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Another Moment of your Time  by Larner 10 Review(s)
TeresaReviewed Chapter: 67 on 4/17/2014
Many thanks for this expansion on your earlier drabble! I hope that Celadine and Iberic got away from that evil minded hobbitess soon after this visit! She sounds like Lobelia's twin sister! Ah well, every family has one or more difficult members; all one can do is ignore them if possible. Did she learn from this, or did she justify her behavior once she left Bag End? Frodo certainly put her in her place, like the gentleman he was! :)

Author Reply: The following chapter called "Last Conversation" gives you an idea as to how Dirna responded in the end to being put into her place by Frodo. I'd not intended to write another chapter featuring the old biddy, but sometimes such people refuse to be ignored! Heh!

We know that there were rumors throughout the Shire that somehow Drogo and Primula managed to do one another in; I imagine that Dirna was one of those who loved to spread such tales. And considering some of the gossip the aunts in my family tended to spread, I know just how often such people turn up in many if not most families!

Thanks so!

TariReviewed Chapter: 67 on 3/26/2014
Double drabble or not, this was wonderful. The thought that Lobelia wasn't the only witch in the Shire is awful. She deserved what she got and more.

Author Reply: The original double drabble just cried to be finished, and I had to find out just how Dirna had gotten into such trouble with her nephew! We know that there were those who chose to whisper that Primula had pushed her husband overboard and he dragged her with him to her death; I imagine that Dirna was one who loved such stories that put probably good people in a far more lurid and exciting light. It was fun to write, I know that. Thanks, Tari!

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 67 on 3/23/2014
Good for Frodo! A lot of unpleasantness and rudeness is sometimes excused to those who have reached a certain age--and sometimes some of it can be explained by physical changes to the psyche of the elderly, caused by a stroke or by dementia. Yet most often a person who has always been rude uses age to be even ruder.

I hope perhaps that against all odds, this particular "old female dog" has learned a new trick: to get all the facts before jumping to conclusions! But I won't hold my breath.

Author Reply: Having lived with a grandmother and stepgrandmother and aunts who used to gossip alarmingly and nastily about others, I know the truth of what you say. I, too, hope that Dirna has learned a positive lesson, but also doubt all the negative habits of 115 years are swept away all that swiftly.

FiondilReviewed Chapter: 67 on 3/23/2014
Ah, the relative one loves to hate. Miserable old biddy. Frodo was being too kind. He should've sent her packing to the inn that very instant and how could anyone enjoy any kind of breakfast with that harridan at the table? LOL! I love Lynda's description of getting her exercise by jumping to conclusions. That is so true. I feel sorriest for Ilberic and Celedine, though. They have to put up with her all the way back to Brandy Hall, the poor dears.

Author Reply: Well, Lobelia couldn't have been the only one who was a regular pain in the tail, after all. I'm not certain that she would even be allowed to eat with Frodo, Sam, Rosie, and her grandchildren, even--I suspect a tray will be brought to her in her room, that her luggage will be loaded without much in the way of communication, and she will be gone.

As for Ilberic and Celandine, yes, unfortunately they have to continue putting up with her not only on the way home but afterwards in Brandy Hall. But they have finally seen her put in her place, and are not likely to let her forget that fact. I don't think they'll be as readily browbeaten to her service from now on. Unfortunately, such people as Dirna all too often isolate themselves from those who usually would be most likely to support them. But then we must remember that even Lobelia knew a change of heart in the end.

Thanks so, Fiondil!

6336Reviewed Chapter: 67 on 3/23/2014
Well now we know how Aunt Dirna gets her exercise, jumping to conclusions!

What a miserable old biddy, age and infirmity are no excuse for bad manners and rudeness. A little crankiness is to be expected when the rhumatics kick up but it looks like Aunt Dirna has it down to a fine art!

I do enjoy it when Frodo puts people in their place, he does it with consummate skill and directness, another fine art!

Huggs,
Lynda

Author Reply: Oh, yes--jumping to conclusions as her one regularly practiced form of exercise indeed! Frodo himself tends to become cranky when his headaches and insomnia kick in, so I'm certain he could empathize with that kind of rudeness, but nothing excuses her behavior. Yes, he has his own skills he's honed lately. Thanks so, and thanks also for the hugs.

AndreaReviewed Chapter: 67 on 3/23/2014
Something in his expression caused her to swallow several questions.

And that was the beginning of the end...

She was running headlong into disaster with eyes open! She only did not see the signs because she was solely interested in herself!

In the end she got what she deserved! Bravo, Frodo!

... so I decided to deal with her once and for all!

There you have something in common with Frodo ;-)

Author Reply: Now and then even Frodo Baggins gets pushed past his limits, and Dirna is the type of person likely to do so, I find. Yes, running into disaster with eyes open indeed. Love that description! And, yes, it's nice to find that in this Frodo and I agree. Heh! Thanks so very much!

LindeleaReviewed Chapter: 67 on 3/23/2014
Started to read this but my eyes just won't cooperate at this point in the day, so I'm leaving it until tomorrow (I hope!) and will try and stop back by.

All I can say at this point (having read up to the description of the kitchen, with the vase of poppies and delphinium -- sounds lovely! -- is that I wouldn't mind at all being a guest at Bag End, and I wouldn't complain a whit.

Author Reply: There are time when my eyes don't want to cooperate, either. I, too, would have loved to stay in Bag End. But I did write that double drabble as part of a series some years back, and found I had to describe the whole visit by Dirna! Ever since she first appeared in "Second Mum" she has continued to nag at me!

I'm so glad that you are able to write and post again! I'm enjoying myself tremendously reading the continuation to so many stories!

Theresa GreenfalconReviewed Chapter: 67 on 3/22/2014
Hi, Larner - good to see this new story! I especially enjoyed the update on Ilberic and Celandine - and seeing Dirna put in her place! Thanks for the new story, and I hope things are going well for you! T

Author Reply: I started working with a new company in August, and since then I too often find myself tired at the end of the day and having difficulty concentrating on a single story line. It's rather frustrating, but at least I have more respect for those with whom I work.

I don't think I've written these of Merry and Frodo's younger cousins before, although Dirna has been in a couple of other stories. But I found that I just had to expand upon that double drabble I did a few years ago and explore just how Dirna managed to insult Rosie so and thus earn Frodo's wrath!

UTfrogReviewed Chapter: 67 on 3/22/2014
Great job illustrating a particularly irritating relative. Frodo was right to throw her out!

Author Reply: I love jabbing at people like Dirna, I find. Thank you so, UTfrog!

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 67 on 3/22/2014
“Is it your usual habit to avoid your company by retreating to the study?” Dirna asked scathingly.

He turned his head with a sigh. “No, it is not, save when they are being unutterably rude.


Good for you, Frodo. There's only so much a gentlehobbit, especially this one, should be allowed to take. But this was my favorite line:

He’s a Man of honor, and makes all he meets wish to be folk of honor as well.

I can't think of a nicer compliment for anyone.

Author Reply: It was nice to see Frodo find someone so very rude that he had to give them the treatment deserved.

As for Sam's description of Aragorn--I so agree! Thank you so, Shirebound!

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