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| An Unexpected Adventure [Permanent Hiatus] by KathyG | 51 Review(s) |
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| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 31 on 4/19/2026 |
| I've been reading on my phone, but I can't easily review chapters there, so I'm re-reading on the laptop now... I can easily imagine Kevin being exhausted after riding all night long. I also wonder if he's saddle-sore – an uncomfortable topic. I love the cinematic descriptions! The writing makes it easy to form pictures in my mind's eye as I read. He realized he had not been without his weapons since leaving Rivendell. I'm sure it felt odd when he first started wearing weapons, but now he feels odd without them. For some reason, the idea made me chuckle. Oh, Gandalf, you old fox! Ewww. Gríma. I tend to avoid reading fanfic stories where he appears, but he's rather unavoidable in this one since you're revisiting the entire tale through the eyes of a modern family. (And now, having read this scene, I'm tempted to dust off the film once more.) It's almost a pity that Théoden didn't use his sword on Gríma. Kevin knew that expression: someone was about to be in big trouble. LOL! "The Look"! But oh, dear. I'm rather glad that Joey isn't there. If he stuck out his tongue at Wormtongue, that evil man would probably order the guards to cut it out. (And hooray for Gimli!) And Gandalf throws off his grey disguise and reveals his new-and-improved state. Théoden's healing was a powerful scene in the film, and you've captured it well here. "demon-possessed"? I suppose one might call Saruman a kind of demon, actually. Kevin hasn't met Saruman yet, as I recall. (Oh! I wonder if the children will witness the Scouring of the Shire! I would dearly love to see that part of the story through their eyes...) How interesting that a man can scrape away beard hairs with a rough stone! (My mental image of Dúnedain from reading LOTR is beardless, though I rather had the impression that it was because they didn't have facial hair. Of course, I could have been wrong. Let the child cling to hope, but he doubted that they would meet again. Oh, I hope they will meet again, no matter what the old hobbit's thoughts may be about the possibility. Ah, yes, the wine. Is that what they call the stirrup cup? I used to know the term for a farewell cup, but I'd have to look it up again since I've forgotten. LOL for Treebeard's poetry inducing sleep. Most nights, I leave an audiobook playing on a timer, and it quiets and focuses my mind and soothes me to sleep. Hmmm. Are Jennifer and Joey going to have a growth spurt soon? And of course Treebeard has endless patience. Last thought: "music of the falling stream" is a lovely turn of phrase. Two of my favorite things are ocean waves and waterfalls. Author Reply: Kevin's not even out of high school yet, and he's already a soldier! He probably *is* saddle-sore. Riding a horse is definitely not like riding in a car, is it? I suspect Theoden was rather tempted to do just that! Wouldn't it be good if Bilbo could meet with Kaylee again? Hmm, a stirrup cup? I wouldn't know. Maybe. A growth spurt? If not then, then at some point! | |
| demeter d | Reviewed Chapter: Author's Notes on 4/15/2026 |
| Thank you so much, Kathy, and, Lindalea, also, for sharing the news of Dreamflower's passing "beyond the circles". Not being on Facebook with you all, I would not have seen that. I only knew her from here, SOA. But for twenty years I have read her stories and enjoyed her comments and insights for other folks stories. She is definitely on my list of people I hope to seek out and meet when I pass on. As always, thank you to all of you who keep this site the place of love and light that it is. And to everyone. When one of us passes and you know about it, please post when you find out. We miss that virtual presence, but without that tie to the "Real World' we would never find out. Love to all! demeter d Author Reply: Thanks, demeter d. We all miss her, I know; I've so enjoyed reading her great stories, and she was a great co-author to me while she was able to help me write our WIP, "An Unexpected Adventure." It helps that our administrators are able to find out when a SoA has passed on. | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: Author's Notes on 4/14/2026 |
| You can email me by clicking on my author name at the top of my author page. Alternatively, type it into your email program: homesweeths (at) gmail (dot) com. Author Reply: Thanks! Got it. I've just sent you a test email. | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: Author's Notes on 4/13/2026 |
