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| Mathom by perelleth | 10 Review(s) |
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| Tari | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 1/31/2007 |
| I have just finished chapter 2 of this delightful tale and was wondering if you could tell me what seneschal means. My pea brain won't recall it. Thanks. Author Reply: Thanks to you, Tari.. A seneschal is an officer of person in charge of affairs in a medieval household. I hope you are having a good time. Author Reply: Thanks to you, Tari.. A seneschal is an officer, or person in charge of affairs in a medieval household. I hope you are having a good time. | |
| grumpy | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 4/2/2006 |
| So it was not really only Estel they are trying to keep away from the dwarves, wizard and hobbit. It is Glorfindel, but why? Is he someone, like great uncle Hurbert, who must be kept away from aunt Mary, at holidays. Do like Elrond's keeping track of the wine, but holding both keys to the cellar. Author Reply: Elrond is being prudent with his wine...:-) You are right, it is not *only* Estel. The reason? Well, I got the inspiration for this story in the chapter " A short Story" of "The hobbit." But you shall find the answer here soon, in the third and last last chapter, :-) Thank-you again, grumpy. | |
| Dot | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/31/2006 |
| Hehehe. Ok, this’ll have to be a quickie, I’m afraid… I do like your Erestor. Great conversation between him and Cook about Gandalf and Bilbo! In fact, the whole kitchen scene was most enjoyable. And you have the best explanation I’ve ever seen for that “tra-la-la-lally” song! Oh, and for some reason, the story about Gildor and the fig tree struck me as very funny! So, it’s Glorfindel who needs to be kept away from Gandalf! And Thorin! Hmmm… interesting… ;-) And Elladan is spending his time with Estel teaching him how to break into the kitchen?? He is the coolest babysitter! I had to laugh at Erestor’s reaction too – showing him how to do it properly! [...]engaged in what sounded like a contest of growls and howls accompanied by some erratic table-hitting with their cups. *chokes* What a perfect description. Sounds like fun! You know, Elrohir doesn’t seem to be the brightest star in the sky. And I admit I chuckled a little evilly when he got landed with Bilbo! Although, to be fair, he did manage to wangle his way out of that later… Love Elrond and the map! And Erestor’s pride in him made me smile :-) Actually, one of my favourite parts is the image of Glorfindel playing with the young ones. Estel made me laugh with his jokes – especially as Glorfindel was just about to launch into a tale about Aulë! *snigger* “…have such long…er, good night, Elrond, Elladan, Erestor, uh…everybody. Are we interrupting?” Everybody??? Uh-oh! More please! You really are marvellous at comedy :-) (Why do Dwarves have such long beards?!) Author Reply: I suppose that Erestor would have had a calmer day if he had locked everybody up in a cellar. But Elrond would not hear of such thing, so Erestor has had a very busy day, chasing them all around and glaring at everything out of place!! To me he is the closest thing to a stressed Elf! Poor Elrohir was too smug and fast for his own good. But he is a caring big brother, so when he heard of someone having to be kept safe, he inmediately thought of Estel... LOL! That was Erestor's mistake, after all!:-) so he spent the rest of the day paying for it... in his way. Landing the unsuspecting twin with good old Bilbo was a bit too much in my opinion! :-) And the sight of an oblivious Glorfindel having the time of his life first with the dwarves and then with the children was enough to incense poor Erestor! Many thanks, Dot, I am glad that you are enjoying! (We shall have to ask Elrohir about that...) | |
| Haleth | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/31/2006 |
| You got me, too. I was quite certain Erestor and Elrond were intent on hiding Estel from the dwarves, Mithrandir and Bilbo. It took longer than I'd like to admit to clue in they were actually hiding Glorfindel. Erestor is just wonderful. He seems able to control most of Imladris, with some exceptions, with a glare. His one weakness seems to be those who appear smug while speaking to him. I wonder if Elladan knows this and wears that 'Celeborn' expression on purpose? Estel seems to be one of those immune to Erestor. He explains breaking into the kitchen via the latched, back door by claiming to be hungry. Anyone who's raised a boy knows how true this is. They are always hungry. Bilbo was a delight, searching for food and history (in that order). It's very hobbity for him to have asked about the family names of those at the battle of Fornost. History seen through the lens of geneology. There many little asides and descriptions that really bring this chapter to life. The description of the dwarven drinking song from an elvish pov 'a contest of growls and howls accompanied by some erratic