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The Archives Incident  by Dreamflower 21 Review(s)
AndreaReviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/25/2007
Great story, Dreamflower!
I like Frodo's protective side. Even if Pippin is now taller than his cousin and regarded as a hero, he's still very young and there are times when he needs his older cousin.

I agree with all the others that this story needs a sequel, with Menelcar performing the "Thorongil Song" if he agrees to vocalise real bad (but funny) poetry, that is ;-)

Author Reply: Thank you!

I love to see Frodo being protective, and being the caregiver for once--I just like the "turnabout" aspect of it. And I think Frodo being protective of Pippin would always remain--if Frodo had stayed and lived in the Shire, he'd have been trying to protect Merry and Pippin even after they were all old gaffers!

It looks very likely as though there will be a follow-up to this--everyone's clamoring!

AltheaReviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/24/2007
I very much enjoyed reading this story. I love stories about the hobbits' adventures in Minas Tirith. This one was was refreshing in its originality. The whole rats thing kind of made my skin crawl, but that served to emphasize the gravity of situation. I liked how you added the extra complications of Frodo's finding Isildur's writings and Pippin's memories of being lost as a child.

Author Reply: Rats rather make my skin crawl as well. But they were certainly a ubiquitous part of life back then, especially in places where it would be dark and somewhat undisturbed.

When Dana asked for this, I thought right away of Pippin's earlier misadventure. And as soon as I thought of the Archives as a place where something similar could happen, I also knew that Frodo would have to come across Isildur's account.

TiggerReviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/24/2007
What a fantastic story!! Had a bit of everything, but especially hobbit comfort. That mental image of the four of them all snuggled up in the bed...Sigh!! What a perfect ending!!

I loved this though...

****

It had been an exhausting afternoon spent placating various nobles and wealthy merchants who had returned to Minas Tirith. They were unhappy with the pace of restoration to the City, more specifically to the upper levels where their own homes and shops were, homes and shops that had suffered far less damage than the lower levels where most of the work was being done.

Now the king wished to put Elessar aside, and simply be Aragorn once more. He had retreated to a small room that he had set aside for himself as a private office, taking his Steward and his Court Bard with him.

*****

We don't see too much of those first days of Aragorn's reign and it had to be a very tough and tight bit of rope walking for him. Not only was there now a King, but he was a King that actually cared about *all* his subjects. Quite a change from Denethor and would be tough for the nobles used to the old regime to adjust to. I thought you did an excellent job there.

I also loved Aragorn and Faramir talking about Gandalf and his talents to creating smoke images. The ship Gandalf blew "flying" through Bilbo's smoke ring is one of my very favourite visual scenes from FOTR. Although seeing smoke rings all colours of the rainbow would have been interesting. ;oD

Poor Frodo and Pippin though. What an ordeal on so many levels for them. From Pip's flashbacks to Frodo finding *that* scroll to the rats...Not to mention missing two meals, which is an ordeal for any hobbit, the poor dears. I'm sure Aragorn will see to the overhaul of the archives. While not a librarian, I adore books and have a keen sense of history. Rats and mice ate away quite a bit of recorded history over the Ages. After this, I'm certain Aragorn would see to a sweeping extermination of that particular rodent problem tout suit!!

I also loved the Thorongil poem. What would be really funny was if it was actually Aragorn who wrote the thing. *snicker* Can't you imagine that scene!?! Menelcar announcing he had a new song, partly inspired by his dear friends the hobbits and before Aragorn knew what was happening....

His face could match his regal Court wardrobe if he was wearing red that day. :oD

This was a thoroughly delightful read. Looking forward to the sequel when it comes!! :o)

Author Reply: Sometimes I put everything but the kitchen sink in a story, LOL! But I do like a good mixture of emotions and events.

I like to picture Aragorn able to unwind with his Steward, and maybe one or two close friends, after a trying day of dealing with the problems of being King--especially in those early days before Arwen arrived. So many people in the City were just not going to *get* what having a King instead of a Steward meant.

