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| Chance Encounter by Dreamflower | 13 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| PIppinfan1988 | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/17/2006 |
| So...this is the beginning of Éowyn the Shieldmaiden. Your characterization of her is fantastic. LOL, I try not to repeat things, but to me, your portrayal of her flows right along with You-know-who's portrayal. ;-) Ah...a birthday party for Samwise. I love a good hobbity party, so I'm looking forward to it. I like how Menelcar's personality is being fleshed out more and more. It was there in Life of a Bard, but I feel as if I'm getting to know him better in this one. I like him; he is genuinely a good guy--if he wasn't, Frodo would have routed him out of the Shire long ago. Pippinfan Author Reply: I am very glad my characterization of her rings true to the readers. I was somewhat worried, as this was my first time to write her, and I certainly had never attempted a "youthful" story for any but hobbits before. Yet it was something I'd had in mind from the first story, when I mention Menelcar had guested in Rohan--I *knew* he'd had an encounter with a young Eowyn. I love hobbity parties too! I think that's why I write so many of them! Frodo's an excellent judge of character. He wouldn't have put just anyone up at Bag End in Gandalf's room. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/6/2006 |
| I can't read more here, unfortunately, not tonight, I think--have to get ready to go to work, after all. But love the plans for the birthday, the friendship with Menelcar, the songs from so many sources--including the Shire--that Eowyn heard, the hiding and warning to get back into their rooms; the plans for the birthday party. Author Reply: I'm so glad that you are enjoying it! Don't be late! | |
| Gryffinjack | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/5/2006 |
| "The door to the chamber shared by the hobbits was flung open, and Frodo knew without turning around that his cousins had returned and Pippin was first in the door." LOL! An excited Pippin is not one to be confused with anyone else, is he? "Frodo put the quill carefully into the holder. His calligraphy was improving, but it had a long way to go before it was once more as good as it had been before he lost his finger." AH! So it's to be a hobbity birthday party for Sam! Excellent! ""Lots of food and music," said Pippin firmly. The others laughed. "Not music and food?" Merry teased. Pippin just grinned." Merry does indeed know his Pippin. Not many hobbits would find anything more important than food. "The hobbits still suffered badly from night terrors. When they had been, the first night, presented separate chambers in the Citadel--something Men thought of as an honor--the problem had become much worse than it had been since they had all been reunited. The previous night the four of them had shared a chamber, and it did help somewhat. When Pippin and Frodo had both woken up, crying out and trembling, the others were right there to offer comfort." And that is exactly how I would picture it - that Frodo and Pippin would both share their inclination toward night terrors due to their experiences with Sauron's thoughts inside their heads. Blast that Ring and palantir! As we've said before, Merry and Sam would both be in for their own horrors - Sam with night terrors of thinking Frodo dead, seeing him take the ring, and of Shelob, and Merry with night terrors of Pippin or Theoden being dead or becoming ill like Frodo on his own anniversaries of contact with the Black Breath. But the ones who really suffered the worst thoughts of Sauron inside their own heads were Frodo and Pippin. I do not envy any of them their night visions. Did Gimli know Menelcar from when he was at the Lonely Mountain? I have no doubt that Pippin will have that fiddle well-tuned in time for the party. So *that's* how Eowyn knew Menelcar! She certainly was always a spirited thing, wasn't she? I'm so glad you had this interaction between Eowyn and Eothain. Your development of all of the characters, including the minor ones, is fantastic! This was a very nice reminder of part of the price that Frodo had to pay. You fit these details in so well. Author Reply: No, Pippin's enthusiasm makes itself felt in his own unique way! Yes, there is to be a party for Sam. And for Pippin, well music and food are almost synonymous, LOL! You have very well described the dynamics of their nightmares and other symptoms, and the way in which they relate to one another! I am not certain that they actually *met*, but I think Gimli was there at the time, and probably heard him sing. JRRT's few mentions of Eothain give him a very vivid personality--young and impetuous and loyal to his kinsman. He does not mention *how* Eothain is related, so I make them paternal cousins. And though he does not mention Eothain's actual age, he seems younger and more immature than Eomer--perhaps he was about the same age as Eowyn...the rest came from that. Thank you. | |
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/5/2006 |
| Ah, I see – a Shire birthday! Sam will be most embarassed, I suppose, but he deserves it. And the others are probably only too happy for any excuse to have a proper Shire feast! Now Menelcar could sing for them. Sometimes she found herself wishing that Denethor yet lived, so that she could have the chance to visit her own scorn upon him, to heap upon his head reproaches for the way he had treated his younger son. That is *exaclty* what I often want to do! A pity he didn’t survive. It would’ve been interesting to witness what Éowyn had to say to Denethor! I can understand the young Éowyn didn’t want to do stitching and the like. I was the same, and to be honest, although I’m 40 now I still prefer cleaning the stables over my housework! Anyway, loved the sparring and how they slipped out to hear Menelcar! Somehow it seems very like Éowyn! Author Reply: Oh, an embarassed Sam is a given. He's so cute when he blushes. And yes, I think that though the others want to do this for Sam, they are also doing it for themselves. They have begun to be very homesick. Yes, I too, would love to see a scene of Eowyn giving Denethor "what for". He might try to haughtily shrug it off, but I would bet she'd really give it to him but good. I am so glad you liked the part with young Eowyn and her cousin. It was my first time to try something like that, and I just really had to cross my fingers that she came off well. | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/4/2006 |
