shirebound · 21 July 2004 · Chapter 3: Into Shadow
Omigosh, this story has taken such an unexpected turn! Hurry, Sam!
Author's reply
Sam hurried. Hope the change in narrator isn't jarring. Thanks!
Birthday Present by Lindelea
Reviews (44)
Connie · 21 July 2004 · Chapter 3: Into Shadow
Oh very good. I knew it had to be the well as soon as he hit the hole. Though having it still full of water is a cool twist. Good thing Merry can swim. I just hope Sam is quick with the help. And I hope you're quick with the next chapter. :D Merry can only tread water so long, ya know. Thanks. Connie.
Author's reply
Let me know what you think of the change in perspective. Is it jarring, to switch voices midstream? Wasn't planning to update for a few days, but had a little more time to write than I'd anticipated, and the chapter I was planning to work in in "Thain" wasn't going at all, so I switched stories... So Merry need not tread water quite so long as might have been.
Bodkin · 21 July 2004 · Chapter 3: Into Shadow
Good thing that the one to fall down the well was a Brandybuck - or else we'd have had a drowning! This is a very drama-filled day. Like the first person point of view (am I repeating myself?) I like Merry. He has brains. (Though he can be a bit self-satisfied.)
Author's reply
He can be quite self-satisfied, spoilt young lad that he is (but spoilt in a good way), well-loved son, petted and praised and encouraged... but he has a good head on his shoulders, and his encounter with the *real* Shadow later will not darken his heart, rather it will teach him wisdom... Thanks!
Pearl Took · 21 July 2004 · Chapter 3: Into Shadow
Wow! My chills aren't just from the cold water! Wonderful, wonderful story!!! I'm eagerly looking forward to more :-)
Author's reply
Thanks for reviewing, Pearl! I seem to be updating about a chapter a week. Don't know if I'll miss a week... the computer has to go in the shop and they tell me I'll be going through withdrawal for a week or two before we get it back once more... Will have to update on a borrowed computer, if possible, if that's the case. At least this isn't a long story! It'll end at bedtime, obviously (when it satisfies the plot bunny's nibblings).
esamen · 15 July 2004 · Chapter 2: By the Book
Indeed, all my fingers found was a yellowing paper, carefully folded, bearing Pip’s crooked script. Who ever finds this MUST take me fishing! Oh, too fun. Yes, those are our beloved hobbits . . . couldn't miss 'em anywhere. But do hurry back to Frodo . . . he's my favorite of them all! Can't wait til the next chapter! Happy writing!
Author's reply
Well, can't hurry back to Frodo *quite* yet, but he'll pop back into the story soon, I promise. Thanks!
Grey Wonderer · 15 July 2004 · Chapter 2: By the Book
Merry is so clever isn't he? I love the post office tree and I may have to replace my mail box with one of my own now. Hope there is more of this one soon.
Author's reply
Must admit I got the idea of the post office tree from Louisa May Alcott. There ought to be more next week. Thanks!
Grey Wonderer · 15 July 2004 · Chapter 1: Two's Company
Enjoyed the eviction of Master proudfoot very much. I am now looking forward to more so will read on. Save some tea for me. I'll be back.
RogerGamgee · 15 July 2004 · Chapter 2: By the Book
Lindelea, What a delightful little tale! I was a bit surprised to hear that the Gaffer didn't want Sam to keep the book Bilbo used to teach him his letters. I was under the impression that the Gaffer approved of it. Or am I wrong in that? In any case, it was a wonderful story. I admire Merry's clever little way of allowing Sam to keep the book by stashing it in the tree. Ingenious thinking, that! Well done.
Author's reply
Thank you! I got the impression that the Gaffer wasn't thrilled about Bilbo teaching Sam his letters in his little speech in "A Long-Expected Party": Mr. Bilbo has learned him his letters--meaning no harm, mark you, and I hope no harm will come of it. Meaning no harm? But too ignorant to know better? (Often run across this attitude on the part of the eighteenth- and nineteenth-century members of the working class towards the gentry, if you read enough of the stuff... Wouldn't my Honors English prof be pleased to know I'm finally applying the knowledge I garnered all those years ago?)
Connie · 14 July 2004 · Chapter 2: By the Book
What a neat idea Merry had to hide the book so that Sam could look at it from time to time, and still not truly be defying his father. Merry has such a good heart, and is so clever. How hard it must have been for Sam to be to interested in the intelectual pursuits and not be allowed to participate because his father thinks it's a waste of time. My ex-husband had the same problem. His dad didn't see the value of education and therefore twarted his attempts at higher education. How sad. Of course in the society of the Shire, the working class was not as a rule "book learned". But every society has to have its people to break the molds. I think Sam was meant to be one of those people. Thanks. Connie.
Author's reply
Sam certainly did break the mold, when you think of it, given the responsibility for finishing the Red Book, and reading it to his children rather than letting it sit, a dusty memorial on a shelf. I'm of two minds about college. It can be valuable if you apply yourself, but for so many people I knew in college it was such a waste of time and money (sort of a very exclusive social club full of eating, drinking, and pranks, with the occasional bother of a paper or examination). Perhaps college has changed over the years, and has more value now than it did in my day? I know quite a few "self-educated" people who, without benefit of university, read widely and ended up much wiser than many grads of my acquaintance. Of course, if you're looking to enter a profession such as medicine, engineering, or the law, I suppose college is the only course to take.
jodancingtree · 14 July 2004 · Chapter 2: By the Book
Oh, this is delightful, Lindelea! And young Samwise is just right, I think. I'll have to keep following this one... jo
Author's reply
Thanks, Jo!
shirebound · 14 July 2004 · Chapter 2: By the Book
I love 'your' Merry! So perceptive and quick-thinking and compassionate. "It wasn’t defying his father, not really; it was a request from Mr. Frodo’s cousin, one of the gentry, and so an obligation he was required to honour." Wonderful.
