Mirkwoodmaiden
· 24 March 2021
· Chapter 1: Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
Lindelea!
As ever you have a talent for writing Hobbits. It almost as is you merely visit Hobbiton and come back to tell you the tales.
I can just see Pippin sitting there with the dog pretty much on top of him. Or him as a tiny hobbit admonishing a very large dog! LOL.
Love it!
Stay safe, Mellon nin!
((hugs))
MM
Author's reply
Oh, I’m so glad you enjoyed that! The story was originally inspired by our “puppy”—44 lbs. at 4 months, and not an ounce of baby fat. All bone, muscle, shaggy hair and large feet, promising more to come.
Thanks for reading and stopping to leave a word of encouragement. ((hugs))
Stay safe, Mellon nin.
Larner
· 24 March 2021
· Chapter 13: Into the Thick of the Fray
That the Haradrim hazarded their own lives will be most honored by the new King of Gondor! Most clever to use the ironwood spear shafts in such a manner. But how far in is Mittens?
Author's reply
Now if he can just convince them that Gondorians don’t eat people for breakfast...
Mittens is quite a way in, about a leash length beyond where Bergil and Pippin ended up, as should become evident in the next installment. Whew. Nearly there!
Good to hear from you. Thanks!
shirebound
· 24 March 2021
· Chapter 13: Into the Thick of the Fray
Hooray, the warriors understand what the sounds they're hearing truly mean, and are able to show their compassion and quick thinking. This is so promising for everyone!
Author's reply
Yes! Spot on. And the Healer King is about to arrive, and Frodo and Merry are just around a bend in the road, so to speak, so things are definitely looking up.
So nice to hear from you. Hope that you and yours are well.
Larner
· 18 March 2021
· Chapter 12: Call to Arms
To be bodily lifted and rushed to safety in such a manner would indeed have been a surprise to the gardener, and I love his realization that his message is moot for the moment. As for Frodo and Merry--that, too, is a surprise. But at least the Haradrim have been shaken from the battle-trance to a realization that something else is of more likelihood and importance for the moment at least than their own deaths. Now--to find the source of the horrifying cries for help! At least all are headed to find that locus!
Author's reply
It was a close call, I think, if the soldier didn't even pause or turn around, just scooped up the hobbit and kept going. Shaken from the battle-trance: excellent way of putting it! Yes, they are cognizant, now, which is a very good thing, for a number of reasons. And yes, very soon now, all the storylines will come together in one place. It's going to get a bit crowded, I think.
Thanks for stopping to leave a good word.
Larner
· 18 March 2021
· Chapter 11: Battle Cry
Once again, the internet has swallowed the last review I wrote. Aargh!
Poor Pippin, to hear the songs of the Haradrim approaching, but to once again lose consciousness. And the Haradrim themselves to be in such horrible anticipation of a horror that isn't even true. Such help for Pippin, Mittens, and Bergil, coming from such different directions!
Author's reply
I hate it when that happens. I have gotten into the habit of highlighting reviews before posting and doing a "copy" so that if they disappear, I can paste them into the form again. Silly, eh? But I do so hate rewriting, lol.
I should say that help is converging from all directions, for sure. There may be quite a traffic jam in the making.
Thanks!
demeter d
· 17 March 2021
· Chapter 12: Call to Arms
So, part of what caused the chanting Haradrim to "shush" may have been a wave of power sent by Gandalf! Funny, that, once they realized they were near the source of "something wrong", Frodo and Merry's first thought was "Pippin!". It is sweet to watch how protective the citizens and Guardsmen of the city are of their Hobbits. Sam's response was well put..." guess Strider does not need my message"! Now, tho, will the King and his guard be able to slow down, and react in time to not re-aggravate the currently still and puzzled army? Not to mention go charging into the ruin and bring it all down on everyone's heads? Things are getting TENSE! A cliff-hanger worthy of our late, departed friend Fiondil.
Author's reply
Astute observation.
And that is high praise, indeed. Fiondil was high on my Favorite Authors list, and I remember waiting breathlessly for the next installment of the latest story to be posted. Thank you.
Glad you're along on this rather wild ride.
shirebound
· 17 March 2021
· Chapter 12: Call to Arms
Oh my goodness, so much is happening at once. I'm eager to gallop quickly into the next chapter!
