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Very Nearly The Beginning...  by Grey Wonderer 18 Review(s)
Agape4GondorReviewed Chapter: 2 on 7/15/2008
I found myself giggling again when I read of the 'identical face' peering down... and then laughed out loud when Elrohir said the boy was lucky to hit the tree!... then 'yay'd' heartily when the stone missed the Rabbit... I loved how the Rabbit 'hopped' out of the way... and sadly read about the knife. Noooo!... another smile when Elrohir said the boy couldn't hit the ground even if he shot down... and I screamed, 'yikes' when Arwen strode out into the glade... and another 'yikes' when Elrond stood behind the two with his hand on their shoulders... I shudder to think on it... great scene between Arwen and her dad and as they walked towards home!... I truly hoped it was the case - that the toy had been o'erloved... The imagining the boys as adults was a bitter thought - tho I do hope Titch might have kept some of his innocence... Drat... I'm very glad that the Rabbit does not seem to have been life-long marred by his time with men...


Author Reply: I haven't written very many stories that involve Elves so I worried about how this might turn out. I have attempted stories with Legolas on occasion and I have one rather 'mad' crack-fic that the twins are in but nothing more.
I had fun attempting to write Elves and I'm glad you enjoyed this part.

This rabbit started out as a minor mention in a short story and has wound up hopping into more than a few stories. Fortunately, I don't think he recalls much of his life with the children of men so he seems fairly well-adjusted.

As to Titch, our good friend Knitted-Merry has written a bit more on that subject and posted it as an epilogue to this story!

TopazTookReviewed Chapter: 2 on 7/14/2008
I was very glad to see this continuation (or prequel, whatever) of Errol's adventures. He has his own unique perspective on Middle Earth, doesn't he? Errol is a favorite of mine among your characters, and it's good to get more of his backstory - although I'm still wondering about his Elvish name.


Author Reply: I'm glad you enjoyed it and thank you for reviewing. Errol is blushing about now with all of your kind words about him.
I hope he plans to reveal his Elvish name to me at some point but I think he is saving it for a future story. We shall see.

GamgeeFestReviewed Chapter: 2 on 7/7/2008
So he didn’t start out an Elvish rabbit, but the elves used their magic on him, and so now he is one. I’m glad Errol ended up with Arwen; naturally he would realize how lucky he was to be in Rivendell and owned by the Evenstar. But now you need to tell us how he came to be all the way in the Shire. *hinthint*

Author Reply: This was a story that I was supposed to write ages ago but am just now getting to. I was a bit worried about writing Elves so I kept putting it off. Yes, Errol has been around quite a while and he did start with humans and then wound up with Elves so he isn't completely Elvish. I hope to write the portion of the story that tells how Errol got to the Shire as soon as Errol lets me know what happened. LOL Eventually I hope to have the entire story! Thank you for reading.

cathleenReviewed Chapter: 2 on 7/2/2008
GW, I've always loved your wonderful character Errol. Actually, he is one of the very first ones I recall reading about when I first became involved in LOTR and started reading all the great tales on SOA (still my favorite site) and gradually picking out the stories, characters, and writers I liked best. You've created a wonderful, multi-faceted little guy who still has a great deal more to tell us, I'm quite sure. Each story you write reveals a little more, yet he always retains a bit of mystique about him. Thanks for sharing this, and I look forward to more!

Author Reply: Thank you for this lovely review and for reading. I had not written anything about Errol in quite a while so it is good to know that folks are still interested in him. Take care. GW

Pearl TookReviewed Chapter: 2 on 6/30/2008
I'm all teary! This was beautiful, GW! I think you wrote your Elf children excellently. I so glad Arwen rescued the future Errol. Those lads were very cruel both to Errol and to their sibling.

Author Reply: I'm glad you enjoyed it. Elves aren't my normal area so I was concerned.

Pathvain AelienReviewed Chapter: 2 on 6/29/2008
I've been away for too long! I've fallen into the habit of lurking instead of commenting and posting, it's a bad habit. :) I'm glad to know that I've encouraged you, since you have been my favorite author for some time. Give Errol a hug for me!

Author Reply: Yes, you have encouraged me very much. I've done too much lurking lately myself. I go to work, come home, read, and go to bed. I've been leaving fewer reviews than I should and have been trying to make up for it recently. Hugs to you from Errol and me and I will most certainly hug Errol for you. Take care and stop by when you can.

NeiliaReviewed Chapter: 2 on 6/28/2008
I love the rabbit's POV! This is very precious. I can imagine that Arwen always remembered to stay within the stipulated borders her Ada set from then on. Well, at least while she was little..teehee. ;) Hugs, Neilia

Author Reply: That rabbit started out in a tiny little story of mine and has worked his way into more than a few stories now. He seems intent on putting his POV into things. Glad you enjoyed it.
I think most children will behave better for rewards and an understanding of danger rather than threats so I figured an intelligent child like Arwen would do better if reasoned with. But when she got older I am guessing she was all about testing her borders, don't you think? Too strong-willed to be kept anywhere I should think. LOL
Thanks so much for the lovely reviews and for reading!

TiggerReviewed Chapter: 2 on 6/27/2008
Oh GW!! This is wonderful!! What a lovely birthday present for Marigold. The Velveteen Rabbit is one of my very favourite stories and, regardless of what others may think, once a stuffed animal is loved by someone it's alive and no longer a toy!! As Arwen and Pippin both know so very well.

