Flames by Lindelea
Lady Forlong · 21 August 2026 · Chapter 58: The Beginning
PS I do have to say that even though Pippin played a dirty trick on Ferdi, it was still very kind of him, given the end result. Much like the old Pippin before he became Thain. Both the playfulness and the kindness. (This was also a test to see if this website would allow 2 reviews for one chapter. ff.net won't let you do that. Apparently this one does. I like that in case I forget something, as in this instance.)
Lady Forlong · 21 August 2026 · Chapter 58: The Beginning
I've been reading some of your old stories and I thought it was too late to comment on them, but then I saw that you actually responded to some reviews for this one from just last year, even though it was written and "published" long ago. Do you get emails when someone comments on a story (even an old one) or do you have to go in and check? Anyway, I love happy endings and this one was well earned. Poor Ferdi -- but he finally got the reward he deserved in the end. Can't blame Fatty for grilling Ferdi about his feelings for his Aunt Nell -- almost acting like she's Fatty's sister. And that was a dirty trick Pippin played on Ferdi LOL Technically, it wasn't a lie, but "unmarried" does imply "never married," not "widowed." I'm glad you're still writing. Some of my favorite authors have stopped or even died.
PSW · 28 April 2025 · Chapter 48: Healing
“ If she couldn't stuff her husband with food, she'd settle on the next available hobbit.” I’m sure that’s true, but I’m also sure there’s more to it than that …. Poor Pippin, he just can’t get past his poor health - and poor Ferdi can get past his poor history. What a pair they make!
Author's reply
I just discovered this wonderful raft of reviews! (You likely told me you'd read this story, and I quite possibly forgot.) I look forward to reading through your impressions of the story! Thanks so much for reading and sharing your thoughts. I very much appreciate it..
PSW · 27 April 2025 · Chapter 39: Sons
No - no, it isn’t so bad indeed…
PSW · 27 April 2025 · Chapter 38: Fathers
Oh! Ferdinand slipped out between one breath and the next, just like that. So glad Ferdi was there with him, and that he has nothing to regret in regard to his are for his father …
PSW · 27 April 2025 · Chapter 34: Freed
It’s so good to know that all the Tooks recognized the unfairness and were happy to have him back!
PSW · 27 April 2025 · Chapter 29: News
Again - very interesting seeing all this from the other side…
PSW · 26 April 2025 · Chapter 26: Ruin
Knowing the other side of this story makes it hard to be upset with Pippin, of course. When someone is so unhappy, it’s difficult to think of others. And yet … he has their lives in his hands.
PSW · 26 April 2025 · Chapter 24: Escort
I feel like not telling Pippin he’s been engaged his whole life is just a poor choice…
Author's reply
Definitely a poor choice. I honestly wonder when they planned to tell him? Interesting to contemplate.
PSW · 26 April 2025 · Chapter 16: Forgotten
Ah, there the Paladin we all know and love…. Ah, Ruby. Poor girl. :-(
PSW · 26 April 2025 · Chapter 15: Holiday
It’s hard for Paladin to get the true measure of things, it’s true, given that Pippin and Merry are not close and he doesn’t know all that’s happening. And to be fair, it probably would be good for Pippin to spend more time at home. Except we all know how things turn out any time he and his father are in the same place for long….
PSW · 26 April 2025 · Chapter 14: NightScares
Yikes - all the PTSD running around is sure to be difficult to help with, especially for those who don’t understand. I’m glad they finally tell Merry’s family in Jewels.
PSW · 26 April 2025 · Chapter 13: Task
Don’t do it, Ferdi! Paladin doesn’t want your best - he wants the impossible and will take it out on you when you can’t deliver… Sorry - I know Paladin’s got a lot going on, but what’s coming is hard.:-(
PSW · 26 April 2025 · Chapter 12: Shadows
Oh, they’re going to be seeing a lot more of Pippin than they likely expect…
PSW · 26 April 2025 · Chapter 11: Reunion
Aw - love all the reunions we’ve been having! I guess it would be pretty confusing to hose who knew Merry and Pippin just a year ago, though…
PSW · 26 April 2025 · Chapter 9: Restoration
Glad that family was able to be reconciled again before it was too late.