Author's reply
Oh, so am I! This one has definitely been fun to write. Thanks so much for coming along for the ride and stopping to leave a good word. (((hugs)))
Hai Took
· 13 March 2021
· Chapter 11: Battle Cry
Oh my! All the things converging! Turambor looking for the source of the crying! It takes amazing people who will walk into a crumbling building. Poor Pippin being confused! And where is Bergil?
Quit a cliff hanger with the Haradrim singing their battle songs!
Author's reply
Finally! Everything is converging. It has taken quite a bit of fine-tuning, but I think I have all the pieces in place and in the right places on the board to reach the finale.
Bergil is underneath Pippin, as Pippin threw himself over the top of Bergil to shield him from the collapsing building. The puppy is just beyond them, in a pocket of air that is somewhat shielded by a fallen beam. Thus, he has enough air to fill his lungs and call for help at the top of his voice. (This part is modeled on our attempt at crate-training the puppy that inspired this tale. She could deafen you with her heart-rending shrieks and wails. We eventually gave up on crate-training.)
Thanks!
Larner
· 13 March 2021
· Chapter 10: Final Preparations
A terrifying sound to hear approaching the Citadel. But do Aragorn and Gandalf sense Mitten's cries and Pippin's pain as well? As for the lies of the Mouth--why am I not surprised
Author's reply
It would be a terrifying sound, especially for anyone who had ever heard it before and knew what it portended. Gandalf, of course, perceives the whole of the Plan. Aragorn perceives a part, though I think he is recognizing Pippin's distress somehow (before, distracted by the demands of the day, it was an itch he couldn't quite scratch), along with the peril presented by the encroaching Haradrim.
The lies of the Mouth... I think I read somewhere that Sauron used lies as well as his power to impel the Easterlings and Southrons to fight in his service. It made sense to me that the Haradrim thus saw Gondor as the greater evil. (And a great evil it must be, to be worse than Mordor...)
Thanks! Next chapter is finished and ready to post on Wednesday.
shirebound
· 11 March 2021
· Chapter 11: Battle Cry
Perhaps the rescue and recovery, perhaps the reunions, the celebration upon the field of Cormallen, the triumphant return to Minas Tirith, Faramir’s welcome, the crowning of the King... perhaps all of those things were but the dreams of his fading mind.
Oh, poor Pippin! And oh, the suspense continues!
Author's reply
Ah, yes, it continues, but not for much longer! The story has nearly reached the end of the draft, meaning those poor trapped creatures (boy/hobbit/puppy) will soon be freed! (It's about time. Years, it's been.) Sometimes a story goes on past the draft ("Rope" comes to mind, which started as one chapter and was supposed to end, definitively, after five chapters, but went on and on and on), but that would take a sudden new idea or inspiration, which has not happened in this case.
Thanks so much for stopping to leave a good word.
demeter d
· 10 March 2021
· Chapter 11: Battle Cry
Hooray! You are moving again on this one and "The Tenth Walker". I read the other this morning before out the door and gone all day. This one I discovered when settling for the night. I went back and looked, I reviewed the chapter before this one in July of 2015! A lot has happened in our world since then, but poor Pippin and Mittens are still stuck in that ruin! The sudden silence from the marching Haradrim makes me think that their column has reached the crowd of folks hissing "Shh". And perhaps out of pure surprise, they "Shhushed"! Perhaps, hmmm,... perhaps the cause of helping the citizens and the Guards which surely are coming from the Citadel by now to rescue the trapped "child" will allow all involved to see each other as caring human beings? Hmm?
I definitely hope that Real Life allows you a bit more time to continue here.
Author's reply
You are a very good guesser!
After too many 18-hour days in a row, I have been very cautious in taking on new work. But my brain doesn't seem to know what to do with free time! So at the moment, I am able to write, and I hope it lasts a while.
This one is written in draft form all the way to the end, so at least I don't have to figure out plot points or worry about writing myself into a corner. I just have to keep fleshing out the draft and polishing each chapter as it goes up. Although the draft version is not broken into chapters, there is not all that much left to the story, so far as I can tell. It will be such a relief to get Pippin and Bergil and Mittens out of the rubble!
