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New Roads and Secret Gates  by Citrine 8 Review(s)
Anso the HobbitReviewed Chapter: 8 on 12/7/2005
What a sweet and tender and lovely ficlet! I absolutely enjoyed reading this. :D

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 8 on 11/15/2005
Yes, a good homecoming, with a solemn foreshadowing of what will come to these, Frodo, and Sam as well. A good thing, for the future Thain's son to realize that some soldiers need for the fighting to be done, for the homecoming and the singing and the welcoming and the feeding to begin.

A very nice story, and one I'm glad I've read.

Grey WondererReviewed Chapter: 8 on 11/15/2005
The connections to the quest are so touching and so subtle. Very well done and a lovely story. I enjoyed this very much.

Pearl TookReviewed Chapter: 8 on 11/14/2005
Oh my, I'm crying. This is a wonderful story.

"He gave Pippin a gentle jab in the ribs that made him squeak. "Aha, stop! I'd go with you, Merry, and become a soldier, too, and look after you." "

For my soldier who is home, but might yet go back to war - thank you for remembering them all.

Author Reply: Oh {{Pearl}}, I hope I didn't hurt your feelings with this. {{Hugs}} and best of wishes to your soldier.

LindeleaReviewed Chapter: 8 on 11/14/2005
...but you have brought me to tears, especially as I think of the earlier story, but all by itself this story is poignant and heart-catching.

He and Merry always made sure to bring all the brave hobbit-archers home again safe and sound, with a lovely big feast and lots of fireworks afterward.
(such a hobbity approach to war and battle)

And the bit of pretending, and Merry's not laughing at Pippin, but being understanding, and bringing all the hobbits home again (especially knowing what really happened), and Merry's "never going to war". *sigh*

And suddenly I feel a tug, and wonder what's happening to Bucca of the Marish at this moment... (in "Thain", that is).

Author Reply: Oooh, I wonder, too. I'm really loving that story, though I almost feel the urge to peek at it through my fingers. Poor Pippin and Poor Bucca, one trapped by accident of birth, the other living in evil times.

Baggins BabeReviewed Chapter: 8 on 11/14/2005
Oh goodness! There was so much in this story, including a foreshadowing of the Quest. Pippin is so sweet to feel sad for the little soldier, and bless Merry for being so gentle about it and not mocking him. A lovely tale for this particular week.

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 8 on 11/14/2005
Pippin's mouth trembled, and if Merry had been a different sort of older cousin he might have laughed at this sudden rush of tender feeling toward a scrap of painted iron. "There, there, Pip, it's all right. He's not lost or sad, just tired because he's been walking a long way." He took Pippin's hand and they slid off the bed together. "See, we'll put him here on the night-table and pretend he's already got home from Norbury. Just a few miles more and he'll be there at his own smial, and the kettle will be singing and his place made ready, and everyone he cares about will be waiting.

This is absolutely wonderful! And the last paragraph made me all weepy -- in a good way.

Author Reply: Aw, thanks Shirebound:o)*Hands you Kleenex* Bwahahahaha...*ahem* I mean, I'm so sorry about that. *Patpatpat*

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 8 on 11/14/2005
"I imagine he is," Merry said. "I'm sure he would rather be warm and safe and sitting down to a good meal than going off to war." Merry's stomach growled and he glanced at the clock. "Come along, Pip, are we going to make them fight or not?"

"No," Pippin said. "He doesn't want to fight anymore. I think he's cold and frightened. And lost."

Pippin's mouth trembled, and if Merry had been a different sort of older cousin he might have laughed at this sudden rush of tender feeling toward a scrap of painted iron. "There, there, Pip, it's all right. He's not lost or sad, just tired because he's been walking a long way." He took Pippin's hand and they slid off the bed together.

You have so much in this little scrap of a vignette: references to past history; a beautiful snapshot of Merry's and Pippin's relationship, as shown in the wonderful snippet above; a bit of foreshadowing of the Quest; a lovely tribute to the ones who went off and never returned; and a new and happy ending for them at the hands of a large-hearted hobbit lad. How can you pack so much into such a tiny scene?


Author Reply: *Blushing* Oh shoot. I don't know what to say, besides thanks so much for your kind words:o) Guess I was maybe feeling some old mourning for what Tolkien's canon did to my OCs in that previous story (she said, neatly shifting the blame to the Professor to assuage her guilt,) and this pretty much wrote itself.

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