Celeritas' Birthday Bash 2010 by Celeritas
cathleen · 31 July 2010 · Chapter 6: Roadside Entertainment - for nautika
Oh, this is so sweet! I thoroughly enjoyed it, thank you!!
Author's reply
You're welcome! I think I enjoy this very selective sub-genre of LotR fic more than I thought I would...
cathleen · 31 July 2010 · Chapter 4: The Retinue of Sir Peregrin - for Cathleen
Oh, wonderful! *Applauds* I admit I was thinking at the beginning that Beregond was Pippin and I loved the element of surprise you wove into that! A truly perfect pov, who better than the one Pippin saved from certain death? I love the ending too, how carefully and stubbornly Beregond guarded the tent really showed his love for his friend. Wow, I can't imagine taking on so many requests at once! You are amazing!! And thank you very much for my story, I do love it!! *Hugs*
Author's reply
I was wondering whether anyone would think that! XD I can never stand to take the same take on events as anyone else, so it made sense to look at things from Beregond's perspective. To be fair, I did have a month to work on all the requests! And I think it's a lot easier to work on a bunch of separate ficlets than work on the same number of words in the same fic--if you get stuck on one, you can turn to another! Thank you so much for the review, the request, and your kind words! *hugs back*
Armariel · 31 July 2010 · Chapter 2: Jerusalem, Jerusalem - for Kaylee Arafinwiel
A brilliant poetic and convincing evocation. Gave me a shiver. ~~~~~{~@
Author's reply
Thanks! This is really the first time I've tried so experimental a style, so I'm pleased to hear that it succeeded for you, at least.
Armariel · 31 July 2010 · Chapter 7: Siege - for Armariel
Ooooo!!!! I'm in love!!!! Perfect!!!!!!!! heheh...I can just hear Eomer saying this.... Thanks so much for this, Celeritas! hugs Armariel ~~~~~~{~@
Author's reply
Eomer's hotheaded Rohirricness, I think, makes such a line entirely in character--especially for a character like Wormtongue! Thank you for the prompt!
Pearl Took · 31 July 2010 · Chapter 9: A Midyear's Day Feast - for Pearl Took
Bravo! Bravo! Bravisimo, Celeritas! I must confess I was quite confused at first. My memory for stories and characters has deteriorated and although I did recognize the names Handy and Jolly, I had no idea from where. We need Hobbits in the American west. I picture this as happening in Yellowstone National Park. I should have read the author's note first. LOL :-) I had no idea that I'd written seventh age hobbits. Do you mean Possibility Took and Serendipity Brandybuck? ;-) I quite loose track of ages after the fourth. And well, Tolkien *did* say the real Red Book disappeared . . .
Author's reply
Thank you so much! I was considering putting the Author's Notes first, but I thought it'd be interesting to see what new readers thought of the whole "buffalo" business and see when they caught on as to the foreign nature of the setting. Jolly is actually new to this fic (though that is the name of one of the Cottons). I'm imagining he's a cousin. We do need hobbits in the American West, and as Yellowstone is one of the places where they could get away with existence the most, I wouldn't be surprised if that's the park. And yes, I'm talking about Possibility and Serendipity--the term "Seventh Age" comes, I think, from one of Tolkien's letters where he suggested that that's the Age we're currently in, if you continued on from the fourth. And finally, yes--Tolkien did say the original Red Book wasn't preserved, but most Fourth Age writers I think prefer to avoid such sorrowful topics. Which is why I truly appreciate authors like you!
GamgeeFest · 30 July 2010 · Chapter 13: Patchwork - for Gamgeefest
This is delightful! I love the joke that Merry and Pippin played, and the resourceful way the lasses decided to use the cloak. I especially love the reason for them making the quilt - not for using but to show everyone how proud they are of him - and how proud everyone else should be as well. I'm sure it's a winner at the Fair! Thank you for this! *hugs*
Author's reply
Thanks! Parts of this story, at least, have been buzzing around in my head for years--I had a quilt the Free Fair of 1540 that had a patch of Lorien cloak in it and I had to figure out exactly how that started as I couldn't see anyone in Sam's family just cutting into the thing. Decorative quilts would be entirely new to Sam, but it does have a purpose. I'm sure that this one wins.
nautika · 30 July 2010 · Chapter 6: Roadside Entertainment - for nautika
LOL! I love it, though I always picture Boromir with a wonderful baritone. ;D I really appreciate the gift! nautika
Author's reply
I have a feeling just about everyone in Middle-earth could sing, but then it occurred to me that we never hear Boromir sing at all! It was a fun idea to play with, at least. Thanks for the prompt!
Cairistiona · 30 July 2010 · Chapter 12: Achilles Heel - for Linda Hoyland
Hee hee! I love the idea of Aragorn having ticklish feet... and Arwen finding out about them. Wonderful ficlet!
