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Mathom by perelleth	28 Review(s)
Haleth	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/31/2006
You got me, too. I was quite certain Erestor and Elrond were intent on hiding Estel from the dwarves, Mithrandir and Bilbo. It took longer than I'd like to admit to clue in they were actually hiding Glorfindel. Erestor is just wonderful. He seems able to control most of Imladris, with some exceptions, with a glare. His one weakness seems to be those who appear smug while speaking to him. I wonder if Elladan knows this and wears that 'Celeborn' expression on purpose? Estel seems to be one of those immune to Erestor. He explains breaking into the kitchen via the latched, back door by claiming to be hungry. Anyone who's raised a boy knows how true this is. They are always hungry. Bilbo was a delight, searching for food and history (in that order). It's very hobbity for him to have asked about the family names of those at the battle of Fornost. History seen through the lens of geneology. There many little asides and descriptions that really bring this chapter to life. The description of the dwarven drinking song from an elvish pov 'a contest of growls and howls accompanied by some erratic table-hitting with their cups' is probably exactly how a refined elf would see things. Glorfindel seems to have little problem with it, though. Is this because he is more experienced or because he takes himself a bit less seriously? The description of the fig tree taking bursting through the foundations had me laughing. I've heard of willows doing awful things to water pipes. This probably isn't much different. The mention of the bonfire traditions of the Eldar (the Doors of Summer in Gondolin, the Eglain and the Noldor's equivocal reaction) really please my inner Tolkien geek. "The worst is over." If ever there is a phrase that serves as a harbinger to disaster, this is it. I'm very much looking forward to the next chapter. Author Reply: Oh, we were all certain that it was Estel. It is all Erestor's fault, he did not explain all within Elrohir's hearing, and that was his mistake !:-) Erstor believes in preventive measures, and in the mantle of authority, and the rest just... let him believe that he intimidates them, so everybody is happy. HE's a busy Elf, after all, and someone has to take charge :-) At times though, things get slightly out of control, and now we gut an annoyed Erestor, who has to be chasing twins, balrog-slayers, Isildur's heir, a perian, a wizard and thirteen dwarves around the house, and that's a bit too much. He would rather be sitting there with Glorfindel and the dwarves, drinking ale and learning those "harsh rhymes"! :-) I am glad that you liked the details. I am too a Tolkien geek, and this particular chapter of The Hobbit was calling for some gap-filling in my opinion, what with those references to the First Age, :-) Many thanks for your comments, Haleth!

Lyn	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/31/2006
Well written and very pleasing to read! Just one comment. Lemons were a late addition to the English diet, coming from the Far East (as were all citrus fruit). As LOTR supposedly took place over 7,000 years ago, they might be expected to have the same diet as England had before the Romans came. I haven't done much research, but it would be nice to think that apples were available. I'm sure wild strawberries were available as was honey. I don't know what whortleberries tasted like, but believe they were growing wild then. Blueberries didn't arrive until 1946. All of our favorites were late arrivals from the Far East, such as spices silk and citrus. I should do more research, but believe the above to be true. Author Reply: OH! Please, do not do more research on my account! I take your word, thanks!

Redheredh	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/30/2006
Ha! Tricksy bard, you had me scrambling to find chap1 and reread it after reading this chapter! Glorfindel is being distracted from the questing guests?! Gandalf in particular? :D Now, I understand why you had them chasing trolls. Nice setup and feint. Bilbo is as lovable as Estel in this, but Erestor is who makes me really grin. G see? I love that you gave him a large role in this. The bit with the map was most entertaining. It's good that Elrond's counselor can take some pride in his boss. I too like sitting by and watching how work gets done, so I enjoyed visiting with Cook as much as Erestor, I think. However, I wish we had learned more of the dwarves drinking game. And, the dwarve jokes...rolls eyes suited for a child's budding humor. ;) A portentous ending, though. Just what is Glorfinel going to do when he sees it? Surely, Gandalf would not be wearing it around the Homely House?! Author Reply: I'm wavering between feeling guilty -knowing how scarce your spare time is- or shamelessly pleased that you went back to re read chapter 1! I choose the second, assuming that you are having a good time !:-) I love gap fillers. And the Hobbit deals very casually with Elves. Now, Daw has a wonderful story, "Tangled Web" which explains the events during "The Hobbit" seen from Thranduil's people pov and it is one of my favourites. And to my taste, the events in Rivendell were recounted too casually, and four important people were completely wiped out from the scene. And it was that other little detail.. I love it that Tolkien digged into his own world, for it gives us plenty of possiblities... But this Erestor is growing on me, almost unintendedly, much as Ingil Ingwion did, what can I say? I too like wathcing things get done from behind curtains, and knowing what is all about... I wish we had learned more of the dwarves drinking game Oh my! I do not feel up to that task! I cannot "hear them." Doing Bilbo was hard enough! And the child! (but then, I've been spending some time around my nephews lately, I believe it shows! ;-) I hope it all comes out nicely wrapped up in the end. And I am so glad that you are enjoying it, without the need of suffering it! :-) Many Thanks!

