Stories of Arda Home Page
About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

Trotter  by Dreamflower 6 Review(s)
Kaylee ArafinwielReviewed Chapter: 27 on 4/2/2015
The songs and tales carried me out of myself-- even when I could not understand all that was said (for my Sindarin was still lacking to a certain degree) I could somehow feel what it all meant, and was carried away by the pictures in my heart to far distant times and places. And so it was, that I was startled to hear a mellifluous Elven voice, deep in timbre, speaking not in the Elven tongue, but in Westron. I looked to see an Elf even taller than most I had met so far. He had a mane of golden hair, and in the light of the fire he seemed to glow himself. Never before had I seen such comeliness and power.

He was telling a story of he last days of the King: Arvedui of Arthedain, and of a group of valiant but small archers who had marched to his side. He told of how their bows had defended the camp, where the healers and the servants were tending the needs of the wounded, and how a small force of the Enemy had treacherously come from behind, to slay the defenseless. The archers had turned to meet this threat, with bow until their arrows were spent, and then with stones until they were utterly overwhelmed, and all were slain save one, who was left for dead.

And he told of the grief of the Army of Men and Elves, who had turned from their own victory against the Sorcerer of the North to find one last sad defeat behind them. They had driven the Enemy off from despoiling their victims, and then come back to grieve for the gallant fallen.

As he finished, he looked directly at me and bowed, and then he came and knelt before me. I was surprised to see tears in his eyes.

"My lord," I stammered, "I have never heard any who knew the fate of those long ago hobbits before. How do you know of what happened?"

"Master Hildifons, I was there. My name is Glorfindel, and never have I ceased to grieve for the sacrifice of your people, for though they were a peaceful folk of a peaceful land they gave their all for their King. And you are a worthy descendant of them."

Glorfindel and I were friends from that moment on.





I loved that part! Especially "Master Hildifons, I was there..." Wow. What a realization!

Grey WondererReviewed Chapter: 27 on 7/8/2009
This fits so well with all of Tolkien's writings. You've done it again!

GamgeeFestReviewed Chapter: 27 on 6/7/2009
So that's what happened to those archers! Of course, that's only to be expected as they never returned, but it is good to hear the answer to the riddle. Trotter wouldn't like the idea of shoes, but he loathes the idea of not walking again. And as he said, his feet aren't much to look at anymore anyway. It will still be a painful and slow process. He'll need to take care not to lose patience.

Author Reply: Yes. I envisioned it as much like what the French did to the camp of servants and squires of Henry V's army at Agincourt.

No, he wouldn't like his shoes, but he likes less the idea of being a cripple. Painful and slow is right.

CeleritasReviewed Chapter: 27 on 6/6/2009
Glorfindel was (as he tends to be in fan fictions) a pleasant addition, especially the idea that he and Hildifons automatically have something in common.

And here are the shoes. Trotter's reasoning on why he could bear to wear them was wonderfully done--sad, but logical.

Out of curiosity, who was the one hobbit who survived? I thought that (at least by the time of LotR) hobbit lore said none of them came back. I think there's a story here (even if it's somebody else's).

Author Reply: I've written Glorfindel briefly a few times, and I hope I do him justice.

I'm glad you found the reasons logical-- it must have been awful for him as a hobbit to realize they were necessary.

Well, you will notice I didn't say he went back to the Shire or even how long he lived afterward. I did want someone able to tell what had happened to the others. But if it is a story, it will have to be someone elses; I think one displaced hobbit is all I have it in me to deal with.

(By the way, the hobbits' stand was slightly inspired by the Henry V Shakespeare version of Agincourt, and how the brave servants and squires defended the supply wagons and base camp from the dastardly French.)

AntaneReviewed Chapter: 27 on 6/6/2009
So we learn how a hobbit came to wear shoes! I had forgotten about that and so enjoy having another piece of the story put together. This is very well thought out.

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Author Reply:
Yes, it was always my intention from the start that *this* Trotter, too, would have wooden shoes!

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 27 on 6/3/2009
Rather strange for orthopedics, but certainly in keeping with his initial image of Trotter the Hobbit Ranger and HIS wooden shoes, although the reasons are different!

Dear Hildifons--at least he allowed his father to know! And you've managed to work some of original-concept-Trotter's situation into this Trotter's reality! Well done.

Author Reply: Thankfully, I had an excellent medical beta!

Of course, the original image of Trotter was the inspiration for "my" Trotter. There was a subtext there in "Return of the Shadow" that those wooden shoes were not just a whim, but had some dire reason behind them. My only difficulty was in deciding what the reason was and how it came about.

I think that Hildifons was glad that he could at least reassure his father. And of course, Gandalf would encourage him to do so.


Return to Chapter List