Author's reply
I feel rather bad for Aragorn for giving him ticklish feet, but then he's so stern all the time and I think Arwen would find it quite amusing... Thanks!
Linda Hoyland · 30 July 2010 · Chapter 12: Achilles Heel - for Linda Hoyland
This was just delightful! THank you so much!
Author's reply
You're welcome! Thank you for the prompt!
Kaylee Arafinwiel · 30 July 2010 · Chapter 16: Reconciliation - for all
Ohhh, poor Galadriel, such a tantalizing, torturous dream! But at least her longing will become reality eventually, and now she knows she *will* be welcomed home. This takes place the night after she denies herself the One Ring, I suppose? It makes perfect sense. I hope that when she *does* go home, Arafinwe and Earwen will be there to greet their repentant daughter with open arms. Kaylee Arafinwiel
Author's reply
I'm actually imagining it takes place after the One is destroyed, but I could be wrong. It's an interesting change between her singing about what ship will bear her back, and her finally sailing.
Kaylee Arafinwiel · 30 July 2010 · Chapter 15: One Dance - for Rhyselle
Celeritas, this was wonderful! I loved the Merry/Estella interaction. And, all right, they're not *there* yet (perfectly understandable, given "Daughters of Jerusalem"...and that one was wonderful too, by the way! Is it posted here at SoA, or just there?) but they're *getting* there. I think it's reasonable for this to take time, of course. You portrayed them very well. I just hope that Estella does write back...and I'm sorry the Shire Post doesn't stretch to Elvenhome yet! (Although I've seen some odd ways of sending mail to Elvenhome on this site...messages in bottles of Old Winyards, letters via eagle and Earendil...) Kaylee Arafinwiel
Author's reply
Very few of my challenge fics are posted at SoA. I try to make sure that not all of my writings are in one place, to encourage people to visit other archives. Thanks for reading both fics, I should add! I've always found it fascinating that Estella took so long to show up in the family trees, and how a number of authors have interpreted it as their taking time to get married. I'm not sure yet at which point they'll end up getting together, but I'm not keen on rushing them. Sending mail to Elvenhome is not the problem. All you have to do is find a depressed Elf. Getting mail back from Elvenhome is the problem, and it's when authors try to get around this that my secondary belief starts to slip away.
Kaylee Arafinwiel · 30 July 2010 · Chapter 14: The Peculiar Romance of Rangers - for SkuldNevermore
Celeritas, Now, for some reason you had me thinking of Estella Bolger! I can't remember, offhand, *whose* fic it was...where she was dressed as a lad and sent into hiding with a farming family...but I loved it a lot. I could just see Estella, after being "Twig" as they called her, pulling something like this (and the sword might very well have been her real father's, if it didn't belong to the family she stayed with. I don't suppose she'd steal the sword from her foster-family.) I do wonder, lol! Kaylee Arafinwiel
Author's reply
That's Lindelea's. There are actually a number of Estella-dresses-like-a-lad-for-the-Troubles fics out there, so I don't have my Estella acting like that (although I have a descendant of the Magnificent who is one of the most outrageous tomboys ever). The drawing, unfortunately, couldn't have been of a hobbit as she's the same height as the healer, so I made her a Breeland woman.
Kaylee Arafinwiel · 30 July 2010 · Chapter 13: Patchwork - for Gamgeefest
You do realize, don't you, that now I want a picture of that quilt! *LOL* If it could actually be made, it'd go so well in the photo gallery at MPTT! It's a pity that no one around here knows how to make Elven cloaks! :( This was wonderful! Yay for Sam! Kaylee Arafinwiel
Author's reply
It probably could be made, but pieced quilts that depict scenes are really, really tough and I, at least, have no experience with any of it! But I'd love to see it as well. As for elven cloaks, I suppose one could always substitute camo... (now THAT leads to some interesting mental pictures)
Kaylee Arafinwiel · 30 July 2010 · Chapter 12: Achilles Heel - for Linda Hoyland
It's lucky Elrond didn't walk in on that, he might have had some questions! LOL! I love Arwen and Aragorn together! Kaylee Arafinwiel
Author's reply
He might have, but I'm sure he's heard enough tickling tales from his sons that he'd at least understand what was going on--not that that would have stopped him from asking! Thanks for the review!
Dreamflower · 30 July 2010 · Chapter 16: Reconciliation - for all
Oh, this is just wonderful! Beautiful, dear!
Author's reply
Thanks. :)
Kaylee Arafinwiel · 30 July 2010 · Chapter 11: Historiography, Part Two - for Raksha
Celeritas, Oh, I liked this one! A worthy companion to the first part. I hope Faramir gets to hear everything he wants to know!