Thanks so much for stopping to leave a good word. (((hugs)))
Hai Took
· 24 February 2020
· Chapter 10: Final Preparations
Oh no! Trapped in rubble and no one knows where! And the Haradrim! Yikes! So much happening!
Author's reply
Yes, and everything is finally coming together. Thank you so much for the review, and apologies that I only saw it just now as I took up the thread of the tale once more.
PSW
· 4 October 2016
· Chapter 10: Final Preparations
Fun story, I'm enjoying! :-) Love the puppy...oh my. Picturing him, and the combination of Pippin and Betgil trying to control him. :-P Of course, now its gotten them into a bit of a mess. I'm glad there are people paying attention to all the racket now -- seems like Aragorn and company are going to be inundated with trouble of their own pretty soon...
Thanks so much for writing!
Author's reply
Thank you so much!
There is an awful lot of fuss and bother (aka trouble) about to descend, any time now. My writing time got derailed this week, so I don't know if I'll be able to add to this one until after the weekend (trying to think good thoughts), but I managed to add a chapter to another story, so that's something.
Your current story looks intriguing. I've added it to my reading list, but as I haven't been able to steal enough time to read Larner's latest "Ranger" chapter, even, I'm not sure when I will be able to explore... I'll leave you a note, though, when I get the chance.
Dreamflower
· 24 September 2016
· Chapter 10: Final Preparations
Oh my goodness! The plot grows thicker, and the suspense ever tighter!
Which will happen first? The rescue of the poor trapped ones, or the fateful plan of the Haradrim? My poor fingernails want to know, Oh Mistress of Cliffies!
Author's reply
LOL! May the message proceed from your fingernails to the Muse's ears...
Think good thoughts. I am hoping to keep updating in this story and Bill's, at least weekly, so long as RL doesn't go mad again and swallow all my time and ability to write. And then as one story comes to a close, start updating in another, etc. and so forth.
Thanks!
Larner
· 24 September 2016
· Chapter 10: Final Preparations
I wouldn't be the least surprised to know that Aragorn had heard them as well. It has been forty-something years since he last saw Denethor, after all, and he needed to know that Faramir was of quite a different sort than his brother, more like his father in intellect but less suspicious by nature. But, then, all have reason to be suspicious as to the intent of the Haradrim. The Jackal does appear to be quite the piece of work.
And the locals have at least found the site of the wails, if not yet the cause. Bless Mittens for his loyalty.
Author's reply
...and perhaps Mittens is claustrophobic, like the pup who took our Zoe's place. We never did manage to crate train her. She could carry on her wailing and shrieking for hours... We ended up giving up before she did, some weeks after we'd decided crate-training just wasn't happening the way they'd said it would.
Anyhow, Mittens is definitely in distress, on his master's behalf as well as his own, and is going to let everyone know, and is not going to let up until the distress is over and done with.
And you're right, the Jackal is a bad-un. He's the sort that gives me shivers.
Thanks!
shirebound
· 24 September 2016
· Chapter 10: Final Preparations
Eeeee, so suspenseful!
Author's reply
Yikes! But it's all coming together quickly now...
Thanks!
Andrea
· 1 August 2015
· Chapter 9: Orders
So, Ha’alan and his men think they are going to their deaths?
They know little of the new king of Gondor! And they will be very surprised. But it is very hard to predict what will happen then. Everything seems possible.
At least Merry and Frodo know now that something is wrong with Pippin and Turambor is alarmed as well. I hope they will find him soon.
Author's reply
Ah, yes, they're quite certain they're going to their deaths. They know only what Sauron's mouthpieces have told them. And if Sauron was bad, well, Elessar can only be worse. Right?
I think the puppy has finally caught someone's attention. Whew.
Thanks!
demeter d
· 30 July 2015
· Chapter 9: Orders
Yah! Another chapter. You are doing an excellent job of spinning two threads of suspense; maybe four if one counts Frodo and Co., and Aragorn and the court. I suspect they may all converge, very soon, on about the level where our hapless two are trapped! You have done a very good job of the mind-set people get into during war. And to drive their countrymen into a war. It will be interesting to see how the Haradrim come to understand the truth!