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/30/2006
Oh I am enjoying the shenanigans! The only person who seems to think he knows what is going on is Erestor - and I'm not that sure he's right about that. So Estel has been hidden in full sight for the last fortnight - and Erestor seems concerned about Glorfindel's appearance ... or is he? I loved Elrohir being sent off with Bilbo to spend long hours talking about the presence of hobbits at Fornost - not to mention Elrohir resorting to twin-confusion to pass the hobbit over to Elladan. Nowhere near as subtly as he might have intended. And then there's Elrond - locking the cellar and hiding the keys, just as Erestor knew he would. And cleverly spotting the moon letters. I like the view of the kitchen as a microcosm of the whole - ruling the world but on a smaller scale. Erestor's training in breaking into kitchens might well stand Estel in good stead when he is king, too. And I've never heard a better explanation of why Rivendell appeared to be the home of dotty ditties. 'The worst is over' is a very ominous thought - almost always succeeded by proof that it is no such thing. I have a feeling that Glorfindel turning up in the presence of Dwarves, Wizard and Hobbit - in the company of the heir of Isildur, too - might somewhat counter the efforts of the previous fortnight - even if I don't know why! Very entertaining, Perelleth - I'm looking forward to more. Author Reply: Well, Erestor wished he knew. In fact he must be wishing he had locked all of them up in a cellar. Being the resident "eminence grise," as he -no doubt- sees himself is a tiring job, above all when nobody seems to follow his instructons and behave as he kindly suggests. I love big kitchens, even if I am a hopeless cook myself, but there's, as you say, a kind of reflected microcosmos there, and an underlying order and reason in the apparent chaos and fretfulness that I find very appealing. And the ditties truly worried me, so I am glad that you found the explanation convincing. It was like an itchng, how these apparently most serious of elves could be caught singing "that." It sounded as if Tom Bombadil had spent some time there, and gathered some followers!!! :-) It shall all come out clearer (I hope) in one more chapter, but I am glad that you're finding it entertaining! Thank-you, Bodkin! :-)

Nilmandra	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/29/2006
My dear Perelleth, you are either very sneaky or I have become very slow. Like Elrohir the Clueless, we all assumed that the one who is to be kept from Mithrandir, 13 dwarves and one hobbit is Estel. But indeed, they have managed that for two weeks without the aid of the clueless twin and grumpy Glorfindel. So I don't think Estel is the point of this, though indeed he is being kept from the same group. There is an appearance of needing to keep Glorfindel from them... but I cannot imagine why. He drinks with the dwarves.. and as long as Thorin wasn't there it was okay? So what has Thorin to do with Glorfindel? And why keep Glorfindel from Mithrandir - G knows M is there, wants to have a drink with him. So Erestor wants Elrond to tell them, all of them... and Elrond doesn't want to, and they need 'him' kept from the whole group. And him is not Estel in this case. And Elrohir is clueless and Glorfindel is being manipulated somehow. Do they not want G to see the recovered treasures of Gondolin? You're enjoying this, aren't you? Author Reply: you are either very sneaky or I have become very slow LOL! None of the aforementioned options. It is all Erestor's fault. He did brief Elladan, but out of our, and Elrohir's- earshot, and that's where he lost it! Although Elrohir's smugness didn't help much on first hand...(he could have figured one and one, couldn't he?) As usual, your reasoning is sound and bright. I hope it makes sense!;-) I did have a good time writing it, and I hope you are all having an entertaining time reading it! :-)

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/29/2006
Ah, dear--all that was hoped would NOT happen has happened anyway, and in large part because Elrond WOULD hide the keys to the wine cellar! And love the Dwarf jokes. Have seen many such things with my students over the years. Author Reply: Elrond should have learned how to share, I believe. Look what has come to happen because Glorfindel desperately wanted a cup of wine! YEp, those jokes are the sort of silly things children keep telling to each other when they have nothing better to say...and then they laugh madly, no matter if it is funny or not! ;-) Thank-you!