It was somewhat of an ordeal. In a way, it was good that Frodo had to worry about taking care of Pippin--it got his mind off Isildur's scroll pretty quickly, and so he did not have time to brood much over it. And poor Pip, he'd been so brave all through the Quest, but now these circumstances were so much like that of his childhood peril, he could not help remembering.

I'm kind of getting a few ideas about that poem--they are just not yet big enough for a story yet.

harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/24/2007
Urgh, rats, I hate rats! But I want to see Aragorn's face when he hears that song! *g*

Author Reply: Me too! Rats are not one of my favorite things at all--and they are certainly not high on Pippin's list either! And, really, rats would be far more dangerous to hobbits, who are small.

So does everyone else. So it will probably happen one of these days!

KittyReviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/24/2007
Loved that! Of course Frodo would visit the archives, bookworm that he is. And I loved the song Pippin found about the Captain Thorongil. Maybe you'll tell us what Aragorn said when they showed it to him? *grin*

Only a pity they got locked up. But well, it wouldn't be our hobbits if nothing had happened. Though maybe they should have remained in the upper rooms. Poor Pippin, tunnels and rats ... :-( I'm glad Faramir remembered the archives and they were found before they ended up in the dark.

But now I think Aragorn needs *badly* to do something about the rats! Can't bear the thought of them gnawing at the scrolls and books. I'm a librarian, after all!

Author Reply: That's what everyone wants to know, LOL! So it's likely to happen sooner or later.

Yes, well, the evil Author just *had* to let *something* bad happen! But of course they had to be found soon--I didn't want to traumatize them too badly.

He will definitely be putting "get rid of rats" on his to-do list!

ElemmírëReviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/23/2007
This was absolutely wonderful, Dreamflower, and so very rich with details! I truly felt like I was walking along the Archives with Frodo and Pippin, experiencing the dank, musty rooms, etc. And you captured Sam and Merry's growing worry so very well. This tale had it all: the angst, the love, the suspense, awful poetry, h/c, humor, hobbity sweetness, a happy ending--this had everything!!!!

Frodo made a non-committal noise. Already his brow was furrowed as he tried to decipher the archaic hand. Pippin glanced over, and seeing that one of the boxes was only half-filled, he emptied the scrolls into another, and went over to the bench. “Frodo.”

No response.


LOL! Like Frodo, I too get totally absorbed when I'm reading .... especially when it's about hobbits!

I also liked how you were able to incorporate the entire Fellowship and also tie this story in with 'The Brandy Hall Incident.' You wrote Frodo as the wise and older cousin (and clever and curious) so very well here!

Ok, I have to ask: will you continue this at all? Will we get to see Aragorn's reaction to the Thorongil poem? And what does Gandalf do with the scroll bearing the Ring's inscription? And does Frodo suffer any further ill effects from reading Isildur's hand?

:D (please?)

~Elemmírë~

Author Reply: I'm so glad that you liked all the mix of elements--those are the kinds of things I like as well: I like to see angst and fluff, humor and suspense, all mixed together.

I'm pretty bad about getting absorbed myself, when I read, so I knew just how Frodo would be.

I'm getting a lot of requests to continue this. We will have to see if my tiny bunny will grow enough to make another story to go with it. But those are excellent questions to feed it...

Lily BagginsReviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/23/2007
Oh, Dreamflower, this was wonderful! Such love and caring and support between the hobbits, and yet this story was also a bit chilling---being left nearly alone, in the dark, with rats abounding. I love the mixture of so many emotions here.

But the best part was the Frodo h/c, I must say... and being carried away by Aragorn, and tucked into bed, and given porridge ... and I'd love to see a sequel in which Frodo does indeed impart the contents of those scrolls to the minstrels.

Author Reply: I do like a mixture of emotions: angst, adventure, humor and fluff, all scrambled up together!

