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

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie  by Lindelea 109 Review(s)
Lady ForlongReviewed Chapter: Prologue on 9/13/2024
Hobbits are so much fun. And you write about them so delightfully, especially the part about "hobbit healing" = hugs. Aww...

Nice take on the Haradrim too, and the way they finally found out that they'd been lied to.

And such a sweet ending. Beautiful writing.

SoledadReviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 8/23/2024
Ah, this was such a sweet story; and with excellent world-building, too! I'm glad to see it come to completion.

Author Reply: Thanks so much! I appreciate your taking the time to read and leave some encouraging words. Glad to have you along for the ride!

Completing the story was bittersweet; it was my last tie to Pandemonium, one of the models for Mittens. But it was also a good thing to be able to mark one of the WIPs "Complete" at last. I've been working on several of the WIPs in the background, so now I feel as if I have space to start publishing chapters from another story.

I'm also carving out some reading time and looking forward to reading more about Náli and Rei. My only trouble is the broader background of your tale and the knowledge of what happened to Balin and those who followed him. You have breathed such life into this minor canon character; he's become quite real to me.

LarnerReviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 8/19/2024
How sweet for both Mittens and Peace. They have such honorable positions in the new order of the White City!

Delightful!

Author Reply: The pair of them will carry on Pippin's determination and his self-imposed mission of bringing playfulness and joy back into the lives of Minas Tirith's children. It's a tall order, but I am confident that they'll excel in carrying out their duties.

Thanks so much for stopping to leave a good word. Looking forward to seeing you later this month!

(((hugs)))

shireboundReviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 8/17/2024
Mittens and her kitten getting so much love! The City finding its colorful and bustling self again! The ladies seeing the City through the eyes of a young hobbit, and the citizens seeing them all as people -- not just remote celebrities.

Thank you for such a lovely Epilogue, and congratulation on finishing your Tale. I enjoyed this story so much, my friend.

Author Reply: Thank you for staying with me to the end of this tale, dear friend. It's been years in the making! I am so glad to hear you enjoyed it, and I appreciate your taking the time to stop and share your thoughts.

(((hugs)))

Hai TookReviewed Chapter: 21 on 7/22/2024
I appear to have missed a few updates to this story! So I read the whole thing from the beginning! I loved the way you brought the story around from the fear both the Gondorians and the Haradrim had of each other to a mutual respect. It flowed quite nicely that they were united in their desire to save the "children" from the rubble and the value each society placed on rescuing those trapped.
I enjoyed the description of the "dance" between the leaders in their exchange of weapons.

Finally, we know what drew the puppy into the ruins in the first place! :) It looks like Pippin is going to end up with quite the collection of pets!

Thank you for the enjoyable story! Reading it straight through to this point it has all come together quite satisfyingly! I do, however, hope to get an update on Turambor here at the end.

Author Reply: Thank you for describing the parts you enjoyed! I love seeing the story through your impressions. You are most welcome! I’m so glad you enjoyed the story. (((hugs)))

Good to hear from you.

Author Reply: p.s. I’m glad to say you’ll get a glimpse of Turambor in the epilogue, which has now been posted.

SilmarienReviewed Chapter: 15 on 5/17/2024
I am reminded of the movie, “The Russians are Coming”, where the American townfolk and Russian sailors join to save the children dangling from the roof.

Author Reply: Oh! Thank you for reminding me of that scene! You're right. I hadn't made that connection before, but the idea is very similar in this story and that one: setting aside existing hostilities to save an imperiled little one, everyone suddenly united in purpose and hope and worry. (And then all those people in small boats determinedly escorting the submarine to safety... What a delightful ending.) Alan Arkin has long been near the top of the list of my favorite actors. I still remember clearly his deaf-mute character talking to himself in sign language in The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, even though I was only a small child when I saw it. His performance was deeply moving and convincing.

There's a snippet of dialogue from The Russians Are Coming that we have quoted for decades just because it delights us. Alan Arkin is attempting to teach his men an English phrase to help them blend in with the citizens of the small US seaside community while trying to figure out how to get out of the situation without getting arrested or killed, and they are doing their best to repeat after him:
"Emergency! Everybody to get off street! Emergency!"
"Egermency?"
"Nyet! Emergency! Emergency!"