| My heart aches for you, and for all of us. Dreamflower was a special friend whom I knew and respected for over 20 years. Her passing is a great loss. Author Reply: Thanks, shirebound. She was, indeed. | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: Author's Notes on 4/13/2026 |
| ((((hugs)))) Kathy. When I received the news, I sent you an email around the time I posted the announcement to SoA, but it sounds like you didn't get it? I'm so sorry. (Could you please email me?) Condolences. It must have come as a terrible shock after working so closely with her on this delightful story. I am still reading... but I'm not looking forward to reaching the final posted chapter and having to imagine what comes after. Blessings to you and yours. Lin Author Reply: Unfortunately, it's been a long time since I've received *any* email notifications from Stories of Arda, and I don't know if anyone else has, either. I'd love to email you, but I need your email address first! Thanks. It is indeed a shock. A shock to know that we've all lost Dreamflower, and to know that our story can never be finished now. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 109 on 4/12/2026 |
| I am glad you have continued on with the posting--and reposting--this story after the blasted hacker removed so many stories by so many of us. And I grieve that your partner in this story is now gone beyond the Circles of Arda. God bless you. Author Reply: Thanks, Larner. That makes both of us. Alas, as it turns out, this chapter has turned to be the last chapter that will ever be written, since Dreamflower is no longer with us. I miss her. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 108 on 4/12/2026 |
| I'm glad that Menelcar sang that song. It was wonderful to see the Hobbits get the attention that they deserve. The story of the attempted swindle was wonderfully told. How nice to have Menelcar in the capitol. Author Reply: I am, too. Dreamflower was so good at creating O.C.s and songs for her stories, and that's a fact. | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 30 on 9/9/2025 |
| I have to admit, when I read "Comfort your sire and beware of fire", I gasped. Author Reply: That sounds like something Galadriel would say, wouldn't it? =) At least, in this story, Boromir is alive to receive the message! | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 29 on 9/9/2025 |
| Oh! I had forgotten that Boromir survived the Orc attack! (It has been so long since I last read this story, I should have read the previous chapter to get my bearings again.) Aragorn kicking the helmet and screaming reminds me of the movie trivia that Viggo broke (his toe?) while filming that scene. Here's hoping Aragorn didn't break any bones! I can't think of anyone I'd trust more than Glorfindel and a body of warriors hand-picked by Elrond, even travelling at such a dangerous time. I love Bilbo's solution to the map problem! (Thinking about LOTR movies being real in this story... So do the characters' appearance and voices somehow [magically, perhaps] match those of the actors?) I've always wanted to visit Fangorn Forest. It was fun to see it through Joey and Jennifer's eyes. And it seems perfectly natural that Merry feels more at home in the forest than on the open plain. I smiled when he said, "Just trust us." And when Pippin made sure the tree by the stream was not a willow tree, I nodded agreement. His caution is understandable, considering his memories of the Old Forest. (So will Treebeard say anything about entering Hobbits in the List? I wonder.) I'm looking forward to reading on. Author Reply: Keep reading, and you'll find out! And nope, no bones have been broken in the making of this scene, I'm pleased to say. =) Yeah, I guess the characters' voices and appearances do, at least to an extent! | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 28 on 6/21/2025 |
| Somehow it's a relief that Boromir doesn't end up "pierced with many black-feathered arrows" and Pippin's last sight of him isn't "plucking an arrow from his side". At least if I'm remembering the original passage correctly. I'm overdue for my annual re-reading of LOTR. I should imagine that a sharp-eyed Wood-elf is the next best thing to binoculars. You've done a nice job of weaving the children into the original narrative! It'll be interesting to see what role Boromir plays going forward... Author Reply: I reckon you're right about wood elves! Keep reading, and you'll see what role Boromir plays from here. | |