bilbo, Frodo, Merry and Pippin-- I think he'd have to be kind of special. Thank you, dear!
Larner · 6 June 2009 · Chapter 999: Epilogue: Full Circle
Ah, you have me crying now, Dreamflower--but they are HAPPY tears, glad that in his way Hildifons DID go home again with Pippin! Thank you so for this story, and for showing us Trotter's grave! The original idea of Trotter the Ranger was to have been named Peregrin Took, and he was to have been caught by the Necromancer and have had his feet held to the fire as a torture, before he managed to escape Dol Guldur. Somehow the wooden shoes served to protect his feet. Poor Hildifons has had a different life, but in the end one that is more in keeping with Hobbit sensibilities. And he had a full life after all, living ever surrounded by the caring of those who came to accept him as family. Thank you again!
Author's reply
Aw. *hands you a hankie* Yes,in Return of the Shadow he was named Peregrin at one time, among other things. And I did toy with the idea of having his feet injured by torture from the orcs, and had even partially written such a scene. But I couldn't continue and go there. Thankfully I had some good advice as to other ways he could have injured those feet. Hildifons was never meant to be an *exact* analogue to his HoMe inspiration--instead, it was a springboard to the idea of how a hobbit *could* have become a Ranger and what his life would have been like.