table-hitting with their cups' is probably exactly how a refined elf would see things. Glorfindel seems to have little problem with it, though. Is this because he is more experienced or because he takes himself a bit less seriously? The description of the fig tree taking bursting through the foundations had me laughing. I've heard of willows doing awful things to water pipes. This probably isn't much different. The mention of the bonfire traditions of the Eldar (the Doors of Summer in Gondolin, the Eglain and the Noldor's equivocal reaction) really please my inner Tolkien geek. "The worst is over." If ever there is a phrase that serves as a harbinger to disaster, this is it. I'm very much looking forward to the next chapter. Author Reply: Oh, we were all certain that it was Estel. It is all Erestor's fault, he did not explain all within Elrohir's hearing, and that was his mistake !:-) Erstor believes in preventive measures, and in the mantle of authority, and the rest just... let him believe that he intimidates them, so everybody is happy. HE's a busy Elf, after all, and someone has to take charge :-) At times though, things get slightly out of control, and now we gut an annoyed Erestor, who has to be chasing twins, balrog-slayers, Isildur's heir, a perian, a wizard and thirteen dwarves around the house, and that's a bit too much. He would rather be sitting there with Glorfindel and the dwarves, drinking ale and learning those "harsh rhymes"! :-) I am glad that you liked the details. I am too a Tolkien geek, and this particular chapter of The Hobbit was calling for some gap-filling in my opinion, what with those references to the First Age, :-) Many thanks for your comments, Haleth! | |
| Lyn | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/31/2006 |
| Well written and very pleasing to read! Just one comment. Lemons were a late addition to the English diet, coming from the Far East (as were all citrus fruit). As LOTR supposedly took place over 7,000 years ago, they might be expected to have the same diet as England had before the Romans came. I haven't done much research, but it would be nice to think that apples were available. I'm sure wild strawberries were available as was honey. I don't know what whortleberries tasted like, but believe they were growing wild then. Blueberries didn't arrive until 1946. All of our favorites were late arrivals from the Far East, such as spices silk and citrus. I should do more research, but believe the above to be true. Author Reply: OH! Please, do not do more research on my account! I take your word, thanks! | |
| Redheredh | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/30/2006 |
| Ha! Tricksy bard, you had me scrambling to find chap1 and reread it after reading this chapter! *Glorfindel* is being distracted from the questing guests?! Gandalf in particular? :D Now, I understand why you had them chasing trolls. Nice setup and feint. Bilbo is as lovable as Estel in this, but Erestor is who makes me really grin. *G* see? I love that you gave him a large role in this. The bit with the map was most entertaining. It's good that Elrond's counselor can take some pride in his boss. I too like sitting by and watching how work gets done, so I enjoyed visiting with Cook as much as Erestor, I think. However, I wish we had learned more of the dwarves drinking game. And, the dwarve jokes...*rolls eyes* suited for a child's budding humor. ;) A portentous ending, though. Just what is Glorfinel going to do when he sees it? Surely, Gandalf would not be wearing it around the Homely House?! Author Reply: I'm wavering between feeling guilty -knowing how scarce your spare time is- or shamelessly pleased that you went back to re read chapter 1! I choose the second, assuming that you are having a good time !:-) I love gap fillers. And the Hobbit deals very casually with Elves. Now, Daw has a wonderful story, "Tangled Web" which explains the events during "The Hobbit" seen from Thranduil's people pov and it is one of my favourites. And to my taste, the events in Rivendell were recounted too casually, and four important people were completely wiped out from the scene. And it was that *other* little detail.. I love it that Tolkien digged into his own world, for it gives us plenty of possiblities... But this Erestor is growing on me, almost unintendedly, much as Ingil Ingwion did, what can I say? I too like wathcing things get done from behind curtains, and knowing what is all about... I wish we had learned more of the dwarves drinking game Oh my! I do not feel up to that task! I cannot "hear them." Doing Bilbo was hard enough! And the child! (but then, I've been spending some time around my nephews lately, I believe it shows! ;-) I hope it all comes out nicely wrapped up in the end. And I am so glad that you are enjoying it, without the need of suffering it! :-) Many Thanks! | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/30/2006 |
