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| A Horse for Bandobras by Lindelea | 49 Review(s) |
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| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 17 on 2/19/2025 |
| ‘Mount up! We ride to battle!’ For the Shire! Eeeee, such suspense! Author Reply: Go Hobbits Go! | |
| Leithian | Reviewed Chapter: 16 on 2/18/2025 |
| Wow, that was quick. The Thain is quite decisive, and when he takes on a course of action, he commits to it. (I might not have worded it properly, it is early mornig here..) Now with Ferumbras and Bandobras leading the Hobbits, the Goblins are in for the surprise of their lives. So excited for the historic battle now. Author Reply: You put it quite well! The Thain is impulsive (which can be interpreted as quick to respond to a situation) as well as decisive (rather like JRRT described one of his descendants, Pippin, on the Quest). He thinks clearly in a crisis. While he would have preferred to keep Bandobras in the Shire, he's no fool, so he immediately began to prepare to send a Muster to the North-lands, whether to escort the Northlanders safely to the Shire to begin again, or to drive out the invaders and secure the North-lands for hobbits. In other words, he's a canny gambler who covers his bets. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! | |
| PSW | Reviewed Chapter: 16 on 2/18/2025 |
| Ferumbras is such a good big brother! They are headed there as fast as they can - worried they maybe, but there’s nothing more they can do. I hope they make it in time! Author Reply: Ferumbras dearly loves his little brother and, with his capacity for love and understanding, he will make a fine Thain someday. Luckily, a lot of diverse factors came together in a perfect storm... from the goblins' perspective, anyhow. Bandobras acquiring Friend, doughty hobbit scouts who brought back crucial information, the goblin incursion happening right around the time of the All-Shire archery tournament (which saved a lot of time since all the best archers were already gathered together on the spot). JRRT wrote a lot of "coincidences" into his accounts while making it clear that he didn't believe in coincidence, laying down an excellent foundation (or do I mean "setting an excellent example"?) for stories based in his world. Thanks so much for your encouraging reviews! | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 16 on 2/18/2025 |
| No horde of goblins would anticipate that hobbits could rustle up an organized troop to defend the Shire, or that hobbits could even imagine doing so. Author Reply: Some might see the hobbits' quick and decisive response as uncharacteristic, but I'm remembering that the first Thain was chosen from among the Hobbit chiefs during the recovery period after the Witch-king's forces had overrun the Shire in Bucca's time, and the Thain was "the master of the Shire-moot, and captain of the Shire-muster and the Hobbitry-in-arms". (That's one of the reasons I included the historical overview at the start of this story.) Thus, it is quite possible that even after the Thain became more of a ceremonial position, Thains (and those in training to succeed them) would have had to learn about such things as rustling up an organized troop to defend the Shire! (I love how you phrased that!) There wasn't room to include this detail in the drabbles, but during the journey north, when the Muster stopped to rest, the hobbits practiced with the weapons they received from the Mathom-house, becoming acquainted with their weight and heft. They already used hammers, axes, and bows in daily life for peacetime purposes, so I think they were able to build on that familiarity (as far as an innate understanding of how physics works). I hope this review reply isn't too long and nerdy! I am simply delighting in the details this morning. Author Reply: What I meant to say above was that because the first Thain was chosen after enemies attacked the Shire, they would have been very much aware of the need for a defense force for future generations, and would have set in motion traditions to ensure that the necessary knowledge would carry forward. | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 15 on 2/17/2025 |
| the scout stared at rank upon rank of archers, many bearing other weapons as well, one body mounted and another a-foot. You describe that so beautifully it's easy to visualize it. Author Reply: This was one of the fun parts to imagine and write down. I loved that Dobby slept through it all. (I've known people who could probably sleep through the end of the world...) Thanks! | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 15 on 2/17/2025 |
You describe that so beautifully it's easy to visualize it. Author Reply: (Oh, I thought you were talking about the gathering of the supplies, but then I saw the second review you left. Thank you for making the extra effort.) | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 2/17/2025 |
| Ferumbras is a jewel among hobbits. Author Reply: I find myself liking him more and more as the story goes on. I keep thinking I catch glimpses of future Thains (and Tooks) in his choices and actions. I'm glad you like him, too. (((hugs))) | |
| PSW | Reviewed Chapter: 15 on 2/17/2025 |
| When the Hobbits decide to do something, they do it right! Let’s go get rid of those ruffians once and for all! Author Reply: What's worth doing is worth doing thoroughly! (A Shire proverb that I made up a couple weeks ago, lol) Thanks! | |
| Leithian | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 2/17/2025 |
| Wow! The lead up to the race, the wagers and finally the race. So exciting... For Friend, though the race against ponies must have been a leisurely canter. Looking forward to seeing his feats in the battles. I like the way you have fleshed out Ferumbras. He seems to be nearly as adventurous as his brother. A proper Took. And what's the thing about the Tooks' mines? I'm sensing a backstory here. I never knew that there were salt mines around the Shire. Author Reply: Whew, we finally got to the race! That's a relief. Now onward towards the historic battle... I haven't written much about salt mines in the Shire, though I mentioned them in an early story, where I had ponies rescued from the salt mines maintained by ruffian Men under Lotho. In my stories, the Great Smials started as a gold mine, and then when the gold played out, the hobbits turned it into a large, extensive residence that could house hundreds. (That last part is from Tolkien, talking about the Great Smials and Brandy Hall, while the gold mine was my own inspiration.) Thank you for reading and stopping to share your thoughts! | |
| PSW | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 2/16/2025 |
| The moment we’ve been waiting for! And my faith in Friend and Bandobras was rewarded! Now Les go get rid of some baddies! Aw … what a good brother … Author Reply: Woohoo! The story just keeps picking up speed from here, it feels like. Thanks! | |