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| A Mother's Lament by Agape4Gondor | 8 Review(s) |
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| Kitt Otter | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/1/2008 |
| I always, always wondered what their families thought of their disappearances; certainly they would be fretful! The two images of Eglantine scouring out Pippin’s room and knitting him a hundred scarves touched me deeply. Of course, as a mother, she would be sad to see her Pippin suddenly grown-up - but at least he came back safe and much more whole. Very moving! Kitt :) Author Reply: Thanks, Kitt! Pip definitely came back a very different Hobbit! Tolkien says his voice was changed, his height, his bulk, his self-confidence. Everything. And a mother would notice that as soon as she saw/held him. Tremendous joy at his return - YES. But sorrow untold at what she had lost.... Thank you so much for reviewing! | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/29/2008 |
| Oh, poor Eglantine! Yes, I can understand her reaction--how strange it must have seemed to see him so tall and strong and confident. A mother always hates to see her child grow up, and to miss his growing up altogether had to be a shock! And I also loved Pervinca's reaction, and Pippin's response. "Dead as a doornail!" indeed! I imagine that even with the serious business at hand, he must have felt a bit giddy at the first sight of his family in 13 months. You are quite right about Sam and the Gaffer in canon. I tend to use the parental words to emphasize geographical and class differences within the Shire. In my universe The Tooks themselves use the formal "Mother" and "Father" once they are past faunthood, even in informal settings. Because Buckland seems a place unto itself, I have them use the (to my mind, slightly Irish-sounding) "Mum" and "Da", to sort of emphasize its colonial and frontier status. In the rest of the Shire, "Mama" and "Papa" are used by the gentry (rather common in Victorian England), while "Dad" and "Ma" or "Mam" are used by the working-class hobbits. I have noticed that among most Shire hobbit-writers "Da" and "Mum" seem to be ubiquitous. But there is nothing in canon to say, one way or the other, except for Sam's words to his father, so you are quite within bounds by your decision. And I didn't know that about "unbeknownst" either! Live and learn! Author Reply: Dearest Tolkien left a lot of questions unanswered. Drives me nuts way too many times. But I like your thoughts on The Tookland and Buckland. As for Pip - I wrote a tale a long time ago of his suffering when he returned to the Shire - but in researching this, I found that Tolkien seems to belabor the fact that Merry and Pippin seem to have returned almost more joy-filled than when they left! Astounding to me. He writes of them singing almost constantly. And the way they go about their business, even Sam, when they return - Pip running off home and Sam running after his Gaffer and Merry just 'taking charge' of the whole thing. These Hobbits definitely grew up while they were away. And that is the crux of the tale, as you so aptly pointed out - Pip is now a grown Hobbit - no doubt about it. From his size, to his bulk, to his voice even, and to his merry and assured way! No tween here..... It causes a sharp twinge of regret, but joy also, does it not? | |
| Virtuella | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/29/2008 |
| Yes, indeed, that's just how it would have been! Author Reply: Thanks. I've missed too much of my grandbabies out in Utah... I only see them once a year and I found it very discouraging. I'm glad this resonated as true for you! | |
| Tari | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/29/2008 |
| Only a mother could understand what Eglantine felt when Pip disappeared, was gone so long she feared he was dead and then had him return a different Hobbit. This was very touching indeed. I do hope there will be more. Tari Author Reply: Thanks, Tari. You know I can't write more of this - at least for the nonce - Denethor would have my head as well as Indis and Faramir. And the blasted Elf only has one chapter left - I've got to finish that one!!! Thanks again for the kind words! | |
| Edlyn | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/29/2008 |
| Was the the nuzgul that was nagging you at ALEP? It's beautiful. But I do understand what Eglantine is grieving for. I think any mother who has lost a son through adoption, death, misunderstanding or whatever would understand just what she is crying about. I need to go find another handkerchief now. Hugs, Edlyn Author Reply: YES! This was the one that was driving me nuts! I hate having a story run around in your head with no opportunity to write it! I have a clean hankie if you need it. :( And thanks for the review.... PS - the other tale that was driving me nuts also was the ghost thingee - but it seems appropriate that we were in the supposed haunted house where we stayed for ALEP! :) | |
| Celeritas | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/29/2008 |
| Hurrah! Someone else who has the Tooks use "Dad"! (I wonder who started the "Da" trend in fanon, by the way... can that be traced?) What really "gets" me in this is doubtless what you intended it to--that Eglantine is more distraught by her child gone and fled forever than by her son's mere physical absence--especially since he's her youngest, and only son! That's rough. I did like Pippin's "dead as a doornail" response to Pervinca. Very characteristic of him, I believe. And my mind will say, ‘Yes, that is the important thing,’ and my heart will stay torn and broken. And none will really understand. Beautiful. Simply beautiful. Author Reply: No matter how many friends you have in 'the same boat' as you - none will ever really understand all the nuances of your feelings. It's just our part of humanity that makes each one of us unique. Though she will be able to share with Esmeralda, it will not heal the wound. Poor thing! Not sure about the 'Da' (see the review below) but I did seriously try to figure out what they would use. I hadn't recalled ever seeing 'Da' in the books, so I did research it. It's a neither here nor there, but I try to remain as close to canon as I can (given the idiosyncrasies of Tolkien). And YES - it is the child gone forever that has totally unwound her! Bless you and thank you for the kind words! | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/29/2008 |
| For Hobbits with their ancient ties to the Rohirrim "unbeknownst" would probably be as acceptable as "unbeknown." I have the Tooks use "Da" as a corruption of "ada," which the Fallohides undoubtedly learned from the elves with whom they consorted, and that the earliest Hobbit settlers within Eriador probably heard from Elrond's folks as they found suitable places to settle near the Mitheitel. The Tooks were allegedly the family with the strongest Fallohide influences and inheritance after all, according to Tolkien himself. But this story is wonderful, thinking on what Eglantine has missed in her son's growing up with him having been gone for well over a year--more than a year and a day as in Bilbo's case, even more than a year and a month! Yes, she has reason to be upset and know her heart is torn and somewhat broken! But she will accept he is home and alive and stronger than anyone anticipated. Loved this. Author Reply: It's odd, Larner, but unbeknownst came into play only in 1848 while unbeknown has been around since 1600 something! Who would have thunk it? The Irish use 'Da' many times - so I could see that being used. Also, I love your idea that it might have come as a 'bastardized' form of Ada... but I couldn't find anything in Tolkien's books, so I did go with Dad. Yes - Eglantine will accept, and rejoice, in her son's return - however, the shock of the changes in him, physically, had to wipe all other thought from her mind. Poor thing. But just wait till she holds her first grandbaby!!! | |
| Grey Wonderer | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/28/2008 |
| This was lovely. I thought that the fits of cleaning and knitting were very realistic. I know that when I am worried I have to keep busy. I also liked the fact that she didn't tell him how she really felt but kept that to discuss with another mother who might understand it all. Author Reply: Glad you liked this, GW - I sorrowed for her, but at the same time, giggled over the scarves and the cleaning. The poor servant - falling and breaking an arm! Sorry about that! I was looking at my little grandbaby one day and just thought of how terrible it is to 'miss' your children growing up. I have two others in Utah and I only see them once a year. I have missed almost everything about them. :( | |