Author's reply
Thank you! The timeline is a little tricky, trying to pull it off without sounding contrived, and I'm not so skilled at juggling multiple threads as I used to be. Out of practice.
They say the way to become a writer is to write every day (!), and I'm trying to get back in the habit...
Thanks again for the encouraging words!
Larner
· 30 July 2015
· Chapter 9: Orders
Turambor and others have heard Mittens now. Good! Only--the parade starts and their attention has been drawn aside. Now--Merry and Frodo know, and if he hasn't realized it already Aragorn will know soon that Pippin is missing! Find them, Men of Gondor--and Harad!
Author's reply
Right! Thanks for your listening ear the other day. I'm hoping I can manage to keep the timeline straight...
shirebound
· 30 July 2015
· Chapter 9: Orders
Oh my goodness, this is so suspenseful! Poor Ha’alan, believing he's going to his death, and the pup still trying to get everyone's attention.
Author's reply
Very much so... and I just hope I can work all the threads into a believable pattern. Whew.
Thanks!
Dreamflower
· 30 July 2015
· Chapter 9: Orders
Oh my! So close, so close! At least Frodo, Merry and Sam know something is *wrong* now!
I wonder how the Ambassador is going to take NOT being sacrificed? Such peculiar thoughts he has after so many years of being propagandized by the Dark Lord...
Author's reply
Yes, they know something is wrong, but they're a long way from the Second Level -- isn't the guest house on the Sixth Level? I don't have my notes with me at the moment, but that's the impression I had from somewhere.
The Ambassador is a wise and brave Man, but you're right, he's going to need all the help he can get, changing his mind. At the moment he's both resigned to his fate, and relishing the vengeance that will fall even as he dies... or at least, that's how he anticipates the whole scheme playing out. And then his people will be truly free, for the first time in I don't know how long!
Thanks!
Diana
· 15 July 2015
· Chapter 0: Prologue and explanation
What kind of dog was Zoe? We have a 120 lb german shepherd so I understand about big dogs! I am really liking this story,
Diana
Author's reply
Zoe was a Giant Schnauzer. She had a tall, slim build, and so at 85 lbs was larger than our large German Shepherd or Labradors had been. She was considered quite tall for a Giant female.
Her successor "Pandemonium", oddly enough, is even larger -- nearly 100 lbs and not a bit of fat, taller than Zoe, and still growing. (Some days she can eat four pounds of meat and bone, plus scraps, and still be looking for more. They tell us when she stops growing, she'll settle for about a pound a day.) But Panda's father was enormous, so it's not surprising.
Thanks! I'm glad to hear from you.
Eruherdiriel
· 4 July 2015
· Chapter 8: Just before Teatime
Trouble brewing... And it's an acorn to a bushel of oats that dog will have something to do with it all.
Cute story.
~Eruherdiriel
Author's reply
If that dog is anything like our overgrown puppy, he'll be right in the middle of everything.
Thanks!
Andrea
· 4 July 2015
· Chapter 8: Just before Teatime
...and began to shriek once more, high, heartbroken wails that would set any mother dog frantic, not to mention anyone else with a soft heart for younglings
Now we only need someone who hears this!
If Pippin does not show up in time for his duty, someone will inform the other hobbits and then at least they will know that something is wrong.
And the Haradrim? I don't think they would have a chance to conquer anything. But we will see.
Author's reply
Definitely!
(And the Haradrim? They can be pretty fearsome... They have their reasons, as have been hinted at, and will be made clearer soon. Whew.)
Thanks!
Larner
· 2 July 2015
· Chapter 8: Just before Teatime
Ah, how delightful indeed, the thoughts of that tea and tomorrow's stew appear. But now for Bergil and Pippin to be found and saved. At least Mitten is there to raise the alarm, if any can appreciate the dog's cries. Poor puppy! Poor Pippin and Bergil!
Author's reply
Ah, yes, Gilwyn knows the way to a hobbit's (or guardsman's) heart...
Mittens is certainly yelling for help, in the only way the puppy knows how. (And remembering our ordeal of crate-training our claustrophobic pup, I know just how piercing and hard-to-ignore those shrieks can be.
Thanks!