| Finally, a stolen moment to read this chapter at leisure. Some high points: Menelcar's thoughts, honouring Frodo Eowyn's musings about Faramir the cousins "battering one another happily" Menelcar's kindness and complicity O how I love your Menelcar! He is a fine and upright Man. Funny, your Pippin's birthday is April 1, and I think that is what I imagined as Farry's birthday! Author Reply: I'm glad you got the chance! You know, I had Eowyn musing a lot more on Faramir, but Marigold very reasonably pointed out to me that the stables were not so far away from the Citadel as I was imagining them, so her thoughts were rather curtailed, LOL! I have watched the fighters at SCA fighter practice, and they are perfectly happy whacking away at one another, and seldom notice the hurts or bruises till later--though they *are* indeed armored. But they really seem to enjoy it. I am so glad you think that of him. I've been fond of him since he first wandered into the Shire and met Pippin--he's a favorite of mine. That is funny! I could see that as well, you know! | |
| Pearl Took | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/4/2006 |
| Ah, rollicking songs of food, drink and good cheer - I wonder wherever he got those songs ;) A wonderful read for the end of a dreary day and an oft hectic holiday season. Thank you, Dreamflower! Author Reply: Well, he might have heard some songs that were spread by a certain hobbit who had rather made a name for himself in Dale and Erebor, LOL, for this takes place a couple of years before he comes across Pippin. I am glad if it gave you a bit of pick-me-up! You are very welcome. And thank you for reading and commenting! Author Reply: Actually, it was about five years before he met Pippin, and about eight years before this story... | |
| Andrea | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/2/2006 |
| April fools day? A very fitting date for Pippin's birthday! Luckily, I was born two days later ;-) I really enjoyed your Eowyn / Eothain story! I've never read something like that before. But I like it very much. It makes her much more alive! I'm looking forward to a real hobbity birthday party! Maybe, Menelcar and Frodo could sing the "Merry Old Inn" song together? Although, I'm not quite sure if Frodo would appreciate that idea :) Author Reply: I thought April Fool's Day was a good date for Pippin, LOL! I think Eowyn must have had an interesting adolescence. One of the reasons I included this little story, was to try and make parallels between her and Pippin. Maturity-wise (though not in years) she and Pippin were about the same age when they met Menelcar. The party will be coming soon. But a few other things will happen first. | |
| Garnet Took | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/2/2006 |
| I like your idea for the hobbits birthdays. I got at least some of the ideas you were playing with when you chose them. I'm glad you put the Eowyn stuff in a chapter with the hobbits part of the story. It connects things very nicely. Liking this very much. GT. Author Reply: Glad you liked the choices I made. Of course, JRRT could have made life easier if he'd left a list with everyone's actual birthdays on it, but I suppose that's too much to hope for, LOL! And I am glad that you enjoyed Eowyn's story! | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/2/2006 |
| I love the Eowyn, Eothain flashback. It's such a great story in itself - and I hope The Road to Edoras contains more delightfully Rohirric moments! Frodo seems potentially indignant about having people kept away by his protectors. I think that, occasionally, he would like to remind everyone that he is 51 years old and considered to be a mature and responsible adult. But then it is hard to reject the care of those who only want the best for him. On birthday presents:- "You did, Pip, you stayed alive, and that was gift enough for all of us." How true. And yet a nice hobbity birthday party will be a good way to make themselves all start living more normal hobbity lives. As far as they can in Minas Tirith, of course. As heroes. And friends of kings and dwarves and elves. Author Reply: I'm so glad the Eowyn flashback got a nice response. After all, she's not a hobbit, and this was my first time to write her, so I was hoping that I was getting her right. But this has been a part of Menelcar's backstory from the first. I always knew he had passed through Rohan, and met Eowyn as a youngster. Frodo is, I think more startled than anything else, to have to consider this. He has a bit more education in the ways of the world outside the Shire than the others, but no more actual experience. I am sure his first thoughts were of protecting the younger ones from possible trouble. And the idea that things were being kept from him, perhaps because people didn't want to "worry" him would certainly *not* go down well with him. Yes, it was. It was the best gift of all, for all of them, to survive what they had survived. You are right: they are more than ready to begin being just normal hobbits again, and have yet to realize "it ain't a-gonna happen". This will definitely figure in the futures. | |
| Telpethoron | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/1/2006 |
| So Eowyn and Menelcar have met before, eh? It'll be interesting to see if he remembers her after all this time. I can understand why the hobbits would want to sleep together - being the social creatures they are, it would seem odd for them to have separate beds...especially for the likes of Merry and Pippin. And now, Frodo knows about the 'charlatans', as you put it. I wonder how he's going to deal with that - it seems he wasn't aware such a thing was even possible. Frodo has always tried to see the best in everyone he meets - but now he may have to come to grips with the fact that not everyone is who they claim to be. Very well written, as always - I'm looking forward to the next installment. Author Reply: Yes, they have! And it will be interesting, won't it? They are social creatures, very much so, and according to my way of reckoning, sleeping together in times of stress or danger is natural to them. The charlatans are going to figure in the story sooner or later. So am I. *grin* | |