Author's reply
He probably will, and more! :)
Dreamflower · 30 July 2010 · Chapter 15: One Dance - for Rhyselle
Oh this is so nice. I think consoling Merry for Frodo's absence will be the perfect job for Miss Estella! And I love the idea of frequent letters between Brandy Hall and Bag End!
Author's reply
I think it will be, too--though Estella may not be keen on seeing it as the perfect job, just yet. And, realistically, how many of us make two-day journeys to visit family on a regular basis? Merry and Frodo couldn't have gotten as close as they are in LotR without letters.
Linaewen · 30 July 2010 · Chapter 5: Temper-ment - for Linaewen
Wow! This is really powerful!! In all my wondering about what Boromir might have been offered by the Lady, I never thought of something like this -- but it fits. I like how you paint Boromir here; considering Aragorn as King, full of good intentions, faithfully supportive and loyal to the Company and to Frodo -- and yet, there is that vague sense of disappointment that Aragorn is leaving him, and that single thought of "not yet, not before it has been of use" when he thinks of the Ring. And that's what changes everything, so that his resolve to not harm Frodo is truly tested once more later, when his resolve is at its weakest. A most excellent tale which I love very much -- and I thank you for being willing to attempt it as part of your Birthday Bash!
Author's reply
Thanks! I think that any sort of temptation scenario would have to be as innocuous and as in keeping with the tested's character as possible--Galadriel is a whole lot more subtle than the Ring is. It's only when Boromir begins to tease at what he would have had to have done to get the Ring that he rebels and realizes he's only been offered a fantasy. I'd like to think that his desire not to betray the Company and especially the hobbits was what caused his swift repentance when he actually gave in. Thank you very much for the review--and for the prompt itself! It was fun to work with!
Dreamflower · 30 July 2010 · Chapter 14: The Peculiar Romance of Rangers - for SkuldNevermore
I don't know which tickles me more: that you found a story to suit the prompt, or that you were able to make a "Born of Hope" fic! *grin* Love the OCs as well!
Author's reply
There deserve to be more Born of Hope fics out there, though in this case I may have just borrowed the name. This was one of the last ones to fall in place, but eventually it did!
Dreamflower · 30 July 2010 · Chapter 13: Patchwork - for Gamgeefest
What a sweet notion! I think my favorite part was the little stunt Merry and Pippin pulled! It seems very likely the sort of thing they'd get up to!
Author's reply
Thanks! You know those cloaks would be highly useful for all sorts of mischief, but I can only think of one other fic off the top of my head where that happened.
Dreamflower · 30 July 2010 · Chapter 12: Achilles Heel - for Linda Hoyland
Oh no! LOL! Aragorn has ticklish feet! LOLOLOL!!!! *giggles madly*
Author's reply
*grin*
Dreamflower · 30 July 2010 · Chapter 11: Historiography, Part Two - for Raksha
Ah! Even though it's labeled "part two" it seems to me a sort of prequel to the first one. I love Faramir's reaction to the personalities revealed in the account-- indeed, to one used to the scholarly and detached voice, the almost conversational tone of the Red Book would seem incredibly intimate!
Author's reply
Well, it's supposed to be a sequel--the first conversation starts out with Pippin telling Faramir he needs to get his hands on the book before everyone else does, and then this one tells of his experience reading it. It's amusing, because compared to current novels, we really don't get to see inside Frodo's head too often in LotR--but it's "incredibly intimate" (as you put it) compared to histories!
Dreamflower · 30 July 2010 · Chapter 10: His Century - for Rosie
*grin* *happy sigh* *grins some more* Thank you dear! This is lovely! Yes, indeed it is! ((hugs))
Author's reply
You're welcome!
Dreamflower · 30 July 2010 · Chapter 9: A Midyear's Day Feast - for Pearl Took
Oh how delightful to see HANDY! I do love Handy dearly, and it is so nice to see the beginning of his friendship with Leroy. (And one day I would love to see Leroy's POV just long enough to discover if the hints about him mean what I think they mean.)
Author's reply
I loved getting Handy out again for this, too! As for Leroy's PoV, well, so much time has passed that his PoV may not tell you anything, any more than Handy knew, pre-dreams, that he was descended from the Travellers. Maybe you should ask Larner for her take, as he's her character, too... >_>
Dreamflower · 30 July 2010 · Chapter 8: Minding Other Folk's Business - for Larner
*nods* Perfectly sensible. *nods some more* Yes, as much as he needs the money, he'd know that people might not believe such a thing if it came from him. (Although seven witnesses might ameliorate such speculation, they wouldn't quash it altogether.) Mr. Lightfoot is a hobbit of much good hobbit-sense.
Author's reply
Well, Larner asked for "compromise," and if Mr. Lightfoot had taken on the job, it wouldn't really be compromise. Looking at the implications of the matter, especially from a legal standpoint, seemed very Larner-ish, and had a good deal of hobbit-sense added to it to boot. (Or to foot?)