Author's reply
Well, he's much of the same sort as your Merry, I hope, as we're both drawing from the same well. (Sudden attack of insecurity... must go and re-read Shirebound's works to verify veracity of opinion just expressed. What if it was Budgielover's Merry I was thinking of? No, wait, hers is also perceptive, quick-thinking and compassionate. I think. Had better toddle off and brew first cup of tea for the day, much belated I'm afraid.) Thanks for reviewing. Stop by anytime.
Bodkin · 14 July 2004 · Chapter 2: By the Book
I like the first person Merry POV. Good scheme to save the book - but what a stiff selfish old idiot (just spent two minutes rejecting most of the more descriptive words that occurred to me) the Gaffer appears to be. He gets lots of presents, but won't let Sam give houseroom to one book! It's a wonder Sam turned out so well balanced - and no surprise he adores Frodo, who is kind, considerate and generous. Good chapter.
Author's reply
Well, if it had been a *practical* gift, rather than something so "useless" as a book, I'm sure Hamfast would not have objected. He probably figured he'd gotten enough presents, and practical ones, for his whole family, anyhow. A book now... why encourage the lad to put on airs and sit around reading (dreaming?) when there's work to be done? Thanks for reviewing.
Budgielover · 11 July 2004 · Chapter 1: Two's Company
What a joy to see this favorite section of canon so faithfully presented from Merry's first person viewpoint! I love how he ignored Frodo to go make the tea. Those little flashes of humor are so Merry-like. I look forward to seeing this story develop!
Author's reply
Thank you! It is developing nicely and, provided I have time to write, ought to be finished sometime this week or next.
Auntiemeesh · 10 July 2004 · Chapter 1: Two's Company
Very fun! I love getting Merry's perspective on that eventful day. I told them he’d taken all his treasure with him, but they looked at me with a sceptical air. I must practice, I suppose, if I’m to tell a convincing falsehood... He's already in training to become a conspirator, I see:)
Author's reply
Ah, yes, you have the right of it. Thanks!
esamen · 9 July 2004 · Chapter 1: Two's Company
I served him his belated cup of tea and slipped out the back door. I trotted down the long sloping path, jumped over the low place in the hedge at the bottom, and took to the meadows for a wonderful ramble in the golden autumnal sunshine. Oh, I'd love to be your Merry, and live at Bag End and make tea! I absolutely love the story. Please write lots, lots, lots more! And don't forget to throw in some good old hurt/comfort for us to enjoy! Seriously, I really enjoy your writing. It just crackles on the page. I can't wait for the next chapter! Stop whatever else you're doing ang hurry back to your keyboard! Thanks for sharing your vision with us . . . I just can't get enough of our favorite hobbits.
Author's reply
Thanks! I can't get enough of them either, it seems.
Anso the Hobbit · 9 July 2004 · Chapter 1: Two's Company
Good start! I can`t wait to see what you come up with. My own feeble attempt at that bunny will only be one-chaptered though. I`m glad you`re making a longer story of it.
Author's reply
I am so looking forward to reading your version. You have a sure grasp of relationships, and a way of writing that brings the reader into the story alongside the characters. Hope your beta works quickly! My version was supposed to be one-chaptered, but I have a hard time with length--either I write much too much or I write a drabble. In between is difficult territory for me.
Meldewen Ilce · 9 July 2004 · Chapter 1: Two's Company
Lindelea, great beginning but one small thing and this may be considered a nitpick - I quote the follwing passage: I heaved a sigh, as I said, and Frodo straightened immediately, from long practice the protective older cousin, though I’m only eight years younger. Will he still be protecting me when we’re old gaffers together? Um, as I said this maybe a nitpick but isn't Merry 14 years younger than Frodo instead of only 8? The reason I ask is because Frodo was born 1368 in the Shire-Reckoning while Merry was born in 1382 of the Shire-Reckoning... Um anyway, I am looking forward to more of this as this sounds like a great plotbunny mellon-nin!
Author's reply
Yes, Connie noticed as well. Must admit I was distracted while writing. (not supposed to be writing this time of day when everyone's up and about, but could not drag myself out of bed before they got up, for some reason) Changed "eight" to "a dozen or so", which could be read as 14 with a slight exaggeration. I think it would be likely that Merry would keep minimizing the difference in age, while Frodo, whenever he was playing the "older cousin" role might possibly maximize it...
Connie · 9 July 2004 · Chapter 1: Two's Company
Nice beginning. I like the relationship between Frodo and Merry. I always picture them as more like brothers than cousins. Frodo was Merry's first friend, at least I would think he was. One little nitpick, though. Merry is 13 1/2 to 14 years younger than Frodo. You had him eight years younger. Merry watching Frodo battle Sancho was great. Part of being friends is letting a friend fight his own battles, and then teasing about it once a safe amount of time has past. Really looking forward to see where this one is going. Connie.
Author's reply
Thanks for the catch. Was thinking of Merry and Pippin as I so often do... changed "eight" to "a dozen or so", which could be read as 14 with a slight exaggeration.
shirebound · 9 July 2004 · Chapter 1: Two's Company
What a marvelous filling-in of this scene! I'm eagerly awaiting Chapter 2! *shoos away bunnies, who are staring at the monitor and preening in their newfound fame*
Author's reply
Yes, not to mention that the bunnies might possibly mix and produce yet more bunnies...