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When Winter Fell by Lindelea	6 Review(s)
Inkling	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 11/22/2005
(I'm sure they'd appreciate the song "Food, Glorious Food!" from "Oliver!") Oh, I love it! In fact I can well imagine an entire production of “Oliver!” cast with hobbits…there’s something very Dickensian about them, you know. I had to reread Chapters 7 and 8 just now to refresh my memory, and noticed the irony of this line that I had missed on the first reading: It was all politeness, of course, for what service could a wizard possibly ask of a hobbit? What service indeed…the salvation of Midde-earth, perhaps? Author Reply: What service, indeed. You noticed that too? Dickensian, yes, for some reason hobbits seem very much as if they've sprung from the pages of Dickens. And yet, the way I've imagined society in the "great holes" there's a touch of Austen there too. I wonder what JRRT himself would say to that?

Cuthalion	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 11/16/2005
So I was right! It is Gandalf, and I like the way you portray his friendship with Gerontius - as I like the way you portray the rich, bucolic, social life in the Great Smial. This story is a delight to read, really. Author Reply: Yes, it is Gandalf. And thank you for your encouraging comments.

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 10/31/2005
I think that we could all do with a wizard visiting once in a while. Like right now please. I will even happily run out of the door without even a pocket hankie! Author Reply: I wonder if wizards can conjure a clean house? Now that would be worth a visit, for sure. Otherwise, if he merely comes to distract me from my duties, well, I have plenty of distractions already. He's welcome to join me for tea, of course. But no adventures! (At least, not until the dishes and laundry are caught up.)

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 10/31/2005
Tsk, Bilbo. Eavesdropping is naughty. Although you can learn a lot! I liked seeing Gandalf with the lads - and worrying about whether he had been right to take Isengar home. The friendship between the Old Took and Gandalf is good to see - and I'm glad to see that the store cupboard are bulging. But I think Bilbo might end up having to write about something other than food before the winter ends. Author Reply: It is interesting to see Gandalf burdened with the individuals he cares about, as well as with the whole of Middle-earth. I think the Tooks learned wisdom along with sorrow in a previous winter.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 10/31/2005
Alas, to have to write other than menues must be a matter of grief for poor Bilbo. And Gerontius sounds so much like movie Bilbo welcoming Gandalf to Bag End. Seems Bilbo is far more related to his grandfather than many of the Tooks in the Smial! Author Reply: LOL. Well, I do seem to remember reading somewhere that Gandalf thought Bilbo took after his Tookish side more than his Baggins side.

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 10/31/2005
Oh how delightful! I just love this beautiful friendship between Gerontius and Gandalf. Of course the talk overheard is going to stick in Bilbo's memory, even if he doesn't quite understand what it means now. I always love the description of how it was the way that hobbits had pity on one another, and cared for one another during the Great Winter, that drew Gandalf's attention to the race. As a representative of the Valar, he would certainly value that quality in them--little knowing that it was their compassion and pity that would one day result in accomplishing his mission, and in saving all of Middle-earth. And he has come, not merely to provide fireworks for a dear old friend's birthday, but also to provide a warning of what is to come... Author Reply: O thank you! I had to give it some thought... if it was noteworthy enough to be mentioned, then they must be friends indeed, with that easy friendship that is often found between two old men who know a lot about life and have shared some significant experiences. (Gee, now I wonder what these were? More bunnies poking out their noses.) Is there more on Gandalf and the Dearth, than the brief mention in the Tale of Years? All it says there is that Gandalf comes to the aid of the Shire folk. I had been thinking that Gandalf warned Fortinbras' Grandfa of the harsh winter to come, but if it was that winter that brought the hobbits to his attention... well, there are always dreams to fall back on. Grandfa might had a warning dream of the Long Winter--something like Frodo's dreams, later.

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