Our children learned that quote from us long before they got a chance to see the movie it came from. LOL!

Thanks so much for reading and taking time to share your thoughts.

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 21 on 5/12/2024
Having managed to save one of five kittens injured by Griffin, who imagined himself a mighty hunter one night, I know too well how fragile such creatures may be. Sherbet is now eating solid food alongside sister Lady Jane Grey, and being savage to their chirping bird toy. Sherbet even seeks to protect me from the bows on my slippers. Both are now using the cat box, and Sherbet was first to devine the purpose of the water bowl. Still not certain Sherbet's gender.

Frodo is the perfect one to care for this kitten, Hooray for Galador's recognition of this fact. Now, to see Mitten's rehoming! will Mitten and kitten accompany one another?

Author Reply: I'm so glad that Sherbet survived and is taking on the task of protecting you from slipper-bows - quite sneaky and treacherous as they can be!

Yes, we'll catch a glimpse of them in their new home in the final chapter, which is due to be posted next. I was derailed from writing or reading this week by some dastardly dairy, but am back at the laptop again today and eyeing all things "dairy" (including chocolate suspects) with suspicion. It's so important to attend to the labels on things. That's what they're there for.

Thanks for reading and stopping to leave a note.

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 21 on 5/12/2024
Having managed to save one of five kittens injured by Griffin, who imagined himself a mighty hunter one night, I know too well how fragile such creatures may be. Sherbet is now eating solid food alongside sister Lady Jane Grey, and being savage to their chirping bird toy. Sherbet even seeks to protect me from the bows on my slippers. Both are now using the cat box, and Sherbet was first to devine the purpose of the water bowl. Still not certain Sherbet's gender.

Frodo is the perfect one to care for this kitten, Hooray for Galador's recognition of this fact. Now, to see Mitten's rehoming! will Mitten and kitten accompany one another?

Author Reply: I was so sad to hear the tragic tale. I hope you've been able to sort things as best as possible for all parties. Our temporary pups seem somewhat in awe of the cats thus far, but we're still finding it necessary to lock them up in "time out" to give the cats a breather from the dogs' focused attention and interest and fascination with All Things Feline. The baby gates mean the pups do not have access to all parts of the house, and the cats are taking full advantage of those refuges. But still, some of them venture out to the main part of the house and are quite put out when the dogs notice their presence and become playful... or at least hopeful that playtime might ensue...

SoledadReviewed Chapter: 21 on 5/3/2024
I know I've mentioned it before, but I love your take on Haradric culture. :)

Author Reply: Thank you! I'm looking forward to reading your Harad story as soon as I've posted the last chapter (which should be the next chapter) of this one!

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 21 on 5/3/2024
What a marvelous chapter. So much story to wrap up, and you're doing great. Hooray for hobbitses and furries all getting gentle care and healing.

then reached over Pippin to take Merry’s nearer hand. ‘I’m here, Merry.’

Merry’s eyes opened, unfocused, and looked from Pippin to Frodo. He smiled, sighed, and closed his eyes.


Awwwww.

Author Reply: I'm so glad it worked!

I've been interrupted multiple times in fleshing out the draft chapter into this form, and I'm not sure I can call it "final" since it feels muddled to me in a few places, especially the Black Gate flashback. (Battles are chaotic things, so maybe it's not as much of a problem as it might be?)

On the other hand, at least I think I have pulled almost all the threads of the story together! Whew. That poor wee kitten has been mewling at the back of my mind for what feels like forever. Ever since the puppy dragged Bergil into the collapsing building, at least, with Pippin in hot pursuit...

I don't know if I can untwist any of the minor knots I've noticed in reading over the posted version. My editor-friend of a few years ago has moved on to a different fanfiction branch, so I can't throw myself on her mercy or offer to buy her a Starbucks drink if she'll agree to pick up my dropped stitches.

Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to share your thoughts!

First Page | Previous Page | Next Page | Last Page

Return to Chapter List