| Oh I am enjoying the shenanigans! The only person who seems to think he knows what is going on is Erestor - and I'm not that sure he's right about that. So Estel has been hidden in full sight for the last fortnight - and Erestor seems concerned about Glorfindel's appearance ... or is he? I loved Elrohir being sent off with Bilbo to spend long hours talking about the presence of hobbits at Fornost - not to mention Elrohir resorting to twin-confusion to pass the hobbit over to Elladan. Nowhere near as subtly as he might have intended. And then there's Elrond - locking the cellar and hiding the keys, just as Erestor knew he would. And cleverly spotting the moon letters. I like the view of the kitchen as a microcosm of the whole - ruling the world but on a smaller scale. Erestor's training in breaking into kitchens might well stand Estel in good stead when he is king, too. And I've never heard a better explanation of why Rivendell appeared to be the home of dotty ditties. 'The worst is over' is a very ominous thought - almost always succeeded by proof that it is no such thing. I have a feeling that Glorfindel turning up in the presence of Dwarves, Wizard and Hobbit - in the company of the heir of Isildur, too - might somewhat counter the efforts of the previous fortnight - even if I don't know why! Very entertaining, Perelleth - I'm looking forward to more. Author Reply: Well, Erestor wished he knew. In fact he must be wishing he had locked all of them up in a cellar. Being the resident "eminence grise," as he -no doubt- sees himself is a tiring job, above all when nobody seems to follow his instructons and behave as he kindly suggests. I love big kitchens, even if I am a hopeless cook myself, but there's, as you say, a kind of reflected microcosmos there, and an underlying order and reason in the apparent chaos and fretfulness that I find very appealing. And the ditties truly worried me, so I am glad that you found the explanation convincing. It was like an itchng, how these apparently most serious of elves could be caught singing "that." It sounded as if Tom Bombadil had spent some time there, and gathered some followers!!! :-) It shall all come out clearer (I hope) in one more chapter, but I am glad that you're finding it entertaining! Thank-you, Bodkin! :-) | |
| Nilmandra | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/29/2006 |
| My dear Perelleth, you are either very sneaky or I have become very slow. Like Elrohir the Clueless, we all assumed that the one who is to be kept from Mithrandir, 13 dwarves and one hobbit is Estel. But indeed, they have managed that for two weeks without the aid of the clueless twin and grumpy Glorfindel. So I don't think Estel is the point of this, though indeed he is being kept from the same group. There is an appearance of needing to keep Glorfindel from them... but I cannot imagine why. He drinks with the dwarves.. and as long as Thorin wasn't there it was okay? So what has Thorin to do with Glorfindel? And why keep Glorfindel from Mithrandir - G knows M is there, wants to have a drink with him. So Erestor wants Elrond to tell them, all of them... and Elrond doesn't want to, and they need 'him' kept from the whole group. And him is not Estel in this case. And Elrohir is clueless and Glorfindel is being manipulated somehow. Do they not want G to see the recovered treasures of Gondolin? You're enjoying this, aren't you? Author Reply: you are either very sneaky or I have become very slow LOL! None of the aforementioned options. It is all Erestor's fault. He did brief Elladan, but out of our, and Elrohir's- earshot, and that's where he lost it! Although Elrohir's smugness didn't help much on first hand...(he could have figured one and one, couldn't he?) As usual, your reasoning is sound and bright. I hope it makes sense!;-) I did have a good time writing it, and I hope you are all having an entertaining time reading it! :-) | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/29/2006 |
| Ah, dear--all that was hoped would NOT happen has happened anyway, and in large part because Elrond WOULD hide the keys to the wine cellar! And love the Dwarf jokes. Have seen many such things with my students over the years. Author Reply: Elrond should have learned how to share, I believe. Look what has come to happen because Glorfindel desperately wanted a cup of wine! YEp, those jokes are the sort of silly things children keep telling to each other when they have nothing better to say...and then they laugh madly, no matter if it is funny or not! ;-) Thank-you! | |
| daw the minstrel | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/29/2006 |
| The worst is over,” Oh Eru. If ever there was a signal that things are about to get worse, that's it. Just say those words and all hell breaks loose. Estel is such a sweet child in this. I love the picture of him half asleep in Glorfindel's arms but determined to hear his mother sing. Author Reply: Mm.Yep, sounded a bit too obvious... I tend to do that. :-) I'm glad that Estel is coming along well. Never wrote a child before... and I am not particularly fond of small children (in stories) so wasn't sure how he would turn up... Thank you, daw! | |