It was a hard lesson for Arwen to learn, but Elrond's right. If those children were doing what they did to Errol, then what would have happened to her and The Twins if they'd been caught by them? Also what kind of adults will they be if this is what they do as children? All children are curious and that can get them into so many predictaments. Thankfully Elrond was there, but what if he hadn't? Glad he put that stipulation to her before Arwen was given her rabbit.

Also loved that the seamstress put that tag on him over the original. He was given a complete and total makeover after all, so of course he's more Elven than Mortal now. :o)

This was just so wonderful on so many levels GW and a bunny ( ;o) ) nailed me just after I finished reading it and began this review. So...Obviously Pippin brought Errol w/him when he and Merry relocated to Minas Tirith during their last years. What if Pippin bequeathed Errol to Arwen and left a letter to her w/in his Will? Explaining he just knows Arwen will need the comfort of *their* Rabbit in the future.

Anyway...Since Errol's your creation, I'm sending that little plot bunny on it's way to you. Yes, I am rather micheavious. ;o)

This really was lovely. Only...Are we going to learn's Errol's Elven name? :o)

Author Reply: Tigger!
Thank you for reading and I am so glad you enjoyed it and that YOU have read The Velveteen Rabbit! It is a childhood favorite of mine and so when Elrond tells Arwen the Errol has been 'loved too much' that is a bit of my affection for Velveteen Rabbit coming out into this story.

I don't think children, even Elf children, see the danger they are in very often. I look back on some of the things I used to do and wonder why I'm still here. LOL

Hey Errol could be on one of the reality shows that do the make-overs. Is there one for stuffed toys or for rabbits?

I love your plot rabbit but in "Freddy and The Thain's Rabbit" Errol winds up doing something that keeps me from writing this one unless someone else gives Errol back to Arwen. Check it out some time and see what you think of that bit of Errol's history.

You are mischievious but I like that in a person so send me any other plot rabbits that bounce in your direction.

I am trying to find out exactly what Errol's Elven name is and when I know, I promise to share.

Thanks for the lovely review!


LlinosReviewed Chapter: 2 on 6/27/2008
Splendid story! I hardly felt the absence of hobbits at all, possibly because you injected such character into the human lads and elven children.

I loved Arwen's perception. She could see that the lads were teasing Titch rather cruelly by being mean to his rabbit and I think that's what upset her, that and the mean spirit behind their need to inflict damage on an innocent and passive creature.

Excellently written, as always, and looking forward to seeing more of Errol again soon.

In the meantime, you're right about KM. I couldn't help but ask him what had happened to Titch afterwards and if he missed Errol dreadfully.

He explained it to me and asked me to pass it on to others who were concerned about the lad. I hope you don't mind but I repeat it here pretty much verbatim.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"What's wrong Tithemus?" His mother always used his full name. "Have you been crying?"

Titch scrubbed his sleeve across his eyes and sniffed. "Fred shot my rabbit and then some strange girl shouted at us and chased us away with stones and bunny got left behind – I think she wanted him."

"Oh your toy rabbit," She suppressed a smile. "Well you're a big lad for toys now. Your father says you can start minding the sheep on your own come Springtide. That's a very responsible job."

Titch's eyes lit up. "The sheep? On my own? Mam that's wonderful! I already know all their names and everything."

"I know love." She put her arm around his shoulder, "You're gentle with animals and that's a good thing. You'll make a fine shepherd."

"And… and perhaps…" A thought slowly coalesced, as if from somewhere outside himself. "Perhaps it's a good thing that girl took bunny. She was very, very pretty and maybe she knew bunny would be safe from Fred and Bob with her."

His mother smiled and kissed him on the cheek. "I'm sure you're right my dear."

And he was – wasn't he!


Author Reply: So it was a splendid story? Is this the bit where I say, "I blame the Beta!" (seriously, I do blame the beta and I blame Marigold too because she did request this story quite some time ago.) I thank you both for helping to make it splendid. (And Errol of course may be blamed.)

KM was way ahead of things and knew that Errol wasn't completely Elvish before we came to visit. He said as much and at the time I had no idea about Errol's past. I should just face the fact that Knitted-Merry knows EVERYTHING.

Oh, please thank KM for clearing up the mystery of what happened to Titch. Errol just left that out completely. And I am THRILLED that it involves SHEEP! I think I was a sheep in a previous life. Ask KM about it and see if he knows that.

KM is such a talented writer. He told this very well. Has he ever considered posting a bit of his magnificent knitted history? Everyone would enjoy that!

PIppinfan1988Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 6/27/2008
*sniff, sniff!*

I just LOVED every bit of this wonderful tale -- and most brilliantly told, too! You're a natural born storyteller. And you did fabulous with writing the Elves -- enjoyed your OC hobbits as well! I have never read the Velveteen Rabbit, so I recognised nothing from it. I adored Errol's first moments -- his new "beginning", if you will. I know he'll be safe and loved much while in Arwen's possession.

Now...I have some other questions regarding Errol, but I need to do some research first. I'll send them your way as soon as I know what I want to ask. ;-)

Author Reply: I'm glad you enjoyed it. I think I was born naturally or I was according to my mom but I don't know about the storyteller part. The elves got help for Llinos which was very much appreciated and those children were human children. I didn't say and I should have done so but this happened close to Rivendell and so there were no hobbits about. This, believe it or not, was a hobbit free chapter!

Send all of the questions that you have. I may just pass them on to Knitted Merry because he seems to know more about Errol than I do. : )

Thanks for reading!

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