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| Eleventy-one Years: Too Short a Time by Dreamflower | 173 Review(s) |
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| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 38 on 5/22/2014 |
| Conniving family, indeed! Ooooo they make me mad. I much preferred Bilbo's eulogy, unspoken though it might be. Thank you for including it in the scene. As to the family scandal, I am certainly not up to speed on that. Is that talked about in the earlier chapters of this story, or somewhere else? (I have Belladonna's marriage to Bungo as something of an exile, myself, though Bungo and Bella saw it more as a reward and blessing, and yours do, too, from the evidence.) The tastelessness of the food goes far to describe Bilbo's state of mind. I'm glad you end the chapter with his mother's recovering her ability to laugh. Bless her dear sister's love and care! Author Reply: Longo's always been jealous of his brother, and he's always been very prejudiced against Tooks. In my Shire, he's behind the move to declare Bilbo dead. (Evidence: Otho and Lobelia were not of age when Bilbo left on his adventure; clearly someone must have rushed their wedding through, and my idea is that it was intended from the beginning to get Bag End into the hands of the Sackville branch of the family!) The "family scandal" is from my story "The Family Way", which was from a bunny Dana gave me after noticing the age gap between Hildigrim Took and Rosa Baggins, and the DOB for Adalgrim on the Family Tree. Basically, the two put "the dessert before the main course" as my Shire saying goes. It's briefly mentioned in the second chapter of this story, as well. I did want the chapter to end on a hopeful note, after all, for Belladonna needs to be able to succor her son and be his companion for several more years. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 37 on 5/22/2014 |
| Our fanons agree, apparently! Heh! A wonderful wedding, and I love seeing Bilbo being so responsible. Author Reply: Frequently, LOL! And once in a while, even on purpose! But this I think makes sense as an extrapolation from #214; some widows might be so bowed in grief they wouldn't feel able to carry the responsibility. (But in later years, after Lalia, a lot of widows gave over their headship to their sons for fear of being compared to her; then after the Troubles it came back round again, since some had been widowed during the Troubles whose sons were under age.) Bilbo is on his way to becoming the staid Baggins of that first chapter of TH, who is very responsible and set in his ways! | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 37 on 5/21/2014 |
| What fun! Very hobbity wedding, from the matriarch's speech to the signing of the contract. I must admit that when I read the chapter title, my first thought was "Poor Bilbo. Always a bridesmaid, never a bride." I do love how diligent Bilbo is, and his attention to detail. (And the mention of his pocket handkerchief -- or was that in the previous chapter and my brain just brought it up?) Locating all the witnesses and keeping them straight, cutting off the groom after his third ale (brings back an echo from an old story: "You want to enjoy your wedding, don't you?") Comfortable tradition, celebration, and merrymaking. It's one facet of hobbits that brings them close to my heart. (Along with, of course, resourcefulness, loyalty, and courage in a pinch, among other things.) Author Reply: LOL! Well, groomsman, at least! I just love writing hobbit weddings! It's so much fun, and I enjoy making the ceremony center around the signing and witnessing of the "Marriage Lines"! Comfortable tradition, celebration, and merrymaking. It's one facet of hobbits that brings them close to my heart. (Along with, of course, resourcefulness, loyalty, and courage in a pinch, among other things.) And a loud "Amen!" to that! | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 36 on 5/20/2014 |
| So, both mother and son are experiencing prescient dreams, then. Gollum and Frodo are seen, and apparently some of the grief that shall be part of Frodo's life before he goes to Tol Eressea. I hope Bilbo feels reassured. Author Reply: Bilbo is greatly reassured; Belladonna's conviction that he'll have a son eases his mind on that score--but he doesn't make the connection that no wife is seen. And Bilbo has absolutely no context for his dreams of Gollum. They make no sense to him, so he doesn't realize they are prescient in any way. | |
| Andrea | Reviewed Chapter: 36 on 5/20/2014 |
| But foresight was a tricky thing That is very true! Both dreams, Bilbo's dream and his mother's show the truth, but it depends highly on the interpretation if it remains the truth. Anyway, I hope Belladonna's words helped to cheer Bilbo up and give him new hope for the future. He won't be alone then, for Frodo will be with him! Author Reply: Exactly. And I do think it cheers him up, and even though it doesn't mean what his mother thinks it means, she is still right: Frodo is the son of his heart anyway! | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 36 on 5/20/2014 |
| I so love your descriptions: people, landscape, flowers, food... I am brought solidly into the scene, and feel as if I'm at Bilbo's elbow through his entire ramble. (A cheer for Mr. Tunnelly!) I love the idea that the "grampus" saying came back with Isengar... Bilbo's inner poetry shines forth throughout the chapter. And then Belladonna -- her relationship with Bilbo is beautifully drawn. Both of them, it seems, have the Tookish gift of true dreaming, but Bilbo won't realise the significance of the dreams until many years from now, after his mother is gone, I think? Poor fellow, to think love might have happened, but that he let it slip away. I think Gandalf, years later, could offer some of the same words of wisdom that he gave to Frodo, about it all being part of a greater Plan. Thanks! Author Reply: Thank you! I am trying to be more descriptive and am glad that it's coming through to the reader. *grin* Mr. Tunnelly is a wise hobbit! That's one of his qualities I've always wished to emphasize; he's clearly always been a lover of words. Dreams and prophecies are chancy things in M-e. They almost never mean what the person thinks they mean. (Think of Galadriel's warning about her mirror, or Gandalf's words about the palantir.) I think of all the dreams of various characters, only Pippin and Faramir do not misinterpret what their prescience means. I think are you right about Bilbo; I think he will come to understand it eventually. | |
| Antane | Reviewed Chapter: 35 on 2/16/2014 |
| Glad he had a good time! :) Namarie, God bless, Antane :) | |
| Andrea | Reviewed Chapter: 35 on 2/16/2014 |
| Great party and very well organized! I always like the description of the various foods that are served. What amused me most were "candies in the shape of mushrooms". Very hobbity, indeed :-) Author Reply: Yes, I think Bilbo chose well in getting Rory and Dora's help! *grin* Thanks! I thought it a good touch! | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 35 on 2/10/2014 |
| Although a good Yorkshire Pudding may also catch the drippings from a roasted lamb's leg, or so I've had it outside of Lincoln! Heh! A lovely and well planned party, and he had the best of help, obviously! Author Reply: It's been years since I made one, but I would guess that most sorts of roast (except for poultry) could be used. He did have good helpers, and the experience will have been good for both Rory and Dora. Not to mention Rory meeting someone important for his future. | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 35 on 2/10/2014 |
| I know that the joy, and overflowing bounty of this party, did much to soften the memories of the days of famine and illness. What a lovely, happy chapter. Author Reply: I am sure that it did. I'm so glad that the happiness came through! | |