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Moments in Time by Larner	14 Review(s)
Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 8/29/2006
Ah, that was fun! giggle I love the idea that Dora gave Bilbo and Frodo her legendary book to copy and bind! And Frodo’s answer to her question which part he liked best ... grin So Dora approves of Bilbo raising Frodo? He should feel honoured, I suppose. Though I am sure after her second visit she was forced to reconsider it. But on the other hand, she didn’t mind her own manner advice in entering without even knocking, so it is her own fault. But she was nice to Frodo after Bilbo disappeared. A pity Dora probably wasn’t around any longer when the Travellers returned. It would have been interesting to know what she would have said. Author Reply: Well, as I've written that Bilbo taught Frodo and Sam how to copy and bind books, I thought, who better to prepare copies of Dora's own book than her cousin and nephew, right? And she WOULD ask, wouldn't she, and be answered with the one part of the book Frodo knew didn't get followed around Bag End! And she really OUGHT to have knocked, of course. But in the end, Dora has a great deal of compassion, which Frodo needed at the time. So glad it gave you a chuckle.

Linda Hoyland	Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 8/25/2006
A very sweet story, I loved the mention of the meaning of "Estel" Author Reply: I find the depth of meaning in the word is wonderful, and thought it might be a debating point between Frodo and Bilbo, and the perfect word to distract Frodo from the unexpected arrival of possible Criticism. Am so glad you like the story.

Iorhael	Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 8/21/2006
She felt him melt against her in relief, and he hugged her fiercely for a moment. Then, as she pulled away, he looked into her eyes and she could see the tears he was keeping most carefully under control and not allowing to fall. "I love you, too, Auntie Dora," he said very quietly as their eyes met. "I love you so very much. Thank you." And he gave her his brilliant smile, causing her heart to lift. My heart melts over this. T_T So lovely, Larner. Author Reply: So very glad you found it so moving, Iorhael. Thank you.

Antane	Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 8/21/2006
This is adorable! I love Frodo quoting his 'favorite' sections and then he and Bilbo doing the exact opposite, which, I'm sure, they were doing all along. Love the ending too - Frodo hugging her and telling her he loves her and you know he means it. Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: Well, quoting that part was intended, I think, more to devil Bilbo than to actually be honest with his aunt, I think, so he deserved to get caught out as he did, don't you agree? Be careful what you say, for it may come back to bite you! And, yes, I'm certain Frodo did love his aunt. Wish he'd had more of his close family by him at the last. Thanks so much, Antane.

Baggins Babe	Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 8/21/2006
I really enjoyed this story of Miss Dora - she has always seemed a real character and this came across in your tale. I've always wondered how she might have dealt with the ruffians had she lived a little longer. The banter between her and Bilbo was delightful and I was giggling when she turned up again and caught the boys lounging in tatty old nightgowns and robes! Liked your reference to Sandyman being in his cups in the middle of the afternoon - I can certainly see that! The ending was perfect, with Dora revealing her gentle hobbit heart and her love for her nephew. Author Reply: I agree about wondering how she'd have dealt with the ruffians, as obviously does Harrowcat as well. Poor Frodo--trying to twit Bilbo along and getting caught in his own words as he did. But most of the guys I know hate to throw out their oldest and rattiest garments, so had to describe those. And so very glad so many appear to appreciate how her basic Hobbit love is expressed at the last.

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 8/21/2006
Ah, you make Dora such a loveable Maiden Aunt. I especially loved her conversation with Bilbo about finding the right person. For such different personalities they really are kindred spirits. It makes me wonder how she made out in the time of troubles - very well I am sure. She could so easily have turned out like Lobelia but, unlike her, she has a soft centre if one takes the care to find/see it. And the final bit just goes to prove it. Great Larner. Just back from nearly a week at home. Lots of fun playing with Jet. Not so much fun cleaning carpets. Author Reply: Am so very glad you like my version of Dora. She could indeed have become another Lobelia, but I truly doubt the one who instructed others they must be guided by "kindness" would do so in the end. And so I have Bilbo in "The Choice of Healing" describe her puffing like a dragon but with the heart of a mallow. She and Bilbo would indeed have done well had they married, I think, but as neither did according to Tolkien I've imagined this conversation instead. Unfortunately in my version of Middle Earth Dora doesn't long survived the leaving of Bilbo, for she was much shaken by his leaving and died about a year afterwards, leaving her smial to Dudo's daughter Daisy and her husband Griffo Boffin. She was pretty elderly by then, after all. (From "The Ties of Family.") Life goes on here with the daughter and her family now residing with me. Love them dearly, I find, and it's been a tremendous relief having the tenants gone at last. And the dogs are loving the extra attention, although the cats Lydia and Zubran are not happy with THEIR dogs being here, as July chases them.

