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Just Desserts  by Lindelea 12 Review(s)
TariReviewed Chapter: 36 on 6/13/2007
I can't believe it's over. You can't imagine how much I loved reading A Healer's Tale and Just Desserts, including the dark parts. I truly hated to see it end. I am left wondering what happened to the two very ill Hobbits. Did you write any more about them? I normally prefer stories about Elves, but you have me totally hooked.

Thank you so much for this delightful experience.

Tari

Author Reply: You are most welcome! I am honoured, especially hearing that you prefer stories about Elves.

The two very ill Hobbits? Can you give me some context? I'll be happy to direct you to a story, or give you a summary. (I have two very ill hobbits in one of my current stories-in-progress, but I suspect they're not the ones you're talking about.)

Author Reply: ...or (pardon me for being thick) are you indeed talking about the two very ill hobbits in the current WIP, "One Who Sticks Closer than a Brother"?

Am feeling particularly brainless today.

EndaewenReviewed Chapter: 36 on 10/15/2006
A great story. You had me on tenterhooks for most of it.

Author Reply: Thanks! I know I was on tenterhooks, writing it. I really did not know the outcome, when I was in the middle... I sort of left it up to Bodkin, since this story was her prize in a guessing game, and I'm so glad that she chose the way she did.

Whew.

Thanks again, for taking time to leave a note.

Nienor NinielReviewed Chapter: 36 on 9/27/2006
A lot of my reviews contain a variation of "You made me cry" - I must come over as a blubbering, highly emotional girl... mhm, perhaps that's what I really am. Anyway, you did it again. This was such an unexpected ending which turned the whole story to something hopeful.

I loved the reference to... it was Esther, wasn't it?

All in all, a great piece. I love to see something about the rebuilt Annuminas - I think yours is the first fic I have seen expand on it.

All the best! Nienor

Author Reply: Thanks! I am behind in answering comments, but I greatly appreciate each one.

Yes, you're right, that scene was born out of reading Esther, and was probably one of the foundations the story was built upon.

It's a little daunting to expand on the rebuilding of the North Kingdom. We have only a hint or two. I find myself speculating if they would have left the ruins and built anew or built on top of the old city... I finally decided to leave the ruins, though I don't remember my reasoning any more and the notes are long gone.

Anyhow, forgive my wandering reply. I have a cold and I need to head to bed!

Thanks again.

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 36 on 12/6/2005
Hey - in addition to the film character Haleth, son of Hama, I found -

Haleth
Third Age

King Helm's son of Rohan


So maybe it's one of those names that can make the transition across the genders.


Author Reply: Ah. But then I get a fit of giggles, thinking: Here is a man of Rohan with a female Sindarin name... shades of Johnny Cash's "Boy Named Sue"...

Sorry. ahem. Attack of the sillies. So who am I to say it's a female name? All I have is a "cheat sheet" with Sindarin endings to help keep me from terrible gaffes since I don't have much of a clue when it comes to Elvish.

(Hama was from Rohan, wasn't he? Wasn't he the one killed by the Warg in the surprise attack? That was his son, who introduced himself to whoever-it-was in the movie? Poor lad. But I take comfort in the fact that Hama didn't die that way in the book, if at all.)

At the moment I have no desire to write, combined with no time to write. Wonderful boon! Usually the two hit at different times, so that I have desire to write but no time, or time to write but no desire. I don't even have time to post that last "To Tell a Tale" story that you sent me, but I still hope to when the schedule clears again.

As far as all those things "in progress", will hope to update when the Muse speaks again.

Happy St. Nicholas Day!

demeter dReviewed Chapter: 36 on 12/5/2005
Just a note on the story summary on the link: I do not remember right now if it is in the book, but in the movie "The Two Towers, a boy introduces himself to Aragorn at Helm's Deep as "Haleth, son of Hama". So evidently someone, somewhere thinks that "Haleth" is a boy's name.

Charming Epilogue. Charming Epilogue! A nice reminder to the Northern Steward that even heroes like Ellesar are human beings, capable of missteps and in need of forgiveness, support and friendship. All of which, it seems, he will be getting in abundance from his new-found daughter-in-law and grandchildren. Perhaps he can take them back north with him for an extended visit, or to stay. And, I believe, he will be thanking the Valar for the priviledge of having bothersome, interferring Hobbits for friends! May the hair on their toes never fall out!

Author Reply: Hmmm. Thanks for the note on the name! Perhaps it is a movie thing. I don't remember "Haleth" at all, but looking up the name on Encyclopedia of Arda I find Haleth was a female... Elf, I think, and her twin brother was named "Haldar". I have all the extended versions of the films, but haven't watched them in a dog's age. They are too scarey for our little ones, and by the time the children are in bed I am yawning myself!

I had my suspicions about two-thirds of the way through the story, when looking at my name lists, and my notes that said that male endings were things like -ar, -ir, -on, -ion, and -ond and female endings were -eth and -wen and -iel and -ien. (I just typed that from memory and not from looking at my notes, so it is possible that I made a mistake just now.) So I went searching for "Haleth" just to make sure. Encyclopedia of Arda didn't mention the Haleth of the movie. Perhaps that site limits itself to bookverse.

I think Haldoron really does appreciate having interfering hobbits as friends... and will even more, now that Ferdi's interfering has united him with his son's family!

It is good to remember that even Kings make mistakes, and that they weren't always kings.

Thanks for taking the time to comment!

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 36 on 12/5/2005
OK - maybe he wouldn't have been working as a messenger in the wrong place at the wrong time. This is Haldoron! He's good at blaming himself.