As for a sequel, well, as soon as the bunny gets big enough...

PIppinfan1988Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/23/2007
I loved this! I do like Frodo-Pippin tales - there aren't enough of them. Frodo's tenderness toward Pippin was an absolute delight, and Pippin's protectiveness over his older cousin was just as lovely. I really enjoyed reading this sweet and suspense-filled tale.

Why is it that whenever I read your tales I come away with my mouth watering and my stomach grumbling? :-P I have not a clue, lol! Porridge laced with cream, and butter and honey... I have to remember I'm NOT a hobbit and I cannot eat a hobbit-sized "snack" just before I go to bed, lol.

PF

Author Reply: The cousins love one another and look out for one another. And Pippin's been the "baby" of their little "family" for a long time--any threat to him is bound to make Frodo want to look after him: he's done so all his life. But Pippin is equally protective of Frodo--that's *why* he came on the Quest, after all! And sometimes, just as I like to show the dynamic of only Frodo and Merry, I also like to show the dynamic of only Frodo and Pippin. (And, of course, Dana asked for it. But then she knows what I like, too--she knew just what to ask for to get something a lot longer than the promised drabble, LOL!)

*giggle* Hobbits and food just *go* together--I mean, for goodness' sake, they eat six or seven meals a day! It just doesn't seem hobbity to me *not* to feed them! 8-D

Baggins BabeReviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/23/2007
This is a lovely story - full of affection between Pippin and Frodo. The archive sounds wonderful but I wouldn't want to be locked in there. I work in an archive and I've never locked anyone in! I'll bet Aragorn will have a few words with that archivist!

The rats sounded pretty nerve-wracking but clever Frodo kept his head. Poor Pip, still the young tween needing his older cousin. I'm so glad they were found though.

Author Reply: I love to show Pippin and Frodo together--it's not often done, so when Dana asked for it, I was very happy to oblige!

When I was a child, one of my favorite fantasies was of getting locked up in a library! (But not under quite such scary circumstances!) I don't think the poor Archivist was used to having anyone there--I would guess visitors were rare during the War.

Well, as you could see, there was a bit of history behind Pippin's nerves! But Frodo would have taken good care of him.

I'm glad they were found as well.

Queen GaladrielReviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/23/2007
Oh yes, what an adventure! Dear me! And when I get time, I must read the Brandy Hall Incident.

LOL! I love the poem about Thorongil! Hahaha...that sounds like some of my attempts at poetry when I'm having a bad day! *grins* You simply must do a story about Menelcar surprising Aragorn with it sometime, involving Pippin, of course! :)

Frodo looked at him with haunted eyes and then whispered, “No, you wouldn’t know--you never saw it. That’s the inscription from--from the Ring. This must
be the account Isildur wrote, which Gandalf found…”

Ah, I was wondering when someone would address this. I've wondered about it often enough, but when it came down to it, I wasn't brave enough (I don't know why, that stuff doesn't bother me--to write anyway). I love dear Pip's reaction. :) I'd be mad, too.

Ugh! Rats! *cringes* I hate rats, they're scary! Frodo's inginuity is wonderful. I never would have thought of crushing a wooden box and then climbing on a table and throwing the splinters!

And of course I love when they're found and the coziness at the end! :) Thank you for a very delightful read!
God bless,
Galadriel

Author Reply: Well, yes, if you do read it, you will understand why that situation kind of threw Pippin, even after all he had been through on the Quest.

Everyone wants a follow-up on that scroll! Believe me, I am quite sure that sooner or later the bunnies will tell me what happened!

It had to be a shock for Frodo to come across that. In a way, it was a good thing for him that they got in that predicament, because it took his mind right off it! And yes, Pippin was angry at Frodo having to see that!

Frodo's pretty clever and resourceful. And having something to throw would make any hobbit feel just a bit safer!

"Coziness at the end". That's how a hobbit story *should* end! ;-)

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