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/29/2006
Or perhaps not precisely as peaceful a morning as it ought to have been! Halbarad did that, did he? Something in years to come Aragorn will be able to hold over his beloved kinsman, then. And Glorfindel treatment of it and Elladan is just perfect! As for Aragorn himself--the idea of scooping a ten-year-old onto shoulders isn't one that I can imagine, as most children that age are equalling me in height, if they haven't surpassed me. But the description as all elbows and knees is certainly accurate enough, having lived with enough children at home and in classrooms to support that. Lovely chapter here. Author Reply: Well, who knows what Erestor can tell about stressing mornings? LOL. And I hope nobody sues me for blaming Halbarad in such a shameful way! :-) I cannot ever think of scooping a ten year old on my shoulders, either, but my brother does it still at times with his ten year son and I find it so sweet that it came to mind instantly! Uh! You have all my respect, if you deal with ten year old children 8 or about that age) in your job! Thank-you Larner, I'm glad that you are enjoying.

daw the minstrel	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/29/2006
The worst is over,” Oh Eru. If ever there was a signal that things are about to get worse, that's it. Just say those words and all hell breaks loose. Estel is such a sweet child in this. I love the picture of him half asleep in Glorfindel's arms but determined to hear his mother sing. Author Reply: Mm.Yep, sounded a bit too obvious... I tend to do that. :-) I'm glad that Estel is coming along well. Never wrote a child before... and I am not particularly fond of small children (in stories) so wasn't sure how he would turn up... Thank you, daw!

Dot	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/28/2006
Hi Perelleth! Just dropping by to tell you how much I’m enjoying this :-) You write conversation so well – I grinned the whole way through. I love Erestor and Elrond trying to out-scheme each other. Those two are both far too cunning! Elrond seems to be winning but I wouldn’t underestimate someone who is so well able for even an angry Elladan. The line that had me laughing out loud was the “smug duck” comparison to Celeborn. Classic! Just as funny was Elrond’s rather unconvincing “the dwarves have a map” :-D And why do I get the impression that it was actually easier to keep Estel away from the visitors before the twins and Glorfindel returned home?? Speaking of Glorfindel – what’s all this about him falling off his horse?! LOL! There’s something hilarious about the fact that his horse seems to have absolutely no respect for him. Glorfindel is such a charmer, though. It sounds like he’d go out of his way for Gilraen and he and Estel are adorable together. Of course, he didn’t quite stick to what he was supposed to do, did he?! He very smoothly got rid of Estel in favour of some rest. But I suspect there may be some fun and games before anyone in the House of Elrond gets much rest! Such fun – I’m looking forward to more! Author Reply: Hi Dot! I'm so pleased to have been honoured with one of your entertaining reviews! Glad that you had a good time reading this!:-) Elrond and Erestor have been scheming together and against each other for at least two ages, in my mind. I came up with this Erestor in another story, and to me he is a Nandorin elf from Denethor's host who ended up as Círdan's counsellor before the sun rose, so he was Gil-galad's tutor first and then Elrond's... so he has had long experience in scheming, and dealing with scheming "youngsters". Yet Elrond can beat him sometimes, much the same as Glorfindel with the twins, LOL! But I suspect there may be some fun and games before anyone in the House of Elrond gets much rest! You are right. It is the solstice, after all! :-) Thank-you for your kind words, Dot, I hope you´ll keep enjoying!

Redheredh	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/27/2006
Yay! Erestor is back! At least, I hope it is the same Erestor from "New Beginnings". Reminded him of Celeborn - LOL! Well, ducks remind me of swans. ;) Great banter all way around. Loved Glorfindel with Estel on his shouders - they were heart-warming together. But, if they keep shuffling Estel around like that, I have a feeling that even with their elvish eyesight, they're gonna lose track of that kid. This was very amusing. Can't wait for more. :D You have a real talent for both wry humor and broad jokes. Author Reply: He is the same! (too lazy to come up with another, and he wouldn't allow me to do that..) I thought it was clear, what, with the kindness and lack of subterfuge, and softness and all!;-) That duck remark was very inconsiderate. I apologize in his name. Glorfindel was really sweet with the child, but he wouldn't let that get in the way of his rest, and what are brothers for? So he earned the lady's gratitude and then dumped the nuisance most discreetly, the wise Elf... Glad it amused you. I was in sore need of amusing myself, and what you kindly label as "talent" was... er... kind of lacking lately.

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