And, if those who knew of the wedding thought that Haldoron had disowned his son, maybe they would have kept it quiet. You never know - maybe marriage without parental consent in Gondor can be set aside, so Faelaseth wouldn't want to put herself forward and have her children made illegitimate. (Unlikely, but possible!)

And I am thinking very good and encouraging thoughts about that exciting trip to Gondor.

Author Reply: Hmmm. "Unlikely but possible." On such things hinges the plot of many a story. (I always have trouble figuring out the verb forms in such statements, do you?)

Good old Haldoron. Being chief of the Rangers in Aragorn and Halbarad's absence must have been no picnic. Er, no piece of cake. Um, am thinking like a hobbit today, in terms of food. A good thing, when writing hobbits, I suppose.

Another couple of stories in the works are "Tenth Walker" (Bill the Pony, in other words) and the one about Bilbo adopting Frodo. No dearth of material to work on. And Bandobras would really like his tale told, but it exists only as a plot summary at the moment and I keep telling him that he must simmer awhile longer on the back burner to develop flavour.

But the next chapter of "Thain" is nearly ready to post, and the next two chapters of the Fell Winter story, so we'll just have to see.

Thanks for the encouragement! I woke up this morning with absolutely no desire to write, and reading reviews rekindled my enthusiasm.

Garnet TookReviewed Chapter: 36 on 12/5/2005
I don't know how I missed the posting of this last part.

This was a very nice story. It was interesting to see what happened after Jack went over that waterfall.

I could not believe how hard the Northern Steward had become. Yes, his life had been filled with losses, but to take what the hobbits had said and twist it the way he did was just dreadful. I hope he has truly learned better now. Of course, knowing that his family line lives on will probably help whether he realizes it, or not.

Like I said, this has been a very interesting look into the way things were done in the Northern Kingdom on a day-to-day basis years after Aragorn became King.

Thanks for another thrilling yarn.

Author Reply: Well, I'm glad you found the last part anyhow!

I really wanted Jack to pop up, out of the waterfall, unscathed, but figured that would not be realistic. Poor Jack. However, his injuries go a long way to explaining why Jack didn't just pick up and leave with the boys once he realised that Pippin and Diamond would be making regular visits to the Lake, along with the attendant danger of discovery.

I think that the Steward learns an awful lot about the trustworthiness of hobbits on the journey to Gondor, actually. Part of his education will be overcoming Ferdi's distrust of Men! (As they say, "Turnabout is fair play.")

You're welcome, and thanks for taking the time to comment.

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 36 on 12/5/2005
There is a lot of reader torture involved in this epilogue! Just how did poor Haldoron end up in the Houses of Healing tormenting himself about his worth again? What has Farry done to him?

Still, at least Ferdi (MFH) has leanred the worth of (some) men - and is definitely on Haldoron's side. Which can only be a good thing.

And I love the appearance of an unknown daughter-in-law with two delightful grandchildren to help Haldoron overcome his tendency to blame himself for all the world's troubles. Although Haldoron will probably start thinking, at any minute, that, if he hadn't been such a dogmatic grouch, his son would have brought his wife home, so wouldn't have been working as a messenger, so wouldn't have been in the way of that arrow, so would still be alive. So it's all Haldoron's fault. But maybe having Faelaseth around will counter this tendency to take all on his shoulders. And Baineth will definitely be good for him. Every old grouch needs a granddaughter.

This has been an absolutely perfect story and I am so pleased that you wrote it. What a prize! I can't wait to see what you write next. On top, that is, of Thain and Fell Winter and anything else that is ongoing. Thank you for writing this.

Now, how did Haldoron get hurt?

Author Reply: Spot on except for one thing. The Steward's son likely would have been working as a messenger regardless, which is the main reason his father thought he should not marry until he achieved enough rank and status for a permanent posting. Haldoron, upright fellow that he was, wasn't about to pull strings to benefit his own son beyond what a "regular" guardsman would expect.

I was hoping the sudden appearance unknown daughter-in-law would please and not fret. I worked at making the circumstances believable. I am still working out why Elessar didn't know, when he was alternating between North and South. Evidently it was a secret marriage, and a "sergeant" knew (perhaps he was the girl's father or something like that), but who else would have known?

As to how Haldoron got hurt... well, as you know, Farry wanted to retrace the journey of the Fellowship... *g*

But seriously, that story is outlined, and the first and last chapters are written. Typical beginning for a "Lindelea" story. Now if only the rest of the draft will cooperate and write itself nicely, and then as the first revision proceeds the story can begin posting. Think good thoughts.

Pearl TookReviewed Chapter: 36 on 12/4/2005
*sigh, sniff*

Epilogue? More a Prologue I should think ;) I'm looking forward to the new story :) :)

MEWD!!

Author Reply: Yes, the Epilogue is sort of tacked-on and doesn't really fit the story, but I put it in anyhow to show that Haldoron, eventually, does receive his just desserts.

Thanks for the note of encouragement!

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 36 on 12/4/2005
Naturally I want to know the circumstances leading Halbaron to a bed in the Houses of Healing; seems that he and his beloved cousin do indeed share equal luck in trying to keep Hobbits safe.

So very glad to find he has a family now to help fill the void left by a ruffian's arrow. Bless them all, the family now forming, and the love already beginning to grow.

Love it, Lindelea.

Author Reply: I just couldn't leave the poor man hanging, so to speak, about to head off into the Wilderland with hobbits, and who *knew* what might happen (especially with hobbits involved)? So I gave away part of the "Farry and Ferdi Go to Gondor" story, just for the Steward's sake...

Thanks!

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