PSW · 26 April 2025 · Chapter 7: Return
The Travelers are back! Glad to hear that this business will end soon - everyone needs a good long rest and some low-anxiety time. I don’t think that’s in the cards for Ferdi though…
Author's reply
What a relief! I can't believe it took them so long to return... (You're right about Ferdi. You're either prescient, or you've had advance notice from one of the other stories, I suspect.) Thanks! Author Reply: p.s. This chapter has been revised to accommodate plot points from The Rescue and The Proposition.
PSW · 26 April 2025 · Chapter 6: Flames
Poor Ferdi - it’s a hard decision to have to make. I’m sure they’ll looking for him now, hopefully he can stay a step ahead…
PSW · 26 April 2025 · Chapter 5: Guilty
Poor Old Tom and his wife. It’s good Paladin was paying attention though!
PSW · 26 April 2025 · Chapter 4: Co-incidents
I guarantee moles could have dug those in one night. All you have to do is turn your head for a minute… But they didn’t, of course. Things are getting tense! And, I’m not used to Ferdi, Tolly, and Hilly not getting along. :-(
PSW · 26 April 2025 · Chapter 2: Heir
Ha. Well, Lotho may be responsible for a lot of things, but Pippin’s disappearance wasn’t one of them… And Hilly, I’m sure that joke wasn’t funny even the first hundred times.
PSW · 26 April 2025 · Chapter 1: Reclamation
Okay, so we’re back during the Troubles. Apparently he’s already got some trauma in his background - I assume we’ll be learning more as things progress…
PSW · 26 April 2025 · Chapter 0: Prologue
Well, this is a properly dire beginning! I guess we shall see where he goes from here!
Eirinn Leigh · 19 November 2015 · Chapter 32: Pride
I like these last two chapters. And it's good to see Ferdi's father becoming a better hobbit and a better dad.
Author's reply
Thank you!
Eirinn Leigh · 19 November 2015 · Chapter 30: Shunned
This story is told a lot more abruptly than the others I've read of yours; more a 'History of Annuls' and less a 'bardic tale' if that analogy makes sense. But styles are styles; it's good to try out a variety. The one critique I do have is that the way you stagger your backflashes requires the reader to have knowledge of them before they get the them to really understand the nuances of what is going on. Also I'd really like to know more about the initiation of the shunning. So far it doesn't seem absolute (as seemed implied in 'Starfire')- is it not formal yet? or are the Tooks breaking their Thain's verdict behind his back? What formal prodecures occur in cases of shunning?
Author's reply
The abruptness may be partly because this is such an early story. Interesting critique! I hadn't thought of it that way before. I'll have to take another look. Ferdi's shunning was never formally announced, it was sort of sneaky and underhanded on Paladin's part. Paladin blamed Ferdi, unfairly, for Pippin's near-death in the ice storm, and subsequent self-exile. I think he knew that if Pippin had found out about the injustice, he would have returned and taken up his duties once more -- but he didn't find out until much later, because he returned letters from Tookland unopened. There was hurt and bitterness on both sides. The Tooks didn't like it, but they were afraid of Paladin's temper, and so any who broke the rules, did this very carefully and surreptitiously as possible. Except, of course, for Eglantine, who kept trying to get her husband to reverse his stance... and was about the only one who didn't have to be afraid of the consequences of defying him. You can read more about formal shunning in Truth, both the pronouncement and the reversal. (http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=476) Of course, you read about the Ban in Flames, here, and in another story (Runaway), Ferdi and Tolly both nearly get Banned because of a misunderstanding. I have a love-hate relationship with that story... Anyhow, thanks for the feedback. The Muse has deserted me for the time being, which means I'm not updating the unfinished stories right now. But I keep hoping I'll be able to sit down and finish those, sooner than later... The feedback helps -- it draws my attention back to Stories of Arda, after being away for way too long. Author Reply: Oh, I just remembered, there is a little more about Ferdi's shunning in A Took By Any Other Name. http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=3330