Queen Galadriel	Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 8/21/2006
"Which part did you appreciate most?" she asked. "Oh, but it was all so good…." Frodo sought rescue by his uncle, but Bilbo was wisely keeping his own attention on the biscuit he was methodically eating by taking small bites all about the center. Left on his own, Frodo quickly thought about all the sections. What she’d written about raising children had been interesting only inasmuch as it confirmed much he’d noted of how his relatives in Brandy Hall generally kept control of their own offspring; Dora’s assertion that Hobbits needed to be guided by courtesy and kindness appeared self-evident in Frodo’s eyes, while her blunt statement that Hobbits needed to be predictable he felt to be appalling. He took a deep breath, then remembered that her own advice was that proper conversation for a meal should be focused on the meal itself, and his lip twitched. He realized Bilbo was now watching him surreptitiously from the corner of his eye, and decided to take a jibe at his guardian as punishment for leaving him to his own devices in answering the question. "I think the section on meals was best, Aunt Dora, and particularly on proper attire and behavior for them. I’d not truly thought on it, you know, just how slovenly it is to appear at first or second breakfast in one’s dressing gown; nor how rude it is to read at a meal, or to speak with one’s mouth full." He opened his blue eyes to their most innocent extent, patently ignoring the spluttered laugh Bilbo was seeking to suppress. Dora was most gratified. Ah, yes, she thought, Frodo had indeed taken it all to heart, particularly if he realized the bachelor lifestyle affected by his Uncle Bilbo wasn’t always particularly decorous. "That is wonderful, dearling," she told him. "How very responsible of you to focus on that section." ..... There at the table sat Frodo and Bilbo, the former’s dressing gown not even tied neatly, revealing the most disreputable nightshirt it had ever been her misfortune to see, worn and with a seam between yolk and front that gaped open for a good two and a half inches, the fabric rubbed shiny and thin; the latter seated sideways on his side of the table, one foot up on the bench beside him and a book resting against his knee, braces dangling, wearing an old dressing gown that must have been given him at least forty years previous of a most unsuitable rose color, now faded and dirty looking. Neither had brushed hair on head or feet—indeed as he spoke and read from the book laid by his plate, pages held down by the butter dish, Frodo was running his left hand repeatedly through his hair and making it stand right up, while in his right hand he held a piece of toast dripping in currant jam, jam that at the moment was splattering the table cloth. giggling Oh my goodness! Poor, proper Miss Dora! Responsible indeed! LOL! Oh, that is priceless, absolutely priceless! The wariness she’d not seen in the lad’s eyes in years could be detected in them now as he watched her approach. But instead of berating him, she reached out her arms and hugged him in comfort, murmuring into his ear, "Sweetling, I want you to know that throughout the night you have behaved yourself with only the utmost of decorum." She felt him melt against her in relief, and he hugged her fiercely for a moment. Then, as she pulled away, he looked into her eyes and she could see the tears he was keeping most carefully under control and not allowing to fall. "I love you, too, Auntie Dora," he said very quietly as their eyes met. "I love you so very much. Thank you." And he gave her his brilliant smile, causing her heart to lift. Ah yes. Prim and proper she might be, but she has a loving heart, and I'm glad Frodo recognised that compliment as her way of expressing love. This is a delightful story and a wonderful companion to Dreamflower's Book of Manners. God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: Well, bachelors WILL be bachelors, and the men of my acquaintance have always had a few garments they loved so much that to throw them away, no matter how ragged, tore holes in their souls. I can imagine Frodo with his old nightshirt he can and will still wear in spite of given seams and worn cloth, and Bilbo it his ratty old robe, half dressed, having a debate on the true meaning of "estel" and being caught at their most uncouth, a situation Frodo had been slyly twitting his "uncle" about the previous day, and realizing the two of them have just been CAUGHT. Poor, poor Frodo! But I think that the kindness of which Dora writes is indeed her native compassion; and seeing the distress of Frodo as he tries to deal with the uproar of Bilbo's disappearance would bring that out. Frodo needed that compassion right then, and the love behind it. So glad you appreciated it.

Lily	Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 8/21/2006
What a wonderful story! I especially liked the "elevenses"-part :) Good manners thrown aside for a comfortable meal. Your Dora (or dreamflowers for that matter) is quite different from how I picture her, but it's still a delight to read her book and this story. Author Reply: That's the joy of fanfiction, that we can each imagine characters mentioned but not pictured in Tolkien's work as we wish. And in reading Dreamflower's Book of Manners I found myself just imagining what Dora would think of seeing Bilbo and Frodo after a late night, both in their dressing gowns at elevenses--and this is what came out. So glad it gave a laugh.

Elemmírë	Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 8/21/2006
ROTFL!!! Oh my that first part was great! Well, don't get me wrong--the whole thing was great and well done! You put such detail into describing Frodo and Bilbo's "before and after" appearances. I'm surprised Dora didn't have a heart attack or an apoplectic fit upon seeing the two behaving so after copying her book how many times. And I LOVE what she said to them. The ending was utterly perfect. That was the highest compliment Frodo could have received from his aunt that night, and it's good to see he realized so. An most excellent tale that compliments Dreamflower's perfectly. I'm putting the finishing touches on my own Dora tale and I portray her a bit differently, but I love how you portray her as well (along with Dreamflower). Author Reply: Glad you found it just right! Oh, I think she'd find a morning meal with a couple of male Bagginses bent on being comfortable to be a major trial, and am so glad you loved her response to their behavior! Thank you! Now am looking forward to seeing how you write your own Dora tale. I'd always pictured Dora a soft-hearted soul who appears formidable but proves otherwise. And I think she'd have a particular soft spot in her heart for her brother Drogo's only living son.

Frodo Baggins	Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 8/20/2006
Oh my goodness, Larner! You had me laughing! I love the way you do Aunt Dora. She's hysterical! And then it was so perfect to have her come in unexpectedly to find Frodo and Bilbo still in their dressing gowns (and during elevenses, heaven forbid!) Oh it was absolutely perfect. And then you ended on a sweet note, as well. Hannon le for this excellent story! Namarie, ammelda! God BLess, Frodo Baggins Author Reply: So glad this one gave so many a good chuckle. Poor Aunt Dora--so devoted to doing the Right Thing, and finding her cousin and nephew, in spite of LOADS of exposure to her good advice, are still bachelors at heart must indeed have been a shock. But when Frodo needs some compassion, I think she'd be the first to give it. Whether or not Frodo was prepared for Bilbo's "surprise" still wouldn't have made it any easier to deal with his grief once the old Hobbit was gone, nor with the questions and demands made on him immediately afterwards. Thank you so for your response.

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